d.Sharp Journal

in the mix.

I have had a couple sets of Mixies hanging around the studio for a number of years - I love the illustrations, circa 1956.

Finally made the mobile I had planned for them. Just a light twirl to transform.

I have always been intrigued by Cadavre exquis {Exquisite Corpse} collaborations, projects, games and books. Maybe I will do something like this with the boys.

Rainbow? check. Now all that I need is a unicorn and I am set.

The work of Helmut Smits is happy with a smattering of brilliant with whip cream and cherries on top. {Love!}

{cars sorted by color}

{high tension flags}

{paddling pool fountain}

coinage

In the interest of preventing the loss of a life savings,  we had to epoxy a piggy bank closed last week. All of the bills {more than I would want to lose} were continually being taken out, wadded up, stuffed in makeshift wallets and then falling out in various spots throughout the house or barely surviving the laundry cycle.

So, inspired by a similar project in a vintage kid's magazine,  I made a paper piggy bank for C's discretionary spending losing $. An easy way to dedicate a bank for a specific use, such as savings or charity.

They are free to download if you like:  Download BlankBank and  Download PiggyBank versions. Just print the templates out on card / cover stock weight paper, with a borderless 8.5 x 11 margin setting; instructions are on the sheet.

{ C says that this is the smile he saves and uses only on super happy days}

{and yes, he managed to button up his inside-out shirt}

Behold - Add it up

I found this vintage toy at an estate sale a number of years ago, and it is one of my most favorite toy finds.

At 5, C is interested in numbers and counting and we have been doing some basic addition and subtraction problems together. The old plastic Add-A-Count is such a great visual for him. It has each number 1 -9, plus a couple of additional low numbers. Stack a couple of numbers together on one side and their total on the other and the arrow will point to Right. It even works with larger sums like 9/4 on one side and 6/5/2 on the other. This toy should be reproduced and sitting on toy store shelves, in my ever so humble/jumbled opinion.

 

 

bits/pieces

My husband is fond of making puns. So I made this mobile for him as a little anniversary gift. Because I love him to pieces {figuratively, that is}.

Made some others that are in the shop.

Vintage craft book

 I think this has got to be the most xanadu-tastic craft book photograph. I kind of love it, has a bit of that SNF/ Solid Gold thing going on.

finally.

I have decided that repainting your kitchen in the exact same color as the previous one is pretty unsatisfying. It took me forever -  hard to carve out the time to do it - so you do all the work, but very little wow at the end. This picture looks grey, but it is a light green.

Can't bring myself to part with the tattered chart, on its last legs.

I did repaint the ceiling a blue instead of white, which I like. A couple of days after completing the final coat of plaster/mud to repair ceiling damage from an old leak, C took a bath....and poured cups of water on the floor {the kitchen ceiling].....and I then redid all the plaster work. Good times.

Gave me plenty of time to clean - the pots and tin stoves were looking scary dusty.

 

Abecedary addition

Found this "Circus Alphabet" a couple of weeks ago. Illustrations by Patric Hudson, Whitman Tell-A-Tale, 1954.

Not, um, the most politically correct.

 

colorful dots

 Bokah photographs can be so fun and colorful. This site has interactive Bokah type - reminds me of my old Lite-Brite.

tied in.

EAT, PRAY, UGH.

On principal, I don't really have a problem with product/movie tie ins { I still regret not buying that Fargo snowglobe with the guy in the woodchipper}, but tea, prayer beads, handbags, journals, perfume, skin care, candles, jewelry, bookmarks and tote bags?  A line of furniture, clothing and food at Cost Plus, a line of designer clothing and a marathon special on the HSN channel? Seems a bit much, considering the narrative it's tied to.

What do you think?