I’m finally adding the little books to the shop. There are multiples(ish) of some of the books, but not all. And I notice that some are already sold out. So, if there is something you like, keep an eye on the shop. More books will be added throughout the day and maybe into tomorrow (Saturday).
Listing these pieces has me wanting to make more now.
Have you heard about the new About page on Etsy? Now, in addition to a Profile page, there is an About page. There were several posts on Etsy to help you flesh it out and so it got me thinking. I scrapped my former profile page and created both from scratch. The thing I like most about the new about page is the rotating images. I picked images that I felt went with the whole feel of my shop.
To see the whole thing, click here.
BTW, the little mini buntings pictured above are a little extra goodie I put in with each order.
I’m very proud to announce that my paper spiral jewelry (necklaces and rings) are now available for purchase at the Book Shack in Brisbane, Australia.
These paper spiral pieces are made from vintage used books, so my jewelry is a perfect fit for the Book Shack, which is a secondhand book store and boutique. They have a variety of pieces made from vintage fiction (text pages), vintage atlas books (maps), as well as a few pieces made from comic books. That was an idea inspired by Sharon (the owner) and a brilliant idea at that!
So, if Brisbane is your stomping ground, check out the Book Shack and say hello to Sharon! Otherwise, for those of you elsewhere in the world, there are a small handful of pieces in my etsy shop and I still have leftovers that need to go up from the craft shows earlier this year. I will post again soon when they are ready for a shop update.
Our lost cat ad that we ran in the paper mentioned a reward. We read that it was a good idea to offer a reward when searching for your pet. Anything that can help motivate people is worth trying. The couple that helped us bring him home were vocal several times that they didn’t need a reward, but we are so grateful to them. Grateful, not just for reuniting us with him, but also for caring for him when he was just a stray. They had put out a blanket on their porch for him to sleep on and provided water and food for him at a time when it was 100 degrees outside. To us this means they kept him alive! We have a few things to offer them as a reward, but I wanted to MAKE something with my own hands to show how thankful we are. I put together these paper award ribbons with Bishop’s picture and will be giving them one.
After my mom and my sister made these wreaths for the Fourth of July, I had the idea to make an award ribbon the same way, and found this tutorial as a basis. It has black and white stripes, which is his coloring and blue as an accent because he has blue eyes and it was one of the major characteristics that helped bring him home. I also used black and white fabrics as the bottom part of the ribbon.
This post is a shout-out thank you to instagram for providing a space where all rules are thrown out and people can happily and unabashedly post pictures that might be taboo elsewhere. I’m looking at you, shots of feet and shoes, sunsets and clouds, Starbucks drinks, vanishing viewpoint streets and railroad tracks, cats and self portraits. Thank you @instagram for starting it all by breaking the square format rule. This also goes out to all my college teachers who discouraged square format.
Rules are meant to be broken!
Buying - boba pearls online to make my own boba drinks, oh yeah!
Creating - An award ribbon, kinda like this
Eating - BLT with Morningstar bacon
Listening - The JV Club podcast (specifically #16 Melanie Lynskey)
Loving - life. Things are the calmest they’ve been all year and I’m enjoying it.
Reading - Daring Adventures in Paint by Mati Rose McDonough
Seeing - Piles of clutter, and disorganized mess. Things have been very neglected.
Watching - Resurrection Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles and Horatio’s Drive: America’s First Road Trip
Wanting - I’m wanting for nothing. I have my cat back and life is soooo good.
It’s hard to sit down and write this now that I’ve relayed the message countless times to friends and family, coworkers, to all the strangers new friends who have supported us in the last 7 weeks, and to my dear folks on facebook, twitter and instagram. By my estimation I must have shared this story dozens of times now.
Bishop came home on Sunday July 8th. Sunday was one day shy of 7 weeks since he had slipped out of a broken screen window and went missing.
Weeks back I wrote a message on our chalkboard that said “Bishop come home”. The day we brought him back, Matt drew attention while he changed the o in come to an a.
Last Thursday Matt received a phone call where a gentleman said he thinks our cat has been around their house for the last two weeks. I had the day off, so in 100 degree heat, I climbed on my bike and rode around the streets and alleyways of the neighborhood, calling his name. Later we went driving in the evening (when cats are more active), calling his name, flashing our ultra bright new flashlight that reflects cat eyes. We didn’t hear or see him then either. This was no surprise. We have a long laundry list of places with possible Bishop sightings. When Matt spoke to the gentleman, he asked him to please call back, any time or day, if he were to see him again.
On Sunday morning around 9 a.m. Matt got another call, this time from the same gentleman’s wife. Her husband saw the cat again, it’s under their neighbor’s trailer. We flew out the door, and on the trip over (8 blocks over and 8 blocks up) we realized we hadn’t brought our blanket or gloves. We had become prepared for the worst, and it was very possible that after 7 weeks out Bishop could have become a bit feral, stressed and more agitated than normal. Matt told me that the wife said “don’t worry about the reward” and he joked that if it really was Bishop he’d gladly just them his entire wallet.
We get to the house and the couple comes out and explains that, naturally, the cat is no longer under the trailer but he might be in their neighbors back yard. While Matt hunts, I speak with the couple. They explain how this cat has been around their house for 2 weeks. The wife had noticed him on her front porch, saw his blue eyes, and had put out food, water and a blanket for him to sleep on.
To back up the story a little bit, we put up flyers (then were told by police repeatedly to remove our flyers :O), added his name to missing pet lists at all the local animal shelters, veterinarian offices, animal control, police station, stores and what have you. We handed out fliers to anyone who would take one. We posted to craigslist and placed an ad in the paper (we are grateful that the local newspapers allow for free lost pet ads) and then updated and reran it weekly. I would say we received calls or emails at least once a day. The outpouring of help, and support was amazing. People wanted to offer tips and encouragement, even if they hadn’t seen our cat. The people who called wanted to help so badly that they were 100% positive that they saw OUR cat in THEIR yard, or neighborhood. Of course 50% of the time they called the day after the sighting so there was no cat to identify, and the other 50% we were able to see the cat but it wouldn’t be Bishop.
Back to Sunday morning. I explained to the woman that we try not to get our hopes up too high, that so many people are certain that they have our cat, but so far it always turns out not to be Bishop. She explained that they were cat people, and that she knows cats and they saw the ad in the paper and this cat has blue eyes and the ad said he blue eyes and that it is so rare. She was sure that this cat was our cat. This is when the waterworks began. It’s not the first time that someone’s promise to return our cat had me chocked up either, but she was so sweet and reassuring that I really thought this might be it.
The couple decided to go around to the other side of the yard and I heard Matt call Bishop’s name for the first time. I thought to myself “Bishop will never hear that, you have to call loud” so I yelled his name a couple times and next thing I know the couple comes running around “the cat just ran under the trailer again” toward us. Sure enough we could see a cat under the trailer but it was dark under there. Matt was on one side and I was on the other. With the cats back to me I called his name and the cat turned its head in my direction and meowed. It looked like him, but at the same time I’ve been tricked before and it has never actually been Bishop. I looked over to Matt and said “what do you think?” and he said “I think it really might be him.” I’m getting choked up typing this. I immediately started bawling, right there next to the trailer. I think I looked under one more time, called his name and he meowed my way again and I confirmed that it really did look like him. At this point I couldn’t handle it anymore. I kind of scooted away from the trailer and just sobbed. I’m sure the couple thought I was mess, crying so much. I was also starting to get frantic. We’ve come this far, I don’t want to lose him again. I pointed out to Matt that it was funny that he was under this vehicle because there have been a few times we had him with us in the yard and when it was time to go back in he would run and hide under the car where we couldn’t grab him. It was like old times. I just wanted him out from under there. He was closest to where Matt was positioned and Matt was very calm and composed. Me on the other hand, I grabbed a stick that was lying next to me and wanted poke him out from under there. Everyone laughs when I tell that part of the story, but that was how desperate I was. I didn’t actually poke at him, but I did want to, lol. Fortunately the stick was too short so I couldn’t even try. Anyway, the gentleman ran into the house and got a can of cat food and Bishop came right out for the food. Easy as pie Matt was able to pick him up and transfer him to our car. The couple told us again not to worry about the reward we mentioned in the our ad. I hugged the wife and Matt came back and hugged her as well. We promised to return with the reward. I think I’m going to put together a little personalized gift basket to thank them.
We got in the car and immediately started heading to the animal hospital. He was just purring and so happy that we found him. I was calling everyone (family and friends) to let them know we had Bishop and he was safe in our car, all the while crying like a baby. Halfway to the hospital I realized that they might not be open because it was Sunday. Sure enough, our regular vet as well as all the others in the area were closed. We changed route and just came home. He has a medium length hair and looking at him he looks absolutely normal. Touching him was another thing. He was rail thin, I could feel every bone in his spine. Petting his head was not much better, I could feel the ridges in his skull, he was that thin. He has what we assume are scars from cat fights on his noes and ears, but other than that his fur was a little dirty but not as bad as what we imagined.
We brought him in and immediately he started doing rounds of the house to see if everything is in it’s place. Plenty of time had passed but he had not forgotten the house or us. He purred and purred like crazy and has become like velcro to our side. He’s always wanted to be around us, but now he’s crying at our feet to be picked up. He can’t get enough and neither can we of him.
The first day of elation made room for the second day of fears. Is he okay after all this time out on his own? We called the vet and were able to bring him in. We were worried about him being examined in his weekend state. It really would have been best if we could have taken him straight to the vet because he was just so disoriented and happy to see us, he probably would have let the vet examine him perfectly fine. Matt’s mom who had never been able to pet him before was able to pet him that first day. But by the second day some of his spunk had returned and the cat that growls, hisses and tears the flesh of the vet had come back out in him. The last few times we’ve taken him to the vet they’ve had to gas sedate him. We were worried that sedating him could be dangerous. Turns out there was an emergency surgery that needed to happen as soon as we got there and so when our vet met with us very briefly, and he really was no help at all. We knew the options and instead of giving us his opinion of what he thought would be best he just put it back to us. No tests for heartworm, tapeworm, any of the worms ;), feline leukemia, feline aids, dehydration, organ failure, nothing. We did get a one month treatment for fleas but only because I brought it up. The vet was obviously very distracted and didn’t even offer or attempt to examine him. It was either he is gassed before examined later or he goes home, it’s up to you. Matt really was afraid of putting him under and so we left the vet with no resolutions, and were told just to bring him back if he doesn’t seem to be doing well. I think we need a new vet. Bringing him home we think he was probably mostly just super dehydrated because by the second day his spine was already considerably less defined and today he seems more like a slim cat than an emaciated one. We’ve been feeding him small amounts frequently and he has been eating and going to the bathroom. Once he is doing much better we will take him in for a full examination with bloodwork, etc.
Most of our signs had been taken down by weather, or the police (see above) but there were a few locations that had them up still like our mailbox post. Many neighbors had offered support so I wanted to let them know that Bishop is home and I created a new flyer and posted it over the old one along with some balloons.
This has gotten wordy. I’m sure everyone has stopped reading by this point, but I still feel like I have so much more to say. I would love to tell you about how much I had under estimated Bishop. I can’t even begin to thank everyone who kept providing me with encouragement and support. Friends that sent me personal messages and shared their personal stories or tips on how to find a lost pet, people who reposted his missing flyer, folks who looked for him, others who called or emailed with possible sightings. If it weren’t for all of these people I would have given up looking for him. I think I mentioned in a previous post but I used to say if Bishop ever got out, he wouldn’t last a day on his own. Well, it was 7 weeks alone, on his own and he proved me wrong.
He is home, and life is good.
One funny last thing, my dad posted on Matt’s facebook that if he calculates it correctly, Bishop is now on life 6, and we all agree that sounds about right. Two emergency surgeries for digesting styrofoam and then foam packaging, and now this.
In February of this year I bookmarked a post on Poppytalk about New York artist Holton Rower, who makes big art installations made from poured paint. Last week Booooooom posted about him as well and reminded me of his work.
Both links feature a really cool video of his work being produced.
Then, last week I came upon this post at Anthology Magazine about artist Pernille Snedker Hansen of Snedker°Studio who creates these beautiful marbled wood floors. What caught my eye though, were the preliminary “sketches” she creates to work up to the wood floor panels, seen below.
The wood panels and sketches are done in a combination of suminagashi as well as western marbling techniques, where pigments are floated on the surface of water. There is another great video here of her working as well.
work by Pernille Snedker Hansen
I did some paper marbling for a book arts class I took in college, but after seeing these images I REALLY want to do it again.
At any rate, I was really inspired by the super thin lines of concentric circles as well as the color combinations of both Rower and Hansen’s works. I’m finally, finally, finally at a place this year where I am not overwhelmed with other work and can create some artwork that I want to do, just for fun. Right now that means getting back to my third Artomat series I started earlier this year. I just finished creating three pieces that were inspired by these artists to add to my series. Since my paintings are just that, I wanted to add that they are painted in the style of poured paint and marbling, and not actually poured paint or marbling. I don’t think I will be creating any more in this style, but it was fun to get out that inspiration.
and just a reminder, these are actual miniature canvases that I built that will be sold in Artomat machines. You can click on any of the pictures in this post to take you to the original sources.
While riding my bike home from work on a windy day I noticed this flag was standing straight up and took a whole bunch of pictures. I thought the flag waving would be great as an animated gif for the Fourth of July. The clouds moving was an unexpected perk. Now I want to make another with just clouds moving across the sky.
This can be added to my 2010 list, item #2, make 5 animated gifs
Happy Fourth of July to everyone celebrating.
After just being introduced to CraftGawker recently, it got me thinking of the tutorials I’ve had on Inspiration Junkie. I don’t have tons of tutorials, but will regularly share the finished projects I’ve made after following other people’s tutorials with recommendations and links. I do however have a small collection of original tutorials I’ve posted over the 6 years I’ve been blogging here. I wanted to create a post I could link to on the sidebar that would allow readers easy access to all of my tutorials. I’d love to post more new tutorials and I will update this post and link to it again whenever I do so.
I made myself a necklace/art display and shared a DIY
DIY Paper Clay, chunky and colorful, bead necklaces.
In this post you can learn how to make your own chalkboard paint using acrylic paint and gesso!
Here is a post about making your own candy buttons/dots.
Learn how to make a simple paper garland in this post.
I posted here about making altered art shoes. I love these shoes and still wear them regularly to this day.
Make these tiny paper buntings in a snap with this simple tutorial.
And then there is this easy No Sew Fabric Bunting Tutorial here.
This post shows you how to make adorable little matchbook scrap pads.
Hello, my name is Robyn and I hatched from a Kinder Surprise Egg. Print Designer by day, Inspiration Junkie by night.www.flickr.com
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