Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The Insignificance of Earth-dwelling in the Cosmos
Aleks and I just spent awhile watching the universe videos from this youtube user. This one comparing sizes of cosmic objects is especially compelling.
Christmas Presents - Don't read this if we normally exchange gifts!
Using the freezer paper stencil method, I got this great idea to do bags using Aleks' drawing of a squid & whale battle. Our friend Heather loves Architeuthis, so somehow I thought that Aleks should draw a picture of the famous squid & whale battles for her. Then I thought we could make all sorts of other things with it.
We began by googling, as we begin most of our research. We found some great images online, but none of the old woodcut prints I'd seen before. Aleks tried copying some of the google images, which resulted in this drawing eventually used for the bag prints.
Then we searched out books about giant squid to put on hold at the library. We surrounded ourselves. Children's books, adult books, DVDs, and even Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters on CD, which I've been listening to in the car, all made it to our house and into our media rotation. Ultimately, a month's worth of planning and thinking and dreaming went into all our efforts. These bags were the last to be completed. We contemplated a silk-screening method, but didn't get the supplies on time and then realized that we had a greater choice of color with the freezer paper method.
Aleks also drew several other versions, practicing before committing this pencil sketch to high quality paper. I then did the watercolor (which, despite my ability to paint a bit in general, I'd never done before) and we matted & framed it for Heather & Steve's holiday gift (which they've already received, so no risk of outing ourselves here). I love this piece so much, I wish I'd kept it!
All in all, our art this year is a great success. I wonder what we'll do next year......
We began by googling, as we begin most of our research. We found some great images online, but none of the old woodcut prints I'd seen before. Aleks tried copying some of the google images, which resulted in this drawing eventually used for the bag prints.
Then we searched out books about giant squid to put on hold at the library. We surrounded ourselves. Children's books, adult books, DVDs, and even Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters on CD, which I've been listening to in the car, all made it to our house and into our media rotation. Ultimately, a month's worth of planning and thinking and dreaming went into all our efforts. These bags were the last to be completed. We contemplated a silk-screening method, but didn't get the supplies on time and then realized that we had a greater choice of color with the freezer paper method.
Aleks also drew several other versions, practicing before committing this pencil sketch to high quality paper. I then did the watercolor (which, despite my ability to paint a bit in general, I'd never done before) and we matted & framed it for Heather & Steve's holiday gift (which they've already received, so no risk of outing ourselves here). I love this piece so much, I wish I'd kept it!
All in all, our art this year is a great success. I wonder what we'll do next year......
Holiday Countdown - Day Nineteen - December 15
I secretly switched the scrolls from days 19 & 20 in order to hit Natty's day off for this activity (My sister, Natalie, is now living with us and got a job locally). 
Somehow, I have no recollection of having ever ice-skated in all my life though both of my younger sisters took figure skating for years. Natty has fancy professional skates and leotards and the whole bit. The rest of us haven't a clue.
There's a local rink outdoors for the holiday season, but it turns out it's only open during the weekends up til December 20th, when it opens for all of the holiday week. We went to the rec center instead, where the rinks are larger and probably much nicer. They also have handy-dandy learning-to-skate aids. It took the boys awhile to get accustomed to even trying, but eventually they did all right.
Natty invited our friend Tony to meet up with us. He helped us with the kids.
Surprising even myself, I did okay.
Natty jumping!
Aleks skating:
Aleks eventually got tired and left the rink with Bastian. He took photos of me zooming past though.
Afterward, we went out for cupcakes as we heard it was National Cupcake Day. The folks at the bakery were thrilled to learn this and wished they'd known before.
Somehow, I have no recollection of having ever ice-skated in all my life though both of my younger sisters took figure skating for years. Natty has fancy professional skates and leotards and the whole bit. The rest of us haven't a clue.
There's a local rink outdoors for the holiday season, but it turns out it's only open during the weekends up til December 20th, when it opens for all of the holiday week. We went to the rec center instead, where the rinks are larger and probably much nicer. They also have handy-dandy learning-to-skate aids. It took the boys awhile to get accustomed to even trying, but eventually they did all right.
Natty invited our friend Tony to meet up with us. He helped us with the kids.
Surprising even myself, I did okay.
Natty jumping!
Aleks skating:
Aleks eventually got tired and left the rink with Bastian. He took photos of me zooming past though.
Afterward, we went out for cupcakes as we heard it was National Cupcake Day. The folks at the bakery were thrilled to learn this and wished they'd known before.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Holiday Countdown - Day Eighteen - December 14
While we busily worked on things for Christmas gifts and assorted holiday crafts, we were able to achieve this day's activity quite simply...
I had weeks ago gotten tons of holiday music out from the library. We like to include Fleet Foxes in the rotation usually, but did not this particular day. Bastian particularly liked the "Mambo Santa Mambo" song from the Hipster collection. So much so that we all had a chorus of it during a bath late in the night and then had to go look up how to dance the mambo on youtube later in the evening.
We did the ivory soap technique for making snow found at Julie's site, but wanted to let it dry before putting it in with the other materials. We may have to use it elsewhere as this table looks lovely as is. Someone put a bell on the philodendron that hangs nearby...
I had weeks ago gotten tons of holiday music out from the library. We like to include Fleet Foxes in the rotation usually, but did not this particular day. Bastian particularly liked the "Mambo Santa Mambo" song from the Hipster collection. So much so that we all had a chorus of it during a bath late in the night and then had to go look up how to dance the mambo on youtube later in the evening.We did the ivory soap technique for making snow found at Julie's site, but wanted to let it dry before putting it in with the other materials. We may have to use it elsewhere as this table looks lovely as is. Someone put a bell on the philodendron that hangs nearby...
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Holiday Countdown - Day Seventeen - December 13
The assignment was simple. Which was good because everyone slept late and did not a whole lot about the house all day, then Mama had a meeting.
Thus Papa took over.
Thus Papa took over.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Holiday Countdown - Day Sixteen - December 12
The assignment:
We invited our friends Heather and Steve over to join us. We decided on having a "seafood bonanza" (Papa's suggestion) with salmon and jumbo shrimp. They were delightful.
Papa was just a cowboy, much like last year.
The boys wore blazers over normal clothing. No spectacular costume this year - that's far too everyday, I suppose. Plus, they seemed prone to my suggestion at blazers. Aleks loves salmon. He likes it raw, but prefers it cooked.
I gave the boys fancy champagne glasses.
Yum.
12th. Wear fancy dress for dinnertime.
We invited our friends Heather and Steve over to join us. We decided on having a "seafood bonanza" (Papa's suggestion) with salmon and jumbo shrimp. They were delightful.
Papa was just a cowboy, much like last year.
The boys wore blazers over normal clothing. No spectacular costume this year - that's far too everyday, I suppose. Plus, they seemed prone to my suggestion at blazers. Aleks loves salmon. He likes it raw, but prefers it cooked.
I gave the boys fancy champagne glasses.
Yum.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Holiday Countdown - Day Fifteen - December 11
This project was actually not completed until December 14th as drying and waiting took quite awhile, as did the fact of our being a day or two behind on certain items and attempting to do everything (plus some) all at once. We fail ever-so-gracefully and I have the uncanny habit of constantly pointing it out as a failure. That is certainly something to look into - even if my feelings are not negative, my words seem to be... Hrm...
Fighting over who gets to roll out the dough.
Fighting over who gets to roll out the dough.
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