Calendar Creating

Wow, I've been so busy that I've sorely neglected my blog (which doesn't get much attention anyway). I've been working on my 2012 calendar which involves sketching all of the images, scanning the sketches, laying out the calendar, redrawing the images, carving the images on linoleum blocks and finally printing everything on the letterpress. Did I mention changing my mind on some of the images and re-carving some of the linoleum blocks because I didn't like the way they printed? Here's a sneak peek of what's to come...

The Old man and the Bird

I just purchased this fabulous Swedish children's book (luckily translated into English) from Etsy seller sorrythankyou79.
The book was written in 1964 by Hans Peterson, published by Ab Rabén and Sjögren Bokförlag with illustrations by Ylva Källström. It tells the story of an old man and his pet bird. When the bird becomes ill, the man gives it a pill which cures the bird but makes it grow and grow until it is as big as a circus tent (and still growing). The story is as delightful as the pictures.

Japanese Artist Serizawa

Every since I my first trip to Japan, I have loved the art of Serizawa. Keisuke Serizawa (1895-1984) was a Japanese textile artist and designated by the Japanese goverment in 1956 as a "National Living Treasure". He specialized in Katazome stencil dying, a technique popular in Okinawa. He was also known for his works on paper, especially calendars, done in the same technique. Some of his calendars are still being reproduced today. I have a few greeting cards, prints, a furoshiki (cloth for wrapping) and one of his calendars.

Greeting card front and back


Calendar pages


Pottery making and Paper making prints

Flea Market Sunday 2

This is what I purchased last weekend at the Rose Bowl Flea Market:
• Vintage stamps on envelopes for collage projects.
• Vintage playing cards for other projects
• Several pieces of crocheted lace (I really need to learn to crochet!)
• A silk scarf (new but a bargin at $3)
• A children's book (Rosalie, the Bird Market Turtle)
• An old train case (I'd been wanting one of those for awhile)
• and last but not least, a straw hat because it was so darn hot out!

Here are more pictures of things I didn't buy (but really wanted to!)

Funky metal animals- a whole menagerie!

A vintage dress that would have been way too big for me but I love the floral pattern.

Anyone need a door knob?

Really cool clock faces. Susan, the owner of the booth (#HM93) stocks all sorts of vintage pieces for artists to use in projects. If you need something special, you can contact her at rubyandpearlgirls@yahoo.com.

I love these lights made from mason jars. The owners of "Chandeliers" (Row W5 at the flea market) also have a really nice blog that you can see here.

I love old buttons so these bracelets really caught my attention. They were made by the owner of the booth and you can check out her blog here.

Flea Market Sunday

L.A. has lots of flea markets and the Rose Bowl Flea Market happens the second Sunday of every month. So last Sunday, we got up early, braved the hot sun and went shopping! What I love about going to the flea market is that there is something for everyone-treasures priced from as low as 50 cents on up. After blowing my limited budget, I could only admire and take pictures of some of my favorite things:

Vintage perfume bottles make a statement


Beautiful velvet ribbons in muted colors. This booth had lots of great antique train journals, buttons and lace among other things and all were artfully arranged. The owner also sells on Ruby Lane and you can find her here.


How cool are these antique toys...


I would love a collection of these stools..the colors are so fun!

Match Book Art

I love anything vintage and graphic, so naturally I was attracted to these vintage Russian match box labels that date from the mid 1950's.

Trip To The Zoo

A few weeks ago, we actually went to the zoo. I hadn't been there in years. We spent lots of time watching the Gorillas-a male (silverback) and his harem. The two in the photo are some of the females.

Some of our other favorites included the Elephants and Meerkats

Big Horn Sheep

Pink Flamingos

and Giraffes

Party at the Zoo

This fun Disney record album dates from the early 1960's. I'd like to think it was illustrated by Mary Blair, but it has no signature so I can't be sure. It's up on the wall in my office and makes me smile.

Etsy Greetings Challenge

I am a member of the Etsy Greetings Team and this month we had a card-making challenge. Everyone used the same digital paper pack from Katies Wish to create their cards. Here are my 3 contributions. You can see all of the card designs on the Etsy Greetings blog here and even vote on your favorite design. My cards are available for sale in my shop.

Vintage Postcards

I purchased these vintage postcards years ago from a Belgian dealer. The images are done in black on a kraft card stock and highlighted with white and one other color (yellow and brown). I love the graphic quality of these cards.


One of the cards was mailed and is postmarked 1909. The handwriting on the back and the stamp make the back almost as nice as the front!

Oh Baby

In honor of my soon-to-be-born niece or nephew (any day now), here are a few baby items that I wouldn't mind receiving if I were having a baby myself. I wish stores in my area carried such fun stuff-thank goodness for Etsy!

Top (from left): THE REAL TEAL Cotton Hand Knitted Ivory Lace and Teal Baby Cloche (sgardner) Hugo, Joshua and Morella - giclee print (29blackstreet)
Middle: Toot - A Mini Owl (tiddlywinks) COLORS Fabric Quiet Book (turnbowdesigns)
Bottom Row: Three Tangerines Quilt (scarletthreadquiltco) Creative Kids Art Buckets (momnmiaquilts) Pogo with sleepsack (pogoshop)

Sally Go Round the Sun

Here is another of my recent children's book finds. "Sally Go Round the Sun" is a book of children's songs, rhymes and games collected in Canada by Edith Fowke (a Canadian folklorist) and published in 1969. It has wonderful illustrations by Carlos Marchiori (born in Italy in 1937 and emigrated to Canada in 1956, currently a muralist in Northern California) I wish I could show the whole book, but these few illustrations give an idea of the style.

New Sketchbook

I bought myself a new sketchbook and decorated the cover using a white pen made by uni-ball (mitsubishi pencil co).

The Fireside Book of Children's Songs

Here is a newish addition to my children's book collection purchased from Etsy seller booksmusicnmore-The Fireside Book of Children's Songs collected by Marie Winn, musical arrangements by Allan Miller, illustrated by John Alcorn and published in 1966. I love the color combination used throughout the book and the groovy illustrations.

Here are a few of my favorites-

Patchwork Show-Long Beach

Here are some pictures of my booth at the Patchwork show. I had a great corner spot. These photos were taken before the wind picked up and started to blow everything over. I spent most of the show chasing cards across the parking lot and picking up my canvases. All in all though, it was an excellent day.

My lovely corner spot


Lots of product to sell


A rare shot of me in the booth


New collages for the show using type and vintage documents.

More UniqueLA

Here are a few fun booths that I saw at UniqueLA. I wish I had had more time to run around and take pictures.

Relite Candles has handmade soy candles in cool vintage containers


Shannon Len has elegant jewelry


Urban Heirloom has jewelry made from vintage pieces