July 25, 2013

Seashells By the Seashore

You know what I was thrilled to discover this summer? The kids are finally old enough to do the thing I most like to do at the beach - comb through what the tide washes ashore in search of awesome shells. Why, yes, I do happen to love activities where the idea is to sort through tiny objects obsessively - why do you ask?

Anyhoodle, this time we actually lugged our haul home, and after a finicky de-sanding job (you'll see why in a second) aided by the children's tiny fingers and sewing pins - sometimes both at once! - I used some posterboard and a curbside frame find that I spraypainted black to create a nice little display:



I was going for a modern take on that Victorian specimen display style of arranging natural objects.



I am obsessed with these hole-covered shells. What does this to them? Some kind of bacteria? They look like three-dimensional lace. So pretty.

July 9, 2013

Art at the Museum

The first Sunday of the month the Philly Art Museum has some nice deals and kid friendly activities.

We romped on over, pencils and paper in tow (after an exhilarating 4th going white water rafting. Excellent time had by all, except Jakey who insists that because he got soaked by the "rafpids" (sic), it was actually no fun).

The kids had a blast drawing sketches and shapes and learning about how to position, plan, and scale their drawings-- it was the best trip to the museum I can remember, they got so into it! They loved the armor and knights, and then after an ill-planned venture into European art 1500-1700 (a bit rough for a four year old's attention, apparently) they sketched some of the reconstructed Roman-era colonnades and pillars.