New Old Friends

Get ready for a bunch of photos of my newest old treasures found amongst the dregs and discarded doodads during the last minutes of an estate sale at Centaur Acres (somehow the name of the subdivision seems worth mentioning).

I'm not sure how many plastic deer are distributed throughout our apartment, but I still couldn't pass up the little guy pictured below. Anyway, he makes the perfect pet for my new swimsuit-clad dolly (whilst making her look like a giantess). I just love this little lady's (non-symmetrical) expression and sculptural hair. Added bonus: She squeaks when you squeeze her.






And how could I resist this instant collection of deer, octopus and kangaroo (with joey).  gah.  I love their personalities.  If these creatures don't inspire drawings, I don't know what will.

sky time

the other night the sun was setting as i was sewing. i looked up from my seat at the serger and saw such pretty colors in the sky...

inspiration

marcel dzama, one of my favorites.

(via everything).  watch the enchanting/horrifying department of eagles video.

also inspiring, the sketchbook series.  after looking at these artist's sketches for a few minutes, all i could want to do was go draw in my own book.  so i did.

 

jacket inspiration

this cool weather has me thinking about coats.  i scored an awesome swingy sailor-type one at the thrift store the other day for $5.  i'll show you soon.  here are a couple from zara that i really like.

    

new table new hat

last week i bought a new (used) table for my sewing area...  i don't know how i'd gone without a cutting table/work surface like this for so long.  and it was only $10.  and the legs fold under so we were able to fit it in the back seat of my little car...  and it has a leaf, for big projects.  it's like a super sturdy card table.  i love it.

what's that, you like my hat?  me too!  it came in the mail (on a chilly day) from All Knitwear.  it's my first piece made by annie, but not my last...  i've had my eye on the sticker stripe box top for some time.  can't wait to see her fall collection!

many thanks

just wanting to super-thank a few sweet folks for posting about imaginary animal/plastic foliage:

carmen, who purchased a topknot has a lovely blog and a rad shop.  she makes these awesome wearable geometric shapes!  isn't the nautical one great?  i'd shop in a store that has a polyhedron section for sure.  go meet my little architect.

my friend from grad school, natalie, has a fun blog and a couple of neat-o shops.  check out the sweet hand painted apple box at miss natalie.  her newer shop, canoe, is awesome.  chock full of vintage mens work wear plus wood-burned and leather-worked knives and key chains.  i could have used one of these when i was whittling the bark off twigs for the acoustics of upholstery.

you'll see photos by abby in natalie's shop.  abby has been such a great supporter of more less.  she mentioned my efforts on her baby blog and abby try again. so many thanks to her!

also kristina of lovely morning ( a lovely blog) and robyn who writes for makobi scribe (she's hosting a handsoap giveaway).

and (to whoever is reading this) thank you, too!

weaving

sometimes when it's dark and rainy i look at images of bright mayan textiles.

then i feel like travelling, weaving and buying a new pair of shoes.

(click on photos for sources).

inspiration

i just spent way too long looking at this etsy pattern shop.  mostly i was looking for faces/expressions/postures to draw.  found lots of those...

  

   

but then i found some things that i'd like to make.  strange that i seemed to be attracted to the crochet patterns.  usually i don't like the dated-ness of crochet-wear, but isn't that dress pretty and the baby outfit cute?  (click on images to see 'em bigger). 

   

and then there's the strange stuff...  floating baby heads and loopy baby bags.

 

and this guy.  i love his style.  is warby parker going to make those glasses next?

all images from here.