Chimera Collage

Chimera, original collage on old children's primer cover

I read somewhere recently that September is National Literacy Month. We always have a couple of read-aloud books going with Lizzie in addition to our own individual books. This week we maxed out our 50 book limit at the library. hah! Guess that's the way it goes when you home-school. Patrick and Lizzie are reading the newly released Sky Pyrates Over Oz. Lizzie and I have just started Little Women (we're on chapter 4 of 47). Patrick and I are both trying to read this book (at the same time) and keep stealing it back and forth. Lizzie just discovered the historical fiction books published by American Girl (thus our maxed out library card!) and I've been listening to the original Grimm's Fairy Tales while I work in the studio at night. I'd love to hear what you've been reading!

Secret Garden

We've been reading aloud the adventures of the orphan Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden. This little lady seemed to like the story too. 

Puppet Master

Puppet Master, original collage on scribbled book cover

Two years ago Patrick and Lizzie were well into their Oz adventures. This week they are finishing up the 47th book in the series, Trouble Under Oz. It has been a fantastical journey and even though I don't sit in on the nightly readings there has been a bit of Oz seeping into my own work. I've dubbed it Oz-mosis ;)

Studio Tidbits

A delightful pile of treasures arrived this week from the studio of artist Elizabeth Rosen. Lizzie and I had great fun unwrapping all these wooden bits 'n cuckoo clock parts. We entertained ourselves for some time playing around with various arrangements and pausing to share on Instagram of course ;)

Elizabeth's shop is a wonderful mix of carefully selected goodies for the mixed media artist and her own magical assemblages, paintings and mixed media work. Be sure to browse her shop when you have a minute--you're certain to find inspiration!

And...here's a peek at my work table this past week. I got a hair brained idea one night and started "skinning" my pile of old book covers.

The "book skins" are currently being stitched up into a pair of small art quilts. Hope to have them finished up next week to share with you. If you're on Instagram, you can find me there as 'sushipot' (duh!). Then you can see these tidbits from the studio faster than I get around to blogging 'em.