I recently checked out 'Return of the Crazy Bird' The sad, strange tale of the Dodo' from the library. It really is sad. The saddest part? Besides the extinction and all, was that these docile creatures that had no known predators on their island paradise were considered dumb and had to be dubbed Dodo (derived from the word 'duodo' Portuguese for idiot.) They weren't dumb they just trusted that everything was as it should be. They would be happy to walk right up to a human and could easily be caught and wouldn't run away, why? Because they didn't have any fear. In the 21st century that may seem ridiculous not to have any fear but in the 17th century you didn't have to lock your front door and since there were no humans on your island you didn't have to worry about much of anything but when the next meal or nap was. They were fat happy birds. I would have loved to have my own Dodo, I would love it and feed it and name it George, if I didn't already have a puppy named George that is. If you are looking for an interesting subject to delve into may I recommend the Raphus cucullatus? Raphus so much more distinguished a name than Dodo....
I. Free chalkboard doodle Photoshop brush of a Raphus cacullatus by moi. Not my best work, but not my worse either...Use for your personal use only, I doubt you would get very far trying to sell it since the feet are all wonky and all.Download here
II. The Dodo Pad. Some seriously interesting ways to get your Dodo on and get organised (it's an English site they eschew the letter 'z'). I love their cheeky take on the Dodo elevating 'him' to Lord Dodo and giving him his own manor. The illustrations look a touch sinister (wee bit in the eye) but so remind me of one of my fave illustrators Quentin Blake.
III. Return of the crazy bird: The sad strange tale of the Dodo is available here or hopefully you are fortunate to have a library near by that carries such wonderful works.
I am always on the prowl for books that will some how re-awaken my ability to draw. I used to be so good. Mind you I copied a lot, I was like a human copy machine. I would sit for hours re-drawing the images from Maurice Sendak's books while my peers scribbled in their coloring books (going outside the lines mind you--gasp!). I actually found a sketch book recently of these drawings that I was going to scan but have been too lazy to. What I could do at 8 I could not do at 18. What happened? I didn't bump my head and no one criticized my work. I never stopped thinking it was cool to draw, or lost my interest I just think that I got caught up in the idea of 'perfect'. I couldn't get the images perfect and so I stopped. I couldn't translate what I saw in my minds eye on paper and so I gave up. I didn't take any art classes in highschool or college I just didn't go there. I started to believe that it was a gift bestowed by the Gods and not something that you practiced and got better at. My friend Candace assured me that anyone could draw, she is after all one of those people that was born talented. If I didn't like her so much I would hate her. I bought a book and got bored, it was a lot of grids and shading and was messy. I haven't touched the book for over a year, although a lot of people swear by that book. This weekend I picked up another book at the library, so far I am quite enjoying it and thought I would share in case you are wanting to improve your drawing skills or believe you need to be born with this talent to draw, the book suggests otherwise. I will keep you posted but my gut is telling me what I don't need is another book but to practice. After all practice makes "perfect".
{photo's stolen from anthropologie}
Do you know what this is? My dears it's a new offering from Chronicle Books (my fave) and it has zipped and zoomed through the blogosphere like a rocket out of control. It even made it to my in box via my bestie Jules (or 'Jukes' which is often my typo in emails to her) she knows that this kind of tome would make me weak in my knee's. They have coined it Pictorial Webster's: A visual dictionary of curiosities. Oh how I love the word 'curiousities'. You could have filled this book with blank pages and I would still give it a thumbs up for the name and cover but alas they didn't leave the pages the blank, they filled 512 pages with everything from acorn's to zebra's and everything inbetween. In a word, this book is delightful. Hopefully it will do what it was intended to do and that is spark a stream of crazy creativity. Well let's find out. I am giving one of these beauties away because I have friends in high places that know I am a blabbermouth so here we are at another giveaway crossroads. Excited? I will make this easy, I want to spark my own creative revolution so in order to enter to win please link the best d.i.y.. blogs, sites or projects in the comments below. I will announce the lucky winner next Wednesday. Good luck!
P.S. If you can't wait to win and need this STAT (and who can blame you?) Chronicle Books gives Bright Side Project readers 30% off + free shipping--GASP! Just click their ad when you are at the BSP! Promo code GET BOOKS.
What the heck are ya doin' here when there's much more goodness to see over at the launch of Lonny Mag! Michelle Adams of Rubie Green fame and the extraordinarily talented photographer Patrick Cline have joined forces (yet again) to create something that may very well fill that gaping hole of sorrow that was left behind with the demise of Domino (okay at the very least it will take care of your design Jones). I am giddy. Please tell EVERYONE!!!
I have mentioned a few times that I am not much into the genre known as 'self-help'. I don't judge those that are, one of my best friends is a serious self-help NUT. I have always worried with my being so easily influenced that I would be sucked into the vortex of what's wrong with me and not be able to focus on what's right. I think it's very important that individuals stop and are grateful for all their gifts. Even in trying times there is always something that you can find to be grateful for, no?
I am feeling in a bit of a rut right now. I have noticed it coming on for a while and I have tried to avoid it but it's there and I need to do something about it, that is why when I was perusing the local Border's this book seemed to be blindingly inserting itself into my peripheral vision (plus it has a sweet cover). I stopped, read that back and bought. I haven't delved that deep into it and yes, there are some points that confuse me (not unusual, easy to do) but the basic concepts are there and at least I feel like I might be able to focus on what's keeping me in my rut and try to figure out how to get out of it. I think anything that can do that is a step in becoming 'rut-less' or in this case unstuck. If you are feeling a little like this too, this might be a fine little book for you, especially if you are a little skittish around any sort of new-agey speak, this book so far seems very straightforward and has not requested that I sit still in a room and light incense or anything....yet.
I totally swiped this image, I can tell you where it's from but I don't know who took it. Whomever (?) was the photographer was pretty lucky to be in such close proximity to a squishy lil' beast like this. F.U. Penguin, a blog that had me dump mine for a week to sit drooling in front of hers? his? I have no clue. Well, he/she got a book deal, will be signing books at Fred Segal on Saturday. I would be there ONLY if there was a promise of this panda being there too.
I hate to send you away when you just got here but I think this warrants a detour. Miss Jackie of the aptly named "Sweetie Pie Pumpkin Noodle" blog (she really is all those things all rolled up into one and then some). Is doing a right creative little series on books that bloggers love. I think if she did this for the rest of her days I would be happier than a pig in spaghetti sauce (we don't use bad words 'round here). I love when bloggers get all 21 kinds of creative and treat their blogs like mini mags. It gets me all riled up in the best way. I do hope you stop by her blog because I can't wait to see what's up for my next trip to the library (okay, I may have to make an Amazon pit stop as well, who am I kidding?).
I just got this book in the post yesterday. I don't know why I ordered I am not a blissful Blahger. More like a neurotic one. I think I just see that another blogger got a book deal and I feel it is my duty to support her/him. At this rate I shall be living off the Dole soon. I hope they remember I got their back...
{support blissful blogging here}
Of course I will be giving you the full on 411 when I am done thumbing through it....
