Slow Life/Flavory Cafe

Do you have a favorite place to eat? I’m not talking about a big chain restaurant but a small, mom and pop or enterprising individuals’ small cafe that serves coffee, beverages, desserts and sometimes small sandwiches and salads.

It seems like they are fewer and farther apart these days than ever before.

I love finding a little table off in the corner in a cafe where I can sit with my wife, sip a drink, maybe eat a cookie, relax, talk about the day and take in the ambience of the friendly surroundings.

As a kid I remember going with my mom to the local Woolworths and treating ourselves to a banana split or a milk shake. Sometimes we would really splurge and buy a hamburger with fires. It felt safe and familiar.

How does Rolife do it? How do the artisens at Robotime manage to capture the essense and look of a small cafe complete with all the savory goodies, drinks and coziness?

First off they know how to attract an audience and get people to buy their products. Check out thier store displays in Michael’s. The DIY Miniature House Slow Life/Flavory Cafe is a perfect example.

Components are packed in a heavy, cardboard box with a slip-lid with tabs and containing all the bagged and shrink-wrapped objects and sectionals along with very conpreshensive instructions that make putting together the Slow Life/Savory Cafe a breeze.

How could it not be? All the parts are numbered and match the instructions numbers. Follow step-by-step and any 14 year old or older kit builder can’t go wrong. Plywood, paper and plastic along with included lighting make this kit really shine!

Use the enclosed tools (a pair of tweezers and a Phillips head screwdriver) and few small tools of your own (an Xacto blade with holder, a flathead screwdriver, and magnifying glass) along with glue and before you know the beautifully crafted and painted, pop-out, laser-cut pieces transform into the cozy Slow Life/Savory Cafe.

With a litle patience, persistence and attention to detail the small two-level tile and wood floor Cafe all comes together.

I love the open gable roof, the back door with oversize door knocker, the large wooden frame windows with upper sashes that open, the cobble stone and checkboard floor details and the small wrought iron railing.

Take a look at the hanging sign, wooden chalkboard, twin stools, three-shelf case complete with plants and drink and food cups and bags, the clear pastry display, the coffee pots, the cake display, the triple wall hooks, the coffee machine, the different coffee blends, the glasses and cups, the Cafe sign, the white counter with wooden top, the newspaper rack, the various flowers and plants, the wall hangings, the menu, the upper wrought iron window, the clock and lots of bakery goodies.

The box contents include an instruction manual, a shrink-wrapped pack of flats, seven Ziplok bags filled with various shop items, furnuiture, tools, a battery pack (batteries are not included), signs, dishes and decor along with a decal sheet, a clear panel sheet and a parts fold-out identification sheet.

Be sure to look over the material/components section of the instruction manual. You will be amazed at the details of the various shop objects from their sculpt to the colors. So tiny-but so realistic!

Like the Cafe itself-enjoy the experience.  Take in the sites, relax. There's no hurry.  Carefully assemble each piece, place each object and be delighted when the whole build is done.

It's so relaxing that you have to be careful not to doze off in the middle of making the Cafe.  Now that's realistic!

I can almost smell the pastries, taste the coffee, feel the newspaper in my hands, the comfortable small chair as I sit on it next to the small single-person circular table, smell the flowers and soak in the ambience.

Everything fits together perfectly with no loose gaps, misfits or mismatched colors.

It’s all so clean, neat and welcoming. Come on in! Step up to the counter and order your pastry and coffee. Sit, relax and enjoy the quiet.

Warm woods, smooth and cool floors, soft lighting and the imaged wonderful aromas beckon you to stay awhile and relax.

For photos and a video of the Slow Life/Savory Cafe click here. For a look at Rolife’s other products click here and to discover other marvelous creations Robotime has created click here.

1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

So You’ve been Bitten By A Radioactive Spider

If you are a residence of the Marvel Comics Universe you never know what to expect.

One minute you could be a man on the street, living a humdrum normal life and “BANG!” the neck moment you could be bitten by a radioactive spider, bond with a symbiote, gain cosmic powers, shrink to microscopic size, get blasted by cosmic or gamma rays or manifest magical powers-you get the idea.

How would you adjust to your new powers let alone use them, face off against adversaries, keep your identity hidden and the dozen other myriad problems superpowers could cause?

Just because you’re ‘super’ doesn’t mean your problems go away-if anything they get worse.

In author Daniel Kibblesmith’s, artist Kyle Hilton’s and Chronicle Books’ Marvel So You’ve Been Bitten By A Radioactive Spider-How To Survive The Marvel Universe, small hardbound book, helpful hints, advice and counseling take you through the process of discovering and utilizing your new super powers.

What do you do when Galactus get hungry? What happens when you ‘Hulk’ out? Just how complicated is Iron Man’s armor? What happens when you face-off against a Doombot?

Those and many other questions are answered and advice given in this colorful new book filled with helpful tips, tricks, how-tos and more.

Keep it in our pocket, put it in your backpack or briefcase, in your car’s glove compartment, by your bed and any other place that is convenient and easy to get to. You’ll need it. Trust me. Now how do I shoot webs?

Psalms 34:4 - I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

 

The Iconic House

Houses have changed a lot since 1900-not just here in the United states. but all over the world.

Join author Dominic Bradbury, photographer Richard Powers and book publisher Thames & Hudson as they explore, explain and examine 100 architectural masterworks in The Iconic House.

I’ve always loved architecture. It amazes me that certain individuals have the talent, foresight and ability to design and construct simple one-room houses to mammoth hi-rise skyscrapers.

It’s far beyond anything I could ever hope to accomplish. I’ve known a few architects and mechanical engineers and I am in awe of how their brains work and their ability to envision such projects.

I especially liked looking at the building interiors from the early 1900s with thier wood paneling and the modern and daring building designs from the 1950s and 1960s.

Throughout the book are full-color photos of a number of building exteriors and interiors accompanied by text written about their creators, how they got started, their inspiration to build a particular house and the impact their designs have had on architecture overall.

If you love the whole process of home design and building and delving in the creative mind behind each house then this book fits the bill.

The oversize softbound book is a visual treat and filled with fascinating facts about houses built in different styles and times.

Proverbs 23:18 - For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

Fantastic Adventures In The Comics

Some of the very first comic books I was exposed to when I was young were the science fiction and fantasy titles from DC Comics. 

I read all about the adventures of Adam Strange, Space Cabby, Atomic Knights and other space faring heroes.

I especially loved DC comics science fiction anthology series where all sorts of weird things happened. Naturally I started picking up Marvel Comics, Charlton Comics and other publishers science fiction and fantasy regular and anthology series.

The heyday for such publications started in the 1940s and really blossomed in the 1970s and 1980s. Such titles are still around but not in the numbers they once enjoyed.

However many of the elements from such series crop up in current superhero comics and other genres.  Science fiction and fantasy play an important part in today's comic book publications.

In author William Schoell’s and McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers’ new oversize softback book: Fantastic Adventures In The Comics: Rockets. Genies, And Bug-Eyed Monsters 1940s To 1980s discover the comics filled with fantastic adventures.

Beginning in the comic book Golden Age up until the Bronze Age the book spotlights various publishers and their titles with full information about the creative teams, certain spot-lighted issues and lots of behind-the-scenes information about each title all complemented with black and white cover reproductions.

For a real insider look at what once was the most popular comic book genre be sure to check out this book. If you love sci-fi, fantasy, horror and weird adventures this is the book to have.

Psalms 126:5 - They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Garage Workshop

As a native of Michigan and growing up around Detroit I encountered a lot of things centered around the auto industry.

I lived close to the GM test track.

My brother was a mechanical engineer with Pontiac Motors and an avid mechanic. It always amazed me how he could work on and fix any automobile.

In my small town of Milford there were several garage/service stations/workshops. It seems like all of them were run by old men dressed in greasy overalls, with disheveled hair and grimey encrusted, strong hands.

They were mechanics and you could smell the oil and grease that seemed to ooze from their pours. One of my high school friends was mechanic.

I loved hanging around his home shop, watching him work and marveled at his expertise. Back then cars were cars, not fancy computers on wheels.

Both my brother and my best friend have passed on. I wish they could see this Garage Workshop. I’m sure they would be thrilled.

Since neither one of them is here I’d like to dedicate the build of the Rolife Garage Workshop to them. I can see them now looking down at me and saying, “Are you crazy!? You’re no mechanic! But, we appreciate the dedication.”

What is it about garages? Is it the tool boxes, cases of oil, the dirty rages, the smell of oil, antifreeze and other automobile additives, the beat-up tool boxes and drawers filled with tools and gadgets? Yes, that what makes them special.

Why do Rolife’s miniature DIY rooms and buildings attract people's attention? Is it the shelf appeal? Yes! The attention to detail? Yes! Craftsmanship? Yes! Value? You bet!

What makes them special to me is they feel comfortable. What do I mean by that? They remind me of my favorite chair and old friends. They’re familiar, like walking down my hometown main street and seeing familiar shops and businesses populated by people I’ve known all my life.

Even though I’ve not visited some of the types of businesses or some of the rooms Rolife recreates in miniature, I still feel connected. Maybe it’s nostalgia or the need to experience the good old days. Whatever it is Rolife’s miniatures spark something in me that I felt when I was young: excitement, a challenge and a sense of adventure.

Like all of Rolife’s miniatures the Garage Workshop comes packed in a heavy, cardboard box with a flip-lid with tabs. A wraparound slip sheet covers most of the box and features color photos on all sides of the enclosed garage. Full specs of the kit are printed on the back. Main materials are plywood, paper and plastic. Recommended ages to assemble the kit are 14 years and older. Batteries are not included.

Nicely arranged inside the box are several Ziploc bags containing various items.

They include plants and miniature tools, a tool table with hanging tools on a pegboard, wheels and tires, various handles and cans and assorted shop objects, a desk with a chair, a battery pack with wires and a pair of tweezers and small Phillips head screwdriver and another garage table with storage areas.

Other box contents include a decal sheet, a clear, plastic, sealed pack of various walls, decals and shop construction components, a separate set of wheels, two material lists and an instruction manual.

I recommend you include in your construction tools a small flat-head screwdriver for gently poking out the laser cut, fully colored parts, liquid glue for quick fixes, a magnifying glass for those with poor eyesight like myself, a small pointed tool for moving and placing small parts and patience. As always-take your time-there is no hurry. Enjoy the experience.

Start by looking over the instructions carefully-familiarizing yourself with the part numbers and parts. Start with the lighting components to make sure they are working properly, take parts out only when you need them (there’s nothing worse than misplacing small parts) and most important of all-follow the instructions page-by-page-do not skip around. Trust me-it works the best.

Take a moment to look over all that you get.

The three-sided, small room includes a checkerboard floor, flat white walls with an upper brick extension and a see-thru window on the right wall.

Inside the shop-going left to right, there are tires and wheels hanging on a wall, a six-drawer filing cabinet with a water/oil can, gloves and other garge objects.

On the wall behind them are signs and decals, a small steel table with a yellow top and more product signs. The back wall has a parts shelf with parts and an air hose, a pegboard with tools, a horizontal drawer work table with a three-drawer wooden parts container sitting on it, a green cabinet, a potted flower, various paperwork and product signs on the brick upper wall.

On the shop floor is a pushcart with wheels, various car parts and accessories, a spare wheel and tire, a wooden chair, a heavy hammer, a wet floor stand-up, various car parts and scattered brick-a-brack on the shelves and floor.

Overhead is a gray shop light that works and a heavy sectional steel beam with a Garage sign.

It is remarkable how detailed and realistic each component looks. I can almost picture a small mechanic figure rushing around the shop looking for the right tool or car additive.

There’s so much to see! It’s hard to take it all in at once. Maybe that’s the point. Take the time to look at each section. Imagine yourself in a full-size replica of the Garage Workshop. Do you feel the slight slip of grease on the floor? Do you smell the oil, anti-freeze, brake fluid and exhaust fumes?

Imagine picking up the tools, leafing through the manuals, wiping your hands off on the rags and opening and closing each drawer.

Sit yourself down in the chair. Prop your feet up on the wheeled cart.

To really appreciate Rolife’s DIY Miniature House Garage Workshop follow this link to a video and photos.

Be sure to check out Rolife’s website to discover the other incredible miniatures made by Robotime. You’ve haven’t seen anything yet!

Isaiah 40:28 - Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

Marvel X-Men For Dummies

The latest release from Wiley Brand’s Marvel Comics series of Dummies book is Marvel X-Men For Dummies.

Before I begin the review I’d like to encourage readers to pick-up all of Wiley Brand’s Marvel Comics For Dummies series.

They are excellent. Whether you are new to Marvel Comics or an old codger like myself that has been reading and collecting them for ages this series of book delves heavily into each Marvel Comics title, their history, villain, heroes and more.

X-Men had an odd genesis. When Marvel introduced first The Fantastic Four and then The Avengers they were instant and huge hits.

Martin Goodman, then owner of Marvel Comics, told then editor-in-chief Stan Lee to come up with another superhero group.

Since Stan had already created heroes and villain who either obtained their powers through science or a freak accident or were born with them and used them from youth Stan decided , “What if individuals manifested their super powers once they reached their teenage years?”

Thus was born The X-Men-sort-of. Actually Stan wanted to call them The Mutants but Goodman didn’t like the name so Stan came up with The X-Men for their ‘X’tra’ mutated genes (caused by the use of atomic energy and weapons) and named after their founder Charles Xavier.

The title launched and it received a lukewarm reception even though Stan wrote it and Jack Kirby drew it. The X-Men would flounder along for a few years and almost got canceled.

Eventually it consisted of reprints of previous issues-until Giant Size X-Men #1 came out and a new breed of X-Men was introduced consisting of new members Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus and Thunderbird, Banshee and Sunfire.

Eventually the team consisted of Cyclops, Marvel Girl (later Phoenix), Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler and Colossus. The rest is history.

My favorite eras of The X-Men were drawn by Jack Kirby, Neal Adams, Jim Steranko, John Byrne and Jim Lee. To me writer Chris Claremont was the best writer on the series. The X-Men have transitioned over the years, spawned several series and specials and continues to be one of Marvel Comics biggest sellers.

In Marvel X-Men For Dummies, written by Troy Brownfield, each and every period of The X-Men’s long tenure is examined along with limited series, off-shot series and much more.

Learn all about the history of the various X-Men teams, their characters, villains, adventures, epics, tragedies, triumphs and evolution of the team and their offshoots.

Full color color and interior art filled the pages accompanied by detailed and fact-filled text. It’s ‘X’citing, ‘X’hilerating and ‘X’Cellent!

Proverbs 30:5 - Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

DIY Miniature House | Sakura O Kimono Shop

I’ve always been fascinated by Japanese culture and tradition. It all started when I saw the James Bond movie: You Only Live Twice. It was the first time I saw the people and places of Japan in color and in a modern setting. Before that I had only seen them in grainy black and white photos taken during and after World War II.

There was something alluring and magnetic about the Japanese people-unlike any group of people I had witnessed in the United States. There was a certain nobility-a pride-a cultural and traditional presence.

I started reading up on the history of Japan and became interested in Japanese garments- especially the Kimono. The Kimono are elegant, simple and attention grabbing.

When Cutebee sent me its DIY Miniature House Sakura O Kimono Shop (part of its City Walk Series) I was delighted. At last I could see, build and display a real piece of Japanese culture and tradition complete with Japanese script and architecture.

The Miniature House Sakura O Kimono Shop comes packaged in a heavy cardboard, flip-lid box with fold-in tabs. Covering the entire box is a slipcase featuring a full-color cover photo of the Miniature House Sakura O Kimono Shop, smaller versions of the photos are on the right and left sides along with other small photos of other Cutebee Dollhouses accompanied by full specifications.

The kit is recommended for those eight years old an older and is made of MDF board, paper, stickers and wire.

It is a great kit for kids because it encourages STEM and Critical Thinkgs Skills.  It aids children with eye-hand coordination, planning, visual recognition and patience.

Six boards with numbered parts (matching the enclosed instruction pamphlet's part numbers) come with a sticker sheet and a sealed battery box with wires. The boards are shrink-wrapped with clear plastic and all of the components fit neatly into the box.

I recommend looking over the instruction pamphlet first in order to familiarize yourself with its contents and suggestions.

Start by checking out the battery pack and wires to make sure the lights work.

Carefully follow the instructions and pop out the pieces to use them as you need them. A pair of tweezers, an Xacto knife, a small flathead screwdriver (for gentle pushing out the pieces from their boards) and liquid glue (just in case you break a piece-which is highly unlikely as the pieces are pretty rugged).

Each board features full-color components and the pieces are easy to remove. Take your time.

It’s a remarkable wooden DIY Dollhouse kit with its tile roofs, bamboo slates and shelves, ornate building fascia designs on the front and door (that opens) with open front and sides for easy viewing of the stores' contents.

Inside are multiple shelves and Kimono hangers complete with multi-color Kimonos. The shop comes with a cabinet with small selves complete with various shop objects such as cache of fabric tools, magazines, a tie mannequin, and a small two-drawer chest. Three small drawers and several shelves hold books, bottles and other ephemera.

Above the chest is a horizontal rack of Kimono fabric. Other counters hold Kimonos-all folded. A large vertical mirror is included along with a chair and table with a small round mirror, hanging fabric, hanging lamps and several rolls of spooled thread. Hanging from the ceiling are several Kimonos.

Outside on the left of building is a blooming cherry tree. A side display window has a small six-pane window above it. The front features a store sign in Japanese, several plants in a planter, a small shrine, a board with Japanese symbols and two Kimono hanging on three legged stands.

The building sits on a multi-gray stone foundation. The right side of the building has a large multi-panel window with a small window above it with a flower box and a hidden switch to turn on the lights.

The back of the building houses the battery pack that is accessed through a small panel with a latch.

All of the various components and objects assemble to make the charming Sakura O Kimono Shop to pop with bright colors, colorful displays and traditional design all highlighted by the lighting.

This is a wonderful kit for younger children and goes together fairly quickly with no fuss or problems. It looks wonderful on a bookcase, shelf or table.

I highly recommend Cutebee’s other Dollhouse kits and merchandise. Click this link to visit Cutebee’s website and click here to see a video of the Sakura O Kimono Shop Dollhouse Kit.  Click here for photos.

Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Pippa And The Singing Tree

Let me start off by saying the art and prose by P.J. Lynch and Kristyn Getty are absolutely wonderful in their book Pippa And The Singing Tree published by Crossway.

As a fellow artist and graphiic designer I am impressed with art  I love the colors, the figure compositions and how each illustration embodies emotion and joy. 

It's a beautiful, small and thin hardbound book wrapped in a fully-illustrated dust jacket accented with gold type-stunning!

What a wonderful celebration of the creativity and love of God. Join the song of praise with Pippa and her tree.

Follow young Pippa as she celebrates creation under a big tree through the seasons.

Discover how the power and majesty of God is reflected in the tree and the creatures and land around it.

The illustrations and writing amplify and celebrate all of God’s wonderful creation and his willingness to share it all with us.

It’s very uplifting book that children are sure to enjoy and most importantly come away with the truth that God loves them, cares for them and wishes to share all that he is and has created with them.

Be sure to share the information in the 'For Families' section at the back of the book.  It's a great tool for sharing the gospel and God's salvation plan.

My grandkids are sure to love this book. What a wonderful way to share God’s love with them.

2 Timothy 2:1 - Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Kowloon Walled City 2049 Book Nook

The place: a narrow, cobblestone back-alley in the city of Hong Kong. The year is 2049. You maneuver yourself around the crowd of people walking down the alley in both directions. You bump into and walk around the crowd and manage to make your way down the dingy, wet alleyway.

Above you neon lights flicker and flash illuminating the dark and hidden niches. Small shops and entryways are on each side. The flashing lights momentarily reveal the faces of the people around you-some old, some young, some peering at you while others look away.

You smell the dampness in the air, body odors sweet and foul, food being cooked, smoke, trash and some smells you are unfamiliar with. 

Sounds emanate all around you: music, laughter, talking, a baby’s cry, small animals, the hum of the lights and signs and the traffic nearby.

Every corner of the alleyway is filled with hole-in-the wall shops selling legal and illegal goods.  There are also small apartments. Shopkeepers and individuals encourage you to buy their wares. Signs advertise goods, services and events. Dark windows reveal shadowy glimpses of figures and plants. Cloths and wires hang overhead.

You see shingled overhangs, balconies with rails, merchandise, screens, electronics, a dilapidated pinball machine and visible sections of roofs.

It all feels claustrophobic and disturbing and yet somehow compelling. You senses are overloaded. You wish you could gather all that you’ve seen, felt, smelt, heard and touched and wrap it all up in a small box and take it home to experience it later.

Thanks to Anavrin’s Kowloon Walled City 2049 Book Nook you can. The miniature Kowloon Walled City is set in a dystopian not-to-distant future packed in a futuristic vertical box.

While the original Walled City site no longer exists its presence is still felt in the echoes of Hong Kong’s urban challenges.

You can envision clandestine and notorious niches with their faulty plumbing, hidden stories, unsanitary foodstuffs, drugs and crush of humanity.

The Kowloon Walled City 2048 Book Nook boxed kit has everything you need to create what I’ve described-minus the people, noise, smells and questionable commerce of course.

Once completed the little corner of Kowloon comes neatly packed in a narrow vertical box with a clear protective dust cover to keeps its contents clean and dust free.

The entire assemble comes in a heavy, cardboard, flip-lid (with flaps) box with its components safely tucked in a sectioned plastic insert.

A slip-cover slides over the box with color photos of the city on its front and back. The kit is recommended for those 14 years and older and is made primarily of plywood, MDF board, plastic and paper.

Inside is an extremely detailed Instruction pamphlet filled with sequentially numbered photos complete with coinciding part numbers as listed on the parts sheets in the box.

Follow the instructions and in no time (4 to 6 hours) the 195-piece Kowloon Walled City will be proudly displayed on your bookcase, counter-top, at your home, office or wherever you wish.

A clear, sealed plastic assembly packet contains wooden pop-out part sheets, a mirror and tinted plastic sheets.

Parts are easily removed from the sheets using the included auxiliary tool (I also use a small fathead screwdriver). Tweezers are provided along with adhesive sheets, color stickers with script and images, shingles, signs, photos, acrylic light signs (pulsing, flashing and transparent), tapes, steps, a large stick, silver metal marbles, clothing, a frosted rod, small plants, girders, an icecream dispenser, sodas, grass and a vine, electric cables and a battery box (batteries are not included.)

I suggest using the enclosed glue if necessary and an Xacto knife and a magnifying glass if your eyesight is a little weak.  Use a small flathead screwdriver to pock the pieces from the boards.  

The important thing is to take your time, carefully assemble the parts, check the wiring and assemble in the order as specified in the instructions. Start by laying out the wires to the battery box first.

Some of the parts are very small and it’s best to detach them one at a time as to not loose any. Large parts have tabs and fit together snugly.

It’s an easy kit to assemble if you take your time, follow the instructions and enjoy the experience.

I always like to begin building a kit by looking through the instructions and familiarizing myself with all its componets.  Next I check out all the wiring and lighting and finally start assembling pieces one step at a time.  

I plan on working on the Kowloon Walled City 2049 Book Nook over the holidays. Again, I’m in no hurry-that’s part of the fun.

The parts are laser cut, printed in clear and clean colors and are thick and durable. Don’t rush! Anavrin includes some extra small and fragile parts just in case you damage or loose some. Talk about planning ahead!

It's amazing how the designers at Anavrin added so many details to the street making it look old and worn with rusted metal, grimy and worn spots, clutter and the clever use of a mirror and forced perspective to make the street appear longer than it actually is.

The kit contans 235 pieces, is two-star (out of five) difficullty rated and takes three to five hours to assemble.

Follow this link to view a video of the Walled City. It really spotlights the colors and lighting. Check out the photos too. 

This link is to the Anavrin website so you can check out the other great kits Anavrin makes.

Excellent quality, a clever design, packed with details and a great value--all good reasons to purchase the Kowloon Walled City 2049 Book Nook!

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Material Wonder

Architect and interior designer Fiona Lynch has re-imagined what rooms are all about. No longer cold, utilitarian and humdrum her rooms exude the poetic, complexity and are inviting.

Isn’t it amazing that an individual can simple use such things like stone, plastic, wood, metal and cloth to create incredible rooms?

Even more amazing is designing rooms that exude  certain attitudes, functions and individuality.

That’s exactly what Fiona Lynch showcases in the new book from Thames & Hudson: Material Wonder The Interiors Of Fiona Lynch.

I’m awestruck, amazed, delighted and inspired by the color photos enclosed and motivated by the accompanying text.

The book invites readers to delve into the mind of one of the world's greatest interior designer.  It's fascinating.

What an amazing book! I absolutely love the room designs no matter the type of material, furnishings, lighting and theme used.

I wish I had the money, talent and time to create such incredible rooms in our house.  Perhaps someday.

Are you ready to design your own room? Use the book as a guide, inspiration and reference. Then you too can boast of your room’s Material Wonder.

Romans 8:25 - But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Kid Explorers: The Goonies: Mouth, Data and Mikey

The smart alex, the adventurer and the brain-that’s the best way to desctibe Mouth, Mikey and Data from the film The Goonies.

Mezco Toys created a series of action figures and items celebrating the movie.  

I’ve picked out three characters from the film: Mikey, Mouth and Data.

Mikey, Mouth and Data (and the other Goonies articulated figures) come packaged in hanger/shelf, clear plastic packages with a custom The Goonies background included and an oversize Copper Key image and The Goonies logo.

The first series of Goonies figures by Mezco include Sloth, Chunk, Data, Mouth and Mikey.  

Other figures were to be produced, but none were released.  Supposedly a pirate ship was released.  A giant Sloth figure did see release.  None of the female or adult characters had figures.

The Data figure is my favorite of the three.  There was something endearing and funny about a small Asian boy who dreamed of being James Bond and he had the gadgets to prove it.

Data comes with is green trenchcoat with hidden gadgets and various patches, his yellow backpack, telescoping boxer glove (Bully Buster), extra hand with spring loaded chopping jaws (Pinchers OF Peril) attached to a spare hand, custom belt buckle, chest mounted utility belt, weird candle (stick of dynamite) and a dart with a sucker end (Sticky Dart).

The figure’s face looks exactly like the young actor that portrayed him and the coloration and sculpt work on both the clothing and the figure are clean, crisp, detailed and exact copies of the movie versions.

Data wears blue jeans, his white tennis (Slick Shoes). He comes with barnacle covered section of pirate ship deck.

Like Data the Mouth figure looks exactly like the young actor who played hi.  Sculpt and paintwork are perfect, as is the articulation.

Mouth comes dressed in a light blue jacket, black t-shirt, dark blue trousers and black tennis shoes with white trim and soles.

Included with the Mouth figure are a saber, a lantern with handle, a hairbrush and two clutters of jewels and coins.  Mouth comes with a base covered with pirate treasure.

Mikey is dressed in black jacket and slacks, a gray shirt and white tennis shoes with black side accents.

Included with the figure is the copper bones, the pirate treasure directional coin, the pirate map, a bag of marbles/jewels, one spare head holding a breather and a rock base with a large boulder with a rope booby trap.

1 Corinthians 16:13 - Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

The Mattel Archive

I admit it. I’m a big kid. I still love toys. At one time in the earlier days of my blog I used to get cases of toys from various manufacturers to review.

As toy prices escalated and more and more ‘websites’ (of questionable authenticity and reputation), began requesting toy review samples my supply of review samples almost dried up.

Once in a while I get a few review samples. I mostly post reviews of toys I already have.

Over the years I’ve downsized my collection considerably and stopped buying toys because they are getting too expensive even for small action figures.

One of my biggest and earliest toy review samples supporters was Mattel Toys. I used to get literally cases of toys from the company to review including Hot Wheels. Sadly those days are over.

But, I still love Mattel Toys and I understand the business end of things.

In Rizzoli’s/Universe’s new deluxe hardbound book The Mattel Archives readers are invited to travel back through the decades to Mattel’s humble beginning.

Discover how the company grew, introduced revolutionary products like Barbie, expanded its toy-line, changed with the times, acquired new properties and smaller companies, incorporated technology and boldly stepped into the future.

Enjoy looking at the old catalogs, photos and advertising images of Mattel Toys from the past to the present.

Printed on non-gloss paper the book’s images look somewhat dated adding to the nostalgia appeal.

I remember so many of the toys and the thrill of getting some of them on my birthday and Christmas, sharing and playing with my toys with my friends and anticipating the holiday new toy releases each year.

What a wonderful journey back in time made even more enjoyable by the vintage images and photos, accompanying text and even the smell of the ink on the paper.

Soak it up and enjoy a step back to your childhood and the excitement you felt when looking at the toys Mattel produced.

Barbie, He-Man, Fischer Price, Hot Wheels, Polly Pocket, Mega Blocks, Thomas The Train and hundreds of other toys, games, diecast, dolls and more are included. Let’s play!

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Corner Bookstore

My book addiction began way back in 1958 when I was hospitalized for dehydration. I was in the hospital for one week.

During that week when my mother came to visit me she always brought comic books that she bought at the Goodwill and Salvation Army for two for one nickle.

Less that a year later I was back in the hospital. This time for tonsillitis. I had my tonsils removed and again was in the hospital for a week. Mom faithfully brought me comic books each day.

Beside comic books I loved reading kids books and publications and once I got to be nine or ten years old I got hooked on science fiction and devoured books by H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. As I grew older so did my taste in books. I read constantly.

I remember my mom would get mad at me because I spent my lunch money on books at the Scholastic Bookstore at school.

Once in Jr. high and high school and also working after school I bought a steady stream of books of all genres. I’ve never stopped reading.

When I spotted Rolife’s DIV Miniature House Corner Bookstore I just had to have it. Rolife was kind enough to send me a review sample.

The kit reminds me of the many mom and pop bookstores I’ve frequented over the years. Such fond memories.

I'm excited to be building the Corner Bookstore.  It is very much a 'me' project.  I want it to be perfect-so I'm taking my time to finish it.  I plan on placing it among my library of books.  That way I can visit my favorite bookstore anytime I like.

The Corner Bookstore kit comes in a slip-case, flip-lid box. Numbered part sheets, numbered part bags, stickers, paper cutouts, transparent sheets, tubing, tape, eyelets, a grid sheet, electrical components, glue strips and other goodies are easy to identify and correspond to the numbers in the simple to follow instruction manual.

Tweezers comes with the kit. I recommend also having a flat head screwdriver to pop-out pre-cut pieces, an Xacto knife, glue, a pair of scissors and a good dose of patience and perseverance.

I just started the kit build and I estimate a good solid two to three days of work to complete it. I plan on taking my time, striving for few mistakes and once finished displaying the Corner Bookstore among my mancave’s books.

This kit is made for those 14 years old or older.

Having previously built Rolife’s Cathy’s Flower House and describing its external and internal components I’d thought I’d try a different review approach with the Corner Bookstore kit.

As a retired graphic designer and marketing professional and later a teacher of the same I wanted to examine just what went into the creation of the Corner Bookstore miniature.

I’ll start with the packaging.

The Corner Bookstore components come packaged in a sealed, rectangular box made of heavy-gauge cardboard, die-cut and folded to make a sturdy flip-lid, side-insert box that holds securely the inner components.

A full, paper slip-cover secures the box. The slip cover has a large color photo of the completed Corner Bookstore on its cover with small photos on its sides and back. On the back are product specs.

Inside the box are the various color-coded, numbered and Ziploc poly-bagged, plastic, wooden and metal parts and objects.

A material sheet, a part sheet, full-color instruction manuals, components, wooden sheets with laser cutout parts, plastic accessories-such as room decor (pots, plants, etc.), individual cut-out parts, sticker sheets, paper cut-outs and so forth I mentioned previously fill the box.

Each and every component is carefully designed paying particular attention to textures and color, packaging, individual part design, assembly and ease of assembly.

Cut-out parts are easily detached from the various wooden slats with little or no edge clean-up. Parts fit together tightly and being made about an 1/8^th of an inch thick and the parts are durable enough not to break or splinter. Part tabs pop into place.

With smaller parts you just have to take your time assembling them. This is where the tweezers come in handy. Adhesives strips, clear pieces, textured components, etc. fit and work perfectly.

When I examine the entire package and imagine the 
amount of talent, design expertise (by Robotime: https://www.robotimeonline.com), manual and mechanical construction and assembly of the various parts and packaging I am amazed that the cost of the product is as affordable as it is.

It took a tremendous amount of effort, coordination and cooperation to assemble the Corner Bookstore kit. I am impressed.

If you go online and follow the link: https://www.rolifeonline.com/products/rolife-corner-bookstore-diy-miniature-house-kit-dg164, it will take you to Rolife’s Corner Bookstore page where you can view a gallery of photos of the interior and exterior of the Corner Bookstore. There is also an assembly video and lots of information about the Corner Bookstore.

I suggest you look at the other merchandise on the Rolife website: https://www.rolifeonline.com/

I can’t wait to finish my Corner Bookstore kit and show it off to my family and friends. It’s an amazing miniature, packed with lots of detail, color, clever design and little goodies to look at.

Psalms 34:4 - I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.