Nostalgic Toys ~ Colorforms

Founded in 1951, Colorforms is one of the oldest and best-known brands in the toy industry. It was the very first plastic-based creative toy, and one of the first toys ever advertised on television.

www.Colorforms.com

Colorforms are paper-thin, die-cut vinyl sheet images and shapes that are meant to be applied to a shiny plastic laminated board, much like placing paper dolls against a paper backdrop. The images stick to the background by adhesion, which takes place when two highly polished surfaces come in contact. The Colorforms vinyl pieces can be repositioned to create new designs and scenarios.

Colorforms oddly enough grew out of the progressive trend in the 1950's to create toys that were somehow beneficial to a kid's psychological well-being: these were (ostensibly) toys that helped kids learn and grow through play, stimulating their imaginations and creativity. To that end, the first Colorforms set was made up of little plastic shapes, of different colors. Kids could combine the shapes and colors to make their own pictures of whatever they liked. 

The 1970's was probably the hayday of Colorforms, with dozens of sets devoted to such subjects as Evel Knievel, Star Trek, or Holly Hobbie. But the brand survives to this day, and as millions of kids discover to their delight, despite the obvious enticements of modern video amusements, this simple little plastic and cardboard toy can still offer many hours of quiet imaginative fun.  

Artistic Maturity

Every year or so I experience a creative shift in life where I abandon an art medium or subject.  It comes naturally and without want or effort - it just happens.  (And looking at other artists' work, I know that I am not alone).  For example, I remember long ago that I used to LOVE sewing.  After that I fell in love with making dried flower arrangements.  And after that came card making.  But alas, ever since I started card making, my favorite medium to work with has steadily remained to be the same - PAPER.

But even working with paper, my creative topics have shifted.  About 7 years ago, I used to love making cardboard Jack-in-the-boxes.  I had grand plans to make Jack-in-the-boxes in every size and theme and even though they sold really well, I gradually got tired of making them.   Then came paper-mache Hot Air Balloons.  Sure enough, even after years of finally perfecting my paper-mache technique, the Hot Air Balloons were replaced.  Now!, "making paper Art Dolls would surely be here to stay!" I said.  It only makes sense! because it combines my love of paper and my love of dolls! But no, I recently realized that even my art dolls are becoming tiresome.

I wish that I could just find something that I like and stick with it!....But I guess that's part of growing up...I guess you can call it artistic growth...artistic maturity.

Either way, through all these years, I've really enjoyed making everything that I did.  I've learned alot about paper and the different kinds and different materials used to make paper.  The endless ways you can manipulate it into making almost anything you want!  I guess my creative topics have changed because my knowledge has changed.  This reminds me of a quote by oil painter Pal Strisik,   "(Artists) mature in a slow and natural way. . . .  It may take ten years to develop your skills.  But nothing is lost, for you've still lived all those years.  The (art) you do five years from now can only be done five years from now.  You can't rush it, and it can't be done tomorrow."

So here's to a new year! Hello 2015!  I welcome any new thing you have in store for my hands to create!

Handmade Cavalcade tomorrow!

I am honored to have had my artwork chosen for this year's banner at the Etsy NY Handmade Cavalcade.  And with it being at the famous Chelsea Market, it promises to be the best Cavalcade yet!

Stop by my table on Saturday, December 13th 10-8 pm to see some new artwork and to receive a free gift from M Ann M Creations!

Nostalgic Toys ~ Silly Putty and Slinkys

Silly Putty is a toy based on silicone polymers which display unusual physical properties. It bounces, but breaks when given a sharp blow and can also flow like a liquid.  It was originally created by accident during research into potential rubber substitutes for use by the United States in World War II.

After its success as a toy, other uses were found. In the home, it can be used to remove substances such as dirt, lint, pet hair, or ink from various surfaces.

 The material's unique properties have found niche use in medical and scientific applications. Physical therapists use it for rehabilitative therapy of hand injuries.

Slinkys from the Swedish word meaning "a serpentine or undulating form," are springs with zero compression or tension.  

It was discovered in 1943 by Richard James, who was working to design a spring for the U.S. Navy that would keep sensitive ship-board insturments steady while at sea; James was amused by the way the spring "walked" down elevations and invented toys from these springs which were first sold in 1945.   

Slinkys can perform a number of tricks, including travelling down a flight of steps end-over-end as it stretches and re-forms itself with the aid of gravity and its own momentum, or appear to levitate for a period of time after it has been dropped.

Castle in the Air ~ Ironcraft Challenge

The stationery and art supply shop, Castle in the Air in Berkeley, CA recently hosted an "Ironcraft" event that I was glad to participate in.   The store invited all who were willing to pick up, or be mailed a free "mystery" crafting supply item which you would then transform into something amazing and unique.  After submitting pictures of the final art, everyone who participated in Ironcraft was rewarded with a special prize.  

The mystery item we all received was a bulbous spun-cotton (watte) shape.  

After opening the package, my first thought was "What on earth am I supposed to do with this??!!" After staring at it for a few minutes I realized that it is most likely supposed to be a snowman.  But I wanted to get away from the obvious and turn it into something else.  I turned it upside down and it was clear what I had to make it into - a hot air balloon ornament!  I already make hot air balloons using paper mache so it was a fun challenge figuring out how to work with this new medium.  Here is a tutorial with steps on how to make one yourself.

Step 1 -Cut away the middle of the "neck" area of the shape with a blade.  This will create the bottom (basket) and the top (balloon) of your hot air balloon.  Seal and flatten down the rough cut edges with glue.

Step 2 - Using a sharp object, push in four holes in both the top and bottom.  Dab glue into the holes and insert tooth picks.

Step 3 - Draw the basic design with a pencil.

Step 5 - Paint the hot air balloon using acrylic paints. Finish off with paper flags and/or bunting.  Glue a ribbon into a hole in the top for hanging.

If you'd like to read more about the Ironcraft challenge, here is the link to the Castle in the Air blog.

Nostalgic Toys ~ Jacob's Ladder

A Jacob's ladder is a folk toy consisting of blocks of wood held together by strings or ribbons. The Jacob's Ladder folk toy, also known as 'tumbling blocks' dates back to the Pilgrim times in America.

 When the ladder is held at one end, blocks appear to cascade down the strings. However, this effect is a visual illusion which is the result of one block after another flipping over.

Joseph Cornell Inspired Workshop at Parcel

I am still reminiscing over the time I had at Parcel last week at a Joseph Cornell Inspired Workshop. Joseph Cornell was a celebrated and influential assemblage and collage artist from the Victorian era. For decades, his work has inspired and encouraged altered book and sculptural artists, shadowboxers and scrapbookers.  The style of his pieces have stood the test of time, and the look is very current in the paper arts world.



The workshop gave students an opportunity to become Joseph Cornell for a day.  The overall theme for the shadowbox was flora and fauna but we were free to create whatever we wanted.  Cutting scraps of birds, bugs and botanicals from Parcels collection of papers, and layering them with bits of other vintage trims and ephemera, we each created our own unique scene.  Nancy, the owner, provided each of us a real butterfly to add to our piece.  I was initially creeped out but I eventually gave into it's beautiful wings and couldn't pass up using it.

Here is what I, and fellow students created at the workshop.