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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

CHANNELING: Dr. Ellie Sattler

 

Laura Dern makes paleobotany look good.

Monday, January 28, 2013

WINNER: Caldecott Metal

It's like the Nobel Prize of children's illustration.  The ALA announces the new winner today.  
Remember these favorites?
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1964)
The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (2010)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (2008)
The Little Island, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard (1947)
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (1986)
Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz (1995)
Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg (1982)
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble (1979)
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (1942)
Madeline's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans (1954)
Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully (1993)
Fables by Arnold Lobel (1981)

Friday, January 25, 2013

ROYAL STYLE: Winter Coats


The Duke and Duchess of Kent.
High fashion in high winter.
Check out that croc bag!

Monday, January 21, 2013

POET: Richard Blanco

Although Tía Miriam boasted she discovered
at least half a dozen uses for peanut butter—
topping for guava shells in syrup,
butter substitute for Cuban toast,
hair conditioner and relaxer—
Mamá never knew what to make
of the monthly five-pound jars
handed out by the immigration department
until my friend, Jeff, mentioned jelly.

From América by inaugural poet Richard Blanco
John Bailly
Cienfuegos (Place of Mind, with Richard Blanco), 2007
mixed media on paper
30" x 22 "
Collection of Bill and Margaret Gellatly
line drawing by JOHN BAILLY

Friday, January 18, 2013

HOUSE: Karen Blixen


The above image is Karen Blixen's actual house (now museum)
at the foot of Ngong Hills in Kenya. The following is the house 
used in the film Out of Africa.  They did a helluva job replicating it.

I wish I had a farm in Africa.


Thursday, January 17, 2013

SONG: Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

Bob Dylan

Johnny Cash

Waylon Jennings
 Peter, Paul, and Mary

Joan Baez

Odetta

Elvis
Who sings your favorite version?

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

BROWSE: The Life of a Bowerbird


What is a bowerbird you ask? 
A bowerbird is an australian native bird that builds a reedy nest 
and goes to extraordinary lengths to decorate it
with "stolen" goods and found objects.


The book, The Life of a Bowerbird, is a beautiful collection of...collections.

Author Sibella Court, says "A collection doesn't need to be justified beyond the desire to have it and keep it. Collections are simply an attraction (over and over again) to the same object, or shape, or color, or texture.  A collection is a memento of people, places, past times, and experiences-made up of memories of characters you've encountered, meals, globetrotting adventures, explorations, and travels, the details of daily life, time spent with friends, and a million other things. All objects, once held, have a memory or story of where, when, and who you were with when you found them."

So go on then, start collecting things that make you happy.
These are the things that make a home interesting.

Curiosities.
Wrench.
Feather.
Just about.
Man's watch.
BOOTS.
Buds.
Stacks.
Tiny bones.

National Geographic



Monday, January 14, 2013

HISTOIRE: Babar





Everyone's favorite urbane, sports car-driving, spats-wearing Elephant
Listen to the story in it's native French:

Friday, January 11, 2013

EQUIPMENT: Dansk

Cool Scandinavian design brought to the USA in the mid-1950s.
This is what mid-Century modern is all about.
Sure, they do plates and silverware and stuff, but the enamel cookware is the star of the show.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

STYLE: Elbow Patches

Elbow patch
elbow patches

Stylish and practical, they'll save your favorite sweaters from an elbow blow-out and relegation to the scrap bin.

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