Tiny Shoes, a Mask with Battered Feathers

Day 57 - Dear Sarah - Our Daily Drawing Exchange

Hi Nikki,
February 26, 2025

Your comment about the Toby mug/jug was pretty much exactly what I was thinking as I drew the kewpie napkin ring (which I'm now using, because--why not?). What is going to happen to all these little things from our parents that we treasure? Will my children or grandchildren want a brass bunny paperweight, a silver kewpie or what I drew today--a very tiny (7 cm) wooden shoe? I hope so, but all I can do is memorialize them here (and leave copious notes in my will). The tiny shoe in question was my grandmother's. It has a tiny sliding compartment on top (miraculously still functional) and I believe it was meant to hold rings. I did not do the carving justice--so intricate! My mother kept mine and my brothers' baby teeth in hers. I have done the same (4 from each child). I was going to draw them but ran out of time. I struggled with getting the perspective correct on the shoe--lots and lots of erasing! Not quite there yet, but I'm figuring it out.

I actually went for a walk today--first time since I got sick 10 days ago. Spring is happening: daffodils, crocuses (crocii?) and a very green blackberry. The sun was making itself known again, although coyly hiding behind clouds at times.

Today is school pickup day for me, so I need to get organized. Snacks, water, drawing tablets etc.

See you tomorrow morning!

XO S

Dear Sarah -

Your tiny shoe!! I have never heard of such a thing! And, what a perfect place in which to store baby teeth!

Keeping with the theme of objects for which we have no use and yet hang onto…

I love this masquerade mask my parents brought back from a trip to Italy. Even though the feathers are somewhat battered, I have kept this on display for nearly 30 years… Until I started to do a quick sketch I hadn’t realized how interesting the shadows were… I would like to draw this again more carefully, but we are off to the theatre this evenings, so out of time!

Cheers
Nikki