Monday, May 30, 2011

so little...

...time. 
The sixth season of the Martha Show is over and you would think I wouldn't be so busy! Freelance projects have kept me indoors and away from my computer and missing you. 
I have been making though... things like mini wire hangers, similar to the ones your dry cleaning comes on except about an inch wide.

Speaking of tiny... we went to Atlanta last weekend and I spotted these nesting dolls upon Ashley's Grandmother's dresser. It was unbelievable how small they were! Just when you thought your at the last doll, another one was inside!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

last minute trip up to Brimfield antique show 2011

 
Nicki and I wound up scoring a vehicle, early early Saturday morning, to transport us over to the Brimfield antique show. We made the journey to purchase props for a film Nicki is making, set in the early 1960's. Primarily looking for specific items from the 1950's and before, I must say, I think we were quite successful. While prop shopping, I was able to snap some photos of objects that caught my eye but wouldn't necessarily fit into the films theme and aesthetic—more like the kind of stuff I would have liked to take home.

Pretty pink porcelain parrots.


The absolute first thing I saw upon entering the world of Brimfield, was this amazing cabinet-like canary cage–quite exquisite.

 
Loved this over sized parrot mural...
and these antique model mushroom specimens that were priced at two grand for the set 
(I thought the guy was joking when I asked how much). 

Anything macabre I admire and this funeral case held this infant memorial that was quite a spectacle.

Too young to have any hair to make the traditional mourning adornments, these were hand crafted from felt and fibers—it was really sweet.
Amongst the many other things handmade that I spotted, was this funny box with a pile of figurines on the lid all painted gold.  
 
I was scolded for taking a picture of this monkey by the vendor—I wanted to run and hide. 
 
Always drawn to ships, I found a big ship model encased in a glass box and am now regretting not buying this ship plate that was only $9. 
 
This car is just awesome. I wish cars still looked like this one. 
A boudoir lacy cover up flows in the breeze of Brimfield, Massachusetts.
I wanted so badly this Aztec carpet, but I was not about to spend $1200 on a rug—even though it is probably worth it.
I thought this looked like an asshole. funny. laugh.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

My Mommy's Day card

 
I posted about the sloth card I made for my mom over at thecraftsdept blog. It's a unique card handmade for a unique mom. Oh how I love her...
Happy Mother's Day (a few days late) to all the mommies!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

sloth

Sorry for my absence this week—I have been preoccupied with planning a holiday—a possible trip to Costa Rica. What started out with just wanting to relax on the beach turned into a hiking through the rain forest into being secluded in the jungle with the animals into visiting a sloth sanctuary and finally obsessing over having the opportunity to actually live with the sloths at a humble sanctuary! It would be a dream come true to sleep with a sloth.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

multiple ashleys

Back track a little over a week ago... it was my birthday, April 16. 
 Ashley had the genius idea of making multiples of himself and placing them sporadically around the apartment to surprise me (or just freak me out). I thought I was going crazy when I awoke to go to the bathroom and was greeted by Ashley outside my bedroom door...wait, wasn't he still in bed?!?! Paper life size Ashley was standing in the hallway. It frightened me so much that I made him tell me if there were more in the apartment before I left the room. "Flat" Ashley was also jumping in the living room and sitting on the couch—too bad he wasn't preparing me brunch too...oh wait, I have the real Ashley to do that!
 
After a little Birthday party, my pal Jordan wound up taking a "flat" Ashley home. He was very pleased to have a friend to go to the park with the following day.
 Ashley is out of town this week and I am solo with Pico. I am thinking I will sleep next to "flat" Ashley tonight because I miss him so much.

Monday, April 25, 2011

art that makes me happy


Laura Carlin's folk art ceramics & illustrations make me feel giddy inside. Funny how a bowl can do that to a person.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

bunny perks

One of many perks of working for Martha Stewart...
...you get to take home a 3 foot chocolate bunny at Easter...
(Nicki foil wrapping him up)
and it makes an impressive Birthday treat!
(Amy hugging her new best friend)
Mmmm dark chocolate beauty!
Thanks Martha!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

egg world

Here are some more pictures of the Whimsical Window Eggs that we demoed on Martha's Show. I just can't stop looking at them. I want to shrink down and live inside an egg just like these! Magic!
 Martha made the orange horse egg above. I love the mini vintage pom-pom chick sitting at the horse's feet.
I made the pink swan egg during the live segment. I was amazed at how fast it came together. Pretty pink luscious world.  
I finished out some of the swap outs from the segment so that I could bring them home and display them on Easter. Totally in love.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

paper dolls

Yesterday a special delivery came for me. I had completely forgotten that I scored an amazing piece of art on ebay last week and was giddy when a large box arrived at my desk. 
The piece is a framed pair of children in a sort of oversized paper doll style. Each child is dressed adorably, but the best part of the whole piece is that the dolls have real human hair. I love that someone created this so many years ago and took such care in making these dolls come to life.
The back of the frame revealed some information about the artist, which makes the piece even more special. The frame was old and dirty and the paper backing peeling and flaking away. It needed a bit of restoring, so I did some cleaning and replaced the frame backing with an archival mat. I also tidied up the hair because it too had flaked off underneath the glass.
I thought is was neat how the artist had decided to mount the dolls. A stretched piece of silk over a recycled piece of cardboard with old graphics. The silk was not glued or taped to the board, but was zigzag stitched from side to side and top to bottom. It made me smile at the artist's cleverness.
Of course I saved the only reference of the artist in its original form and re-adhered it to the back.
What a cool piece of homemade art!
Now I need a place to hang it!