September 16, 2011

little things link love: indoor forts

Pillow Fort by Le Petit Elefant - click image to view more

Bring back the indoor fort.

When I was little, my best friend at the time used to roll her eyes when she came over, because I always wanted to make a couch fort. We had this fantastic 1970s behemoth that had little finials all around the top. The tiny holes in the large blanket we had fit perfectly over them, making it the greatest base for my forts. All we needed then was a yard stick to prop it up from the inside. It was magnificent.

I haven’t made an indoor fort since grade school, and that’s just a flat-out travesty. Where’s the rule that they’re only for kids? I sure don’t see one. Personally, I think as adults, we’re more deserving of a special little place to get away from the world from time to time.

Turns out that I’m not alone in my thoughts. Here are some great links to show that kids aren’t the only ones who should have all the fun:

  • How to make a blanket fort – In case you’re still not familiar with the concept of what an indoor fort entails, you can read up on these instructions to help get you started.
  • Tumblr blogs devoted to forts – There was not just one, but TWO blogs on Tumblr that I found, both dedicated to curating images from around the web. Take a peek at what others have created to get some inspiration.
  • The Reddit fort subsection – Reddit users seem to be pretty fond of forts, as well, as evidenced by all this activity. To quote one user, “There is no problem in the world that cannot be solved by forts.” Indeed, my friend. Indeed.
  • Wild Things fort contest – Back when the movie Where the Wild Things Are was out and about, the blog BOOOOOOOM held a contest for the best Wild Things fort. Check out these winners and scroll to the bottom for links to the other entries.
  • Craigslist’s totally dope blanket fort – If you’re not familiar with the way some people use Craigslist as a medium for some pretty hilarious creative writing exercises, this listing from a few years back will break you in. After reading it, check out the Sesame-Street-style music video spoof Details magazine made to celebrate it.

Did you make indoor forts as a kid? Do you still? What are your best memories of them?

Filed Under: Link Love Tagged With: , , , , , , 12 Comments
May 31, 2011

why we collect: stumpy-armed ringtails & powerful symbols

needle-felted raccoon by sendsunshine- click for more info

114 little eyes were staring me down.

Last month. My childhood bedroom. I had put upon myself the task of a master excavation of all the debris of growing up. A sorting out the empty nest.

Drawers, built-in bookshelves, hidden nooks. Long forgotten soccer trophies, a hand-written book my grandmother had given me when I was 14, photos photos photos, leagues of books, and hilarious old sweaters. Delving through trash and treasure. Sorting. Some precious keeps, and a lot to dump.

There was a skinny strip of paper in my closet, illustrated with jungle animals. I yanked it. My sister audibly gasped.

“That piece of paper has probably been there for 18 years. And you just ripped it. Gone!”

“Yeah, but I don’t need it anymore.”

I’m ruthless. I’m a thrower-outer, giver-awayer. I do keep some special things, but I’m highly selectively sentimental when it comes to objects.

But those 114 eyes.

There’s no way in hell you will ever part me from my collectible raccoons.

Do I sound like a total nut job?

Despite my penchant for scrapping pieces of the past, I love my raccoon collection. As a kid I grew up with a pet raccoon, and they were my favorite animal, and so the accumulation began. People gave me little raccoon trinkets for birthdays, and Santy almost always sneaked one in the stocking. Oh, here, I picked this up on a trip. I saw this, thought of you, and just had to get it, here you go.

Truthfully, I don’t remember where each little guy came from anymore. Some have been in my care since I was 7 years old. Many have suffered hardship and are missing an ear, a tip of the tail, and one poor woodland friend only has stumps for arms.

I don’t have them in my own home, but I do love seeing them at my parents’ house. They are…
safe
familiar
a reminder of my family
and growing up

10 points if you can spot the nod to the raccoon on my website.

See, they’re not just about my past. The raccoon is a powerful symbol for my present.

So I will keep collecting, keep surrounding myself with the image of the raccoon, each interpretation giving new insight into it’s psyche and meaning. The raccoon: It speaks to me. It anchors me to my past. It propels me forward. It comforts. It challenges.

So I’m wondering about you….

What do you collect? And why?

Let me know in the comments.

Filed Under: creating action, inspiration, The Setting Tagged With: , , , , 7 Comments
July 7, 2010

we scout wednesday: what’s your childhood inspiration?

Mr. Scoutie Girl and I went to the movies this weekend. We went to see Twilight: Eclipse – on the IMAX no less – yes, I’m that kind of wife. After a short tiff at the concession counter that resulted in paying $3.50 for a bottle of water, we took our seats. Within 5 minutes, I was up & back at the concessions to get some Sno Caps. I love Sno Caps. Not as much as a real nonpareil but enough.

As I walked back into the theater, struggling with the plastic wrap separating me from dark chocolate & sprinkly goodness, I realized just what was playing on the screen: the trailer for the next Chronicles of Narnia movie.

Oh. My. Gosh.

I ran up the all-too-steep stairs trying to keep my squealing in check. I plopped down next to Mr. Scoutie Girl with tears of joy in my eyes.

I was not at all prepared for this. I almost thought they had given up on the new movies. But no… there was the Voyage of the Dawn Treader in all it’s glory.

It would be easy to tell you that this is not at all how I reacted to seeing the trailers for the first two movies. But that would be a lie. Seeing these movies come to life in a modern theater with digital surround sound, special effects, and talking animals that actually look real makes me giddy. Seriously giddy. Textbook giddy.

And as much as I detest all things commercial, I have to admit that I have marveled at the action figures, the costumes, and associated paraphernalia.

You see, I grew up with the Chronicles of Narnia. That book series was everything to me. The PBS/BBC movie versions were like a rainy day magic potion. And truthfully, in college, when I realized you could get them on DVD, I got them for Christmas. I never had action figures or costumes or companion books but I did have me, myself, and I – and our fantastic imagination.

To me, embracing this new celebration of Narnia has been a way of making a part of my childhood (and young adulthood) real, tangible. It’s inspiration that I can hold in my hands now. It’s a reminder of the wonder of youth and the feeling you get when you realize you’re reading something that will forever change your life.

Narnia has influenced my imagination, my creativity, and my theology. It has never stopped possessing my mind and my heart. I doubt it ever will.

So, for this week’s We Scout Wednesday, I wonder… what is your childhood inspiration? Is it an artist, a movie, a picture book, an experience? How does it play out in your life now? Share you answer on your own blog, Twitter stream, or even on Flickr! Please include a link back to this post (http://www.scoutiegirl.com/2010/07/childhood-inspiration.html). And then share YOUR link in the Mister Linky below!




{original Chronciles of Narnia illustrations by Pauline Baynes}

Filed Under: personality, we scout wednesdays Tagged With: , , , 34 Comments