Jan

20

The Crafty Songwriter - Tip #1

January 20, 2008 | 2 Comments

[tutorial, songwriting]

Show don’t tell
by Carson A. Metzger
Exercise #1: Practice writing a song where you avoid telling entirely
How do you do this?
Be descriptive.
Avoid universal statements by grounding or dramatizing your song in the details of a particular scene, character, or relationship between characters.
Avoid using “to be” verbs.
Forgo clichés and truisms by translating things you have […]

Oct

15

The Smell Game

October 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[warm-up, creative parenting]
Did you play this game as a child? It bears repeating and is a great thing to do with your own kids. It’s non-competitive, free, interactive and instructive, for adults as well as children. Plus, if you bring a creative slant to it, it can be an experience that teaches about the close […]

Apr

15

everyday art every day

April 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-alterations, art-]

Jack

Originally uploaded by wireguy.

I love this construction from wireguy. Dare we call it PopArt?
He says of his “Jack” creation:
With all the waste in the office, this became the (obvious?) first prototype. It’s amazing what you can do with plastic junk. Drink […]

Apr

15

Soap Tin Clock

April 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-alteration, crafts, how-to-]

by Nancy Waldman
Here’s a fun little project that grew out of The PCQ’s Alteration Challenge.

It took less than a half an hour to put together. If you have your own tin (they are easy to find at garage sales or online auctions) you can make one of these for well under $10. The […]

Apr

11

Eye Music

April 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-art, alteration-]
by Nancy Waldman

Eye Music

Originally uploaded by annieA.

This example of an Alteration is so simple and so stunning. It’s a collage using CD cases lined with painted paper inserts.
AnnieA created this in what she describes as a “humble offering in celebration of Mozart’s 250th […]

Apr

11

Garden Fresh

April 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-art, alterations-]
by Nancy S.M. Waldman

Garden Fresh

Originally uploaded by clementine mom.

Our Alterations Challenge has to do with changing our thinking about art and design, to use objects in new and creative ways.
This morning’s post is from Elizabeth Lundberg Morisette. It’s called Garden Fresh and is made […]

Apr

10

Journal on making an Altered Book

April 10, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-process, journaling, found poetry-]
by Nancy Shepard Metzger Waldman
In the course of researching Altered Books for the January 2006 issue of The PCQ, I couldn’t resist tackling my first altered book. Here is the journal and some photos I made of the process and progress so far.
Take heart other beginners, from the lumpy pages and […]

Apr

9

New Again: an alterations challenge

April 9, 2007 | Leave a Comment

[-essay, creative challenge-]
by Nancy S.M. Waldman
My grandmother, Polly Mahala Reed was a talented seamstress. When I think of the word “Alterations” I think of her.
She, like many of her generation, made most of her family’s clothes. My mother can describe in detail the colors and fabrics of the outfits she and her sister are […]