Cat Bones, Bug Pendants, Patches… and the Punk Rock Flea Market!

The story behind these bones: a couple of weeks ago while at the beach Amber and I went up and were walking the train tracks, hoping to find bits of scrap metal, pretty stones or cool shells. We found pretty much none of the above, but did hit the motherload in this incredible little pile of vertebrae, ribs, teeth and the back of what we’ve determined is – a cat – skull.

We weren’t prepared for this treasure trove, so the only place we could put them was in our pockets, covered in dirt and a little hair (ewww, still grosses me out a bit – we couldn’t wash our hands enough after!). After taking them home, they were boiled, washed and scrubbed with antibacterial soap, and treated with a clear acrylic seal. Then we used nearly ever bone we found and attached them to delicate silver and brass chains, adding a few little beads here and there. Ugh, I’m not usually into the morbid jewelry, but I love these so much!

Here is what we’ve determined is the back of the skull. Had to look that bit up!

Here’s what helped us determine what kind of animal this is: the cutest little teeth (also, little claws, but we’ve yet to use those)! Here they are sealed in resin pendants to wear close to your heart:

Something else I’ve been up to: making more shrinky-dink jewely, this time of cicadas, hawk moths, beetles and wasps! Oh, and I’m also so proud of this little shadow box I made in which I can pin them and keep them safe:

I drew out the designs first in pencil so I could trace them right onto the plastic with a sharpie:

Okay: last thing, I promise! Some little rubber-stamped patches (of one of my little girls’ skulls).

All this will be with me at the Punk Rock Flea Market tomorrow, Saturday June 8th. It goes from noon to 10 pm at 2407 1st Ave, downtown Seattle. Live music, food, beer, lots of vintage and handmade goods and fantastic people. What’s not to love? This is my favorite market, and I’m so excited for tomorrow. Hope to see you there!

Housefly Tea Towels!!

This morning’s project, something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time: cover some towels with houseflies!! I ordered a pack of 12 flour sack cotton tea towels, and they arrived in the mail yesterday, so – I had to start today! Houseflies first… now I need to do some brainstorming to decide what should be printed next!

Step one: Draw design on rubber.

Step two: carve away everything but your design.

Step three: start printing! I used silkscreen ink (Speedball) and a little foam roller (you can find them at hardware supply stores), then used a hard rubber brayer to press the stamp down on the fabric. I believe you can also use acrylic – at least, when I get it on my clothes it seems to stay fine no matter how many times it’s washed.

Step four: let dry, then iron to set the ink.

Yay! Now all insects that happen to get inside will seem teeny in comparison!

Towels are up in the shop, here.

An earthwormy-kind of mood

“Vase” – pencil and watercolor, 5×7.”

Working, working

Untitled as of now – pencil, ink, watercolor and cotton – I’m working on a bunch of new pieces for a solo show coming up in May, in Dayton, WA – sooo excited!

“Fireflies and Cigarettes” – girls, flowers, creepy crawlies and lots of ink. I’ll post when I have more details!

T-shirts IN!

Sooooooo – after dreaming about this for quite some time now, we have T-shirts!!! This morning the lovely Milli Kato and Mr. Burrington helped out with their modeling skills [part-time models! You’re so beautiful, you could be a – – ] Yeah. Without further ado, here they are!!