Geek Crafts

As you all know I knit pretty regularly lately. Currently I'm working on a Sackboy from Little Big Planet. Other than some issues with the tiny fingers he's been a joy to knit. I've had so much fun with this project that I'm tempted to do another one. Now I just need to stitch him up and we are good. My sister-in-law had knit one last year and I always thought that it looked cool. But the idea sat in the back of my mind and then got lost (like many things do). I didn't remember it until I was looking for patterns for a Cthulhu hat. And that's when I discovered Geek Crafts.

I'm a geek. Not a full blooded geek but I know enough to be dangerous. And in comparison to most of the people I work with, I'm a "super crazy geek". I was once called that by a coworker. I took it as a compliment, which is how he meant it...I think. So Geek Crafts is right up my alley. This combines two of my favorite things, geek topics and amazing crafts. The website is filled with projects that include sewing, knitting, baking, carpentry, model-making...and many more. People submit their projects along with the occasional pattern/instructions.

Every geek topic is covered: Doctor Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, Firefly, Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, video games, and so much more. The site posts on a consistent basis and almost daily I find myself looking at a new craft I want to make. Some of them are way beyond my talent. Like these Doctor Who nesting dolls below. All 11 doctors and they fit in a tardis (it's bigger on the inside).

Things like this Yoda Keychain make me want to geek myself out a bit more. I tend to downplay my geekiness, particularly at work and I think that needs to change. I could be carrying my keys along with the greatest Jedi ever (and no I don't care that the new films had him fighting. Yoda was cool even before I saw a lightsaber in his hand).

And some things just inspire me. I've been wanting to learn to sew. I think the totoro pillow below would help with that. I would be more than happy to make him as one of my first projects. Like Sackboy, when I'm excited about a project, I don't mind putting in extra hours to get it right.

Lastly, I have to stop by this crafters Etsy store. I need some Alice in Wonderland beads. Isn't this amazingly lovely? I would gladly dress myself in Tea Party garb...if it's this tea party. Geek Crafts, for the geek in all of us.

I'm a Follower

First and foremost you need to know that I'm a web-junkie. The internet is a bit like crack to me. I'm completely hooked. I jump from website to website, often losing track of my original path as I fall further and further down the rabbit hole. It's really a wonder that I get anything done. One discovery leads to another and then another until hours have gone by and I have no idea where the time has gone. I read at least 30 webcomics daily and my list of blogs that I read grows by the day.

It used to take me way too long to keep track of all those, particularly since so many blogs only update occasionally. But I would check each daily to see whether they had posted anything new. That is until I discovered the magic button that took away all that lost time. Of course I'm talking about the Follow button. If you aren't following the blogs you read, you're really wasting tons of time. For those of you with Gmail/Google accounts, this is as simple as logging into to Google and going to your dashboard. That has your RSS feed that will allow you to see which blogs have updated and when. No more checking needlessly.

I started by following the blogspot websites. They were easy. I would just click the follow button and add them to my list. But I was so frustrated that I couldn't follow other blogs. That I still had to manually check them. That is until I discovered the add feature. As long as a blog offers an RSS feed, it can be followed. It doesn't matter which platform it falls under. You simply need to go to your dashboard, click on the add button by the blogs you follow, and insert the URL. Done. Now I only have one or two sites (those without feeds) that I have to check manually.

I can't even begin to tell you how much time this simple tool has saved me. No more hunting to see when people update. No more going to websites needlessly. Instead just one click on the blog name (or the post name for those only interested in the one listing) and you're there. So what can I say, I'm a follower. But it makes my web addiction just a little more tolerable.

Contrariwise

I've been thinking of getting a tattoo for the last decade or so now. I love the idea of etching something onto myself that I can keep as a permanent reminder. I've known what I want, I just haven't figured out where to put it. A while ago I created the design, based off the title of this blog, but I keep holding back because I want to find the perfect place to put it. As you know, once it's on there, it stays.

So knowing that I was interested in tattoos and that I love books, my little sister pointed out the website Contrariwise to me. For those of you who don't know, the title is a reference to Alice in Wonderland. "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 contrariwise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?” The website shows off book-related and literary tattoos, like the Alice in Wonderland themed beauty below.

Based on the John Tenniel drawing.

Others contain only words like this great section of a poem (A Psalm of Life) by Longfellow below.

The tattoos run the gambit from a simple word to elaborate pictures, often taken from the illustration or simply made up. But all of them are book related. Most of them I would be more than happy to have adorning my body. A couple of the tattoos have led me to seek out new authors and books. I am fascinated by the variety of styles and by the number of authors represented. A fantastic site with some inspiring and fun tattoos.

A wild thing from Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

Epic Win

First let me start with an apology. I don't normally whine as much as I did yesterday. I try to keep this a mostly positive place, other than the occasional rant about some pet peeve of mine. And reading back through my post yesterday I realize just how much of a downer it was. I'm not normally the type of person to use words like regret and trapped, in any sense. I did feel better after posting yesterday so it must have been cathartic for me. But I normally only go for constructive whining. :-)

Now, on to the fun stuff. I'm feeling much better today. I had a fantastic therapy session this morning including some work with the boot off. I'm so excited for Monday with the hope that the doctor will tell me I don't need it anymore. Than again I'm just happy to be able to walk comfortably without crutches. I have dinner with an old friend who I haven't seen in a while. I have a nice lunch planned with a coworker. It's going to be a great day.

Even better are the two new pieces of book art that I happened to find on Epic Win. If you are not checking out Epic Win, you need to. It has to be one of the most enjoyable daily websites out there. I'm constantly inspired by the type of art that people create. Or the situations that are captured in photo. Much of it is geek based but all of it is incredible. The only issue I have is that the website doesn't list the source. I've seen a number of artists whose work I follow (Peter Calleson, Terry Border....) without any citing of source. That part bothers me quite a bit. I know after reading the comments on each piece that it bothers other people as well. Normally someone will mention in the comments who the artist is.

For example this incredible Alice piece below is done by Su Blackwell.

But on the same note I have no idea where this fantastic door is. One of the commentors mentioned that it might be the Bodleian Library at Oxford, library of my dreams. /drool

Most of the posts have nothing to do with books. I'm in love with this dragon made entirely out of plastic forks and spoons. Apparently it took the artist (toge-NYC) 80 hours of work to create this amazing piece. I WANT this.

Interview Whore

I am an interview whore. There now I've said it. I am drawn to interviews particularly with writers, artists, and illustrators. But my curiousity about people doesn't end with those. I love interviews with stateman and politicians, comics, actors, musicians, and sometimes just the average person. Mostly I love interviews with people who are passionate about their work. Who absolutely love what they do and want to share that information.

My earphones are constantly connected to my computer at work in case I run into an interview I just have to listen to. This morning alone I have listened to three interviews. One with Bill Maher, a comic/political junkie who I just adore. One with Tom Warburton on his new children's book A Thousand Times No. And one with Richard Dawkins, noted author and athiest. I'm sure there will be more today.

That's why I am so excited about the 5 Minute Interview series that the BBC has been doing. The interviews last a total of five minutes and Matt Stadlen, the interviewer, tries to cover as much ground as possible in that time. I've listened to fun interviews with Stephen Fry, Jesse Jackson, Jason Isaacs, Terry Pratchett, Michael Gambon, and Jerry Springer. They are the perfect soundbite and I find that I can listen and work at the same time. Stadlen has started carrying a giant alarm clock around with him which goes off when the five minutes are up. Some interviews flow, almost running over time. Some are tougher, requiring more prompting from Stadlen. The interviews tend to focus on UK figures which for me is an added bonus. I'm a considerable Anglophile. Quick interviews filled with fun facts and some wonderful people. My favorite new site.

Reading Rockets

I was working at Heartland AEA when I was first introduced to the Reading Rockets program. Back then it had only a couple video programs that it produced but they were really well done. The videos would talk about skills for teaching reading or activities for teachers to try and they always included an author interview. I loved the author interviews. I always wished the videos had more of them.

So I was in heaven this past week to find out that there is now a Reading Rockets webpage and that it includes quite a few author interviews. Some of the best loved children's authors and illustrators have 15 minute interviews talking about how they create their work. Yesterday alone I listened to videos of Mo Willems, Lane Smith, Lois Lowery, Chris Van Allsburg, Jon J. Muth, Jon Scieszka, and Kate DiCamillo. These are not unknown authors. These are some of the top names in children's books. All good interviews and all free. For anyone who is a fan of children's books or interested in writing, this is a fantastic website all around.

The goal of the site is "Launching Young Readers". It has book lists, reading news, tips for teachers and parents, and a ton more. And then for me, the children's book geek, it has an amazing treasure trove of information about authors and illustrators. Well worth checking out.

Morning Rituals

Here I am at work just starting my day and I realized how slowly I actually start. When I first arrive at work I need to make coffee and grab water. Can't function without the coffee, even though it's decaf. Next I sit down to read the news. Jeff taught me to always read the news first. That way I get the depressing stuff out of the way and can focus on the fun stuff. I read Google News, CNN, BBC, The Des Moines Register, and KCCI. By that time I'm sufficiently depressed. But part of the job so I get it out of the way early.

Now the fun stuff. Over the last couple years I have found about 30 or so blogs that I follow. And all of those get read every morning. Some post everyday, some don't. I have art blogs, writer blogs, WOW blogs, animal blogs, and some that are just strange stuff. But they put me in the right mood for the day. It's all about learning and fun. So every morning I go through them at work, feeling slightly guilty for wasting time, but not enough to actually stop. And truth be told I normaly only waste about an hour that way. I know I'm lucky that my job allows me that flexibility. If I had a different job I wouldn't be able to start my day this way.

But I just have to point out some of the most recent editions, just in case anyone is looking for a fun new blog.

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. (a blog about books) http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/

Curious Expeditions http://curiousexpeditions.org/ (interesting history that makes you go hmmm)

Cabinet of Wonders http://cabinet-of-wonders.blogspot.com/ (mechanical history told through pictures. Plenty of learning and great photography here)

And Roadside Scholar. http://www.roadsidescholar.com/ (because I love fun art)

Just some new ones that haven't made it onto my profile yet. But all of these make my morning just a little more interesting.