{Vintage Fisher Price} Barky & The Happy Hauler...

Ever since I saw that a new little junk store opened up downtown, I've been just itchin' to give it a browse through. Today I snuck down for a quickie look & found two little vintage fisher price toys calling my name (for mere pennies). 

Barky & the Happy Hauler just had to come home with me. They've definitely seen better days, but I love that about them. The Happy Hauler even has a tulip on it so how could I pass it up, given we live among so many tulips? I get so excited when I find stuff like this & can't wait to see Sayer's reaction to my finds. One of my favorite things to do is show him these treasures for the first time, when I'm behind a camera. 

Because honestly, as much as I love finding cool vintage toys- I love watching Sayer play even more. So it's extra fun to document both. Tonight Sayer put the Happy Hauler in his firehouse garage & Barky is now the firehouse dog. Safe to say that he is as smitten with these toys as I am.  He can even do a nice Barky expression. Hey wait, is that Barky on his tee you ask? Quite possibly... 

Hope everyone is having a terrific weekend! 

{Fabric Friday} Rainbow Bundles...

On this rainy Friday before Memorial Day, it seemed appropriate to create a rainbow of destash bundles for my Etsy Shop.  I set myself up with scissors, yardstick, fabric & the Tina Fey audiobook, Bossypants that I got for Mother's Day. I have to say, it was an enjoyable afternoon laughing & bundling- & for the record, Tina Fey is the perfect studio mate. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend - & those of you in the US, enjoy your Memorial Day (long) weekend! If you feel like this rainbow of bundles is in need of some red or you just want to read about what my family I partake in every Friday night before memorial day weekend.... 

click here to see the Fabric Friday post from a year ago. The only difference this year is that my brother & sis in law won't be joining us but my father in law will be.  Happy Fabric Friday! What are your weekend plans?

{Studio Update} New Drawings in Thread...

I've been busy playing around with making some more drawings with thread lately. After many attempts, here are my newest three - a rabbit, fox, & hedgehog. Do you have a favorite? I think I do, but I'm curious about yours. I will be printing some more tees with one of these right away, & have plans to make more letterpress prints & plush as well. I would love your input. For those that don't know what I mean by drawing with thread, here is a little video demo of my process. There isn't a drawing underneath, or a computer program that does this for me. It is all chance & a regular sewing machine with a quilter's foot. Sometimes the drawing juju is with me... & sometimes it isn't. Needless to say, many end up in the garbage. One of the things that I find interesting about this process is that it uses both parts of my brain. The right side is creating the drawing & the left side is making sure I don't run over my fingers with the needle. 

Thread Drawing from elSage on Vimeo.

Now there are 13 klt:thread characters/images (sandpiper, raven, nest, owl, owl  bride, owl groom, bulldog, german pointer, kitty, squirrel, hedgehog, fox, & rabbit) & so many projects & stories ahead....

{Everyday Inspiration} I heart Milton Glaser...

MILTON GLASER DRAWS & LECTURES from SEECOY on Vimeo.

I've been on a bit of a Milton Glaser kick again lately because I recently watched Milton Glaser: Inform & Delight & loved it. I've been thinking about drawing a lot in the last few weeks as I'm trying to come up with a few more thread drawing characters. In a search for inspiration (some call it stalling) I found this video. I've been thinking about Milton's words today - I've even said some of them in my days of teaching drawing. But it's always nice for me to get a little reminder. Is drawing a part of your life? If so, how?


* just a little side note:
I've been experiencing some blogger issues & haven't been able to upload photos in the last few days. But, thanks to Heather & Sandi- I posted a different way this time. Thanks to my late night twitter buddies!

{Music Monday} Sarah Jarosz...

How about a little bluegrass to start the week?  I just looked up Sarah Jarosz after reading about her here today & she got my toes a tappin'.  I'm a Tom Waits fan so it was cool to hear her version of this song (which is one of my favorites). Happy Music Monday!

{Fun} Imagine & Wonder...

It's been a long time since I created an Etsy Treasury. I find that it really relaxes me to cruise through my favorite items & shops. So, I put together a group of things that I've adored for a little while. I find that all of these items inspire me in some form or another. How about you?

You can view this Etsy Treasury live here . Hope you had a nice weekend! {top image via here}