CUTE TOES

NAME: Gabriella

LOCATION: Winston-Salem, NC

EGGPLANT QUOTE: has cute toes

COMMENTS: Gabby was a second grade student of mine some years ago. At that time, I nicknamed her "Gabby-Toes" and so this seemed like the most appropriate eggplant for her.

BECAUSE FALCONS LIKE EGGPLANTS TOO

NAME: Analea Maria

LOCATION: Northville, MI

EGGPLANT QUOTE: shoot meatballs to their pet falcon

COMMENTS: I work in Solid Grounds Coffeehouse in Northville, MI. I just became the owner of a stray eggplant that reads- "shoot meatballs to their pet falcon." I am so happy to own my very own eggplant! Keep it up!

EGGPLANT HEROICALLY SAVES PRINCESS

NAME: Gigi Coddington

LOCATION: Carlsbad, California

EGGPLANT QUOTE: don't throw a mental

COMMENTS: My daugther Quinny concieved the idea for the eggplant on her own :)...The eggplant will save you, Princess! As to how I obtained my eggplant...My friend Mark has an artomat in his office and I purchased it last Thursday. Thanks so much for my eggplant. Now if I can only get back from Quinny!

AN EGGPLANT BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER

OWNER'S NAME: Herbert Hoover & Koren Gaines

LOCATION: New York, New York

EGGPLANT QUOTE: you'll shoot your eye out

COMMENTS: In 2007, I received an eggplant owner's gallery submission from New York artist, Herbert Hoover, who had purchased it from the Art*o*mat machine at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York (Herb's also an Arto*artist who makes art for Art*o*mat). See that post here. Indeed, an eggplant had brought us together.

At that time, we decided to do an art swap. I made him a custom eggplant that says "pewter junk food," a description of his American Snack Food Icon sculptures (visit his amazing on-line shop at www.potus31.com). In exchange, he sent me one of his celebrated pewter crackers. See the post about the swap here.

In November 2009, William and I visited New York City and arranged a meeting with Herb and his wife, Koren. We had a wonderful visit at a diner in Manhattan. He brought us one of his brand new items: a pewter lolly pop, which I'm holding in the photo by William below. They also brought the pewter junk food eggplant along for the photo op.

When we returned home, I sent them one of my limited edition eggplant Christmas ornaments with the quote "you'll shoot your eye out," because I know Herb to be a movie buff and this comes from the movie "A Christmas Story." To my surprise, not only did they get the reference, they had their very own leg lamp! So in the photo at the top of this post, you can see the ornament with the lamp—a true Christmas Story installation.

We do so love it when eggplants allow us to meet cool people like Herb and Koren. May the eggplants continue to fill our world with fabulous folks!

A HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

NAME: Elizabeth

LOCATION: Columbia, South Carolina

EGGPLANT QUOTE: o by golly

COMMENTS: "I just returned home and I rec'd a surprise package from you complete with Christmas tidings of JOY! As you can see I put it right on the tree. I lOVE your eggplants and not a day goes by that I don't look at them...I have also sent a picture of my dog, Weezie, (who no longer eats corn on the cob due to lack of teeth... but it was fun while it lasted, she says). THANK YOU and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours!"

See Lizzie's other eggplant pics here and here.

WHO DO YOU WANT ANSWERING YOUR EGGPLANT AT 3 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING?

OWNER'S NAME: Marisa

LOCATION: Lincoln, Nebraska

EGGPLANT QUOTE: three o'clock in the morning

COMMENTS: "I recently purchased your Art-O-Mat piece in the 2008 Election Series from the machine located in the Ross Theater of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.  I am a freshman in Art Education at the University and am looking into being involved in the Art-O-Mat program.  Attached is a photo of me with your work.  Thanks for the great piece and have a wonderful day!"

EGGPLANTS MAKE GREAT SINGING COMPANIONS

OWNER'S NAME: Kari

LOCATION: Boise, Idaho

EGGPLANT QUOTE: keep on singing loudly

COMMENTS: "It likes to sing with me."