Reviews and Blog Posts: DIY

Luckily, the tools to actually make your own games become readily available to everyday Janes and Joes (or Janes and Joes Who Don't Want to Learn How to Code, at least). If you (or maybe someone you know who loves games, is home for the summer, and is just dying​ of boredom) are interested in making your own video games, there are lots of (FREE!) ways you can get started. These first options are great for lower-res, 2D games like platformers and puzzles, and are great options if you're just getting started:

On Remembrance Day in Great Britain, the Queen lays a wreath made of poppies on the Cenotaph, a monument in Whitehall that commemorates all the dead in all wars in which British soldiers have fought.

This day of remembrance coincides with similar ceremonies in the United States, Canada, France and all British Commonwealths. Americans call it Veteran's Day.

If the phrase "Art imitates life" is true for cinema as well, it means that our film represents our culture and society at the time the film is made. It might then follow that horror films represent our nightmares or our worst fears.

The posters and lobby cards for these films are as imaginative and chilling as the films themselves. Highly sought after by collectors, in good condition these posters can fetch upwards of five-ten thousand dollars. And much more.

There are lots of crafters experimenting with sculptural works that utilize felted sheep's wool. Felting is the process of agitating animal fibers through heat, moisture and motion to create a firm fabric. If you've ever washed a wool sweater accidentally only to remove it from the washing machine stiff and shrunken, then you know the end product of felting.

 If you've seen the documentary Grey Gardens, then you know there are several scenes that revolve around food. And if you count scenes of raccoons in the attic, there are even more. 

Tonight, we've got two films: No Country for Old Men at 6 p.m. in the B2 Conference Center. And for KnitFlix, we're showing an end of the school year special -- The Breakfast Club. This film starts at 5:30 p.m., Level 1 Fresh City Lounge.

On Thursday, Craftinatrix Trish Tilly turns a few materials and supplies into gorgeous, modern Pom Pom Flowers. We've saved a seat for Elvis and we're pretty sure he won't make it, so sign up and join Trish for this fun DIY.

"This is the best thing to wear for today, you understand. Because I don't like women in skirts and the best thing is to wear pantyhose or some pants under a short skirt, I think. Then you have the pants under the skirt and then you can pull the stockings up over the pants underneath the skirt. And you can always take off the skirt and use it as a cape. So I think this is the best costume for today." -- Little Edie, Grey Gardens

The mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the mind to happy repose.  ~George Gissing

Last Saturday, the Fresh City Lounge at Central Library was buzzing with crafters on a mission -- to make some adorable candles and then create handpainted tags to go with them. One of the most interesting elements of the class is that the delicate paintings were made using steeped teas as the medium. And even though crafters were not relaxing over a cup of tea, a sense of tea-induced tranquility seemed to infuse the students.

Jani Fellows was there at the beginning of our knitting program. In the fall of 2004, before Fresh City Life had a name, when it was still just a pilot project, I put together our first knitting class to see what kind of response we'd get for fibers workshops. Thirty-five people came the first night and Jani was a bit surprised by the turn-out. 

Denverites maybe never had it so good. Fresh City Life is offering up new and retooled events for you this year. In successive posts, I'll let you in on some of the cool stuff that is booked and some of the things that are in the works -- but not fully-baked (just yet).