Put Pen to Paper

So who knew it was National (or World - reports vary) Letter Writing Week & why weren't we informed? Coincidentally, letter writing is happening here again, slowly & not all that sparkling with wit, but it's happening. We all know that the personal letter (or postcard) means so much to the recipient, so make time. What holds many back, including yours truly, is the idea that this letter must make up for months (years) of their lack. No, no, no. A short note or postcard is just fine. Think of how you feel when you receive any sort of personal correspondence. xoxo

How to write a thank-you note. A helpful review. (h/t to Lori)

Letters of Note - see how brief a missive can be so effective, there are scores of examples. Here's a favorite.

 After the children have written their thank-you notes, let them play at the online National Postal Museum Activity Zone as a treat.

(Vintage Royal Mail poster via Retronaut)

We Are Made Out Of Stars

Loving Meera Lee's illustrations, especially the one above. You can find her work for sale here, & there's an interview with her on the Poketo blog (along with the illustration above on a pullover). xoxo

(illustration by Meera Lee; hat tip to Lori)

Santa Tracker

There's a new Santa Tracker this year by Google & it's very cute.This will keep little kids occupied for awhile & you can always use it as an encouragement-threat-bribe (that is a thing, yes). Doesn't work on cats, be forewarned. If they're driving you mad, the children, here's the National Gallery's free Kids Art Zone, coloring pages, & last-minute fuss-free crafts. Breathe! xoxo 

PS: NORAD's Santa Tracker is up & running, too.

(illustration from Miracle on 34th Street via LA Times) 

Prince Hat

"The way we met, it all happened so fast." A favorite illustration by wonderful Swedish illustrator, Patrik Svensson. Here's the archive, here's why his site is called Prince Hat. And yes, there is a tumblr. (Many of you know Patrik's minimalist typographic movie posters project.) xo

World Food Week 2012

It's World Food Week (& tomorrow is World Food Day); this year's theme is Agricultural Cooperatives: Key to Feeding the World. Please visit this page for information, many good links, & activities that you can participate in with your family & friends. A visit to the World Food Programme site is a good idea, too, for action ideas.

(illustration via Agence Eureka)

Playing with Pencil Shavings

Oh yes, seriously. If our scanner worked, you'd be seeing original pencil shaving illustrations right this minute. We'd be (justly) famous by next week. As it is, visit Barcelona native Marta Altes' illustration website for inspiration (& also more projects). So fun (& funny).

ciao/xo

PS: More drawing ideas for children of all ages; lovely coloring pages, some from museums, all free.

(Thanks, Design Mom & Pikaland for the illustrations & links:)

Dreamy Mixed Media Art

"A large part of my work is the search for license-free images, illustrations or photos, for which copyright has long expired. Old books, magazines and the Internet are my primary resources for that. Once I have found the fitting image, I break it into pieces and then weave it back together mixed with other images. I transform, assemble and retouch the pieces, until the original image is no longer recognizable and an entirely new image is created."~ graphic designer Catrin Welz-Stein

Click through to read an interview with Ms. Welz-Stein & see more of her images (based on surrealism, folklore & fairy tales. She has a shop on Redbubble, as well. Very cool.

A rainy, sleepy Monday here. Time to put the kettle on.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(image via My Modern Met)

Happy Birthday, Will

While we don't know William Shakespeare's actual birth date, he was baptized on the 26th of April (1564). Common practice had baptism at three days after birth, so happy birthday, Will.

For celebration & education:

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC has a wonderful site, including sections for K-12 teachers. If you haven't been, please do visit when you come to Washington.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company should also be on your DC to-do list.

The National Endowment for the Humanities has excellent links for Shakespeare.

Remember Becky's phrases we owe to Shakespeare?

Always, always keep your Shakespeare Insult Kit handy!

Cheers/GGCM

(illustration by Jonny Hannah via Design)

Botanical Prints

Free botanical illustrations are available at The Graphics Fairy. There are two sizes, one for framing & another to make cards. It's true that ink/toner is far from free but the price is still right. The tulips are lovely but we are a bit stuck on lilies, as always.

xoxo/GG

(image detail via The Graphics Fairy)

Henri's Walk to Paris

A little boy in rural France dreams of going to Paris. (Who hasn't?!) Leonore Klein's charming story, originally published in 1962, is a GG fave. We didn't even know (then) that the amazing illustrations were by a genius graphic designer, Saul Bass. The out-of-print book, long a collector's item, has recently been republished by Rizzoli. Click here for more pictures & more design posts. (via Brain Pickings)

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph detail via Brain Pickings)

Catapalooza 2012

Catapalooza 2012: a Valentine’s Day adoption open house and celebration of all things feline at the Washington Animal Rescue League (71 Oglethorpe Street, NW, DC 20011). More than 50 cats for adoption. All cats spayed or neutered, vaccinated, examined by a veterinarian and a behavior specialist, and tested for feline leukemia and FIV. This day only the adoption fee for all cats is a “just the two of us” $2. Free mimosas, cake and cookies, cat-themed grab bags, children’s Valentine card making. Admission is free. For information call 202-726-2556 or write warl@warl.org.--via WARL

GG's editor, a cat nerd, looks forward to Catapalooza with a somewhat disturbing enthusiasm (according to a few friends, ahem). Even if you're not in the market for a new family member, you should make plans to stop in. Check your local shelter for similar goings on because a quick search showed 'Catapalooza' events.

ciao-♥-meow/GGCM

(Andy Warhol illustration via Warhol Museum)

Animal Alphabet

A Monday morning smile for Casey Girard's typographic series "Animals in Alphabet." We bring you the letter G for Giulia. And giraffe. See more here.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Casey Girard via Illusion)

It's National Ice Skating Month

January is National Ice Skating Month here in the States. It's too cold (for us) to think about skating outside today; however, a slightly warmer weekend forecast tempts us to think about the National Gallery Sculpture Garden rink. If there's a rink near you, outside or in, think about going. You don't have to be a great skater. Just have fun. (Plan treats for after or at the interval:)

If you're fortunate enough to live in London, Somerset House skating is on until January 22. Of course there are more rinks than that one. In New York, the famous rink at Rockefeller Center is fun, but our favorite is the Wollman. (A certain real estate mogul has insinuated into this area, as well. Refuse the 'T'...argh!)

ciao-meow/GG's editor

(illustration by Italian Alessandro Gottardo; see here for more. Love him.)

How to Draw a Dragon

Love love love The Guardian's How to Draw series. The last one this year features the hilarious dragon Cedric as created by talented Emily Gravett. Her website is terrific & you can watch her draw Cedric or play a game or learn about her other books.

As with the other series, draw a dragon & send it to The Guardian via childrens (dot) books@guardian (dot) co (dot) uk. Maybe your little monster's monster will be featured.

ciao-dragon-rawr-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Emily Gravett)

A Story a Day Awaits

Head's up, readers: a free website with a new children's story each day.

By giving you a new story every day of every month, knowonder! is the perfect answer to help your child read twenty or thirty minutes every day and enjoy doing it!

Back to our holiday prep & re-prep: Giulia has just opened two packages. Not hers, either. Oof.

merry ciao-meow

(illustration via the Children's Room via Pinterest)

Brain Pickings

Do you know about Brain Pickings? We highly recommend you subscribe to "interestingness curator" Maria Popova's daily feed or her weekly newsletter (delivered on Sundays) or follow her on Twitter.

Whatever your interests, Brain Pickings will make you think, pique your curiosity, & make you laugh. Every day. That Ms. Popova does this for free is stunning: she spends 450+ hours a month curating this site. She also writes for several publications including Wired UK, The Atlantic, & Design Observer. She accepts donations & we hope that her readers think of her this holiday season.

ciao-meow/GG Central

(Winnie & Piglet via Winniepedia)

How to Draw Bunnies

We're feeling rather down here at GG Central because Giulia is not feeling well (again). So funny bunnies just seem right. GG's editor just laughed out loud at the latest (& last in the series) drawing tutorial on the Guardian's children's books website.

Visit talented illustrator & comic book writer Simone Lia's website. And then get to those bunnies! It's too late to send in your creations, but you can visit the slideshow of entries. GG's editor is particularly fond of the meta-bunny by Pete.

ciao-meow/GG Central

(drawings by Simone Lia via The Guardian)

How to Draw a Penguin

Here's something for children of all ages. Book illustrator Oliver Jeffers gives an easy-peasy drawing lesson. See the slideshow tutorial in The Guardian. Then email your penguin to The Guardian at childrens.books@guardian.co.uk & they will publish the best entries in a penguin gallery.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Oliver Jeffers)

Elegant Arches

There is an ongoing personal maintenance crisis here at GG Central. A reminder of this today is an illustration by Gerald Zephyr on deviantArt. Off to figure out how to wrestle brows into Sophia-shape. (Giulia's brows are impeccable, of course.)

ciao-ouch-meow/the Mgmt.

(Sophia by Alfred Eisenstaedt via Old Hollywood)

Everyday Luxury - Pineapple

Pineapples were something we bought rarely until this past March. Since then, we've bought one every week. They're available year-round but at their harvest peak from March through July. Golden fair-trade pineapples (including some organic) are available for $2.99 - $3.99 on sale. It's worth it, whether you have a family or you live alone. We haven't had any leftover to make salsa or to use as a facial mask.

Carve up the pineapple & store the leftovers in the fridge; it will disappear quickly. Icy pineapple on a hot summer evening is a low-calorie thing of beauty. (Some terrific ideas if yours last longer than ours.) If you have a cat or dog, you can tie the discarded pineapple top onto their head in a tribute to Carmen Miranda. (Kidding!)

ciao-meow/GGCM

(pineapple illustration - for sale - by Andy MacGregor via Supermarket Sarah via Bippity Boppity Boo)