Creative

Original stories, songs, poems, and other creative pieces.

A Self-Publishing Experiment: Jake Hill

by RDavis | Creative

Last week I talked about the lack of equality in the presentation of various art forms to the public. I find it particularly troubling that writers have to jump through so many hoops to just have people read their writing.

So I am trying an experiment using my platform, which reaches only a few hundred people at best. I have been writing because I feel compelled to in order to keep something in my inner spirit alive. I am resigned to the reality that very few people will read my writing.

Share Your March Snow Storm Story

by cgrotke | Creative

I’m sure you have a tale to tell.  We all do.  And everyone likes hearing how others made it through the disaster.  Share it with everyone below…

We lost power, and internet, and water, and eventually even dial-up phone service here at world headquarters. It was an amazing amount of snow. Probably over two feet where we are. Lots of downed tree branches and wires throughout the region.

“Rhymes with Orange” Cartoonist Hilary Price Speaks at Landmark College, March 14

by landmarkcollege | Creative

The Landmark College Academic Speaker Series welcomes syndicated cartoonist Hilary Price to campus on Tuesday, March 14 at 5 p.m.  in the Brooks M. O’Brien Auditorium, located in the Lewis Academic Building.

Price’s talk, entitled “How I Became a Cartoonist: A Study in Messing Up” will include insights about how she gets ideas for her award-winning comic strip “Rhymes with Orange”, makes comics and lives a creative life.

“Rhymes with Orange” debuted in 1995, making Price the youngest woman to have a syndicated comic strip. The strip is now done in collaboration with Canadian cartoonist Rina Piccolo. It appears in newspapers internationally, and has appeared in Parade Magazine, People, and in The Library of Congress.

Turkey Day

by MarkTwain© | Creative

Harry had flown all the way from New England to visit his son, Larry, and Larry’s girlfriend, Charity. Today, Harry left his walker in the narrow hotel  room, barely wide enough to get past the bed if you wanted to look out the window or use the small sink. The walker would have been easier on the street, but hard to bring down the four flights. There was no elevator, the historic building was still as it had been during the gold rush of ’06. 

They were in the University District of this West Coast City, somewhat reminiscent of Portland, but bigger. Today was Thanksgiving, the street devoid of the usual crowd of students. Even the Vietnamese, Bubble-Tea places were closed. They had just emerged from the vegetarian Vietnamese buffet about a mile from Harry’s hotel, which fortunately was open today. 

Harry made good time with the help of his solid hickory cane. He enjoyed getting ahead of his progeny and progeny’s significant other in their 20’s. When Harry had gotten about 30 feet ahead so it was safe to talk privately, Larry said to Charity: 

Melany Kahn on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Creative

Melany Kahn’s passion for foraging led her to write “Mason Goes Mushrooming,” a new book for children, with illustrations by Ellen Korbonski, and it’s just been published by our local publisher Green Writers Press.

Tune in to hear some great stories of Melany’s early years horseback riding overland in West Bratt, being a family mediator in town…….and wild foraging in the woods!

Beginners: Get Started! Fundamentals of Woodworking, May 20-22

by HatchSpace | Creative

Have you been wanting to get started with woodworking as a hobby or side business? Take the first step at HatchSpace! We have a terrific beginners intensive course starting on Friday evening of this week, our Fundamentals of Woodworking class with member and RISD graduate Martin Simpson.

This introductory course is designed to give beginner students an overview of the safe use of some of the most common machines and hand tools used in woodworking.

Making Flower Presses with Tom Bodett

by HatchSpace | Creative

Join writer, humorist and furniture maker Tom Bodett for a fun, collaborative workshop making flower presses.

Tom has designed a workshop format in which participants get to practice their woodworking tool skills by using them in a repetitive fashion. Together, the workshop participants will make twenty 5 1/2″ x 11″ flower presses. Each participant will take home 2 presses – just in time for spring and summer blooms.

Explore Traditional Japanese Kumiko

by HatchSpace | Creative

Join us at HatchSpace to explore this fascinating technique!

Kumiko is the Japanese technique of assembling wooden pieces to form patterns, without the use of nails or glue. The patterns range from very simple to very intricate. Kumiko panels can be used decoratively, to make lamps or screens and more.

Small World

by tomaidh | Creative

It was a year like this one: very little snow in New England. All the local ski areas were hurting.

The Laurentians to our north, however, had plenty of snow.

Mt. Tremblant, 90 miles northwest of Montreal, was offering a ski week package and I decided to take advantage of it.

Woodworking Classes for Intermediate Woodworkers

by HatchSpace | Creative

There are a few openings in HatchSpace’s upcoming classes for advanced beginner and intermediate woodworkers.

Fundamentals of Cabinet Making – begins April 5.  Build a hanging wall cabinet and learn about doors, drawers, frame and panel construction, hinge placement, mortising and more!  Details and registration here: https://www.hatchspace.org/event-4721217.

Woodworking for Women

by HatchSpace | Creative

Master teacher and woodworker, Gail Grycel, is offering 3 Woodworking for Women classes this spring at HatchSpace.

Beginning Woodworking for Women
Learn basic woodworking skills in a safe and supportive environment. This class is designed for anyone who has had little or no experience working with wood or tools, or who wants a refresher.
2 groups offered. Each group meets for 8 sessions.

Make a Pivot Top Box

by HatchSpace | Creative

Only 2 spaces left in this fun class – Wednesday March 9, 1 – 5 pm . This project offers infinite design possibilities and is a fun and quick to make, using the bandsaw and drill press.  Register now at https://www.hatchspace.org/event-4715001 

Make Something Beautiful with Wood

by HatchSpace | Creative

March at HatchSpace: Learn to use jigs for precision cuts, make a clever box or a gourmet rolling pin, or have fun with turning green wood!

Two Fun Projects
Pivot Top Box: A small project with infinite design possibilities! This great place for small keepsakes is fun and quick to make. The class will cover the safe and thoughtful use of the band saw and the drill press.

Wooden Box Making Class

by HatchSpace | Creative

One Space Left!

No woodworking experience required

Come for some tablesaw practice, leave with an elegant little box!

In this workshop we will use the tablesaw to cut dados, rabbets, and some raised panels, and the router table for a little bit of detailing.

Digital Woodworking Classes at HatchSpace

by HatchSpace | Creative

HatchSpace is offering 2 classes this month that introduce digital design and production for woodworking.  With “CNC” designs are created on a computer, which then drives a router to cut out the design on wood or other materials.

Make a Stool with CNC and Fusion 360

In this intro class to digital design and manufacturing, we will break into Fusion 360, a very powerful CAD software. You will be introduced to the basic user interface and be led through the steps of creating a 3D model of a stool. During the design process we will focus on designing the piece for cutting out on a ShopBot CNC Router. You will learn the safety and set up of the CNC router and prepare the machine and a file for a cut. Once cut, we will use a router table, sander, pocket hole jig to finish and assemble the stool.

How A Book Led Me To Release My First Album

by cgrotke | Creative
2022 cover

I released an album.

“But Chris, you aren’t a musician and don’t play in any bands.” Well, yes, technically that’s true, but let me explain.

Last year I read a book called “Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions 1983 and 1984” by Duane Tudahl. The author goes day by day through studio logs and band member’s recollections and notes of every recording, rehearsal, and performance by Prince and his band the Revolution.