Grandmother restored!

I got a wonderful last minute christmas gift surprise this morning in my e-mail box. Vicki at www.ineedorange.blogspot.com took some time and restored the creased and cracked picture of my Grandmother from my previous post! Thanks Vicki, looks beautiful!

Family History for Christmas.

A few years back my Mom bought several photo albums with the intent of finally archiving in her spare time the many boxes and folders full of family photos.

I was surprised Christmas day with the special side project she had done for myself and my siblings...Ted, Megan and Monica.

Her gift was giving us our own distinct album. Each contained photos and memories particular to the person and included old family photos we never knew existed.

I have in the past posted old timey funny photos for a laugh but the pictures below are the real deal...

This is a picture of my Great Grandparents, Cecelia and Frank Dunn. The boy is my great Uncle Frank, the oldest of 10 children.

My Great Grandfather was a sergeant in the NYPD. My Great Grandmother was a dressmaker and seamstress with celebrity of the day clients including Lily Langtry. She taught my Mom to hand sew but warned her to never learn to use a sewing machine because it would make her a slave to someone.


The following pictures are my Dad's Mom and Dad... Grandparents I never knew who passed on before my birth.

My Grandmother was Dorothy Brown Lowe. She was a broadway actress, dancer and model. Her stage name was Jane Jefferys. This is her 8" x 10" glossy from the early 1940's.

This is my Grandfather, David Lowe, in World War II. He was a writer, director, producer for both theater and television. He was also a pioneer in news television. His most well known credit was producer of the legendary CBS Reports: Harvest of Shame with Edward R. Morrow.


Below is my Dad and me in 1967, I was 2 years old...


My brother Ted and I in 1985 working hard as P.A.'s on NBC's Bloopers and Practical Jokes.


Much of Christmas day was spent looking at each other's album and enjoying Mom's stories that elaborated on her handwritten notes in each.

One of my best memories was seeing my Brothers in law, Paul and Kirk, looking at the old pictures of their wives and seeing my sisters cringe!

Mom's gift was the warm fuzzy feeling all hope for this time of year and helped bond new family members.

Just as she planned it.... CURSE HER!

Rudolph Restored!


From my stuff that I think is cool files...

Like many, I grew up watching, no worshipping the original 1964 Rankin Bass special- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Many influences in my work today I can trace back to it.

All of the original stop motion puppets were thought lost to the ages until 2005 when Rudolph and Santa were discovered being used as ordinary christmas decorations.

Here is a recent story on the restoration being done on these old friends. I personally hope they end up in the Smithsonian one day. Click on ...

Rankin Bass puppet restoration.

He is the Gritty in Knitty!

Knittar the Cast-on- ian's answer to what is best in life....

To skein your enemies!
To cast them on your needles!
To hear your enemies' frogging lamentation!

Working on DIY's Knitty Gritty has really corrupted me. I was doodling the other day playing off my previous Castle and Dungeon Network post and I created something I'd really like to expand on. I've got 120 some odd projects in the works so we'll see.

In the meantime behold the power of the needle... I give you...

click on image to enlarge.


For the fun of it, Knittar is available to wear on LOWE DOWN STUFF!

A Cable Channel I'd Watch 24/7.

Calling all investors! I've worked for the "how to" networks a long time. They need to get back to strong work ethics, basic needs, common tools and fear of the black plague. Here's my pitch...


I even designed up a slick logo...


Imagine the great shows...

-Moat by Moat
-Ye Ol' Sod House
-Trading Mead Halls
-Uncommon Blacksmithing
-Siege Wall Appeal
-The Carol Duvall Show (she was 25 in the middle ages so she would have good info).

The list could go on....more show ideas anyone?

Out of the knitting closet.

This is my second year as art director for DIY's Knitty Gritty.

I've never knitted. I've learned enough to make nice visual presentations, understand knitting in theory to help with "step outs" and run to the prop room for basic materials as needed for guests and knitsters...but I have been known to confuse stich markers with stich holders.

I've gained great respect for the craft and marvel at the projects our guests and host Vickie Howell create.

I've also learned to be a knitter is to be part of a sub-culture. There is a vast but small world that only knitters understand. I knew a day would arrive when I would give in to peer pressure so I could be accepted by the cool kids.

I now admit I have been taking needles in hand with a pretty ball of yarn

...alone
...at home
...in a dark corner
...were no one can see me.


So far it's been 8 days still "casting on" but I feel positive I'll have my scarf completed in 4 years!

Latest illustration.

Art for Screen Door Entertainment's Christmas card this year.

Click on image to enlarge.

Lowe Down Stuff

I've added two new designs at LOWE DOWN STUFF (click onto visit).

The first is a nod to an old friend. I use hot glue almost everyday. It's an unappreciated artistic tool. It deserves celebration.


The second is having fun with the romantic story of King Arthur. I grew up enjoying books, stories, and movies of the legend. What if it was an old tail for furry, long tailed creatures...