Things Organized Neatly

Toy trinkets.

Since 2010, Austin Radcliffe has been curating a website called Things Organized Neatly. 

And it's exactly that. Photos of collections of items displayed in precise rows and patterns. 

Methodical, deliberate placement. Images sure to warm the hearts of neat-freaks everywhere.

One might expect that Austin is true-blue OCD, 

but he claims otherwise, with his cluttered apartment bearing witness.

He appreciates order and attention to detail, seeing each photo as a visual list or documentation.

If you'd like to try your hand at lining up your collection in an eye-appealing way, 

you can submit a photo on the site, and maybe it'll be chosen to be published. 

Along with cool subject matter, Austin looks for simplicity and good quality photos.

Collection of 8-tracks. 

Antique bottles.

Gardener's tools.

Hunter's gear.

Bottle cap collection.

An entire bike.

Jewels from the sea.

Vintage band.

Here's the link to Austin Radcliffe's Tumblr site, 

Things Organized Neatly, 

where you can see lots more!

Gotta Laugh… Ikea

Frida Kahlo

MyPinkTurtleStudio

During this time of year, the people of Mexico are preparing for their

November 2nd holiday, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). 

They hold festivals to celebrate the dead, who are symbolized by skeletons.

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo painted with a surrealist style, 

closely connected with the mysticism of Mexican folk art. 

She is often linked to these Day of the Dead celebrations.

A colorful character herself, Frida is known for her bright clothing, 

large flower headpieces, severely center-parted black hair, 

and her trademark heavy, meet-in-the-middle eyebrows. 

I found some great Frida Kahlo art and gifts on Etsy. 

Each caption will link you to the Etsy shop. Enjoy!

LennyMud

LeatherArts

ALittleVintageStore

Yalipaz

Tascha

BMiZenDesigns

ValNorthwoods

ShesSoCali

HeatherGallerArt

Michael Reimer Gyotaku Fish Prints

Rainbow Trout

I'm excited to write about a Japanese art form called "gyotaku" (pronounced ghee-oh-tah-koo). 

Deciphering the word, we find that gyo means 'fish', and taku means 'rubbing' or 'impression'. 

This type of fish art has its roots as far back as the mid 1800's, 

when fishermen from Japan used it to record the types and sizes of fish they caught.

Bluegill

Gyotaku was introduced to me by Michael Reimer, an artist whom I met earlier this year 

while he was displaying his work at the Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair in Philadelphia. 

I had featured his art, among that of other artists, in a post I did about the Fair, which can be seen here. 

I knew that I wanted to explore gyotaku further and share more of it with you on the blog.

Bluefish

Michael is an ardent fisherman, and is extremely fortunate to be able to

combine that passion with his creative talents to produce fabulous, artistic results!

Yellow Perch

I can relate to his love of fishing, extraneously, that is, through my husband and two sons. 

They've fished many of the same PA rivers and streams, including the Delaware and the Schuylkill. 

Michael keeps an online log of his fishing adventures, which you can check out here.

Carp

Direct transfer is Michael's printing method of choice. 

He covers the fish with ink, places a sheet of rice paper on top, then rubs the paper to imprint the image. 

He experiments with different types of papers, and even hand-dyes his own.

Brown Trout

You can read about this fascinating process, and see much more of his art on his website, 

Michael Reimer Gyotaku.

Crevalle Jack

Images used with permission from Michael Reimer.

How is Candy Corn Made?

Halloween means candy corn, whether ya love it or ya hate it.
Americans buy a whopping 20 million pounds of it each year,
making it hands down the most popular Halloween candy.

As part of its "Unwrapped" series, (Those shows are great, aren't they?)
Food Network did a video to explain how this tri-colored confection is made. 

I was surprised to learn about that "special ingredient"!

And, OK, I'll admit it. 

I used to stick them onto my teeth to make fangs. 

Didn't everyone?

The top painting is by Margaret Morrision.

Check out my post with more of her realistic treats!

Margaret Morrison Paints Yummy Candy & Sweets

Carved Crayons by Pete Goldlust

dutchgramma

Pete Goldlust takes ordinary crayons and 

carves patterns that are geometrically precise. 

I marvel at his tiny 3D sculptures!

inhabitats

craftcouncil

 View more of Pete's art at his website.

tbrockhaus

Permission obtained from Pete Goldlust.

Olga Kostina’s Bottlecap House

Retiree Olga Kostina lives in a small wooden house in a remote Russian village. Shifting her creativity into gear, she decided to use the plastic bottle caps that she had gathered through the years to add color to the drab walls of her home. Before she knew it, she'd nailed over 30,000 caps into place, creating whimsical mosaic patterns and pictures!

Treasures of the Pumpkin Patch

On a visit to Styer Orchard to pick apples, (see that post here),

we strolled around and found great bins of pumpkins and gourds for sale. 

I was amazed to see so many different types! 

Later, with the help of their cute Halloween tags, I had fun reading up on each variety. 

These photos represent only some of what was available.



This variety is called "Cinderella" because it looks like the very same pumpkin
that Cinderella's Fairy Godmother magically turned into a carriage!

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!

See for yourself:

DisneySingItVideos

Here's the "Long Island Cheese" variety. 

Its pale colored skin and flattened out shape resemble a wheel of cheese.

fitsa-group

Move over orange. There are pink pumpkins...

...and blue pumpkins.

Speaking of blue, how about the "Blue Hubbard"?

Not a pumpkin, but actually a squash, it is the most popular for pie-baking.

Named for (Old?) Mrs. Hubbard, who developed this variety
in Massachusetts in 1840.

Jack-o-lanterns ready and waiting to be carved!

Ornamental Indian corn, also called "flint corn"
due to the hard shells of the kernels.

Ornamental gourds are perfect for fall decorating.

See the ones with the flared-out ribs?

They're called "angel wings".

And of course, there are mums!
No other flower comes to mind as quickly
when autumn comes around as does the chrysanthemum!

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

-L. M. Montgomery,

Anne of Green Gables