Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Community Celebration in Peru

Recently, a team of Googlers traveled to Peru and celebrated the winner (and community) of the Google International Model Your Town Competition. Jorge De Albertis of Lima won through a process where people all over the world voted for one of five finalists. His ability to win so many votes was a testament to the power of a community coming together to support Jorge’s efforts. His contribution creating 3D models of many of the historical buildings in the Barranco District of Lima has garnered a lot of attention in his country, and worldwide.

There were four majors parts to the celebration:

1. As part of the winning prize, Google gave a donation to a public school of Jorge’s choice. Jorge talked to the students and staff at a ceremony in the school’s courtyard, and we presented a large check to IE 7053 Reino De Espana Public School. Googlers helped students with a hands-on paper 3D modeling project, where they constructed models of the buildings Jorge submitted for the competition. The school graciously hosted a celebration for Jorge and Google, which included a welcome by student marching bands, traditional Peruvian dances, ballerinas, theater acts, singing, and a poetry jam.


Click here to see more photos from the events.

2. Jorge and Google hosted a series of tech talks to over 80 design and architecture students and faculty at the University of Lima, explaining how others can get involved with modeling their communities. Demos were presented on Jorge’s project, SketchUp, Map Maker, and Building Maker. Watch a video of an interview of Jorge at the University of Lima.


3. The Latin America International Film Festival had a looping video of Jorge’s work running throughout the week.

4. Google held a celebration in Jorge’s honor at Picas, which was attended by designers, architects, educators, tourism officials, and the general Lima community. The fun-filled event had demo stations where people could learn more about Google Earth, Map Maker, Building Maker, and Google SketchUp. The band, Colectivo Circo played to a packed house. Jorge received a plaque and spoke to the community about his efforts. We are thrilled to have visited Jorge and to have met many people in the Lima community. Congratulations, Jorge!

Some Things Just Don't Work Out

Remember the project I told you I was working on with these?

Well, the project just didn't work.....

In fact it was a big ole stinking mess!  I am not going to tell you what it was, because I might try it again, differently someday.

Anyway, I did create some fun things with the burlap coffee bags.
They are for sale at Lavender Hill Studio.
Welcome Home,
Penny
p.s.  We have 7 bloggers coming to the brunch so far!  For all of you that are coming.  I will send an email out Oct 1st with my address, Map Quest directions and my phone number.  So if your email is not in your profile, you are going to need to email me.

Fabric Giveaway From Me to You

I don't do a whole lot of giveaways here on The Cottage Home. So, today I'm changing it up a bit and I've got a little giveaway from me to you.  It's not much, but just a little token of my appreciation to all of The Cottage Home loyal readers.  I love your emails, your comments, and you seriously make blogging such an amazing experience for me.

So, enough with the touchy-feely stuff and onto the giveaway.  Today you have a choice of two 5 yard fabric bundles.  You can choose from these two fabric lines Art Gallery "Sugar" or David Walker "Robots".  If you are the winner, I will be sending you 1 yard cuts of each of the 5 prints from whatever line you choose - that's 5 yards total!

Here are your two bundle choices:

Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics "Sugar":



David Walker for Free Spirit Fabrics "Robots":



So you can enter this giveaway three times (three chances to win), here's how:

1. Leave a comment (with your email address) and let me know which bundle you would like and what you might make.

2. Become a follower and let me know you're following.  If you are already a follower (thank you), comment and simply let me know.

3. "Like" The Cottage Mama" on facebook.  Click here to become a fan.  Come back and leave a comment to let me know you're a fan.

This giveaway will be open for the next week and will close next Tuesday, September 7th at midnight (US Central Standard Time).  I will use random.org to select the winner.

Again, I want to thank you all so, so much for reading my little blog.  It hasn't even been a year yet that I started The Cottage Home, but I feel like I've known some of you for much longer. 

Have a great day!

my craft room

If it can even really be called that right now...


Clearly not a lot of crafting is taking place in there at the moment. Needless to say, I have been a little distracted with other things and it more or less became a good dumping ground for things I needed to get out of my kitchen. Now we are having it painted, so everything is stacked in the center of the room and I will have some serious organizing to do when it is all over...


I have this built in desk in the corner of the craft room and I have been trying to decide if I should paint it black or gray or some color... can't quite decide... What do you think? As always, I love to hear your suggestions!


Hope you don't mind me sharing my clutter. I am hoping now that I have posted these pictures, I will get my self motivated to clean it all up and have some fantastic "after" pictures to show for.

go jump in the lake

over the weekend billy and i headed over to historic grant park to the 8th annual summer shade festival.  it was a gorgeous day and we were loving the slightly cooler weather.  the highlight of my day was getting to see the booth belonging to the local art company “go jump in the lake.” 

imagei’ve used their rustic signs in the past and have always loved them.  most recently i used one of their “lake” signs in a model home’s nursery.

DSC06592DSC06584 DSC06585

{images – charm home}

all of their signs are hand crafted and made to look like they’ve been exposed to the elements for years. 

lake 1

their signs with quotes on them are my fave.

         

lake 2

lake 3

i loved the wall of local atlanta neighborhood signs too.  it really reminded me how many great historic neighborhoods atlanta has.

lake 4

if you get a chance check out their website or purchase a sign from their etsy shop.

BACK TO LIFE .......... BACK TO REALITY !! ..........

Back from our jolly 'ole hols, it's back to the reality of the mundane things in life !! For the next few posts, I shall bore the pants off of you all with loads of photographs of our wonderful holiday in Tuscany.

We began in Viareggio, which is a lovely seaside town with a wonderful beach and a great base for travelling to much of the Tuscan countryside.

The lovely Michael of Spice of Life told me of a wonderful restaurant called La Chiesina, in Viareggio. On his recommendation, we went and had the most wonderful evening........... three times !! It is in what was a little church, has the most wonderful atmosphere and is packed to the rafters. Some had pizza, but I had the most delicious lobster ravioli, amongst other things. Michael is a great traveller and is a mine of information and such a lovely guy. Go over and see him and read about his travels. Thanks so much Michael for the brilliant suggestion of La Chiesina. We all loved it as much as you said we would.



Next, we explored the most beautiful and haunting town of Lucca. Everywhere that you look is a photo opportunity. I have spared you ALL of the hundreds that I took and have just given you a little taster !!


Shutters absolutely everywhere ..........









Iron verandas ..........

Street lamps galore ..........


Beautiful little architectural details ..........





Charming little alleyways ..........






Views to die for ..........





Balconies of flowers ..........




Tiny but beautiful little roof gardens ..........
















Well, there is just a tiny taste of our holiday and you can be sure that you will be seeing some more over the coming posts !!!!
I shall be over to see you all just as soon as I've finished the ironing !!!!






Jackie









































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