Lady Bug Circus

More Button Flowers

...until real flowers come out. It's lightly snowing here today, I can hardly wait for Spring.

Whirligig re-done

I didn't put locking nuts on some key screws and they were falling off. My mistake. So I brought it into the studio and took it apart. The top was bothering me too. It didn't feel right so after spending some time goofing around I attached this tin toy bank globe. It spins around now too. Love it even more. In time the bank will fade and at that time I can easily replace it by cutting the nylon ties. So many possibilities.

Valentine for David, Bittersweet

David Ishii is the first friend I made when I moved to Seattle in 1987. We lived in the same apartment building in Pioneer Square. We had fun going for coffee in the afternoon, he'd close up his rare and out of print book store and we go to Torrefazione Italia on Occidental Park. During baseball season David would treat me to ball games at the now long gone Kingdome. Sometimes we'd go out late for noodles in the International District and occasionally the Opera or movies. He baby sat my cat when I'd leave for the weekend. He introduced me to his friends and included me when he went to their parties. For a few years I made Valentines and he sold them in his shop. Over the past few years I haven't made Valentines but this year I did. This is a special one for David. Sadly, this was the last valentine I would make David as he died shortly after Valentines (2012)

Whirligig

If you live in the Seattle area and you love whirligigs, may I recommend that you take a whirligig workshop from Chris Theiss. I did and it was more fun than I've had in ages. I loved learning how to put it all together. Chris is a marvelous instructor. He is patient, kind,thoughtful and has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in making whirligigs. If you don't live in the area but want to learn how, you can buy Chris's instructions. Soooooo much fun.