Bye For Now.

I'm trying out wordpress currently, and that's where I'll be until futher notice. I might decide to come back here, but for now....  http://pollygon.wordpress.com/

Make A World

I'm exited for this documentary about Ed Emberley's famous "Make A World" book.

To raise money for the film, they're selling t-shirts designed by Wire and Twine including every illustration in the book. I really want one!

Crayon Scupltures

Storytelling Crayons by Diem Chau.

FOUND: Etsy

1. and 2. Little People Dolls by Hasenpfeffer Incorporated.
3. Brontosaurus by bluebutterflyshop.
4. Girl and Boy Head Pillows by vintagejane.

Running With Scissors

I read this book yesterday. I was at a Christmas Brunch with my family this weekend, and my stepmother suggested I read it, she said it would remind me of my own family. It was good, but also put me in a bad mood.

Interestingly, there was a lawsuit brought against the author by the family portrayed in the book, even though he changed their names.


"The defamation lawsuit filed against St. Martin’s Press and Augusten Burroughs by the Turcotte family for the author’s characterization of the clan in his bestselling memoir Running with Scissors has been settled, with both sides claiming at least partial victory."

FOUND: Textures

1. Unknown.
2. Unknown.
3. Elisa Strozyk.
4. David Galletly.
5. Peter Gregson.

“How can we have missed these beautiful compositions?”

This is work by Carmen Herrera, a 94-year old artist who is finally being discovered by the art world. The NY Times just ran an article on her: At 94, She’s the Hot New Thing in Painting.


"Last year, MoMA included her in a pantheon of Latin American artists on exhibition. And this summer, during a retrospective show in England, The Observer of London called Ms. Herrera the discovery of the decade, asking, “How can we have missed these beautiful compositions?”"

How indeed.

Winter Break Has Come.

I hope I get a glimpse of snowflakes as beautiful as this during these next two weeks. I love making paper snowflakes. I decorated an entire window at school with them!

Yarbleck.

What I've Been Reading.

This is a wonderful fairy-story about a princess who has no gravity. (In both senses of the word, one of the best things about this book is the language and puns, not to mention the illustrations by Sendak.)

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is one of the first books I remember my Mom reading to me, and she's been one of my favorites ever since.

I've seen the Disney movie, but this is the first time I've ever read the book. It's very different from the movie, for the record.

I really didn't enjoy this book. In fact, I stopped reading it, which is something I don't do very often. It seemed like a poor imitation of 20th century British children's lit.

 

A Person's a Person, No Matter How Small

Small Magazine is so cool.

Fantasia 2.0

This is a really beautiful animation. It reminds me of a more modern Fantasia. Someone should make a new full-length film like Fantasia. Fantasia 2000 didn't really cut it.


PRESS + from benjamin ducroz on Vimeo.

New Clothes?

Mmmm, I really wish I could have this t-shirt. It's from Polarn O. Pyret, a kids clothing shop.

Quilt Cravings

I am really in love with quilts right now, and I want one for my bed. I also want to make one... (along with all the other things I want to make!)

November 10th

Today I am sick. I think I may have the flu. I've been in bed, just constantly reading, and I'm on my third book of the day. Between XX and XY: Intersexuality and the Myth of Two Sexes, by Gerald N. Callahan, PH.D. After I read Pink Brain, Blue Brain, I was really interested in our society's response to people who aren't easily definable as male or female. This book's really interesting so far, and it has lots of first-hand accounts from people who are intersex, although I haven't gotten to them yet.

And yeah, I know the blanket above has nothing to do with this, but it just looks so amazing and cozy.

A New Friend

I like this guy. He looks friendly.

Rising Tide!

Yes! Rising Tide now has a blog!

This is the school I work at, a democratic Sudbury-model school for kids ages 5-18. Yay!

Making Things

I recently picked up two books by Steven Caney at the Library's book sale. Play Book and Toy Book. They're both really amazing, with tons of fun activities and toys for kids do do and make on their own. I really like the recipe for "curds and whey" and the ideas for building toys, like using paper plates to build geodesic domes. 

I also have another book like this, called Things to Do on a Rainy Day. My favorite part of this one are the illustrations in the book itself, which are a unique combination of photos and drawings. I was looking through a book at school yesterday published by Better Homes and Gardens (I think), called Things to Make for Children. It had some great dollhouse and fort plans in it. I love the idea of making all your own toys, or making toys for your children. I don't think I'll be able to go without buying them playmobil though, if only because I want to play with it. No, I'm sure my kids will want plenty of ugly plastic cheap toys, but maybe they'll like some handmade ones too...

Hmmmm...

I am thinking about posting on here for my class, (which would basically be posting about what happens at school, and the books I've read). I'm not sure I want to combine all that into this site though. Also, I'm actually not sure that I should be posting about the school at all without permission. ...maybe I should just cross-post my class stuff to here, and then also cross-post school stuff with an official school blog? That sounds better. Okay. It helps to think "out loud".

Today I Feel Like This