Patchwork Book Quilt

Orange, mixed media collage quilt with old book covers

Old books that find their way into my studio are dissected and skinned. When the box labeled 'book skins' starts to fill up I piece together another patchwork quilt. Some of the skins are more brittle than others so I've found the best method is to glue them together first and then add the stitching. In the image below you can see the pre-gluestick composition of my latest quilt.

Thanksgiving Greetings

Baby & Turkey Thanksgiving Postcard at Lots Of Postcards

Sending out Thanksgiving greetings to all of you celebrating this pie-filled holiday. I came across this bizarro image on a 1909 postcard of what is supposedly a baby riding a turkey? To me all I can see is a freak baby with turkey legs. Is it just me?! Made me giggle so I thought I'd share :) Have a happy one!

Jingle Bells

There has been a distinct rustling of jingle bells here at Sushipot as I work on all sorts of holiday goodies for the shop.

Lotsa vintage ornaments hanging around the studio these days including some kitschy, hand-painted wooden ones from the decade I was born.

Yes, the holiday blocks are coming along nicely and will be ready to go in the shop early next week. No....I didn't snip these snippets with giant shears....they are just a prop and the largest pair of scissors I own ;)

In other news we found a pair of acorn twinsies on a recent Autumn walk. There are always treasures to be found....you just gotta look.

The Pot & The Kettle

The Pot & The Kettle, illustration by Rhoda Campbell Chase

I found this gem of a fable tucked inside a first grade reader from 1917. Sharing it today just 'cuz I'm dragging my feet getting started with the week. More about its origins here.

Follow The Dots

I picked up this dot-to-dot workbook at the Eastbrook Antique Mall on our recent trip to Montgomery, Alabama. Volumes like this are irresistible with their sweet graphics and pencil markings--every image has been carefully mapped out by small hands years ago. The book was published by Cupples & Leon of New York in the 1920's.

May Art Blocks

My offering of art blocks for the month of May will be sprinkled into the shop today. There are two distinct groups this round....one of fanciful fun and the other of natural wonder. Enjoy your weekend!

Mended Pages

More often than not it is the imperfection of a thing that makes it special. When I'm browsing through old books for collage material the pages that have flaws are the ones that stand out to me. Whether they are mended, scribbled, torn or stained these blemishes are what I seek.

All images gleaned from The New Beacon Primer by James H. Fassett. Illustrated by Blanche Fisher Laite. Published by Ginn & Company, Boston, USA, 1921.

Bone Study

A young student, Mr. Jas A. Russell of La Crosse, Wisconsin, penned these notes on the back pages of his physiology textbook in January of 1872. I love finding nuggets of information like this in the old books that have made their way onto my studio shelves.  One day his notes might find themselves in a collage but for now they'll remain in the ephemera files.

Paper Snippets

The pile of paper snippets on my work table is starting to grow. I've been gleaning images here and there over the past few days. The grand plan is to turn these into the first batch of collage blocks for 2014.

Merry Christmas

The Night Before Christmas, Artist Unknown, Published by M.A. Donohue & Co, circa 1910

All sorts of secrets are being kept around here 'cuz Christmas is less than a week away! After I tackle the pile of presents that need wrapping I'm going to settle down for a long winter's nap ;)

Wishing you & yours a Merry Christmas...I'll see you in the New Year!

National Bellas Hess

Since we were snowed in all weekend, I finished up most of my Christmas shopping online. Though I love Etsy and Amazon Prime....what I would give to shop via this 1957 National Bellas Hess catalog! Let's see....I would like to order the electric tree with bubbling lights (page 42), a box of argyle socks for Pat's stocking (page 2), a chenille robe for Lizzie (page 4), the happy 'n cuddlesome Humpty Dumpty for my studio (page 9), a perma-bend doll with pink dress for Lizzie (page 27), oh yes....annnnd...add on that economy carriage for the bend-y doll from page 38. Also, I would have to sneak in one of the 6 room steel dollhouse with the add-on family (page 40). This would be a present to myself of course ;) And lastly...a set of those "day of the week" undies as a more useful stocking stuffer. So let's wrap all this up....if I added correctly I've spent a whopping $27.32 + shipping which adds an outrageous $.51. But...if I spend $35.00 the shipping is free so what else do you think should I add to the order?

Sushipot Newsletter

Super cool old envelopes via Fuzzimo

Some of you have noticed I added a mailing list 'subscription button' to the sidebar of this space. I'm working on building an official mailing list so I can start a Sushipot newsletter of sorts. Not sure what all it'll include but I'm sure it'd be a great way to send you secret coupon codes 'n such ;) Just click this link to submit your email. Once I've got a good handful subscribers I'll go ahead and give MailChimp a test run.

Botanical Plaques

Among my collection of treasured ephemera are a few tattered, hand-colored lithographs from Lorenz Oken’s extensive 13 volume series „Naturgeschichte für alle Stände“ (Natural History for all Social Ranks) which was published in 1843 in Stuttgart, Germany. This botanical plaque and a couple others will be added to the shop today along with some anatomical plaques too.

Lucky Dolls

Lizzie has been playing quite a bit with paper dolls recently. I pulled out my collection of paper dolls to show her the other day and thought I'd share some here while I was at it. These "Lucky Dolls" from Japan (circa 1950's-ish?) were her favorites. Their wonky offset perforations and vibrant coloring is totally endearing.

Happy Fourth

Illustration by Clarence Biers, Child Life Magazine, July 1930

The fridge is stocked with all kinds of summer-y eats and we're ready to chill out over this long holiday weekend. Have a happy & safe 4th of July!

Sushipot Art Blocks

After a long hiatus Sushipot's popular collage art blocks are back. Simply put...I missed making 'em! I can't believe there are over 2,000 of these 'round the world. Enjoy!

Cozy Spaces

We're headed to Springfield, Missouri tomorrow to scout out a new abode. I've spent the last 48 hours with the phone glued to my ear and have over a dozen places lined up for us to view. Crossing fingers we find a cozy home with studio space (for me!). These images are from a Stick 'Em Cutouts book by the Platt & Munk Company, 1939. Aren't they sweet? 

And....here's a coupon code valid at either Sushipot or Sushipot Vintage. Enter HOUSEHUNTING at checkout for 25% off your purchase. See ya on the flip side sometime next week. 

Les Cubes Amusants

Much to my delight, I unearthed some lost treasures during my annual studio purge/clean/organize binge this past week. These French prints are from an old exquisite corpse game of sorts, Les Cubes Amusants. 

Our family is gearing up for an exciting year as we prepare to enter a new chapter of our lives....the 'Life After Grad School' chapter (hip-hip-hooray!!!). Patrick will complete his degree this Spring and we'll be moving soon after. Don't ask me where 'cuz it is yet to be determined as we're currently in the 'Full Swing Job Search' chapter ;)

Needless to say 2013 is bound to be a year full of adventure for our family. I'm not making any concrete resolutions but am embracing the changes head-on and preparing for them by simplifying 'round our home and in my studio so that we're ready to move when it's time. Due to the aforementioned purge/clean/organize binge I've got bins and bins of goodies just waiting to be photographed for the vintage shop. And....big changes afoot at Sushipot as I'll be switching gears a bit. More on that soon. For now I just wanna say from one cast of characters to another....Happy New Year!