Doodle Art

It's been awhile since I've sat down to draw.  There have been many other hobbies occupying my time.  BUT NOT ANYMORE!!  For about a month, I've been drawing and coloring again!

 

Unless you've been living in a cave this past year, you've probably noticed the wide array of coloring books for adults popping up in local bookstores, discount stores and even at the supermarket checkout, full of highly detailed drawings of mandalas, nature settings, geometric patterns and many other subjects.  They are so cool!  Years ago, my dream was to create a "coloring book" of sorts for grownups who LOVE to color, using my own mandalas and geometric patterns.

This is one of the drawings I did back in 2007, that I wanted to include in a coloring book.

 

I never did.  Mostly because I had no idea how to go about it...Do I self publish?  Do I sell them at the flea?  Are my drawings good enough?  How would I copyright my work?

 

Another drawing from 2007 that I actually started coloring myself.

 

At least now I know the idea wasn't totally crazy...people ARE buying adult coloring books.  Not just the books, but the colored pencils, and pens as well!  Why didn't I invest in Copic, Sanford or Crayola?

 

I bought this Secret Garden coloring book, by Johanna Basford, a couple years ago.  I decided to finally go ahead and color inside of it. 

It's crazy how relaxing it is to sit and color!  I put some Waltons on the TV and colored for almost an hour!

That's all for today, until another time, have a happy, colorful day!



 

 

 

 

 

 

Stringing Beans...I had no idea

Last night, as I was reading a 1930s diary online, I came across an entry where the woman in the diary said she "helped string and cut green beans".  What???  I've heard of "string beans" but what does it mean to string a bean.  I looked it up and learned something NEW!

 

Check it out!

 

I've never "de-stringed" my beans.  Might have to start.

That's all for today.  I've been reading and reading this January, mostly old diaries online and historical stuff.  It's always fun to learn a bit of history and to learn new things. 

2015 Caldecott Predictions (or is it 2016?)

So, it dawned on me this evening that I have not written about my Caldecott favorites!  I thought I had plenty of time, but found out earlier this week that the ALA conference was THIS WEEKEND!  The Youth Award winners will be awarded very early tomorrow morning!  So, as I sit here typing it is 9:45 pm and I'm going to quickly share my "picks" for Caldecott with you.

 

First, I would LOVE to see Kevin Henkes win for his beautiful book, Waiting.

 

 

Or...I'd like to see FLOAT by Daniel Miyares win.  When I first saw this book, I LOVED IT!

I wish I could go into more detail here, but it's past my bedtime.  There are some really nice two page spreads in this book and some nifty reflection drawings.

 

My favorite book of the year was Mama Seaton's Whistle by Jerry Spinelli Ill by LeUyen Pham, which I received for Christmas.  I don't think this book has gotten much attention, and I don't think it will beat the two books above, but I like it.

 

 

Two other books I quite enjoyed looking at (pouring over is more like it) are Finding Winnie: The True Story of the Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick Ill by Sophie Blackall,

 

and

 

Water is Water by Miranda Paul Ill by Jason Chin, which is beautiful! (I may actually have to buy this book, it's so well done.)

 

 

 But I honestly think the medal will go to either Waiting by Henkes, or Float by

 Daniel Miyares.  They are both so wonderful!

 

I would like to go into more detail but I am tired.  It is 10:18 and I will be getting up early to watch the awards live on my computer.

 

Good Night Ya'll!  Have a happy day tomorrow!

 

Update: 

There were four HONOR BOOKS announced!

 

Trombone Shorty Written by: Troy Andrews  Illustrated by: Bryan Collier

 

Waiting Written and Illustrated by: Kevin Henkes

 

Voice of Freedom By: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement Written by: Carole Boston Weatherford  Illustrated by: Ekua Holmes

 

Last Stop On Market Street  Written by: Matt De La Pena Illustrated by: Christian Robinson

 

The CALDECOTT MEDAL went to

 

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear  Written by: Lindsay Mattick Illustrated by: Sophie Blackall

All excellent winners!!

Glass Wax for Christmas

What did my vintage-loving Uncle Stan give me for Christmas this year?  One of the gifts was GLASS WAX! 

 

 

Not just any glass wax, Gold Seal Company glass wax, which was a company born and raised in good ole' North Dakota!

See, it says right on the can, it's from Bismarck, ND!

 

 

I just love the graphics and the color of this can.

 

 

 

Here is a vintage television commercial for Glass Wax and the nifty stencils that you could buy to decorate your windows.  How fun! 

 

There is quite a bit of history about Harold Schafer his Gold Seal Company on the internet, but here are a few brief notes.

 

He started out by making his own floor wax.

The Gold Seal Company was the original manufactures of Mr. Bubble. (I always wondered why there was a "Mr. Bubble" mini golf course in Medora, ND)

Mr. Schafer used personal funds to restore parts of Medora ND helped it to become the ND tourist attraction it is today.

The Gold Seal Building, in Bismarck, has windows that have a golden tint to them in the sunlight.

 

Here is the Wikipedia entry about Herold Schafer 

 

And just for kicks here is one of my favorite vintage television commercials...Mr. Bubble!

 

 

I'm tickled pink over my new can of Glass Wax!
That's all for today, until another time have a happy, bubbly kind of day!

 

 

 

 



Christmas Tree Cookies

The month of December was so busy, I forgot to post about the Christmas Tree Cookies I made for my daughter's teachers, and for some of our family.

 

These were pretty simple to do, as there wasn't much detail to them.

That's all for today, just a quick post.  Until another time, have a happy, yummy day!