1960's Fashion Print: Creatives Book Club

Once again my Creative Book Club choice

 is a quick read.

Obviously I am not one to tackle the epic...

it may have something to do with my attention span,

but I think I'd rather put it down

 to the fact that I am a visual person.

And this book is all about the visual.

All the same it does have some short sharp paragraphs

giving a brief history, circa and name of the pattern.

Useful, interesting info.

 I love the 60's!

I spent my teenage years being a try hard mod

-embarrassing yes,

 but not as embarrassing as the 80's fashion of the time.

 Yummy colour galore.

Read it if:

• If you dig the 6o's
• Fabrics are your thing
• If you want some inspiration for pattern or colour
• You have a spare half hour

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Creative Book Club: Steal Like an Artist

My local library is a regular haunt.

Every week I go and pick up 20 new books

 for my children

and

a couple just for me.

Lately I have come across so many intriguing books,

sparking the idea that it would be a waste not to share them,

especially with the creative souls out there.

So this is the first of my Creative Book Club reads:

 (that name is so daggy but, hey, its about the books not the name) 

Steal Like an Artist

(10 Things Nobody Told you About Being Creative)

by 

Austin Kleon

Last year I realised that whilst raising children and beginning a new job
 I had neglected a big part of me :

 my need to imaginative, innovative and experimental.

I realised with sudden clarity that I just needed to 'do'.

This book gives you strategies to 'do' asserting

Don't wait until you know who you are to get started.

This is great advice, cause lets face it if we all waited the world would be a colourless place.

Being an Art teacher the fruitless quest for originality 

and post modern concepts about appropriation are nothing new.  Kleon, however, does educate how to 'steal' in the honorable way. I hope people catch on.

I won't go into the rest because this book

 is short and super easy to read.

Read it if:

• Your in a creative rut
• You're a creative wannabe
• Your a student (of life, college or uni)
• You have a spare hour

Do you have a book I should read?

Vintage and Future Cars

Do you know about Cars?

Of course not!

Some people have love affairs

 with their 4 wheeled polluters.

 Not me- I really couldn't give a clutch.

Last weekend, however, we went to the Lifeline Bookfest and this little 1963 book caused my differential assembly to spin round altogether.

Fiat Bambino

I try not have regrets,

 but in my 20s I passed up  the opportunity

 to buy a little red Fiat Bambino.

Idiot!

I never got to put a scarf around my head and pretend I was  in driving to a cocktail party in Italy (sigh)

Oh and look at that Combie

(this page is destined to become a travel wallet)

So if I slam into reverse,

maybe I should reevaluate and admit 

I love the whole design element of automobiles.

Also, they do get me from A to B (albeit at a crawl in Brissy)

Hope to catch you soon in the anti-gravity design blazing down Coronation Drive.

Maths meets Art: Bunting to stimulate inquiry

When it comes to maths my mind is a black hole.

Simply put:

Algebra + me = coma

Sound familiar? Is this you? Your child? 

Well, I used to think this way and

 I thought I was super crap at maths.

It ends up -I'm not too bad actually!

How do I know?

Well I married a Maths teacher!

So many people consider that Maths and the Creative Arts
are at opposite ends of the learning spectrum.

I wish to assert an alternative and less common belief,
 that just as music and maths are intrinsically linked,
so are visual art and maths.

In my Art classes I teach about measuring, fractions,
how to visually divide an image, how to frame,  angles, pattern, tessellations...(big breath)...
the golden ratio, sequencing, perspective...
Do I really need to go on?

So if I can teach all this,

 why did I think I was so rubbish at Maths for so long?

Maybe it has something to do with the unimaginative approach of my Maths teachers from

 some 20 (a-hem) years ago.

Maybe it has something to do with

 the notion that Maths has an image problem,

 especially with girls.

So when the library staff at Mt Alvernia College,

 an all girl's school in Kedron

commissioned some maths bunting I jumped at the chance!

How exciting to potentially engage young womens' maths inquiry through the visual arts! 

I hope that when the girls' eyes wander

 that maybe they will begin to wonder....

"What does that have to do with Maths?"

"Is Maths connected with that?"

Any inquiry is good as it is the beginnings of engagement. 

Who knows?

The girls might even come to the conclusion

 that maths can be beautiful,

(something my husband has been telling me for years).

Envelope for Maths Bunting

Extra education for no extra fee:
In Australia we call the subject Maths not Math as they do in America.

Sharing this Elle and Lou Post @
http://carolynshomework.blogspot.com
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http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/
http://cheapcraftymama.com/
http://bloomdesignsonline.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/
http://whilehewasnapping.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.serenitynowblog.com/
http://tatertotsandjello.com/
http://www.happygoluckyblog.com/
http://www.kadie-sevenalive.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.iheartnaptime.net/

Elections and rummage sales

Sat night night was our big state election. 

Now while I am a little non-plussed
 about the result,
 I am grateful!

How lucky am I to be in a country
 where (as a woman)  I have a vote?

I did not have to travel for days to get to the polling booth,

 and my life was not put in danger.

I am grateful that my government did not rig the election
 as is evidenced by it being well
 and truly thrown out of office.

So while I am concerned at the environmental integrity of the newly elected party

(and I hope with all my heart they look after our wild rivers)
I am grateful to live in a democratic system!


There is another wonderful thing about democratic elections....

Where there is a polling booth there is often a super fantabulous rummage sale!!! 

We stumbled upon a beauty at the local church up the road.

Plastic jewellery isn't for everyone,
 but I've never been that enamoured by diamonds.
 I'm in retro love my new plastic orange bangles

These glossy red numbers will cheer up many an outfit!

But thats not all! No sir-ee!

We came home with 4 bags of cheap old, books
and this is my favourite....

The SUPER DICTIONARY!

for 50 cents!
Thats a lot to be grateful for!

Sharing this Elle and Lou ramble here:
http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/2012/03/vintage-rooster-newbie-party-started.html

Alice in Wonderland - Bunting Decor

If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense.

 Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't.

 And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. 

You see? 

Classic lines...

Classic characters... 

 Alice, The Cheshire Cat

 and a  kooky Queen.

In my primary school play, I scored the role as The Mad Hatter.

In retrospect, maybe I was typecast?!

mmmmmm...

It's the images of this particular version that really take me back.

Walt Disney's colours are bold.

They make great subject matter for bedroom decor,

or party decorations.

 

Or a personal gift for a sweet little girl.

Sharing Elle and Lou with:

http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.serenitynowblog.com/
Monday
http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com.au/
http://creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com.au/
Tuesday
http://www.vwbblog.com/search/label/%7Btalent%20tuesday%7D
http://www.SugarBeeCrafts.com/
http://www.hopestudios.blogspot.com.au/
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/

Children's Gift Tags: Retro and laminate up-cycling

The new school year is only a few weeks old here in Australia.

Already, the weekends are filling up with class parties for my children's friends.

Presents to buy.

Presents to  wrap.

Presents to decorate.

Presents that need gift tags!

Lets face it- kids aren't really interested in cards.

They are usually just tossed to one side.

But a gift tag on the other hand....

A child will turn over a tag over, searching for THEIR name on it.

They love bright colours.

And these retro images will still captivate this new generation.

This new generation will also reap other benefits,

 because these gift tags are up-cycled & eco-friendly!

They began their life as laminate sample discards-destined for landfill.

That is until I got my scissors and hole punch to them.

With paper on the back to write a short message on and a ribbon, they begin to take shape.

Naturally, the sweet images are also up-cycled from an old kids book.

I am officially gift tag ready!

Now, I guess I should go a buy a few gifts to attach the tags on to.

Monday

Hating Martha

http://makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com/

http://www.thegirlcreative.com

http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/

http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/

http://www.skiptomylou.org/

http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/

http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/

http://www.lifemadelovely-blog.com/

http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com.au/