Save the Dates!

So M and I are well into the planning for our labor day wedding BBQ and I am so excited to share our little screen printed save the dates project. We opted for a simple 2 color print on kraft paper card stock. Nice, simple, cute and fun. Now on to the invites! Considering taking a letterpress workshop at The Arm so that I can print the formal invites... sounds like fun!

loving "I love the Yeti"

Found this FANTASTIC blog of all things yeti while doing my early morning browsing, how perfect! I especially love the comparison between the jungle yeti, abominable snowman and bigfoot.

All images credited below, found via I Love the Yeti:
a) Yeti comparision by Joe List, b) Illustration by Tyler Hooper, c) Yeti drinks that orange soda, by Supriya Ramlu (Sho' Nuff Love), d) Sullen yeti by Emory Allen

Lincoln Supply Co

As I venture more and more into the world of screen printing I find myself noticing so many wonderfully inspirational makers and designers doing great things with print. This video from Lincoln Supply Co made me so happy this morning. Their t-shirts are a product of supreme attention to detail and a wholesome approach to production that is completely novel in today's manufacturing landscape.

And great work on the branding guys, your rubber stamps are fantastic!

Matt Wertz Promo from Lincoln Supply Co. on Vimeo.

{video found via simplesong}

We've come a long way baby!

In getting prepared for the Bust Holiday Craftacular this weekend in NYC I couldn't help but think back to the first ever Caseybot public event, Renegace Craft Fair Chicago in 2007. Although Caseybots have been around since '05, this was the first show we did. I was completely unprepared, understocked and had a terribly ugly booth, but I had no idea at the time! I was amazed when I sold out of all of my stock on the first day, but in hind sight, i took barely any stock to begin with! But the point is, being unprepared and selling out at RCF '07 was one of the best things that could have ever happened to the busines. It gave me the confidence to know that people loved what I was doing, and it was the gateway to numerous events since. 5 Renegades and 12 shows later, we are still going strong!

I have posted some pics of my first booth. Note the bedsheet tablecloths and random hanging plushies. Also, please note that this pic was taken before the show started, and this is ALL of my stock, ha! Now I show up with crates upon crates upon crates and still feel unprepared.



These photos make me kind of nostalgic for the days of creating completely unique and one of a kind plush... not that I don't LOVE making the hats, but there was something special about each piece having it's own personality.

I will post a pic of my swanky new booth after the show this weekend, so look forward to that!

Bacon-wrapped Pork tenderoin

We had the one of the best dinners ever on Friday night thanks to the recipe of the wonderful Bobby Flay and about 1/2 hour of time in the kitchen. It was about 90 degrees out, so the hardest part was dealing with the heat of the oven and stove... but totally worth it. If you are a meat eater I HIGHLY recommend this dish.

Bacon wrapped pork tenderloin with garlic & Parmesan green beans:

Ingredients

• 1 head garlic, top sliced off
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 pork tenderloins (about 1 to 1 1/2 pound each) trimmed of excess fat
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 12 fresh sage leaves
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 12 1/4-inch thick slices bacon
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Place garlic in a small ramekin, drizzle with 1-tablespoon olive oil, and wrap in foil. Bake until soft, about 45 minutes. When cool enough to handle, squeeze garlic flesh from head into a small bowl.

Arrange tenderloins on work surface. Rub the top each tenderloin with 1/2 of the roasted garlic and season with salt and pepper. Mix together the herbs and scatter half of the mix over the garlic on each tenderloin. Wrap 6 strips of bacon around each tenderloin and tie bacon in place with kitchen twine.

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Heat oil in a medium, skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the tenderloins until golden brown on all sides. Transfer seared tenderloins to medium roasting pan; place in the oven and cook to medium doneness about 8 to10 minutes. Transfer tenderloins to cutting board and let stand 10 minutes. Remove twine before carving.

in the works...

well, i realized i haven't posted a thing since December and this is due to the huge amount of work that is going into prepping for Renegade Craft Fair (Brooklyn Jun 5-6) and the Hessler Street Fair (Cleveland May 22-23) Also, on top of this, I am also developing a new product...

MOBILES!

It has been a lot of fun figuring out well designed solutions for my mobiles, and I am nearly ready to start producing. I can't show pics yet, but here is some inspiration, and a teaser of the artwork for the hanging pieces:


The hanging mechanism for my mobiles will be die-cut 1/8" thick industrial felt


This is one set of hanging pieces, which may change slightly. There will be 2 other sets, possibly space and flower themed, but maybe not!

OK, back to work!

earthly wonders.

I love gorgeous rocks and minerals, and lately I can't seem to get enough of them. Here are a few of the lovelies that have been in my thoughts:

(yes, this is a PAINTING by the extremely talented Carly Waito)

(24kt gold quartz by Laura Lombardi)

(the most beautiful ring in all the land by One Stone NY)

(chunky lovelies by Ball and Chain)

(quartz ring by MSO Joies)

Topography.

Really feelin the topography today:


1. Topographic puzzle by Artios, 2. photo of Mars from NASA, 3. Topographic art by Crafterall, 4. Unkown (but gorgeous) topography found on web, 5. Topographic box by BullFrogStudios

Bubbles Binsburry!

Well, Renegade Craft Fair went swimmingly again this year, thanks so much to everyone who came out to support the handmade movement, vendors and shoppers alike!

There were so many amazing treasures to be found at RCF, but I have a new rule for shows in which I try to only purchase one item... otherwise I will tend to get carried away. This year I could not resist the ADORABLE Big Bots made by Bubbles Binsburry. Although I am a plush artist, I most definitely have a soft spot for wood toys... and these guys stole my heart.

He will sit next to my Pecan Pal and they shall be best friends forever.

the Friend Brigade is here!!!

I have completed the Friend Brigade! This multicultural group of buddies will be for sale at Salty not Sweet in Cuyahoga Falls as well as Renegade in Chicago in the next couple of weeks. I have only made a small batch of 10 sets... but there will be more to come!

Grand Ole Bestiary

Oh man, I just stumbled on these prints by Grand Ole Bestiary and they are absolutely fabulous. I will def be purchasing a set of three for the new workspace project. Too amazing.

Some of my favorites:

Clothes Lust

I just started browsing ModCloth. I had heard of it before but never really dug in. Ugh, it may be the end of me. You have to check out the full outfits area too!
Here are some of my top pics.... my birthday is in October!

mobile food

Lately i have been thinking a lot about mobile food and how I wish we had more of it in Cleveland. Granted, we have terrible winters, which limits your outdoor food slangin' abilities, but seriously... we need more than just hotdogs!

I don't think this place is in business yet, but check out these amazing designs by HelloMonday, which were recently featured on The Dieline:

And then there is THIS little gem for sale on Cleveland Craigslist... I am tempted. More than a little bit. $1300 brings you mobile food ability. Think of what you could put in this thing!!!

And of course, we must pay homage to the famous California taco trucks. Check out this site, it is supreme: California Taco Trucks (dot) com!!!

{bonus points for printing and making the paper taco truck}

We need food carts, and if no one else will do it, I will!!!

lil' lumberjacks!

Lil' Lumberjacks are now available in my etsy shop!!!

lumberjacks

This is a sketch for some tiny lumberjack friends that I will have at Renegade Chicago in September. Come out to see them, they would love to meet you!

New friends!

Good morning all! I just finished up a few little tooth fairy friends and a family of rainbow babies as a custom commission. I will be dropping them off this evening, but thought it would be fun to share... enjoy!