"I go here now."

Playing hide-and-go-seek with my oldest cousin's daughter while camping last weekend. She just turned four, and in her version of hide-and-seek it's impolite not to say where one is hiding. She makes me smile :)

Happy Tuesday,

I wish my desk lit up, too.

Behold the marvelous children's circulation desk at the public library in Champaign, Illinois. It lights up and changes colors:

Taking pictures in libraries is awkward, what with all the people studying and browsing. But this awkwardness didn't stop me.

Too pretty to leave un-photographed, no?

I took these pictures on a road trip with my friend Amber last week. Our mission? To check out some graduate programs in library science. Naturally, we also spied on the public library systems near the grad programs.

And Champaign's public library is a win.

Signs don't get much more awesome than this.

Other things that make Champaign fun, besides the Jane Addams Book Shop*:

The artwork taking shape on this fence downtown.

Pekara Bakery and Bistro, which makes great sandwiches, cookies, and crepes. We know this because we went there twice in one day. Amber took this picture after we finished a delicious, berry-filled crepe.

Colorful tabletop at one of the gajillion Espresso Royale coffeeshops in Champaign.

The Sousa Archives at the state university in Illinois. I'm a trumpet player, and I've never enjoyed playing his marches, so yes, I took pictures of period shoes instead of his sheet music.

The Art Theater, a lovely 98-year-old theater.

It was very hot inside, though. One of the owners of the Art Theater came in before the film we saw to explain that the old building isn't set up for air conditioning, and the unit they do have is too noisy to run during a movie. So they shut it off, and we roasted. But it was worth it. If you get a chance, I recommend seeing Beginners.** It made me laugh, cry, and wish my pet came with subtitles, too. Here's the trailer:

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*The Jane Addams Book Shop might be America's coolest used bookstore. Remember?
**Beginners is rated R for a reason, though, and is probably not suitable for an all-ages family movie night--which is too bad, because that subtitled dog is so cute.

Bridal Shower Pretties

Two Saturdays ago I went to the first of what will (very likely) be many bridal showers for college friends. Many of my friends have become engaged within the last month, and I'm sure more will be engaged before graduation. (Ring by spring, anyone?*)

I took advantage of my new summer freetime by deciding to give my friend Chelsea some cute handmade goodies. While searching for gift ideas, I came across this Sophisticated Bachelorette Brooch at The Spotted Fox:



Image from The Spotted Fox

I just had to make one, and it was so much fun that--since I will not be lacking in friend-of-the-bride opportunities over the next couple years--I will probably make more. The brooch consists of felt, feathers, and a fabric yo-yo, which is surprisingly quick and easy to make. Not to mention addicting; I'm already planning to make little ones and stick magnets inside or try making different types of pins.

For the actual gift, I meant to go out and buy some fabric to sew kitchen towels and then decorate them with fabric paint, but I ended up choosing pre-made flour sack towels instead, because they allowed me to be lazy on top of being almost exactly like the kitchen towels my grandma and great-grandma embroidered long, long ago, and which my mother still uses. These things actually make me like drying dishes. I used a paint brush as well as a couple potato stamps (take a raw potato, cut it in half, carve some designs on it, enjoy) with non-toxic soft fabric paint I found at a big chain fabric store.

The theme of the bridal shower was the seasons, and we were to bring a gift for one of the seasons according to our last names. I got spring, so I made vaguely spring-y towels. I think I got a little overenthusiastic with background-y things, but the towels turned out okay. I only decorated the bottom right corners. The circle-type shape and the heart are from potato stamps:


I also used a potato stamp on the envelope for the card. I love having time to make gifts look pretty. If this shower were during the school year, I guarantee you that I would have shoved Chelsea's gifts into the first used gift bag I found in my closet. And it might have had a birthday or Christmas greeting on the front of it. The bachelorette brooch also makes a pretty present decoration:



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*A saying that refers to the tradition of couples meeting at college in the fall and getting engaged by the spring, or in spring. (In case you hadn't heard it. It's frequently said at my small Christian university . . .)

Book Cat

I'm on Spring Break this week, so I decided to indulge in some fun, non-homework reading on a sunny spot of my parents' living room floor. I got up to answer the phone or something, and I came back to see my sixteen-year-old cat, Emily, doing this:



Mmm...book

She used to nap beside me when I read books in elementary school--it seems she hasn't forgotten. (If you're curious, the book being used as a cat pillow is The Vespertine.)

What? Book + sun= perfect nap spot. You can finish this page later.

Heart-Shaped Cakes in Stop Motion: a Youtube Valentine

Via Cakespy.

Window Shopping: Rudolph's Crazy Dream + Cute Animatronic Animals

I went Christmas shopping downtown last week and was tickled by the window displays of my favorite store. My hometown has a population of about 154,000, and--don't judge--I think it's safe to say that this store always has the most impressive window displays in town. (Mostly because they have them; most stores are either in the mall and don't have outdoor window space or just display wares.)

The white rectangle at the bottom right reads "Rudolph's Crazy Dream," and in case the glare and reflections in the glass make it difficult to tell, yes, that is an inflatable Rudolph in a sleigh pulled by inflatable smiling Santas.

The bear's tongue goes in and out because he is licking stamps to stick on letters to Santa. His tongue moves quickly, and I wasn't able to capture a photo of it sticking out.

These bunnies shake their heads at a naughty list to the left of the stamp-licking bear. I'm not sure why the raccoon is using a cell phone.

Happy Holidays,

Ice Cream Cone Balloons

Genius.

Found in my web wanderings at Oh Happy Day. Also, balloon invitations. So neat.

Now back to regularly scheduled programming,

'Twas the Night Before Christmas--Library Style

I know it's after Christmas, but this popped up in my work e-mail last week at the library, and it's too cute not to share:

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Library Style by Lisë Chlebanowski (with help from Clement Clarke Moore)

'Twas the night before Christmas, not a book to be found
Not a textbook, a paperback or tome, spiral bound.
The stockings were hung from the chimney with care
In hopes that the Librarian soon would be there.

The children were gathered, bored silly in their beds
For no books could be found out loud to be read!
There were toys and games and puzzles and maps
But nothing to read - might as well take a nap!

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter!
We sprang from our beds to see what was the matter
Then, what we saw - what was that? Rats?
No! A miniature bookcart led by eight tiny cats.

With a gorgeous driver, by the name of Marian,
I knew in a moment it must be the Librarian!
Faster than speed reading, the cats flew with perfect aim
And Marian whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

Now Gatsby! Now Holden! Now Lorax & Grinch!
On Rhett! On Scarlett! On Atticus & Finch!
The cats echoed their names to one and to all.
They flew to the roof and they flew to the wall!

And then, from the roof I heard tiny paws
The prancing and preening of kitty cat claws
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Marian came with a bound.

She was dressed in her work clothes, from her head to her foot
The bundle of books she carried was covered in soot,
She had come straight from the library where books are free.

To patrons with cards it's a book potpourri!

A wink of her eye and a twist of her head,
She distributed books and left nothing unread!

She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work,
And filled all the stockings; She was more than a clerk!

Then she sprang to her bookcart, to her team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard her exclaim, as she drove out of sight,
"Season's Readings to all, and to all a good-night."

I find him strangely adorable.

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