Your Eyes Won't Believe What Your Hands Have Done: Kids Version

A few weeks ago I went into AC Moore (it's like a Michael's) with the sole intent of buying one calligraphy pen and nothing else. I DID buy just one pen, but I failed on the nothing else bit. I had a fifty percent off coupon, and they had a Spirograph set . I'm sure you can do the math. I remember we had this when I was little, and how awesome I thought it was. Now that I know it was invented by a mathematician and the thought and ingenuity that went into it, I think it's even more awesome.

Anyway--does this bring back any memories for any of you?

 

It was a little tricky to get used to (I remember it being super simple) as you have to keep the wheel pressed just so against the ring. But once you get the hang of it, it's like anything else. There's a little guidebook that comes with it that tells you what to do to create certain designs.

I was annoyed that my neon gel pens aren't compatible with this as I had visions of neon ink on a black background and something totally flower-powery. But then I moved on to combining line work with a spiro base and occupied myself for way too long with something sold in toy stores.

Same design, but one is plain and the other is decorated a la moi.

I love the difference! Like those quilt blocks that are constructed the same but can look entirely different depending on fabric choice.

The entire thing is fairly soothing. And the best part is that I start with a nice symmetrical base, so even if my lines aren't perfect the shell is.

If you are sitting there thinking "Did I just really read a blog post written by a grown-a$$ woman about a child's toy from the sixties?" I can assure you that yes, you did. And if you come back in a few days, I'll show you my new quilting toys that are kind of the adult version of a spirograph.