My Life As A Magazine: The 90's

The 90's

Showing posts with label The 90's. Show all posts

Postage stamp collecting and collaging!

While doing some 'almost' Spring cleaning I came across my Stamp Gang Collecting kit that was a hobby of mine back in the 90's. It brought back some great memories of stamp collecting and attending stamp month. It has also inspired me now years later, to use postage stamps for my new craft love - collaging.

Below are some of my Stamp Gang Explorer monthly magazines from the 90's and my favourite Japanese collage books that incorporate postage stamps in collages and for making gifts and self-made zakka and stationery.

We don’t know where he came from.

He just showed up one night.

(What is that thing?)

He’s not an alien.

(What is he?)

We think he might be a ghost.

(Be serious.)

He wants to be friends with us.

He can’t hear, and he can’t talk.

He can read anything.

He takes letters, and he writes with them.

We’re the only ones who can see him.

That means he wants you on the team.

You have to promise never to tell anybody about Ghostwriter.

(Hey, cool.)

We’re the Ghostwriter Team.

We check out clues and solve mysteries.

He’s a ghost, and he writes to us.

Ghostwriter!

(Ghostwriter, what a trip.)

Growing up in the 90's I wanted to be on the Ghostwriter team! Ghostwriter was a children's television show aired between 1992-1995. The series revolved around a group of friends growing up in Brooklyn, New York who solved neighbourhood crimes and mysteries with the help of....Ghostwriter. You could only be on the team if you could see Ghostwriter, who can't be seen, put can write notes and leave messages- mostly using the computer, alphabet fridge magnets, road signs and writing on a bit of paper or notebook and only by manipulating whatever text and letters he can find and using them to form words and sentences.

The team included; Jamal Jenkins (first to see Ghostwriter) followed by singer Lenni Frazier (she was my fave), Alex Fernandez and his sister Gaby, budding filmmaker Tina and creative writer Rob Baker.

The first season is currently available on DVD, I have just finished watching my copy which includes some of my fave episodes;'Ghost Story' (THABTO badges ring a bell?)'Who burned MR Brinker's store? (starring the dad from 90's show Alf)and 'To the Light' - featuring character poet Double T!

Like most kids I did attempt to see if Ghostwriter was real by...trying to talk to him on my computer and I searched all the newsagents to get one of those cool American notebooks & a Ghostwrite necklace pen!

This post has a bit of a tumblr theme of cascading colourful pictures- ha ha!

1. Paper creative via Jemibook

2. Polkaros introduces me to another place to visit in Tokyo- Mejiro! Such a colourful Kawaii store with it's green tile walls and pink, blue white roof cover...ooh and chalkboard! Polkaros has a really creative eye when she takes her photographs.

3. Some of the amazing work by husmann/tschaeni found via Beci Orpin.

4. Muji & Lego team up to make.....paper lego!

5. One of my fave 90's teen cartoons- Daria

6. Love the CD cover art work for Cloud Nothings.

7. Like Lottie Loves, I too love this wooden character creations.

8. Collage journals are the best! This one by Scout Holiday.

9. I would like to get my hands on a copy of Misaki Kawai's Yeti Adventure Zine!

10. A red polka dot Gorman bicycle...need I say more, I will take the dog too!

11. Colourful product illustration by Emily Robertson.

Hope this brightens your day! xo

Like my Rankin/Bass Christmas classic collection there are a few other Christmas movies & TV shows that I just HAVE to view every year!

The animated 'The Nutcracker Prince' (1990) tells the famous tale of a boy called Hans who has been turned into a toy nutcracker by the Mouse King. The nutcracker needs to win the heart of a girl called Clara for the spell to be broken. This is the best 'Nutcracker' movie I have watched as it has a romantic Disney feel to it.

This 1987 TV version of the 'Little Match Girl' is very hard to come by. I watched it every year at Christmas in the 80's-90's. My nan had a copy of it on VHS, I would also watch it when she was minding me if I was sick during my primary school days. Love the bit where she makes a snow angel! I remember pretending to be sick sometimes, just so I could get the day off and watch it....shhh don't tell!

The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992)- MUST WATCH! I can never get sick of this. I love all versions of 'The Christmas Carol' but this is by far the best. I always cry at the 'Tiny Tim' part. Love the mice, especially the little jokes between narrators 'Gonzo & Rizzo'- "light the lamp not the rat, light the lamp not the rat"!!

I am a big fan of British comedy. My dad is from England so I have been educated well when it comes to British comedy shows. Love all of Mr Bean's episodes, it's something that you can laugh at over & over again. The Mr Bean Christmas episode is called 'Merry Christmas Mr Bean (1992)- lots of laughs as he messes up a department store, gets his girlfriend the wrong Christmas present (advertised picture of a ring....instead of the 'actual' ring) and when he gets the big Turkey stuck on his head.

Keeping up appearances- another British fave! My mum can be just like Hyacinth at times- she even does high teas like Hyacinth's 'candlelight suppers' & bosses my dad around (like Richard) about how & where to drive!

Vicar of Dibley-(1994-2007) ah! I love Dawn French and the crazy, weird and unique country folk of Dibley!

Home Alone 1 & 2 are classics everyone should own! It shows snowy America & New York at Christmas. I have always wanted to go to 'Duncan's Toy Chest' not sure if it actually exists though. It's sad they don't make movies like these now- love John Hughes movies.

The Santa Claus (1994)- Best movie that shows the North Pole! Magical family fun!

Bridget Jones's Diary- my fave movie/book of 2001- starring Colin Firth too in a Rudolph jumper- great romantic Christmas movie.

More romantic Christmas movies...

The Holiday (2006) I learnt what a 'meet Q' in movies are from watching 'The Holiday' (when the main character first meets their soulmate).

Love Actually (2003)

Every year my mum, sister & I have a 'Anne of Green Gables' (1985) movie marathon.

What are some of your Christmas movie or TV show faves?? Would love to hear!

One good reason not leave your TV screens during the ad breaks is that the Gobbledok is back! The Gobbledok is the Smith Chips mascot that became popular from a series of 'Gobbledok' adventure ads that played between the 1980's to mid 1990's. The Gobbledok was a pale brownish fury alien that looked across between a troll doll and Alf! He was addicted to Smith Chips....which made sense because he comes from the 'Potato Planet' Dok. Some of the Gobbledoks many adventures included; crashing his spaceship into a supermarket to steal chips, disguising himself as a guest in a suit at a party....to steal more chips, Hiding a truck full of Potatoes, stealing chips from a lounging couple or from a granny sleeping in her couch in front of the fire and moving in with a Potato farmer who teaches him the 'best way to eat a Smith's Chip'! Each ad would end with the Gobbledok munching on Smiths Chips saying his famous catchphrase "mmm chippies"!

The original Gobbledok was the brainchild of writer John Finklesen, while the famous Aussie Character was bought to life and designed by special effects director Warren Beaton (who lived in my small Blue Mountains hometown when I was at Primary School!). I remember on one special School occasion I got to meet the Gobbledok in ~~person~~ alien!

Due to it's once popularity it's no surprise that Smiths decided to bring back their much loved Aussie mascot icon. Once a puppet that resembled something from Jim Henson's; The Labyrinth and Dark Crystal- The Gobbledok as been given a 'new generation' reworking and has now gone CGI with one of the Gobbledok original adventures also getting a remake.

May 25th is the day for celebrating the rights and the responsibilities of being a Geek or Nerd! Some Geek rights include; the right to show of your geekiness, the right to hate sports, the right to not leave your room, the right to have only a small group of friends, the right to be out of style. While Geek responsibilities include; to save and protect geeky material, always give your opinion, attend every nerdy movie opening, take over the world! etc. Wikipedia defines Geek as being ' a peculiar or otherwise odd person, who is perceived to be overly obsessed with one or more things'. While nerd is a more of a stereotype term and is referred to someone who is 'a loner by peers, who avidly pursues intellectual activities'. The term Geek community has now grown to become more accepted in society hence the new term Geek Chic. Geek Chic is about embracing the stereotypically unpopular geek characteristics and likes. I'm am proud to say I'm a Geek Chic, so to mark this day of Geek pride, I'm going to share with you a 'few of my favourtie Geeky things'!

Big Bang Theory, where has this show been my whole life? It's characters summarises what it means to be a Geek! Sheldon Cooper epitomes what it means to be a nerd, he is obsessive compulsive, is a genius but doesn't understand basic society interactions. His room mate Leonard is the most normal of the bunch and dates Penny from across the hall. Howard Wolowitz is the nerdy womanizer who still lives at home with his Jewish mother- always love the pop-culture belt buckles he wears; a Nintendo controller. He always tends to wear loud, vintage 1960 outfits and tight turtlenecks. Rajesh is from India and is so shy with girls, he can't even speak when they are around. Each episode is filmed in Sheldon's apartment, the comic bookstore, the university or their walks up the flight of stairs leading to their apartment. The lift has been out of order since the first episode. This was due to a rocket that Leonard accidentally fired off!

Chuck is a spy action-comedy series, a geeky comedy version of James Bond. Chuck works as an computer whiz in the 'nerd herd' at the Buy More (electronics chain store) by day, then as a spy by night. The Nerd herd is the computer and electronics technical support division of the Buy More. The 'herders' include Chuck, his best bud since childhood Morgan, Anna Wu, Jeff and Lester.

Dr who is the sci-fi show I have grown up watching. My fave Doctors and Dr fashions have been; Tom Baker (Long block coloured scarf), Jon Pertwee (also fan of his role as Worzel Gummidge) David Tennant as the 10th Doctor, this is when the Doctor became a more snappy dresser, wearing vintage business suits with Chuck Taylor's. David Tennant was the most handsome of the bunch including the new 11th Doctor played by Matt Smith. Bringing on a new writer and director for the 11th Doctor series, you will see the Doctor as never seen before- more affectionate towards companions. I love the Dalecks too! they are meant to be scary, but when the roll about and yell 'Extermintae! Exterminate!' I can't help but laugh!

Freaks and Geeks was one of the first spawns of crass teen comedy writer Judd Apatow. It was a short series that aired between 1999-2000. The show centered on a 'Daria' like teen Lindsay and her nerdy brother Sam at high school in the 1980's. Their friends and acquaintances consisted of both freaks and Geeks.....obviously! The series featured a young James Franco and Seth Rogen.

My most loved geeky films include; Star Wars, The Matrix, Back to the Future, The Goonies, Juno (Michael Cera), Napoleon Dynamite and John Hughes classics; Revenge of the nerds, Weird Science, Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and Ferris Buellers Day off etc.

Japan Geek culture; like the Japanese 'Otaku' (Japan term for people who have obsessive interests.) I'm obsessed with many Japan related things like; retro gaming, Anime- fave being any of the Studio Ghibli collection, collecting toys (mainly from the 80's-90's), Blythe Dolls, comics and other movie collectibles. Some of my fave haunts in Japan was Osaka's Den Den town and Tokyo's Nakano Broadway.

Vintage Gaming; I still play and collect games and gaming units of Amiga, Sega Mega Drive, and Nintendo 64. My favourite gaming genre is Adventure point 'n' click. In the early 90's and even now (thanks to PC Dos emulators) I often play games from the Serria Discovery series; Eco Quest, Incredible machine, Peppers Adventures in time, Kings Quest. Lucas arts; Maniac Mansion, Day of the tentacle, Leisure Suit Larry, Monkey Island, Indiana Jones. My all time fave game has to be, The Adventures of Willy Beamish. I have played these games over and over again, and till this day. My no.1 modern console today is the Nintendo DS, their format is now known for it's new voluminous selection of 'point 'n' click adventures' such as; Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Runaway and Professor Layton...just to name a few.

My all time favourite geek has to be Family Matters; Steve Urkel. I would often treat family members to my impersonations of Urkel. I would even go as far as wearing jean pants with braces, pig snort and say "did I dooooo That' and call people my "macadamia nut".

This is a picture of me 'Geek Chic-ing' out.I have my Japan flannie on that I got from Uniqlo (in the guys section). The glasses are my hubbies (don't need glasses yet though. If i did I would get a Lisa Loeb pair!)

Hope you have all enjoyed some of my 'favourite Geeky things'. What are some of yours?