Marilyn Scott-Waters's Blog, page 11
August 14, 2012
California Summer
Summer is almost over. School starts soon. It's been a good one, filled with many lovely things.
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer
At the koi store. We looked but didn't buy any.
Cats on the bed...
The Back Bay with the Hub.
Homemade cheese...
Our first potatoes.
Boy and friend...
Needs haircut.
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer
At the koi store. We looked but didn't buy any. 
Cats on the bed...
The Back Bay with the Hub.
Homemade cheese...
Our first potatoes.
Boy and friend...
Needs haircut.
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here
August 8, 2012
Alice's Wonderland
Today was a good day. I picked up my friend Andy Mitchell and we headed down to South County to visit our friend, Alice Provensen.
We had a delicious lunch. Alice's daughter and son-in-law made us THREE different kinds of salad. I brought the cookies. We shared the artwork that we've been working on, Andy's watercolors for magazine covers and sketchbook, Alice's new book, Murry in the City, and my doodlings from the iPad and Haunted Histories.
Alice and Martin Provensen illustrated many of the Little Golden Books, like Color Kittens. They won the Caldecott medal for children's book illustration for their book "The Glorious Flight" After Martin passed away Alice continued to illustrate books.
After lunch, Alice showed us her new flat file. It was filled with all kinds of incredible artwork that she had done. Lovely, lovely stuff.
Wonderful shapes and colors, don't you think? Her art is so alive.
It was a treasure garden of delights.
Here's a pict of Alice and Yours Truly from when we judged an art contest a couple of years ago.
When I am ninety-four-years-old I hope that I am still painting and making toys.
Did I say good day? I meant most excellent day.
Marilyn.
---
“I believe in the hands that work, in the brains that think, and in the hearts that love…I believe in sunshine, fresh air, friendship, calm sleep, beautiful thoughts.”~ Elbert Hubbard
We had a delicious lunch. Alice's daughter and son-in-law made us THREE different kinds of salad. I brought the cookies. We shared the artwork that we've been working on, Andy's watercolors for magazine covers and sketchbook, Alice's new book, Murry in the City, and my doodlings from the iPad and Haunted Histories.
Alice and Martin Provensen illustrated many of the Little Golden Books, like Color Kittens. They won the Caldecott medal for children's book illustration for their book "The Glorious Flight" After Martin passed away Alice continued to illustrate books.
After lunch, Alice showed us her new flat file. It was filled with all kinds of incredible artwork that she had done. Lovely, lovely stuff.
Wonderful shapes and colors, don't you think? Her art is so alive.
It was a treasure garden of delights.
Here's a pict of Alice and Yours Truly from when we judged an art contest a couple of years ago.
When I am ninety-four-years-old I hope that I am still painting and making toys.
Did I say good day? I meant most excellent day.
Marilyn.
---
“I believe in the hands that work, in the brains that think, and in the hearts that love…I believe in sunshine, fresh air, friendship, calm sleep, beautiful thoughts.”~ Elbert Hubbard
August 4, 2012
Math people are cool.
My desk looks like a piñata factory exploded. There's paper everywhere. I've been designing math toys like crazy.
Yesterday, I went on a research trip and met with two amazing people.
This is Dr. Patrick Kimani and Dr. Cheryl Carrera who are math professors at UCSF. Now before you back away from the screen in the presence of such mathematical brilliance, let me tell you something... they have this magical ability to make numbers cool and interesting. I was enchanted.
We were talking about division and Dr. Kimani explained not just the formula but drew it out on a number line. We talked about how kids acquire numeracy and at what ages. We talked about how the toys might meet national standards so that teachers could use them in the classroom as extra activities to reinforce concepts.
We also had a great time rolling these toy turtles around and talking about the different number lines and games that could be played with them. (Spoiler alert, this is one of the first toys. There will be twelve turtles in all.) There are all kinds of math games that can be played with this little army of rolling reptiles. We talked about grids and axis, averaging and measuring.
There is a saying,
"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants" ~ Issac Newton
I would have to say that I'm being helped by giants and for that I am most grateful.
More soon!
Marilyn.
Yesterday, I went on a research trip and met with two amazing people.
This is Dr. Patrick Kimani and Dr. Cheryl Carrera who are math professors at UCSF. Now before you back away from the screen in the presence of such mathematical brilliance, let me tell you something... they have this magical ability to make numbers cool and interesting. I was enchanted.
We were talking about division and Dr. Kimani explained not just the formula but drew it out on a number line. We talked about how kids acquire numeracy and at what ages. We talked about how the toys might meet national standards so that teachers could use them in the classroom as extra activities to reinforce concepts.
We also had a great time rolling these toy turtles around and talking about the different number lines and games that could be played with them. (Spoiler alert, this is one of the first toys. There will be twelve turtles in all.) There are all kinds of math games that can be played with this little army of rolling reptiles. We talked about grids and axis, averaging and measuring.
There is a saying,
"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants" ~ Issac Newton
I would have to say that I'm being helped by giants and for that I am most grateful.
More soon!
Marilyn.
July 29, 2012
Tomato Heaven
Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes. ~Author Unknown
*********
Last year we barely had a handful of tomatoes. This year we've had a luxurious abundance. Some have gone into salads, others into pizza and pasta sauce. The little yellow ones get eaten right off the vine. So sweet!
There are all types, cherry tomatoes, heirlooms, beefsteak... I like them in a good sauce with fresh basil, or baked in lemons with basil and fresh mozzarella.
We did brochettes on the BBQ last night. Home grown zucchini with mini peppers, onion and cherry tomatoes.
Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else? ~Betsy Cañas Garmon
So far it's been a beautiful summer.
Marilyn.
---
The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. ~Hanna Rion
*********
Last year we barely had a handful of tomatoes. This year we've had a luxurious abundance. Some have gone into salads, others into pizza and pasta sauce. The little yellow ones get eaten right off the vine. So sweet!
There are all types, cherry tomatoes, heirlooms, beefsteak... I like them in a good sauce with fresh basil, or baked in lemons with basil and fresh mozzarella.
We did brochettes on the BBQ last night. Home grown zucchini with mini peppers, onion and cherry tomatoes.
Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else? ~Betsy Cañas Garmon
So far it's been a beautiful summer.
Marilyn.
---
The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. ~Hanna Rion
July 28, 2012
The Toymaker's Sketchbook
I have piles of sketchbooks for all kinds of things. One is just quotes, another is strange words and phrases that amuse me. I have a little one of paper toy ideas Here's some photos of ink and cut paper practice.
A couple of flower motifs
A griffin boat and some ink studies.
Some cut paper doodles.
Some sketches of the Zodiac statues at the LA County Museum of Art.
Ink and watercolor doodles and cut paper leaves.
What's in your sketchbook, photo album, journal?
Marilyn.
--
The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne.
~ Chaucer
A couple of flower motifs
A griffin boat and some ink studies.
Some cut paper doodles.
Some sketches of the Zodiac statues at the LA County Museum of Art.
Ink and watercolor doodles and cut paper leaves.What's in your sketchbook, photo album, journal?
Marilyn.
--
The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne.
~ Chaucer
July 23, 2012
Haunted Histories has a Soundtrack!
I can't stop listening to this.
Just wow. So excited! Insert evil laugh here. :-)
The new Haunted Histories soundtrack by film composer Ciaran Foley. A great, suspenseful walk on the dark side with a cool piece of orchestration! The folks at EverWitt Productions (www.everwitt.com) are proud to work with J.H. Everett and Marilyn Scott-Waters on bringing Virgil Dante and his world to life! www.hauntedhistories.com MacMillan, Holt, Ottaviano books. All music copyright Ciaran Foley, 2012. Used with Permission of writer.
For more spooky goodness go to http://hauntedhistories.com
July 21, 2012
In the Good Old Summertime...
Don't you just love learning something new? My friend Celia, the writer of the world's most delicious blog, "Fig Jam and Lime Cordial" got me turned on to an iPhone app called Hipstamatic. She explains it much better than I ever could, so read her post here.. that's okay, I'll wait...
http://figjamandlimecordial.com/2012/07/18/cool-thing-13-hipstamatic-iphone-app/
So since I downloaded this app I have been wandering around taking pictures of everything in sight.
Here's one of the dragonflies that live in the cattails in our pond. And speaking of cat tails... lots of cat pictures have been taken.
Cats and Small Dogs.
Feed me pudding... look into my eyes... puddddiiinnnnngggggg.......
My friend Michele is studying Chinese Therapeutic Massage and came over yesterday to turn us all into puddles of relaxed goo. There are not many things finer than lying in the backyard with a cool breeze blowing off the ocean and having all your knotted muscles unraveled one by one.
The wonderhub has been building guitars and ukeleles this summer. He and his friend Jeff bottled beer and with the spent grain he made bread, pasta and a crusted pork loin. He also made a large batch of mozzarella.
The boy has been busy working the lights at the local community theater and practicing for the golf team. The highlight of the summer is the San Diego Comic Con. I made this costume for him. He went as Xemnas from Kingdom Hearts. It was a good day.
He also makes extra pocket money painting these tiny Warhammer figurines. He has an army of them and plays in tournaments.
This is my little neighbor that helps me test paper toys. I have been busy working on "The Toymaker's Mysterious Math Carnival."
I also got to go to the ALA, the America Library Association.
At the ALA hanging out with my friend Sari and the lovely people at the Sterling booth.
My new book "Haunted Histories" that I cowrote and illustrated with J. H. Everett was right there in the Henry Holt/Macmillan booth. If you would like to read more about it go here... http://hauntedhistories.com
Macmillan had a party afterwards and there were mountains of cupcakes and cookies. My only regret was that I was so busy talking to people that I didn't get a chance to eat any of them.
So far, our summer has been relaxing and filled with lots of creative things. How about you? What have you been learning? What are you working on?
Best thoughts,
Marilyn.
---
Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's
clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered
spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the
belief that all's right with the world.
- Ada Louise Huxtable
http://figjamandlimecordial.com/2012/07/18/cool-thing-13-hipstamatic-iphone-app/
So since I downloaded this app I have been wandering around taking pictures of everything in sight.
Here's one of the dragonflies that live in the cattails in our pond. And speaking of cat tails... lots of cat pictures have been taken.
Cats and Small Dogs.
Feed me pudding... look into my eyes... puddddiiinnnnngggggg.......
My friend Michele is studying Chinese Therapeutic Massage and came over yesterday to turn us all into puddles of relaxed goo. There are not many things finer than lying in the backyard with a cool breeze blowing off the ocean and having all your knotted muscles unraveled one by one.
The wonderhub has been building guitars and ukeleles this summer. He and his friend Jeff bottled beer and with the spent grain he made bread, pasta and a crusted pork loin. He also made a large batch of mozzarella.
The boy has been busy working the lights at the local community theater and practicing for the golf team. The highlight of the summer is the San Diego Comic Con. I made this costume for him. He went as Xemnas from Kingdom Hearts. It was a good day.
He also makes extra pocket money painting these tiny Warhammer figurines. He has an army of them and plays in tournaments.
This is my little neighbor that helps me test paper toys. I have been busy working on "The Toymaker's Mysterious Math Carnival."
I also got to go to the ALA, the America Library Association.
At the ALA hanging out with my friend Sari and the lovely people at the Sterling booth.
My new book "Haunted Histories" that I cowrote and illustrated with J. H. Everett was right there in the Henry Holt/Macmillan booth. If you would like to read more about it go here... http://hauntedhistories.com
Macmillan had a party afterwards and there were mountains of cupcakes and cookies. My only regret was that I was so busy talking to people that I didn't get a chance to eat any of them.
So far, our summer has been relaxing and filled with lots of creative things. How about you? What have you been learning? What are you working on?
Best thoughts,
Marilyn.
---
Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's
clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered
spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the
belief that all's right with the world.
- Ada Louise Huxtable
July 6, 2012
Mysterious Math Carnival
The response to the Toymaker's Mysterious Math Carnival Kickstarter Campaign has been amazing. Thanks five million times to everyone that donated. Only a week to go. It ends on July 15th, 2012 so if you would like a download of the PDF pledge here...
Check it out here...
There are some pretty nifty rewards in there that I hope that you will like. And if you think of any last minute rewards that would be fun to add let me know!
And thanks for spreading the word. Tell all your friends that have school age kids, grandkids, homeschool, afterschool, love math, hate math or just like to have fun.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/56537509/the-toymakers-mysterious-math-carnival-to-amuse-an/--
--
"Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children." ~ Walt Disney
Check it out here...
There are some pretty nifty rewards in there that I hope that you will like. And if you think of any last minute rewards that would be fun to add let me know!
And thanks for spreading the word. Tell all your friends that have school age kids, grandkids, homeschool, afterschool, love math, hate math or just like to have fun.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/56537509/the-toymakers-mysterious-math-carnival-to-amuse-an/--
--
"Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children." ~ Walt Disney
July 3, 2012
It's a BOOK!
A mysterious package was just delivered to my house. What could it be? Give me the scissors and let's see what's inside.....
Advance copies of Haunted Histories, Creepy Castles, Dark Dungeons and Powerful Palaces, by J.H. Everett and Marilyn Scott-Waters. In stores on July 17th. Hee hee hee!
Check it out on Amazon!
Fortunately I had some neighbors on hand to be test readers.
This is a cookie that I got at the ALA, the American Library Association. It's too pretty to eat. Today is a good day.
--
“Books. People have no idea how beautiful books are. How they taste on your fingers. How bright everything is when you light it with words.” ~ Rachel Kadish
Advance copies of Haunted Histories, Creepy Castles, Dark Dungeons and Powerful Palaces, by J.H. Everett and Marilyn Scott-Waters. In stores on July 17th. Hee hee hee!
Check it out on Amazon!
Fortunately I had some neighbors on hand to be test readers. 
This is a cookie that I got at the ALA, the American Library Association. It's too pretty to eat. Today is a good day.
--
“Books. People have no idea how beautiful books are. How they taste on your fingers. How bright everything is when you light it with words.” ~ Rachel Kadish
June 30, 2012
Flappers
So I've been pondering Flappers and fashion. And I"m trying to figure out how women went from this kind of clothing... completely covered up and corseted...
Dress 1872 = about 80 pounds of clothing.
Dress 1907 
Dress 1908 To this... in the span of about ten years.... or less.
Dress 1924
Dress 1925
Dress 1925
Dancing the Charleston, driving cars, going out in public unescorted, voting, birth control, going to college. What happened?
Just pondering my grandmother's generation.
Marilyn.
--
"Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced old woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force." ~ Dorothy Sayers
