Take a peek here to see what’s in the shop. I’m hoping to list mostly mid-century finds and anything that’s a bit kitschy. I have a few more things to photograph and add, so please check back soon.

Thanks, Dustin, for the comment about Pancake. It’s been way too quiet in our place since she’s been gone. Crazy how such a little thing can have such a big impact. Big hugs to you guys, too.

The rest of the day’s going to be spent doing what I can to finish up a design job for the Mason City Downtown Association. I’m hoping to wrap this thing up soon. It’ll be good to see the booklet in its completed form. Tell me to get started and quit stalling.

10:38 am

Our sweet little pet rat Pancake had to be put to sleep today. Poor little girl. Miss you.

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2:12 pm

Demotivational poster I made in Adobe Illustrator.

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2:29 pm

PET PEEVE: People coming to me with personal photos wanting them scanned, repaired, printed off, etc. I’m not a photo processing shop!

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4:17 pm

Despite my brain feeling like this today, I was surprisingly productive. It helps to get through the crap times by being busy. [via FFFFOUND!]

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Nixon/Agnew pins!

A plaster Buddha ashtray. Terrible he was being used as an ashtray, but it was too odd not to pick up.

A stacking tea cup and pot with corked lid.

Last but not least, a red ceramic casserole dish. We plan to give it as a wedding present. Hopefully Steph doesn’t see this!

Also, not pictured is a hilarious Superman comic featuring the computer that saved Metropolis. I didn’t want to post photos of that since Derek’s planning to scan some images.

Who said romantic dinners had to be fancy? Chateau Ste Michelle Pinot Gris is a surprisingly good wine with pizza.

Yesterday was spent in Des Moines (first trip out of the area in…well…I can’t remember how long!) visiting the old gang from college. I wish everyone could have been there (big hugs!) but it was still great to see those who could make it.

Did some work for…work.

Today we finally got around to cleaning the back porch (aka alternative post-flood storage) and used it as a temporary office. It was lovely.

Lots of great late summer breezes.

I also finally got around to painting an odd bust I found while thrifting a few weeks ago.

While it was drying the backyard, I happened to get a glimpse of it from an upstairs window. It looked like a bright orange explosion! I’m sure whoever painted it its original faux-antiquey finish would have wanted to vomit at the sight of it. Yay!

My health behaved for the first time in a while, which made me very very happy. All in all, not a bad weekend.

This evening Derek and I finally (finally!) got some art put on the walls in our living room. We had one grouping, but it long had some holes in the arrangement after selling some of the photos. I’ll take some photos of the rest when we’ve got some better light. But for now, here are two prints by Ryan Berkley, which can be found for sale here.

Last week I found this miniature plastic mounted deer head at an antique store. I decided to use him as a jewelry organizer in the bedroom.

In other news, I’ve had lots of good luck thrifting lately. Man, this is going to be a long post:

A souvenir plate from Niagara Falls, Canada. Keeping this to hang on the wall.

A souvenir plate from San Antonio, Texas. I’m planning to sell this on Etsy.

A souvenir plate from Yellowstone National Park. Keeping this to hang on the wall.

A souvenir plate from Florida. I’m planning to sell it on Etsy.

A souvenir plate from Wisconsin Dells. I’m planning to sell it on Etsy.

A souvenir plate from New Mexico. I plan to sell it on Etsy.

A souvenir plate from San Francisco, California. Keeping this to hang on the wall.

A small brown Pyrex dish. I haven’t decided yet if I will keep or sell it.

A clay bowl by Dryden Ozark Frontier. It’s currently residing on our coffee table, holding remotes and cell phones.

A strange plaster bust of a small child with a big collar. I plan to paint it bright red and either use it to display a hat or sit on my desk in the home office.

A supercool chrome kitchen organizer with wooden handles. It must be from the 50s or 60s. I cleaned it up and plan to store art and office supplies in the drawers and bread bin.

And finally…a gawdy velvet painting. Derek won’t let me hang it up in the living room, but he said I can put it up in the home office…as long as it’s on my side of the room.

August 8: made from a recycled manila envelope and appliques.

August 9: made from recycled packing tape and layers of raffia.

August 10: made from British candy wrappers.

August 11: made from layers of tissue paper and plastic beaded trim.

August 12: made from layers of raffia and rhinestones.