Merry Christmas to You

I said I would start early this year (sending Christmas cards), maybe even create my own instead of lining Hallmark’s pockets. But here I am mid-December and no Christmas card, oh the shame. I guess I’ll have to send out the after-seasons-greeting card. Is that lame? or does the thought really count?

the collection of one who does not collect

I don’t consider myself a collector, I do have a few meaningful items I like to keep and display (books, souvenirs from travel and other mementos). Here are a few of them.

Nothing against it, but . . .

I decided early on that I wanted to get through the semester without posting a link from YouTube on my blog. Nothing against the site, I do flip through it every now and then, I just feel that references to YouTube are everywhere (television news, newspapers, etc) and I wanted to find material someplace else. I made it up to today December 5^th, I saw this movie describing graphic design on YouTube, and almost gave in. Then I read the description and happily discovered the web link to Becky’s portfolio. Whew, that was a close one. Maybe cheating a little since I did find it on YouTube, but I won’t tell anyone if you don’t.

Check out Becky’s take on "What is Graphic Design?"

What you can do with that No. 2 pencil

Text for Project 7

 Why keep boring pencils around? Pencils take up valuable desktop space, so they should be useful and amusing. How do you make pencils amusing? You create Pencil Characters. Pickup the supplies, follow the instructions, and you are on your way. Hours of amusement await you.

Supplies Needed to Create Characters

• Pencils (number 2 pencils work well)
  
• Yarn (several different colors)
  
• Glue
  
• Scissors
  
• Eyes
  
• Clay
  
• Eraser heads (optional)
  

First Signs of Life

Pick up a pencil and rotate until the writing or brand information is not facing you. Once you are satisfied that the print is out of view, glue eyes onto the pencil, about an inch down from the eraser. Eye placement sets the face and provides inspiration for the pencil’s character and features. Now you are ready to bring the character to life.

Hair Raising

Select one or more colors of yarn. Hold the end piece(s) in place with your thumb and wrap the strands around your fingers to form a 2.5 – 3 inch loop of yarn for medium length hair. You can make the loop smaller for short spiky hair or larger for longer hair. Once you have wrapped the yarn three to four times, the end piece should be secure and you can release your thumb. Continue wrapping yarn until the loop is about a half inch thick (for thicker and bushier hair go up to .75 or 1 inch). Cut the end when done wrapping. Now cut a separate piece of yarn to secure the loop (about 10 inches) and wrap it around the middle of the loop several times, creating a bow. Leave a couple of inches on each end for use later. Tighten and tie a knot, this will keep the loop in place. Do not trim the ends.

Laying Roots

Place the hair on the pencil, on top of the metal that attaches the eraser to the pencil. Place the long pieces left over from securing the loop (bow) on either side of the pencil. Press hair to pencil, then pick up the pencil and flip it over. Now you need to grab the long strings and tie a knot. Look at the front of the pencil, make sure that the hair is positioned the way you like and once satisfied place a small dab of glue between the center of the hair loop and the pencil. Press and let dry.

Coiffing

Cut end loops of the bow and fluff the hair; make sure that eyes are exposed. If you like you can trim the hair and the end securing pieces. Swoop hair to the side, create bangs, or try different things to give the pencil a unique look. For additional toppings, colorful eraser heads make great hats.

Clothing Optional

What to Wear

To differentiate female characters you can add a skirt. The process for making a skirt is similar to making hair. Select yarn (one color or more) and loop around your fingers. A 2-inch loop creates a short skirt; you can adjust the length of your loop to create a shorter or longer skirt. Wrap the yarn around your fingers at least 5 times to create a slim skirt, more if you would like a fuller look. Cut a separate string about 6 inches in length and wrap around the center of loop, then tie a knot to secure.

  Zip Up & Check for Lint

Place the skirt on front of the pencil (side with eyes), in the middle. Use loop-securing string to attach skirt to the pencil. Once the skirt is in position place a small dab of glue on the pencil, press skirt to the pencil, and let dry. Cut the end loops of bow and arrange skirt. Smooth down for a sleek look or fluff out.

The Grand Stand

Grab enough clay to roll a ball that is a little larger than the diameter of a quarter. Next roll the ball to a slight tube shape, just slightly elongate the ball. Lightly press the pencil into the clay; pencil should lean back a little for balance. Press the pencil and clay down on a flat surface, mold the clay around pencil to support and extend clay out on flat surface to balance.

I can do it, honest

Here is the Double Bypass I brought in for show and tell, together and with heart removed. Here is a link to the Tavern Puzzle Collection. 

Still working on it

This is for Project 6 (the 3-D description). I’m still tweaking it, but let me know what you think.

You are stuck. Ideas just don’t seem to flow; you work hard to come up with little. The scary part, you just started out of the gate and already you feel washed up. The creative fuel tank runs low and the idea board empty. You are stuck, but the clock isn’t. The clock ticks away and the deadline approaches.

You start down one road only to find it dead ends after hours of work. Now you have valuable time invested here, do you dump it pack up and start over? Or do you salvage what you can, limp along for a while and pray for a spark of ingenuity? The spark appeared before, but will it come again? Doubt, the last thing you need, not now. You are stuck, but the clock isn’t. The clock ticks away and frustration sets in.

Alright, enough of this foolishness you are a designer, an artist, you fuse words and images in a single bound. Whatever you do, things will work out. Relax, pick a topic and have fun. Step out on a limb; try making something up, step out of “reality” for a change. This is not rocket science, you can do what you want, and enjoy yourself. Or will your fusings combust? Aarrgh! Still stuck, but the clock isn’t. The clock ticks away and you need aspirin.

Finally, you made a decision, have a product in hand and prepare to present. You wonder if the product in hand is another prize for the can. Maybe. You ask, “Has this been done before?” Probably, but this is your take on the issue. So, sell it, make it work, because you are stuck and out of time.

Dewey vs. Color

I couldn’t resist posting this. I enjoy reading the letters section of Dwell magazine for the letters and to see what little tidbits the staff will share about office life. This month (or rather Dec. 07/Jan. 08) they have included a picture of their library, which they have opted to order by color rather than the Dewey Decimal system. It may not work as well, but it looks nice.