Tea For Two

Tea For Two, mixed media assemblage

Tea For Two is complete and in the shop. After sharing this video 10 days ago I continued to fiddle with it and ended up adding four additional pieces. I finally decided to stop tweaking and glued all the parts into place last night. It's almost impossible to call a piece like this "done". At some point you just gotta say enough is enough. The chippy yellow tea set was found in a dusty cabinet back at this thrift shop in Kansas.

Assembling Tea For Two

Thought you would enjoy watching the latest assemblage come to life. I believe I'll call it "Tea For Two". Next step is to remove everything so I can work on the box before gluing each element into place. The video will come in handy when it's time to piece the puzzle back together.

A big THANK YOU to each of you who shopped and tweeted my Christmas In July sale. It was a big success! All the packages were mailed off yesterday so keep your eye out if you're expecting a Sushipot art object ;)

The Fountain Head Catalog

Every once in a while an ephemeral treasure crosses my path and this old jewelers catalog is right up there with the best of 'em. Riddled with character (and a bit of mold) the volume once served as a scrapbook for a lady named Alice at the end of the 19th century. Lucky for me, Ms. Kelsey Currie over at the Bargain Barrel stowed this fascinating volume away and show it to me when I stopped by one day. Of course, I could not resist once I saw its tattered contents!

The catalog was published in 1890 by The Fountain Head for Jewelers Supplies. It seems as though Alice was using this book as a housekeeping file system (kinda the way I use Evernote these days). The pages are filled with recipe clippings for everything from Banana Blanc Mange to Buckwheat cakes, pasted snippets with housekeeping tips and exclamations over the trials of a poor ironer. A couple of pages have clippings with first aid treatments and herbal remedies. There are several pages pasted with obituaries, wedding and graduation announcements, poems and even a few short stories.

The first time I perused the book I was absorbed by the haphazard elements of faded newsprint contrasting the crisp black and white etchings of clocks, fancy tea sets and other fine wares. I love the stains, the blotches and even the torn newsprint. This is the stuff that mesmerizes me! Now I'll stop rambling and let it mesmerize you (and don't forget you can click the images to view in their full size loveliness.)

Some Like It Hot

Lady Tea Pot at English Shop


Some Like It Hot by Suzanna Scott

A happy Mother's Day weekend to all you Mamas out there. Be sure to put your feet up at some point and sip a cuppa tea-- 'cuz you deserve it!

Tea Party Time

Vintage Tea Party Time Set

If you're anything like us there's always time for a tea party! Impromptu occasions for celebration are continuously popping up at our house. Lizzie will spread out her dishes and serve us all little imaginary cakes, pies (with whipped cream on top of course), tea and usually some strawberry juice too. We politely sip our drinks and smack our lips as we eat the party fare--seriously, I hope she never outgrows this tea party habit 'cuz I for one will miss it when she does!

Spring Fling, A Collection of Tin Saucers


Vintage Afternoon Tea Service


Really Red, A Collection of Tin Saucers


Dutch Children, Tin Cups & Saucers

Inanimate Objects

Inanimate Objects, 2009
mixed media on book page

I've unearthed a collage from the 'Sushipot archives' to share today. Just in case an explanation is needed...what you see here is a chair, a teakettle and a stubborn ass. You know what I'm talking about--we all have inanimate objects in our lives.