making noise....

...on the harmonica makes my cat, the bug, happy. he'll nuzzle and purr you...jeremy and bug are good company, especially while i was sick. still am a bit,
but feeling much better. i've been living off pudding cups and soup and can't
wait to be eating food food. i'm so behind in etsy work now though it makes
me feel panicky.... more. time. please.i also made this "ring pillow" a while back....

i like the way it came out and am excited to be part of someone's
wedding, even on this small scale. i have a friend planning a wedding
now and I see how much thought goes into every detail. so this project
was really nice to be part of....

ominous fortellings...

in my soup...

i swear this kinda made itself. i just help push along the butter to make the "teeth" and the left "eye" the rest was a dark omen.

which is kinda spot on. i'm not feeling well. i have a viral infection, which makes me feel like a frankenstein face, because i have swollen gums that hurt so bad. the bug tries to help by being my sweet little mang- for all of about five minutes until he ran off. i take what i can get....

the soup reminds me of these....via Lady Lavona

Cup Of Knowledge tea cup sold by Lady Lavona.
you can read all about Tasseography, or tea cup fortune telling on her crazy great witchy blog...

bikes!

in honor of my weekend bike rides i thought i'd share some vintage folding bikes. i got my folding bike from this nice guy who used to cut my hair and collected vintage bikes. he'd buy beat up ones and fix them up. he had all kinds of bikes. he even had a bike coved in wicker- everything, the handles, seat and basket. he'd let me choose one, borrow it until my next hair cut and then pick a new one out. when i moved i kept the folding bike. i just couldn't part with it... 

mine kinda looks like this one when its folded...

(c)  kid ampersand  on flickr

via downtube on flickr

via fishermansdaughter  on flickr

via radmax

Captain Gérard folding bikes, circa 1914

 this flickr set of old school bikes is amazing!!

i can't wait for more spring time bike rides....

oh me oh my...

i'm blushing and so very thankful for the kind friend i've found in Lisa of the etsy shop and blog Lou Lou & Oscar. she's constantly supporting others through her blogging efforts and now, right now, has organized an interview with me, which you can find right here. i'd love to share Lisa's blog with you and say many thanks to her... thank you ever so much Lisa!

hope you all can stop by.......and look at her amazingly cute plushies!

find more lovely photos in her shop and on flickrsthe button butts kill me! "stupid cute" say jeremy....and they are so crazy good!

best thing today....

was seeing this work via ffffound, which can i say is the devil, much like the flickr. i just get lost happily clicking away good work time. but anything with winners ribbons and the line, "cool and smooth moves" wins me over! it looks like it's on a book cover, which i like very much.

 via ffffound

this past week was crazy! i'm so thankful that the shop opening was well received, as was Marichelle's (from Heart Handmade) Shop Live event. Many, many  thanks to her for organizing it and inviting me to participate!! Thank you Marichelle for supporting so many shops and handmade!  it made for a great opening week. 
but along with that came a kitchen accident- it's not me though! my boyfriend cut the tip of his finger off-ahhh!  and now i must button up his shirts and put on his watch. he now has a frankenstein thumb that will forever be slanty. i was trying to think up good stories he can tell when he's asked how it happened- hummm...what do you think?

tomorrow....

is shop live with Marichelle of Heart Handmade! she has curated 30 objects by 30 etsy artists and my Message in a Bottle Letter Service was chosen for this live event starting at 7pm in the etsy labs!

so...i'm offering 20 letters service's at $12 normally $15 and a little extra surprise. AND to sweeten the pot i'm offering 20% off my entire shop for all of tomorrow- not just the letter service. just use this code at checkout "shopliveHH". i''ll refund the discount via PayPal after payment.

read about the event here on Heart Handmade to get a full description of how the event works. it's live. it's good stuff.....get on it!

my little opening...

i'm proud of the all the hard work i did putting together my "grand reopening". i have to laugh when i say that, because i hear that loud, crazy "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday" voice. so here's a sampling of some of my new pieces that you can find in the shop.warning i'm about to get just a little photo geeky...
shout outs to vannessa for introducing me to zack arias's blog and photo critiques, which inspired me to use my little flash unit- all manual- screw you ttl, and i'm really happy with the photographs, if i say so myself.

i was also inspired after watching the photo critiques to do a little update on my website, but it needs lots of work on the "arts" section, which is all old stuff. what i'm excited about is that i finally added my "craft" work. represent.

i'm back...

...home from california.

thank you to everyone who sent me your kind wishes and encouragement- it really means alot to me!!
it was great to go home, even just for a bit. my grandfather is doing better and is back at home, which is an unbelievable relief. my family rallies during these times of need- they make me so proud and happy to be part of it.and just being at my grandmother's house in santa monica is theraputic. its a small house by the ocean, filled with good memories and touches of my grandparents handiwork throughout.
and being with these guys, buddy lee and dexter, my parents little dogs, seriously fill me with joy. they are unconditional love bugs

buddy lee in my old bedroom in CA

soooo.... i'm feeling refreshed and excited to start the shop up again. i'll have a little "grand reopening" Monday April the 6th @ 5pm eastern time.... i'm working hard to get everything ready. i'll have my old favorities and some new pieces....come stop by.

and thanks again to all you who wrote me your well wishes! thank you....