happy,....

happy birthday mathyld!!
meet Harley Queen!

j and i were lucky enough to spend some time with mathyld on our insanely short trip (only two days!) in paris. mathyld was so kind she let us stay with her,  feed us delicious things like yummy teas from her mom's shop and homemade cupcakes, and showed us around the city. we were so beat from travels in india and nepal that mathyld's hospitality and friendship was the perfect end to our trip. her apartment is in the heart of paris, full of old charm, just amazing and so very comfortable. i only wish it could have stayed longer... next time!

i'd totally stalk her...

hope you're having an amazing day mathyld!!! wish i could celebrate with you, but since i can't (damn ocean!) i thought time to look through some pictures....
happy birthday!!

read to me...

photo: jeremy dyer

last night we started reading Beowulf, a scandinavian epic poem. jeremy read to me and at first i had a hard time getting into it. it's just so out of our everyday speech. then the pictures started to become clearer for me as the words became puzzles and visual vignettes. here are some of my favorites...

treasure seat
swan road
night-sea
sea-brutes
fate goes ever as fate must*
banquet at the bottom of the sea
night shapes came stealing forth under the cloud-murk

*fate in old english "wyrd". how nice is that?

photo: jeremy dyer

drumroll please...

drumroll please, originally uploaded by knottednest.

2 sales away from 700! that seems like a lot, no? imagine making 700 things: all that stitching, all those little strings to tie, papers to cut, boxes to make, notes to write, and all those little packages lined up ready to mail. 700 is good right now. here's to the next 700!

to celebrate i'm offering 15% off the shop till 8/31/2010. just use the code: renegade and i'll apply the discount via PayPal after your purchase. sorry, etsy doesn't have an automatic coupon system.

also, you can read my first Miniature Rhino Newsletter, which enjoyed making here

thanks to all who've supported my little shop with your hard earned dollars, or nice words, kind actions and simple blog comments!!!

ps. don't you want to beat your own mini paper drum now? ....

update: it's done! 700 high fives, errr sales. high fives sounds so much better, right?

blue moss: miniature rhino...

thanks michelle for your kind post!
blue moss: miniature rhino...

poetics of light



imagine seeing this show, poetics of light, by kate breakey, in person. half mausoleum, half victorian parlor room full of ghostly, playful shadows.  i was told that these are contact prints of found dead animals, but don't quote me, i can't find much info on this work.  i spotted a fat little toad that i like quite a bit, but i must say the piglet and snakes are my favorite. although, i feel a bit ashamed saying so.  finding beauty in the death of an innocent feels somewhat against nature, but i also see tenderness in these images....



all images from etherton gallery

etsy + mr craft night, pt. 2 review.....

this review is overdue. craft night with etsy was held on the 18th and it was good times. lots of people showed up ready and eager to embroider. it really took me back seeing how many kind, enthusiastic people were there.  it was humbling and inspiring to see that many people working on something i created, a pattern born from my imagination and guided by instructions i provided. it made me want to teach more, share more and be more involved with the community.  it felt good to share skills and craft in a community setting. to those who came out, thank you! i would love to see more of the projects as it comes along.

here are some images....
ps  mental note... i think i threaded a good 20-30 needles for people. i learned that tiny needles make it almost impossible to stitch. embroidery needles? no way, i use tapestry needles!

shop updates....


lots of new additions to the miniature rhino shop, which by the way has a new look.  find postcards, cards, books made for mailing and a whole bunch of miniature cabinets of curiosity.  i'm loving the new goods and all the pretty photographs....



DON"T FORGET- tonight is the craft night with me & Etsy at the south street seaport!

come embroider with me NY!



wednesday, wednesday, wednesday! tomorrow!! don't forget if you're in the nyc area that you can come to the south street seaport and join the Etsy Labs and myself for some free crafty activities. we'll be embroidering a fun nautically themed, sailor tattoo inspired pattern. i created the pattern just for this event and am so excited to see how people make it their own...

If you're far away no worries, you can find the pattern, instructions & material list here.


WHEN: Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Demos will be held at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., for two 1.5 hour sessions. Please stop by for one session.
WHERE: The Seaport space at 210 Front Street, New York, NY 10038 in South Street Seaport
Directions here
.

write a letter, share the cute....

writing letters on vintage stationery is good. i found some small vintage "garden and bird lovers" cards at the flea market in the original box. while i usually hoard papers like these - the patina of the envelopes and printed images of the birds are lovely - i was inspired to share & write to a pen pal and my family.

while in ca i was lucky enough to meet up with billie and tootie of reform school. love their aesthetic and they host a pen pal club, book club, ukulele club and photo club. how fucking cute is that?! i want to start a pen pal club here in ny too. anyone, anyone? (oh and soon you'll be able to find miniature rhino goods at reform school. did you just squeal? no? yeah, that was me...)

and for your eyeballs here are some recent pieces completed and mailed. check and check....

go write a letter!

and just a thought....     when i do my letter service people always tell me they don't know who to write to. write to you mom, your friend who lives down the road, your old friend in chicago, whoever whatever.  they'll be glad and so will you....

how i spent the last month....

....or my recent disappearance by jessica marquez

i went to CA for about a month to participate in the Renegade Craft Fair LA.  it was a good excuse to go home and be with my family for awhile.  i found myself working a lot there to prepare for the show and finish up some existing orders.  don't think me a workaholic though i did spend copious amounts of time lounging in my parents backyard, cuddling little fat chihuahuas, baking in a kitchen that is heaven to me - space and proper/fancy utensils, and eating all that i baked.  a month seems like a long time, but it went by so fast.  my grandma always says "it'll feel like a dream" and it does.  some sad things have happened of late so NY seems lonelier and even quite with out my family and these guys around....

my parents other children.....

dexter + buddy lee, originally uploaded by miniature.rhino.

renegade la.... MR coast to coast....



going through my stuff at home i found this old floppy disc. how ironic - my application to a technology school on a floppy! hah!!

do you remember these?, originally uploaded by miniature.rhino.


my little cousin alex & i at lego land.  (see the lego rhino?)  this place is a trip. i felt like i was in a B movie on all these rides made for very little wee ones with everything made of legos.  alex was soooo incredibly into it - made me happy too....

Lego Land...., originally uploaded by miniature.rhino.

some work i made too... a wedding piece for the ring bearer.  i loved stitching it and am thinking of adding it to the shop. AND something fun, pieces for the ETSY CRAFT NIGHT AT THE SEAPORT that i'll be leading.  really excited about it and hope you nyer out there will join me there.

rebecca + benjamin, originally uploaded by miniature.rhino.


Etsy Craft Night at the Seaport