my very creative and talented niece
just on the cusp of teenager-hood
presented me
with this lovely fairy
made on her way to come for a visit
with plaited hair
a hand-painted face
and fashion-forward attire
she was such a joyful surprise
due to her acorn cap beret and sense of style
i’ve decided to give my new fairy the french name of ‘brie.’
—
“the world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.”
-neil gaiman
a front door, a message, and a yard, in support of ukraine and the pollinators
—
one of the reasons i love walking so much
is for the surprises waiting to be discovered along the way
when walking through the neighborhood
i travel with eyes wide open
people are so creatively expressive
flower pot art
a snake in the grass
smiling and made of latex, upon closer inspection
a front yard mini vineyard
a tiny village
—
“this world is but a canvas to our imagination.”
-henry david thoreau
bonsai for sale
from a creative salesman who clearly always finds a way
in la fortuna, costa rica
i so admire his dedication and out of the box thinking.
—
“how you sell is more important than what you sell.”
-andy paul
What better place to learn your ABC’s and 123’s than inside of a giant building shaped like a cat?
The kids who attend Kindergarten in Karlsruhe, Germany, do so in a giant feline.
Constructed in 2011 and designed by artist, Tomi Ungerer and architect, Ayla Suzan Yöndel, the whimsical kindergarten is in a big white cat building that includes a door for a mouth below a whisker-lined nose, windows for eyes, and a classroom in its belly. For added fun, kids can even ride down its tail that doubles as a slide.
In terms of architecture that inspires a playful imagination, the Kindergarten Wolfartsweier is remarkable for its embrace of an alternative, animalistic design for what a school can be.
“design is where science and art break even.”
-robin mathew(s)
—
source credits: Atlas Obscura, My Modern Met, Milk magazine, inthralled.com,
one of the best parts of spending my days teaching
is hearing all the fantastical tales
that spring from the kinder
with their open eyes and open hearts.
—
image credit: nicolette sowder, wilderchild
what an unforgettable time
my grandson spent
with his schoolmates
helping to create
an original play in 24 hours
writers, actors, stage crew, director, light crew, props, costumes, staging, sound
it was a such a joy to see it all come to life on the stage.
—
“the theatre is so endlessly fascinating because it’s so accidental. it’s so much like life.”
-arthur miller
mac does its part with loose parts: an earth day art show
—
the children have been learning for weeks
about recycling, reusing, and repurposing
many kinds of materials
in honor of tomorrow’s holiday (earth day)
using the voice of art as expression
each child created an original sculpture
repurposing used items
finding new beauty in these discarded things
putting them together in new ways
inviting their families
to their ‘gallery opening’
each child filled with pride in their work
and a realization that they are artists.
“art is a form of exploration, of sailing off into the unknown alone, heading for those unmarked places on the map. if children are not permitted-not taught-to be adventurers and explorers as children, what will become of the world of adventure, of stories, of literature itself?
– michael chabon
robin’s nests created by the kinder using natural materials
clay, twigs, pinecones, clippings
any robin would be happy to raise her babies in one of these beautiful homes
—
“wildness we might consider as the root of the authentic spontaneities of any being. it is that wellspring of creativity whence comes the instinctive activities that enable all living beings to obtain their food, to find shelter, to bring forth their young; to sing and dance and fly through the air and swim through the depths of the sea. this is the same inner tendency that evokes the insight of the poet, the skill of the artist, and the power of the shaman.”- thomas berry
tools and toys and trucks wait in winter
for the children to return
to see what new ideas
they can create together come spring.
—
“never worry for the delay in success compared to the others.
because the construction of wonders takes more time than other buildings.”
-author anonymous
surrounded for a long weekend by big people who choose to live creative lives
working daily with little people who quite naturally live creative lives
i realize they are the same kind of people
who are, in spite of everything,
open, honest, vulnerable, full of wonder, bravery, creativity, joy, passion, and spirit
i feel such an admiration for them and kinship with them.
—
“life should be a continual celebration, a festival of lights the whole year round.
only then can you grow up, can you blossom.”
-rajneesh
happy diwali to those who celebrate!
I didn't have my glasses on.... 