I’m a bit of an eclectic person, so having one category of recommendations will be impossible. I created a few categories of stuff.

Armchair Travel – (since very few of us will actually be going anywhere) I love to travel. I love to find the unique little nooks, tucked away places that only the locals may know about. My “go-to” source is Atlas Obscura. http://www.atlasobscura.com/

I’ve been a fan since its inception in 2009. Packed full of trips, experiences, oddities, and local folks and their stories, the curious, the weird, the fabulous. Other terrific armchair travel sites:

•  Since they’re currently closed and we miss them! National Parks Virtual Tours: https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/take-virtual-visit-national-…
• To plan your next adventure, Roadtrippers: https://roadtrippers.com/
• Instagram. Seriously. Where do you want to go? My favs are Hidden Scotland and Iceland Explore. But you go where you want to go.

Props- Among the many things I do for a living, I also design and build props. Eric Hart’s Prop Agenda is a wonderful resource. Filled with “how-tos”, product links, tips, and prop theater history. http://www.props.eric-hart.com/ It’s prop person’s rabbit hole of a website. More great resources for prop makers and makers in general:

• Fake N Bake – all things prop food. Just don’t eat it! Also has an historical food time line link. https://www.fakenbakeblog.com/ Look for Fake Food Friday!
• Make Magazine https://makezine.com/ and Make Community https://make.co/ All things maker! Crafts, technology, science, education, lots of maker projects in all categories.

Vintage Anything and Everything- “Ever get the feeling you’re living in the wrong time?” How To Be A Retronaut https://www.howtobearetronaut.com/ Just go there. Retronaut, https://retronaut.com/ a sub site, is filled with vintage images and information behind them.

Vintage Online architectural slavage. Yum:

• Old Good Things - https://ogtstore.com/
• Recycling the Past - https://www.recyclingthepast.com/
• Black Dog Salvage - https://shop.blackdogsalvage.com/

OR visit a salvage yard near you!

Vintage World:

• The Smithsonian Open Access Site - https://www.si.edu/openaccess download any one of the Smithsonian’s available images and freely share! Without asking!

Vintage packaging Jason Liebig collects packaging and labels. He has over 8600 pages on his flickr account. Don’t say I didn’t warn you… https://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonliebigstuff/

Vintage cooking – PIES https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/73869/8-forgotten-pie-recipes-we-sh… Because PIE! I love pie. Out of this list, Buttermilk Chess Pie is something

I’ve made 100 times. It’s killer. But please- learn to make your own pie crust. It’s sooo much better. And even I can do it!

Entertainments:

Movies I can watch over and over:

• The Thin Man, (1934) and all of the sequels. Myrna Loy and William Powell. Lots of sleuthing and alcoholic beverages. And Myrna Loy!!
• All About Eve (1950) Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Celeste Holm. Winner for Best Picture. Backstage drama and backstabbing!
• The Artist (2011) And lovely homage to the silent era of films. And the French guy is adorable.
• About Time (2013) I may have cried a little.
•  Gilda (1946) Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford. Great American film noir. You could make it a drinking game with the number of times Gilda says, “Johnny”… not that we have…but you could. Narrated by a dead guy.
• The African Queen (1952) Hepburn, Bogart, gin, big river, blowing up Nazis… need I say more?
• Sunset Blvd (1950) Gloria Swanson. I mean, come on!
• And pretty much this list: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/100-best-films-ever-hollywood-favorites-818512/item/all-eve-hollywoods-100-favorite-818428

Music I can listen to over and over:

• Talk about eclectic. This list became ridiculously long. So, I omitted it.

TV shows I can watch over and over:

• The Carol Burnett Show. The best variety show ever and will never be duplicated.
• The Mary Tyler Moore Show. “You’ve got spunk. I hate spunk!”
• The Dick Van Dyke Show.
• The Bob Newhart Show I’m sensing a trend….
• Mom. Alison Janney, right? Not just funny, but sometimes it left you a little melancholy. There often was a stabbing point that got you right in the heart.
• Friends
• The Twilight Zone (The universe where we currently reside)
• The West Wing (I wish we resided in that universe)

Good Books that became less than good movies:

• Where’d You Go, Bernadette? Really fun, engaging book. The movie? Not so much.
• Cloud Atlas Great book….TERRIBLE MOVIE. The attempt should have never been made.
• The Help I will get pushback on this one, but really, the book is much better.
• The Girl on The Train Ugh.
• Doubt – Okay it was a play, not a book. But the movie was terrible.
• The Goldfinch. Full disclosure, this is my wife, Jana’s addition. To quote her, “Even if I hadn’t read the beautiful book, it was a horrible movie. Broke my heart.” She’salmost always right. But don’t tell her I said that.

Art - You Can Too!

• Bob Ross and The Joy of Painting. https://www.youtube.com/user/BobRossInc Episodes are available on YouTube and they’re just great. Grab a paint brush and make happy little trees.
• Boarding All Rows. https://www.boardingallrows.com/ Learn to do lino cuts! Very meditative, and fun with sharp objects.

• White air-dry stone clay. Fun with sculpting! https://activaproducts.com/products/10-58-oz-of-white-premier-clay Sandable, carvable, paintable. I used it to make the rabbit heads for Edward Tulane and you can get it at Jane’s Artifacts.
• Sketchbook Skool https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sketchbook+skool Are you sitting in a coffee house, wishing you knew how to start a groovy sketch book so you could sketch that odd guy reading the paper? Here’s some tips and tricks! And just do it!

Curiosities and Uncategorized:

• Messy Nessy. Cabinet of curiosities. Hours of enjoyment. One of my favorite, all time sites. https://www.messynessychic.com/
• The Scale of the Universe http://htwins.net/scale2/ a little mind blowing.
• Chuck Lorre, the producer for many TV series including Mom, Big Bang Theory, Will & Grace, has a website with all of the vanity cards for every episode of every series. http://chucklorre.com/?s=5
• Cat Bounce. Seconds of enjoyment. https://cat-bounce.com/

Thanks for playing!

Music! Perhaps you've heard it once or twice? Our very own Company of Fools Production Assistant Chris Henderson drops the beat and practically gives you his very own mixtape for beating the quarantine blues. Here's what Chris is listening to right now!

1. Distraction Pieces- Scroobious Pip (2011)

Scroobius Pip is a UK native from Essex, England that has been creating innovative slam poetry and redefining British Hip-Hop for the better part of two decades. Pip found mainstream success in 2008 after a collaboration with Dan le Sac, a music producer and former HMV colleague of Pip’s, resulted in the critically acclaimed “Thou Shalt Always Kill.”

To date, Scroobious Pip has released three albums in collaboration with Dan le Sac, two solo albums, and two live performance albums. Scroobious Pip’s second solo album Distraction Pieces is an ode to the turmoil that arises when the self-aware becomes introspective or as Pip puts it: “That’s all the s*** that flies around my head and keeps me sleepless.”

2. The Book of Heavy Metal- Dream Evil (2004)

In 1999 Swedish producer Fredrik Nordström happened upon a chance meeting with a young guitarist by the name of Gus G from the band Firewind while on vacation in Greece. The two took a liking to each other and decided to work together to create a fantasy driven Power Metal band. And thus, Dream Evil was born.

Fredrick and Gus asked a few close friends to join the band, and until the first promotional photos were taken, the band had never been fully met. Dream Evil’s third studio album The Book of Heavy Metal is an adrenaline-fueled ride with searing vocals, galloping guitars, and driving drums that have a voice of their own.

3. Live at Pompeii- Pink Floyd (1972)

Pink Floyd, a band that needs no introduction, released Live at Pompeii in September of 1972. The film’s original cut is a full-length feature comprised of eight tracks and running approximately 60 minutes. The film has had subsequent releases in 1974 as a theatrical cut, 2002 as a DVD, and in 2016 as a 5.1 surround sound DVD and CD pair.

With the natural ambiance of Pompeii helping to elevate the eccentric and energetic performers, Live at Pompeii is rare gem that melds together light and sound to create a unique piece of art that is still unrivaled nearly 50 years later.

4. Appeal to Reason- Rise Against (2008)

Formed in 1999, Rise Against is a Melodic Hardcore Punk band originating from Chicago, Illinois. Rise Against is known mostly for their double time tempos, beautifully melodic guitars, and powerfully crafted lyrics. A few of the subjects that the ensemble tackle includes animal rights, economic injustice, homophobia, and modern warfare.

Rise Against’s 5th studio album Appeal to Reason is a shining example of just how orchestral punk music can sound when melodic guitars and dynamic drums are paired with choruses of harmonic backing vocals. Appeal to Reason is an emotional Tour de Force and a pleasure to listen to start to finish.

5. Stony Hill- Damian Marley (2017)

Son of legendary music and song writer Robert (Bob) Nesta Marley and Cindy Breakspeare, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley has released four solo albums to date and is the recipient of four Grammy Awards and one nomination. Damian Marley, while favoring a more contemporary Deejay style, has continued to push forward much of the movements that his father birthed decades earlier.

Stony Hill is an hour and fifteen-minute journey that forces one to confront their own shortcomings, examine the social constructs around them, and find a greater empathy and understanding for their fellow man.

As many of you know, part of what I do for Company of Fools and The Sun Valley Museum of Art is to schedule volunteers to help us during our events. Volunteers are what make our community go – round and since we’ve been asked to shelter at home, I thought I would share some of what I’ve been doing to volunteer for our community and to make art in my at-home down time.

1. SEW FACE MASKS

I’m not a great seamstress and my masks definitely look homemade compared to my more talented friends, however, they’re fairly easy to make (I know, I know, everyone says that!) and it makes me feel good to help out! Here’s a video on the efficacy of face masks:

https://khn.org/news/to-curb-coronavirus-whats-behind-the-wearing-of-a-…

If you’re interested in obtaining a “kit” for 25 masks ready to sew, please contact Barbara Knowles at [email protected].

How to Make Face Masks

· A video tutorial https://vimeo.com/400118073/8a7eb657ab
· Pattern for community mask: https://psjh.blob.core.windows.net/covid/2020%20PSJH_FACEMASK_COMMUNITY…
· Written Providence Guidelines https://psjh.blob.core.windows.net/covid/Instructions%20Community%20Mas…

Adjustable Nose Piece - The Providence pattern has been adapted to include an adjustable nose piece. Please refer to the Written Providence Guidelines to insert our adjustable nose piece after step 6.

· How to maintain a safe environment while making masks https://psjh.blob.core.windows.net/covid/2020-%20PSJH_FACEMASK_KIT%20In…

If you’ve tried to sew masks and you’re like who in the hell ever said this was easy to do?? (Dang DIYers! – in fact, I have PTSD from DIYers like Martha Stewart, etc. You should see my melting snowmen cookies. They look like they got in a bar brawl. But, I digress…) Watch this video for a little comic relief. I could TOTALLY relate to it! https://youtu.be/U4c5eo_3-y0

2. KNIT BABY HATS AND MITTENS

A lot of my friends and colleagues are due to have a baby in the next few months. I find knitting relaxing (unless I’m ripping out the pattern for the umpteenth time!) If what people say is true, there will be a baby boom within the next nine months, and maybe you’ll enjoy making this hat and mittens for your friends! Sweet Paprika Designs: First Winter Pattern by Elizabeth Sullivan

My favorite baby hat and mittens pattern can be purchased on Amazon in a book by called Knitting for Baby by by Melanie Falick (Author), Kristin Nicholas (Author), Ross Whitaker (Photographer). (Sorry, I don’t have a link to this!) This book has a lot of fun patterns. I’m addicted to making the baby hat and mittens in this book, and I’ve added snowflakes to the pattern to make it more appropriate for an Idaho snowy winter!

3. MAKE PAPER BOOKS

I took a book making class with the Sun Valley Museum of Art earlier this year from Angela Batchelor (https://angelabatchelorart.weebly.com/) and became completed obsessed with making paper books! Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas this year?!

With the limited supplies I had already at home, I’ve been making these books like a madwoman. Here’s a link to Angela’s Origami Wallet for a Book Cover and PantsAccordion Fold for Inside Book pages.

If all you can find is 12” x 12” paper for the book cover, which can easily be purchased at Jane’s Artifacts for curbside pickup locally (https://www.janesartifacts.com/) or Amazon.com, change pants accordion paper size 8” x 22”. You can also slip a ribbon through the book cover to make a tie for the book.

Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have any questions about any of these projects!

They enjoyment of these project can be improved with certain Broadway musical turned films going on in the background. Of course, you have to have already seen them a million times so you’re not distracted from your project. My favorite musicals turned into films while working on art projects are:

SOUTH PACIFIC Release date: March 19, 1958 (USA) Director: Joshua Logan Languages: English, French Awards: Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing

Available to rent on Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, Apple, VDUD and Direct TV!

SOUND OF MUSIC Release date: March 2, 1965 (New York) Director: Robert Wise Music composed by: Richard Rodgers, Irwin Kostal, Oscar Hammerstein II Setting: Salzburg

Available on Disney+ and to rent on Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, Apple, VDUD and more!

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Release date: November 3, 1971 (USA) Director: Norman Jewison Awards: Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, MORE Screenplay: Sholem Aleichem, Joseph Stein

Available to rent on Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, Apple, VDUD and Direct TV!

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Release date: August 15, 1973 (USA) Director: Norman Jewison Awards: BAFTA Award for Best Sound, David di Donatello for Best Foreign Film Producers: Norman Jewison, Robert Stigwood

Available to rent, purchase, or stream via subscription on VUDU, YouTube, Amazon.com, and iTunes Store.