i like you

For those of you in Minneapolis who have inquired about buying pieces, I brought a few things (some toys and also t-shirts and sweatshirts) over to the store i like you yesterday. If you haven't been yet you should check it out. They have a great assortment of only hand made things, most of which are made locally. Also, the two ladies who run the shop are super nice...I like them.

wild things

Have you seen the movie yet?



I meant to see it right away when it came out but haven't been yet. Some seem to like it others not so much.

If I wait a little longer I can see it here for $2! Check out the photos of The Riverview Theater here in Minneapolis...I love it.

race cars

nice to meet you

Subtle variations; a new bear and a new cat.

stockholm

The kids and I spent a lovely weekend at my Mom's house in Stockholm Wisconsin a couple weeks ago. Stockholm is a little village on the Mississippi River with a population of about 94.

All normal activity has come to a halt in our house this week. Both kids are battling swine flu. The scary part seems to be over but the isolation continues....

presents presents presents

Christmas present making is under way. This little cat is in for a long journey. It's an adaptation of an older cat pattern... it looks so different with a jointed head and made of mohair. I've made a couple of adjustments for next time.

shhhhhhhhh

These are some sweet and sensitive boys...they love their babies. By the way, the irony that I lovingly hand craft toys for them but they love the plastic babies the best is not lost on me okay? Jude is really into tucking in his baby (and stuffed animals, and Playmobil figures and pretty much anything with a face) so I made him this little blanket and pillow set. And speaking of blankets, that gorgeous black and white blanket...My mom knit that!

Happy Halloween!

I learned some things this Halloween: 1. I'm not very good with paper mache. 2. you can't get a good mustache on a kid with a runny nose. 3. Lots of excitement mixed with no naps and even just a little candy is Very Scaaaaaaaary.

brown bear

Here is the bear I made for Oscar for his birthday. It's so hard to wait to give it to him! I'm really happy with it. It's kind of scary to make a teddy bear as it has been done so many times and so well...but this was a very satisfying project in the end. Speaking of people who make bears, if you haven't already seen my friend Jennifer Murphy's bears and "Other Silly Things" you really should. She makes some seriously adorable things and has taught me a lot.

arts and crafts

I was a guest lecturer at a St. John's University / College of St. Benedict this past week. This is a picture of the lecture hall just before the group of drawing students came in. I was asked to present my art to the students and talk about my career as an artist etc. but this time also to speak about the crafts I make and even my blog. It was nice to speak about these two things together which I usually keep separate. Thank you to my friend Joe Sinness for asking me to speak and to his students for listening!

paper city

I found another way in which Oscar is a lot like me; he's either not interested in making art at all or he's producing things like mad. Yesterday he made this paper city which involved lots of "scissor work" and some "glue stick work" as well. I helped him fold down the bottoms of the pieces of paper but otherwise this was a totally independent project for him from inception to completion. This working independently business is new for him and I know it is a reflection of his new Montessori environment.

I've been making things too, but not what I'm supposed to be making. I've barely started the Halloween costumes not to mention the work for my big show next year at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts...but somehow I found the time to make Oscar a lovely new teddy bear for his birthday which is not for another month and a half. I'm rather pleased with the outcome. I'll post pictures of it as soon as we get a bit of sun so I can get a decent image. This has been one of the rainiest, cloudiest and snowiest Octobers on record here.

a new drawing

A cat standing next to some train tracks by Oscar.

she is magic

Did you know that puppets (no matter how simple or in this case homely) have magical powers with small children? This sock puppet is able to comfort, calm and entertain our kids. She has even gotten our three year old to clean up toys cheerfully and head to bed without a fuss. My friend Jennie taught me this technique with Oscar while we were going through a bit of a rough patch when we were all adjusting to having a new baby in the house. Jennie is so good....she can do it with her bare hands! I was skeptical that a puppet would accomplish anything as our son is in some ways wise beyond his years. I thought he'd think it was silly but it worked like a charm. And amazingly, he still loves it. Don't forget to use funny voices....kids love that.

sighting in the woods

The others were too quick to be photographed.

first snow

We woke up to snow this morning here. A little early but still very pretty and kind of exciting. Its an obvious signal that it's time to put away summery things and bring out the winter gear.