Signifying Not Blog - Curiosities & Strange Thoughts

And we’ll find us a home built of packaging foam

Sometimes the best thing to jump start the creative flow is a new canvas. That’s why I decided to buy a new moleskine sketchbook. Moleskine is really the only way to go. They are so expensive but so worth it. I just love them.

I christened my new sketchbook with this drawing of a treehouse built upon birch trees. I’m working on this idea that I hope will become a series. The concept I’m toying with is memories and the way they can be unclear, lost, and come in bits and pieces. Also working with the idea of remembering things differently and often more fantastic than they actually were. I’m planning on expanding this image further into a larger piece.

When Des saw it she said it was our dream home.

Random — No comments
27
Jan 11

Bloglovin’

Random — No comments
26
Jan 11

The Curious Life: CATEGORIES

As part of rolling out my new blog, re-dubbed “The Curious Life”, I will be also creating new sections for specific topics. So I thought it would be helpful to have a post explaining the new categories and what topics each will cover.

Anything that falls under the “Signifying Not” category will be things directly related to Signifying Not. This could be new products, upcoming shows, past show round-ups, any kind of updates regarding SN. The SOUND subcategory will be devoted to inspiration and show information. FURY more specifically will cover new products and non-show happenings with Signifying Not.

A MEMORY THEATRE “was an aspect of a science of the imagination which was practiced from Classical times up to the Renaissance. It was used for the development of memory, and also as a ‘mind-map’ – a connected symbolic space, often represented as a building, which spanned the imaginative or conceptual faculty.” Thus, our MEMORY THEATRE category will be my space to record and report on weird, strange, and macabre history and historical artifacts.

THE DAILY WONDER encompasses all the oddities and wonders of the everyday world. The simple things that don’t quite make sense, the strange picture drawn on the sidewalk, the small pieces of life that are both horrifying and inexplicably beautiful.

A place for me to log my own strange travels and happenings not necessarily related to Signifying Not. Life is an adventure, and I want to continue to live with curiosity and inquiry.

Strange travel destinations, places I want to go, places you should go. Roadside America. Off the Beaten Path. Places you didn’t know existed. Destinations you only dreamed of.

In Renaissance Europe, a CABINET OF WONDERS, also called a cabinet of curiosities or a wunderkammer, was a sort of encyclopedic collection of things that the people at the time could not yet be categorized. Our CABINET OF WONDERS will be a place to recommend strange, dark, or just intriguing literature, articles, etc.

I may be adding, changing or even taking away categories as I find it necessary. I’m really excited to be starting this new blog and I hope that you enjoy it as well.

Adventures in Curious Living — No comments
12
Jan 11

Resolve.

I’ve been putting a lot of thought into my New Year’s resolutions this year, which is unusual for me as I typically don’t put any stake into things like that. But I feel like I am on this turning point in my life where things are about to change. And I want to have some control over what direction it goes. So this time I am making resolutions, both for personal growth and for growth of Signifying Not. I don’t necessarily believe in making this big goals only once a year, though, so I may be adding to this list as time goes on, but these are the resolutions I have compiled so far:

I hope to be crossing all of these things off my list this year, and updating here as I do.

I also have some goals that are more oriented toward this blog in particular. You may or may not have noticed that I have been tinkering with the design. I will be continuing to alter and perfect the design over the next few months and I will be making another post to explain the significant changes. I have been thinking a lot about blogs that I really enjoy and what makes them more enjoyable. In my opinion, one thing is when the author gives you a real honest look into their life and who they are. This is something I am going to try to be better at. Not that I haven’t been honest but there is always a tendency to omit and hold back information and to try to paint a picture of yourself that you want others to see. I am going to try not to do that. I am going to try to just be straight forward and authentic to who I am. Hopefully this will not only make for a more compelling blog, but will also make for less stress on my end about blogging.

I am excited in general to be starting a new year. 2010 was not the best year for me and my family. At the very end of 2009, Des’ grandmother passed away and we spent the first half of 2010 dealing with that loss. In February, my older brother left for 2 years to go to Paraguay for the Peace Corps. In May I was laid off and started a 6-month long unemployment period. It wasn’t until the last few months of last year that I really started to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Now I am just hoping that 2011 will be a year of personal and professional growth and payoff. I came across this on at the crosswalk and I thought it was the perfect sentiment:

I hope that everyone had a great holiday and a good new year so far.

The Daily Wonder — No comments
06
Jan 11

Morning Fog

There is just something so enchanting and creepy about fog to me that even adulthood has not lessened the wonder of it. I still get excited like a child for a snow day. Yesterday on my morning drive, a thick mist floated among the trees and over the lake.

Since I was operating a vehicle, I couldn’t take any photos, so below are some photos I found online that I think capture the enchanting nature of fog.

Random — No comments
20
Dec 10

Christmas, Christmas time is near

The time between Halloween and New Year’s is definitely my favorite of the year. It’s all the best holidays packed into a few months. I love the feeling in the air and the changing of decorations from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas.

As Christmas approaches, I get equally excited and sad. The build up we have been waiting for is almost here! But that also means that the season is almost over. My favorite part of Christmas is giving gifts to people. I love the adventure and challenge of matching the perfect gift to the person. I try to make all my gifts personal in one way or another. This year I have been so busy I feel like I haven’t had the time to be as personal and thoughtful in my giftgiving as in previous years, but hopefully I still found things that will make my friends and family smile.

Since it isn’t Christmas yet, I can’t post the gifts I am going to be giving just yet for fear of ruining the surprise! So instead I am posting my wishlist of things I would be overjoyed to find under the tree this Saturday.

1. A dress from Laura Flook’s collection. I am in LOVE with this collection. I would wear practically anything from it. 2. Film for my SX-70 camera. I have been dying to get my hands on some new polaroid film from the Impossible Project. 3. An Eames chair 4. Bonnie Waxed Cotton Jacket from Bridge and Burn 5. Throat Tattoo print from Sophie Blackall 6. A good book recommendation. I have been looking for a new, amazing book to start. 7. The perfect pair of Oxford shoes 8. Zombie Fug Boots from Iron Fist Clothing. I bought the Wolfbeater boots a few weeks ago and am absolutely in love. I must have the Zombie boots too!

Random — No comments
02
Nov 10

Quiet days and new projects

I love rainy days.

I know it’s cliche to say, but I really love everything about them. I took a pleasant stroll through the rain this morning. It was absolutely delightful.

This is a new Captain doll I made. Not sure yet if I will be keeping him or putting him in the shop…

Halloween came and went so fast. We didn’t really get the chance to do much this year. On Halloween night we just stayed in and Des backed the pumpkin seeds while I finished carving the pumpkin.

Signifying Not Pumpkin

Des made the seeds in two batches, sweet and spicy. They were so good, we are going to try to get some pumpkins on sale just for the seeds!

Hope your Halloween was fun!

FURY — No comments
26
Oct 10

FURY: Medals and Prints!

I just updated our SHOP with some new items: Medals!

These are a project I have been wanting to do for awhile and I finally got it together. Right now we only have two different ones listed in the shop, Beheaded and Captain & Merbaby, but we will be adding more in the coming weeks to stock up for Christmas.

Following France's "Reign of Terror", those who narrowly escaped the guillotine as well as the relatives of those who weren't so lucky wore red ribbons around their neck at what would have been the point of impact with the blade. This image of a beheaded woman hangs from a red velvet ribbon that recalls this tradition."

Captain & Merbaby medal

I really love the way these look on jackets and vests! But they also bring an interesting look to regular shirts.

Another addition to the shop is some limited edition prints. Here’s one:

The Falconer limited edition print

Our Etsy shop has also been updated with new shirts and prints.

More updates coming soon. Trying to get some Christmas items ready for the upcoming holiday season.

Adventures in Curious Living / Random — No comments
09
Oct 10

Pumpkins!

Today, we spent a great day at the pumpkin patch. I’ve been wanting to go to one for the last three years, but every year, we just can’t find the time. Well, we finally did!

Des was the designated cart-puller.

We found just the right one!

We stopped for some funnel cake before heading home.

Random — 1 comment
08
Oct 10

Craft Show Confidential: Urban Street Bazaar 11

I have been really bad about posting lately. I will try to be better.

This is a week late, but here is the wrap up on USB 11.

image via Margaret of Three Yellow Starfish

USB 11 was as much fun as we could have asked for. The weather was perfect. The traffic was great. And we got to see a lot of old friends and make some new ones.

For this USB, we had upgraded to a full booth from the half booth that we had last show. I really like the space that the full booth allowed us and with our recent expansion into some new products, it was necessary. Another bonus was that we were only a booth away from our friends at F is for Frank and back-to-back with Natalie of Ornamental Things!

Image via SuperChica

We also had a lot of time to catch up with Margaret of Three Yellow Starfish. I think she spent more time in our booth than her own!

I got a few opportunities to walk around and see all the great vendors that came out. One of my favorite things was this octopus lamp I bought from Eleventy:

I will take a better picture when I figure out how to put it together all the way and hang it up with a light.

As some of you probably know, this was the last Urban Street Bazaar. This makes me very sad. USB is one of our favorite shows to do. We had fun and USB will be missed in Oak Cliff.