REFERENCE LIBRARY, singled out.

I really like looking at this blog; it's easy on the eyes. It would take some skill to convey its scope concisely, so I'll drone on & on... No, but I will recommend that you visit.

My favorite part? - the virtual collections represented in the 'items I didn't win on ebay' category. These collections are not constrained by space or money, although perhaps by time. One can refer back to this type of collection at any time, nothing is misplaced, no detail forgotten. Each item is neatly filed with information about its origin & perhaps selling price.

Topics are categorized in an intriguing mixture of 'mid century modern architecture lighting furniture toys useful and industrial tools blacksmithing graphic design interesting background info music books arts textiles decor' sort of way. There is more content than the last sentence implies.

From Nut Tree, Don Birrell

(see original blog post here)

From 1921 until the early 50s, Nut Tree was a food service trendsetter with an $85,000 kitchen and destination restaurant importing more pineapples than just about anyone else — a super popular stop off the highway between Sacramento to San Francisco. In 1953, new design director Don Birrell began a new era of bright, beautiful California modernism.

He brought Eames chairs to the toy shop — for a time, Nut Tree was the sole retailer on the West Coast for Eames furniture. He commissioned dish patterns (which are now in the MoMA permanent collection) and brought Dansk flatware into the dining room. Dishes were plated exactly as Don Birrell designed it ~

The Papercuts of Hans Christian Anderson

Hans Christian Anderson called his papercuttings 'scissor drawing;' and his paper art is now regarded as an important link in his creative process. His urge to cut & paste was nearly as strong as his urge to write, & he nearly always carried a pair of scissors. The creation of a paper-cut was often accompanied by an improvised fairy tale.
About 1.000 examples of Anderson's papercuts have survived to this day; from simple figures to complex scenes. Unlike the majority of silhouette & paper cutters of his time, Anderson never began with a pencil sketch of his subject. One last important aspect of Anderson's papercuts is that they were both extremely modern & at the same time drew heavily on ancient legends, fairy tales, & superstitions. Modern aspects were revealed in his use of materials; he included such things as train tickets, stamps, maps, bills, etc.

Anderson himself; his characters seemed to spring from within him.

A 'mill-man'; he had a ladder leading up to a large door with wicket gates in his stomach, which could be opened & closed, looked into or out of. He stood on a table.

This information & these images came from the Hans Christian Anderson collections in the Royal Library.

More biographical information, images of H.C. Anderson postage stamps, a chronological list of his fairy tales (many available to read online), along with additional links & reference information may be found here.

Flower Loom Inspiration

Colorful loom collection ~

belonging to Sarah Bradberry of

knitting-and.com - a wonderful source for needlework how-to's & vintage patterns

Lovely modern usage of the flower loom ~

Paper Flower Girl

(take time to see her artistic & inventive jewelry, pincushions, brooches)

Original manufacturer's project suggestions ~

Crazy Daisy Winder for Finer Handweaving

This is the sort of thrift store item that really gives me a thrill. First of all it cost almost nothing, (important not because so little money was spent, but instead because there was this great little thing, that was somehow overlooked by everyone!) Don't they realize? Next; it is a tool of sorts & I'm extremely fond of tools. Lastly; the item, with instruction sheet, was in its original box.

To complete my Crazy - Daisy Winder research I located a page at Knitting-and.com concerning Daisy Winders, Flower Looms and Bloom Looms. Here the use of flower looms is covered exhaustively. A sampling of the information found there includes:

• making your own loom
• instructions for creating garments, purses, & much, much, more
• a variety of flower-center styles
• numerous ways to link the individual flowers together.

All instructions are very well illustrated with photos. Also available at Knitting-and.com (free to download) are vintage Daisy Winder pattern leaflets.

I may try making a flower sometime. I am however, just as happy archiving this little tool in its box.

See the Crazy About Daisies Flickr group - which includes 381 photos. These photos include not only lots of flower loom projects, but also photos of the looms themselves - there is quite a variety.

a bird in a tree.

my spokesmodel.

dog days?

My favorite sandals.
They make me think of my 2nd grade teacher. We did
art projects like; everyday.
After we sang My Country 'Tis of Thee in the morning & said The Pledge of Allegiance, we also
sang I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane, or Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head. Neil Armstrong School - 1970.

Narrow gauge train to the Chinese cemetery.

Grass Valley

" Door" (isn't it strange how if you look
at a regular word long enough, it begins
to look strange & like something you've never
seen before?)

Summer is really winding down around here.
School starts next week.

Nevada County Fair -

amigurumi elephant.

Not too many interesting things to discuss, but here's a friendly 'hi'.

Beaded.

I will be posting something soon. For the moment, here is my favorite peyote / vintage button bracelet.