like a cowgirl, baby

Last week I bought a new-to-me guitar. I'm searching for a truck. And since I already have the boots, I opted for shiny new high-tops.

The guitar is a '97 Gibson Les Paul double-cut studio edition. And, also important, it's a rockin' sun-burst red. The truck is going to be tiny and adorable, for hauling art stuffs. Probably a Ford Ranger. And the shoes... well I've already mentioned those. And now they are mine, and every bit as gnarly as I'd hoped. I've also recently brought the viola back from retirement, and I've got about a thousand vintage western shirts, so all I really need now is a horse.

there will be snacks, there will

Through some sort of birthday karma, Jess won tickets to see Andrew Bird in-studio at the Current. Lucky me, I was her plus one. It was pretty amazing getting to be so up close and personal with mr. bird and his minneapolis accompaniment. He rocked out in argyle socks. And he uses the same looping box that I got for christmas, so it's high time I learned how to use it.

I haven't posted nearly enough about quilts.

So, here is a new quilt, named "Hopscotch" for obvious reasons, that will be featured in the next Nickel Quilts book. Momma Speth and I just placed the fabric today, these are two lines from Moda Fabrics that I picked out (since I'm getting the quilt). Typically my mom uses all sorts of random, scrappy fabrics, but Moda gave her a bunch of fabric to use since it's free promotion for them. And I dig it. Butterflies! Scissors! There will be a pieced border and teal sashing, if that means anything to you.

uptown market fancypants website

www.uptownmarket.org has taken shape, and now holds a lot of info. So start telling your friends & family, artists, farmers, anyone that might be interested. There is a vendor sign-up form and everything.

And if you want to help out promoting this thing, posting flyers, wearing a sandwich board etc. just let me know.

when you commission art

Maybe wait until the artist has graduated from college until you commission art from them. I'm not saying I don't like the painting, I do, but it's quite a ways off from what I requested. Not the same colors, or the same size. Not the same all-over intricate detailing that drew me to the original piece that I based my commission on. And it took a solid two months longer than it was supposed to. Luckily, I'm an easy going gal, and appreciative of most art. At least she remembered that I wanted a whale.

RAWR.

Monster mugs. More to come.

want. want. want.

When I was in middle school I wanted to be a shoe designer. True story. I had sketch books full of shoes, mostly resembling Vans and Airwalks. I'm not sure how one becomes a shoe designer, so I settled for being an avid shoe purchaser. But now you can do both! Nike and Puma, and I'm sure every other brand has their own design program. I'll hopefully be purchasing these gnarly purple & lime kicks in the not-so-distant future. (Thanks, xian).