Been Away So Long

Geesh, I just looked and saw it’s almost been a month since the last time I updated my blog. I think that’s the longest I’ve ever gone without posting. It’s been pretty busy for me, lots of exciting things in the not-too-distant future. Also, I have tons of postcards for my 365 mailart project to share. I think I might try and share a weeks worth every day next week, so stay tuned for that.

I started wondering at the end of spring this year, if this summer would be a sad and lazy one. I wasn’t getting outside much to enjoy the weather and I wondered if once summer hit, it would be too hot to really go out. BUT, ever since summer hit we’ve been doing a lot of things. Last weekend my sisters and I went to the Kane County Flea Market, which is something I had on my to-do list from 2010. The flea market was something my parents used to take us to when we were kids, and I hadn’t been for about 10 years. It was a success and we all found some treasures.

I bought some fabric, a grocery bag full of vintage photographs, and some small rabbit figurines. Here are some treasures we left behind:

A wall of Cuckoo Clocks. I’ve always loved cuckoo clocks.

There was a booth that was filled with color and theme coordinated “grandma” brooches. I’m not really into the gaudy flashy pins, but all together as a collection they were pretty marvelous.

I always love sad clown art. Sad clowns aren’t hiding anything, they are sad and they are letting you know. Happy clowns are just creepy and should never be trusted.

I always have this dream of having a little “mailbox” house that is not for USPS type mail, but gets used between friends and family for transferring treasures and notes.

Also this summer, Matt and my sister and I went to Mathiessen State Park and hiked to the waterfalls. It was great.

We took my nephew to Brookfield Zoo for the first time and I got to do something else I’ve been wanting to do for years and years… visit a butterfly house. It was awesome and everything I’d hoped for. I bought 5 mold-a-ramas and decided I need to start collecting them. We saw the dolphin show and it was okay, but nothing compared to the mermaid show. Also, the unicorn exhibit was pretty lackluster, but we got to feed the leprechauns, so it was a pretty great trip over all.

and of course, there has been plenty of gardening. Matt’s mom lent us a small tiller to keep the weeds at bay and we are even starting to harvest our veggies here and there.

Last but not least, I have been busy in my studio and I realized I added a handful of new items to my etsy shop and never posted them here. There are a couple of new leaf rings that I haven’t had stocked in the shop for a while, a couple new paper spiral stratum rings (The the ring in the center uses old vintage maps and I’m in love with how it came out) and one tiny little “you are my favorite” treasure box.