.look out! toddler with a camera!.

Today, I am convinced we've got a little photographer-in-training in our household. Earlier this afternoon, Miss A. and I made a trip out to McKay's Used Bookstore to sell some old DVDs we wanted to get rid of. We walked in, gave the clerk our blue bin full of miscellaneous movies, and then sat down on what was probably an old, wooden church pew, awaiting the moment when the numbers #743 flashed on the screen. I decided not to browse around this massive store with hopes that A. would stay in one place and behave. I did not even want to imagine the scenario of her going berserk, running up and down the aisles, pulling out books, and screaming for whatever reason, because at times, that's what two year olds like to do. Let's not be THAT kid today, okay? As we made ourselves comfy as one can get on wooden pews, I felt it was only fair to the little one to allow her to play with my little PowerShot camera to help pass the time. I've let her play with it before, but there was something different about this time. I noticed that she tried hard to remember to NOT put her fingers over the lens. Also, she was looking at her surroundings through the LCD screen with more concentration before pressing the button. She was too cute. It was as if she was a mini photojournalist.

One of her last shots was of a girl playing a hand held game standing beside a little boy wearing a maroon colored cape that she walked up to. I made her ask their Mom if it was okay to take the picture first. A. was mesmerized. Soon, our numbers appeared across the screen. I went to the clerk to pick up what monies I actually got from the movies and started to head towards the exit. She started to throw a fit as she realized we were now leaving the place full of books and where the little boy with the maroon colored cape was. As I'm carrying her out the door I reminded her that she had pictures of the place and of the little boy in her camera. The tears stopped. She smiled a big smile, and then everything was groovy. :o) The above photos were all shot by her, without any influence from me. Not bad for a two and a half year old, huh? ;o)

.everyday matters.

As most of you already know by now, I'm addicted to books. It doesn't help at all that I work in a bookstore. I will be the first to admit that I have a problem. But please, no intervention for me. I love the fact that I'm addicted. "Hi. My name is Kat and I'm a book junkie." Here recently, the selection of books that have made their way from bookshelf to checkout to my eager hands have fallen under the "self-improvement" category. Specifically, in the improvement of my "artful" self. I'm very much a visual person so when the book The Creative License by Danny Gregory was brought to my attention, I had to get it. From the moment I opened it up, I knew that I also needed to read his memoir, Everyday Matters. Having just finished it, I'm glad that I did.

Unlike most memoirs, the pages are not filled with paragraph after paragraph describing what has taken place in the author's life. Rather, Gregory documents his life as he saw it, literally. Dealing with life after a tragic accident that left his wife paralyzed from the waist down, he allowed himself to absorb his surroundings by taking the time to look at them and record them with pen and paper. Whether it be the contents of his medicine cabinet, a sketch of his wife and son, or the rich scenery of Italy, this creative process allowed him to see and appreciate the beauty of every aspect of his life. In turn, sharing his journal has inspired many, including myself, to do the same.

The first "assignment" in The Creative License is to draw a mug. This one is mine. Don't laugh. Okay, laugh. The "shadow" looks more like a beaver tail. Ha! Yeah, I've got some work to do.

One of my favorite mediums to play with is watercolor. One, because I love the way the colors bleed into one another, and second because it's easier to clean up! I wanted my daughter to have some fun in our little "art room" so I brought out the Strathmore watercolor pad and the paints. She had more fun dipping her brushes (she had to have two, one for each hand) in the mug (the one in the sketch) and slapping water on the paper instead. Once she realized that she could add color, the above "painting" is what she came up with. I decided to outline her hands so that one day she'd be able to see how little they were.

I hope you folks are having a wonderful weekend so far! I'm gonna get ready for work and place my order for a new book: An Illustrated Life, also by Danny Gregory. Remember, no intervention!

.kids with cameras.

As I mentioned in the previous post, I wanted to return with an entry about a documentary film I recently viewed.  Born Into Brothels, an award winning film by Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski, documents the photographic experience of eight children living in the red-light district of Calcutta, India.  Under the tutelage of Briski these resilient youngsters find themselves behind the camera lens, documenting their own lives, their own environments, and in some cases, their destiny.  

Zana Briski, a photographer based out of New York City, originally came to the red-light district to capture the lives of the prostitutes living in these brothels.  During her time there, she became a friend, an "Auntie" and eventually an advocate for some of the children of the very women she came to observe.  Their curiosity about photography is what inspired Briski to form a class, teaching these children to see their surroundings through that of the camera's viewfinder.  Using 35mm point-and-shoot cameras, the children were able to embark on a journey behind the lens, recording bits and pieces of their lives.  It is from these images that money has been raised to help provide them with an education, in hopes of living a better life from whence they came.  After filming this project, Zana Briski created Kids With Cameras, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help teach children, from ostracized communities around the world, to embrace art and self-worth through photography.  This is a film that I absolutely adore.  For many reasons, I recommend you to watch this film.  Preview the trailer below.

.you are my little bird.

I love music.  You've probably figured that out by now.  My little girl also loves music.  And I mean LOVES music!  There's nothing more delightful to watch than your two year old child dance her little heart out to a song being played on the radio or the television, or a book for that matter.  So what if her dance moves resemble a really whacked out version of Richard Simmon's "Sweating to the Oldies" workout videos?  (She gets that from her Daddy.  Let's pray she grows out of it.)  She also loves to sing.  Although most of the words to her songs are still gibberish, except for the occasional "Daddy," "Momma," "Keoki" (our dog) and names of other family members and favorite characters, it is still sweet to listen to.  You can't help but laugh at the sheer cuteness of it all.  I know, I'm the gushing Mom.  Yesterday, I came across a CD with a cover that caught my eye.  We all know that they say you should never judge a book, or in this case an album, by its cover.  True.  But I was pleased to find that this one was a keeper.  Elizabeth Mitchell's You are My Little Bird is a wonderful album to add to your child's music collection.  Opening with Little Liza Jane, this catchy tune gets you hooked and reels you, and your little one, in for a beautiful ride!  The variety of carefully handpicked songs ranging from classic folk to the Velvet Underground, has been delicately woven together into a colorful tapestry of music fit for younger and older audiences alike.  Accompanied by her daughter Storey and husband Daniel on some of the songs, Mitchell brings the familiarity and joy of singing together as a family on this album, something that I treasure as a parent.  A collection of beautifully sung tunes and terrific arrangements, this album is sure to become a family favorite!  So, to check out more on Elizabeth Mitchell and her music, visit her here.  If you like the sound of this album, you should also check out Mitchell's collaboration with Lisa Loeb on Catch a Moon.  One of my faves!