Come to draw, boys! 5 / 孩子們來畫畫吧！5

男孩們很喜歡松崗達英先生寫的「我是小恐龍」，我覺得我們可以用這本書來點變化。

Boys are fascinated by I Am a Little Dinosaur written by Mazuoka Tatsuhide. I am inspired to make use of the book in our art class today.

        我讓楷維選了他最有興趣的一張圖。接下來我們就要做立體版了！

   Kai is asked to pick an image that interests him the most. Our task is to create its 3-D version. 

        光是背景就花上我一個小時繪製。

   It takes me an hour to draw merely the background. 

        因為松崗先生的風格很細膩，所以我們三人費了很大的功夫著色。

   Because Mr. Tatsuhide has a very fine style, we three make great effort to color the picture. 

        光是底圖本身就繽紛到不行。

   The background is extremely colorful. 

        午休時間楷維一心想要進入第二階段的立體圖，睡午覺時不斷起床看我準備好了沒有，第一次發現我還在休息，很失望地跑回家躺回床上嘴邊碎碎念：汪達姨不是說只要我醒來，她隨時都會準備好嗎？第二度來探班時，我剛好要開房間門，他也從外面開，我們看到彼此的第一句話是：你為什麼要嚇我？

   Kai is more than eager to make the 3-D dinosaur, but we make it a rule to take the noon break first. During his nap, he can't help getting up to check on me. The first time he comes only to find me sleeping, he goes back to the bed murmuring in disappointment: Didn't Auntie Wanda say that she's always ready whenever I wake up? When he comes around the second time, I happen to open the door from the inside while he turns the knob on the outside. We both blurt out: You scared me! 

        楷維如願以償畫到恐龍！

   Kai gets to draw the dinosaur of his dreams! 

        我們的恐龍樂園很有熱帶地區的感覺喔！

   Our dinosaur paradise has the colorfulness of the tropical zone! 

        挑戰完一層的立體圖之後，我們要試看看兩層的作品，於是我借用妮娜克斯福的想法來做練習。

   After the basic challenge, we decide to try more complicated 3-D works. We would like to borrow Nina Cosford's idea and then apply it to other picture books. 

        我先準備好三層圖片。

   I have to prepare three pictures that represent three layers first. 

        上色小王子再度出場！

   The color prince finally gets down to work! 

        油性蠟筆和水彩混用的效果不賴，所以我請楷維用兩種媒材。。

   The texture of oil pastel and watercolors mixed together is quite striking, so I make Kai use both media. 

        等水彩乾之際來吃個百香果。

   Our snack today is passion fruit! 

        進入下一堂美術課之前我們要用力期待！

   We'll live with anticipation before our next art class comes!

Come to draw, boys! 4 / 孩子們來畫畫吧！4

這週思維哥哥有整天的夏令營要上，楷維卻賦閒在家，意思就是我們倆又會玩在一起。一早我忙著研究做得亂七八糟的Illustrator檔案，小子已經坐在我旁邊等畫畫，這樣應該是說他很喜歡畫圖吧！

This week Von has two summer camps to go to while Kai is again free. That means we two will hang out together. In the morning while I am busy trying to figure out how to fix my messy Illustrator files, Kai has finished his breakfast and shown up for class. I guess he must enjoy our art lessons a lot. 

        畫畫課可以反映大人和小孩的喜好，有時孩子們順著我，但有些時候我讓他們選想畫的角色，男孩們教了我很多我沒聽過的玩意，今天的主角是蛇眼。

   Our art class reflects the different preferences of adults and children. Sometimes the kids follow my lead while other times I let them choose their favorite characters. In fact, the boys have taught me so much; for example, before today, I had never heard of Snake Eyes. 

        用楷維隨意彩繪的廢紙來剪貼爬行的蛇效果挺好的。

   I use Kai's colored scrap paper to cut crawling snakes, which look quite good. 

        翻過來就是帥氣的蛇眼！

   Turn the page, and the dashing Snake Eyes is right there in front of our eyes. 

        上完專屬的美術課，楷維不想回家，於是和我一起研究我很沉迷的印刷技術。

   After his one-man art class, Kai doesn't want to go home, so we work on the printing skills that have fascinated me lately. 

        楷維的西瓜色調很吸引人。

   The color schemes of Kai's watermelon are very charming. 

        我們用不同的紙材下去印，效果都不一樣。

   We use various kinds of paper to print. The effect differs, which excites us the moment we tear off the paper. 

        印刷就像人與人的關係，同樣的兩張紙碰在一起不一定會有出色的效果，而且還有可能黏住，反而是我剛開始沒看好的紙居然有意外的效果。

   The relationships between two pieces of paper in printing are the same as human relationships. The same kind of paper might not work. Instead, the sheets might be stuck to each other. However, paper which I didn't expect to work brings amazing surprises. 

        這個肌理實在太神奇了，使得我忍不住跟之後打電話來的貝琳分享！

   The texture is so miraculous that I can't help sharing it with Bei-lin, who happens to be the first person I talk to after the experiment. 

Paper 2 / 紙的饗宴 2

昨天回憶倫敦GF Smith的紙品，雖然台北找不到類似的紙，不過我們有別款令人驚艷的產品。前兩週托小蕙的福，可以去長春棉紙藝術中心大採購，真不是普通的幸福。

Yesterday I was reminiscing paper of GF Smith in London. Though I haven't found equally good paper of the same kind in Taipei yet, we do have other amazing choices. Thanks to Hui, I could go on a very wild shopping spree for free in Ever Prosperous two weeks ago. I must have accumulated thousands of brownie points to deserve this. 

        為了湊滿贈送的金額，我們兩個挑紙挑到脫水，店方服務態度非常優良，讓我們倍受感動。

   To buy as much as the money's worth, we selected so many kinds of paper that we came close to taking everything in the shop home. The ladies were really nice, which made us feel like going back there in the future. 

        上帝和大家都把我工具準備好，接下來就看我如何使用，這才是最大的挑戰啊！

   God and everyone around me have prepared the tools I need for me. It's my turn to put them to good use. To be honest, that's the biggest challenge! 

Unique wedding gift / 特別的結婚禮物

我的部落格查詢度最高的是關於結婚禮物，因為如此我不禁想我要的禮物，不過老實說，我要是遇到很好的人且結得了婚，根本不想要任何禮物。但從賓客的角度，怎麼樣我都要獻上祝福。

One of the most popular posts on my blog is about wedding gifts. Because of that, I can't help thinking about what kind of gift I'd like to have, but the truth is, if I am lucky enough to run into a very good person and get married, that will be a perfect gift for me. That said, I still want to send my best wishes as a guest and friend when it comes to others' weddings. 

        蘇蘇和另一半都喜歡慢跑，所以這次的婚禮主題很清楚明瞭。

   Susu and her other half are into jogging, which thus becomes the theme of their wedding gift.

        星星和太陽都感受到他們的喜悅！

   Stars and the sun feel their joy of love! 

        今天瞥了電視節目之際，記者問福山雅治想不想結婚當爸爸，他用親民的表情說：我每天都期待這件事發生。我忍不住微笑了一下，心想真好，有人和我有一樣的想法。不過在那發生之前，我要感受別人結婚生小孩的開心，這世界對我來說是開闊的。

   When I glimpse at the TV news today, the show host asks the famous Japanese star Fukuyama Masaharu in the interview if he feels like getting married and being a father. He answers with a positive look on his face saying: I am looking forward to that every day. I can't help smiling to myself thinking, "How nice. At least there's someone out there feeling the way I do." But before that happens, I want to feel others' joy of finding their beloved ones and having children. The happiness in this world always opens up its arms for me. 

Threesome 2 / 三個人 2

前幾天和爸爸媽媽去武陵農場，早上捕捉到令人醉心的陽光。

I  traveled with my parents to Wuling Farm a few days ago. This is the intoxicating sunlight I capture with my camera.

        台灣的山脈太迷人，回家之後怎麼樣都要記錄我腦海中的美景。

   The mountains in Taiwan are so magnificent. I can't do without recording the awesome images in my mind after the trip. 

        這是三個人的日出版，送給剛生小嬰兒的娜娜。

   This is the sunlight version of Threesome, part II, for my friend Nana, who just gave birth to her dearest son. 

Come to draw, boys! 3 / 孩子們來畫畫吧！3

一早楷維就問何時可以過來上課，我吸地的時候他就坐在最愛的廁所門口等待。

In the morning Kai can't wait to have art class after breakfast. While I am vacuuming the floor, he keeps me company sitting in front of the bathroom. 

        今天我們要做摺疊書叫「帶恐龍去散步」。

   Today we are making accordion books titled I Take My Dinosaur for a Walk. 

        我們利用壓克力塗在紙上，趁紙未乾之前趕緊轉印到小書上，所以我最常說的一句話是：很緊急喔！

   We color a separate piece of paper with acrylics and press it onto the book while the paint is wet, so the boys love to parrot me, "It's U-R-G-E-N-T!"

        小書的背面是各種天氣，從頭到尾分別是晴天、起霧天、星空和雨天，楷維的配色用得真好。

   On the back of the book are four kinds of weather in which we take walks. From the top to the bottom are sunny days, misty days, starry nights and rainy days. Kai uses color schemes really well.  

        為了幫楷維寫文字，我問他在不同天氣散步有什麼感覺，他的官方答案總是：很涼很舒服。我只好自由發揮。

   To write for Kai, I ask him how he feels about taking a walk in different weather. He has only one official answer: It's cool and comfy. Looks like I have to turn to myself for help. 

        把回收的彩帶拿來綁一綁，多麼美麗的小禮物！

   We make use of the recycled ribbon and turn the book into a wonderful gift. 

        我可愛的小學生！

   My cute young student! 

        哥哥的作品很明亮，而且他會寫國字喔！

   Kai's color tones are bright, and he knows how to write Chinese characters!