This was Ashley's season. You always knew it. Kelly popped out of the wood work and won the last four challenges and then lost it all with her wood grain print fabric. But you always knew that Ashley was going to win.
I didn't think that any of the finale shows were outstanding. Edmond choked. NYFW is a time to take a risk, but not to lose who you are, and Edmond is sexy, form-fitting dresses. His best pieces for his collection weren't the form fitting ones. Edmond OUT.
Candice and Kelly gave Ashley a run for her money, but utimately Ashley had the most cohesive collection. Her inspiration was the most inspiring. Her risk with the floral headpieces was totally girly and totally her.
Sometimes I wonder if the judges asked, "Why should you win Project Runway?" at the beginning of the season, then we would know the winner in advance. Designers like Ashley with her niche in plus size designing, Mondo with his prints (okay he didn't win his season, but he won the All Stars following), Christian Siriano with his volume, and Leanne Marshall with her sustainable fabrics, all knew what they stood for at the beginning of the season and how their work was going to be viable in the real world. And then they won.
I am sure that we'll see more from Kelly Dempsey. I am a little worried that Ashley Nell Tipton won't keep pushing herself unless she gets a lot of validation in the coming years. But I'm glad she won. She earned it.
Season 14 OUT.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Monday, November 2, 2015
Project Runway Finale, Part 1 - Season 14 Dunzo!
Of course they would let Edmond back in. Of course. Because they led him on with auditions for thirteen years and finally let him on. And then even though he's not good enough to win, they still let him go to NYFW. I'll admit that I do want to see his line, but after seeing the hints shown in Part 1 of the finale, I see that I was right - he just doesn't have what it takes. I love you, Edmond, and you're a great designer, but winning Project Runway is just not your destiny.
Candace is totally failing me. I have no idea where her rocking hourglass shaped dresses went. I really don't like her red and black line, and even though she's slightly improving the looks making the red into black, I think she just got lost en route to designing the biggest show of her life. I really like what she's designing with wood, though. She and Kelly should have worked with the 3D printer thing.
Kelly's runway show is going to be so hideous it just might work. Does anyone want to wear wood-grain fabric? Especially when it's skin tight and paired with a fanny pack? Does Kelly even understand what a runway show's supposed to look like? I always knew that if she made it to the end, she'd be 50-50 for hideous or so-hideous-it-works clothes. The jury's still out on this one. Did I mention that I like the shoes she's got going? They're on the edge of stripper and utilitarian, and they kinda work.
Speaking of accessories...Ashley Nell Tipton. I ADORE her inspiration. I really felt like she was on the right track. Fifties Mexico City inspires girly looks with a lot of detail, and she totally nailed it with some of the things she's doing with sequins. The floral headpieces are pretty good for what they are, but she went a little too girly - floral headpieces just aren't a great thing. Period. And if you're going to do a plus sized show, make your clothing fit the ladies! I think she'll pull it together for NYFW, but it was a really bad idea to put a model in an ill-fitting garment to show the judges. I loved how that purple dress just worked for her model, making her legs look super sexy.
It's between Kelly and Ashley...finale coming up this Thursday!!!!
Candace is totally failing me. I have no idea where her rocking hourglass shaped dresses went. I really don't like her red and black line, and even though she's slightly improving the looks making the red into black, I think she just got lost en route to designing the biggest show of her life. I really like what she's designing with wood, though. She and Kelly should have worked with the 3D printer thing.
Kelly's runway show is going to be so hideous it just might work. Does anyone want to wear wood-grain fabric? Especially when it's skin tight and paired with a fanny pack? Does Kelly even understand what a runway show's supposed to look like? I always knew that if she made it to the end, she'd be 50-50 for hideous or so-hideous-it-works clothes. The jury's still out on this one. Did I mention that I like the shoes she's got going? They're on the edge of stripper and utilitarian, and they kinda work.
Speaking of accessories...Ashley Nell Tipton. I ADORE her inspiration. I really felt like she was on the right track. Fifties Mexico City inspires girly looks with a lot of detail, and she totally nailed it with some of the things she's doing with sequins. The floral headpieces are pretty good for what they are, but she went a little too girly - floral headpieces just aren't a great thing. Period. And if you're going to do a plus sized show, make your clothing fit the ladies! I think she'll pull it together for NYFW, but it was a really bad idea to put a model in an ill-fitting garment to show the judges. I loved how that purple dress just worked for her model, making her legs look super sexy.
It's between Kelly and Ashley...finale coming up this Thursday!!!!
Friday, October 23, 2015
Project Runway 3D and L.A. Red Carpet FINALLY
I am still really bummed about Swapnil going home. Now that Tim didn't use his save on Swapnil, I assume that he won't use it at all.
The 3D design challenge was really cool, and I've been wondering when they would finally use 3D printers. The winner was the person who used the printers best. I think most of the designers didn't really have a fair concept of what the printers are capable of, so they didn't know what to design. Yet Candace knocked it out of the park with multiple raised diamond designs. Merline and Ashley struggled with the looks the most, and Merline made really basic mountains with the printers while Ashley made bridge-inspired arcs. They were blah. But Merline paired her shapes with boring fabric and didn't make an avant-garde look at all. Merline went home - FINALLY!
For the next challenge, the designers are sent to L.A. It's the last challenge to qualify for Fashion Week, and the designers have to make a red carpet design. Everyone is freaking out because they don't want to mess up.
Edmond stares at this pretty sequined fabric he bought for hours. Ashley goes too over the top with crazy sequins. Kelly is, well, Kelly and goes with a jumpsuit that she dreams of Katy Perry wearing. And Candace reins herself in and goes modest with a look. Or is she playing it safe?
Finally, back in New York, the designers face the judges. They are asked why they should go to Fashion Week and which two designers should come with. Everyone agrees that Kelly should go. She wins the challenge. Candace gets away with her safe look, and she's going to Fashion Week, too.
SPOILER: the judges cut Edmond. I am gonna say it again: FINALLY!! Edmond is of Kelly's level of taste, but he hasn't progressed on the show like she has. The judges hated to do it because they would like to see his runway show, and I agree. But I also agree that they had to be fair, and this week his look was the worst. He's out!
So it's our chance to see Ashley Nell Tipton's Plus Size Show at New York Fashion Week. Good luck to her and Kelly and Candace!
The 3D design challenge was really cool, and I've been wondering when they would finally use 3D printers. The winner was the person who used the printers best. I think most of the designers didn't really have a fair concept of what the printers are capable of, so they didn't know what to design. Yet Candace knocked it out of the park with multiple raised diamond designs. Merline and Ashley struggled with the looks the most, and Merline made really basic mountains with the printers while Ashley made bridge-inspired arcs. They were blah. But Merline paired her shapes with boring fabric and didn't make an avant-garde look at all. Merline went home - FINALLY!
For the next challenge, the designers are sent to L.A. It's the last challenge to qualify for Fashion Week, and the designers have to make a red carpet design. Everyone is freaking out because they don't want to mess up.
Edmond stares at this pretty sequined fabric he bought for hours. Ashley goes too over the top with crazy sequins. Kelly is, well, Kelly and goes with a jumpsuit that she dreams of Katy Perry wearing. And Candace reins herself in and goes modest with a look. Or is she playing it safe?
Finally, back in New York, the designers face the judges. They are asked why they should go to Fashion Week and which two designers should come with. Everyone agrees that Kelly should go. She wins the challenge. Candace gets away with her safe look, and she's going to Fashion Week, too.
SPOILER: the judges cut Edmond. I am gonna say it again: FINALLY!! Edmond is of Kelly's level of taste, but he hasn't progressed on the show like she has. The judges hated to do it because they would like to see his runway show, and I agree. But I also agree that they had to be fair, and this week his look was the worst. He's out!
So it's our chance to see Ashley Nell Tipton's Plus Size Show at New York Fashion Week. Good luck to her and Kelly and Candace!
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Project Runway - Crew's All In S14 Ep10
Who is even left on Project Runway? We've got the quintessential panderer, Edmond. The trailer-park-goes-glam chick, Kelly. The crazy, pretending to be architectural, Merline. Sassy Swapnil. Purple Queen Frostine Ashley Nell Tipton. Femme fatale Candace Cuoco. And that's it! We're definitely down to only the good people (minus Merline and Edmond of course! Whoops! Did I say that?).
It's finally the Real Woman challenge, and Ashley's chance to shine. This year's ladies are the PR crew. After the fiasco of trying to get normal people to agree to a makeover last season, the producers decided to force their employees to participate. And the ladies didn't even get to pick their designer. Ashleigh is a cute blonde wearing overalls, and her designer Kelly starts to make her some fancier "work" overalls. Done. Easy.
Merline and Swapnil have to work on day-to-night looks. Not easy. Katie hates Merline's standard shoulder pad look, and Merline has to go back to the drawing board. But her model is ready to do a full makeover, including a half-shaved head. Merline's in the clear.
Tim calls Candace's look for Monique "oatmeal" and "H&M." So Candace ends up going lady of the night rather than bland. Is she taking a trashy page out of Kelly's book?
Ashley works with a petite plus who is adorable. She picks an ugly pink and purple textile, and then continues to butcher her model's body. Where is the Ashley we all know and love? She doesn't even have a crying moment this week until the runway...producers must be losing their minds!!!
Edmond struggles with making his look runway and real. Tim is kinda mean about it. But then Tim goes to Swapnil and cusses at him for not trying hard enough. The model says she "doesn't love it." She doesn't give any other pointers. Tim says these looks are supposed to be marriages, but if Swapnil and Jennifer are married, she's giving him the silent treatment. And Tim's angry outburst (that matches his skin lately) didn't help.
SPOILER: Swapnil goes home. And I don't love him. I know he has been bad for a couple of weeks, but I REALLY, REALLY wanted to see his designs for Fashion Week. I was hoping that Tim might feel bad for cussing at Swapnil and use his Tim Gunn save. I mean, we know if the judges had sent Ashley home this week for choking on her challenge, Tim would have saved her. But since they didn't because this is Ashley's season, I wished Tim would save Swapnil. Now all we have to look forward to is Merline's elimination! Kudos to Swapnil for never saying anything mean about his model or Tim. We'll miss ya, man!
It's finally the Real Woman challenge, and Ashley's chance to shine. This year's ladies are the PR crew. After the fiasco of trying to get normal people to agree to a makeover last season, the producers decided to force their employees to participate. And the ladies didn't even get to pick their designer. Ashleigh is a cute blonde wearing overalls, and her designer Kelly starts to make her some fancier "work" overalls. Done. Easy.
Merline and Swapnil have to work on day-to-night looks. Not easy. Katie hates Merline's standard shoulder pad look, and Merline has to go back to the drawing board. But her model is ready to do a full makeover, including a half-shaved head. Merline's in the clear.
Tim calls Candace's look for Monique "oatmeal" and "H&M." So Candace ends up going lady of the night rather than bland. Is she taking a trashy page out of Kelly's book?
Ashley works with a petite plus who is adorable. She picks an ugly pink and purple textile, and then continues to butcher her model's body. Where is the Ashley we all know and love? She doesn't even have a crying moment this week until the runway...producers must be losing their minds!!!
Edmond struggles with making his look runway and real. Tim is kinda mean about it. But then Tim goes to Swapnil and cusses at him for not trying hard enough. The model says she "doesn't love it." She doesn't give any other pointers. Tim says these looks are supposed to be marriages, but if Swapnil and Jennifer are married, she's giving him the silent treatment. And Tim's angry outburst (that matches his skin lately) didn't help.
SPOILER: Swapnil goes home. And I don't love him. I know he has been bad for a couple of weeks, but I REALLY, REALLY wanted to see his designs for Fashion Week. I was hoping that Tim might feel bad for cussing at Swapnil and use his Tim Gunn save. I mean, we know if the judges had sent Ashley home this week for choking on her challenge, Tim would have saved her. But since they didn't because this is Ashley's season, I wished Tim would save Swapnil. Now all we have to look forward to is Merline's elimination! Kudos to Swapnil for never saying anything mean about his model or Tim. We'll miss ya, man!
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Book Review: Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick
Do you ever start reading a book because you just know you're going to love it? And then you don't love it?
I am trying so hard to love Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick. I really liked her Mother-Daughter Book Club series, so I hoped this would be a classic, too. I read the first 20 pages and almost nothing happened. Then I got to 50 pages and thought something had to happen soon. And now I'm at 100 pages. A hint of something happening in the next 50 pages has kept me reading, but honestly I don't know why I don't give up already.
Truly is boring. She is military so she moves a lot and goes into "stealth mode" to avoid always being the new kid. Blah blah blah. SO overdone! Her parents are hurting for money. Frederick did that in Pies and Prejudice. She truly (sorry, I had to do that somewhere in this post) loves birds. Really? I can't even. She is so darn boring.
I swear, if the plot doesn't pick up ASAP, I won't ever read another book by Heather Vogel Frederick. Get to the point already!!
REVISITED: I skimmed to the end. It was okay. But not great. I should have trusted my gut and put this book down at 20 pages. The 20-page test works!
REVISITED: I skimmed to the end. It was okay. But not great. I should have trusted my gut and put this book down at 20 pages. The 20-page test works!
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Project Runway - Make it Sell
Candace won last week's challenge, and she has all the power this week. The designers do a commercial challenge for Just Fab, and Candace gets to assign categories to all the designers. She takes Trendsetter and gives Kelly the same category. She assigns Ashley Girl Next Door, Laurie Modern Classic, and Merline Femme Noveau (which everyone agrees will be a stretch). Swapnil and Edmund get Bombshell, and Edmund complains that Candace just doesn't get his style. What category did he want?!? I thought she chose very fairly.
At Mood, Edmund picks a hideous fabric and Kelly decides to make a faux fur vest. Bad choices all around. Ashley calls out Merline for still being there - "she's all over the place."
Tim gives everyone the advice that even though it's a commercial challenge, it still has to look unique and represent the designer (Read: Swapnil and Laurie need to pull it together). Kelly admits that she didn't know how she would do on Project Runway "because of design aesthetic." She calls herself out there. Tim calls her exuberant. I call it trashy. Yes, Kelly, I do get it...it's just retro 80's from Goodwill.
In the workroom, Tim tells everyone that there's another component to the challenge. Designers get to make a tag/logo to put in the outfit and wear on a t-shirt at the runway show. Sorry, guys, if you haven't already thought about this, you aren't serious about having your own brand. Luckily, most of them had, so this wasn't much of an added burden. But did anyone else notice that Candace's logo is sorta phallic?
Laurie, Edmond, and Swapnil have to change up their looks after they see them on the model. And then Edmond "designs" his label, which is his dad's name in basic block text. Apparently the logo wasn't actually part of the challenge at all...because SPOILER: he wins. I don't get it. I don't get it at all. Yes, his design was probably the most commercial, so I guess I'll let him have this one. But really, judges, REALLY? They say his red dress will look good on everyone, but it has no structure and therefore it will show everyone's flaws. I thought Ashley should have won for her spunky outfit with a gold faux leather jacket and crop and skirt, but I guess three pieces didn't fit the Just Fab manufacturing process.
Swapnil tries again this week, and just doesn't do so well when he puts that kind of pressure on himself. Makes me worried about him for Fashion Week. Merline does a constructed look that I thought seemed interesting, but shows her construction problems again, and it's bad. Laurie makes a last-minute top and doesn't cover her model's bust AGAIN. There's no way the judges could let that one skate. SPOILER: Laurie goes home.
My DVR died before I saw next week's previews, so I am stuck dreaming of cool challenges. Any chance that they will do something food related again? Or is the plus size challenge coming up so Ashley can win again?
At Mood, Edmund picks a hideous fabric and Kelly decides to make a faux fur vest. Bad choices all around. Ashley calls out Merline for still being there - "she's all over the place."
Tim gives everyone the advice that even though it's a commercial challenge, it still has to look unique and represent the designer (Read: Swapnil and Laurie need to pull it together). Kelly admits that she didn't know how she would do on Project Runway "because of design aesthetic." She calls herself out there. Tim calls her exuberant. I call it trashy. Yes, Kelly, I do get it...it's just retro 80's from Goodwill.
In the workroom, Tim tells everyone that there's another component to the challenge. Designers get to make a tag/logo to put in the outfit and wear on a t-shirt at the runway show. Sorry, guys, if you haven't already thought about this, you aren't serious about having your own brand. Luckily, most of them had, so this wasn't much of an added burden. But did anyone else notice that Candace's logo is sorta phallic?
Laurie, Edmond, and Swapnil have to change up their looks after they see them on the model. And then Edmond "designs" his label, which is his dad's name in basic block text. Apparently the logo wasn't actually part of the challenge at all...because SPOILER: he wins. I don't get it. I don't get it at all. Yes, his design was probably the most commercial, so I guess I'll let him have this one. But really, judges, REALLY? They say his red dress will look good on everyone, but it has no structure and therefore it will show everyone's flaws. I thought Ashley should have won for her spunky outfit with a gold faux leather jacket and crop and skirt, but I guess three pieces didn't fit the Just Fab manufacturing process.
Swapnil tries again this week, and just doesn't do so well when he puts that kind of pressure on himself. Makes me worried about him for Fashion Week. Merline does a constructed look that I thought seemed interesting, but shows her construction problems again, and it's bad. Laurie makes a last-minute top and doesn't cover her model's bust AGAIN. There's no way the judges could let that one skate. SPOILER: Laurie goes home.
My DVR died before I saw next week's previews, so I am stuck dreaming of cool challenges. Any chance that they will do something food related again? Or is the plus size challenge coming up so Ashley can win again?
Friday, September 25, 2015
Project Runway S14 Ep8 - Broadway or Bust
Heidi sent all the designers to see Finding Neverland on Broadway this week. Their challenge: design something wearable inspired by Peter Pan and the Broadway musical.
The designers mess around at Mood and then are barely back in the workroom before Tim brings them all back to reality: there are only 8 designers left, and now even very good designers will go home. It's almost as if he knows who's going home already.
Designers sing and dance a little bit while working, but Lindsey has a happier song and dance than usual. She designs a green dress which will never appeal to Heidi because of its lack of décolletage exposure, but is less boring than most of her previous designs.
Swapnil decides to buckle down and get to work, and he designs an interesting long dress that doesn't look like he has put more work into it than he has on previous designs. It has an Indian cut and it's fancy but relaxed, so we know he won't go home.
To his credit, Edmund made cigarette pants and a cute fitted crop top that fit the model like a glove. It's pretty obvious that he's made this outfit before. But there's no hint of whimsy or inspiration from the musical until he adds a fluffy purple jacket/vest/thing. I thought it was BAD. He put something really weird on top of an outfit that he's made before and skates by again.
Kelly is inspired by the formalwear that she sees "while standing in line for the bathroom" at the play (most likely because she has never seen a live show that didn't have monster trucks...) and starts designing what looks like a fancy costume for a lady of the night. She has immunity, so the judges compliment her fabric choice, but that's about it. They're too busy trying not to look at Laurie's model.
Laurie TANKED. She buys a fabric with holes in it, uses it as a tube top, and doesn't do a liner at all. Hello...Earth to Laurie. Did she really not think about her model flashing everyone as she walked down the runway? Laurie also picked a boringish fabric to make a weird coat (Tim warns her against it, and rightly so) and then made a weird-looking skort that exposes her model's rear. She sorta covers it for the runway, but the look is bad from every angle.
Merline made a black dress which requires little to no construction, although she did use boning to make an interesting sleeve. Ashley starts making what looks like a gorgeous design with gorgeous ombre purple fabric, but turns out sad (Nina's word).
Candace makes this totally out-there black look with a leather bustier and tulle and TOTALLY pulls it off. I don't have a clue how she did it in so little time, but wow. I really liked some of the layers of the skirt. She (of course) picked a dark moment from the play and went from there. SPOILER: she wins. Duh - not really a spoiler...
SPOILER FOR REAL: Lindsey goes home. I admit that she's not my favorite, and she has deserved to go home many times before. But not this time. She made a ho-hum look, but at least it didn't expose her model's top front quadrant!! Laurie will redeem herself next week, but she definitely should have been the one to go home this week. Lindsey was also surprisingly sweet and not whiny when she left. I felt bad. She will probably be coming back to be a nice, encouraging sewing assistant for the final designers.
Next week: Does anyone have a clue what those hints mean for next week? I was baffled.
The designers mess around at Mood and then are barely back in the workroom before Tim brings them all back to reality: there are only 8 designers left, and now even very good designers will go home. It's almost as if he knows who's going home already.
Designers sing and dance a little bit while working, but Lindsey has a happier song and dance than usual. She designs a green dress which will never appeal to Heidi because of its lack of décolletage exposure, but is less boring than most of her previous designs.
Swapnil decides to buckle down and get to work, and he designs an interesting long dress that doesn't look like he has put more work into it than he has on previous designs. It has an Indian cut and it's fancy but relaxed, so we know he won't go home.
To his credit, Edmund made cigarette pants and a cute fitted crop top that fit the model like a glove. It's pretty obvious that he's made this outfit before. But there's no hint of whimsy or inspiration from the musical until he adds a fluffy purple jacket/vest/thing. I thought it was BAD. He put something really weird on top of an outfit that he's made before and skates by again.
Kelly is inspired by the formalwear that she sees "while standing in line for the bathroom" at the play (most likely because she has never seen a live show that didn't have monster trucks...) and starts designing what looks like a fancy costume for a lady of the night. She has immunity, so the judges compliment her fabric choice, but that's about it. They're too busy trying not to look at Laurie's model.
Laurie TANKED. She buys a fabric with holes in it, uses it as a tube top, and doesn't do a liner at all. Hello...Earth to Laurie. Did she really not think about her model flashing everyone as she walked down the runway? Laurie also picked a boringish fabric to make a weird coat (Tim warns her against it, and rightly so) and then made a weird-looking skort that exposes her model's rear. She sorta covers it for the runway, but the look is bad from every angle.
Merline made a black dress which requires little to no construction, although she did use boning to make an interesting sleeve. Ashley starts making what looks like a gorgeous design with gorgeous ombre purple fabric, but turns out sad (Nina's word).
Candace makes this totally out-there black look with a leather bustier and tulle and TOTALLY pulls it off. I don't have a clue how she did it in so little time, but wow. I really liked some of the layers of the skirt. She (of course) picked a dark moment from the play and went from there. SPOILER: she wins. Duh - not really a spoiler...
SPOILER FOR REAL: Lindsey goes home. I admit that she's not my favorite, and she has deserved to go home many times before. But not this time. She made a ho-hum look, but at least it didn't expose her model's top front quadrant!! Laurie will redeem herself next week, but she definitely should have been the one to go home this week. Lindsey was also surprisingly sweet and not whiny when she left. I felt bad. She will probably be coming back to be a nice, encouraging sewing assistant for the final designers.
Next week: Does anyone have a clue what those hints mean for next week? I was baffled.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Project Runway - Haute Tech Couture S14 Ep7
We get a SECOND unconventional challenge! I am in heaven!
In Episode 5, Tim meets the designers in a shady part of town and tells them to get their materials from a "dumpster." Lindsey complains about germs, but it's clear that this is a designer dumpster. It's filled with old technology like floppy discs, Rolodexes, and VHS tapes. The designers grab all they can fit into a cart and then have to drive it back to the studio. I liked that touch. Candace says she can check being a bag lady off her bucket list, but more likely it was on most of the designers' list of Things To Die Before I Do...
Back in the workroom, Kelly and Ashley get to work and stick with their materials. Ashley makes a cool textile out of Polaroids, and Kelly cuts up what looks like a dryer vent and uses rectangles of it to shape a dress. Lindsey whines because she can't wrap her head around unconventional materials, which really means she's too lazy to be creative. She does have a moment of clarity when she calls her critiques from the judges "disheartening" and says that if she (and her design aesthetic) were dating the judges, "It's not going well."
SPOILER: Out of nowhere, Jake leaves the show. He leaves because he has to put down his dog. Sorry, man, but you won't be missed. If he parlays this into getting on the next season of Project Runway, I am gonna be so disgusted. He CHOSE to leave...and he wasn't doing well enough to make it through another week anyway. Not sorry to see you go.
Meanwhile, Joseph is trying really hard to make a non-matronly dress. Laurie is making a blah dress with mouse pads and there's no way she's gonna win. Merline is making a dress with crazy shoulders that Tim calls a "Big Bird" look, but she has immunity, so she keeps moving forward confidently. And, no surprise, Lindsey is making something boring. She is not inspired and it's obvious.
Swapnil tells Candace that his game plan is to give challenges 60 percent of his talent and just try to stay in the middle and not get kicked off. Honestly, I think it's brilliant IF you can pull it off. Some other folks have been skating by (*cough* Joseph and Lindsey *cough*) without showing much talent or creativity. Still, it seems like a safer idea to be proud of your looks in case the judges send you home.
Tim tells the designers this challenge has the "potential to be the best unconventional challenge," and the runway does not disappoint. Swapnil's top shows a TON of skin, but it's interesting, Candace made a stiff look but it still complements her model's body, Kelly's dryer vent dress is shiny and fun, and Ashley's Polaroid dress looks both vintage and futuristic. The judges love Edmond's dress, but I think they are on crack. It's hideous. He made his textile look normal, but I just think it's UGLY.
SPOILERS: Lindsey and Joseph are in the bottom, and even though they don't have to do an elimination this week because Jake left voluntarily, they still dump Joseph (finally). Kelly wins and is cute. I like her, but she can't win. She just can't. She doesn't have a taste level compatible with Fashion Week.
Next week it will be a whole new ball game. I hope we get some better judges, though.
In Episode 5, Tim meets the designers in a shady part of town and tells them to get their materials from a "dumpster." Lindsey complains about germs, but it's clear that this is a designer dumpster. It's filled with old technology like floppy discs, Rolodexes, and VHS tapes. The designers grab all they can fit into a cart and then have to drive it back to the studio. I liked that touch. Candace says she can check being a bag lady off her bucket list, but more likely it was on most of the designers' list of Things To Die Before I Do...
Back in the workroom, Kelly and Ashley get to work and stick with their materials. Ashley makes a cool textile out of Polaroids, and Kelly cuts up what looks like a dryer vent and uses rectangles of it to shape a dress. Lindsey whines because she can't wrap her head around unconventional materials, which really means she's too lazy to be creative. She does have a moment of clarity when she calls her critiques from the judges "disheartening" and says that if she (and her design aesthetic) were dating the judges, "It's not going well."
SPOILER: Out of nowhere, Jake leaves the show. He leaves because he has to put down his dog. Sorry, man, but you won't be missed. If he parlays this into getting on the next season of Project Runway, I am gonna be so disgusted. He CHOSE to leave...and he wasn't doing well enough to make it through another week anyway. Not sorry to see you go.
Meanwhile, Joseph is trying really hard to make a non-matronly dress. Laurie is making a blah dress with mouse pads and there's no way she's gonna win. Merline is making a dress with crazy shoulders that Tim calls a "Big Bird" look, but she has immunity, so she keeps moving forward confidently. And, no surprise, Lindsey is making something boring. She is not inspired and it's obvious.
Swapnil tells Candace that his game plan is to give challenges 60 percent of his talent and just try to stay in the middle and not get kicked off. Honestly, I think it's brilliant IF you can pull it off. Some other folks have been skating by (*cough* Joseph and Lindsey *cough*) without showing much talent or creativity. Still, it seems like a safer idea to be proud of your looks in case the judges send you home.
Tim tells the designers this challenge has the "potential to be the best unconventional challenge," and the runway does not disappoint. Swapnil's top shows a TON of skin, but it's interesting, Candace made a stiff look but it still complements her model's body, Kelly's dryer vent dress is shiny and fun, and Ashley's Polaroid dress looks both vintage and futuristic. The judges love Edmond's dress, but I think they are on crack. It's hideous. He made his textile look normal, but I just think it's UGLY.
SPOILERS: Lindsey and Joseph are in the bottom, and even though they don't have to do an elimination this week because Jake left voluntarily, they still dump Joseph (finally). Kelly wins and is cute. I like her, but she can't win. She just can't. She doesn't have a taste level compatible with Fashion Week.
Next week it will be a whole new ball game. I hope we get some better judges, though.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Project Runway - Heidi's Sleepover
This season's lingerie challenge came packaged with a runway sleepover for the designers. Don't get me wrong- I love Bella Thorne, but isn't she a little young to be judging intimates? And how come Heidi Klum doesn't look that old next to her?
We all knew that Blake, who has the least *erm* experience with women's lingerie was going to struggle on this one. And struggle he did. He has had a problem with execution and construction on previous challenges, and this one was all about construction. Merline was pretty quiet, and looked to be in trouble, too, because she didn't use the underwire that was provided to all the designers...but by the end of the challenge she was back to her old self, hastagging EVERYTHING. #annoying
Kelly seems to be on the right track to wooing Heidi because she's focusing on "sexy boobs." But as soon as Heidi enters the workroom, you can tell that she won't be mincing any words today. She calls Edmund "Mr. Tacky" which is spot on in my opinion - not just for this challenge. Edmund has immunity for this one, but for heaven's sake! When is he gonna get kicked off for being Mr. Tacky?!?
Swapnil decides he's going to work with bondage straps, but he doesn't have enough white straps to complete his look. Tim says Swapnil is making pesto without basil leaves, reminding us why Tim is who he is...because he's brilliant. And then after the designers have a sleepover on the runway, Tim wakes them all up in his pajamas, reminding us that's he's just a man after all.
Jake has this weird sob story about how he has to give his model a real underwear, not a thong. Wah wah. But I appreciate that he is sorta getting to know his model. Then I realized, the twist to the challenge was that all the designers had to make a coverup for the lingerie, and the only coverup we saw was Lindsey's. At the last second, Jake "drapes" a sarong (READ: he tied a square piece of fabric around his model's waist).
Lindsey makes a boring top and bottom, and covers it with an even more boring peach boyfriend shirt, but at least she actually made a coverup. She lost three hours because she needed a stitch and a tetanus shot, and she still pulled out an okay look. Way better than most people. Props to her this week for this moment of brilliance: "Joseph's look is boring...and that's not good because they tell me I'm boring all the time."
CHOKE: in the Sally Beauty room, Lindsey and Joseph talk to their hairdressers and after very different consultations, the picture of the same model's makeup is shown. Watch for it!
On the runway, Swapnil's look is a "showstopper" despite its flaws, Candace's look flies under the radar and so does Merline's look, about which Candace says, "No one thinks Merline is a threat." I agree, just not this week. Ashley's look appears to be the most reproducible, Zac calls it "yummy," and it's in her signature lavender color. Kelly's look is her signature trashy, but it fits the challenge okay since it's lingerie.
SPOILER: In the end, Merline triumphs in a big coup. She's coming into her own, despite that a look she calls architectural has no structure. She's most likely gonna be back to her loudmouth self next week. Cant wait for another unconventional challenge!!!
SPOILER: Blake goes home. I don't even like him. Why am I sad to see him go? He was surprisingly nice in his exit interview. He'll probably be back for sassy quotes and to be a designer's assistant in later challenges.
We all knew that Blake, who has the least *erm* experience with women's lingerie was going to struggle on this one. And struggle he did. He has had a problem with execution and construction on previous challenges, and this one was all about construction. Merline was pretty quiet, and looked to be in trouble, too, because she didn't use the underwire that was provided to all the designers...but by the end of the challenge she was back to her old self, hastagging EVERYTHING. #annoying
Kelly seems to be on the right track to wooing Heidi because she's focusing on "sexy boobs." But as soon as Heidi enters the workroom, you can tell that she won't be mincing any words today. She calls Edmund "Mr. Tacky" which is spot on in my opinion - not just for this challenge. Edmund has immunity for this one, but for heaven's sake! When is he gonna get kicked off for being Mr. Tacky?!?
Swapnil decides he's going to work with bondage straps, but he doesn't have enough white straps to complete his look. Tim says Swapnil is making pesto without basil leaves, reminding us why Tim is who he is...because he's brilliant. And then after the designers have a sleepover on the runway, Tim wakes them all up in his pajamas, reminding us that's he's just a man after all.
Jake has this weird sob story about how he has to give his model a real underwear, not a thong. Wah wah. But I appreciate that he is sorta getting to know his model. Then I realized, the twist to the challenge was that all the designers had to make a coverup for the lingerie, and the only coverup we saw was Lindsey's. At the last second, Jake "drapes" a sarong (READ: he tied a square piece of fabric around his model's waist).
Lindsey makes a boring top and bottom, and covers it with an even more boring peach boyfriend shirt, but at least she actually made a coverup. She lost three hours because she needed a stitch and a tetanus shot, and she still pulled out an okay look. Way better than most people. Props to her this week for this moment of brilliance: "Joseph's look is boring...and that's not good because they tell me I'm boring all the time."
CHOKE: in the Sally Beauty room, Lindsey and Joseph talk to their hairdressers and after very different consultations, the picture of the same model's makeup is shown. Watch for it!
On the runway, Swapnil's look is a "showstopper" despite its flaws, Candace's look flies under the radar and so does Merline's look, about which Candace says, "No one thinks Merline is a threat." I agree, just not this week. Ashley's look appears to be the most reproducible, Zac calls it "yummy," and it's in her signature lavender color. Kelly's look is her signature trashy, but it fits the challenge okay since it's lingerie.
SPOILER: In the end, Merline triumphs in a big coup. She's coming into her own, despite that a look she calls architectural has no structure. She's most likely gonna be back to her loudmouth self next week. Cant wait for another unconventional challenge!!!
SPOILER: Blake goes home. I don't even like him. Why am I sad to see him go? He was surprisingly nice in his exit interview. He'll probably be back for sassy quotes and to be a designer's assistant in later challenges.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Project Runway Paintball S14 Ep5
Does anyone else feel like this whole season is about Queen Frostine (Ashley Nell Tipton)? Some of it is earned - she did win TWO challenges already - and part of it is pity. The first episode of the season touched on how Ashley always felt bullied and out of place in school, and this episode was all about it. Seemed to me like the "bullying" was mostly manufactured...or maybe Ashley's victimhood manifesting?
Tim and Heidi showed up on the runway wearing white bodysuits and holding paintball guns. They Let the designers pick their teams one person at a time: Blake went first and picked Swapnil, then Swapnil picked the next team member, etc. The boys all ended up on a team plus Merline. The girls all picked their roommates and besties until only Ashley was left. Sad? Yes. But then Heidi stepped up and defended Ashley and said that the team pickers were dumb since Ashley had already won two challenges. In an effort not to make this post all about Ashley, I will say that it was notable that Candace said she chose Amanda Returna first because Amanda had been in the bottom and she wanted to raise her confidence. Admirable? Sure. Smart? No - but as Heidi suggested, the girls' team did not choose wisely.
The teams went paintballing and each team had a chance to try to "capture the fabric" while the other team blasted them. The girls went first and had no plan. The boys went second and tried to get cool colors. Blake hid like a little girl so he wouldn't get shot. (and apparently Ashley has experience paintballing, so she was good...yet she still felt "unwelcome" on her team). It didn't matter that the girls had no plan this time because Tim told them that their fabric for the challenge was their paintball bodysuits.
Back in the workroom, the girls continue to have no plan. They start working on a textile with multiple painting techniques and multiple colors and end up with a tacky, "Easter egg print. The boys and Merline decide to go with blue and use multiple painting and dyeing techniques and work together on a 50s concept.
Yada yada yada Ashley doesn't feel like she's being heard on their team. Candace, who worked so well with Ashley last week, is self-appointed team leader, but is doing little leading. Tim tells them that they're all on the wrong track because everyone is coming up with their own individual design, not pieces in the same collection. Eventually the ladies realize that they need a unifying theme and go with purple and pleats. Recipe for disaster.
Then Laurie tells Ashley that if the team is in the bottom, the rest of the team is going to say that Ashley should get kicked off for working least well with the team. Since we only have her word for it, we can assume that the other competitors want Ashley off because she's the biggest competition (no pun intended - sorry, Ashley!). But then Blake starts calling Ashley's team "mean girls." And we have to wonder...
Finally, on the runway, the judges concur and the blue team is on top. They let Edmund win for a gown made of the bodysuits and painted with flowers by Blake. Is it cool? Sure. Should it have won? No way. I have no clue how Edmund has won two challenges so far. He is gonna crash and burn soon. Swapnil should have won this challenge for his clever use of the sleeves of the shirt as a belt and the shirt pocket fetchingly draped as a pocket on his dress. But whatever - the team worked together nicely, and Merline somehow skated through without comment.
Then on the runway, the purple team gets ripped for lack of cohesion. None of the looks are good, but Kelly's is especially tacky and Candace's is way overworked. Kelly Osbourne (bound to agree with Ashley because they are bonded by their purple hair) calls the girls out for not working together and they're sent away for judging.
In the end, the judges decide that Amanda Returna's tent dress is the worst look and she goes home (FINALLY). For the record, Ashley's design was terrible, too. I am sure she will have a comeback again next week, but I hope her self-fulfilling prophecies don't overtake her before the end of the competition! And hopefully the rest of the episodes can focus on other designers, because there are still some people who have skated by without getting called out.
Tim and Heidi showed up on the runway wearing white bodysuits and holding paintball guns. They Let the designers pick their teams one person at a time: Blake went first and picked Swapnil, then Swapnil picked the next team member, etc. The boys all ended up on a team plus Merline. The girls all picked their roommates and besties until only Ashley was left. Sad? Yes. But then Heidi stepped up and defended Ashley and said that the team pickers were dumb since Ashley had already won two challenges. In an effort not to make this post all about Ashley, I will say that it was notable that Candace said she chose Amanda Returna first because Amanda had been in the bottom and she wanted to raise her confidence. Admirable? Sure. Smart? No - but as Heidi suggested, the girls' team did not choose wisely.
The teams went paintballing and each team had a chance to try to "capture the fabric" while the other team blasted them. The girls went first and had no plan. The boys went second and tried to get cool colors. Blake hid like a little girl so he wouldn't get shot. (and apparently Ashley has experience paintballing, so she was good...yet she still felt "unwelcome" on her team). It didn't matter that the girls had no plan this time because Tim told them that their fabric for the challenge was their paintball bodysuits.
Back in the workroom, the girls continue to have no plan. They start working on a textile with multiple painting techniques and multiple colors and end up with a tacky, "Easter egg print. The boys and Merline decide to go with blue and use multiple painting and dyeing techniques and work together on a 50s concept.
Yada yada yada Ashley doesn't feel like she's being heard on their team. Candace, who worked so well with Ashley last week, is self-appointed team leader, but is doing little leading. Tim tells them that they're all on the wrong track because everyone is coming up with their own individual design, not pieces in the same collection. Eventually the ladies realize that they need a unifying theme and go with purple and pleats. Recipe for disaster.
Then Laurie tells Ashley that if the team is in the bottom, the rest of the team is going to say that Ashley should get kicked off for working least well with the team. Since we only have her word for it, we can assume that the other competitors want Ashley off because she's the biggest competition (no pun intended - sorry, Ashley!). But then Blake starts calling Ashley's team "mean girls." And we have to wonder...
Finally, on the runway, the judges concur and the blue team is on top. They let Edmund win for a gown made of the bodysuits and painted with flowers by Blake. Is it cool? Sure. Should it have won? No way. I have no clue how Edmund has won two challenges so far. He is gonna crash and burn soon. Swapnil should have won this challenge for his clever use of the sleeves of the shirt as a belt and the shirt pocket fetchingly draped as a pocket on his dress. But whatever - the team worked together nicely, and Merline somehow skated through without comment.
Then on the runway, the purple team gets ripped for lack of cohesion. None of the looks are good, but Kelly's is especially tacky and Candace's is way overworked. Kelly Osbourne (bound to agree with Ashley because they are bonded by their purple hair) calls the girls out for not working together and they're sent away for judging.
In the end, the judges decide that Amanda Returna's tent dress is the worst look and she goes home (FINALLY). For the record, Ashley's design was terrible, too. I am sure she will have a comeback again next week, but I hope her self-fulfilling prophecies don't overtake her before the end of the competition! And hopefully the rest of the episodes can focus on other designers, because there are still some people who have skated by without getting called out.
Friday, September 4, 2015
The Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Barry
I haven't watched Project Runway yet! I am dying to! I will comment on it tomorrow.
I just read The Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Barry. I picked it up because I LOOOOVED The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (not by the same author) and I hoped the two would be in the same vein. I also know a lot of people think Dave Barry is funny.
This book isn't funny. Sorry, Dave Barry. It has a few amusing moments, but nothing to laugh out loud about...and I am an easy lol. If you are looking for a good book, set this one aside and pick up The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. You won't be disappointed.
Dave Barry's Class Trip is about Wyatt Palmer, an average middle schooler with a Cuban mother and a crush on a girl way out of his league, Suzana Delgado. When Wyatt's class heads to Washington, D.C. for a class trip, Wyatt and his friend Matt unearth a possible terrorist plot against the White House. The boys have to enlist the help of classmates, including the hot and popular Suzana, to foil the terrorists and keep their teachers in the dark so they don't get sent home.
This book just wasn't funny enough and the plot was unbelievable. I would have been an easy sell - I really liked All-American Girl by Meg Cabot, and that has a similar setup. But I just didn't buy it. Stay home from Class Trip. The very first story about Wyatt's dad is somewhat funny, but it all goes downhill from there. 1 Poppy for content, 3 Poppies for brevity, 4 Poppies overall.
Here's my graphic organizer of the book. It's pretty similar to the front cover of the book, and SPOILER: don't look if you don't want to see the only funny quote of the book. This time I started my organizer at the bottom and worked my way up to the kites. I like how it turned out.
I just read The Worst Class Trip Ever by Dave Barry. I picked it up because I LOOOOVED The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (not by the same author) and I hoped the two would be in the same vein. I also know a lot of people think Dave Barry is funny.
This book isn't funny. Sorry, Dave Barry. It has a few amusing moments, but nothing to laugh out loud about...and I am an easy lol. If you are looking for a good book, set this one aside and pick up The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. You won't be disappointed.
Dave Barry's Class Trip is about Wyatt Palmer, an average middle schooler with a Cuban mother and a crush on a girl way out of his league, Suzana Delgado. When Wyatt's class heads to Washington, D.C. for a class trip, Wyatt and his friend Matt unearth a possible terrorist plot against the White House. The boys have to enlist the help of classmates, including the hot and popular Suzana, to foil the terrorists and keep their teachers in the dark so they don't get sent home.
This book just wasn't funny enough and the plot was unbelievable. I would have been an easy sell - I really liked All-American Girl by Meg Cabot, and that has a similar setup. But I just didn't buy it. Stay home from Class Trip. The very first story about Wyatt's dad is somewhat funny, but it all goes downhill from there. 1 Poppy for content, 3 Poppies for brevity, 4 Poppies overall.
Here's my graphic organizer of the book. It's pretty similar to the front cover of the book, and SPOILER: don't look if you don't want to see the only funny quote of the book. This time I started my organizer at the bottom and worked my way up to the kites. I like how it turned out.
Friday, August 28, 2015
Project Runway S14 Ep4 - Breakdown
It's the fourth challenge, and Amanda "the Returna" Perna is freaking out. She has been in the bottom a lot, and she's starting to lash out at the judges and other designers. She and Gabrielle, who teamed up last week, both NEEDED Tim's approval before they got mired in their freakouts.
Blake proves himself an idiot savant, not knowing how to tell time, and baffling Tim with his design. News flash, Blake: you're just not that good at construction. If Tim doesn't get how it comes together, don't do it. You're definitely not smarter than Tim. Blake also says, "I feel bad for people who don't know about high fashion...like Lindsey." See? He's an idiot, but with flashes of brilliance, too. He just said exactly what I wish I could have said. Lindsey, step it up!
Candace is confident in the workroom, and that pisses Amanda off. Both ladies focus on black and white - Amanda for the judges and Candace for her personal aesthetic - and the results are telling.
Why do they have a fourth grader judging the show? She was dressed by Betty Draper, mmkay? And where has Merline been this whole episode? Her look is pretty good, and she was virtually silent - Joseph really did tame her!
Amanda says as her look walks the runway, "You don't really know how things are gonna look." No, we knew: matronly. Way worse than Joseph's design. And Edmund's look looks as cheap as always. He made his model look like an Eastern European lady of the night. No, just no. All the safe folks are confused about who's in the top and who's in the bottom, but we can all agree that Gabrielle's super basic design and Amanda's insecure design landed them in the bottom again. Ouch!
Lindsey is pissed that Blake is in the top. At least he made something that you couldn't buy at Ross. She's confident in her own dowdy look, and we know she won't go home. Candace is so confident she cries about how confident she feels about being on Project Runway. And yet Blake, the idiot savant, wins. Guess they don't care about execution today.
Gabrielle goes home. She could have done a lot better. Even Tim was shocked that she choked so bad. Next week is another team challenge. Buckle up for drama!
Blake proves himself an idiot savant, not knowing how to tell time, and baffling Tim with his design. News flash, Blake: you're just not that good at construction. If Tim doesn't get how it comes together, don't do it. You're definitely not smarter than Tim. Blake also says, "I feel bad for people who don't know about high fashion...like Lindsey." See? He's an idiot, but with flashes of brilliance, too. He just said exactly what I wish I could have said. Lindsey, step it up!
Candace is confident in the workroom, and that pisses Amanda off. Both ladies focus on black and white - Amanda for the judges and Candace for her personal aesthetic - and the results are telling.
Why do they have a fourth grader judging the show? She was dressed by Betty Draper, mmkay? And where has Merline been this whole episode? Her look is pretty good, and she was virtually silent - Joseph really did tame her!
Amanda says as her look walks the runway, "You don't really know how things are gonna look." No, we knew: matronly. Way worse than Joseph's design. And Edmund's look looks as cheap as always. He made his model look like an Eastern European lady of the night. No, just no. All the safe folks are confused about who's in the top and who's in the bottom, but we can all agree that Gabrielle's super basic design and Amanda's insecure design landed them in the bottom again. Ouch!
Lindsey is pissed that Blake is in the top. At least he made something that you couldn't buy at Ross. She's confident in her own dowdy look, and we know she won't go home. Candace is so confident she cries about how confident she feels about being on Project Runway. And yet Blake, the idiot savant, wins. Guess they don't care about execution today.
Gabrielle goes home. She could have done a lot better. Even Tim was shocked that she choked so bad. Next week is another team challenge. Buckle up for drama!
Monday, August 24, 2015
Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone
Phoebe Stone is a talented writer. I didn't know if I was
going to like this book because its title is sorta cheesy and the cover looks
like it's about high schoolers getting handsy, but it was AMAZING. There's
love, loss, intrigue, and World War II. If you like WWII stories, you
will like this book.
Felicity Bathburn Budwig leaves home in
England with her beloved Winnie and Danny to live with the Bathburns of
Bottlebay. Her uncle, aunt, and grandmother all have quirky names and
they soon give Felicity the nickname "Flissy." Thank God the
character doesn't really like that name either, or I would have had to put the
book down immediately. Soon the mystery of where Felicity's parents have
gone, who the Captain is, and where Felicity will finally feel that she belongs
are in full swing, and with the intriguing setting of the war, I couldn't put
it down.
With references to things I love, like The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett and Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare,
Phoebe Stone shows that she really gets kids.
Flissy begins her own journey of love while unearthing a story of love
and pain which will change her view of the world forever. You’ll learn some cool English phrases like “not
half chuffed” and you’ll hear some details of the United States during the
second World War. President Franklin
Delano Roosevelt even makes a sort of cameo.
Maybe it’s unbelievable, but it just feels right.
Phoebe Stone weaves a tale of love and history and secrets
that is captivating. Growing up and learning that many
blessings come in disguise with the quirky Bathburns of Bottlebay is truly
entertaining. I have to own this
book. Tell Phoebe Stone that when I
think of good WWII stories, “I think of you.
I think of you.”
Here's the graphic organizer:
Friday, August 21, 2015
Project Runway S14 Ep3 - Group Cruise
This week started out with some shameless stumping for Carnival Cruises, particularly a quote from Amanda. Is that how you got on the show (again), Amanda? She was almost as bad as Edmund last week with the Hallmark challenge.
The challenge was to create a high-end day to night look for travelers to cruise locations. Tim eliminated the drama of picking teams by using the button bag to choose pairs, and honestly, I would have appreciated the drama. It's best when designers think they're going to work really well together and then they clash in the workroom and on the runway. The clashes this time were just more sad.
Amanda and Gabrielle picked the south of France. They worked together pretty well, and the outfit they created had a lot of potential. The judges HATED it. I didn't think it was that bad.
Queen Frostine and Candace made a garment fit for wearing in Venice. It was colorful with a mix of prints and darn well made. Kudos, ladies. I was impressed at how well they worked together and how no one got catty on the runway (Candace, I'm looking at you!).
Lindsey and Jake designed for Hong Kong, and Jake thought he was hot stuff because he had been to Hong Kong. The rest of the one day they were given to design, he pulled a bunch of passive-aggressive junk and hardly made anything. I was disgusted by him. And I don't even like Lindsey "Taylor Swift" that much.
Laurie and Swapnil chose India, even though Tim warned Swapnil that it would be a risky choice because the judges would set the bar too high. They did a modern twist on the sari that looked really great. I think Laurie should have gotten credit for her editing choices, especially the sari shawl fabric. She gave credit to Swapnil. They were both in the top.
Kelly and Blake seemed like a taste-challenged pairing. Kelly was wearing earrings designed by WWE wrestlers, and after Blake's recent missteps, I thought they'd be in the bottom for sure. Then their design appeared on the runway and I was floored. Gorgeous! But the judges put the pair in the middle, safe.
Edmund and Hanmiao were a train wreck. Hanmiao wanted to assert her design aesthetic, and should have since Edmund had immunity and doesn't have that great of taste. But she didn't really communicate with him, so he ended up making his own swimsuit and a skirt, and she made a terribly constructed swimsuit that they put on the runway. It was pretty clear who was going home. I'd be sadder if I wasn't certain that Hanmiao would have gone home once they had the next team challenge.
Merline and Joseph were the other worst team. I'll be the first to admit that Merline is annoying, but Joseph forbid her to do a bunch of things, and in the process forbid her to be herself. Merline was surprisingly subdued, and together they churned out a dress and cape that Joseph admitted was for older ladies. I think he should have gone home. They executed his design, and it was just blah and ugly.
Ashley and Candace got the FIRST EVER DOUBLE IMMUNITY. It was amazing. Looks like Queen Frostine is the front runner. She's good, but she's not unbeatable. Who's gonna step up?!?
The challenge was to create a high-end day to night look for travelers to cruise locations. Tim eliminated the drama of picking teams by using the button bag to choose pairs, and honestly, I would have appreciated the drama. It's best when designers think they're going to work really well together and then they clash in the workroom and on the runway. The clashes this time were just more sad.
Amanda and Gabrielle picked the south of France. They worked together pretty well, and the outfit they created had a lot of potential. The judges HATED it. I didn't think it was that bad.
Queen Frostine and Candace made a garment fit for wearing in Venice. It was colorful with a mix of prints and darn well made. Kudos, ladies. I was impressed at how well they worked together and how no one got catty on the runway (Candace, I'm looking at you!).
Lindsey and Jake designed for Hong Kong, and Jake thought he was hot stuff because he had been to Hong Kong. The rest of the one day they were given to design, he pulled a bunch of passive-aggressive junk and hardly made anything. I was disgusted by him. And I don't even like Lindsey "Taylor Swift" that much.
Laurie and Swapnil chose India, even though Tim warned Swapnil that it would be a risky choice because the judges would set the bar too high. They did a modern twist on the sari that looked really great. I think Laurie should have gotten credit for her editing choices, especially the sari shawl fabric. She gave credit to Swapnil. They were both in the top.
Kelly and Blake seemed like a taste-challenged pairing. Kelly was wearing earrings designed by WWE wrestlers, and after Blake's recent missteps, I thought they'd be in the bottom for sure. Then their design appeared on the runway and I was floored. Gorgeous! But the judges put the pair in the middle, safe.
Edmund and Hanmiao were a train wreck. Hanmiao wanted to assert her design aesthetic, and should have since Edmund had immunity and doesn't have that great of taste. But she didn't really communicate with him, so he ended up making his own swimsuit and a skirt, and she made a terribly constructed swimsuit that they put on the runway. It was pretty clear who was going home. I'd be sadder if I wasn't certain that Hanmiao would have gone home once they had the next team challenge.
Merline and Joseph were the other worst team. I'll be the first to admit that Merline is annoying, but Joseph forbid her to do a bunch of things, and in the process forbid her to be herself. Merline was surprisingly subdued, and together they churned out a dress and cape that Joseph admitted was for older ladies. I think he should have gone home. They executed his design, and it was just blah and ugly.
Ashley and Candace got the FIRST EVER DOUBLE IMMUNITY. It was amazing. Looks like Queen Frostine is the front runner. She's good, but she's not unbeatable. Who's gonna step up?!?
Friday, August 14, 2015
Project Runway Episode 2 - Hallmark Fashion
Episode 2 of Project Runway Season 14 was the unconventional challenge. Gosh I love those so much! It really makes designers who had one bag of tricks planned for the show change it up. That's why Taylor Swift (Lindsay Creel) didn't do so hot.
The designers had to choose their materials from Hallmark cards and envelopes in a showroom. Needless to say, the showroom was destroyed by the end. Blake ran for the cards with sequins and Kelly was nice and let him have them. Does anyone else want to see her in a fight?
In the workroom, Kelly totally rocked this challenge. She had a plan from the start and made a really cool outfit. I thought she should have won. Swapnil made an awesome top and then pasted flowers on a skirt. Amanda made an awesome top and then made a skirt, too. Somehow Swapnil was in the top and Amanda was in the bottom. I'll admit her skirt was bad, but not as bad as the judges made it sound. A mop? A piñata to smash? Harsh.
Edmond "Trying Too Hard" Newton really tried too hard. He made a super fun wedding dress out of the card on top and some other paper they had in the workroom on the bottom. Then he made a necklace and a bouquet for the model out of paper, and then he even wore a tuxedo t-shirt to judging. I'll admit that the dress was fun and joyful, but it was blatant pandering that he made the dress from the Hallmark Signature logo. The judges had to give him the win. He was also blatantly uninterested in helping other designers, so he's not going to be a favorite after next week's challenge: the first group one - Yay!
Cuoco's metallic dress was hot and should've been in the top instead of Blake's sparkly monstrosity. He made the same horrifying dress as last week with too much going on, and the judges are giving him too much credit for taste level. If they questioned Kelly's for her fun skirt and hoodie crop top, they should definitely have questioned Blake for his pink-sequined party dress. Blech. Too much for me, just like Arruda's pink ombre dress. You knew a vagina comment would go hand in hand with that dress.
Daveeeed Giampiccolo got sent home for doing the challenge wrong. Yes, his design wasn't that bad, but do you really want to see him at Fashion Week? No. I think they got it just right. If you want to win Project Runway, do great on each challenge individually. They can't judge based on your body of work, especially not as early as the second episode.
Things to look for in the future: Why is everyone racist (Merline and Blake)? That is gonna get to Swapnil pretty soon. Kelly's taste level has already been questioned...methinks she's in trouble. A group challenge means Queen Frostine is gonna cry (again), Hanmiao is going to go nuts, Edmond isn't going to help anyone, Kelly is gonna be too nice, and Swapnil is going to be his usual overbearing self (don't feel too bad about how racist everyone has been...he will show his true jerk colors soon enough). Does anyone else feel like there are way too many people skating by in the middle?
The designers had to choose their materials from Hallmark cards and envelopes in a showroom. Needless to say, the showroom was destroyed by the end. Blake ran for the cards with sequins and Kelly was nice and let him have them. Does anyone else want to see her in a fight?
In the workroom, Kelly totally rocked this challenge. She had a plan from the start and made a really cool outfit. I thought she should have won. Swapnil made an awesome top and then pasted flowers on a skirt. Amanda made an awesome top and then made a skirt, too. Somehow Swapnil was in the top and Amanda was in the bottom. I'll admit her skirt was bad, but not as bad as the judges made it sound. A mop? A piñata to smash? Harsh.
Edmond "Trying Too Hard" Newton really tried too hard. He made a super fun wedding dress out of the card on top and some other paper they had in the workroom on the bottom. Then he made a necklace and a bouquet for the model out of paper, and then he even wore a tuxedo t-shirt to judging. I'll admit that the dress was fun and joyful, but it was blatant pandering that he made the dress from the Hallmark Signature logo. The judges had to give him the win. He was also blatantly uninterested in helping other designers, so he's not going to be a favorite after next week's challenge: the first group one - Yay!
Cuoco's metallic dress was hot and should've been in the top instead of Blake's sparkly monstrosity. He made the same horrifying dress as last week with too much going on, and the judges are giving him too much credit for taste level. If they questioned Kelly's for her fun skirt and hoodie crop top, they should definitely have questioned Blake for his pink-sequined party dress. Blech. Too much for me, just like Arruda's pink ombre dress. You knew a vagina comment would go hand in hand with that dress.
Daveeeed Giampiccolo got sent home for doing the challenge wrong. Yes, his design wasn't that bad, but do you really want to see him at Fashion Week? No. I think they got it just right. If you want to win Project Runway, do great on each challenge individually. They can't judge based on your body of work, especially not as early as the second episode.
Things to look for in the future: Why is everyone racist (Merline and Blake)? That is gonna get to Swapnil pretty soon. Kelly's taste level has already been questioned...methinks she's in trouble. A group challenge means Queen Frostine is gonna cry (again), Hanmiao is going to go nuts, Edmond isn't going to help anyone, Kelly is gonna be too nice, and Swapnil is going to be his usual overbearing self (don't feel too bad about how racist everyone has been...he will show his true jerk colors soon enough). Does anyone else feel like there are way too many people skating by in the middle?
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Project Runway is BAAAAACK!
If you didn't already know, my mom auditioned for Project Runway a few seasons back. Obviously you'd already know if she won, so I can spoil this for you: she didn't win :(. But we're not bitter! Project Runway is our favorite TV show by far. It has simply everything: drama, competition, and Tim Gunn. I love it so much that I just can't help posting about it.
Season 14 is going to be amazing! I had to post about the first challenge today so that we'll be all caught up for the new one tonight. It's on every Thursday at 9 on Lifetime.
Episode 1 - They all have to run to get material inside Madison Square Garden. Wah wah...it's from Mood, so whatever. Tim and Heidi say that they have the best talent of all the seasons assembled, but it's pretty clear from Tim's critiques (and previews of his future swearing) that they're just not. Everyone makes clothes, most everybody shares their kits and extra fabrics with everyone else, Thor goes home. Heidi makes no comment on the bust area of his ill-fitting garment, which is shocking. Otherwise, the most exciting thing is the look ahead: cool challenges including an all-paper garment and "dumpster diving" Project Runway style. Can't wait!!!
This episode was mostly us getting to know the cast. The Project Runway Season 14 cast includes:
Ashley Neil Tipton - soon to be known as Queen Frostine for her sweetness and purple pomp. She refers to herself as funky, fun, and fat. We can expect some fierce fashion and most likely a lot of tears from her this season. Notes: she's already in my picks for Fashion Week. She can already knock it out of the park with her answer to "Why should YOU win Project Runway?" because she makes gorgeous looks for plus size women.
Amanda Perna - AKA Amanda Returna. We got to see her kicked off before the season even started last year. She's back and she's high strung, but determined to be a good sport.
Blake Patterson - a cocky, cute guy who says he designs for socialites. He seems to be a less bitchy Christian Siriano with his voluminous looks. We could expect a really show-stopping line if he makes it to Fashion Week.
Candice Cuoco - Big Mouth as I like to call her. Why does she love to draw attention to the gap in her teeth and the fact that she "incubated" two kids? I don't know. Not sure what to expect from Cuoco Loco.
David Giampiccolo - a picky 'piccolo who didn't stand out all that much this time, except for Merline paying attention to him..."Daveeeed!"
Duncan Chambers-Watson - a Thor lookalike from New Zealand. Who tells the judges on the first challenge that they're still trying to figure out their point of view for their brand? Ain't gonna go far.
Edmond Newton - Mr. Trying Too Hard. He was in the top for his suuuuper basic LBD, but Tim already questioned his craftsmanship and vision. Ain't gonna go far. Trying Too Hard because he tried out for not one, not two, but ALL of the previous seasons. Sometimes perseverance isn't everything, Tenacious E.
Gabriella Arruda - a classic overachiever who became an artist. She is probably talented, but she wasn't memorable this week.
Hanmiao Yang - calls herself Pistachio, Happy Nut. Definitely going to clash with other designers, but in a meek, tearful way.
Jake Wall - the Artful Dodger, after his clothing line the Artful Gentleman. He's gonna have to figure out a way to stand out and stand up separately from the Artful Gentleman if he's gonna win.
Joseph Charles Poli - a self-proclaimed Virgo. I don't know why that says it all, but it does.
Kelly Dempsey - White Trash. Nice white trash, but still White Trash. No way she can win. Sorry, honey.
Laurie Underwood - the only person who called out Merline to her face for being annoying. She's my dark horse for Fashion Week. Don't count her out, people!
Lindsey Creel - Taylor Swift. Nuff said. She's probably good, but she didn't show it on this challenge.
Merline Labissiere - SO ANNOYING. Claims she has a background in architecture, but it sure ain't a college degree. So far she's been racist and she called muslin Muslim. Annoying and an idiot. Sparks will fly.
Swapnil Shinde - the Alec Baldwin of the show. Attractive and polarizing as H-e-double hockey sticks. He is good, but he, Merline, and someone else didn't bring sewing kits. And you can just tell that if he is in the bottom on a group challenge, he's gonna be throwing people under the bus.
Season 14 is going to be amazing! I had to post about the first challenge today so that we'll be all caught up for the new one tonight. It's on every Thursday at 9 on Lifetime.
Episode 1 - They all have to run to get material inside Madison Square Garden. Wah wah...it's from Mood, so whatever. Tim and Heidi say that they have the best talent of all the seasons assembled, but it's pretty clear from Tim's critiques (and previews of his future swearing) that they're just not. Everyone makes clothes, most everybody shares their kits and extra fabrics with everyone else, Thor goes home. Heidi makes no comment on the bust area of his ill-fitting garment, which is shocking. Otherwise, the most exciting thing is the look ahead: cool challenges including an all-paper garment and "dumpster diving" Project Runway style. Can't wait!!!
This episode was mostly us getting to know the cast. The Project Runway Season 14 cast includes:
Ashley Neil Tipton - soon to be known as Queen Frostine for her sweetness and purple pomp. She refers to herself as funky, fun, and fat. We can expect some fierce fashion and most likely a lot of tears from her this season. Notes: she's already in my picks for Fashion Week. She can already knock it out of the park with her answer to "Why should YOU win Project Runway?" because she makes gorgeous looks for plus size women.
Amanda Perna - AKA Amanda Returna. We got to see her kicked off before the season even started last year. She's back and she's high strung, but determined to be a good sport.
Blake Patterson - a cocky, cute guy who says he designs for socialites. He seems to be a less bitchy Christian Siriano with his voluminous looks. We could expect a really show-stopping line if he makes it to Fashion Week.
Candice Cuoco - Big Mouth as I like to call her. Why does she love to draw attention to the gap in her teeth and the fact that she "incubated" two kids? I don't know. Not sure what to expect from Cuoco Loco.
David Giampiccolo - a picky 'piccolo who didn't stand out all that much this time, except for Merline paying attention to him..."Daveeeed!"
Duncan Chambers-Watson - a Thor lookalike from New Zealand. Who tells the judges on the first challenge that they're still trying to figure out their point of view for their brand? Ain't gonna go far.
Edmond Newton - Mr. Trying Too Hard. He was in the top for his suuuuper basic LBD, but Tim already questioned his craftsmanship and vision. Ain't gonna go far. Trying Too Hard because he tried out for not one, not two, but ALL of the previous seasons. Sometimes perseverance isn't everything, Tenacious E.
Gabriella Arruda - a classic overachiever who became an artist. She is probably talented, but she wasn't memorable this week.
Hanmiao Yang - calls herself Pistachio, Happy Nut. Definitely going to clash with other designers, but in a meek, tearful way.
Jake Wall - the Artful Dodger, after his clothing line the Artful Gentleman. He's gonna have to figure out a way to stand out and stand up separately from the Artful Gentleman if he's gonna win.
Joseph Charles Poli - a self-proclaimed Virgo. I don't know why that says it all, but it does.
Kelly Dempsey - White Trash. Nice white trash, but still White Trash. No way she can win. Sorry, honey.
Laurie Underwood - the only person who called out Merline to her face for being annoying. She's my dark horse for Fashion Week. Don't count her out, people!
Lindsey Creel - Taylor Swift. Nuff said. She's probably good, but she didn't show it on this challenge.
Merline Labissiere - SO ANNOYING. Claims she has a background in architecture, but it sure ain't a college degree. So far she's been racist and she called muslin Muslim. Annoying and an idiot. Sparks will fly.
Swapnil Shinde - the Alec Baldwin of the show. Attractive and polarizing as H-e-double hockey sticks. He is good, but he, Merline, and someone else didn't bring sewing kits. And you can just tell that if he is in the bottom on a group challenge, he's gonna be throwing people under the bus.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Summer's Almost Over!
Okay, so I've only completed 10 graphic organizers so far. I am proud because in addition to that, I completed the Harry Potter Challenge. Still, summer's not over and I have a lot more reading to do!
While on vacation, I finished Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz, the first in the Alex Rider series. It was very James Bond, but without the humor. The villain was super fake and there were lots of moments of action that I skipped over. I had hoped for some jokes to ease the tension and suspense at times, but there wasn't much. What was there were a couple of jokes that mostly fell flat. 3 for brevity, 2 for content, 5 Poppies total.
I'm not proud of this graphic organizer...not sure Horowitz should be proud of this book either...
While on vacation, I finished Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz, the first in the Alex Rider series. It was very James Bond, but without the humor. The villain was super fake and there were lots of moments of action that I skipped over. I had hoped for some jokes to ease the tension and suspense at times, but there wasn't much. What was there were a couple of jokes that mostly fell flat. 3 for brevity, 2 for content, 5 Poppies total.
I'm not proud of this graphic organizer...not sure Horowitz should be proud of this book either...
Ready for some Goodreads?
Guess who has two thumbs and just got a Goodreads account? This girl!!
So far, I really like goodreads.com. It took about two seconds to set up a profile, and then a bit longer to rate some of my favorite books, but now I have a lot of new book recommendations. I even get to follow some of my favorite authors, and someday soon I'll contribute to the disussions.
Anybody else have a Goodreads account? Come find me! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/45872797-poppy-panagopoulos
So far, I really like goodreads.com. It took about two seconds to set up a profile, and then a bit longer to rate some of my favorite books, but now I have a lot of new book recommendations. I even get to follow some of my favorite authors, and someday soon I'll contribute to the disussions.
Anybody else have a Goodreads account? Come find me! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/45872797-poppy-panagopoulos
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Bunjitsu Bunny Review
Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny by John Himmelman is so great. It is made up of short stories that impart Eastern wisdom. I didn't love all the stories, but I did love most. This book is great for bedtime stories and the fables will reach big kids or little kids. 3 Poppies for content, 4 Poppies for brevity. 7 Poppies total.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Harry Potter Graphic Organizer
I am not a powerful enough wizard to do a graphic organizer a day. Even for books I love as much as the Harry Potter series. But I did manage to complete a graphic organizer for Sorcerer's Stone. I cut off Snape on the right side, but otherwise I'm pretty proud of it!
It was a tough graphic organizer to complete because so much happens in the first book AND because I didn't need to write stuff down to remember the book - it's all so memorable!
It was a tough graphic organizer to complete because so much happens in the first book AND because I didn't need to write stuff down to remember the book - it's all so memorable!
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Cloudy with a Chance of Boys by Megan McDonald
I read Cloudy with a Chance of Boys and I loved it! It's one of the books in the Sisters Club series by Megan McDonald, author of Judy Moody. The sister stuff is really cool that you could copy if you have sisters or try with friends if you don't have sisters (like me), and on top of that, there's a lot of cool Shakespeare references. You'll like it even if you don't know or don't like Shakespeare.
This organizer was inspired by all the weather in the book.
I give it 3 for content, 4 for brevity because so much happens! 7 Poppies total
This organizer was inspired by all the weather in the book.
I give it 3 for content, 4 for brevity because so much happens! 7 Poppies total
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Harry Potter Challenge: COMPLETE!
I finished! I finished all seven Harry Potter books in seven days. I am so proud. It was tough, especially because I had a babysitting gig on the final day, so I really had to buckle down Friday afternoon to be finished by my start time last week.
If you haven't read all seven Harry Potter books, do it! If you've read them all before, read them again! J. K. Rowling crafted these books so cleverly that there's something new each time you read them. Honestly, I like the series even better now that I can prepare myself for the emotional losses that Harry experiences. And once you know what twists are coming, it's really interesting to go back through the books and look for hints (especially about a certain sniveling character). My favorite book is book three, Prisoner of Azkaban, because of the brilliant hints. But I also love Sorcerer's Stone and Goblet of Fire...okay, all of them!
Tips:
If you've never read the Harry Potter books before, get the hard copy. Kindles won't give you the cool pictures or the magical font at the start of each chapter. (I told you I'm a nerd. I love fonts.)
If you have read the Harry Potter books before, here are some things to look out for as you re-read:
If you haven't read all seven Harry Potter books, do it! If you've read them all before, read them again! J. K. Rowling crafted these books so cleverly that there's something new each time you read them. Honestly, I like the series even better now that I can prepare myself for the emotional losses that Harry experiences. And once you know what twists are coming, it's really interesting to go back through the books and look for hints (especially about a certain sniveling character). My favorite book is book three, Prisoner of Azkaban, because of the brilliant hints. But I also love Sorcerer's Stone and Goblet of Fire...okay, all of them!
Tips:
If you've never read the Harry Potter books before, get the hard copy. Kindles won't give you the cool pictures or the magical font at the start of each chapter. (I told you I'm a nerd. I love fonts.)
If you have read the Harry Potter books before, here are some things to look out for as you re-read:
- animal symbolism
- meaning of names
- dreams and foreshadowing
- magical power vs. strength of character
- duality - are bad characters all bad? are there any flaws in the wonderful Wizarding World?
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Halfway through Harry Potter Challenge
Last night I was sweating it out because I hadn't finished the fifth book yet. But I stayed up late and did it. For those of you stuck on the fifth book, push through! Did you know that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix book is the longest in the series? Once you get done with it, you'll be over the hump.
I am really glad I pushed through because it feels like once I committed to doing the Harry Potter Challenge, all kinds of things started popping up. I got a babysitting job for the first time in a long time, and then people started calling me and texting me out of the blue. Why now?!?
I think the key here is that "it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." (Dumbledore - so wise!!) I am avoiding a few of my chores at home because I am dedicated to completing the Harry Potter Challenge, but I'm not avoiding my social life. I am going to finish. Yes, I'm taking this babysitting job, and yes, I'm going to text and call and hang out with my friends. If I can't complete the Harry Potter Challenge without being a jerk, then it's not worth doing.
But of course I won't be making my social calls extra long...I have an appointment with the Wizarding World!
P.S. I've found that I got stuck about two-thirds of the way through books four and five. They are great, but soooo long. If you have that problem, too, take a break and come back to it. Once you finish a book, you'll be proud that you did and you'll have motivation to start the next, so you won't have to take a break then. Stay strong, my fellow Muggles!
I am really glad I pushed through because it feels like once I committed to doing the Harry Potter Challenge, all kinds of things started popping up. I got a babysitting job for the first time in a long time, and then people started calling me and texting me out of the blue. Why now?!?
I think the key here is that "it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." (Dumbledore - so wise!!) I am avoiding a few of my chores at home because I am dedicated to completing the Harry Potter Challenge, but I'm not avoiding my social life. I am going to finish. Yes, I'm taking this babysitting job, and yes, I'm going to text and call and hang out with my friends. If I can't complete the Harry Potter Challenge without being a jerk, then it's not worth doing.
But of course I won't be making my social calls extra long...I have an appointment with the Wizarding World!
P.S. I've found that I got stuck about two-thirds of the way through books four and five. They are great, but soooo long. If you have that problem, too, take a break and come back to it. Once you finish a book, you'll be proud that you did and you'll have motivation to start the next, so you won't have to take a break then. Stay strong, my fellow Muggles!
Sunday, June 14, 2015
HP Challenge Day 1 and Sorcerer's Stone review
I have been doing pretty well on the Harry Potter Challenge so far. I finished the first book, and got 75 percent through the second one before my first 24 hours were up. Now we're on the second day, and I've finished the second book, hoping to finish the third by the day's end. So far, I haven't had to forgo food or sleep, and I've even fit in some social events, so I am darn proud!
My friend Bea didn't start with as strong a plan as mine, and she only read the first book on the first day. That's fine, but I hope her reading rate accelerates enough to read all of the seventh book on the seventh day - it's a long one!
If you're joining us and you've only read the first book, or haven't even finished it yet, don't give up! I noticed that the first book took me longer to read than the second because there's just so much information to cover. The second has more action, and you know the third has even more!
Poppy's Review of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling:
Wow. Sorcerer's Stone is fantastic. Rowling takes us to a magical place and makes us believe in it - REALLY believe in it. Rowling makes us love Harry and so many other characters. I felt like this book was as short as it could be - no fluff at all. Rowling tells us the exact basics to help us understand what's going on in the wizarding world and the bare minimum of events and characters to set up all the other books. It is an amazing stand alone book and the clues in it that set up the rest of the series are brilliant. Can we just take a minute to marvel at the game of Quidditch? There are so many things that are genius about this book. If you've only watched the movie, you are really missing out. Five Poppies for content, five Poppies for brevity. TEN out of ten Poppies.
P.S. I would love to do a graphic organizer for the Harry Potter series someday, but I just can't during the Harry Potter Challenge. I'm not that powerful a wizard ;)
My friend Bea didn't start with as strong a plan as mine, and she only read the first book on the first day. That's fine, but I hope her reading rate accelerates enough to read all of the seventh book on the seventh day - it's a long one!
If you're joining us and you've only read the first book, or haven't even finished it yet, don't give up! I noticed that the first book took me longer to read than the second because there's just so much information to cover. The second has more action, and you know the third has even more!
Poppy's Review of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling:
Wow. Sorcerer's Stone is fantastic. Rowling takes us to a magical place and makes us believe in it - REALLY believe in it. Rowling makes us love Harry and so many other characters. I felt like this book was as short as it could be - no fluff at all. Rowling tells us the exact basics to help us understand what's going on in the wizarding world and the bare minimum of events and characters to set up all the other books. It is an amazing stand alone book and the clues in it that set up the rest of the series are brilliant. Can we just take a minute to marvel at the game of Quidditch? There are so many things that are genius about this book. If you've only watched the movie, you are really missing out. Five Poppies for content, five Poppies for brevity. TEN out of ten Poppies.
P.S. I would love to do a graphic organizer for the Harry Potter series someday, but I just can't during the Harry Potter Challenge. I'm not that powerful a wizard ;)
Friday, June 12, 2015
Before the HP Challenge
Seven books, seven days. It's daunting, isn't it? That's why we need friends to cheer us on...and JOIN us! So far I have gotten my mom and my best friend, Bea, to commit to reading the whole Harry Potter series this week. I am so excited!!!
I'll keep you posted on my progress and theirs. The challenge starts tomorrow, so there's still time to get in on it! Join us!
Right now, I am stuck helping my mom prepare food for the week (so that she can fully commit to the HP Challenge). That's not so much fun, but I am SO excited for the challenge that I might just start tonight. If I do, it won't be until 9 PM tonight, and then I'll have until 9 PM next Friday. Eeeee! I am already starting to feel the pressure.
Last chance to join us! Just do it! Do it for Dumbledore! Do it for the Hogwarts letter you haven't yet received. Do it for Harry. Do it for yourself.
I'll keep you posted on my progress and theirs. The challenge starts tomorrow, so there's still time to get in on it! Join us!
Right now, I am stuck helping my mom prepare food for the week (so that she can fully commit to the HP Challenge). That's not so much fun, but I am SO excited for the challenge that I might just start tonight. If I do, it won't be until 9 PM tonight, and then I'll have until 9 PM next Friday. Eeeee! I am already starting to feel the pressure.
Last chance to join us! Just do it! Do it for Dumbledore! Do it for the Hogwarts letter you haven't yet received. Do it for Harry. Do it for yourself.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Potter Fan Throwdown
Seven books, seven days.
Are you fan enough? It's time for the summer Harry Potter challenge - to read the entire series in a week. That's a book a day. And they're not short books. Only a true fan can finish!
Join me next week (starting Saturday) in completing the ultimate test of Potter Fandom.
If anyone has tips or has done this before, please share. It's a daunting task! Kids: put away your phones and parents: bake your freezer dinners...you're busy next week!
P.S. I haven't gotten my Hogwarts acceptance letter yet, but that might be because this will be my first attempt at the Harry Potter challenge. This just may be the entrance exam we've been waiting for...
Are you fan enough? It's time for the summer Harry Potter challenge - to read the entire series in a week. That's a book a day. And they're not short books. Only a true fan can finish!
Join me next week (starting Saturday) in completing the ultimate test of Potter Fandom.
If anyone has tips or has done this before, please share. It's a daunting task! Kids: put away your phones and parents: bake your freezer dinners...you're busy next week!
P.S. I haven't gotten my Hogwarts acceptance letter yet, but that might be because this will be my first attempt at the Harry Potter challenge. This just may be the entrance exam we've been waiting for...
Saturday, May 30, 2015
DOUBLE Review: Arnie Doughnut and Boy on the Porch
I looooove Sharon Creech. If you haven't read Walk Two Moons yet, you HAVE to. It is so good. But since I've already read that, I just finished The Boy on the Porch by the same author. This is the kind of country story I like (sorry, Hank the Cowdog). The story is from the point of view of a couple who lives on a farm and one day find a boy asleep on their porch. The story is very subtle and an excellent example of brevity. I didn't love this book as much as Walk Two Moons, probably because there wasn't a romance element, but it was still very good. 2 for content, FIVE for brevity. Seven Poppies out of ten.
Loved Arnie the Doughnut. There are kid jokes and grownup jokes and a mystery, too! The one I read was Arnie the Doughnut: Bowling Alley Bandit by Laurie Keller. Quick read, super fun - 3 for content, 3 for brevity. Six Poppies for Arnie!
This is a time when my love for the book really showed in the organizer:
Loved Arnie the Doughnut. There are kid jokes and grownup jokes and a mystery, too! The one I read was Arnie the Doughnut: Bowling Alley Bandit by Laurie Keller. Quick read, super fun - 3 for content, 3 for brevity. Six Poppies for Arnie!
This is a time when my love for the book really showed in the organizer:
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Graphic Organizer FAIL
Wow. The View from Saturday is amazing.
I never picked it up because the cover was sorta boring and after reading the blurb, I didn't think that a book about an Academic Bowl team would be that interesting. Nerd alert!
But I was wrong. It starts out a little slow, and then gets amazing. E. L. Konigsburg shows that four kids can start a revolution!
4 points for content, 5 Poppies for brevity. 9 out of 10 Poppies!!!
Here's the story with this organizer, though: I made a rookie mistake and didn't put anything on the paper until I was totally done with the book. Bad idea! I remembered some of the good stuff, but not enough. I don't know why I didn't write it down sooner...probably just too lazy. Anyway, graphic organizer - FAIL, but book - EPIC.
I never picked it up because the cover was sorta boring and after reading the blurb, I didn't think that a book about an Academic Bowl team would be that interesting. Nerd alert!
But I was wrong. It starts out a little slow, and then gets amazing. E. L. Konigsburg shows that four kids can start a revolution!
4 points for content, 5 Poppies for brevity. 9 out of 10 Poppies!!!
Here's the story with this organizer, though: I made a rookie mistake and didn't put anything on the paper until I was totally done with the book. Bad idea! I remembered some of the good stuff, but not enough. I don't know why I didn't write it down sooner...probably just too lazy. Anyway, graphic organizer - FAIL, but book - EPIC.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Graphic Organizer Overview
Here I am, saying that brevity is everything, and I haven't been following my own advice. Here's everything I've learned about graphic organizers so far. In brief!
Making a Graphic Organizer
1) Pick a book
2) Read!
3) Write down the book title and the author in a prominent place.
4) Think about how you want to organize your information: lists or pictures or grouping ideas.
5) Add things that jump out at you to the organizer. Quotes, themes, ideas, jokes.
6) Make it YOURS - add color, doodles, drawings, flair!
Graphic Organizer Hacks:
DON'T erase.
DON'T write something for every page.
DON'T stop reading during the good parts to write stuff down.
DON'T write every character.
DO write down words that you don't understand so you can look them up later.
DO add pictures or color your graphic organizer.
DO write down page numbers.
DO make it fun!
NO SPOILERS:
1) Write down keywords for events (e.g. write down "poison" but not "Poppy drinks poison.")
2) Write down characters in order of appearance
3) Draw a picture of the climax, NOT the resolution
4) If you must include a spoiler, tape a piece of paper over it
5) Review your organizer once you're done to make sure you don't spoil the book
If you love the book, it'll show in the organizer!
My organizer for graphic organizers:
Making a Graphic Organizer
1) Pick a book
2) Read!
3) Write down the book title and the author in a prominent place.
4) Think about how you want to organize your information: lists or pictures or grouping ideas.
5) Add things that jump out at you to the organizer. Quotes, themes, ideas, jokes.
6) Make it YOURS - add color, doodles, drawings, flair!
Graphic Organizer Hacks:
DON'T erase.
DON'T write something for every page.
DON'T stop reading during the good parts to write stuff down.
DON'T write every character.
DO write down words that you don't understand so you can look them up later.
DO add pictures or color your graphic organizer.
DO write down page numbers.
DO make it fun!
NO SPOILERS:
1) Write down keywords for events (e.g. write down "poison" but not "Poppy drinks poison.")
2) Write down characters in order of appearance
3) Draw a picture of the climax, NOT the resolution
4) If you must include a spoiler, tape a piece of paper over it
5) Review your organizer once you're done to make sure you don't spoil the book
If you love the book, it'll show in the organizer!
My organizer for graphic organizers:
Saturday, May 16, 2015
No SPOILERS! Hiding Secrets in Your Graphic Organizer
We can all agree: SPOILERS are the WORST. If you want to show a friend your graphic organizer but they haven't read the book, don't give away the ending!
Here's a few ideas:
1) Write down keywords for events, rather than the whole thing. You'll remember what happened with the poison, but you won't ruin it by saying, "Poppy drinks poison."
2) In mysteries, don't write down the suspects as the detective considers them, write down characters in order of appearance. Be sure to check when you're done with the organizer that you didn't write the criminals as the last suspect!
3) Draw a picture of the climax, NOT the resolution.
4) If you feel like you REALLY, REALLY must include a spoiler because you won't remember the book otherwise, tape a piece of paper over it that says, SPOILER in huge letters! That way, the reader can decide for herself. (See picture)
Since I have been striking out with my book picks, I decided to go with Old Faithful, Miss Nancy Drew. This is my first Nancy Drew Diaries, and I liked it! Carolyn Keene (the author's pseudonym for all Nancy Drew books) has mysteries that are not too gory and always put Nancy and her friends George and Bess in a lavish location with lots of fashion opportunities. That's right up my alley.
Nancy Drew Diaries: Curse of the Arctic Star
Content: 3 Brevity: 2 5 Poppies Total
Not bad! If you want a mystery that's not too scary paired with a fancy location, it's worth a read. I must warn you, though: the Alaskan adventure continues in Strangers on a Train. It's a conclusion, but it's not that satisfying.
Here's a few ideas:
1) Write down keywords for events, rather than the whole thing. You'll remember what happened with the poison, but you won't ruin it by saying, "Poppy drinks poison."
2) In mysteries, don't write down the suspects as the detective considers them, write down characters in order of appearance. Be sure to check when you're done with the organizer that you didn't write the criminals as the last suspect!
3) Draw a picture of the climax, NOT the resolution.
4) If you feel like you REALLY, REALLY must include a spoiler because you won't remember the book otherwise, tape a piece of paper over it that says, SPOILER in huge letters! That way, the reader can decide for herself. (See picture)
Since I have been striking out with my book picks, I decided to go with Old Faithful, Miss Nancy Drew. This is my first Nancy Drew Diaries, and I liked it! Carolyn Keene (the author's pseudonym for all Nancy Drew books) has mysteries that are not too gory and always put Nancy and her friends George and Bess in a lavish location with lots of fashion opportunities. That's right up my alley.
Nancy Drew Diaries: Curse of the Arctic Star
Content: 3 Brevity: 2 5 Poppies Total
Not bad! If you want a mystery that's not too scary paired with a fancy location, it's worth a read. I must warn you, though: the Alaskan adventure continues in Strangers on a Train. It's a conclusion, but it's not that satisfying.
SPOILER ALERT: Graphic Organizers
In this post, there will be a very important SPOILER. Don't skip to the red letters and read it. Don't do it. Really, don't. Did you do it?
For those of you who have self-control, keep reading. Those wimps of you who skipped ahead to the spoiler - shame on you...just kidding.
Okay, graphic organizers are a brilliant idea, I know. (if I do say so myself) They are awesome to help visual learners remember stuff, and they can also be a really cool idea for book reports. Just make the organizer poster sized! But there is something that can be really bad about graphically organizing a book: giving away the ending. DON'T GIVE AWAY THE ENDING!!!
SPOILER following
SPOILER just ahead...
Okay, it's the real deal. SPOILER: People who ruin the ends of books for other people are just THE WORST.
There, I said it. It is really bad if you meant to tell it, but it's still bad if you didn't mean to. The book is still ruined. Unless someone specifically asks you to reveal a book's ending, don't do it! Take the necessary steps to make sure you're not a book spoiler by leaving it off your graphic organizer.
Check out some ways to include things in your graphic organizer that help YOU remember the ending without spoiling the ending for anybody who looks at your organizer and hasn't read the book yet in my next post.
For those of you who have self-control, keep reading. Those wimps of you who skipped ahead to the spoiler - shame on you...just kidding.
Okay, graphic organizers are a brilliant idea, I know. (if I do say so myself) They are awesome to help visual learners remember stuff, and they can also be a really cool idea for book reports. Just make the organizer poster sized! But there is something that can be really bad about graphically organizing a book: giving away the ending. DON'T GIVE AWAY THE ENDING!!!
SPOILER following
SPOILER just ahead...
Okay, it's the real deal. SPOILER: People who ruin the ends of books for other people are just THE WORST.
There, I said it. It is really bad if you meant to tell it, but it's still bad if you didn't mean to. The book is still ruined. Unless someone specifically asks you to reveal a book's ending, don't do it! Take the necessary steps to make sure you're not a book spoiler by leaving it off your graphic organizer.
Check out some ways to include things in your graphic organizer that help YOU remember the ending without spoiling the ending for anybody who looks at your organizer and hasn't read the book yet in my next post.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Poppy's Rating Guide
The Brevity Test
I've learned a lot from reading. I get to visit magical places and vicariously live as an underdog, a villain, a princess, a boy...experiencing so much that I never could have otherwise. Like most people, I think that the content in fiction is very important. If I can't believe in the subject matter or learn from it, and most of all, if I'm not intrigued by a book's story, it's not worth reading.
But lately I have come to a new realization: brevity is king! A book can be brilliant, but if it's not concise, it's just not that good. Especially in kids' books! If I can't finish one of my books in a week, and if I can't read one of my baby brother's books to him in 15 minute installments, it's just not that good. That doesn't mean that a long book (Harry Potter, anyone?!?) can't be brilliant. In some books, the content makes the length absolutely necessary. If the author is good enough, they can make long parts seem short because the story is so good. Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet "brevity is the soul of wit." And nobody's said it better (or shorter!) than that.
Rating Guide
So here's my rating system for kids' books: 1 to 5 for content, 1 to 5 for brevity. For a total of 10 Poppies A 1 for content means it's boooooring. A 1 for brevity means it's way too long to keep the interest of a kid like me.
So far, I've tried to make graphic organizers for The Adventures of Hank the Cowdog and Melonhead and the We-Fix-It Company. I didn't like either.
Hank the Cowdog: 2 for content. 3 for brevity. 5 out of 10 Poppies ;)
Melonhead and the We-Fix-It Company: 3 for content. 3 for brevity. 6 out of 10 Poppies
Melonhead review: I was intrigued by the Washington, D. C. setting. There are interesting characters like Pops and Madame and the kids. But mostly, nothing happened in the first 7 chapters. The We-Fix-It Company had barely started, and Melonhead had only gotten into a couple of scrapes. This was my first Melonhead book, so maybe I really missed out on the first ones. But I stand by my 6 out of 10 Poppies.
I've learned a lot from reading. I get to visit magical places and vicariously live as an underdog, a villain, a princess, a boy...experiencing so much that I never could have otherwise. Like most people, I think that the content in fiction is very important. If I can't believe in the subject matter or learn from it, and most of all, if I'm not intrigued by a book's story, it's not worth reading.
But lately I have come to a new realization: brevity is king! A book can be brilliant, but if it's not concise, it's just not that good. Especially in kids' books! If I can't finish one of my books in a week, and if I can't read one of my baby brother's books to him in 15 minute installments, it's just not that good. That doesn't mean that a long book (Harry Potter, anyone?!?) can't be brilliant. In some books, the content makes the length absolutely necessary. If the author is good enough, they can make long parts seem short because the story is so good. Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet "brevity is the soul of wit." And nobody's said it better (or shorter!) than that.
Rating Guide
So here's my rating system for kids' books: 1 to 5 for content, 1 to 5 for brevity. For a total of 10 Poppies A 1 for content means it's boooooring. A 1 for brevity means it's way too long to keep the interest of a kid like me.
So far, I've tried to make graphic organizers for The Adventures of Hank the Cowdog and Melonhead and the We-Fix-It Company. I didn't like either.
Hank the Cowdog: 2 for content. 3 for brevity. 5 out of 10 Poppies ;)
Melonhead and the We-Fix-It Company: 3 for content. 3 for brevity. 6 out of 10 Poppies
Melonhead review: I was intrigued by the Washington, D. C. setting. There are interesting characters like Pops and Madame and the kids. But mostly, nothing happened in the first 7 chapters. The We-Fix-It Company had barely started, and Melonhead had only gotten into a couple of scrapes. This was my first Melonhead book, so maybe I really missed out on the first ones. But I stand by my 6 out of 10 Poppies.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Give Books a Chance! - Twenty Page Test
Here's my newest graphic organizer hack: give a book a chance and if you don't like it, let it go! My usual book test is to read the first 20 pages. After that, you'll know if you love a book. I gave The Adventures of Hank the Cowdog way more than that...and it wasn't worth it. Don't waste your time reading books you don't love! There are a gajillion books out there - always give a book a chance, but if you're not in love, move on!
I wanted to love Hank the Cowdog. I really did.
After reading the first five chapters and skimming the rest, I have to admit: Hank the Cowdog is not for me. First of all, I was OFFENDED that he called his deputy "worthless" to his face. Not cool! I don't care if you're a dog or a chicken or a kid, you can't say that. As I read the first few chapters, I thought this might be a good book for my mom to read aloud to my little brother, but after the "worthless" part, I changed my mind.
Sure, Hank has amusing parts. Hank thinks he's very misunderstood and he says and does some things that make a dog feel good about himself and make humans laugh. But mostly it takes a long time to get to the funny parts, and there's a lot of country humor. I'm a city girl, so it just wasn't for me. Blah blah blah coyotes blah chickens blah blah truck. Blah blah NO THANKS.
Here's my graphic organizer for Hank...but I'm not proud of it. If you love the book, it'll show in your graphic organizer. And if you don't love the book, you'll get something like this:
I wanted to love Hank the Cowdog. I really did.
After reading the first five chapters and skimming the rest, I have to admit: Hank the Cowdog is not for me. First of all, I was OFFENDED that he called his deputy "worthless" to his face. Not cool! I don't care if you're a dog or a chicken or a kid, you can't say that. As I read the first few chapters, I thought this might be a good book for my mom to read aloud to my little brother, but after the "worthless" part, I changed my mind.
Sure, Hank has amusing parts. Hank thinks he's very misunderstood and he says and does some things that make a dog feel good about himself and make humans laugh. But mostly it takes a long time to get to the funny parts, and there's a lot of country humor. I'm a city girl, so it just wasn't for me. Blah blah blah coyotes blah chickens blah blah truck. Blah blah NO THANKS.
Here's my graphic organizer for Hank...but I'm not proud of it. If you love the book, it'll show in your graphic organizer. And if you don't love the book, you'll get something like this:
Monday, May 11, 2015
Picking a Book
Picking a Book
Choosing a book is hard. My mom always says you can't judge a book by its cover, but I totally do. Pink with bows and sparkles? No thanks. Title with red, drippy letters and a side of creepy? Heck no.
Usually I choose a book because my friends tell me it's good. Sometimes I ask my teacher or a librarian. Sometimes I go to whatshouldireadnext.com which is a really cool website that tells you books similar to one you've already read. Sometimes I just go down the aisles of the library and pick a book with a good cover (that's right, I admitted it).
This time nothing was looking good in the library aisles. I wanted something totally awesome for my first graphic organizer of the summer. So I asked the librarian for a funny book. She told me about the Amelia Bedelia books - too babyish - and the Wimpy Kid books - read 'em, but I'll probably reread at least one this summer. Finally, she led me to the Hank the Cowdog books. There were like TWENTY-FIVE of them on the shelf! So I decided to take a chance on Hank. I've already started my graphic organizer - I put the title and author in the middle of the page. Now I've just got to buckle down and saddle up! (do I sound cowboyish yet?)
Monday, May 4, 2015
Graphic Organizer Tutorial and Hacks
Here are Poppy's tips for making a graphic organizer to help you process and remember books. Make sure to check out the picture at the bottom - it's a graphic organizer about how to make your own graphic organizer! Tricky!
Graphic Organizer Tutorial
Step 1) Pick a book
Step 2) Read!
Step 3) Write down the book title and the author in a prominent place.
Step 4) Think about how you want to organize your information. You could make lists or draw pictures, and you can put them on the paper any way you want: top to bottom, left to right, bottom to top, out from the middle like rays of sunshine, or something else. If you're really stuck, just start grouping ideas together (for example: characters, important quotes, setting) or get ideas from the book cover. See examples below!
Step 5) Write down things that jump out at you. Important quotes, themes, ideas, funny jokes. Anything that will help you remember the book. Pictures work, too!
Step 6) Make it YOURS - add color, doodles, drawings, flair! You can also write down the definitions to vocab words to help you remember the meanings and be able to make the word yours.
Graphic Organizer Hacks:
DON'T erase unless you absolutely have to. Mistakes help you remember stuff (for example, when my baby brother bumps my pencil while I'm writing a quote down, sometimes it helps me recall the quote since some words look weird or have a line through them).
DON'T write something for every page.
DON'T stop reading in the middle of the good parts to write stuff down. If it really jumped out and was going to help you remember the book, you'll remember to write it down later.
DON'T write every character. BORING! Just write the important ones.
DO write down words that you don't understand so you can look them up later.
DO add pictures or color your graphic organizer.
DO write down page numbers if you want to find something again.
DO make it fun! If you're going to do this (or if your teacher is forcing you to do it), you might as well make it funny or pretty or cool.
My organizer for graphic organizers!!
Graphic Organizer Tutorial
Step 1) Pick a book
Step 2) Read!
Step 3) Write down the book title and the author in a prominent place.
Step 4) Think about how you want to organize your information. You could make lists or draw pictures, and you can put them on the paper any way you want: top to bottom, left to right, bottom to top, out from the middle like rays of sunshine, or something else. If you're really stuck, just start grouping ideas together (for example: characters, important quotes, setting) or get ideas from the book cover. See examples below!
Step 5) Write down things that jump out at you. Important quotes, themes, ideas, funny jokes. Anything that will help you remember the book. Pictures work, too!
Step 6) Make it YOURS - add color, doodles, drawings, flair! You can also write down the definitions to vocab words to help you remember the meanings and be able to make the word yours.
Graphic Organizer Hacks:
DON'T erase unless you absolutely have to. Mistakes help you remember stuff (for example, when my baby brother bumps my pencil while I'm writing a quote down, sometimes it helps me recall the quote since some words look weird or have a line through them).
DON'T write something for every page.
DON'T stop reading in the middle of the good parts to write stuff down. If it really jumped out and was going to help you remember the book, you'll remember to write it down later.
DON'T write every character. BORING! Just write the important ones.
DO write down words that you don't understand so you can look them up later.
DO add pictures or color your graphic organizer.
DO write down page numbers if you want to find something again.
DO make it fun! If you're going to do this (or if your teacher is forcing you to do it), you might as well make it funny or pretty or cool.
My organizer for graphic organizers!!
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Poppy's Summer Reading Challenge!
I love summer. I love to sleep in and ride my bike and hit the pool. I also love to grab some gummy bears and curl up with a book ALL DAY. Some books are just so wonderful that you can't put them down! Once school's out, there are no pesky teachers to tell you to put your book away during the day =)
This summer, I'm going to my local library to sign up for summer reading. I like that they give you prizes like pizza, and also that they give you free books to read. The problem is, last year I finished 25 books, and I don't remember them at all. If I still had my list from last summer (let's just say no paper is safe with my baby brother crawling around), the titles might jog my memory, or if I could see the book covers again, that might help, too. But I don't and I can't.
So this summer I have a plan! I am a visual learner and I remember things that are brightly colored or a weird font or have pictures, so I am going to make myself graphic organizers. My teacher made us do one for a book report this year, and I really liked it. She said graphic organizers can be arranged any way that makes sense to you: from top to bottom like a normal assignment, or out from the center like a sunshine, or pretty much anything that works for YOU. I think I'll try a few different ones and see which I like best. I'm so excited to have an excuse to use my new markers!
These graphic organizers are just for fun, and I'm not going to do one for every book I read. But I really hope that they can help me with my terrible memory - fingers crossed!
I'll post pictures of the finished products. Here's the one from my book report on Meet Julie by Megan McDonald. It's about the American Girl, Julie, who lives in the 70's. She's spunky and she has a really cool best friend, but she just switched to a new school in San Francisco that doesn't have a girl's basketball team. Once you meet Julie, you'll know she has something to say about that!
This summer, I'm going to my local library to sign up for summer reading. I like that they give you prizes like pizza, and also that they give you free books to read. The problem is, last year I finished 25 books, and I don't remember them at all. If I still had my list from last summer (let's just say no paper is safe with my baby brother crawling around), the titles might jog my memory, or if I could see the book covers again, that might help, too. But I don't and I can't.
So this summer I have a plan! I am a visual learner and I remember things that are brightly colored or a weird font or have pictures, so I am going to make myself graphic organizers. My teacher made us do one for a book report this year, and I really liked it. She said graphic organizers can be arranged any way that makes sense to you: from top to bottom like a normal assignment, or out from the center like a sunshine, or pretty much anything that works for YOU. I think I'll try a few different ones and see which I like best. I'm so excited to have an excuse to use my new markers!
These graphic organizers are just for fun, and I'm not going to do one for every book I read. But I really hope that they can help me with my terrible memory - fingers crossed!
I'll post pictures of the finished products. Here's the one from my book report on Meet Julie by Megan McDonald. It's about the American Girl, Julie, who lives in the 70's. She's spunky and she has a really cool best friend, but she just switched to a new school in San Francisco that doesn't have a girl's basketball team. Once you meet Julie, you'll know she has something to say about that!
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