Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Sufganiyot Swoon

To our Jewish friends around the world: enjoy the latkes & sufganiyot tomorrow & the rest of Hanukkah. Any of you lagging behind in preparations, it's not too late. (You don't have to have every recipe every night--no matter what your bubbe says. But don't tell her we said so. You think we need the tsuris?) Here are some easy peasy recipes from Martha Stewart. Also a good group of recipes & a yummy slideshow from the New York Times. (images via Martha Stewart)

ciao-shalom-meow/GG Holiday Central

The Nutcracker, Coast to Coast

A Nutcracker slide-show from the New York Times dance section, along with The Nutcracker Chronicles (just as it sounds, but often funny). Remember this free coloring book from the New York City Ballet & pass it along. We're rushing - can you tell? We await massive rains & high winds here in Washington, DC. Giulia is her usual sanguine self, listening to holiday music. (Really.) She'll share her celebrated-amongst-family-&-friends annual cheesy Christmas music mix next week.

ciao-pirouette-meow/GGCM

(Brian Malek and Yoko Callegari of the Washington Ballet as John Paul Jones and Miss Liberty. Credit: Carol Pratt)

Monday, November 29, 2010

12 Days of Panda Claws in Washington, DC


Panda Claws (the official ZooLights ambassador) will be visiting hot spots in the D.C. metro area over 12 days, between November 29 and December 3 and December 6 and 12. He is very excited to let everyone know that ZooLights is free this year.

GG is excited. She thinks that, finally, this year she will be going to ZooLights. (Doubtful. But you never know.) If you are in the Washington, DC Metro area, visit the link for complete rules & prizes. Personally, we'd choose any prize called The Guppy Gala.

If you're not here but will be visiting, be aware that this is a popular event & though it's free this year, parking is not. Therefore, if it's a mere brisk night, park at an outer Metro station car park & hop on the Metro Red Line to the Woodley Park-Zoo or Cleveland Park stops & follow the hordes. (images via National Zoo website)

ciao-meow/GG's holiday freebie coordinator

Friday, November 26, 2010

Side With the World's Children - Week's End




Join GG in the
Soft Toy Movement for every child's right to education. Please go to your country's IKEA website & click on Soft Toy campaign at the bottom of the homepage. There you will find all the information you need to pass the word on. It has downloadable wallpapers, a coloring book, a banner for blogs & Facebook pages, & videos.


This year, from November 1–December 24, for every soft toy sold, 1 euro (USD $1.35) will go to IKEA global partners UNICEF and Save the Children to extend and start new children's educational programs in 22 countries.

Pick up an inexpensive soft toy at IKEA & put it in a holiday gift donation basket if you don't need it. Giulia is holding a meow-in this very moment because she wants a soft toy this year. The spring has gone out of Celeste the IKEA Pig's curly tail. We'll see about an addition but Celeste the IKEA Pig (her full name) is not going anywhere...there's a familiar orange & white pink-nosed feline draped over her every day. (images via IKEA website)

ciao-merry-meow/The Management

Thursday, November 25, 2010

GG's Thanksgiving Fantasy

GG's editor just saw this painting on Tina Tarnoff's Thought Patterns Thanksgiving post. It's pure GG-fantasy. Visit Tina because she has the best attitude...isn't that always the way with people who are here by choice? Also, GG's editor is reminded that last Thanksgiving she sat with friends & ooh & ahhed at Tina's beautiful artwork & jewellry. She's busy busy busy creating so get your order in if you see something you'd like to give for Hanukkah (next week!) or Christmas or anyone other reason.

Back to watch Giulia watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Cheers!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanksgiving Eve Pre-Parade Fun

To get ready for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade tomorrow, click on Fun & Games & solve a few puzzles. (Do not be alarmed by a band playing; we don't know how to mute it for you. GG loves it, she's marching around the living room. In fact.) Have a great evening. (Snoopy via life(dot)com)

ciao-meow/GG holiday coordinator

Hanukkah Crafts


Hanukkah begins at sunset on Wednesday, December 1st this year. (Crept up on you, didn't it?) Visit Vintage Holiday Crafts & Clip Art to download templates for projects. Also, click over to Martha Stewart for lots & lots of ideas & templates for gifts, decorations, & recipes.

We'll remind you later in the week, but if you live in the Washington, DC-area (or will be visiting), you might want to attend the lighting of the National Menorah. If that's the case, be sure to request tickets. They are free but they go fast.
(images via Martha Stewart, Vintage Holiday)

ciao-shalom-meow/GG holiday coordinator

PS: Invite us over for latkes. Giulia promises to behave this year!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Make Your Own Vintage Holiday Cards

Vintage Holiday Crafts is a huge source of clip art for nearly every holiday & occasion. You can even make your own vintage-style gift certificate--for anything. We won't waste anyone's time listing, just visit. The rules are clear & the site is generous. It's hard to believe sometimes that anyone would do something like compile an enormous collection just because...but that appears to be the case.

This is a repeat but a popular search on Giulia Geranium. If you get started now, you can take your time & do some fruitful searches on the Vintage site. (We'll do a separate post for Hanukkah which is arriving really soon!) Remember Martha Stewart's site as a good source of ideas, Christmas & Hanukkah templates, clip art, & blogger-friendly posting ideas.

ciao-meow/GG's freebie coordinator

PS: West Elm has free downloads for holiday gift giving & entertaining. Here's the link if you missed it.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Made4Aid Monday - Winter Snow Photography Cards



Today's Made4Aid post highlights a set of greeting cards, made with prints of original photography of snowy winter scenes in London. They would make a lovely gift for someone this season (or for you). The photographs are printed in high resolution on premium glossy photographic paper and mounted on good quality white card. The cards are blank inside for your own greeting and come with matching envelopes. The size of these cards is 5 inches/12.5cm square.

If you would like to order a custom set of cards, there are 16 winter scenes and you can choose any of these to be made into cards. See the full set here.

Any of these photographs, made into cards, at the following prices:

7 cards for $19;
8 cards for $22; 12 cards for $32

All prices inclusive of shipping worldwide.

Made4Aid items are sold to support the work of Médicin sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) and the World Food Programme.
Please see other items in the made4aid shop : http://www.etsy.com/shop/made4aid

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Weekend - La chanteuse, Françoise Hardy



For a little French fun, visit Francoise Hardy's terrific website. You can watch some of the videos from her new album, La pluie sans parapluie. Giulia especially loves the first song Noir sur blanc & she's listening & tapping her pawpads this very moment. (1960s photo by Jean-Marie Périer via FH website)

ciao-lalala-meow/GGCM

The Line of Beauty in London - Week's End

What's with all the London posts? Jealousy, pure & simple (& we have friends & readers in & near London). Another terrific fashion illustration exhibit, this time at Somerset House (through 9 January 2011). The exhibit is Dior Illustrated: René Gruau and the Line of Beauty. And before or after you see it (maybe after is better?), you should absolutely go ice skating. The rink opens next week (23 November). (illustration & the head's up via automatism, thanks!)

ciao-cheeky-meow/GG Central

Friday, November 19, 2010

Free Holiday Downloads from West Elm

West Elm has free lovely holiday downloads. There are two categories: Gifting (gift tags, labels, & recipe cards) & Entertaining (place cards, name tags, & menus). The four themes: botanical, animal, graphic, & a GG favorite, snowflakes. Just download & print out on card stock, sticker paper, whatever suits you. Thank you, West Elm.

ciao-meow/GG's freebie coordinator

Thursday, November 18, 2010

November Afternoon in Venice

A happy little boy in Venice in another time. By our friend Bernd who took wonderful photographs in Venice. Here are two more on bricolage. (photograph by Bernd Krause/all rights reserved)

Here's a fun game called Europe Map Match via KidsGeo.com.

Have a good evening!


ciao-meow/GGCM

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Write2Win - Calling All Writers & Editors

Writers and Editors: Will You Help Us?

Write2Win is a new nonprofit organization that brings the writing community into 6th-12th grade U.S. classrooms via email to provide personal mentoring to struggling students. Our goal is to make a difference by helping teachers and administrators who are working hard to turn around failing schools and galvanize effective educational innovation.

Low-achieving students in our Chicago and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pilot programs have been raising their writing grades an average of over 19% working with our editors’ one-on-one guidance. For many of them, this has been the difference between a D and a B! Teachers report that students look forward to their personal notes and encouragement each time they receive our edited files.

Too many of our young people are falling through the cracks of the public school system, and too many are dropping out or graduating with very low academic confidence. We want to help them succeed, and having strong writing skills leads to success, not only in college but in just about any career they might pursue.

To that end, we are asking everyone who has taught writing or made their living as a writer or editor to consider volunteering an hour or two a week (or even an hour or two a month). Joining our team of volunteer writers is easy, flexible, and absorbing. You will notify us when you are available to take on a few papers, with no pressure from us. We usually have four to five days' turnaround time, so our editors find it easy to fit this into their schedules.


Many of us enjoy reading the students' papers and finding creative ways to encourage and mentor them. I hope you will consider joining us. Please go to this page on our website to see our small but mighty (and growing) wall of heroes:
http://www.write2winonline.org/editors.html

You can view and open sample edited papers from this link to see the color-coded system we use to provide guidance to the students:
http://www.write2winonline.org/system.html

Please write Linda Wolf at
info@write2winonline.org for more information on becoming part of our team. More info: http://www.write2winonline.org/index.html

**************

As seen on Work-in-Progress. How about it?

(photograph via Spanish Vogue)

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

An Apple a Day

GG's editor is massively busy cleaning up the aftermath of Giulia's Sunday Wild Rumpus. (As opposed to her Daily rumpi) Everyone is so busy these days...but here are two easy-peasy apple recipes from Jamie Oliver & Martha Stewart. Here's another gorgeous apple recipe--not as easy, no, but worth a bit more time. It's Hollandse appeltaart from super-Pille's nami-nami food blog. (photograph via Martha Stewart(dot)com)

ciao-meow/GG's cook

Monday, November 15, 2010

Tate Kids Create - Colouring Book

More free coloring pages--this time from Tate Britain's Tate Kids. There's lots of craftiness on the large site but you might want to start with the outline of Emma, Lady Hamilton as Circe by George Romney. (image via here)

Enjoy!


ciao-meow/The Management

PS: Today is your last chance to vote in Shabby Apple's Dare to Design (a dress) Competition. Vote here.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Monet's Debt to Flowers

I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.--Claude Monet

Happy birthday to Claude Monet (1840). For some helpful travel information about, thoughts on, & photographs of Monet's garden at Giverny, visit The Clever Pup's Paris Notebook. She was there just last month & has the best ideas about how to visit Paris. Hint: Wear rose-colored glasses only part of the time or you will miss out.
(Poplar (Autumn) series via here)

We're off to walk through some autumnal garden scenes, as well. Have a great Sunday.

ciao-bonjour-meow/GGCM

Friday, November 12, 2010

GG Takes a Hike - Week's End

We're off to take an urban hike but mainly GG's editor is fussing about with a new banner & template colors. A trip to Brookside Gardens is planned for the weekend. Here is their cool (new-to-us) online botanical drawing gallery. Giulia is fuming that the website says: no pets at the gardens. She is claiming service animal status. It's true that she has an invitation to become a "licensed" therapy cat. (Seriously.) Have a good weekend! (photograph by laura trevey via rachel follet/lovely clusters)

ciao-meow/GG's editor

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Ice Skating in Washington, DC

Opening weekend for the 2010-2011 ice-skating season at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden (Washington, DC) is currently scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, November 13 and 14. For inquiries, please call (202) 216-9397. (Jules Chéret poster)

Giulia
wants skates. We've been over this before. No & no. Non.


ciao-meow/GGCM

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The Art Zone - Make Your Own Art

Do you know about the National Gallery of Art's Art Zone (for kids of all ages)? You do? Oh. Why did you not tell us? It's an interactive site on which you, yes you, can make art. There is so much in fact, that why don't you just visit? Giulia's head is about to pop with excitement. (She's a very sensitive artiste.)

The NGAkids
Still Life helps you create interactive art that mirrors the paintings of the old masters. Mix everyday objects and painted elements while experimenting with composition, scale, and perspective. This Art Zone activity is suitable for all ages. Young children can compose engaging interactive still lifes online while learning simple spatial and math concepts. More advanced artists can create complex compositions and then switch to the painting mode to add and manipulate textured 'brushstrokes" that give the art a more abstract quality. (from the NGA website, credits here)


We're off to create a masterpiece.

ciao-arty-meow/GG's editor

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

November 9/10, 1938

On 9 November, the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Anne Frank House will present the Anne Frank timeline a visual timeline in which Anne Frank’s story is placed in the context of important historical events. The Anne Frank Timeline starts in 1914 with the outbreak of World War One and Otto Frank’s conscription into the German army and continues through to today including the significance of the diary and the Anne Frank House.

The Anne Frank Timeline includes exceptional photographs and audio and video fragments. There is a TV interview with Simon Wiesenthal about his search for Karl Silberbauer, the SS officer who arrested Anne Frank and the others in hiding. There are also images taken in Amsterdam showing Jewish refugees from Germany who were taken in after the Kristallnacht. The timeline also includes fragments of radio broadcasts from Dutch radio stations with one of Otto Frank speaking at the opening of the Anne Frank House on 3 May 1960. (via Anne Frank House)

(photograph by D Sharon Pruitt)

Drawing Fashion in London

For lucky ducks in London (or who will be) before 6 March 2011, there's a new exhibit at London's Design Museum on fashion illustration. In the museum shop is beautiful catalogue, a set of 6 cards, & two reproduction prints. (image by François Berthoud via artnet(dot)com)

ciao-cheerio-meow/GGCM

From the Design Museum website:

"Drawing Fashion celebrates a unique collection of some of the most remarkable fashion illustrations from the twentieth and twenty first centuries. These original works define the fine art of illustrating fashion, from the collections of Chanel, Dior, Comme des Garçons and Poiret as well as Viktor & Rolf, Lacroix and McQueen. This exhibition showcases fashion illustrators at their creative heights: Lepape at the beginning of the century, Gruau in the 40's and 50's, Antonio throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s, to current artists Mats Gustafson, Aurore de la Morinerie and François Berthoud. Film-clips, news reels, music and photography will sit alongside the original illustrations to reflect not only the spirit and the style of the decades but also the wider social and cultural changes of the century."

Monday, November 8, 2010

Made4Aid Monday - Blue Messenger Bag

This beauty is for sale at Made4Aid's Etsy shop. We're thinking it could accommodate a laptop, too. While this bag does require extra money for shipping (only 5.00USD within the EU), there are two pretty bags available, free shipping anywhere in the world. Made4Aid accepts payment via PayPal & 3 major credit cards. If you're not buying anything this year (or yet), understood. But visiting the site's shop & adding it to your favorites would be helpful. Thanks so much. (image property of Made4Aid/used with permission)

ciao-meow/The Mgmt.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Sunday Style - Let's Bring Back

30 Things that Need to Stage a Comeback - Pronto! What's on your list? There's a slideshow compiled by Lesley Blume on The Huffington Post. She has a new book based on her columns Let's' Bring Back (started in 2007). Accuse of us of sentimental hogwash, we don't care. How bad can it be to wish for a return to manners, libraries, picnics, cool hotel lobbies, & hats on men? Waste some time, you know you want to, & vote for your faves. (Annie Hall still via Huffington Post under Long, Leisurely Evening Walks)

ciao-cheeky-meow/GG & her editor

Saturday, November 6, 2010

IKEA Launches Annual Soft Toy Campaign - 2010


Ta da! Oh. We're five days late...eep. If you're planning a trip to IKEA, pick up a soft toy. If you don't need one, donate it to Toys for Tots or another toy-collection campaign. This year, from November 1–December 24, for every soft toy sold, 1 euro (USD $1.35) will go to IKEA global partners UNICEF and Save the Children to extend and start new children's educational programs in 22 countries. The 2010 campaign goal is to raise over $13 million dollars globally, with $1 million being raised in the U.S.

You can count on us to remind you every so often & about the specials upcoming in December, as well. But if you happen to be going to IKEA tomorrow (or today, if you're up too late in Europe--go to bed!), any purchase, however tiny, goes to the campaign.
Don't forget about Darfur Peace & Development baskets (either seconds or firsts) & Made4Aid's Etsy shop. (image of Klapper animal set & Klapper elephant mama & baby via IKEA US website)

ciao-wow-meow/GGCM

Friday, November 5, 2010

Basket Seconds Sale at Darfur Peace & Development - Week's End


Second isn't always a bad thing. You have to learn & then you can move to first, right? Please consider buying some baskets. (They work well in work & play & kitchen spaces.) Please pass on this message. Thanks so much!

ciao-meow/GG's editor

From the DPDO website:

The May shipment of baskets contained a number of baskets that are less than perfect. The imperfections include dye bleeding from designs, loose weaves, broken weaves, and inexpert craftswomanship.

Our quality control standards have been fully implemented at Kassab camp, but we have some work to do with the weavers at our new center in Abu Shouk camp. Some women who are less skilled in the craft join the Center to earn regular income. These are women looking for a second chance and we do not turn them away.

Going forward, we are maintaining a high level of quality control. We encourage all the new weavers to learn from the masters in the group.We have a few hundred SECONDS. They represent a lot of work by women in desperate circumstances.

The baskets are serviceable and structurally sound – but not decorative in a “gifty” way. These SECONDS could be used for storage of supplies – crayons, pens, etc — in schools, community centers and homes.

We are selling the SECONDS at cost. This way we preserve the income lifeline of all the weavers.

Cost per item: $7-10. We will accept any reasonable offer for quantities over 25. Please contact Susan Burgess-Lent 202-393-8150

(French market by Eistenstaedt for LIFE/basket collage via DPDO photographs)

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Damson & Slate - A Breath of Welsh Air

We're awfully floopy here at GG Central. So, here's a recent post from GG's editor's blog. (To avoid the first-person pronoun--oh it's exhausting, truly--the text is here.)

Looking at the Vogue Knitting Holiday 2010 magazine + Dylan Thomas birthday + hand-washing Laura Ashley Welsh knit scarves & lacy cardigan = Damson & Slate website gazing. Just about everyone on US design blogs talks about Toast. (They are terrific, but here is a site that actually toots their Welsh horn.)

ciao-cariad-meow/the Mgmt.

(image via Damson & Slate)

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

What to Wear to a Mad Tea Party

Thank goodness a friend had the foresight to send Giulia's editor this fab Zara Carpenter Alice Bow headband for a recent birthday. She'll be suitably attired for the new Washington landscape. Zara is the talented hat/head gear designer at Chatham Girl. She has a cheeky English sense of humor. GG's editor wrote about her, here. And you can visit Zara, here. Now we must rush for we are late, very late...

Update: look at the new feline-inspired berets!

ciao-curiouser-meow/GG Central

(image via Chatham Girl/Zara Carpenter/all rights reserved/used with permission)

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The Waiting...

...is the hardest part.

ciao-fume-meow/GG Voter Central

(image via Mary Cassatt - The Complete Works)

"I Need You to Vote"

President Obama & GG ask you to vote, please. If you still do not know where your polling place is, please go here & find out. (scan of sign we proudly display)

Monday, November 1, 2010

Made4Aid Month

Made4Aid now sells items through a new Etsy shop. GG will be featuring items from the shop this month & next.

Made4Aid is a non-profit-making organisation, raising money for aid and relief work, through the generosity of creative people around the world. Handmade art or craft items - or materials - can be donated to made4aid and will be sold online to raise money for aid. All proceeds go to the relief work of Médicins sans Frontières (aka Doctors without Borders) and World Food Programme USA. You can find more information about where the money goes here.

If you have any items to donate, please read guidelines, here.

ciao-meow/GG Central

(made4aid mosaic/all rights reserved)