Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts

20130114

Cobble, cobble! The Chicago School of Shoemaking calls...


Chicago School of Shoemaking

Can it be true?  A real school to teach people how to make actual, legit shoes?  The Chicago School of Shoemaking, open in the Ravenswood neighborhood since September 2011, offers classes in making boots, sandals, bags & other items.  The owner, Sara McIntosh, also runs a custom handmade shoe shop, Sara's Shoes, out of the same space.

The London boot
I have made my own shoes a few times, the only way I knew how, via the 1978 book Make Your Own Shoes by Mary Wales Loomis.  Eerily, I discovered Wales' book and other similar esoteric "how to make" books among my grandmother's belongings when she grew too feeble for them to be of use - including the exact same edition of Make Your Own Japanese Clothes that I own.  Sometimes the genetic thing gets quite spooky. 

The Rome patent captoe

The eight Yelpers who cared enough to write think it's the bees knees.  Hmm....

20121122

You've Been Gobbled: 30 things I'm thankful for.

1.  The Girl Scouts, some of whom were sporting enough to go along with my idea of making "You've Been Gobbled" posters at last night's meeting.  You're the best, people.
 2.  Peace signs on the sidewalk.
 3.  This sweet, sweet Karmann Ghia in Pilsen.  Apparently the owner's a jerk, but the car is divine.

 4.  Bun Length Wieners.  It's wrong on many levels, AND missing a hyphen, but also great.  Thanks again, Aldi.
5. The LepreCan porta-potty facility under the viaduct near our house.  We call that whole area the Poop Factory for no good reason.
 6.  Sexy Irish weather ladies broadcasting the weather in Irish.  Somehow made both weather and Gaelic seem sexy at once, quite a feat.
7.  Hardy Boys lunchbox.  I didn't even know they were Frank and Joe Hardy until our Joe came along.
 8.  People with the cleverness and manual dexterity to paint British flags on their toenails - and the cheek to do it a few days before we leave for Ireland.
 9.  Hammer toe diagrams at the podiatrist's office. 
 10.  This grandpa (big Devo fan) and his 8-year-old granddaughter, who he brought to the Devo/Blondie concert because her dad was sick.  I had bought five Devo buttons and offered them each one.  Grandpa was pleased.

 11.  My Irish condiment collection, featuring several varieties of brown sauce - and Marmite.
 12.  This gang of four.  And their Dad.
 13.  Coco, who was riding up Michigan Avenue with her owner loving the smells.
 14.  Disco ball at the Village Discount Outlet.  Too bad some of the disco fell off.
 15.  Fall color.

 16.  People having birthdays.
 17.  Another fantastic car I followed along Chicago Avenue on a Sunday morning.
 
 18.  America:  where kids can get handcuffs, army guys, marbles, ping pong balls, AND Play-Doh at the Jewel.
 19.  The giant rocking chair at Jonamac Orchard in Malta, IL, plus the amazing apple cider, pie, donuts, etc.  Oh, and the pumpkin cannon.  And the hay bale maze.  and the donkey, etc.....

 20.  The Girl Scout sleepover @ St. Ed's.
 21.  Breakfast where I work:  I usually take two hard-boiled eggs and either bacon or turkey sausage.  But there was one tiny pancake which I had to have as well.
 22.  The Patio Theater on Irving Park near Austin.  A genuine old-school movie palace.
 23.  Boy Scout Pasta Dinner with friends and family.
 24.  This Astronaut Santa from the Village Discount Outlet again.  I was too scared to buy him but he is recorded here for posterity.
 25.  Medieval Times.  Words fail me but I shall return.
 26.  Willis the Shark.  Yes, he is wearing a tux.  Courtesy of Madison.
27.  Margie, Jessica - nicely done. 
 28.  Psychedelic hands.

29.  YOU.
30.  The Universe.


20121023

'Tis better to be wee than massive: the benefits of being small.

Why pay for marketing creative when people walk in out of the blue and hand it to me?  Here's a nifty little (and I do mean little) brochure on the benefits of being small, plunked into my unsuspecting palm this afternoon by Kid4 without warning.

I'm not sure if it was intentional, but the small size means no folding.  Fits right in your pocket.

"Being Small is really amazing! You can fit through ANYTHING!"
Text, illustrations, and a graph; all the bases covered.

(L) Clockwise from top left:  Being small, you can:  walk under big people's legs; walk through small doors; ride on a rat; ride on a dandelion seed; and fit through cracks.
(R) The tall column proves it:  Being small = fitting through more things.
If you're interested in tiny brochure design, I know a guy.  A 10-year-old guy with a supply of index cards.  

When one of the kids shares something like this, I give thanks for the Nth time that I was given the chance to be a mom (and a wife for that matter!)...the chance to be around four unique and creative young people who are all forging their own individual means of self-expression.  And I'm on the sidelines saying, Go Speed Racer, Go!

20111208

Art: Chicago Vehicle City Sticker Art Contest - Vote Now!

 Vote Now! http://chicityclerk.com/vscontest2012/vote.php

I like #7 the best, because it's deeply strange and reminds me a bit of Axe Cop*.  Also, the hand lettering is bold and well done.  Which is your favorite?

*The no-contest best and craziest comic series ever written by a 5-year-old and illustrated by his 29-year old comic artist brother.  (Axe Cop Wiki).  Check it out; you'll either be glad you did and go back for more, or you'll  lie down for 20 minutes to recover - and then go back for more.