Abe has a peanut!

Listening to: She's in Parties by Bauhaus


Created from a photo taken at work. The peanut is an eraser we sell. A customer seemed to have taken a bite out of it. Abe the elephant is from the game we sell called Animal Scramble, his beard is a fake moustache from a pack a customer helped themselves to and his hat is Photoshopped because I have better things to do with my time than making tiny top hats for elephants ... things like creating silly LOLs and blogging for instance.

The Black Footed Ferret

1939, Art Deco Book Cover

The above is the cover of a 1939, Dutch book my father recently acquired for resale. The title
'Gereedschappen en werktuigen voor de houtebewerking. Deel I handbewerking'
translates* to
'Tools and equipment for wood processing. Part I hand operation'

I just like the vintage artwork on the cover. Detail:

I couldn't get a meaningful translation of the words on the banner under the man. Something about tools and a worker.

* Google Translate Has a detect language setting which is helpful in cases like this when you don't know what language you're dealing with.

Drumstick Summer Parade Commericial

Listening to: Shout by Depeche Mode from Speak and Spell



Drumstick Summer Parade* is chock full of whacky, very Aussie, decadent, CGI goodness which I love - particularly the slightly risqué but cute budgie smugglers. The sunburnt peaches (I think/hope they're peaches...) set the tone, fly swat robot is awesome and the sandman is sweet.

Then that git loudly bites off the tip of his icecream cone and they all follow suit.

Am I weird because I never do that and neither does anyone else in my family? We all eat that last. It ensures the warmth of your hand makes the choc tip chocolate gooey like Nutella and of course you don't end up with a leaky cone. I've never seen anyone bite off the tip of their cone either. Isn't that a recipe for a molten icecream bangle? Am I living in a icecream cone integrity bubble?

*Read about making this TV commercial, by the Iloura agency, here - including some cool concept sketches.

Weird Vintage Cheese

I have no idea what is going on in the above!
I'm not sure when these postcards were printed but it's vintage weirdness which caught my eye. My father had bought them for reselling so I scanned them before he sold them off.



'The Cheese (The Adventures of Gorgonzola)

One night I went into a hotel for dinner;
I had things in season, and things that were out,
I'd sheep's head, and pig's head and calf's head, and cod's head.
I'd ice cream and pea soup, and oysters and stout
And after I'd put away everything,
I said to the waiter, "Just go out and bring -'

Eww. :P Gorgonzola I have heard is a VERY stinky cheese and that is a rather revolting meal. I guess that was the idea!

Paris in the 20th Century by Jules Verne: Reviewed

Listening to: Dressed in Black, by Depeche Mode, from Black Celebration

Background and other reviews here for you if you feel the following review you are about to read is ignorant or blasphemous to the history of sci-fi. I formulated this opinion on my own prior to seeing any other reviews - apart from the glowing ones on the book cover of course - and I feel validated that I'm not the only one to think this way.

In a nutshell: this sci-fi novel was published posthumously and his editor rejected it originally.

There's a reason why his editor originally rejected this forgotten manuscript and I hardly think it was because of the sci-fi technology being beyond its time, especially given that Verne is known for his sci-fi. I think that's just spin from the publishers. I don't think it was the dystopia either although that was highly unusual for the period. The reason is because this is bloody BORING!

Yes there are some startlingly accurate predictions as to technology's progress a hundred years into the future. Verne knows his stuff and is insightful.

An extreme form of feminism is predicted with women being so like men there is no point in them being women any more. It's certainly a dystopian outlook in keeping with the rest of the novel. However the idea of women being replaced with air compressors (WTF?) in human reproduction is VERY far off the mark. I'm guessing biology isn't one of Verne's scientific strengths but rather physics, chemistry and engineering.

There are dull descriptions about some of the organisations and what they do or rather don't do and how they control society in general, the history behind their formation.

There are ridiculously detailed, measured descriptions of things that aren't that pertinent to the story but have been included anyway eg exactly how many centimetres deep a particular body of water froze because the winter was so cold etc etc. I don't care, why are you telling me this?!

One chapter is a flimsy history of French writers in some rather pointless 'dialogue'. If I wanted to read about the history of pre-Victorian French authors I would borrow a book on the subject. The characters' dialogue in general is unbelievably flamboyant. This may or may not be due to the translator's hand.

The protagonist from quite early on is obviously a loser, not a survivor. I had hoped with the friends he made and his desire to pursue art over industry that he would start some sort of small revolution but he was too foolish for anything so clever. His pathetic attempts to move up in the world were so ignorant, they were obviously going to fail so they elicited no sympathy from me. I always feel cheated when the protagonist of a story is not just an anti-hero but a fool who should have seen it coming and could have stopped it if he had a backbone.

At first I felt some empathy with the idea that he and other artists are not appreciated. They want to create and have no choice but to work for money while their soul longs for something better. I could believe that 100 years into the future, Art is squashed out of existence by commerce. I can see how that could happen.

On the whole this felt unedited. You could probably fill only 3 or 4 chapters with the actual story. So much of the rest is superfluous.

Other reviewers have said there is little plot and this should be read and recommended as a historical piece, a remarkable prediction of the future. Perhaps that would have aided my appreciation, and allowed me to recommend this book which I do not: at least as a novel.

In spite of all this I do intend to read at least one of his better known works since at least they were edited. Jules Verne is famous for a reason after all and other reviewers agree; his other works are a far better read!

Bebeh sea critters

Listening to: Sex is on Fire by The Kings of Leon

I came online this morning to do some research on ocean acidification for one of my current artworks. I used my copy of National Geographic, special edition Changing Climate* as a starting point.

On the always wonderful National Geographic website I clicked on this photo gallery of juvenile marine creatures aka Marine Miniatures by David Liittschwager. It's nice to be reminded of how amazing, beautiful and diverse nature is in such humble, tiny organisms. Why should we care about what happens to them and other near microscopic critters? Aside from their revealed beauty, the smaller they are the bigger the impact on the food chain depending on them. There is a difference between insignificant and small!


*Purchased mid 2008. Sold alongside the regular NG.

Koala collecting donations

No not the Wilderness Society!

First some cute and funny - I call her a koLOLa - to help the medicine go down. Here's a koala literally chillin' out :)



This juvenile koala got separated from her mum in the recent heat wave, prior to the Victorian Bushfire Disaster. She was lucky to wander onto a verandah where help was at hand and is now being looked after by wildlife carers.

So many animals, people and homes have been devastated by these terrible bush fires. They still aren't under total control. It all happened so quickly and some have been left with absolutely nothing.

Public Service Announcement
There's only one Victorian Bush Relief Fund. The Federal and State government has set it up in conjunction with the Red Cross. You can donate online or in person at any of the major banks. It's really easy - they have pre-filled the forms - and only takes a few minutes of your time. You can also pop into some shops like Australian Geographic to make a little donation if coinage is what you can spare.

The blood banks are booked up until Easter so hold off for now if you're considering donating. A friend of mine who works at the Southbank Blood Bank, tells me blood has a limited shelf life but there's a range of ways they use it.

They only need you to make a donation twice a year to make a difference in the long term.
I haven't donated yet but I have registered to do so for the first time in my life. I'll see how I go from there!

Customise a mask - How I did it.

Listening to: Poker Face by Lady Gaga



I started with a well shaped foundation mask from the discount basket (was about $10) at Eloquence Homewares. This one is papier-mâché which lends itself well to repainting.

Why did I want to change a pretty mask like this one? In a nutshell I felt it needed gothing/steampunking up. It was the wrong colour - a very bright yellow base, sparkling rainbow film glitter, with a pale pink plastic diamante. I needed it to complement this choker I had made for the Euchronia Ball.

Using a stiff bristle brush - a mini stencilling brush I think - I dry brushed black acrylic paint over the painted and glittery areas to dirty and age them. I topped up some of the plain gold, scrolled, glitter design that had gotten a bit muddled by my dry brushing.


I pulled off the diamante and the smaller, grey dappled feathers. Using copper enamel hobby paint and a 000 taklon brush, I carefully painted around the glitter scroll design and over all of the yellow, stippling to blend into the silver area. This type of enamel paint is easy to work with, quick to dry and inexpensive for the coverage you get.

I painted the back and front edge around the trim with black acrylic paint. This was sealed with a mixture of pearlescent acrylic medium and PVA glue for durability ... and to prevent my nose tip from possibly getting black while wearing the mask! This paint was also used to tidy up around the feathers to hide the residual glue from the removed decorations

The synthetic lace was sewn onto the existing woven trim using a small, curved needle. Before committing to such a time consuming exercise I tested out how this would look by pinning it in place. It was not cut to length but sewn on then trimmed off to ensure I couldn't run out. A few more stitches finished the lace end. If I were to do it again I would start from the middle at the forehead rather than the tip of the mask since the symmetry would be that tiny bit better.




Here is a large, metal, filigree cap bead and a small Czech crystal (the same type and size used on the matching choker).


I gently opened up and slightly flattened the cap bead. I stuck the crystal in the centre using contact adhesive. More contact adhesive was used to stick the two to the mask over where the pink diamante had been. Assembled it looks like both a flower, and a gear with a ruby movement.

I didn't want to stick an actual gear on it, since that would be too obvious and a bit silly! It would also be a somewhat clunky - I did try out a few different watch gears. Stylewise a gear was not in keeping with such a feminine mask, and it would limit it to steampunk outings only.


Finished! Almost...


Knowing I wouldn't want to hold this beauty to my face the entire evening, I added a loop of ribbon big enough to easily take my hand while holding the mask. It's sewn in place and the bow is sewn to ensure it stays.


Thus I was able to gracefully hold it in my hand while wearing the mask and dangle it from my wrist while sipping a cocktail.


Voila!


After the event it made a nice addition to my decor. I tied a little loop of gold thread at the end of the stick near the mask and hung it off a pin.

I hope that was inspiring. I love customising things :)

An Honest Mistake

Listening to: Human by The Killers on You Tube

The Bravery's, An Honest Mistake video features a complex Rube Goldberg machine. It's a well written, catchy, dancable song* and the punchline at the end made me chuckle. What more do you need?


*IMHO their best song!

Snail mail paradox

[baroo?]
To update my postal address with a certain health service the snail mailed letter says I can use their online services.
To use their online service I have to register my name with them.
To complete my registration I have to ensure my postal address is current because they snail mail a password out to me.
There is no email option.
WTF?

Steampunk & the Euchronia Ball, NYE 2008

Background
I've only recently been dabbling in steampunk, but my understanding is we have a small community right here in Melbourne. It's not as big as goth but there is a fair amount of cross over in terms of fashion because of the gothic penchant for the Victorian. Many goths do cross over, and did on the night.

I predict that steampunk is the next big thing in international subcultures to influence the mainstream. Over the last year I've seen a slowly growing wave of interest and coverage. The subculture is already being mined by the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier in his most recent collections AW08-09 here and to a lesser degree SS09 here. It's just a matter of time for it to trickle down.

Due to the hectic time constraints of my job in the lead up to Christmas I did not have the time to organise a new gown of any sort. Instead I accessorised my Victorian goth coordinates. I customised a paper mache mask (see end of post) and made a steampunk, velvet choker.

The Ball
The first Euchronia, steampunk ball held on new year's eve 2008 was quite fabulous! I am looking forward to attending the next one.



As I expected the DJing was by goths and a large portion of the well to exquisitely dressed, costumed crowd were goths. It made sense that the music played appealed to this audience. There were also performance artists of a vaudeville nature though to be honest many of them didn't appeal to me. I quite liked the solo performance by one of the belly dancers. The live bands were definitely enjoyable particularly Dandylion Wine whose rendition of 'Magic Dance' from the 'Labyrinth' soundtrack was a jolly good rollick!

No photography was allowed according to the ticket unless prior arrangement was made with organisers. I disagree with this stance. I presume it was to ensure the paid services of the official photographer since this is not a sacred venue, nor would any artworks be violated by flash photography. If there were lots of photographs from the event out there, a range of people over many websites could help promote it for free thus ensuring a bigger result for the next one. It works for the Annual Labyrinth Ball over in the America, and the new Labyrinth ball here.

The event took up 3 rooms over which there was a chill out space with professional photography*, 2 dance floor areas and stages. The main performance room had the main bar. The cocktail list was decent and well priced with free water and glasses provided. Delicious gourmet party pies were also available. All rooms were steampunked with handmade decor ranging from sculpted dirigibles to stencil art. As a venue it was an excellent choice to host this event. I expect a slightly bigger one may be required for the next one! We were a bit surprised it ended at 3am! We just wanted the fun to continue :)



Coming soon: A How to Customise a Mask for the above result

*Prints available for sale at Euchronia's website.

Mark Denis - Painter

Friesian 3, detail
2009
oil on board

My brother Mark has just created an account and gallery at DeviantArt. He works in oils on home stretched canvas and more recently on board made of recycled wood from furniture. His favourite subjects are historical buildings, cats, Dutch style still life, and horses. He lovingly creates multi layered paintings with great attention to detail and observation of form. Mark is largely self taught with help from a bit of formal schooling, friends and family. As his elder sister I have mentored him. He also provides me with a sounding board to bounce ideas and artworks off, as I do for him. Mark's amazing paintings are one reason why I will never dabble in oils! That, and I'm very happy sculpting and making collages.

Mark Denis - Painter
Ink Dreams at DeviantArt

Remember that famous line from Crocodile Dundee...

...when he brandishes a bowie hunting knife at the would be mugger?


My latest LOL from icanhascheezburger.com

Charming steampunk flavour

Listening to: Monster Love by Goldfrapp from Seventh Tree



From Flying Frog Folio - Visual Merchandising, my online display blog.

Sea Monkeys on Mars

When I first saw this particular themed sea monkey tank at Kmart I was envious that my shop didn't sell it. When we finally did I snapped one up! Since then (3 years ago) I have raised a number of sea monkeys to adulthood and seen individuals live an average of 6 months. The Sea Monkeys on Mars tank is cool because it has a little astronaut umbilically attached to his spaceship, little rocky archways, plus textured, plentiful surfaces on which to grow algae.


Male sea monkey with astronaut and spaceship

My current colony are the result of draining the bulk of the existing water out and restarting it again with a fresh packet of water 'purifier'* and eggs. It seems the fruits of the existing colony's last members were just not potent enough. I've since tried boosting the numbers by allowing water to evaporate over months, then adding fresh distilled water during the warmer Summer months**. This does cause babies to hatch but they don't seem to live long, though it wasn't the case with the first generation hatched this way. Since sea monkeys are type of a wild brine shrimp perhaps they have been bred to not procreate prolifically with success. There's no money in it if you could be completely self-sustaining is there?! No, you will need to buy a fresh packet of eggs thank you very much [ker-ching!].


Sea monkeys on Mars, top view through access aperture.

Note the verdant, 3 year growth of algae over the Martian surface. The accumulation of loose, green crud at the base of the tank is part of their ecosystem. It is green from algae and will contain some eggs. This type of algal growth is not only healthy but self sustaining. It should not be thrown out! The sea monkeys eat algae, digest it, and the algae turns the excretions into more algae.

Keeping the tank on a south facing window sill*** ensures plenty of gentle daylight throughout the day, with only the last rays of the sun at the end, which will not overheat the water and kill everything! It helps the algae grow and the sea monkeys need it as well. If you don't have such a suitable window sill you can place a small object like a picture frame, or a sheet or paper in front of the tank on a sunnier sill to stop direct sunlight hitting the tank. A sheer curtain is also fine to filter out direct sunlight.

Sea monkey males are sexually aggressive, latching on to females with their 'moustaches' in spite of persistant, wriggling feminine resistance. They stay attached for hours. In lieu of an available female, the sea monkey astronaut has appendages which make it an appealing sea monkey sex doll. Again these males will stay attached for hours. I have sometimes blown bubbles via a pipette to dislodge an elderly male from the astronaut, and once I intervened when two males attached to one female. Otherwise I leave them to it.


Male sea monkey in action...you can't see his many little swimming legs because this was a long exposure picture (no puns intended!).

Blowing bubbles - without sucking up water - is not only the safest way to move sea monkeys but they seem to enjoy it. It is part of maintaining a colony since it adds oxygen to the water. This set comes with such a pipette though you can buy similar ones from a chemist. An eyedropper tends to be too short for the task.

Website of the Day
Sea monkey Mania with more down to earth information and tips than the official Sea Monkey website, plus reviews of various sea monkey products

*Actually salts and a small number of eggs.
**It's the best time to raise sea monkey babies since they are from warmer climes.
***In the southern hemisphere only. Put on a northern window in the northern hemisphere.

Michelangelo @ the discotheque

Listening to: Beat for You, by Pseudo Echo from Autumnal Park

Quote of the Day
'...the naked muscle on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel simply can't be ignored. It's like a gay disco up there!'
Boy George in the forward to Queer by S Gage, L Richards, H Wilmot published by Unanimous, London, 2002

The Arrival by Shaun Tan via Cabinet of Wonders

Listening to: Into the Nightlife by Cyndi Lauper, from Bring Ya to the Brink

I have been meaning to write about one of my favourite Australian book illustrators*, Shaun Tan for some time now and have been pipped to the post! Heather McDougal has eloquently blogged on Cabinet of Wonders about The Arrival. Via the comments page you can find this rather wonderful little documentary/interview with Shaun about the upcoming animation of The Lost Thing and the artistic process. The Arrival is my favourite Shaun Tan graphic novel, followed by The Lost Thing so I'm finding the prospect of that being animated, rather exciting!

What I adore about Shaun's unique work is the quirkiness, aged rather than shiney and new textures, details, fantastic creature design, contraptions and landscapes. It's a little bit steampunk without referencing any period in particular and in that sense, timeless.



Print sized illustrations from The Arrival here.

Website of the Day
Shaun Tan


*The other is Melbourne based, Graeme Base whose work I have had the pleasure of growing up with and seeing in the flesh at an exhibition recently. I got some books signed for Christmas including the delightful 'The Art of Graeme Base' :)

Mirrored Mask @ pdvirtualgallery.blogspot.com

Cross posted to my art blog. There, you will see the number of works increase this month so pop back now and then. I've been taking photographs of some of my older works which have been exhibited, pieces relating to these, works in progress, and newer art that has never been seen by the general public. I don't intend to post many of the latter until they have been exhibited, in order to protect my intellectual property concerning the specific concepts behind some pieces . I must get around to finding a gallery and booking a space!


Mirrored Mask
digital photograph

She sells sanctuary by the seashore

Listening to: She Sells Sanctuary by Pure Cult

A few months ago it occurred to me that, after almost ten years of frequenting goth clubs where this used to be a dance floor filling staple and hearing this song so many times, I still had no idea what most of the lyrics are. Do you? Tonight I finally looked them up and read them while listening to the song. Then I giggled at what I was fudging/pretending them to be in my head* This isn't what I actually heard but if forced to sing it I would have sung it like that** . The real lyrics don't make much more sense in my opinion ;)


* Involved slurred, snarly words and paper backs being burned.

**Actually I would more likely make something up to the tune of it. I have a gift for making partial songs up on the spot to the tune of other songs. It's a source of much amusement [grin].
example: While at an international airport a few years ago I came up with this,
sung to the tune of John the Revelator by Depeche Mode:
Get on the travelator
Get there sooner and not later
Get you to your plane on time

Anton's: 'Purveyors of mighty fine clothing...'

Listening to: Panic, by The Smiths

Anton's print advertisement from the back of the Melbourne, Spiegel Tent program.

I'm a sucker for collages incorporating Victorian/vintage imagery and science illustrations. The radiating sunburst holds it all together beautifully.

Yes, Anton's do sell mighty fine attire. The Melbourne Central shop is well worth a visit just for the decor and window display. Anton himself collects the new and vintage, object d' art and props. The staff are friendly and exceptionally well dressed. They sell more than suits and much of it has a vintage flavour. They do not have a website they are so old school!

Spot the (Sheer Relief) difference

Listening to: Dare you to move, by Switchfoot

Sheer Relief's packaging just got sexier so,
Spot the (Sheer Relief) difference/photo editing

left: old pack from about 1-2 years ago, right: current packaging

From woman next door flight attendants with sensible heeled shoes (oxymoron?) to an Angelina Jolie look-alike with her pretty, fellow flight attendant in sexy heels and shorter skirts with suspiciously smooth, coltish legs. The new models are so sassy their identical, untucked neck scarves artfully billow inside the air port terminal. There was no noticable photo editing before and now there definitely is. So much so that the product itself is less accurately depicted. I can personally say and recommend it's the same reliable, tough, supportive hosiery but it hasn't gotten that more sheer! I still like the new pack in spite of all of these things. The old one was getting a bit dated.

Perky purple putty

This is the header from the point of sale box of a product we sell. Looks pretty straight forward doesn't it, with cute happy faces added to enliven the product and make it feel more fun. It is fun actually :)

Ever played with silly putty? When explaining to customers what's inside the plastic eggs, I tell them it's silly putty but in a better colour. Stretch it, snap it, roll then bounce it. Silly putty is traditionally a strange flesh-like colour. It's just as well Bounce Putty isn't:



You could NOT use this image if the product was flesh coloured could you? Oh nooooo sir.

Yes I have a filthy mind but if you see what I'm talking about then you do as well ;)

Odd Objects. Part 1: LED Santa Brooch

Found at work amongst last year's Christmas decorations. In addition to his appropriately zombie-like, slightly zonked out expression* he has flashing LEDs in his beard. Are those silver balls on strings a metaphor for lost marbles? Discuss.

Thus begins a new entry label, odd objects, the perfect accompaniment to curious clippings.

* He looks how we feel at the end of serving hundreds of people all day, particularly on the weekend. Coming in to work this morning I felt for an instant like I was in a zombie film (recently watched 28 Days Later which I highly recommend), with all these people rushing in a very definite direction which happened to be mine.

Red Eyed Train

Medama-oyaji on Kitarō train, Tottori line click for more information
Image from Pink Tentacle

Website of the Day
Pink Tentacle - home of Japanese coolness, technology, art and science.

Which came first?

If you think about it from an evolutionary sense I think the egg did but the thing that laid it wasn't a chook.

Check out this wonderful, transforming egg and chick knitting project from Mochimochi

Websites of the Day
... Mochimochi Blog.
Found via another blog which is also worth checking out if you love hand crafted, interesting, funky, quirky plushies:
Plush You

Elizabeth and Mary Kirby's authorship

'The World at Home', by Mary and Elizabeth Kirby, published by T. Nelson and Sons, London, 1888 is the source for some of the vintage clippings recently shared here.

A quick bit of googling reveals:

'Elizabeth KIRBY (F: 1823 Dec 15 - 1873 Jun 23)
Steps Up The Ladder (anon) [1862]
Dame Buckle And Her Pet Johnny (anon) [1867]
The World At Home (w Mary KIRBY) [1869]
The Sea And Its Wonders (w Mary KIRBY) [1870]
Lost Cities Brought To Light (anon) [1871]
Margaret's Choice (aka: The Mistress Of The Manor) (anon) [1872]
Beautiful Birds In Far-Off Lands (w Mary KIRBY) [1872]
Humming-Birds (w Mary KIRBY) [1874]
Birds Of Gay Plumage - Birds Of Paradise (w Mary KIRBY) [1875]
Birds Of Gay Plumage - Sun Birds (w Mary KIRBY) [1875]
Aunt Martha's corner cupboard: or, Stories about tea, coffee, sugar, rice, etc. (w Gregg, Mary Kirby) [1887]
& more natural history related titles.

Ah [sigh and smirk] there's a certain innocence that's part of the Victorian age which makes the part of my mind that's quickly in the gutter, giggle. The part that loves old stuff and the way language changes, smiles and glows for being enlightened.

Clearly the Kirby sisters(?) had a shared passion for the exotic and far-off, natural history and bird-life in particular. Their work is widely considered to have made a significant, historical contribution to non-fiction literature. Various titles are available as reprints here.

I was originally going to cut up my copy of their work for making my signature surreal collages since it is falling apart and has been hand-coloured with watercolours randomly, by a previous owner rather than the publisher. Now I think I'll keep it in one piece!

* From The New General Catalog of Old Books and Authors

The Shark in 1888

THE SHARK*
by W.H.F. & E. Etherington

'He likes to keep up with a ship, because then he can catch whatever is thrown overboard. He is not at all dainty, as you will think, when I tell you a pair of old boots was one day thrown at him. The shark swam up, opened his great jaws, and swallowed them as if he thought them very nice.'*


THE SHARK*, detail
Notice his resemblance to a seal with furry skin and a narrowing at the neck.
His tail changes between the illustrations from vaguely mammalian to something more piscine (below).


THE SHARK IS CAUGHT AT LAST*
by W.H.F. & E. Etherington

The story of the shark concludes with the sailors on said ship catching and killing the shark using a chunk of meat on a hook and chain. His crime: following the ship in case there's a man overboard, who he would 'swallow... in a minute'! Surprisingly no mention is made of eating him. It is typical of texts from this period to describe the uses and edibility of fauna. The text does discuss the uses of shagreen, the polished leather made from shark skin.

*Images from The World at Home, by Mary and Elizabeth Kirby, published by T. Nelson and Sons, London, 1888.

A Sand Storm and A Strange Visitor

A SAND STORM*
by Van'Dargent and Demarle (??)
Depiction of a sand storm on The Llanos plains or Los Llanos (meaning the flat plains), of Colombia and Venezuela in South America.



A STRANGE VISITOR*
by M Jackson Sr(?) & KH
From the same region a dormant crocodile buried in mud, is uncovered and awakened by the monsoon** rains. Given the location of the hypothetical story behind this picture, it's most likely to be an Orinoco Crocodile. This is the largest predator of the South American continent, reaching lengths of up to 20ft or 6 metres! Unfortunately due to extensive hunting for its leather during the 19th and 20th centuries, and now due to pollution, it is a critically endangered species. So any traveller like the ones depicted in this story would be indeed be privileged - as well as alarmed, naturally - to witness such an occurance today.

*Images from The World at Home, by Mary and Elizabeth Kirby, published by T. Nelson and Sons, London, 1888.
**Monsoon describes a particular, heavy, seasonal rainfall and is no longer considered a meteorological term specific to the India.

Skull a Day & Street Anatomy

Bird dropping skull
01/11/08
At Skull a day this bird poo would be described as a simulacra. I spotted it after hopping out of my car yesterday afternoon. You can find more skullish simulacra on Sundays, reader submissions, and the original skulls from each day of a year made by the site's author.


i-Pirate - Now with Skulls!
clay, card, found objects
2008

Admittedly I have found some of the skull simulacra a bit tenous, and sometimes I think the author phoned in the skull for the day. There also isn't many non-human skulls. However skulls like the Chinese calligraphy skull, the chewing gum dot and chalk skulls, and many of the found object ones are so outstandingly nifty that you can easily forgive these things.

Noah Scalin, site author, decided one day to make a skull a day for a year. At times he would struggle to find a new and exciting material, he would come across something unconventional as an art material like petroleum jelly, while on other days something spoke to him, such is the way with art. He dabbled in media he hadn't used for years and challenged himself with new ones. He's been plugging his site book a lot there lately! There's a Facebook application to give your friends skulls each day. So if you like skulls and art you will enjoy Skull a Day.

[edit]

If that doesn't tickle your fancy try the blog, Street Anatomy which has more than artsy skulls. You will find art with street cred, all relating to the anatomy of humans and animals in varying medical depth, some vintage some contemporary, some might not be there tomorrow while others are there for a lifetime, all in a variety of media. Cool stuff for the slightly morbid or scientifically curious art browser, and well worth reading right through to the beginning of this blog's archive.

Very Happy Dinosaurs

I found this pack on the hanging display prong when I was rearranging things. I swear they were exactly like this when I found them. Would I lie to you? They are dancing in a conga line. Yup, that's what they're doing...

Haroun and the Sea of Stories - Reviewed

Haroun and the Sea of Stories
by Salman Rushdie
Illustrated by Paul Birkbeck

The hard back, large print edition I borrowed has intriguing, fantastic little pictures dotted over it, which is what initially caught my attention. The illustrations by Birkbeck throughout are beautiful and exquisitely detailed.



This well paced work needs no illustrations but they are a perfect accompaniment. They do enhance the reading experience - like a nice biscuit or three to dunk makes a well brewed cup of tea something morish! The story telling is so vivid that you may well imagine something to match Birbeck's art. He has certainly read the book since his art is true to it both overall and in detail. My only quibble with the illustrations is that a couple of the full colour, full page ones of plot events preceeded the text to accompany them - thus spoiling the surprise.

I have only heard of Salman Rushdie as a fugitive, a free speaker and an author of repute. I had not read a single one of his works until now. It is something I will definitely look into. I came to this book with fresh eyes and can see what all the fuss is about.

Finely written in the tradition of the Arabian Nights tales, this is classic, exotic, storytelling gold. A first class read, it's full of texture, magic and diversity of characters with a gentle peppering of humour for young and old. I appreciated it as a pure fantasy work separate from our world. However it does have relevant messages about freedom of speech, understanding, peace, imagination, the value of traditional culture, and the power of the people - all deftly woven with a subtle strength on a foundation established early in the book. As Haroun realises, that is the point of stories that aren't true: you are entertained and your thoughts are provoked.

Highly recommended!

Knobbly fresh produce FTW!

'"At long last we are going to get crooked cucumbers in our shops. Hooray for Europe!".
British Labour MP Dennis McShane applauds the European Commission's plans to ease restrictions that prevent the sale of knobbly fruit and vegetables as 'class one' goods'
The Independent, London, 16 June, 2008'
Quoted in New Scientist, 21 June, 2008, page 12

Beetle burger

Beetle burger
digital file
2008

Original image from : Chatterbox (1926, Children's Annual), published by Wells Gardner, Darton & Co., London 1926. Artist unknown

Ye olde flavours

Ye olde flavours
digital file
2008

Original image source unknown since I saved this one to make a LOL some time ago. If you can tell me where it's from I will credit it.

BibliOdyssey

If you like art and history combined but you don't check out BibliOdyssey regularly - or [gasp] you have never heard of it - then here's something to whet your appetite. Phwoar! It doesn't get much better than this. You can tell the author loves to fossick out the beautiful, strange and unusual but there is also a history to discover behind every image. The fantastic is complemented by the scientific, with the artistic melding it all together.

The obligatory* book that this popular blog's (Australian) author has published is worth seeking out for more than its wonderfully macabre cover! It inspired me to rummage through my old books and share a few of my favourite vintage clippings here.


*I say this in a good way since many of my favourite sites have accompanying publications.

In Beetle Land

'Where is Beetle Land? In the fields, in the woods, all over the place, or where the flowers and mushrooms grow. Any place where the merry little beetles run about is Beetle Land.'
by P.P. Billinghurst


In Beetle Land - Header, "Perhaps they stop and talk to each other."



In Beetle Land - Header, detail



In Beetle Land - Header, detail 'Land'



"It was very comfortable."



"There was the monster outside his own front door."

From: Chatterbox (1926, Children's Annual), published by Wells Gardner, Darton & Co., London 1926
Unfortunately the artist for these particular illustrations isn't credited, they are not signed, and they are unique in style within the book.