Author Archives: Panda in Chief

About Panda in Chief

Anne Belov paints, writes, makes prints, and is the founder of The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire. You can find her paintings at the Rob Schouten Gallery and Fountainhead Gallery, her cartoons on The Panda Chronicles, and her new book here. She also writes regularly for The Whidbey Life Magazine, a free journal of art and culture on Whidbey Island. Her main regret in life is that there is no MacArthur Grant for Panda Satire.

Babette, in all her glory!

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Ok, kiddies, for those of you who don’t have the time to cut out each of Babette’s individual outfits, we have a special offer! Here are MULTIPLE Babettes already dressed in each of her fabulous outfits!  Several of these outfits (or variations on the originals) come from some of our loyal readers.  You can print all these out and mount them on cardboard or foam core and have an all Babette party! Give everyone at your Christmas or Hanukah table a Babette Paper doll of their own!  And then, send us the pictures!  Remember, our contest, where you can win VALUABLE PRIZES ,ends at midnight on December 31st!

Babette in Zebra stripes!

Babette paints the town RED

Babette as Mrs Pandy Claws

Babette as Snow Bunny

The "M-Lou" variation: Babette of da Roses

Babette in Leather

Babette in little yellow dress

We hope you have had as much fun with Babette as we have had with those who have already shared their pictures of Babette on her travels!  Have a safe and happy holiday, whichever one you may celebrate.

and remember…

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

Babette, in all her glory!

4 Replies

Ok, kiddies, for those of you who don’t have the time to cut out each of Babette’s individual outfits, we have a special offer! Here are MULTIPLE Babettes already dressed in each of her fabulous outfits!  Several of these outfits (or variations on the originals) come from some of our loyal readers.  You can print all these out and mount them on cardboard or foam core and have an all Babette party! Give everyone at your Christmas or Hanukah table a Babette Paper doll of their own!  And then, send us the pictures!  Remember, our contest, where you can win VALUABLE PRIZES ,ends at midnight on December 31st!

Babette in Zebra stripes!

Babette paints the town RED

Babette as Mrs Pandy Claws

Babette as Snow Bunny

The "M-Lou" variation: Babette of da Roses

Babette in Leather

Babette in little yellow dress

We hope you have had as much fun with Babette as we have had with those who have already shared their pictures of Babette on her travels!  Have a safe and happy holiday, whichever one you may celebrate.

and remember…

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

Some results from our photo contest!

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Welcome to Fun…With…Pandas!  The show where YOUR photos can win you valuable prizes!  In our original concept of the idea, we thought that the costumes themselves would be the focus of the project.  We quickly realized that the settings in which people photographed Babette and the stories that they made up about her “visit” to the photographer’s locale was the REAL story.

I’m going to share a few of the photos that have been submitted to us at Bob T. Panda’s face book page.  If you are one of the wise people who have resisted FB’s siren song, send me a message here and I will privately contact you and give you an email address to submit pictures of your Babette de Panda paper doll.  Extra points are awarded for creative stories of Babette’s escapades as she rampages around the world.

This brilliant story came from Babette’s hostess in NYC at the Famed Rockefeller Plaza Ice Rink:

I’m almost afraid to report–I lost sight of her for a few minutes and then heard cheers and applause as she apparently whirled and twirled her way around the rink. As i fought my way through the crowd, she climbed over the wall and I whisked her away lest she be overwhelmed by the adulation.

Thank you Frances, that was inspired, to say the least.

Prior to arriving in NYC, Babette had a whirlwind visit to Singapore where her very good friend Lucilla not only took her shopping ( Bob’s VISA card is still smoking) but also to a fabulous holiday concert at a very fancy concert hall, and then out to dinner.  (Note to Babette from Bob: Did you have to put the dinner tabs for EVERYONE in the restaurant on my AmEx card?)

babette in singapore

At least she did not take cabs everywhere and occasionally took public transit.

And before she headed out for her around the world journey, she took a few days to relax on the southern California’s Malibu Beach. (oops, sorry, can’t find that photo right now!)

I hope everyone who was waiting for inspiration gets their entries in by our December 31, 2011 deadline for the 1st round of our contest! there will be actual prizes awarded, so don’t delay!

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

New From the Panda Channel: This Olde Den

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the panda chronicles

Those who know me, know that my stance on housekeeping is unfortunately more like Bob’s than like Mehitabel’s.  Even so, I am addicted to shows on decorating on HGTV (or would be if I had a TV….good thing I don’t) and used to watch “This Old House” when Bob (!) Vila was the host.  I thought that this would be an excellent theme to harvest a few cartoons from before people run away screaming.

By the way, you still have time to enter the “Dress up Babette de Panda and photograph her somewhere” contest.  Go to the December 2nd post to get your printable Babette de Panda paper doll and her first outfit.  There are 3 more outfits that have been featured here in the past few weeks, or make your own outfit for Babette!  Post your pictures on Bob T. Panda’s Facebook page! Win valuable prizes!

Be the bear!

Bob T. Panda

A Vision in Black and White…A New Ensemble`

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Why should zebras have all the fun?  Babette thought she needed a new outfit (avec un belle chapeau!) for all her jet setting… southern California one day, Singapore the next, then it’s off to the French Alps to get in a little time on the slopes with with a mystery panda!  So what could be more appropriate for a quick trip to the south of France (or maybe Disneyland?) than a glorious black and white striped asymmetrical ruffled blouse with a pleated skirt?  I don’t know about you, but I’m thinking, Ingrid Bergman; Casablanca….And her hat? Oh that hat!  Inspired by a little something her cousin Bai Yun of San Diego just “picked up”  around the den.

And what about the news that pandas are moving to France? Sacre` Bleu!  Cousins of Babette, no doubt.  Will Sweetie rake Sunshine over the coals for applying for the post in unfashionable Edinburgh, (haggis? ugh! when we could have had French pastries??) when Paris was on offer?  Stay tuned!

Be the (fashionable) Bear!

Bob T. Panda

It’s That Time of Year Again…..

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Did I mean holiday time? Noooooooo!  I meant the time of year when I congratulate myself on how funny I am and pick out my favorite cartoon of the past year.  I’t’s really kind of difficult this year, because I’ve been sooooooooo funny, and done more cartoons than I have in year’s past.  The panda kindergarten has pushed their way in and taken a much bigger role, and the introduction of Babette de Panda has changed the dynamic in the panda-sphere.  So, here is my favorite cartoon storyline for the year.  I’d love to hear what your favorite is. No really.  I’m listening.

wheel of pandas 1

wheel of pandas 2

I’d also like to mention that this is my 200th post!  Hurrah!

Be the Bear!

Bob (I’m waiting to hear which cartoons you liked best) T. Panda

Panda History

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Just how did pandas arrive on an island in the north Puget Sound?  We, at the Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire provide for your edification, our theory of how this occurred. We repeat, this is a theory and is not to be construed as fact.

We’d also like to thank the “mysterious donor” to the Institute, of this beoooteeful banner which now graces our international headquarters.

Isn’t it splendid?

More panda fun is in the works and will be posted “soon.”

Be the Bear!

Bob T. Panda

PS: there is still time to get a 30 Days of Pandas poster from Cafe Press Pandyland store! See link to the right in the Panda Commerce division before Christmas.  What could be better than pandas under the tree!

Panda-ing in a Winter Wonderland….

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Well, Babette no sooner gets back from the beach, then it’s off to the frozen North for a Ski Vacation!  Babette is certainly  a “Bear on the Go” with her dashing through the snow alpine ski outfit.  Nothing says “Winter Wonderland” quite like Babette’s panda button quilted ski jacket and bamboo patterned cashmere scarf, scarlet ski pants and boot toppers knitted from cat fur left on the furniture!

And just who will be waiting at the bottom of the black and white diamond run as Babette comes shushing down the slopes?  Who will be ready to provide a hot cocoa and cuppycake feast in front of the roaring fire in the lodge?  Will it be the shy, but dependable Bob T. Panda?  Or, will  the dashing, devil may care artiste Claude Pandet be punching her lift ticket?

Rumor has it, Babette’s next vacation spot is “The Magic Kingdom”!

Tune in tomorrow to find out!

Be the Bear

BobT.Panda