Woolly Elephant's Foot

We have a field of these growing along side our house. It blooms from July to September. The Elephantopus Tomentosus is a species of perennial flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It's a wildflower in the daisy family. 

Common names include mammoth's foot, devil's grandmother and woolly elephant's foot. 

If interested, here's a bit more info from the Extension Gardener. 

Busy In My Woodshop...Building A Village :)

I've been busy in my woodworking shop measuring, cutting and sanding. I've been building a village with mini buildings that I plan to paint. Will share an update when buildings have been painted.

I'm enjoying working with wood

...and some new tools :)

Sure wish I'd had the opportunity to take the woodworking class in high school, I would have loved the experience!

 

Arachnid

Discovered this spider having spun this huge web overnight off our porch...it wasn't there last night.

Believe this is a Yellow Garden Spider. According to the National Wildlife Federation are large, orb-weaving arachnids, meaning they spin a circular web. Click on the NWF link for more info.

 AI says that "Spiders are arachnids, not insects, and have eight legs and two main body parts. They play a crucial role in ecosystems by controlling insect populations and can be found in various habitats worldwide, with over 53,000 known species."

 Just a bit of FYI for the day :)

...Be A Wildflower

"Love is like wildflowers; 

it is often found in the 

most unlikely places." 

                     ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
 

Fun Colorful Mini Journals

 I made a few of these fun, brightly colored mini journals.

The Tag Book was created using a large blank manilla tag as the base. I covered it inside and out using Yasutomo origami paper and some colorful papers for the pages. Added a brass eyelet with a hemp cord as a closure.

 The other two journals were made using manilla folders cut to size and covered inside and out with assorted colorful washi tape from my stash. I used green printer paper for the pages. I incorporated Dina Wakely papers for inspiration as well as creating some tags. For added fun included colorful mini bulldog clips. Teal torn Batik fabric as closure.

 Mini journals measure approx 4.5" x 6". Tag Book: 3" x 4".

Below is a flip through of the journals. Enjoy!

 

Boho Tato Box

Crafted this Origami Tato Box using 90lb/160 GSM double-sided BOHO print paper. The finished box is approximately 5 inches square.

I used the same papers to create the origami expanding box which has several inter-connecting units. I believe this accordion style origami box was created by Kawate Ayako. I've tucked inspirational Buddha quotes into each of the four pockets. 

Many tutorials online if you'd like to do some folding and create your own Origami Tato Box or Origami Expanding Box/Book.

Please enjoy the video below.

 Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

 https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/lazy-sunday-afternoon 

License code: KXCL1P59P1TWEIR0

Flippy Junk Journal

This was a fun little Flippy Junk Journal to make.

Lots of flips, flaps, folds, tucks and pockets.

I used up a good portion of my Tim Holtz stash making this journal which included his ephemera, snippets, backdrop papers and assorted TH people.

Journal has a 1" thick spine and measures 4"W x 5.5"H

Enjoy the flip through video below: 

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

 https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/brighter-days 

License code: F0YWLLHGUU3HWUVG 

After the rain...the mushrooms

According to the 'Mushroom Identifier App' this lovely mushroom is a Sparassis Spathulata and claims that it is a good edible mushroom. As much as I love mushrooms, I'll pass.

 

 

This same App identified this cluster of yellow mushrooms as Omphalotus illudens, commonly known as the jack-o-lantern mushroom, a North American species of fungus. BUT, using a different photo of the same cluster of mushrooms the App identified it as Pleurotus itrinopileatus. and native to eastern Russia, northern China, and Japan. I tend to believe it is a jack-o-lantern since I live in North America :)

But if your're curious as to why mushrooms grow after heavy rains you can check out the Mushroom Headquarters. 

Hunting For Treasures...Vintage Finds

I've found a few more rusty oil cans to add to my collection.

They are great little additions to add to my little wood working shop... ☺

The Cobbler's Tools

This is a 3 Point Cast Iron Cobbler's Anvil (makes a great door stopper!) and an antique cobbler's Wooden Shoe Last. Both possibly early 1900's.

 

Beautifully aged wooden shoe last. To hold it is to hold a piece of wonderfully handcrafted history.

More Rusty Treasures...

 

I love vintage tools. The top left is an old Dunlap Woodworking hand planer, possibly from the 1930's. A vintage mini 1 inch C Clamp.

The rectangular item is a measuring gauge with a sliding clamp of some kind. Jury is still out on exactly what it is. The stamp reads: The Eagle Engineering Co Springfield, O STAR USA

A little history of the Dunlap Planes can be found here. For a history of Clamps and their Uses, go here.

Tato Boxes Filled with Paper Gems

 

These are Origami Tato Boxes I constructed using book pages, maps, double sided origami paper, Yasutomo Origami paper, and Boho Papers.

I've filled them with miniature treasures that I've crafted; origami expanding box (Kawate Ayako) with interconnecting units, mini folding books, Bauhaus notebooks & tag book.

Please enjoy the video below as the Tato Boxes are opened to reveal the fun little gems inside!

 

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

 https://uppbeat.io/t/light-patterns/tethers 

License code: MDBOIVHWLBGVDQSV

Vintage Rotary Dial Telephone, it Works!

A wonderful vintage find and it works! It's hooked up in our home and we use it! 

I grew up using rotary dial phones, and this is quite enjoyable to use! I love the sound of the ring on incoming calls and the rhythmic clicking as the rotary dial rotates. The weight and texture of the receiver, resting against my ear, evokes a profound sense of nostalgia.

To listen to some of those old familiar sounds like the rotary dial and ring tones go here .

Interested in the evolution of the Dial Telephone? Check out this site here. You can always rely on Wikipedia for info, rotary dial history here.