In the Looking Glass

INSPIRATION 2014 #53: If you live in or are planning to visit Kansas City in the next few months, In the Looking Glass ~ Recent Daguerreotype Acquisitions is an exhibition that runs until July 20, 2014 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum. Definitely on my 'to-do' list!

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Above is one piece from the exhibit. The description is as follows: "The “Genushe (animal post-mortem)”, ca. 1845-46 may be a little odd to viewers in 2014, but during the mid-19th Century it was common to use photography as a means of remembering a deceased loved one. It is possible this little bunny was a cherished pet or it was used to mock the custom."

The Busiest Time of the Year! (for me)

 

{ad placed in Total Licensing}

It has been quite a while since I have posted anything on my blog ~ not that I don't have anything to post about, it is just that I have quite a bit on my plate right now and can't afford the time. So, please bear with me ~ I can't wait to be getting back to some more antique shows and less stressful days!

In the last few months I have been preparing for my second time exhibiting at Surtex ~ an art licensing trade show held every spring at the Javits Center in NYC at the same venue as the Stationery Show and the International Furniture Fair. 

I designed my website (please visit if you would like a sneak peek), am working on developing new art work, and am also preparing all of the show necessities like banners for the booth, postcards, ads, etc.  It is amazing how quickly the time passes ~ Surtex is just about one month away!

Check back when you can ~ I will do my best to post a few things here and there if time allows.  Otherwise, I will be back to a more regular posting schedule at the end of May. Enjoy the spring!  Sitting and staring at a computer screen all day isn't quite the same as getting out and smelling the spring flowers!

The Craftiest Time of Year

{I could use a scissors this size!}

Just noticed that I haven't posted anything much on my blog lately ~ I'll just have to blame it all on being so busy making things for craft shows and the holidays. While it has been rather busy & there have been many late nights, it has been fun ~ crocheting, felting, sewing, cutting, gluing & assembling ~ making scarves, brooches, Dandy Dog Accessories and more.

As my house is my studio, it tends to look a bit like this as far as stuff all over the place, although I have a sweatshop of one rather than four workers. By the end of the day, I most likely resemble the woman on the far left.

Once finished with the making, it is time to gather together and package to sell. I wish I had an outfit and could box my items up like these gals! (Make sure to click on the photos above for their sources.)

{scarves, earrings & bracelets displayed using antique dress forms}

Instead, I usually have a table or two to fill ~ definitely easier on the back and certainly beats selling door to door! While the photos aren't the best, hopefully they give an adequate idea of what the show was like. This year I filled one of my tables with vintage items ~ I usually only have one table and sell only hand made items.

{crocheted and felted brooches on antique thread display}

{vignette of vintage tins, wicker hamper and Adler's box}

{Remains of the Day brooches ~ made from vintage buttons and soda tabs}

{Dandy Dog Accessories ~ felted flowers for dog's collars}

{wool wrapped bangles}

I love using my antique displays when setting up for a show ~ one of my favorite pieces is the thread display I use for my brooches ~ it actually folds up like an accordion, so it is very easy to transport and doesn't take up alot of space. If you were not able to come to the shows, check out my vintage etsy shop or my handmade etsy shop ~ I will be adding more items throughout the week.

NY Tartan Day Parade

{dressed in his/her finest kilt}

Once again, just too busy to make the trip to the NY Tartan Day Parade, which was held yesterday ~ April 14th. Some day Mr. Speck and Sprocket will participate in full tartan regalia! In case you missed the parade as well (for some reason it was not televised?!), you can see a ton of photos on their FB page here. Although there were pipers, drummers and all sorts of different Scottish groups, my favorite would have been this group:

These three were especially dapper in their matching outfits ~ looks like they need a bit more training in parade marching though. Compared to my boys, these dogs all look pretty well behaved and calm ~ mine would have probably been banned from the parade for wreaking havoc and causing disruption. Such a sight ~ so many scotties and westies in one place at one time ~ I would love to see it for myself!

Happy Tartan Day 2012!

{all photos taken by Mark Beaumont}

Decoylab ~ Maiko Kuzunishi

{image from decoylab}

This past Saturday I braved the 100 degree temperatures and checked out Ric Rac Roundup ~ a local craft show here in Kansas City. As I was looking for a small gift, I happened upon Maiko Kuzunishi's booth of modern, hand crafted goodies & designs, named Decoylab. I am familiar with Decoylab as I have seen the work on countless blogs and on Etsy ~ one of my favorite pieces is the clock above ~ isn't it lovely? Last week, there was an article about Decoylab in the KCStar ~ you can read it here.

Maiko is such a talented designer! In addition to the products she designs for Decoylab, she designs her packaging and displays as well. Check out her portfolio and blog for more of her wonderful work.

Here are two brooches I bought ~ while I set out to buy a gift, of course I couldn't resist and ended up buying one for myself as well! I love the simplicity of the stamped logo on her chipboard cards. Her business card is also quite lovely ~ a letterpressed cream colored round printed with her signature logo on front, more info in metallic silver ink on back.

Below, a new product ~ coasters of several colors of felt, recycled leather and bamboo (I think) ~ beautifully packaged. These would make a great gift as well ~ sounds like she will have these for sale online pretty soon ~ she told me she had just finished them up for this show. Wouldn't you love a set of these?!

{cream and pink felt coasters ~ images from here}

After such a hot shopping experience, I cooled off with my first fresher than fresh snow cone ~ Blueberry Lavender ~ a great way to end my shopping day! I can't wait to try some of their other flavors ~ green tea pear, watermelon basil or lime mint ~ it's a hot summer, so I'm sure to have many more opportunities.

{image from here}

Antiques & Alpacas

{ancient embroidered silk lampshade~ beautiful needlework and colors}

Had fun this weekend going to the KC Antiques & Collectibles market and the MOPACA Alpaca Show ~ I managed to spend the entire day at these shows! Got up and out of the house early (for me!) and hit the antique show first ~ it was a combo show and included the KC Toy & Doll show as well as the regular antiques and collectibles. Here are a few items I saw at the show I thought were worth sharing.

{great advertising sign for Nehi soda ~ the peeling paint was an added bonus}

{A set of Creepy Crawlers complete with heating unit and the metal molds!}

I had a Fun Flowers set ~ I made dozens of plastic flowers! I think we also had Incredible Edibles ~ those were bug shaped molds that came with edible goop. These days one can't find anything remotely this fun on the market ~ how on earth did those of us survive this sort of toy? Somehow, despite the plastic fumes, the lead filled molds and the molten plastic, I managed to live to tell about it! So did this guy.

{Beautiful baby book cover}

{Wiggles, a funny little dog ~ a book from the 30's about a runaway scottish terrier}

{great graphics on these tin toy tanks with rubber treads}

{saucy little tin duck}

After the antique show, I headed to the Alpaca Show which was held at the American Royal ~ where oddly enough, years ago, the antique show used to be held. Depending on the weekend, sometimes the smell of manure would waft through the air as you were shopping for treasures ~ just part of the ambiance.

Since I like to knit and crochet, I am familiar with alpaca yarn, but didn't know much about the animals the fiber comes from, so this seemed a perfect opportunity! Alpacas are part of the camel family and look like a small llama, although alpacas are less aggressive than llamas. There are two types of alpacas: suris (their hair looks kind of like dreadlocks or a puli dog) and huacayas (their hair is fuller and fuzzier). The alpaca farmers and breeders that I talked to were very friendly and shared all sorts of information ~ alpacas live about 20 years, a female alpaca will usually have one cria (baby), and their hair comes in 16 natural colors. While their hair is soft and wonderful to touch, most alpacas don't seem to like being touched. Here are some photos from the show:

{two suri alpacas}

{three huacaya alpacas}

{this little guy won a ribbon}

{ears up, ears down!}

{two beautiful skeins of alpaca yarn ~ a souvenir from the show!}

If You Missed the Opening . . .

Just in case you missed the Curious Sofa Halloween Show or live too far away to make it, I thought I would post some photos so you would get an idea of what you missed! The photos below are of the artists' work at the show ~ visit here, here, and here to see some wonderful shots of the store display. As some of the artwork is remaining through the Halloween season and more items are being added daily, make sure to visit Curious Sofa to see everything in person ~ it is an amazing store and always provides great inspiration every season. For those of you out of town, Curious Sofa has just opened an online store here.

{Greg Johnson's wonderful display of paper treasures}

{Diane & Madeline Tompkins' array of masks & letterpress}

{Michelle Spaw's beautifully crafted treat bags}

{Lesa Dailey's lovely paper shoes}

The remaining photos below are of the work I did for the show ~ thanks to Scurvy the opossum and a printer problem, I didn't get as much finished as I would have liked, but the show must go on! I managed to get through the stressful parts and had tons of fun participating in this show

My approach this time around was to stick to a limited color palette and avoid obvious Halloween icons ~ my main reason for doing that is because the work I do is time intensive, thus higher priced, so I wanted to make sure that those that purchased an item would be able to wear it for more than one day of the year. I did try to incorporate some themed imagery in my packaging ~ and then of course, the Devilish Dog Accessories broke all of my self imposed rules!

{Selection of brooches inspired by mourning jewelry}

{New brooch designs ~ inspired by Victorian ribbon cocardes used in millinery}

{Crocheted masks in cream and black}

{Crocheted earrings complete with spider themed packaging}

{Devilish Dog Accessories ~ devil horns for your dog to wear}

{Dog stand~in for when Sprocket is not available}

{Devilishly handsome models & spokesmen ~ Dick & Sprocket}