May is…National Bike Month!

I think it is kind of funny that I finally got a bike during National Bike Month. I have been thinking about getting a bike for the last couple of months but I have been waiting to see something old that struck my fancy. I did not want a fixed gear bike like Tom’s. I prefer the joy of coasting all too much ;)

I went riding last night once it was dark and I am not ashamed to say that riding the bike totally kicks my butt. I am sadly out of shape and I rode one mile and it was quite a work out over a couple of the hills in the back alleys.

I went back out again this morning (so much less scary then riding at night even with the loan of Tom’s blinky light) and again rode a mile…which I know seems so short, but I figure a mile two times a day for the first couple weeks or so will be good.



Anyhow to thank Tom for my new bike I made him this bike plushie this morning. I have actually been meaning to make him a plush bike for awhile, so this was a good excuse. We first saw the bike when we were at a Flea Market that has 4 buildings. It was in the first building we went to and I couldn’t stop thinking about it so Tom went back and bought it for me.

So if your local and you see me pedaling about #1 please do not hit me with your car, and #2 no making fun if you see me huffing and puffing to get up a hill!

Paper Or Plastic?

When going through the attic to dig out more fabric for cutting and selling, I came across a stack of ten blank tote bags. I made up a hand cut stencil for earth’s because I thought they would be good for reusable grocery bags.

They came out a little wonky on screening bit..but I think still come across as an Earth. I am saving some for my use (you can never have too many tote bags) and the other few I will bring to the crafty shows this summer.



Today has been such a good day mostly because Tom is off and we went to a few Flea Markets this morning looking for frames for an art show he has coming up. We found an amazing blue bike for me, which already has a basket on the front. I rode it around a nearby parking lot for a good while and realized it is so true, you never forget how to ride a bike.

Mushrooms!

Today I received the most lovely bit of mail from Ms. Annie Oakleaves! She sent one of her beautiful mushroom girls and a package of goodies. First of all if you have never seen her work, go check her Esty now. She says she will be adding more mushroom dolls to her shop as well as vintage goodies later this week.

She also sent me some fantastic fabric, mis-matched salt and pepper shakers for my new collection, a cute vintage bowl, an embroidered bee, and lots of other goodies. Thank you so much Annie!



Since we are on the subject of mushrooms and my love for them I thought I would finally show you the nutcracker I bought a couple of months ago. He was at a local flea market and marked as 50% off, making him just $10. He came in his original box (which is a pretty plain brown box with German stampings). I love him because the paint colors are just so good, and he has a basket of brown + red mushrooms with white polka dots.

My friend Persephone and I were talking about thrifting physic power and she said Its psychic thrifting powers. We think, therefore it is… in the thrift store, which I think is funny but seems to happen a lot. She had been obsessing over Enid Collins purses and found one! I had been admiring the nutcracker that Tom’s parents had from Germany (the colors were just unlike any I could find around here) and then I find a real German nutcracker, and for a steal…and he has mushrooms!

It is so great when that happens!



And lastly (sorry this post is ending up so very long) Here is a birdcage that I found before Easter and used for Tom’s Easter basket this year. After Easter I thought it would look good with plants inside, which is really did. It was a bit of a pain to open the top each day and water them…so once I made the deer jars for the window I decided to think of another use for the bird cage.

I decided the shape of this one would work well for holding some of my favorite books. I put a lot of my Japanese books inside, the Humpty Dumpty magazines, and a few other favorites. The little owl inside was one of my Disney World souvenirs from the Japan section of Epcot. There is also a very small snail next to it which was a Flea Market purchase for .25 cents.

Anyhow that is all for today. I have more fabric to photograph for Ebay today, it feels so good to be getting rid of so much (and gives me an excuse to buy more fabric at yard sales this summer!) I also am working on some more of the Mountain Men plush for the Art Star show at the end of this month…which is actually very fun work indeed.

Upcoming Show

Crammed Organisms
Crammed Organisms Grand Opening Party
June 6th 7-11pm
Starclipper Comics
6392 Delmar Blvd. in the Loop! St. Louis, MO 63130

Crammed Organisms
June 13th 7-11pm
Cranky Yellow
2122 Cherokee Street! St. Louis, MO 63118

Crammed Organisms
June 20th 7-11pm
Subterranean Books
6275 Delmar Blvd. in the Loop! St. Louis, MO 63130

Crammed Organisms
June 27th 7-11pm
APOP Records
2831 Cherokee Street! St. Louis, MO 63118

Crammed Organisms is the world’s largest plush show! The show is located at 4 unique, independent venues in Saint Louis, MO. In addition to the shear hugeness of the event we offer a diversity to match its size! In each of the venues hosting Crammed Organisms you will find stuffed whimsies and art not displayed in any of the others!



Each venue will host over 100 different plush, plus other fun stuff varying from venue to venue..including “make your own plush studio”, raffles, a plush display made by children, book release, and more. You can check the website for all the details.





This last photo was taken by my lovely sister Heather.

Those were the days of roses

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day. Mine was filled with doing the things I enjoy with the people I love.

The kids had made me some very nice drawings, Tom gave me a wooden bird box that works like a puzzle. It has secret parts that slide off and makes me think of National Treasure ;) He also gave me roses, and dinner out.

My mother, younger sister Noelle, and I all went out to lunch. We then drove to this really big Flea Market and spent a couple of hours looking over all the goodies. I found some vintage Christmas ornaments for cheap, and a pretty polka dot brown and white flower pin.

Afterwards I came home and baked a coconut cake, because I love to bake. Once Tom got home he and the kids took me out for sushi and other Japanese delights at House Of Kobe. Our waitress was so sweet and they gave out roses to all the moms who came in.

Then we had coffee and coconut cake when we got back home, a sweet finish to the day!
*please excuse the odd photos, I didn’t realize when I took them that I had my camera on a setting I never use, so they look a bit odd to me.