July from Patty - Pencil bat

 

Patty found a fish to coordinate with the lure - or maybe she just made it up. It's a nice layout and the tail wraps around - plus there is a bonus illustration. I'm fond of little add-ons like that --- and if I remember to use each July envelope to inspire my Aug envelopes - Patty will get a little drawing....

I chose Patty's envelope to go with another baseball related item because I know Patty attends baseball games....although not little league. I keep forgetting to ask you, Patty - so tell me - do you have a favorite ball park? 

***

Another summer art project. Grandson Ben showed me photos of baseball bats that look like pencils and wondered if *we* could cover his wiffle ball bat with duct tape and make it look like a pencil. 

Sounds easy. Ben's mom orders the duct tape online. Later - she's grumbling - because the order was canceled. She does more searching and lots more grumbling.

Nanna (wise OLD Nanna) suggests that there is a run on those colors of duct tape because these *pencil bats* are a rage that is sweeping the nation. There is an Ace hardware store 3 blocks from their house. I offer to walk over to the hardware store. They all think I am crazy. I walk to the store and find what we need. Nanna for the win.

Then - I proceed to work on the bat. It is much trickier than I was expecting. I will not go into all the details. The biggest mistake was that I made the eraser way too long - so the proportions are off - but Ben was very happy. The bright orange wasn't quite the right color for the eraser - but Ben didn't mind.

Ben, who lives a mile from Wrigley Stadium, has a Red Sox hat because his little league team was Red Sox this year.

I did the "Victus" twice - and it needs to be larger. Today is my last day in Chicago -- I might have time to redo it.....

These actual bats (above) are $150. 

This wiffle ball version is available for $40 on Etsy--- which is crazy. They don't even have the words.