scissors paper glue

like peas in a pod

I have known this blogger for about two years now.  She lives somewhere I visit occasionally and I have been waiting for the chance to have a face to face blogging adventure with her for some time.  That came this weekend.  We set up a meeting time and of course I begged her to take me to some of her favorite haunts.

We had a great time exploring an antique store in heart of the city.  Many a wonderful thing was found.  It was so fun and interesting to see what inspired us.  We ended up purchasing very different stuff but still have very similar tastes.  We both had mutual adoration for the other person's finds.   Of course as is always the case, our time together was too short.  However,  after a delicious lunch we promised that this would only be the beginning of our adventures together.  Veronica, thanks for being the best tour guide in the city.  I can't wait until we get to do that again.  Muchos Besos!

And what does all of this have to do with the photo above?  Well not only did I get to visit with Veronica this weekend, she was also my shoe photo swap partner.  I received the beautiful polaroid you see here along with some sweet extras.  I have started a shoe photo swap group on flickr.  You can add  your photos here.

sometimes...

my boy surprises me.

work in progress: update

here is a sneak peek of what i have been working on this week

remember this  post?

here is a glimpse of what it is turning out to be

i can't tell you how much i love how it turned out.

here is another sneak peek of another piece

shop update tuesday april 1st.

playing

I've been cheating on my alex.  Lately i have been spending lots of time with a polaroid camera.  Yes i know they are discontinuing the film, but i have actually been able to find quite a bit online. Email me for my secret sources.  Anyhow, i have been having so much fun experimenting with the camera my mom lent me.  The instant gratification factor is what gets me.  Even a digital camera doesn't make me feel the same way. Click, whoosh.

I know the above photo is not earth shatteringly amazing but ... maybe someday.  Hope you all had a relaxing weekend.  I know I did.

little random bits

Of course you have seen this all over the place

If you are still contemplating purchasing this, make the plunge.  It is worth it.  A beautiful book.

I am also really excited about this.  So many great artists involved.

Here is a question for all you polaroid experts out there.  Is it really better to keep your film in the fridge, like the box says?  That seems a little scary to me.  Do I put it in the crisper, the regular compartment or what?  Any advice would be appreciated.

Have a great weekend.

the sister box

Before I had even heard of swapping, there was the sister box.  As many of you know and for those who do not.  my sister is Amy of posy press.

Quite a few years ago, I think even before I had kids I came across this little blurb in Real Simple.  It was on the page where readers give their ideas for a certain topic.  It read "My sister and I fill an old shoe box with little gifts for each other and mail it back and forth.  We never know when our 'sister safe' will arrive but it always brightens out day."  My first thought was "GENIUS".  I ran it by my sis and she agreed.  This is how our sister box got it's start. 

So last Friday the latest version of the sister box arrived at my house.  Even though there were gifts wrapped up inside the best part was the wrapped packages.  Each item was carefully wrapped in vintage fabric and tied with vintage trim.  I didn't want to open anything because it all looked so pretty. 

Included were so many wonderful things, stationery from the japanese store, a handmade pot holder, amazing tree + bird stationery and vintage book pages.  A vintage spool of yarn, a sweet owl dish and really cool ABC stickers.  I loved everything.  My sister really knows what i like.

Thank you for spoiling me amy.  You made my week!  Be on the lookout, you never know when the sister box will come back to you!

a work in progress

In my occupation I have access to material that will often end up in the trash.  I try to use as many of these materials in my artwork as I can.  This box is one such find.  I have big plans for this.  Stay tuned!!!

random bit- I found out what i want to be when i grow up: a prop librarian at MSLO

what is making me happy

beautiful,bright, poofy puffs of ranunculus at the farmers market this past Saturday

working in the (clean) studio again

good mail (more on this later it deserves it's own post)

update:  partners for the shoe photo swap went out this morning.  if you signed up and did not receive an email from me something is wrong so please let me know and i will fix it.

the little things

Thanks to all for your  well wishes.  I think they worked.  I am feeling almost 100% today.

Here are a few little things that i have been looking at lately.

I bought these at Anthropologie yesterday on my way home from another work field trip. This picture doesn't do justice to just how cute and well made these are.  I had a suspicion that these were made by this blogger.  After checking her blog today found out my suspicions were confirmed. congratulations laura!

then there is this:

This tiny little cuckoo clock ornament has a story.  I was antique shopping in one of my favorite local shops about 2 weeks ago.  When I found this vintage, in perfect condition ornament I was over the moon.  Seriously, out of all the purchases I made that day this is the only one that mattered.  So when I got home and found it was no where to be found I was devastated.  The only thing I could think of was that when I put all my goods in a little basket they gave me it must have fallen out.  A few days later I went back and asked the guy in the front about it.  He didn't know anything, then when I was checking out I asked another lady and she then asked another lady who said she thought she might know where it was.  She found it!  I was so happy.  A little sad and silly that this cuckoo clock makes me so happy but it does.

Shoe Photo swap update: I will be emailing partners for the swap out this Sunday (March 16th).  I apologize for the delay but with me being sick and my "real" job this is the first opportunity for me to get it done.  Thanks for your patience. 

Happy Thursday friends!

i surrender

I couldn't resist posting this page from the latest Boden catalog I got in the mail today.  Imagine this is me holding a British flag up in surrender to the stomach virus that has gotten a hold of me and won't let go.  Ugh!  I have been spending lots of quiet time with Alex and his two brothers Alex and Alex trying to get the studio back in order.  Man,  did I have things stuck in every nook and cranny of this studio.  Discovery can be an inspiring thing, I just wish my stomach didn't hurt so much.