Number One

Number One, original collage on old arithmetic textbook cover

Oh Snow Fun

Let's just say that many happy hours have been spent playing in the snow these past few days. The forecast calls for more snow tomorrow. Oh snow fun ;)

And...these, these and these are currently on sale over at Sushipot Vintage.

Pencils & Rulers

These two old-school collections are new in the shop for the weekend. Grubby pencils 'n scruffy rulers....little things I can never resist when I'm out thrifting.

Fish Out Of Water

Fish Out Of Water, collage on very tattered book cover

Basket Case

Basket Case, original collage on book cover

The interior of a physiology textbook circa 1920's:

(Carnivorous) eats flesh.

(Omnivorous) both.

(Herbivorous) vegetable eater.

(Inebriate) after you get the habit of drinking.

And that's what Miss Edna Kirchner wrote. I added the basket case bit.

Makin' Bacon

Makin' Bacon, mixed media on wood plaque

Been having a bit 'o silly fun in the studio. It's never good to take these dreary February days too seriously.

Handmade Vintage Valentines

Some eye candy for this special day...my handmade vintage Valentine collection. You can view these lovelies close-up here & here.

A Happy Valentine's Day to you 

& the ones you love!

S.W.A.K.

Feathered Fun

Patrick brought home some feathered Mardi Gras masks for us on a recent trip to New Orleans and we've been having loads of silly fun with 'em. Lizzie was born in Mobile, Alabama which is also the birthplace of Mardi Gras on this continent. She attended many a parade as a wee thing and one of these days we've gotta take her back to experience the festivities. When we first moved to Alabama, I did a short stint working as an Mardi Gras float artist which you can read all about here. Happy Fat Tuesday y'all!

 

Postal Pains

Illustration from a 1936 First Grade reader

Despite my best efforts to keep shipping rates reasonable, with only slight increases since I opened Sushipot back in 2006, the recent USPS rate hikes are causing me to adjust rates accordingly. I spent the weekend going through the tedium of creating new shipping formulas. Wrapping my head around the ridiculous rate hikes to Canada and all other international destinations is causing me severe postal pains. For instance, the cost of shipping a small package which weighs under 5 oz has basically doubled in cost. This means some items in the vintage shop suddenly cost as much or more to ship internationally than the cost of the item itself. Makes me feel a bit ridiculous but I do want to be up front with all of you loyal patrons about these changes. Luckily many of my domestic shipping rates remain the same. Please bear with me as I'll continue to tweak the shipping rates as I find discrepancies over the coming weeks. And please know that I will refund any crazy overages in your favor!

And on a related note...an interesting op-ed published in the New York Times last Friday.

Divisor Collage

Divisor, original collage on scribbled book cover

I love opening old books and finding their interiors full of scribbles. Discarded schoolbooks are more often than not filled with these treasures. This is the back cover of a State of Kansas, seventh grade arithmetic book from the 1930's. It was used by a kid named Bernie at one point in time.

Prickly Heart Plaque

This prickly plaque depicting the circulation of blood throughout the human body was posted in the shop this afternoon along with a couple of other anatomical heart plaques. Yep...still time to get one of 'em for Valentines Day next week (within the USA)....just place your order by Friday morning, February 8th.

Head In The Clouds

Head In The Clouds, original collage on book cover

Thank you all for your well wishes yesterday. We're not quite walking around with our heads in the clouds yet but we're definitely feeling much, much better ;) Here's to a new month...Happy February!