We're All Ears :: June Inspiration :: Kaleidoscopes

Did you ever play with one of these as a child?

Buy yours here.

The text on this item says that you twist to create millions of mosaics, which inspires creativity and imagination and is fun and safe for all ages. Indeed! Now this is the kind of handheld device that kids should have access to. I was fascinated by them. Perhaps that small toy informed my love of color and pattern to this day.

Kaleidoscope animation via Wikipedia

Kaleidoscopes were invented by Sir David Brewster in 1817. This optical instrument has two or more mirrored surfaces tilted at an angle so that objects on one end are seen as a reflected, ever-changing pattern. "Kaleidoscope" is a word from Ancient Greek meaning καλός (kalos), "beautiful, beauty", εἶδος (eidos), "that which is seen: form, shape" and σκοπέω (skopeō), "to look to, to examine",^[4] hence "observation of beautiful forms."

Brewster thought that these "perfectly beautiful and symmetrical forms" would be of great value in "all the ornamental arts" as a device that creates an "infinity of patterns." I couldn't agree more! I am hugely inspired by the shifting patterns of kaleidoscopes. Wouldn't it be cool to be in one? I found this image from an exhibition in 2012 where a child was walking through a human sized kaleidoscope at a Ripley's Believe It Or Not location. So cool!

And as I am wont to do, I fell down a rabbit-hole and discovered a type of "dancing" called finger-tutting and this group from Japan that was in the Asia's Got Talent show is clearly talented doing what they called "finger kaleidoscope." No mirrors, just three guys with very agile fingers creating mesmerizing shapes. Enjoy!

So if you happen to have a childhood kaleidoscope (or if you don't you can check out this video animation), I encourage you to pull it out and travel back to a simpler time when a handheld device meant turning a tube of colored bits of glass and marveling at the ever-shifting patterns and colors brought enjoyment for hours!

See you on Friday, June 15th for the reveal of Kaleidoscopes!

We're All Ears :: June Inspiration :: Fireflies

A right of passage. A curious wonder. A light show like no other. An iconic image of summers past.... fireflies.

Have you ever seen a firefly?

By Bruce Marlin - Own work http://www.cirrusimage.com/beetle_firefly_Photuris_lucicrescens.htm, CC BY-SA 2.5, Link

They seem innocent enough, these brown and tan striped, soft-bodied winged beetles. The Lampyridae is commonly referred to as a firefly or lightning bug. These winged beetles have a bioluminescent glow that attract mates or prey. Their bright little light is a 'cold light' in that it doesn't produce any heat, but is a chemical reaction from the lower abdomen and can be seen as yellow, green or pale red. Tiny antennae on top of their semi-circle heads. I love the heart shape of their tiny feet. But they are a rather unassuming sort of bug. Until the twilight hour. That is when this little creature puts on a spectacular show.


What a magical experience..."as if the stars have come to settle in the forest." These synchronous fireflies all start together and flash together and then stop only to start all over again. And it is mainly about getting lucky! They flash each other and hook up. How romantic!

I have only seen fireflies a few times in my life but it truly is mesmerizing. Have you seen these lightning bugs? Do you remember trapping them in jars and watching them all night long?

Share your firefly experience and make some earrings inspired by these mighty awesome bugs. See you for the reveal on June 16th!

We're All Ears :: June Inspiration

We have a local ice cream place that is only open from March-October called Belt's Soft Serve. It is a well-documented tradition that people line up overnight in March, braving the frigid temperatures by camping out in the parking lot to be one of the first customers when they open. And the last night they are open has crowds stretching around the block for hours. It is THE place to be seen in town, and is pretty tasty, too!

[Photo credit :: Christian Widell :: Unsplash]

They have cones that are like 3 feet tall and all sorts of yummies including their own home-made peanut butter cups, brownies and cookie dough for flurries. They also use a lot of local produce throughout the season, and that is awesome.

[Photo credit :: veeterzy :: Unsplash]

I do not go there often, so when I do it has to be special. I wait all year for the small window of opportunity to get a home-made strawberry shortcake sundae. A home-baked shortbread cake riding a mound of creamy soft-serve vanilla ice cream drizzled with heaps of local strawberries (always splurge for extra!) and topped with whipped cream. That is summer in a bowl for me!

[Photo credit :: Danielle MacInnes :: Unsplash]

So this month, in anticipation of this limited-time treat (only available for the last half of June! In between my travels this month you can bet I will be there more than once!), I thought that we could use strawberries as our theme this month.

[Photo credit :: Benil Benjamin :: Unsplash]

Have you ever heard of the website Unsplash? I discovered it this spring and it is chock-full of photography that is FREE to use. That's right. FREE. All of these images are from Unsplash.

You are actually encouraged to use them on your website, remix them into an art piece, post them to your blog. I find the collections especially endearing. And the pictures themselves are outstanding in their subject matter, composition, lighting. They seem like mysterious artifacts that need to have a story told about them. 

See you on June 17th for the sweet and juicy reveal!

We're All Ears :: June Inspiration

 

Guggenheim Museum: Source

  

One of these days I hope to take a trip to New York City. At the top of my list of must-sees is the Guggenheim Museum. Designed by my favorite architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, this modern marvel is truly a living piece of art that houses some of the world's greatest art.

 

 Completed in 1959, this building immediately became an icon. It testifies to the genius of Wright's vision. Despite the languid curvilinear shape, there are angles as well. Triangles, arcs, circles, squares, ovals. The natural nautilus-shaped spiral gently slopes from the top to the bottom leading the patron through each layer of the collection. This view is looking up from the bottom of the rotunda to the impressive sky lights above.

 What inspires you about this stunning architecture?

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To participate in the We're All Ears creative challenge:

Make earrings inspired by this picture.

Write a post on your blog.

Add your exact blog post URL link to the InLinkz code right here
on Friday, June 20th.

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