In my last post, I told you how I found my childhood toy that started my love for the circular motifs that you now see in my work. What I didn’t tell you is its name. It’s called a Skedoodle. 

It’s a drawing toy created by the American toy company Hasbro. This is how Google’s AI describes the toy: “ It had a rotating dome-shaped screen and a joystick for drawing. The Skedoodle was similar to the Etch A Sketch, but with a circular screen and templates for drawing shapes.”

The Toy that Traveled to Africa

My dad traveled all over the world for work; especially to Europe. So, some of my early childhood memories are centered around having a dad who traveled a whole lot. Although I don’t remember this, My mom tells me I missed him so much when he traveled, that I almost always fell ill when he was away. And as soon as he returned I’ll get well again. 

However, what I do remember very well about his travels are his returns back home. I loved to see him come back and I loved to see the world through his eyes. There were two things I remember he consistently did every time he came back from his travels. He’d bring tons of photos of the places he’s been and he’d bring souvenirs to each of us. For us his children, one of those things he’d bring were toys. 

The Skedoodle, I imagine, is a toy he brought back to me after one of his many travels to Europe. That is to say, the Skedoodle is a toy that was released in America, marketed in Europe and sold to an African man who then bought it for his daughter in Ghana. An incredible journey for a toy. A journey across three continents which will spark a lifetime of creativity in one little African girl. Me.

And the hunt for the Skedoodle begins

After I saw the toy on Google like I described in my previous post, I was emotional. Soon afterwards, I knew I wanted to hold one in my hands again. So, I started hunting it down in online antique and vintage toy stores. 

I was actually surprised to find several of them for sale online. However, I wanted to be sure that the toy I got still works. I didn’t want to have one just for nostalgic reasons. No, I wanted to play with it. I wanted to relive the feelings I had as a child playing with the toy. So, specifically, I wanted to ensure that the screen could still perform its Etch-a-Sketch functions and be able to completely erase my drawings so I can start all over again. 

Subsequently, after spending way too much time online, running down many a rabbit hole, I found the one. I decided to go with this one because it was the only one I found that is still in its original box. That was the one thing that sold me. I wanted to see it in its original packaging with all the instructions the same way I received it when I  was a child. 

After I found it and had decided it was the one, for some reason, I couldn’t place the order. I put it in my shopping cart and left it there. For days, I’ll go back and check on it but didn’t complete the transaction. I even sent the seller some questions to make sure it was in pristine condition. Finally, one day, I just went and pulled the plug. Yes, I’ve made the purchase. 

So, now, we’re in “Skedoodle Watch Mode“. You and I both will be counting down to the arrival of the amazing Skedoodle. 

Till later,
Warmly,