I invented a new yoga ball guy: The Dog Ball. And on the right is the recipient! His name is Jackson, and he’s the grandson of Kathy and Elmo at Hot Shops Art Center. He gets to visit Omaha for a while every year, and he walks around the building with his grandma every day. When he arrives at 222 (my studio), you can hear him talking to the monsters, squealing with glee, and playing with “Eggbert” (the stripey blue, orange, and fuschia yoga monster also known as “Egg Shew”). The kid is soooo adorable, and I was delighted when Kathy and Elmo said they wanted me to make one for Jackson! They picked 55cm, and then gave me total artistic license. And Dog Ball is what happened! I’m so happy with how it turned out.
I told Jackson that I thought “Marshall Mushnose” was a good name, but he could name it whatever he liked. It’s all vinyl so that he can roll it around the Shops all he wants . . . totally washable.
It’s the perfect height for him, and he was cracking me up playing with it. Right before I left to go hang with Rob’s family (including Rob’s super cute baby niece), Kathy asked if he wanted to leave Marshall at Hot Shops or take him home. Jackson just stared into Dog Ball’s eyes and softly said, “He is mine.”
Kids are the best people in the world to make things for.