Newscast Taping

I was in a taping of a newscast yesterday. It wasn't like, CNN or something. It was an assignment to write a transcript for a Greek/Roman "newscast." We all did other projects, but one of my friends, who also writes scripts, wrote a transcript and we all participated (there are six 6th graders in my class. All the rest are fifthies. d(; ) I played Persephone, goddess of gardens and flowers. Sarmasi played Demeter, goddess of agriculture, who is also Persephone's mother. Bigab played Athena, goddess of wisdom and battle strategy.  Macreon played Larry Zuza (a play on the host of the CNN Student News show, Carl Azuz). Scarlett Telsarct played Dionysus, god of wine (the actress was a girl). And Rasim was our technician (all of their names were scrambled for security. Those aren't ACTUALLY their names).

Anyway, we all played our parts pretty well, and we recorded it in our school's newsroom. It was a lot if fun! If I can get access to it, I will post it here.

Random + Writing,
CB

AAAAAAAH NO POSTS!!

For some reason this strange, old brain didn't come up with any tutorials or posts or ANYTHING!!! :( I am sorry, guys. I should have posted SOMETHING. I really am sorry. Thanks a lot for your patience, even though we got one view today and yesterday, and 4 the day before that. ;) Thanks, guys!

Random + Writing - Posts,
CB

Keeping Mealworms

Do you have an amphibian or reptile that eats crickets or mealworms? Do you need to nurture them for science class? Or do you just want to keep them for fun? Do you have a small SMOOTH-SIDED Tupperware™ or bowl? You can keep mealworms easily, and for a long time. (Not the mealworm itself, but you can have a running cycle of them.)

You can obtain the mealies from Wal*Mart or any pet store. They come in small packages and come with their own meal (fine grained oats and other grains).

Life Cycle: 114-165 days to complete. First it is a larva, then a pupa (the mealworm stage), then it grows to adulthood (darkling beetle) where they mate and then die a few weeks after the eggs are laid. Also, they might go dormant for a couple days before the make their chrysalis to turn into beetles. (THE BEETLES FLY AND LAY UP TO 500 EGGS PER BETTLE. Try not to cause an infestation of your house.)

Genders: They are virtually genderless, though they do have indistinct genders. It is said that the males have smaller heads, and the females have larger ones (if the males' are smaller, then duh the females would seem larger. Doi).  You can find the gender by turning your mealworm on is back, or looking at its belly through a clear cup. Use a hand lens for this. The end closest to its 6 legs is its head. The side farthest is the tail. See the sections of the worms? Count seven down from the head. On a female, there will be a swelling and two outcroppings. This is most likely a female.

Keeping Materials:

• Shallow smooth-sided cup, bowl, or box
• Fine grains with no additives (e.g. Bleach in flour)
• Sticks, leaves, etc. etc.
• A lid with air holes or a rag with a small-medium hole (away from the sides of the container)
• Small fruit slices with HIGH water levels
• NO NO NO NO water EVER
• Mealworms!

Keeping Directions:

Lay the grain throughout the container. Add any leaves or twigs you want. Put in the small fruit slices around the box. Add the mealworm!

Now, just try to keep them healthy and safe. NEVER EVER EVER add water. No added moisture is needed, or they will die. They are hydrated form the water and other liquids in the fruit that they need to eat.


Mine's name is Leopold (Leo for short). I am trying not to get too attached because he is going to die soon. I am going to release him when he cocoons.

Happy mealing!


Random + Writing,
CB

Entry #4 *COMPUTERIZED VERSION*

4 *REDO* This is the computerized version of entry 4 (which is mine). It is a bit different, but virtually  the same ("virtually"--No pun intended).

The Art Drawer Logo! *UPDATE!* Entry #2, 3, and 4

[SORRY FOR THE MIX UP. THIS POST WAS DELETED SOMEHOW, SO I AM JUST REPOSTING IT. I AM NOT GOING CRAZY.]

All three of these come from yours truly, CB.

2

3

4  This one has been computerized, but because the computer doesn't like the Art Drawer, it won't let me post it. (My computer doesn't recognize the file. (D': )

The Art Drawer Logo! *UPDATE!* Entry #9

This next one comes from Molly J.  The only way I could get it was from a low resolution picture of her logo, so we apologize for the pixilation. Her real one was much better than this.

9

The Art Drawer Logo! *UPDATE!* Entry #5, 6, 7 and 8

Each of these are from moonembrace. Beautiful! Thank you, moonembrace!

5

6

7

8

Thank you, moonembrace!! Very creative.

Random + Writing,

CB

The Art Drawer Logo! *UPDATE!* Entry #1

Our first entry comes from Toot or Anna. She has been commenting on some of our posts. Here is her entry:

This is pretty much what we were asking for. Very good idea and attention to detail. Good job, Toot or Anna!! Did you know that both of those names are palindromes?

Nice work!

Random + Writing,

CB

Keep it Nurby! ~RK

Celina E - The Sun Wave e-Book

If you have an e-reader (like an Amazon Kindle or a Barnes and Noble Nook) then you should download the Sun Wave, an e-Book by one of the Art Drawer's friends, Celina E. I don't believe it is out yet, but it is coming soon! If you own an e-reader and it has WiFi, please click here: http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/the-sun-wave/18620327 


Iah is about to be sacrificed to an evil beast when she is spared by the king. Soon she faces an explosion, kidnapping, and, worst of all, discovering herself. 


"In this thrilling and fast-paced short story, Iah Aku goes on an adventure that will have her readers eager for part two."
--The Art Drawer


I hope to see you reading.


Random + Writing,
CB

Sewing Your Own Drawstring Bag

You have probably seen those little fabric bags that have a piece of yarn or string going through the top, so that you can pull the string and the opening gets all bunched up and closed. These are called drawstring bags. If you have seen them for sale, chances are, they were pretty expensive, or they were holding something expensive. Well, now, you can make your own in 8 easy steps!

These are the 4 bags I have made using this technique. The green floral one was made differently, but similar to the ones you will be making. It is different in that the drawstrings come through a different way. They come through the sides and not the middle, but it works the same and is as easy to make as the others.

Materials:

• Two fabric squares of any size
• Thread
• Sewing needle
• String or yarn (enough to go all the way around the top of your squares twice)

Time Duration: About one (1) hour

No. of Steps: 8

How To Make It:

1. Make sure that your two fabric squares are about the same size. Don't worry about small differences, because none of the edges will show.
2. Turn the squares inside out (so the front of each square are facing each other). Thread your needle with enough but not too much thread. Decide which end of the squares you want to be the top (left open) and put the first knot on the corner of that end.
3. Sew away from the top (in the direction that leaves the top open) and go as far as you can with that thread. If you need to thread the needle again, that is okay and to be expected. Make sure you finish sewing in the very top corner opposite your first knot. Tie it off.
4. Cut a length of yarn or string that s long enough to go around the top of your fabric square twice with some left over. Flip down the rim of the bag so that the front of the fabric shows (a little less than an inch). Slip the yarn into the crevice that appears. If you don't have enough thread to go all the way around the bag with a bit left over, tie it off and rethread. Begin at the side you finished at, and sew through only one square at a time. Use the over-under stitch and go to about the middle of the next square. 
5. When you get there, cut a very small hole (for the yarn/string to go through) in the layer that is NOT flipped down (this hole goes to the side that is facing the front of the fabric). 
6. Put one OR both ends of string through the hole. If you only put one, cut another hole near the first (but not touching) and string the yarn/string through. 
7. Now, turn your bag inside out. Pull on the strings and close and open the bag until they are about the same length. Cut the strings to about 1 inch more than your desired length. Tie a triple/double-knot near the end of each string. If you have enough string, you can tie a knot through both strings at the hole/s (MAKE SURE THE BAG IS FULLY OPEN).
8. Make any other minor adjustments to your bag until it is exactly how you want it.

Now you have your own drawstring bag!!