In Which I Almost Puke, Make Out Like a Bandit, and Show You Cheap, But Awesome, Art

1. Almost Puking

On Sunday, I flew on back to Canada for the holidays. Flights between Columbus and Toronto are handled by wee little planes that, when bursting at the seams, seat, perhaps, 40 people. Sunday was a windy, windy day, and for the first time ever, I saw merit in including a barf bag in the backs of airplane seats. There's nothing worse then that heaving stomach and sweaty hot flash that accompanies the urge to puke.

The puke urge, however, was defeated, and shook an angry fist at me while I laughed at its anger as it was banished from my body.

Then I landed in Toronto. There was snow on the ground. That almost made me puke again.


2. Making Out Like a Bandit

My family gets all crazy-like with the gift giving. Crazy-like, I say. Because on top of all of the awesomeness of seeing my parents and my brother, and the thoughtful things they all did for me, I ended up taking home a completely surprise gift.

Ever wanted a GPS that could speak to you in the voice of Mr T?

I did. AND GUESS WHAT I HAVE NOW! And while I still have to get my ass in gear and download Mr T (download Mr T!), I am delighted with the mere prospect.

And because I love my brother, I now planning on sending him on quarterly "buying" visits to LuluLemon. Don't say I never do anything for you, mister.


3. Showing You Cheap Art

Well, not cheap, but an inexpensive way to get some art on your walls, sucka.

I adore Trish Grantham's work - really, I do. Read this old post, and you'll see!

Recently, she and her partner formed a company to produce products, in small runs, from excellent artists. The first couple of items on offer are postcards and notecards bearing Grantham's work.

So I gots me a set of postcards. And a frame. And mixed them together and threw it on my wall.

Regard:

The Illness is Antlers

I have problems. My current, most pressing deal is an obsession with faux dead animal heads, all an-antlered-up.

What? you say? I am longing, with all of the passion in my heart, for pieces like these to hang on my walls. And possibly hang things from.


Erich Ginder's Ghost Antler Coat Rack:




Pols Potten's Rack Deer Park:





Big Game's Moose and Deer Heads:




Roost's Carved Wood Trophy Heads:


I sometimes despair that I will never live in a grown-up home, Pee-Wee's Playhouse, yes, all elegant and classic, not so much.

Unrelated, last night I had to talk so loudly at the corporate holiday party I went to that I sounded all Kathleen Turner at the end of the night. And not Ms. Turner when she sounded someone sexy, but Turner as an emphasemea patient.

Alright, Pictures, Finally

I'm still waiting on the armchair and bookshelves to arrive, but the couch is here, and I couldn't resist putting up the art!

Here's one side of my living room:




And the other:




See those two little pieces beside the door? I got those today at Tiny Canary, an indie design market going on in-town this weekend. They're by Mark Traughber, who's work I've been wanting to snap up for a while. I was stoked when I read that he'd be in town! I feel like I'll need to buy one of his bigger pieces in the near future, because check out how awesome these are! Art Crush to the Extreme.

What Will Happen When Knut Grows Up?

Though it is inevitable, of course, I think capturing wee Knut while still wee is key. So here's the little man, by CreativeThursday, print available via her Etsy Shop.


Unrelated and random, this morning, I found myself delighted and may have clapped my hands like a goon. Why? Headed to Chicago at the end of July.

The end.

The Birds

I have an abiding love for handmade animal creations. The latest object of my admiration is Ann Wood.

Wood's handmade bird sculptures, made of vintage, reclaimed fabrics, just delight me to no end. She's recently started a series called The Daily Bird where a new creation is posted for sale every day.

That's right. One. One a day. Which means that I am never quick enough to snap one of these lovelies up. So, let's take a look of my favourites wee cheeping lads and lasses so far.




Confidential to Kate and Rose: She does completely lovely and outrageous cake toppers as well.

Wanna Get Me Something?

Hold Up - Trish Grantham

Art Makes My Heart Go Pitter-Pat

I'm adding to my contemporary art crush harem. The current line-up:

• Kathy Olivas
• Ray Caesar
• Tara McPherson
• Peter Callesen

And the new kid...Emily Martin.

It's been killing me to not talk about her dreamy prints, but I had to wait, you see, as I was sending a print of her piece Heidi, to a friend as a birthday gift.

So here're a few samples of her work. Love. LOVE.

Heidi

Bunny on Wheels

Jackalope Baby

Fox in the Snow

Rock N Roll

I Have a Bad Habit

When it the year starts to creep up to February, I start to celebrate the idea of my birthday by purchasing birthday presents for myself.

So far, here's the haul of goodies that I've given to myself:

• Lonely Heart: The Art of Tara McPherson - Tara McPherson, one of my art crushes
• Spellbinder - Melanie Rawn, one of my all time favourite authors
• Public Warning - Lady Sovereign, whom I have a soft spot for due to raps about being short

And this hilarious contact lens case, which I blame on Amblus:

Art Crush, Revisited

Crushes come and go, and I've moved on, and on again, to a new love. Credit to red.house for the introduction. I feel like this is a CYO dance, and a friend of a friend brought their 2nd cousin with them, and now we're slow dancing to a glam metal power ballad.

Anyway, I give to you the papercut work of Peter Callesen.