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Sewing, Weaving and Spinning in Art
I am certain that a Sewing Machine would relieve as much human suffering as a hundred Lunatic Asylums, and possibly a good deal more. Margaret Atwood
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All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury Short Story Analysis
All Summer in a Day is a short story by American writer Ray Bradbury, first published in 1954. Find it in Ray Bradbury Stories Vol. 1. It’s interesting to see how science fiction evolves alongside our increased understanding of other planets. “All Summer In A Day” is a story of its time, written in an […]
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U.F.O. In Kushiro by Haruki Murakami Short Story Analysis
“U.F.O. in Kushiro” is a short story written by popular contemporary Japanese author Haruki Murakami. English readers first had access to the story in 2001, when it appeared in an issue of the New Yorker magazine. The story was republished in 2011 after an earthquake and tsunami devastated northern Japan. Safe to say this is considered […]
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Foes by Lorrie Moore Short Story Analysis
“Foes” is a short story by American writer Lorrie Moore. The Guardian published it on the eve of the election which would see Obama to the presidency, and can be read in full here. It is also in Bark and in Collected Stories. This is such an American story, so Americans will have a more […]
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Beautiful Cosy Underground Scenes In Picture Books
Mole reached down a lantern from a nail on the wall and lit it, and the Rat, looking round him, saw that they were in a sort of fore-court. A garden-seat stood on one side of the door, and on the other a roller; for the Mole, who was a tidy animal when at home, […]
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The Symbolism of Dolls In Storytelling
Dolls serve as comfort; they also creep us out. Which is it gonna be? And how do storytellers utilise their multivalent presence in our lives?
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The Toys of Peace by Saki Short Story Analysis
“The Toys of Peace” (1919) is a short story by H.H. Munro (a.k.a. Saki) and is out of copyright so can easily be found online. This is the opening short story in a collection called The Toys Of Peace And Other Papers by H.H. Munro (and G.K. Chesterton). This volume was published after Saki’s death. […]
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Gift Idea: A picture book inside a cardboard box
It’s often said that children love boxes more than they love the expensive presents that came inside them. That’s certainly been true at this house. The large boxes are especially popular. Large boxes can be turned into huts or reading nooks. Small boxes have a wide variety of uses.
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Writing Activity: Describe a Market
Fish markets, night markets, Saturday morning galas… Most people will be familiar with some kind of open air market.
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Commuter and Transfer Stations In Art
These illustrations are views of the outside of commuter stations — train stations, lorry transfer stations. (I’m not including here illustrations of the insides of commuter stations.)
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Which Is More Than I Can Say About Some People by Lorrie Moore Short Story Analysis
“Which Is More Than I Can Say About Some People” is a mother-and-daughter road trip short story by American writer Lorrie Moore. This story was published in The New Yorker in November 1993. Also find it in Birds of America (1999) and The Collected Stories. The title of this story comes from something the mother of this […]
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Illustrating Metallic Surfaces
The trick to painting realistic metal: Know how much white to use — or not use. Use too much and you’ll end up with something that looks like glass, plastic or a DreamWorks collector toy. Look at the beautiful illustrations and paintings below and take note of how much (little) pure white is used. More […]
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Leaded Glass Windows In Art
PAINTINGS WHICH LOOK A LITTLE LIKE LEADED GLASS I have wondered if stained leaded glass artwork was inspired by the wings of butterflies. The same painting techniques artists use to illustrate butterflies can be applied equally to illustrations of stained glass. There is something otherworldly about all of Sime’s art. Even a simple landscape is […]
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Holes In Art and Storytelling
Be careful what you cast out — the vacancy is quickly filled. Austin Osman Spare SAM AND DAVE DIG A HOLE HOLES BY LOUIS SACHAR Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnats. Now Stanley has been unjustly sent to a boys’ detention […]
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Train Stations and Platforms in Art
A collection of art and illustrations in and around train stations.