Caine's Arcade

Have you seen this super creative kid?

He made a bunch of arcade games out of cardboard in the front of his dads car parts store in East LA.

HERE is a link to the youtube video that tells his story.

I remember making a wall of cardboard in my room when I was a kid. My sister and I shared a room and we wanted our own rooms so we erected a homemade cardboard wall, complete with door and a window that closed. I think we taped it in place--thank you Mom and Dad--to the ceiling and floor. I don't remember how long we kept it up, but I always draw on this memory when my own girls have wanted to do some crazy, messy project.

Great job Caine!

Spring Break

A little spring break going on around here.

Sorry to have been gone without saying why.

Be back soon.

PS: the illustration above is by Harrison Cady. He wrote and/or illustrated a whole bunch of books. I love his little animals all dressed in their finery.

HERE is a link to a book he illustrated.

(forgive me if I have linked to it before) {;-)

Gobbling

From time to time I have featured fabulous illustrators/artists here and Joan Walsh Anglund is one I have shown before. I couldn't resist showing her work again because I just found that she had illustrated this Hansel and Gretel story, published in 1962. I hopped onto Amazon and found a used copy to order. Man, do I love the internet for the used book market. I bought a Palmer Cox, Brownies book years ago and had to directly contact (via snailmail) a bookseller who located a copy for me. I had to send a check in the mail and wait forever to receive the book.

Anyway, Joan Walsh Anglund is on my list of favorite artist/illustrators. I am framing copies of work by each of my favorites to hang in my art room. Sometimes years go by without looking in books that I own to see the artwork of these illustrators. It seems like such a shame to have them hidden away. What are some of your favorite illustrators?

Are there any you haven't thought of for years?

The Teenie Weenies

Have you ever seen the Teenie Weenies?

They are small people imagined by William Donahey.

There was a cartoon strip and many books featuring these little people

published between 1912 and 1970.

They are delightful and good fun--though a bit dated in a politically incorrect way.

There is a blog HERE that has many of the cartoons and stories that went with the picture. There is a book published back in 1986 about William Donahey called

"The Teenie Weenies Book: The Life and Art of William Donahey"

but many libraries don't have it anymore and a used copy is high-priced ($100 and up).

In the book it says that he built models of the houses he illustrated.

I wonder where those are??? I would love to see them wouldn't you??

Busytown

I made this felt rabbit 11 years ago about this time of the year.

I was pregnant with Em and had found a Richard Scarry activity book

with the pattern in it. 

I found another copy of the activity book this past summer

and couldn't resist snapping it up. 

This is the pattern for the mouse girl. 

This is my someday book....

someday I might use it....someday I may have little grandchildren. :-) 

Until then I can enjoy the illustrations and ideas for activities.

Richard Scarry books are great rainy day/snow day books

to be poured over, and over looking at all the details.

Vintage Applique

Unbelievably small stitches on this vintage cloth hand towel. 

The rolls at the bottom of this picture are a collection of paper tapes by Martha Stewart called "Vintage Girl"

As usual, loving the gingham. :-)

Mouse Mansion

This is a gorgeous flyleaf from the Dutch book "Het Muizenhuis Sam & Julia" by Karina Schappman.

Please check out the posting about the book on Dutch Sisters HERE.

There are more pictures from the book there, including an adorable built-in bed.

The author's website is HERE with a bit more info.

I sure hope there is a plan to publish this book in English.

You're a Doll

OK, everyone march, march, march....

March over to Three Poodles and a Nana.

She has made an absolutely beautiful pillow using my drawing of Polly's Pumpkin.

That is all for today--so go have fun exploring Mickie's wonderful blog. :-)

Hugs to you Mickie! You're a doll!

Ronald McDonald House

Making taco salad kits to take to Ronald McDonald House today.

Also bringing lots of brownies.

RMH--truly a home away from home when you most need it.

Lots of people volunteer to bring meals in

for those parents and siblings of very sick kids in the hospital.

We stayed in Cleveland, Ohio's RMH in 2000

 when Em needed open heart surgery right after she was born.

Rainbow for the Rain

A gorgeous gift. 

What to make, what to make?

Mantra for a rainy day. :-)

Pretty Tape

Beautiful Cath Kidston paper tapes.

The floral one is my favorite.

Found HERE!!

I've used these already to mark a favorite page in my journal.

Folded over on one end then taped down on page creates a soft tab on the page's edge.

Pickets

Don't go nuts on me..spring is not this far along here, yet....this is from last April when I was looking around at fences in a nearby town. This one has such charm. Later in the summer a little basket was hung from the entrance gate with flowers planted in it.

Another picket type

and another

This is a dream fence...wrought iron curleques!!! Isn't it yummy?

Doll's House

Isn't this dollhouse cute? I like all the do-it-yourself ideas and the peg wooden dolls. Has anybody seen the booklet that seems to have been offered about the Doll's House?

Good Reads

Ahhhh...........the loveliness of a quiet, snowy day!

I am banishing my winter blahs with a good book.

This one is a well-thumbed library pick, it's pages soft from use.

It is a mystery titled "Passport to Peril" by Robert Parker.

It has a man traveling under a murdered man's name, a beautiful young lady and the dangers of travel just after WWII into Budapest, Hungary.

I am thinking of all the old Agatha Christie's to keep me company through the winter. I love all of her characterizations and old-time England. Miss Marple--say no more, my all-time favorite detective.

Old White Buttons

 I went to a small antiques fair this morning and found a whole jar of shell buttons. I love their homey timeworn colors.

Look at all the different kinds there are in this pile. Two holes, four, shank-backed, large size, small, so much variety. The ones with thread still all bunched up in a knot on the back make me wonder what they were stitched to. A sturdy workshirt or was it a small starched white shirt worn on the first day of school. :-)

Peter Hunt Inspiration

Look at this unique little desk. I found the pictures at an auction site online. The desk had sold but the pictures are inspirational. This desk is the work of the artist Peter Hunt or one of his helpers. Information about him can be found here and here (click on the link at bottom "Peter Hunt by Andy Jones" for a pull down article).

Sort of trompe l' oiel letters on the writing surface. The painting style is folk art, Peter Hunt called it peasant style painting. Peter Hunt's painted furniture was very popular in the 30's and 40's, selling at Macy's and Gimbel's department stores and commands high prices now as well.

I love all the hearts along the side and the hearts at the knees on the man's knickers.

Above are two pages from "Peter Hunt's How To Do It" book. I found a copy by chance at a library book sale a couple of years ago. I had never even heard of him before that.

Swedish designs

Aren't the designs in this old Swedish bowl pretty? I like the swirly hand lettering and the warm brown and red tones.

And the designs on the side of this Swedish book---is it the bible--seems likely? There was no touching allowed so I couldn't find out.

More designs--this time stenciled on the side of a field cradle. The cradle could be rocked and had wheels for transport to and from the fields of wheat and barley. Lucky baby to be so well cared for.....

Finally a little gnome that I knit up last night and this morning. I got the pattern from a Swedish craft book called "The Gnome Craft Book" published in English in 1999. Available from Amazon.

Meg thinks it looks like a caroler with the cape over her shoulders.

Crazy beautiful......

Have you ever tried a crazy quilt? I sure haven't, but I love this one. I went on a visit to see my aunt a couple of weekends ago and she pulled this family quilt out for us to look at. It was made by Lizzie Colcord in 1894 up in Maine. She was married to a sea captain and passed away, childless, just 6 years after she made this while in her 40's.

Beautiful stitches and lovely fabrics. Each corner has a fan of small pieces set in place. The strip of music is in the very center--does anyone recognize the music?

China Pattern

Check out this china pattern--"Oma's House"! Found just this one tea cup and plate up North on vacation. I love the houses and the kids and the tiny ladybug found under the teacup on the plate and after you finish your cocoa at the bottom of the cup. The pattern is produced by Heinrich Leonhard for DEMDACO. I couldn't find it online except for here and a website that said the pattern is retired.

Many, Many Thanks!!!

It is just over a year now that I found crafty blogs--what a find! I was getting ready for my annual summer camp with my two girls, trying to find projects for us to do together and I stumbled upon Molly Chicken and thought I had died and gone to heaven. I was searching for ribbon bracelet examples or instructions and looked under fabric bracelets and the first google hit was for Molly Chicken's tutorial for scrap fabric bracelets. Now while I didn't use this bracelet tutorial for summer camp I did make one of my own later in the summer last year.

I soon found Allsorts and this led to link after link......I soon got rather dizzy with blog overload--a very pleasant place to be ya know. :-) This has been a great blogging time for me, visiting all the lovely blogs out there and having my own blog inspires me to work on projects and post pictures that brighten up my little corner. :-) Thank you--all you fabulous bloggers--you see--you brighten up my life!--and make me smile often! :-)