Preoccupied

I haven’t been posting for a while as I have been preoccupied with the following:

1.  Buying roller derby skates and gear

2. Learning how to skate in my roller derby skates and gear

3. Trying out for roller derby

4.  Being accepted on my local roller derby league (!)

5.  Practice, practice, practice (aka: making my dreams come true)

Currently, going to a standing position from a sitting position hurts a lot on account of my bruised tailbone but I sort of love it….SO worth it.

Happiness is Going Back to the Future

I've been hiding out lately, blowing my nose every 5 minutes for the second week in a row. Being sick is the worst. I've also been trying to wrap up a few projects on the computer which necessitates procrastination-breaks sanity-breaks every now and then. Browsing blogs has become my virtual break-room and lucky for you, I came across this gem of a project that I simply had to share.

Photographer Irina Werning has been a busy gal, inviting various groups of people to go Back to the Future by recreating a photo from their childhood-past.

Have you seen this genius? It's pretty amazing. This kind of stuff makes me really, really happy. To have a good day, check out more pics on her site HERE.

Guesting

(letterpress 2011 fox calendar)

I almost forgot to tell you that the Jorgensen's of Sycamore Street Press have had me over at their place for the last two days as a guest. Yesterday I shared 5 random things I have been into as of late and today I am sharing a marshmallow making how-to.

(letterpress fortune teller)

Remember last year when I was showing off my own homemade squishy treats? Well this year you can show off too by following these 5 simple steps!

(Letterpress whiskers poster)

By the way, I have taken the liberty of including a few images of lovely letterpressed goods you can add to your holiday wish lists. Actually maybe you want to work on being a little less greedy as we are entering the new year and start shopping for others instead of yourself...you should knock out everyone on your list in a one stop shopping spree at SSP. Hmmm, I can't choose a favorite...just surprise me.

My neck is begging for you, Diamond in the Sky

I spotted this while browsing the internet in effort to lengthen my wish list Christmas shop for friends and family. It's being sold for a mere $300. If someone buys this for me I promise I won’t wear it bare breasted with a patent leather jacket draping off my shoulders like the model on the website.

Sister

She is not a song writer, singer or guitar player by trade/training but that doesn’t stop her from writing songs, singing and playing the guitar. My well of inspiration and the most beautiful canvas I have ever seen.

Happy Halloweenie!

Let the weekend of homemade donut making, pumpkin carving, decorating one's self in the perfect disguise, and running amok begin! How can Halloween not be everyone's favorite holiday?

P.S. The costumes above were designed, made and worn by my bother Chase (aka: The most brilliant crafter I know) and his friend Emily, Halloween of '09. I'm so lucky to have a Wild Thing as a brother.

Just call me grandpa

What is it about all things mini? When I was little I had a decent collection of matchbook cars and my favorite one was the ambulance because the back doors opened up to reveal permanently installed plastic benches on both sides of the vehicle. The front door also opened to reveal a drivers seat and a baby-blue colored dashboard. I loved looking at all the tiny details, like the odometer and radio buttons. I wished so much that I could shrink down to fit right inside and take a spin. It wasn't because I wanted to drive the car—I knew that day would come—it was because I wanted to temporarily be a part of a miniature world (this is probably why the book The Mouse and the Motorcycle was so appealing to me as a kid).

*(image)

A few months ago I was in a train hobby shop where I found myself surrounded in a world of minis (aka heaven); tiny people riding bicycles, a little boy in an inter tube prepping for some outdoor water adventure, tiny cars, even tiny pets. The other costumers also seemed to be lost in this very literal "small world." The difference between them and me however was most apparent in appearances. I was sporting bleach blond and they were sporting grey and balding. I had on a thrifted leather belt adorned with debosed mushrooms and butterflies, they had on thrifted suspenders. I was enjoying a break from the kids and they were enjoying their retirement. Alas, they accepted me with friendly nods, smiles and how-do-you-do's, and therefore allowed me to fit right in.

Unfortunately, also unlike the lovely men around me, I don't have a basement full of train paraphernalia, just my love for small. Sure I had a handful of plastic treasures but how could i really justify buying them? That's when I remembered some very special dioramas I had seen by photographer Lori Nix (see samples throughout post). So I allowed myself to pick out a few things to support my newly proposed hobby. After all, my kids really don't keep me very busy and I think I really do have too much money and am in need of something to spend it on.

About 3 months later I haven't made any miniature scenes to photograph or even purchased more material for that matter. At least we live not too far from a town with all things tiny...

(mini letterpress)

(mini greenhouse)

I have discovered that minis make great gift toppers if nothing else...

and so, the obsession continues.

*pic jon took of a scale model he helped create at school with his group; Eric, Rachael and Kathryn.

What in the Slap Chop Rap?

Last night I was minding my own business working on a wedding invitation when this little ditty came blaring from the TV speakers. At first I thought it was a hoax or that I was experiencing lack-of-sleep induced hallucination. Then I realized it was all too real, my friends, which qualifies the ‘slap chopper’ as the best infomercial-intro I have ever seen. The clip I originally saw had dancers that were not quite as cool as these ones but you will get the idea. You have to watch the whole 3:16 minutes; it’s SO worth your time and it just get's better and better.

Lovely Package Exchange

Is it me or is getting some sort of personalized correspondence in your mailbox one of the best things in the world? The other day one of my sisters sent me a homemade card with words I actually read on paper. It was so sweet and pen pal-ish. I have also gotten two wedding invitations in the mail recently—which I was probably way too giddy over. Then my mom sent me a package of goodies from Ikea, with the cutest platter ever I might add and just when I thought I couldn’t love the post person any more, I received a parcel from a new blogging buddy I was introduced and assigned to as part of a “lovely package exchange” I participated via the Oh, Hello Friend blog.

My partner and I not only had the opportunity to send objects we thought the other would enjoy, we were also able to take part in something we both love; creating lovely packaging—which was sort of the idea of the exchange.

So today when I pulled the lid off the box that the lovely Catherine Hart from Austin Texas sent me, I was overwhelmed by the charm and vintage goodness that was cushioned inside. Although we only met a few short weeks ago in the blogsphere, I felt as though each little object said something about my character in some way and yet, at the same time, each item told me something about Catherine’s character as well. It was actually quite inspiring to connect with an almost stranger that way.

There were so many things to love like vintage "twist sticks" (aka mini pipecleaners), bingo sheets and yo-yo...

an awesome game of "endless landscape"...

tiny gift bag art...

and so much more. But one item I will particularly treasure is the best piece of handmade jewelery (made by Catherine of course).

Thank you so much Catherine. I love.

As stated above, this was a package swap so below is a sampling of some of the goodies I sent off to Catherine.

All wrapped and ready to go. The gift bow doubled as a hair accessory...

Inside the main package were smaller packages. Postcards packed in a homemade alligator envelope, little tug balls that revealed some prizes when the string was pulled and a few other delights…

When I found this mini kissing couple at a train collector shop, I knew it had to be used to accessorize the gift box full of miniatures.To see it from Catherins perspective you can check out here blog HERE.

Gifting is the greatest invention ever!

Work like a beaver be an achiever

(this post is for you Valerie)

As you may or may not have noticed, it’s been quite a while since I have posted. It’s not because I don’t want to it’s just that I got super busy all of the sudden and I haven’t yet figured out how to work blogging in the midst of new projects, new jobs, play groups, church responsibilities, birthday parties, everyday mommy tasks, and cleaning. (Okay, I lied about that last one, our house is a disaster, but I had to let go of something and it certainly wasn’t going to be family rock band which we have been squeezing in here and there!)

Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining or anything, actually, as busy as it’s been, I am loving it. Sometimes our family is super busy and other times it seems we don’t have much going on—I like the variety and I think I’m lucky to get both.

Anyway, today I thought I would take a quick break to share the “akward family photo” blog I came across. The images below are a couple from the site and let me tell you, I had trouble narrowing down the posting possibilities. I hope it makes you laugh your BUNSIES off like it did me. So enjoy, and your welcome!

P.S. I started another blog called ...and i like you, yep, I’m officially crazy (especially after THIS post)! This one is different though, I promise—it’s an image/video only blog of random things that I like or that I am being inspired by. The best part about this blog is that I have set it up to post automatically which means after spending 10 minutes a week uploading a handful of loveable links from the thousands of items in my “favorites” folder all I have to do is sit back and watch the magic happen. My blog is set to post twice a day. Now my various sources of inspiration are not hidden in a folder on my desktop! If you at all intrigued by this, you can check it out by clicking on the link in the sidebar under…"I also…like.”

Something I like = seeing my artwork featured on a blog that I didn’t create

One of my most favorite things about throwing parties is designing the invitations (as you may have guessed). This year for Jon’s b-day I designed a poster sized invite that I had every intention of screen printing on newsprint. I bought the screen, built the frames (thank you Paul and Caroline, my helpers), purchased a new fatty jar of photo emulsion and got the perfect shade a blue paint. The only thing I didn’t consider was the how-to’s in hiding a giant silkscreening project from Jon—which was a must considering it was a SURPRISE party! In the end I sent the invite out via email.

Also, just for fun, I sent the invitation artwork (aka doodle) to the Underground Art School in a sketchbook style, open-call-for-submissions request and guess what?...They featured it today HERE, hooray! If you want to see the invite in its whole, you can check it out on my friend Melanie’s blog HERE or on Joanna Goddard's Glamour Magazine blog HERE.

Now I just have to come up with some sweet printing projects sometime within the next few weeks before all that photo emulsion goes to waste. Anyone want to come over for a silk-screening party?

(top photo from Lena Corwin's book, Printing By Hand)

3 Loves

I was browsing around Mookal Loves You, an online boutique based out of Portland, when I remembered 3 of my loves:

1. The word "underpinnings" for undies
2. The word “Knickers” for panties (I think the “june knickers” are more than charming)
3. And thigh-high socks (be careful, you might see some bare bunsies by clicking on that link; American Apparel—you know how they do!

Oh and here’s 3 more:

madylin top

buttercup gillard

barquentine skirt....or is it the skirt/bicycle combo?

Having cool friends who ask me to guest post on their awesome blog is my fave!

My friend Melanie runs the sweet blog known as, You Are My Fave so you can imagine my excitement when she asked me to be a guest poster for a couple days while she is on a mini vay-cay. Although my posts could never live up to her daily dose of awesomeness, I made a humble attempt by sharing THIS tutorial on picture transfers and THIS post about something that inspires me.

After you subscribe to Melanie’s lovely blog, if you haven’t already, you are going to wonder how you went through life without it! Yep, I totally know this girl in real life—(I am hoping telling you that will up me on the coolness scale).

Charming Evan

Rather than splurging on individual gifts for one another on our wedding anniversary, Jon and I like to purchase a piece of artwork for our home—the pressure of individual gift giving is reserved for birthdays. We have a lot of fun searching for pieces we like and then narrowing down.

The only stipulations we have set for ourselves is that we both have to like the piece and that we can afford it. Actually most of our acquisitions have been very affordable since we often buy prints or artwork from local, upcoming artist.

So when I stumbled across the artist, Evan B. Harris on the Charmingwall website last year, we both felt pretty sure what our 2009 anniversary would bring. I love Evan’s 20th century style and that he uses things like plastic resin and melted wax as mediums in his original art. We ended up ordering two prints and they arrived in two days. What do you think?

As a bonus to this purchase we were finally able to clean the dust of the never-before-used IKEA frames I bought at least 3 years ago, hooray!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Sometimes periodic library rentals no longer suffice when it comes to a book you can’t get enough of. This is why I decided to not spend my birthday money on something like groceries this year and buy two books that inspire me: Hand Job: A catalog of Type by Mike Perry
A beautiful collection of all handmade text by various artist.

and Whatcha Mean, What’s a Zine? by Esther Pearl Watson/illustrated by Mark Todd—a book about the art of zine making.
The computer is lovely but there is just something magical about creating work with tools you can feel and smell.

(image)

For the Nerds Like Me

In one of my typography classes in school I had to purchase a little book called, The Mac is not a Typewriter and it pretty much changed my life. Well, maybe not, but it did change the way I type. Even though I am old enough to have actually had to use a typewriter, I am convinced that even those who have never used a typewriter are following outdated typewriter rules like I was, (and sometimes still do.)

Did you know that you should NEVER double space after a period? Now that we are no longer using mono-spaced, mono-sized type like we once did on the typewriter the double space just becomes an unattractive giant gap. Okay, you probably knew that one but I didn’t when I first read this book which was not all that long ago!

Re-reading this book again reminded me why it is one of my faves even up against a few pricey deign books I own. This book also includes things like using the right type of dashes in the right places, widows, orphans, proper quotation marks, the no-nos of underlining and a bunch of other exciting stuff for a nerd like me.

I am now realizing that I probably just totally turned you off from ever reading this book but seriously, you should at least check it out from the library. I wish I had the cash to purchase a copy for everyone I know!

P.S. The PC is not a typewriter either so this book applies to all computer owners.
P.S.S. I am exempting myself from having to follow every rule of type on this blog. So, if you do read it, please don’t consider me a hypocrite.