I am a big crochet freak. I want to do something like this blanket because you get to use lots of different colors and don’t have to think a lot or follow a pattern. I made three blankets this winter and want to show them to you one of these days. They are concentric circles. I do them in the evening as a meditation, or when I sit with my kids while they do homework. That way, I don’t mind being interrupted yet I get to be busy.

Here’s the blanket. Interweave has the pattern.

Here’s the pirate sweater. Interweave has the pattern.

Tomorrow: Mike Lowery’s maze for Nick Jr. Magazine.

Ok, so Risa walks into my studio and I immediately take a picture of her gorgeous necklace. And then I draped it on a blue vase for a better look. All neutrals: silver, pearly white, clear quartz, whisky quartz. I want to make this. I really do.

Tomorrow: Jon Cannell’s piece for Time International.

I took this photo to show you this really pretty necklace. I do have lots of circles and loops in my bead collection and this shows what you can do with them. My friend who was wearing this into the studio was formerly an accessories buyer.

Tomorrow: Matte’s illustrations of different kinds of hotel structures

Pascal writes,

“Bonjour ladies,

I was doing some clean up in my silkscreens drawer and I just discovered something.
Last year, I sent cut and fold x-mas homes to my clients, and I still have a couple of them.”

Pascal

Tomorrow: See Lilla’s Holiday Collection made from gumdrop balls.

Sarajo writes us:

“The early vote pieces are sooo great! For the past month I’ve been
volunteering with a local silver lake group: we’ve called and spoken to
potential voters in Nevada, New Mexico, and North Carolina (which was
yesterday). So great to be able to talk to other Americans and give them the
push or info they need to GOTV. It also gives one an education about the
rest of the country outside the left coast bubble!
Inspiring stuff on the blog!”
—Sarajo Frieden

Yes, dear reader: Can you believe what I stumbled upon? Alexander Calder’s toys that he created out of wood and paint. Please enjoy them.
Tomorrow: Some wonderful early American odd and quirky portraits.

Here’s a odd mosaic that was quite fun to do using beach stuff we’ve collected as a family, a vintage postcard, and some marbles. These letters are the initials of my husband, me, and my kids. The colored squares that form the letters were from some weird vintage toy kit with these painted wooden squares for young children to use to make little pictures.

I’m still listening to the Hair soundtrack as I write this. “He wears his hair tied in a small bow tied in the back. I love him but it embarrasses me to walk down the street with him. He lives in Brooklyn somewhere and wears this white crash helmet…”

So have you gathered lots of beach stuff? I hope so. Or dig out your jars of beach stuff that are lying around.
So here’s how you make a mosaic: you use a tile adhesive from the hardware store. Smear it on, then stick on the pieces. Start with big pieces. Then cram the smaller things around.
I haven’t put the grout on yet. To be honest, it may never happen. I don’t set myself up for failure. That’s a tip for you right there. Anyway, if you’d like to grout, buy it at the hardware store. Directions are the back of the jar. Yes, it’s that easy. So now you know how to make a mosaic.
Tomorrow I’m showing you my weird sign.
So, are you inspired? Let me know.

Today I’m going to show you some mosaic raw materials. These are beach glass, beach pottery, beach stones, and my latest passion, beach plastic. This is a nice summer project.
Tomorrow I’m going to show you how to use these to create a mosaic. I’ll show you a birdhouse and an odd sign I made.
I just want to say that right now I’m listening to the soundtrack to Hair and I’m so loving it. Give it a shot when you get a chance. I got good times man, I got my hair, I got my brains, I got my mouth…I got freedom, brother…

Here’s the finished tie I showed you that I started on recently. I’m fairly happy with it but I have more ideas for the next.. Plus, I want to make the brown line (which is a resist) much darker. it’s quite fun. Thank you to our own Julia Parker for modeling it for me. Neither of us have any idea whatsoever how to tie a tie.