Sleepy Puppy Lullaby

Take a peek at this sweet sweet dreams boxer baby footage.

Animal-Oriented Imaginative Imagery

Feast your eyes on these desserty-delicious mixed-media collage creations by artist Wyanne. She has an entire collection featuring whimsical, wide-eyed women with their various captivating critter companions (and she even does commissions!)

Beatrix Potter's Birthday

"Believe there is a great power silently working all things for good, behave yourself and never mind the rest..."

Today is Miss Potter's birthday. Of course, she's no longer with us... but it's still her birthday! Her delightful tiny talking animal tales remain one of the most creative, lovely, beautifully illustrated works of children's literature that exist today (just take a peek at the adorable Potter-inspired nursery mural above.)

Besides being an author, Beatrix was fascinated with science (woohoo!) and spent a great deal of time studying botany, geology, paleontology, entomology (bugs are cool!) and even mycology (the study of fungus. Yes, fungus!) She was a conservationist, gardener, animal lover, and a bit of a weirdo (besides her interest in fungus, she also wrote her personal journals in secret code for 15 years!)

Visit the World of Beatrix Potter website for extensive biography information, wonderful teacher-child resources, character merchandise, and an onslaught of whimsical watercolors, sketches, and curiosities. And chomp on something vegetabley today in her honor :)

Andy Goldsworthy Day... A Celebration of Art in Nature!

Andy Goldsworthy is an ingenious, quirky little environmental artist. He uses nature as a material source and creates visual works of art within the framework of the outdoors: river rocks balance, branches reach up woven with ivy, flower petals dance in flame-like textural patterns... It's really quite spectacular! Tomorrow (Saturday, July 26), is Andy Goldsworthy Day, and (from 12-3pm) we'll be having all sorts of "creation stations" set up at the Nature Center, so visitors can join the fun by making huge collaborative leafy swirly petaly masterpieces like the one seen above. This past week, Miss Dana's Super Science class explored environmental art concepts with hands-on projects out on the trails (some of which still linger, provoking patron curiosity...) A photography collection highlighting the children's work will be up in the museum gallery through next week. Check your local nature centers, preserves, museums & galleries for more information on environmental art activities that might be happening in your area!

Little Miss Sunshine

Delightful Discovery Alert: Fable & Lore could be the supercoolest kids clothing line ever! One of my preschoolers came to class recently with "secret magic rainbow clothes!" I watched with glee as the embroidery on her darling & comfy bohemianish top changed from white to...TADA... pink! I actually clapped! It turns out, Fable & Lore makes a whole line of these whimsical, giggle-inducing clothes for both little girls and little boys, too. Special solar active inks change color when exposed to the sunlight: flowers blush, dragons get fired up, leaves autumnize before your eyes... it's fantastic!

Happy Lazy Sunday

Oh to be Audrey! Puppies in baskets, little white flats, comfy-crisp gingham capris, (maybe on her way to brunch by the sea?)... does it get any more splendidly Sundayish?

"Raindrops on Roses & Whiskers on Kittens..."

"...bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens...wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings...these are a few of my favorite things..." : creativethursday, tascha, luludesign, & carlasonheim. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

Bohemian Cats Craziness

I recently stumbled across the incredible, imaginative, semi-weird-yet wonderful works of Baba Studio. Through their art, they have created an entire world where felines rule (shh... don't tell your pup...) Haughty kittens wear opulent jewels, and attend royal galas to gossip & indulge in delicious feasts... Brave young Toms ride horses, swashbuckle, and engage in swordplay. The lush images are somehow simultaneously beautiful and... silly. So of course I love them!

Anyone who's ever shared their home with a cat will appreciate (and recognize) the detailed familiar feline facial expressions. Besides being talented, these Prague-based artists also really care about animals, and donate a portion of all proceeds from the Bohemian Cats line to the Prague Cat Shelter. Take a peek at their Etsy shop to view more brilliant kitties, featured as frame-ready prints, handbags, card decks, and oddishly interesting picture books.