nine cool things on a tuesday

April 16, 2019April 16, 2019 ~ jama ~ 19 Comments

1. Here’s something to make National Poetry Month even more fabulous: a new activity book by London-based illustrator, designer and cut-paper collage queen Clover Robin!

Origami and Poetry: Inspired by Nature (Nosy Crow, 2019), was just released in mid March, and is a wonderful way for kids to extend their enjoyment of poetry with hands-on fun.

This stunning book features nature-inspired poems and origami. For each animal or object, children will be able to read a poem and then make a corresponding origami figure! With clear, simple directions and links to helpful videos for how to make thirteen animals or objects and fifty sheets of origami paper, this is the perfect introduction to the art of paper folding.

You may remember we featured Clover Robin’s work not too long ago; she is brilliant and her love of nature shines through in all her projects. Snip snip snip!

2. Look what’s coming out later this year: Sesame Street postage stamps! In honor of Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary, the U.S. Postal Service is issuing 16 Forever stamps featuring some of the beloved characters from the show, including Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo and Grover. Nice to see that Julia, a new character with autism who was introduced in 2017, is also part of the line-up.

My favorite has always been Elmo, though when I get some of these stamps I will use Oscar the Grouch to mail all my bills. 🙂

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nine cool things on a tuesday

November 14, 2017November 10, 2017 ~ jama ~ 13 Comments

1. Can you guess who painted the above piece? Let me give you a few clues: he’s a legendary musician, poet, and songwriter who loves to watch “I Love Lucy” reruns, he makes a mean meatball, and he just happened to win the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature.

And yes, my man Bob Dylan is also an accomplished visual artist. His second graphic release from The Beaten Path collection is now available worldwide. There are 15 hand-signed limited edition prints (some are already sold out), depicting the main routes and back roads of America.

Choice of subject is just as interesting as his unique perspective. Of course my faves are the eateries — this time there’s a hamburger stand and a diner. 🙂

Don’t you love seeing the country via his eyes and imagination? View the entire collection at the Castle Galleries webpage.

2. Once again, author/illustrator extraordinaire Julie Paschkis has created a cool wall calendar to benefit the ACLU. The 2018 Hope Calendar celebrates the values of the United States:

By working together we can carry those values into the future, riding on a hopeful horse.

Calendars are 12″ x 18″ and are $12 each, with 100% of the proceeds donated. Get yours at Julie Paprika!

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cute stuff

October 11, 2011 ~ jama ~ 12 Comments

Some of you may have noticed I have a ~~full out obsession~~ tiny weakness for china and crockery. My favorite thing to do is set the table. What can I say? I love to play with dishes.

At present, we have three cupboards and three hutches brimming with cups, plates, teapots, platters, and bowls. No room for any more. No, no room at all.

I’m usually okay as long as I don’t see something. But the other day a Google+ friend posted this:

awesome tray — Trinket dish or tea bag holder

Curious to see more, I clicked through to the Etsy Shop and found some delightful pieces for sale at LennyMud (Lenny is the artist’s cat). Everything is handmade, non-toxic, eco-friendly, lead free, dishwasher and microwave safe.

And there are mustaches! I’m married to a Lenny with a mustache! It must be a sign, right? But I decided that if I show you these cute things, you’ll be tempted to buy them so I won’t have to.

Yes, that’ll work,right?