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Thinking Small



When I started making this batch of tiny wooden things, I wasn't sure what they'd be. I mean, I had a general idea (bee, bird, bird, bird), but not a complete vision. I thought maybe they'd be brooches, but I don't wear brooches, and very much prefer wall jewelry to real jewelry. I was also thinking about how much I like collecting stuff, but how little wall space I have. So I thought small.

I snapped some pics along the way. Day one, two, and three:





I'm quite pleased with how they turned out, and happy to have them fancying up my walls for a little while as they await their forever walls. Their names are Brimble, Freckle, Grumble, and Blackberry.



So you might have noticed that that snapshot up there of  Day One isn't all birds and bees. There are deer legs and dolly bottoms in there too. . .




. . .for Sprout, Ceryn, and Sprig.





And while I was thinking small, I made these teeny weeny itsy bitsy skellys. . .




Tiny enough for necklaces! So of course I had to make adequate presentation boxes for such skeletal silliness. . .




And last but not least in this week's little lineup. . .






. . .The first pumpkins of the year, Sherman and Carolee. I thought about selling them separately for about a minute, but I'd be a monster to separate them.



"If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way."

-Napoleon Hill

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Something-New. . .Monday!

I actually finished this celestial batch on Sunday, but my computer wasn't cooperating. Come to think of it, my whole day wasn't cooperating. Ever have one of those days? The kind where you really just shouldn't have gotten out of your pajamas, or left the house, or attempted to communicate with any other human person? And you certainly shouldn't have made any rash decisions about whether or not to bring home a vintage trailer that had a tree crash through its roof so its owners were giving it away and all you had to do was go way across town in hellish traffic and tow it home even though you've never towed anything or driven the thing doing the towing and it's stupid hot out and everything breaks, and, and, and... Seriously, I should have stayed in my jammies.


Lots of moons going on this past week. I think they were inspired by my newly-built outhouse, which really needs a moon on the door. What's with putting moons on outhouse doors anyway? And does it have anything to do with why we refer to bare butts as moons?



Anywayhere's the latest silliness:





Artemis Moon                                                                     Bliss and Beaumont




Soleil                                             Celeste                                          Orion




Hope the rest of you aren't having one of those days.

If you even suspect that you might be, I strongly suggest NOT getting out of your pajamas.

(And while you're hanging out in your jammies, strolling through cyberspace not getting into any trouble at all, maybe you'll stop by my shop ☺)





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Four months, really?!


I can't believe how long it has been since I lasted visited Bloglandia. I put it on my schedule and everything! But alas, time management continues to elude me. It's not like I'm twiddling away my minutes, I just have so much I want to do with so few hours in a day. So I want to catch up. I'll start by playing show 'n' tell. This is what I made since our last visit. . . (Some of these arty tidbits are still in the shop.)


























Well, some of what I made. There were other things too, but I either neglected to take pictures or I took pictures and they're hiding somewhere in the mess that is my picture folder. Some of the things were commissioned pieces, and some were for me. Like the outhouse! Yep, I made an outhouse. OK, truth be told, my brother made an outhouse for me, but I totally helped. It still needs a roof, and paint, and a moon on the door, but it's still the height of luxury here on the ole Cart! 


Other stuff I've made since my last visit:


-Many, many messes


-A bed/couch for the studio


-A room transformation (turned my room into a room for College Boy)


-More messes


-Girl Scout projects with my niece


-Plans


-Amends


-New friends


-Wishes


-Campfires


-Daisy chains


-Memories


-A schedule


-Doctor appointments


-Tomato salad


- Etcetera, ad infinitum. . .





There are also lots of things I didn't make. Important things, like enough money to keep my car from being repossessed; and unimportant things, like my bed. But that's a different story. I choose to give my attention to the things I did manage to do.





Now I'm off to make more stuff!


Hope you're all having a happy day.













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Duckies, Lambs, and Dollies






Spring is springing!


Ducky, Dandelion, and Dahlia




Bah Bah Blacksheep, Addie, and Beatrice




Petal, Madison, and Strawberry

I'm still trying to find time to do everything that I want to do, included keeping this here blog updated. A workable schedule continues to elude me. I keep working on it though. Pretty sure I just need two more of me. There are 23 pieces on today's table, all demanding my attention. As soon as this batch is done, I have a special project I'll be doing with my sweet niece Lucy (more about that later), and then doing a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds to build a little woodworking shop (more about that later too)! But first, packing and shipping some Springtime. Wheee!

Hope you're all having a lovely day!
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Moon Omelette













I moved here to Olympia on February's Friday the 13th, and just celebrated my one-month-iversary on March's Friday the 13th. I don't put much stock in superstitions, although I did just get a fortune cookie with no fortune in it, which always gives me a bit of the willies. It's been a pretty good month. Time flies! I'm getting settled in for the most part, trying to figure out new routines. I've been tied to my worktable, playing catch-up mostly, but I also got to make some new stuff this week. Spring is luring people out of hibernation here in the Pacific Northwest, and I answered the call with anthropomorphic eggs, more rain, and a moon-headed fellow. They'll all be available this evening, 5:PM Pacific Time, in my shop. Here.





I've been doing other things too, here in my little corner of the woods. Any clear night begs for a campfire, and who am I to deny a clear night's request? One of my favorite things in the world is to sit by a fire under a starry sky. I still need to figure some stuff though. RV living has it's drawbacks, like the whole potty situation. I'll spare you the details, but an outhouse needs to be built. Right now I have a bit of a hike to a proper toilet, which is less than pleasant in the dark of a rainy night. And much more unpleasant in the case of. . . ummmm. . . let's just say, urgency. And on that note. . .





Hope you're all having a pleasant day, flush with Springtimey goodness!







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Moving on down the road. . .


Two weeks ago, Lulu and I packed up The Cart and headed for a new pasture (literally). Well, Lulu was no help. But she did seem to enjoy the journey. Here's a little stop along Highway 101, heading from the Oregon Coast to Olympia, Washington. Nice view, huh?











And here are some pics of our new digs--






Love those furry green trees!






The pasture that I look out on from my worktable. There's a horse in there somewhere. His name is Harley and when I bring him carrots he licks my face like he's a giant dog.






A little outbuilding that I hope to turn into a ceramics studio someday.






View from my front steps.






The Cart, parked in its new little corner of paradise. I have plans to build a deck and make the outside all pretty.

I love it here already! I'm still getting settled in, finding my way around and such. The studio is fully functional however and I've been working and working. My living room is now (hopefully very temporarily) a woodworking shop, but I'm saving pennies to get a shed soon so as to lessen the indoor sawdust component. Got some commissions done, and even managed to make some new stuff for the shop! My list is still long. Really really long. But I'm checking stuff off everyday. It's challenging, but all sorts of rewarding!



 I'll be back on Sunday with pics of this week's offerings, but I just couldn't bring myself to do a post without any silliness, so here are a few snapshots from today's table--







I hope your day's challenges prove to offer their own unexpected rewards.

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Hearts and Stuff


The day before yesterday, I set out to make ONE thing. Just one.


But that one led to another, which led to another. . .











. . .and before I knew it I was up to my eyeballs in lovey stuff.
I have trouble reining myself in.





I made a bunch of stuff last week too.











Most of them are already spoken for, but there are still a few left in the shop.





I miss hanging out here in Blogland. It seems like all my words are being sucked up by Facebook. (I'm over there a lot if you wanna visit. Here's me.)  I keep meaning to be better at keeping this here correspondence current, but the day keeps having too few hours.


Alas. 







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2014 in Review: Where the Art Went


I've always wanted to put little dots on a map whenever my creations were sent to their new destinations, but I wasn't in charge of the sending part until this year. But NOW I'm in charge of every little thing, and I had so much fun adding dots to my map! (Probably too much fun. I'm a bit of a nerd.) I was thrilled to discover that in 2014 (a most challenging year to be sure) my creations went off to live in 42 states, and 13 other countries! This year I hope to travel vicariously through my art to all sorts of destinations unknown, including the elusive Oklahoma. Mind you, I have no desire to actually travel to Oklahoma. *giggle*  


Being a product of a less-than-stellar public education, my geography skills are pretty pitiful. However, I love learning new things, so you can imagine my joy at discovering that the United Kingdom has 4 countries! (Although, I suspect there could be some argument over their claim to that bit of Ireland.) Plus, I officially know where Wisconsin is now! Also, did you know that The Netherlands is Holland too?  And Russia is ONE country? One really BIG country. I think I thought is was a continent or something. Australia too. Continent or country?? Turns out, both! 











Anyway, thank you so much to all of you wonderful people in all of your exotic locations. (I'm not talking to you, Oklahoma.) It is such an honor that you have given my creations a home!





Last year-- 42 states and 13 countries. 


This year-- The World! 


(cue maniacal laughter)









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