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Rarely a week goes by without me checking out the Missed Connection section on Craigslist. Once even there was one about me, which was almost titillating, sort of like the lame modern equivalent of getting a note from a secret admirer.
So imagine my excitement when I found that one my favorite children’s book illustrators, Sophie Blackall has a blog where she hand picks Missed Connections to illustrate.
To see more: http://missedconnectionsny.blogspot.com/
p.s. Sorry I haven’t written lately, being pregnant messes with the old mind.
I randomly snagged a couple of picture book biographies recently, and was totally floored by how amazing the lives of these women were. I’d never heard of Mary Kingsley or Patience Wright, but if you’re looking for some new female role models, here they are.
Here’s the need to know about Patience Wright
- She called the King and Queen of England by their first names (and Michelle just hugged the Queen)
- She was pacifist spy during the American Revolution
- Almost got arrested for having Benjamin Franklin’s head (a statue)
- She made sculptures BETWEEN HER LEGS
- She was a lapsed vegetarian
- First female international artist/entrepreneur
- She sculpted with whale blubber (okay that’s gross)
Patience Wright: America’s First Sculptor and Revolutionary Spy by Pegi Shea
Totally different story, no less cool.
Until her parents death, Mary Kingsley lived in the service of her family. Cooking, cleaning, nursing, plumbing. She basically spent the first thirty years of her life stuck playing Cinderella in her gloomy house.
One perk was a large collection of books to keep her company. Her father was a traveler and writer, and although rarely present, stocked a great library.
After all those solitary years years went by, Mary had a great longing for adventure. So in 1893, still in Victorian garb she left home with the destination of West Africa. There she met murky swamps, enormous beetles, treacherous waters, and unfriendly crocodiles. And guess what? She loved it!
My friend Tracy just shared this storybook inspired fashion spread from Blaze Danielle: A Creative Companion with me, it’s so fantastic!
A Secret Garden is/was one of my favorite children’s books, so why not get dressed up in it’s imagery? Victorian playwear, mystery, lush green lawns, rows of delicate flowers… sounds like the perfect inspiration for a romantic spring day.
I LOVE the dress and hats and boots, and well the whole thing really. BTW, if you haven’t read any other of Frances Hodgson Burnetts’s books, read Little Lord Fauntleroy and A Little Princess stat! Or just watch Shirley Temple play Sarah Crewe, with her little maid friend who insists, “Oh, no Miss!” when they think Captain Crewe is dead and the mean Headmistress makes Shirley go from riches to rags.
Definitely visit Blaze Danielle and check out her other children’s books outfits, including Nancy Drew, A Wrinkle in Time, Ramona series, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Pippi Longstocking!
Oh, here’s my take on Pippi & and me on a Pinkalicious inspired day. Read the rest of this entry »
it’s too bad you’re illegal now
but i found a stash of you,
and i can breathe again.
rescued koalas from outback fire make my heart hurt a little
from http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7880000/newsid_7885800/7885887.stm
My favorite song as a 10 year old was Del Shannon’s Runaway. I think I got turned on to it from watching the pre-Sopranos teevee show Crime Story.
What was yours?
i found this in a book at work today. it couldn’t ring more clear after spending last week couch surfing.
from Happiness is a Warm Puppy by Charles Schulz 1962
can’t wait to see Coraline! the book was so eerie… that combined with my undying love for stop animation, equals a visit to the theatre this weekend. “where everything is so good.. it can’t be real“
i’ve been working on decorating one of two spare bedrooms in my house. since i can’t go thrifting without buying vintage children’s toys or letting go of my own for that matter, i decided to devote one room as a toy room. check out this dollhouse design by janine rewell, it is most ridiculously awesome. 
i just had some work done on my car. and i took the repair bill rather gracefully. a whole $1625.00 worth of grace.
tonight, i picked up my vehicle, drove no more than 2 miles when THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON.
at that point, i lost my composure. bye-bye composure. it was nice having you.
my coworker found this on a piece of scrap paper today.i’m glad they scratched it out so i don’t feel so alone.
UPDATE: It’s possible that my car is still f*ed but will run.
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