London artisans keep globe-making alive

When I was in elementary school, about 25 years ago, a huge globe was one of the most coveted and costly graduation gifts. But in this age of GPS, Google Maps and Google Earth, few clamor over traditional globes anymore, and the art of globe making has fallen by the wayside. In fact only two workshops in the world still make handcrafted globes; one of them is Bellerby & Co. Globemakers, a studio based in London.

Founded by Peter Bellerby seven years ago, the idea came about when the former bowling alley boss struggled to find a well crafted globe for his father's 80th birthday present. Faced with a choice between a crappy made globe or a pricey vintage type, he decided to spend some time and money making his own. It turned out to be quite a bit more challenging, time consuming and more expensive than he thought. Eventually, it led to the creation of his own globe-making studio.

Now, the 49-year-old and his team of passionate artisans create bespoke globes which are popular with celebrities. Embedded below is a six-minute clip that documents the intricate processes that go into making these wonderful objects, as well as a brief interview with the Globemaker himself.

[h/t: My Modern Met]

Comments

The Adorable Sculptures of Yen Yen Lo

These images are from a series of wall sculptures created by Yen Yen Lo . Here you can see her intricately textured ceramic pieces, looking downright adorable. Yen Yen Lo's eye for the unique and whimsical is delightful. Apparently they are not intended for kids under 16. Fifteen-year-olds cannot be trusted with fragile stuff. Get them a Funko Pop instead.

Biking to School with Kids

I love biking to school with my children. It's a great way to start the day, and it's a lot of fun. Both of them have their own bicycles, meaning I'm basically herding two slightly erratic cyclists. My kids' two-wheelers are quite new and pretty decent. Mine is more like a rusty ten-speeder with a penchant for chain slippage. It's a cheap, rickety bike from China but it's my vehicle of choice for running errands, and honestly, it gets the job done. My youngest is still working on his steering. My eldest, on the other hand, is all about speed. She thinks she's in the Tour de France, so I'm constantly shouting, "Slow down!" Of course there are moments of near disaster. But you know what? Despite the mayhem, there's something undeniably satisfying about arriving at our destination, slightly out of breath, on our bikes. There are also moments of pure, unadulterated joy – like when we are pedaling along the street, the sun on our faces, the wind...

A story about a duck who likes being different

The hilarious "Duckie Duck" by Kate Toms is one of my recommendations for kids learning to read. My son got this book from his aunt in Calgary a few years ago and since then has become one of his favorites. First of all, this is not your average duck tale. This is a story about a fowl who, candidly, seems to have missed the memo on duck protocol. Most ducks quack, but Duckie whistles. Others love to swim, but not him — Duckie likes boat rides. While other water birds fly, he enjoys floating inside a hot air balloon. The rhyming text and delightful hand-stitched illustrations make the book visually appealing to children. So, if you're looking for a book to teach your quirky little kids to read, "Duckie Duck" is just perfect.

finding cain

Search This Blog