I'm a bit tardy alerting you guys to GOOD's 30-Day Challenge for March. But you know what they say about late and never. Plus, I'm giving you the opportunity to double up on some artistic activities for a few days in order to catch up, thus enhancing your enjoyment on said days twofold. You're welcome. ;)
I digress. The good people of GOOD are challenging us to incorporate art on the daily. They've brainstormed 31 tasks that will ensure we are maximizing our artistic interactions with the world. A few of my favorites:
doodle for 10 minutes straight
take a street art walking tour
make origami
Ok, you know what? All 31 are my favorites, and I don't want to retype their whole list. So, follow the link above to see which daily art activities you'll perform in March. Feel free to alter some of the tasks, delete any you're not into, and/or add your own! I even see some major crossover opportunities should you still desire to participate in the Magic Mission. :D
p.s. That stunning Tupac/Adventure Time mural up there? Is in Castro Valley! I know! (I mentioned it once before.) Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would not believe it either, friends. But extraordinary surprises are all around us. Are you looking?
My partner in whatever the opposite of crime is (aka Ben) and I finally completed one of the projects for the Magic Mission. We gathered provisions:
(yes, bubble tea played an essential role in this particular project)
and got busy. Ben was, of course, all about the pun.
(TAG! You're it!, Don't leave me hangin', bro!, etc.)
Rhyming anthropomorphism also served as a muse—Cats shooting craps!
I, too, tried my hand at the visual pun. See the corner of Have a[soccer] ball peeking out down there? I was kinda proud of that one. :)
But sometimes just-plain-cute trumped clever.
Bonus points for sparkle. Always.
We tied our tiny-messages-to-the-world on chain link fences, tennis court nets, tree branches, door handles, and bridge railings. Today was such a windy day, though, that it was difficult to get photos of our tiny messages "in the wild". Let's just say this guy reads, "you're a shooting star," ok?
We saved quite a few of the lot, so the adventure will continue! Do you have plans to complete a Magic Mission this weekend, friends? If you're looking for an easy/fun one to start with, I highly recommend #4.
Are you a fan of deciphering cryptic clues, embarking on treasure hunts, recording important data in log books, rubber stamps, and being outside, hiking about? Thought so. Well, then, letterboxing may be your next favorite hobby. In case you've yet to 'box, here are the basics:
Planting
Clever and creative people carve a stamp.
The stamp is secured, along with a logbook (and hopefully an ink pad), in a water-tight container. This nifty little package is dubbed the letterbox.
The planter hides the letterbox. Often the stamp and the 'box's location are linked thematically. Sometimes, it's just a sweet spot, with a memorable view. See photos below.
Finally, the planter writes mysterious directions, and posts them online, so you can be a treasure hunter. Like Indiana Jones, sans all the dangerous boulders and snakes and stuff.
Finding
Before you head out on your first hunt, acquire your own logbook and personal stamp. Part of the fun of letterboxing is carving stamps—both when you create your personal stamp and each time you plant a 'box. There are countless tutorials online that explain (or even show with video!) how to make your own rubber stamps. I like to keep it simple, so I've always used erasers and borrowed friends' linoleum cutters.
When you discover a letterbox (Eureka!), you ink your personal stamp in the letterbox's logbook. It's also customary to write the date on which you discovered the 'box. Some people also include little tidbits regarding the weather or scenery, but that's not essential. Then, be sure to collect your well-earned reward! Enter the planter's stamp in your log book, and record whatever information you'd like to help capture the memory.
Any questions? Did you know there were hidden treasures all around you? Will you begin a quest to find one this weekend?
I couldn't wait till the weekend. We in the Bay Area experienced unusual winter weather today. At one point, my car thermometer gauged the outside temperature at 73ยบ! I knew I wanted to soak in as much sun and outdoorsy air as possible, so I decided today was a lovely day for a letterbox adventure. I grabbed my 'boxing kit and went in search of this guy at Garin Park in Hayward. Unfortunately, the letterbox was missing its stamp! My outing was not for naught, though. Look at the sights I saw! I still managed to find some treasure. :)
Garin Park; Hayward, CA
the view from the letterbox's hiding place
blooming!
close up
I hope you have a wonderful weekend, full of mini-adventures. Should you become an avid letterboxer, and decide to plant one, let me know! A) I'd love to seek and find it, and B) I think that'd be another perfect way to participate in the Magic Mission. ;) Cheers!
I just finished reading Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (yes, I'm well on my way to reading more than my usual number of books intended for adults this year). One of the circus tents in the story features a Wishing Tree: "You take a candle from the box at the entrance and light it from one that already burns on the tree. Your wish is ignited by someone else's wish." Charming concept, no?
The image reminded me of Yoko Ono's Wish Trees, which were inspired by her childhood memory of writing a wish on a piece of paper and tying it around a tree branch at a temple in Japan. Wish trees appear in various forms in other cultures around the globe, as well.
If you're still trying to devise a way to participate in the Magic Mission, I believe creating a Wish Tree for your community is another lovely* option. Igniting some hopefulness in this world fits the purpose of the project perfectly. :)
*and simple! All you need is paper, a hole punch, yarn or string, some writing utensils, and wishes! Oh, and a tree, of course.
What? You heard me. I'm telling you: folks can make magic pretty much anywhere. Case in point: check out these re-imagined potholes!
Juliana Santacruz Herrera enhanced the heck out of some potholes in Paris with some yarn. I originally typed "I wish I'd seen some of JSH's pothole enhancements when I was in Paris last fall," but then I worried I was guilty of humblebragging. Thought you should know. (Discovered @ Honestly...WTF.)
And Claudia Ficca and Davide Luciano's cheeky pothole vignettes amuse me to no end. If potholes persist, why not get some doughnuts, baptisms, and down the rabbit hole-ing out of them? Read a nifty interview with the creative duo over at My Modern Met.
I hope both the pothole projects inspire you to make some similar magic in your neck of the woods. You are still cordially invited to participate in my birthday celebration, the Magic Mission. In fact, the offer does not expire. :)
You guys! Our first Magic Mission* is complete! Janet (aka This Confetti Life) tucked some bouncy balls amid, near, and around all the yummy treats at her local Trader Joe's. I envision a sly Janet, clad in black Wayfarers, black turtleneck, black leggings, black ballet flats and a beige trench coat, looking both ways before painstakingly placing the bouncy ball on the mochi, and then tip-toeing over to the mini peanut butter cups to find the next hiding spot. I sincerely hope she had fun being a little mischievous, and I hope you help us keep the ball rolling!
Read the Official Invitation for all sorts of ideas to help spread some magic. I cannot wait to see how you'll interpret the project!
*Tentative name. Anyone have a better name for the project?
You may have heard (from me): my birthday is nigh! Which means, my annual opportunity to bring a little beauty into the neighborhood and joy to strangers is also upon us. I'd really like this tradition to grow. I hope for more beauty and cheer; I hope to include more communities; I hope to involve more people.
Consider yourself invited to join in the tradition. This year, I have not organized one set day and time for one particular activity. No no no no no! 2012's celebration (which I don't have a clever name for!) is flexible, like Jane Fonda. You can participate whenever you want, wherever you can! Just pick one of the following projects to plan and actualize, and do so knowing that you're giving me the best possible gift ever. Without further ado:
3. Gather a large bouquet of balloons and bring them to mortals in line at the DMV. Or recreate 2011's classic 100 Balloon Walk.
4. Paint rocks; distribute. Have fun finding the perfectly camouflaged hiding spots! Or perform another brilliant Color Me Katie project, and send tiny messages out into the world for folks to discover.
5. Pinwheel a fence that looks like it's in need of some whimsy.
6. Create "Have a nice day!" cards for elderly residents of an assisted living home, or a fun care package for someone you haven't spoken with in a while, and head to the post office. You may as well bake some cookies or muffins for the postal employees since you're headed to the P.O. anyway. ;)
7. Deliver the following to the waiting room at a hospital: fresh flowers (use jars or cans for vases—easily thrifted if you don't have extras); coloring books (Find cute printables here and here. Bummed we've already passed Chinese New Year! But, behold: Mardi Gras pages.) and crayons; sudoku and crossword puzzles and pencils; magazines headed to the recycling bin; and don't forget little envelopes of coins to tape to vending machines.
8. Craft up some crowns and costumes (see gorgeous image below, for which I wish I knew the source), collect musical instruments (or noisemakers—pots, pans, and wooden spoons in a pinch), and march down the street in a merry parade. Bounce around a lot, and if people ask what you're celebrating, say, "2012 is a Leap Year!"
9. Launch some guerilla gardening in your neighborhood, with this simple and comprehensive How To. Or for less of a commitment, drop some seed bombs where you'd like to see some color. (Stilettos and red bag optional.) Here's an alternative recipe that uses newspapers rather than fertilizer and clay. (Heart-shaped bombs also optional.)
p.s. Be sure to do your research, i.e. select plants or seeds that are hearty and native to your area, be aware of soil and weather conditions, etc.!
10. Set up a lemonade stand, but don't charge for your refreshments. Or create your own ice cream cart (insulated backpack + an umbrella?), and wander around the local lake or park distributing free, frozen yumminess.
11. Do you have a Polaroid (or any type of instant) camera? Set up a "booth" complete with backdrop (as simple as striped, floral, or solid bedsheets, or as fancy as this glamorous deal) and bag o' props, at a park or other public area. Props can include, but are certainly not limited to: pointy party hats, viking hats (I see a trend here), masquerade masks, superhero capes, Mr. Potato Head lips, face paint, mini-chalkboard + chalk, or anything you have on hand! Enjoy being photographer for a day, free of charge, to park visitors, tourists, and random passersby.
12. Do you have bunches of books on the shelves that you'll probably never read again? Or approximately $3 to spend on a bag of books at your local thrift store? Plant them all over your neighborhood—at laundromats, in cafes, on public transportation—a la Bookcrossing. Include little notes inside the covers (or using Post-its) of each book to let finders know you intended for them to find and read it. Encourage them to pass the books on as well!
13. Invent a similar project of your own! The only stipulation is that your scheme must bring joy (big, small, or both!) to at least one other person apart from yourself.
Whew! That's a lot of joy-creating to ponder. I do hope you decide to join me in embarking upon one of these missions, if not for bringing a unique experience to your community, then in honor of my birthday. ;) Also, remember when I said (oh so long ago, way up there at the top of this post) that I want this tradition to grow? To include more communities and involve more people? Please invite your friends and family to participate, and feel free to send this post all around your social media haunts. I'd love to hear about pinwheeled fences in Seattle, pop-up Polaroid booths in Austin, book fairies in Providence, or your very own idea wherever you may be!
Please RSVP in the comments, and let me know which project you plan to undertake! If possible, please take photos (or video!), and send me a little note when you've completed your mission. Ideally, I'd like to share all of the magic you create here on We hope for more. But, if you'd prefer to keep your magic between us, I'd still appreciate a recap. :)
Right. So in 2010, my posse beautified the neighborhood with yarn hearts. In 2011, we kept the tradition alive, but the project leaned a bit more toward art of the performance variety. We walked around Lake Merritt with bouquets of rainbow-colored, heart-shaped balloons, handing them over to kids we encountered along the path. The 100 Balloon Walk, as I dubbed the project, was one of my favorite events of 2011—see #3.
Again, I highly recommend creating similar sorts of cheer and merry memories in your neighborhood. Tomorrow, I shall provide suggestions regarding how to do so*.
*Hint: you're all invited to participate in my 2012 birthday celebration!
It's true. I hear countless (non-Californian) folks lamenting the oft-maligned second month of the year. Mostly due to weather issues, I suppose. But they shall never convince me that February is anything but perfect.
Reasons February is the best:
it only has 28 days in a common year, making it unique
every four years, we get a quirky 29th "leap" day!
there were always two 3-day weekends from school thanks to Lincoln's birthday and Presidents' Day
See? So much to celebrate. To quote myself, I like to use my birthday as an opportunity to spread cheer, both to friends and strangers—it has become an annual ritual of sorts. In 2010, I invited friends to help me beautify my neighborhood by yarning up some hearts on a chain link fence. (You can read more about the beautifying mission/see more photos over on This Confetti Life.) It was one of my most favorite days ever. I highly recommend it, should you notice a fence in your neighborhood that is seriously lacking in hearts. ;)
Yesterday's post was about a precious little shell who talks and wears shoes. Today? I'd like to introduce you to two baby teeth named ickle and Lardee. They live over at My Milk Toof, and get into all sorts of adventures. Have you already met them? If not, you're going to be smitten at first sight. Browse the archives, get to know their characters, chuckle, and wish that your milk teeth were still around to secure your home when you're away. (That's my favorite recent ickle and Lardee adventure. "Safety first.")
I think we can all take inspiration from the lil' guys' To Do List:
Pinwheels on Sundays
Paper airplanes on Tuesdays
Painting on Thursdays
Flapjacks on Fridays
And a little levity on Mondays (of course!)
Pretty solid tenets to build a life's philosophy around, I'd say. Enjoy the outside, surround yourself with color, invent fun wherever you are, create art, treat yourself, and laugh when things suck. Yep, that's a sweet life.
I hope you're able to work a little ickle and Lardee inspired mischief into your week. If you're looking for a treat (for yourself or your favorite five-year-old!), enter my drawing for a copy of Marcel The Shell's picture book! As of this post's publishing, you still have about 52 ¼ hours to participate! :)
Didn't mean ta disappear on y'all like that. Life is always full of unexpectedness, ya know? The photo above is evidence of why I believe it's important to carry on like a tourist in our own stomping grounds. (i.e. consciously appreciating all that wherever-we-are has to offer, viewing our surroundings with the same kind of awe we have when touring foreign towns, noticing the sparklies, and all that jazz).
There I was . . . just a small-town girl . . . livin' in a lonely world . . . heading to the 5:22 BART train that would take me back to the East Bay (you had to sing that last part super fast to make it sync with the original notes). Many thanks for indulging my Journey detour. (Wish I could promise that it won't happen again. I cannot.) Um, what was I going to tell you? Oh yeah! I was finished with my City Touring, and walking down Columbus toward the Montgomery BART station, when I hit a red light at Broadway. So I look up and around, like a good, observant tourist does. And what should I see on the Southeast corner? No, not the naked ladies enticing me to come into the Garden of Eden. Higher. Yes! Up there, beyond the tree that looks like an ambitious chia pet. See that black stencil and red lettering? That, my friends, is a Banksy. I happened upon a Banksy while ambling through North Beach. (You may recall that I am a fan of street art. I've mentioned it two or threetimes.)
I remember when Banksy made his mark in San Francisco in 2010, around the time Exit Through the Gift Shop hit theaters. But, for some reason, I never made the pilgrimage across the Bay to see his work in person (I think I thought they'd all be promptly removed, defaced, or stolen). And I questioned whether what I saw on Columbus and Broadway was actually "a Banksy" because I only remember hearing about the ones in Chinatown, the Mission, and a few others; I hadn't heard of one in North Beach. Sure enough, though, there are a few "Lost Banksy's of San Francisco".
Truth is, my favorite moments during my "tour" of San Francisco-y spots were the unexpected ones. Inadvertently seeing that Bansky? Was like a surprise party for my eyes. And my heart had a grand time dancing at that party. Such a moment underscores how important it is to get out there for mini-adventuring. We must invite the opportunity to see the sparkly things around us. And, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you—if all the glittery things are eluding your vision, make your own magic. There are plenty of ways to do so, including ones you've yet to imagine.
