Another Little Red, and Something Fishy

I just don't get tired of that little red-hooded girl.

Little Red Ridinghood was my daughter's favorite when she was little. We read every version of it from our library, and made up quite a few as well. Her best stuffed friend, Chalk (we think he was a hedgehog), even had to be outfitted with a red cape and hood. Chalk went everywhere with my own Little Red for years, and a substantial search party was recruited when chalk went missing at an airport. Don't worry, we found him.

So, naturally, this week's favorite is yet another Little Red. (This one with a less intimidating wolf than in the original version.)

. . .

Another design I've revisited several times is this human-faced, two-legged fish. I just love putting human characteristics on animals. Or vegetables. Or minerals even, come to think of it. Anthropomorphism it's called, that tendency we have of assigning human-ness to whatever.

Anthropomorphism.

What a great word!

That Blonde-Headed Thief and 3 Bears

This week has been mostly about a surprise party for my eldest who just turned 16. (Success, she was surprised!) But in between making party decorations and driving hither and yon to find black balloons and helium tanks, we did manage to get a few pieces done.

My favorite to paint was Goldie here. Those curls were fun. Although, the bears aren't really as sweet as they look. Oh sure, Baby Bear is fine, but those parents of his! More honey, more honey! And you know that saying about what a bear does in the woods? Well, apparently that's not the only place they do that. They're very small though, so whatever.

Hope all your weeks are free of bear poo.

Got Mid-Century Design?

Eames 1955 DSS fiberglass stacking side shell chairs

(Try saying that 5 times, fast.)

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Super cool neckties, circa 1940

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FUTURES Antiques deals exclusively in 20th century Art, Design, and Cultural artifacts. They've got great stuff, all of it in perfect condition. And Ronn (who runs the place) is running a great promotion, but not for long. From noon to midnight on Mondays, you can contact owner Ronn Ives with your best offer on some great mid-century antiques. He's got the really good stuff, and fun and kitschy stuff too. It's kinda like an auction, only not so much. You can e-mail Ronn at futures@exis.net for your very own flyer.

This Week's Faves

I'm torn between two favorites this week. On the one hand, Dot has kept us thoroughly entertained with her attempts at water ballet. She's tiny enough to create quite a production in the kitchen sink.

We haven't the heart to tell her that holding her nose when she goes underwater isn't really all that sophisticated.

...

On the other hand though, just look at the face on sweet Panda Monium.

His name isn't really appropriate I guess, like calling a fat guy Slim or a shy guy Mouth. I don't know what he's so lost in thought over, but it must be something more interesting than bamboo.

We've been busy!

Wheeeeeee!

They're taking over.

It's been a very productive week here on the ole Cart. Sometimes I just get so crazy creative that all my ideas have no choice but to spill out onto every available surface. Happily, there are more surfaces at our new digs.

I love it when the creativity bug bites hard.

I made patterns for 10 or so new designs last Monday. This Monday I'm taking a break (gotta fuel the fires). I try to guard against burn-out. If I'm on a roll I go with it, but I try to stay conscious of the need to tend to my creative self.

Burn-out is no fun.

There are lots of ways to nurture your creative self. Mine loves libraries and nature hikes, antique shops, hand-written letters, vanilla scented body wash, children's drawings, good fiction, old toys, time with my dog, wandering around the internet, sitting around chatting with friends, a nice breeze, the smell of new crayons, playing cards with my mom. . .the list goes on and on. Lately I've discovered how much I love listening to books on CD while I work, and NPR podcasts on my son's iPod. Dylan even taught me (I won't tell you how long it took him) to find stuff on iTunes and make them go into that little magical device. I'm hooked on Fresh Air and Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me and Garrison Keillor of course.

What fuels your creative fire?

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming. . .

Awwww!
Ain't she cute?

It's that spring green that gets me.

That, and her starfish. . . oops, I mean SEA STAR (I've been corrected by my son who has a head chock full of little facts like that). . . is super cuddly, and not the least bit slimy as one might expect.

Her name is Seaweed

(the mermaid, not the sea star)

and you can visit her here.

- - -

I must be in a mermaid mood today, designing several new mermaid patterns this afternoon. The tail is the fun part, of course. I'm in the midst of designing a funny little thing in one of those old-fashioned bathing suits too. Guess I'm missing a swim-able ocean now that Summer is almost upon us. The ocean here would freeze my fins off, excess insulation and all. Dylan has a wetsuit, so he can jump in the water on calm wave days. My self-esteem could not handle the sight of myself in skin-tight rubber footy jammies though. Plus, I'm really not that great of a swimmer. So I'll happily content myself with making mermaids, and leave it at that.

. . .

This week has inspired some

Halloweeny goodies too.

(What can I say? I like Hallooween.)

Dylan named this tiny punkinhead Erlie. Haha.
She's tiny enough to fit in the palm of my hand.

She used to be a normal girl, but Maya got a hold of her-- naughty, pointy-headed creature that she is.

Frida's Photo Shoot in Small Magazine

One of our Frida dolls is in a magazine!

(Complete with a lovely

little playmate to fuss over her.)

She'll have all sorts of things to tell us when she comes back home.

I suspect she'll be rather high-maintenance though,

what with being a diva for a day.

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Click here to see Frida's debut in Small Magazine.

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It's a lovely magazine,

and they've done a feature on us too.

The interview starts on page 33,

in their chapter called

Small Hands

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We're honored to be included in this very cool publication!

Too Soon?

I can't help it. Guess I'm just in a witchy mood. The past couple weeks I've got witches on the burner. Yikes, better not say that around them, witches are mighty touchy about any burn references. What I mean is, pointy hats abound!
I know, I know. . .It's only June. Whatever. The way time flies around here it'll be Halloween any minute. Guess that means I'm having fun?
I've always liked Halloween. It's just so sociable. When else can you knock on your neighbor's door and ask for candy? Go ahead, try it on the Fourth of July. It won't work I tell you. Course, on the 4th you could probably get away with asking for a hot dog, or maybe a beer. But chocolate is right out.

. . .

Speaking of the Fourth, ain't this United States'
political race something this year?
Like who you will, it's a heck of a race!
Makes me hope my vote will actually count this time around.
What can I say? I'm a hopeful sort.

Click Pink

Click the pink ribbon to help fight breast cancer.

It's free.

***

Nancy Malay (Vintage Whimsy)

is having a generous

giveaway on her blog

to promote this giving opportunity.

Check it out quick so you can enter too.

Haiku for the Blue Goat

"That's not right," they said.

Sometimes beige is not enough,

so the goat turned blue.