Small World

Small World, mixed media assemblage in wooden box

I've been puzzling out this piece in the studio over the past week. These assemblages are diy puzzles for sure....trying to find the 'right' shape to fill each gap and dabbing paint here 'n there....an attempt to lend the illusion of balance to this small world.

More Ornaments

As promised there are more jingle-jangle-dangle ornaments hanging out in the shop. Have a jolly weekend!

Wooden Spoons

I picked up this lovely collection of wooden spoons at Impulse 1672 a couple of weeks ago. A worn and sturdy assortment of the most basic kitchen implement....useful for stirring and serving. For now they are hanging out in the studio but may wander to the kitchen soon 'cuz I'm still trying to decide if I should add to the collection. And now here's some spoon-spiration for you on this last Monday of the month:

Ariele talks about the magic of spoons.
Abbey found this huge spoon collection.
An old spoon assemblage by yours truly.
Elisabeth paints sweet faces on spoons.
Start your own collection via 86Home.
Remember my spoonful of ship?

Vintage Toy Telephone

My favorite find of the week (or the month for that matter!) is this old-school, handmade toy telephone. Press down on the little clapper and the bells makes a delightful 'ding'. It has the added bonus of a nice face too :-]

Stick Figure Family

Popping in to share some eye candy with you on a Sunday afternoon. I could not resist picking up this darling stick figure family for the vintage shop. Lizzie says they're 'cute as a button' and I have to agree. Lucky for us we get to enjoy their company 'till they find a new home ;)

 

Twenty-Four Assemblage

Twenty-Four, wood scraps, antique skittle & plastic chicken

Have I ever mentioned I love putting jigsaw puzzles together? I finally got down to business and did something with those wooden bits 'n pieces acquired earlier this month. The ol' skittle clown has been hanging out in the studio since way back when. I was kind of on the fence over the pink chicken but Lizzie was quite emphatic that it be included....after all it is her favorite color. As for the title...there are exactly 23 wooden pieces in the puzzle + 1 pink chicken.

Mother Goose Toy

Mother Goose, antique wooden stacking toy

A wooden stacking toy of the endearing Mother Goose is my hands-down favorite find brought home from this recent excursion. She's aged to perfection dontcha think?!

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.

School Desk Graffiti

We spent some time wandering around the KSU campus while my parents were visiting last week and peeked into the classroom where Patrick is teaching this summer. The room is filled with old school wooden desks like the one I brought home a couple years ago.

Since I had my trusty iPhone with me I snapped some pictures of the desktops to share with you. It is pretty fun to peruse the graffiti etched onto the surfaces by generations of (bored?) students.

Don't look too closely or you'll read a student's confession: I hate this class. Hope it's not one of Patrick's students. Hah!

Some have profound words: Every dog has its day.

Eyeballs 'n roses.

There were several Pac-Man doodles 'round the classroom but this one was my fav 'cuz it also proclaims 'Love Stinks!'.

I promise I didn't document every desktop in the room. Just a couple more...

Did you know that doodling helps you pay attention?



I wonder if JB drew that smiley face too?

I saved the best for last. The 'lil umbrella with all the raindrops takes the cake. Or maybe that small cry for 'help' in the top left hand corner?

Lotsa Boxes

Lotsa boxes are being dusted off 'n posted in the shop. Guess I've been kinda hoarding these boxes but I do use them from time to time to make shadowbox assemblage pieces.

Green Wooden Boxes, Set of 3

But...the truth of the matter is I have way too many boxes and many of 'em moved with us from Mobile, Alabama four years ago. Patrick's graduate school stint is quickly drawing to a close here in Manhattan and an inevitable move is on the horizon next summer.

Old Sewing Drawers, Set of 2

So...my new, self-imposed rule is if IT moved with us to Kansas from Alabama it won't be moving again. Basically, I've gotta Lighten. The. Load.

Extra Long Wooden Drawer/Box

These boxes are great for displaying baubles on the coffee table, holding art supplies in the studio OR making shadowbox assemblages ('cuz that's what I love doing with 'em).

Galvanized Metal Bucket

And...there's even an old bucket in the shop right now. Picked this one up off the side of the road in Alabama. You never know what you'll find on an afternoon stroll!

Pyrography Portraits

I'm thinking I was quite lucky to come across such a unique pair of antique pyrography portraits. Although I was sorely tempted to keep these ladies for our own collection they were purchased with shop funds and into the shop they must go! You can read all about 'em right here.

Speaking Of Blocks

And...speaking of blocks....here are a couple more sets that I've added to the virtual shelves of the vintage shop this week. Never seen anything like either of these before which is always a plus in my book. Unique alphabet block sets for artists and/or collectors!

German Alphabet Pasteboard Blocks


Wooden Alphabet Tile Set

Spoons & Clothespins

Tin Spoons


Wooden Clothespins

A couple of old-school objects listed this week at Sushipot Parts. I picked up the tin spoons at a local antique shop and my Dad scored the clothespins at a yard sale in his neighborhood. Thanks Dad! Don't you just love their varied 'n weathered patinas?

A Few Characters

Thought I'd show you a few characters I've collected recently. These wooden fellows stand about 4 inches tall and have a pleasant 'chippyness' (new word folks!) about them. As for the old playing cards--they arrived in the mail a few days after the wooden men--a surprise gift from Bird Nests & Papers from whom I'd purchased these lovelies. From what I can find the cards are from a 1930's Snap game by the British toy company, Chad Valley. Anyhow, the figures and playing cards paired up so nicely, I did an impromptu photo session of all these good lookers together.

Wooden Spools

A huge bag full of old wooden spools was thrifted the same day as the jar of buttons I shared with you last week. The image represents only about a quarter of them!

Lizzie helped me arrange all the spools for their photo shoot. She's a great little stylist and always has fun ideas. She made up a game called "spool race" where we each pick a spool and rolled/raced them down our slanted driveway. The winner's spool reaches the street first. Even Patrick played!

Of course, there is no way I'll be able to use all of these in my work so I'm listing sets of 24 in the shop. There was one special spool with a greeting that we'll be keeping for sure..."hello there".

Nesting Houses

This set of tiny nesting houses with inlaid details was a true lucky find. I've never seen any like them before! You can probably tell I had fun playing with them while I was photographing too. Aren't they the sweetest little things?