No One Saw That Camel Coming

 So, I am using my phone to look up my blog, first time, I always use a computer for this.  So, anyway, I just start with Catspaw Primitives and find a bunch of entries in the search results.  One was one of my blog posts from 2012, I think.  Someone had posted that alone on a new blog, no followers, some spam comments, no other content.  How weird is that?  Also, someone made a Pinterest board from my photos--so flattered!

It is 93 degrees with a light breeze here in Iowa today.  I mowed the back yard, which wasn't too terrible. I also took a bazillion photos of the bazillion things I've been creating--I think it was more exhausting than the mowing.  I am back to the problem that I have found too many antiques lately and all my storage cupboards are about to burst.  The usual summer slowdown in sales has arrived.  Anyway, hoping it is just the usual.  I've had to stop listening to the prophets of doom, and aren't there a lot of them?  There was a story a couple months ago about two people trampled to death here in our country by a camel escaped from a petting zoo.  I got to thinking that of all the ways those people might have worried about preparing for their demise, I would bet that being trampled by a camel never came up once.  Thus, realizing you can't predict the future and can only somewhat prepare for what's ahead.  I do hope it is not a camel.

Little Shoes

I have been busy busy busy, some of my favorite creations are these little shoes.  I love the folky clothespin dolls so much, hoping to find time to make more.  It has been 5 years since I bought a whisk broom doll, thinking I would make so many of them--still haven't even made one.  Maybe this week...

 

Blue Gingham

 Of course, these are my favorites.  It is getting really hard to find this tiny check fabric made from good sturdy cotton--lots of the thin stuff out there.  I found this at the local Mennonite shop, only 1/2 yard left for me!

with closeups of my very favorite things:

Robin's Egg Blue

 This is the first group of robin's egg blue that I finished.  I have my table also filled with green and turquoise garden themed goods, hope to photograph tomorrow.

I Think I'm Done with Red

 Here are the last reds for a while.  No, wait, I lied, I forgot about the tomato crocks and tins that I just finished but haven't photographed.  I cannot currently walk through my work area for all the half-finished projects littering the walkway.  I had a bottle of robin's egg blue milk paint powder that is a discontinued color, it is probably 15 years old or more.  I almost threw it out, as I tried another old powder and it just dissolved off the bowl I tried to paint it on.  This one was still good though, and I ended up painting 3 bowls, 3 bread boards, a rolling pin, a bucket, a shelf....the color is really pretty, but a bit bright.  I will be experimenting today to see if stain helps it or ruins it.  I also did a sage green group for spring, I think those are going to finish well, crossing fingers.

I went to What Cheer flea market yesterday, rain and mud kept most customers away, so I think I got all the good stuff and people were dealing, very pleased with my purchases.  About half the dealers didn't even open, so we might go back Saturday when the weather is better.

Turning Red

 I have switched colors as you see, but will also use this opportunity to critique the new Disney film Turning Red.  Spoiler alert, I loved the movie.  I don't know what is going on at Disney, but this movie is a good one.  I thought it was a really good representation of what it is like to be a 13 year old girl and my biggest complaint is that I thought it was too violent--something I never see any one else complaining about.  The plot: 13 year old lives in Toronto, she is smart and funny and confident, lives with her mom and dad who give tours of their family temple, which celebrates their ancestor who saved her village by turning in to a giant red Panda and fighting off enemies.  She has 3 best friends and they are crazy about a pop band 4 Town, and their main objective is to attend a concert which their parents will not buy tickets for them to go.  Unbeknownst to Mei, all the women in her family turn in to red pandas when they come of age and undergo a ritual to trap this unruly angry, sometimes crazy and happy part of themselves in an amulet.  Adolescence comes to Mei and her absolute confidence turns into a mess of embarrassment, uncontrollable emotions and hopeless crushes, and the panda makes its entrance.  The rest of the movie is her learning to deal with this side of herself, how her family deals with it and ultimately, all the women in the family come to perform the ritual, which she rejects.  Lots of violence here as her mom lets her panda out (that part I did not like), but it ends happily.  I think most girls would like this movie, guessing the violence is to keep the boys happy.

In the meantime, red is in the building!

Rather Fond of These

 My latest creations...