One Lady Guest

Found this bit of ephemera in my collection last week while hiding out in the basement during tornado warnings. Also found a video of Jack Teagarden Orchestra, mentioned in the postcard.Wish I had a photo of Bro. Moose and his lady guest.

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Memorial weekend was Audrey's first oreo, first kite, and first case of stomach flu. Whew! But we managed to have a great weekend anyway. More photos here.

Wrapping The Week

Memorial Day weekend means going to my cousin's lake for camping (maybe), swimming (maybe), and picnicking (for sure). We are eager to enjoy good weather. Yesterday, rained in again, Audrey and I painted, play-doh'd, baked a layer cake, and had at least 27 tea parties. I also think she set a world record for saying the word "booty" in one day.

I have jury duty on Tuesday. This site with artwork created by those on jury duty inspired me to bring a notebook and do some sketching. 

One of my dreams is to convert a church into a house.

Excellent collection of vintage photobooth shots.

The photography on Jonathan Levitt's blog Grassdoe has had me swooning all week.

I'd like to add velocity, maximize, and pinged to this list.

I loved this book as a child. Would like to find a vintage copy.

This is the embroidery project I've decided upon for the long drive to Colorado. It is funny and will complement my Cameron Fuller piece.

Cripes, I need to start sewing.

Beautiful, Loved, and Blessed. Happy Weekend.

Matt The Electrician

Love this song and crunchy little video. Wish I were going on vacation in that station wagon. I'm in love. Ah-oooooo.

All I Know from Matt the Electrician on Vimeo.

Lemons

Trying to make lemonade out of lemons but just not feeling it these days.

de Zurbaran, Manet, Cezanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Matisse (3), Lichtenstein,
Donald Sultan, Amy Weiskopf, Jeffrey Ripple

Joplin Tornadoes

{AP Photo/Tulsa World, Adam Wisneski}

More photos here.
How you can help here.

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Win An iPad 2

I’m posting this to enter a contest offered by MeridaHome at Design For Mankind! I'm going to win the iPad 2--but you should enter too. What a surprise if we both win!

Wrapping The Week

{c. 1934}

This weekend I aim to knock this cold on its ass, celebrate the graduation of my dear friend Amy, and bake some cupcakes. Lofty aspirations, I know. That is all I can muster. Here are some things from the week:

I made homemade bread last weekend and have been enjoying it all week. Ode To My Toaster

Isn't this hand printed fabric fantastic? Chairs!

I've been thinking a lot about doors. Closing, opening.

I thought these girly pins were awesome, then I saw personalized paper dolls.

You don't want no company right now? That's the blues.

Serious want.

Love To The World

Have a swell weekend. Don't get hurt.

Lucille Blanch

Lucile Blanch (1895-1981) was a Guggenheim Fellowship recipient and also part of the WPA (Works of Public Art) program. She and her husband Arnold Blanch, were key players in the Woodstock Art Colony in the 1920s.

"In the bohemian enclave the Blanches presided over an open-air restaurant grandly named The Intelligentsia. Lucile baked pies and cooked on a kerosene stove. Arnold hunted squirrels and rabbits and procured vegetables and potatoes for the stew. Together they provided sustenance for the regular crew of artists, musicians, writers and actors. To supplement 'cash money' the pair made lampshades and created small woven articles to sell in local craft markets." (Source)

She baked pies and he procured potatoes. Dreamy, indeed.

Cows

I'm in a "theme" mood this week. Balloons...cows...what will tomorrow bring?

{Top to bottom: From my vintage photo collection, my brothers about 28 years ago, my dad's cows, me getting a milking lesson c. 1993, papier-mache cow c. 1944}

Balloons

Because its Monday and I'd rather be floating somewhere else.

Two ladies in swimming costumes with bags of balloons in the "Greasy Pole" competition  c. 1965

 Artist Jason Hackenwerth does amazing things with balloons.
Photo of balloon sculpture courtesy of Paxsimius via Creative Commons.

Technical Note

Due to the 20+ hour blogger outage, I lost all the comments made on my Wednesday and Thursday posts. I did receive them via email and appreciate your feedback. Thanks all.

Wrapping The Week

{Coney Island c. 1910-1015 via Flickr}

This week has been a roller coaster with the highlight of course being the St. Louis City Guide making it to Design*Sponge. We went to ArtCrank on Thursday night and the bike posters were incredible. Audrey and I saw a tiny bit of The Red Thread Project at Laumeier on Thursday, after the sweetest Mother's Day program at her preschool. She would have played on Ricardo Cat for hours, had I let her. So the dip in the roller coaster continues to be my corporate gig, which deflates my spirit. Trying to keep my chin up and enjoy the ride.

Here are some bits from the week:

I think this Group Hug St. Louis project is brilliant. Can't wait to see how it progresses. Share the love people.

Tony Orrico, the human spirograph. I'm intrigued and slightly creeped out. Not sure why.

Kilian Martin. I have no interest in skateboarding, but I love this dreamy video so much.

The collages of St. Louisan Mary Frances Foster make me crazy jealous. Scroll through her site.

I made this on Tuesday and it was fantastic!

I can always count on Alison at Teenangster for incredible video. Meow.

That's it kittens. Until Monday.

It's No Small Wonder

When I named this blog Small Wonder, it was on a whim and after a painting I did in 2002. I didn't know there was an 80's sitcom called Small Wonder. The YouTube clips are insufferable. So I may be rethinking the entire enterprise.

...I set the alarm clock ready for another day at work
   Another day in life's great adventure
   It's no small wonder
No Small Wonder, Bob Geldof

Diem Chau

I saw the Contemporary Embroidery show at Craft Alliance last week and was blown away by the work of Diem Chau. Besides her embroidery work, the crayon sculptures on her website are pretty incredible. Love.

St. Louis City Guide for Design Sponge

Yay! I'm elated to report that the St. Louis City Guide I wrote for Design*Sponge was posted today. The positive response from my fellow St. Louisans has been incredible. I really appreciate all the feedback. It kept bumming me out that places like Boise and Des Moines had city guides but St. Louis wasn't represented (seriously?) so I put something together and they liked it. Design*Sponge has a huge audience, so I'm delighted to clue others in on our awesomeness. And I didn't even include everything I wanted. Again, thanks to everyone that makes this such a great place to be.

Baby Moustache

I just rediscovered these photos from when Audrey was a baby and thought they were too funny not to share. Impromptu and before I had my good camera...but hysterical.

Weekend Bits & Pieces

Sunday was a sweet day. I got Bossypants, a bouquet, and new jammies from my sweethearts, then went to the best little French Cafe for croissants, quiche, and good coffee. Across the street is the gorgeous park where Lindsey and I had our wedding photos taken. Audrey played on the playground for a good while and conquered her tallest twisty slide to date. She is braver and sillier than ever, as indicated by her faces in the pictures we tried to get. Lindsey got the garden planted and I got some flowers and herbs in and then took a huge nap with Audrey. We got ice cream after dinner. But with all that good, I worried most of the weekend about my pops who is having a medical procedure tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed and lots of prayers.