This Blog Is Moving!

A collection of objects hanging on my studio wall.

With the launch of my new website I've decided to move my blog as well. The archives of this blog, 2009-2015, will be left intact for you to peruse if you'd like. If you have not done so I'd love for you to join my mailing list. A big thank you to all my faithful followers--I do hope you'll join me in my new space!

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?

Ship In A Bottle

Ship In A Bottle, original collage on vintage physics textbook cover

Bottled History from Smith Journal on Vimeo.

Have you ever wondered how in the world they get those darn ships into a bottle? Patrick and I watched this truly fascinating portrait of one Australian man, Ray Gascoigne, whose got the magical art of 'ship-in-bottle-making' down to a science. I was inspired...not to try my hand at stuffing a ship in a bottle but to make a little collage of my own.

I See Faces

Found Object Faces at Sushipot Vintage

One of my favorite tags to browse on Instagram is #iseefaces. It's always fun to see the faces that others discover in mundane objects or find obscured in the urban landscape.

I put together this set of faces for the shop. Many of these little faces have been following me around for years--most of them were picked up on the Gulf Coast. Guess it's time to set 'em free!

We have big plans this weekend. Patrick and I are celebrating our twelfth wedding anniversary on Sunday. You can peek at our wedding pics I posted last year but all you get this year is this family portrait of sorts. Hah!

Muse

Muse, mixed media assemblage

What can I say? She looks like a muse to me. That wooden flourish-y object has been hanging on my inspiration board for over 5 years and it was time to say good bye.

Eye Candy

Most of the weekend was spent photographing some of my personal collections for a special project. Since I can't share them here yet I took a few Hipstamatic images so you'd have some eye candy on this Monday afternoon. Enjoy!

Inspiration Treasured

Vintage Brush Collection at Solstice Home


Tools Of The Trade...a peek inside the studio.


Driftwood Sailboat Napkin Holders at Ocean Swept


The Voyage...have a beautiful weekend!

Random Bouquets

A few random bouquets from 'round the studio this week. And...don't miss Etsy's latest "There's No Place Like Here" installment featuring the Liberty Tool Company. Adding to my list of "places to visit if I ever happen to be in Maine". Happy weekend all!

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?

Things Organized Neatly

My grocery blocks were featured on Things Organized Neatly yesterday. Oh how I love this blog by Austin Radcliffe! Yes, I've raved of it before right here. But...there are a bunch of new folks 'round here so if you've never visited this site be prepared to be sucked into the TON mindset. In no time at all you'll find yourself tweaking 'n arranging all the objects that surround you. Now that I've piqued your interest, here is a great interview that Imprint did with Austin about his blog and you don't wanna miss this article the New York Times featured earlier this year. If you need more you can take a look back at other images of things I've organized neatly here, here, here, and here. Obsession I tell ya!

Put Out My Lights

Put Out My Lights Carnival Sign at bellalulu

I have no idea what's involved in the carnival game "Put Out My Lights" but I do know it only cost a single dollar (and had some really cool signage to boot)! Anyhow, the sign inspired this collection of vintage objects from my Etsy favorites. Enjoy!

Favorite Art Objects

A collection of my current favorite art objects on Etsy. The quirky wire glove stretchers are from Leslie Janson's shop which is chock-ful of repurposed vintage home goods and jewelry. Click here to view the entire collection.

Yellow Fellow

I'm celebrating this first full week of summer by linking up with Poppytalk's Summer Colors Week. Today's color is yellow--thus this collection of yellow objects--featuring a certain yellow fellow I borrowed from the inspiration board in my studio. If you're interested in joining in the Summer Colors Week fun, everything you need to know is right here. Happy Monday!

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".

Aged Objects

Collection of Cast Iron Shoe Forms

I've been photographing a plethora of aged objects that I've collected over the past several years and have never "found" time to list them in the shop. Looking ahead two years into the future we'll be moving again and I know it will take months to purge my inventory. Here are a few of my favorites from the last photo session. There is much more eye-candy in the shop (and more to come!) so go take a peek when you have a minute.

Chippy Orange Bundt Pan


Old-School Metal Lunchbox


Rustic Metal Egg Basket

Kaleidoscope Button Board

A whimsical assemblage, a collection of old buttons, a kaleidoscope of color--it's all of these things! Take a closer peek at this button board in the shop.

Conner Prairie

One highlight of our excursion to Indiana was an outing to Conner Prairie on Saturday. Most of these images were taken inside my two favorite buildings in the reconstructed, old-timey village--the shop and the school house. My acrophobia prevented me from experiencing the 1859 balloon voyage but it was beautiful to watch and photograph from the solid ground.

My Parents Home

We're back home again from our weekend trip to visit my parents in Indiana. I put Instagram to good use throughout the visit so you may be inundated with Insta-imagery throughout the next week or so! These are all snapshots of objects in my parents home. My mother loves origami and paper craft and sent Lizzie home with a pocket full of tiny paper frogs and stars. Even grandpa got into the paper folding action and made an oversized paper hat with Lizzie which they had fun decorating together. It was a lovely weekend--hope yours was too!