Always a Project in Progress #1 and #2 - Book List

Below is the list of books from yesterday’s post. I’ve settled on one project idea (art related, gleaned from looking through The Little Book of Big Decorating Ideas), and continue to look for the second. For now I will say that it won’t be a magic trick. Magic is more performance art and a bit too complicated to tackle for one of these first two projects. So a little more thought and research - online and in books - to find the second.

If you're interested, you may want to work along with us . . . Project #1 and Project #2 . . . TBA!

Update: Project #1 Collage and #2 Short Poems working together as part of my Walk About series - you'll find them in the blog under Always a Project as well as Walking.
 
The Little Book of Big Decorating Ideas
287 Clever Tips, Tricks, and Solutions
By McColl, Katy

My First Magic Book
By Lawrence Leyton

We Love to Sew
28 Pretty Things to Make: Jewelry, Headbands, Softies, T-shirts, Pillows, Bags & More
By Annabel Wrigley

The Crafter’s Guide to Taking Great Photos
The Best Techniques for Showcasing your Handmade Creations
By Heidi Adnum

Innovation Day - Always a Project in Progress

For the true hobbyist, dedicated artist, innovator, and explorer, there is always a project in progress.

Today is Innovation Day and I have an idea.

A new feature for this blog: Always a Project in Progress. I found three great books at the library today and am inspired to start something new. The books include one on sewing, one about magic, and another with some sophisticated decorating, storage, and ultility projects.

I’ll select one project from each book, and talk about the next move. I want to pick just two projects, and work on them with parallel reporting. I'm optimistic that the book about taking great photos will help me document my progress.

Follow along as the projects are selected, as we gather information and materials, and talk about the challenges and discoveries we find along the way. What does it really take to get it done?

In the next post I'll list the the books pictured above.

Do come back for updates (and be sure to sign-up and join us for other announcements, too).

OK

This is a Calendar of Days post: Library Lovers' Month

Statues are identifying landmarks in cities and towns across the country, but what's the story behind them? Were were curious about The Hiker in Portland, Maine. After some research: a poster and essay. Here's what we found:

More Than a Pigeon Perch:
The Hiker
Although The Hiker is larger than life and perched on a six-foot pedestal, this Spanish-American War veterans memorial on the north lawn of Deering Oaks Park is easy to overlook.
    
But do look—it’s a beautiful statue.

From the soldier’s wadded and rolled sleeves to the leather satchel reminiscent of today’s messenger bag, the details are captivating.

The Hiker is sculptor Theo A.R. Kitson’s most well-known work—at least 50 copies of the statue are installed across the country.
    
When the USS Maine anchored in Havana Harbor exploded and sank (on this day, February 15, 1898), it became a catalyst for the conflict that would follow. Under the rallying cry “Remember the Maine,” the Spanish-American War secured Cuba’s independence from Spain and remains one of the shortest wars on record. But that’s only the beginning.
    
Dig a little deeper and fascinating tales of science, circumstance, and cowboys emerge. For it was during the Spanish-American War that army medical scientist Dr. Walter Reed isolated the cause and stemmed the transmission of yellow fever plaguing the troops; eager journalists and competing publishing magnates gave rise to the dirty business of yellow journalism; and Teddy Roosevelt’s volunteer militia, The Rough Riders, found glory.
    
It was a short war, but a war with a decidedly jaundice pallor.

Where Is The Hiker?
From Maine to Utah to Tennessee, there are some 50 copies of The Hiker across the United States. Is there one in your town? 

The landscape is winter-white and it's cold (make that FRIGID!) outside. Here are the makings of a simple bouquet to remind us all that the frozen ground will soon enough burst with color.