Functional and decorative

Swarthy Frenchman Finger Puppet Ornaments for Everyone!

Just finished this little guy!

Green and Red!

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I love Pushing Daisies, and I'm so sad it lasted only two seasons. Christmas always makes me think of the green and red color scheme that was always in the set decoration and sometimes costumes too. There's a lot of red and green, but it's all so subtle that it looks really different and pretty.

Reckless Curiosity

Andrew Bird's TED Talk from earlier this year (I think)..pretty interesting. I really like the concept of his new song-breaking one's own heart because no one else can. AND he has a silly sock monkey in a vest sitting on his equipment!

It's the KaPuppet herself!

Trying some new things with the construction this time around to make less work and more flexibility. You can see on my desk Amy Sedaris' new crafting book which is FANTASTIC go buy it! Penny bookmarks for everyone!

A little "ELF" wants to wish you a Merry Christmas!

My initials are very fitting for this time of year, especially for cheesy cards. I made these little guys with Bristol board, card stock, construction paper and googly eyes! My favorite is the elf, he kind of reminds me of David Sedaris' story of working in a department store during Christmas.

First a Squirrel Monkey met a Soups....

This is how we roll for Hallooween.

Made a little trip to an apple orchard in Wisconsin and found some mini-gourd friends!

IT'S HERE!!!!!

It's finally here!!!! The Jim Henson exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry is now open! I highly recommend it, even if you don't really love puppets the way I do. Seeing Kermit and Bert and Ernie and all the other little puppets and drawings was SO COOL! They definitely did a great job designing the exhibit to be playful and interactive for kids too. It's here until January, so check it out!

Starved Rock

We drove to Starved Rock State Park over Labor Day. It's in Ogelsby, IL, near Ottawa I think (?), around and hour and 45 minutes from Chicago. It was pretty crowded around the riverfront and the shorter trails, but people became more scarce as we hiked in deeper. They're supposed to be known for their waterfalls, although I guess those only happen after heavy rains, since everything was dry when we were there!

Dino Puppets!

I collaborated on some dinosaur puppets, a few of which can be seen in the Loudmouth show written and performed by Michael Balzer, featured in Triple Header: Loudmouth, Sit On My Lapse & Black Ted Williams which is now going on at the IO theater in Chicago Thursday nights at 8pm.

They looove each other!

A little design I made for Derek and Amber's wedding reception invites!

One Little Thing Each Day

I love this idea, and want to start doing it. Maybe I can stop having my natural face be a pouty look.
carefully worn

It is a real word!

Garfield Park Conservatory

Not in a great part of town, but very beautiful (and free!) and definitely worth the trek.

Bring on the felt!

via Nerd Boyfriend

September 24th is the opening day of Jim Henson's Fantastic World exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry! Drawings, props, and puppets will be there. I can already feel my head exploding with puppet happiness!

My little big brother is getting married!

Heading to Florida tomorrow for the big day...I really hope Derek wears another
short/suit/kneesock combo. Congratulations Derek and Amber!

Villa Terrace

Beautiful Italian Villa on the Milwaukee lakefront, built in 1924 to remind the couple of their honeymoon in Italy.

Chicago Botanical Gardens

Really beautiful, pretty large, and it's not too hard to sneak in booze. It's also free to get in, if you can avoid the $20 parking fee.

Ye Olde Renaissance Faire

The Bristol Renaissance Faire in Bristol, WI is faaaannntastic! I want to run away and live there. The buildings are all permanent so it's really realistic, and there are all sorts of people that work there and don't work there that dress up and "huzzah!" and just have a really great time being themselves in codpieces. I couldn't get enough of the babykids dressed in Renaissance gear-having the time of their lives or permanently scarred?