Blog
Opening Day at Sowa Open Market!
May 07, 2012
Setting up….
Wow! After a crazy week of driving a car back to Boston from WI, Nick taking his medical board exam, visiting family, and preparing for Sowa, I was so happy to finally be in my first outdoor market! It’s such a great show and there are always so many awesome vendors! My wonderful friend, Thais, was there with me through it all! We had SO much fun talking to all the wonderful customers, their kids and their dogs! After spending a week with my Mom’s dog, Romeo, and seeing all the cute dogs at Sowa, I think Nick & I really need a dog someday!
Thank you to everyone who came out and purchased some nonsense gifts from our little temporary home :o) I’ll be back there on Sunday June 24th!
The card above are illustrations of Thais’s pups, Emmy Lou (Westie) & Sid (Silky terrier)! I’ll be making more items and even start making plush nonsense dogs! :D more pics to come!
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Making Tent Weights for Sowa!
May 05, 2012
We’ve been so busy the past few weeks getting ready for shows, visiting family, driving across the country, etc. Nick helped me make these great tent weights from pvc & quikrete! You can see the tutorial from Etsy Metal Blog —> here. They were really easy to make and each weigh the required 40lbs!
I’m working on a few more surprises today before the OPENING DAY of the SOWA Open Market on Sunday May 6th! My friend Thais (@thaisleon) will be there with me all day, so stop by and say hi! :D
We’ll be there from 10am-4pm at 460 Harrison Ave in Boston—>>
Comments (0) | Tags: nonsense institute sowa open market, tent weights, tent weights tutorial
Accepted to Plush You 2012!
April 22, 2012
Nonsense Institute has been selected to be a part of the amazing juried/international show PLUSH YOU! at Schmancy in Seattle, Washington on October 13th, 2012! WAHOO! I am so thrilled to be able to participate in this show again!
: Stay tuned for updates for what will be sent to the show :
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Curious Rabbits
April 18, 2012
Curious Rabbit
Known by rabbit, by bunny, and hare,
this little fur ball is likely to dare,
to go jumping and leaping or bouncing around,
something unlikely already been found,
looking proper and smart and so very small
no one suspects any mischief at all.
I’ve added new plush characters to the shop! I’ve been lost under heaps of fabric and stuffing the past few weeks as I’m sewing away and getting ready for some big summer markets!
Comments (0) | Tags: etsy shop, nonsense institute, plush rabbits
light table drawings
April 03, 2012
We had a fun time at the Sowa Winter Market on Sunday and it was so nice to meet everyone who came to visit & all my neighboring vendors! After finishing a custom plush for a friend, I’m working on my light table preparing some positive images that I’ll burn onto silkscreens tonight. I’m excited to make some more plush vegetables! I’ve been dying to see swiss chard in plush form after glancing at their bright red stalks everyday in the produce department :o)
Comments (0) | Tags: drawing, light table, process, silkscreen preparation, swiss chard
Plush Produce for a Farmer’s Market
March 28, 2012
Hey there!
I’m really excited for my upcoming market this weekend —> SOWA Winter Farmer’s Market on Sunday April 1st from 10am-3pm. It’s a small indoor farmer’s market in the South End that has been adding a few craft booths to their line-up! I will of course be bringing plush chickens along with some new plush produce! I’ll have a variety of veggies since I thought it would be funny to have a plush produce stand at a real produce farmer’s market! They could be great decorative centerpieces to a real meal… Or just normal decor like in our house :D
I hope everyone is having a warmer spring than we are here in Boston! I can’t wait to start up the garden again :o)
Comments (0) | Tags: 2012, carrot, farmer's market, food, new product, plush, produce
Some spring favorites on Etsy
March 24, 2012
What a day for a daydream…
My first treasury on Etsy! I am so inspired by these Etsians, their shops and their products. We’re wishing for a lovely spring here in Boston.
Click HERE to check out this treasury and these awesome shops!
Comments (0) | Tags: Etsy treasury, mincing mockingbird, nonsense institute, pastels, spring, yokoo
Busy Bee
March 13, 2012
Diving into chickens this spring! I have updated the nOnSeNse shop with lots of new plush characters! All are made from recycled clothing, giving the characters a super soft and squishy texture that feels like your favorite sweater! :o)
Comments (0) | Tags: plush chicken, studio, toy chicken
Plush in Asia pt 2
February 01, 2012
Happy Wednesday and First day of February! It’s the sweetheart season and I was so pleased to come across these plush roses in Thailand.
I would take plush roses over real roses any day.
It’s no secret that I have an obsession with chickens and owls (birds in general). Here are some of the owl creations I found in the outdoor thai markets!
amazing owl backpacks
they are all made with left over fabric scraps
I would have bought 100 of these incredible owl bags, but then I realized I wasn’t in a dream. So, I bought one and I’m so glad I did! Every one was adorable and unique, making it difficult to choose. I’ll just have to go back to Thailand someday to adopt all the others :o)
Comments (0) | Tags: honeymoon, owls, plush in asia, plush roses
Plush in Asia
January 30, 2012
One of my favorite things about our trip to Thailand was the ever-presence of whimsy and plush. Plush was a lot more present than in just a toy store or in an airport gift shop: it was everywhere!! There were huge displays of plush on sale in mall lobbies, women my age had oversized plush bear-head purses and I even found a plush bear christmas tree!
I was very confused about this dog topped with chocolate & a cherry on top until I opened the zipper and found —->
… a plastic container for a real cake!!
why have boring mugs when they could be adorable?
I grew up in Hawaii (lots of Japanese culture) with an obsession with the Sanrio character, Pochacco. After spending some time surrounded by such plush delights in Thailand, I was reminded that my daily craving for whimsical design and plush comes from my childhood. In the states, I still miss the asian toy culture and that it’s marketed towards children and adults. I enjoy whimsy around every corner :o)
Comments (0) | Tags: honeymoon, plush in asia
Back from the Sea of Love
January 24, 2012
We’re hitched!! *December 17th 2011*
Off to Thailand!
visiting the buddha
elephant bathing
…and a tiger temple!
I feel so lucky that I met Nick 6.5 years ago and that I’ve been able to spend every moment with him. We couldn’t be happier and we are so excited to see what the rest of our life brings! Our first adventure to Thailand (and Singapore!) was incredible and inspired me in so many ways. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year! I’ll be posting photos of plush I came across on our trip to Asia :D
*Wedding photos by the amazing Alexandra Roberts*
Comments (0) | Tags: honeymoon, thailand, vacation, wedding
SOWA Holiday Market this Saturday!
December 08, 2011
I have been sewing day and night in order to restock from our sold out show last weekend! You’ll find me in booth #58 (see map) with lots of little plush goodies! We had so much fun last weekend at Boston Bazaar Bizarre and I just can’t wait for this show! I go to the SOWA Holiday Market every year and it’s always awesome! See you there!!
Comments (0) | Tags: holiday market, show, sowa
12.8.11 Fortune Cookie
From a sushi lunch after sewing from 6am-12pm! Almost re-stocked from Boston Bazaar Bizarre!
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Boston Bazaar Bizarre this Sunday!
December 01, 2011
Boston Bazaar Bizarre is this SUNDAY!
Sunday December 4th —> 12pm-6pm
Boston Center for the Arts —> 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA
Don’t worry, I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth, I’ve just been sewing, sewing, sewing! You will find me in booth #22 (see map) with lots of little plush treasures :) Come visit us and check out this awesome event!
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Plush Pumpkins
November 03, 2011
A couple of weeks ago, I decided that we needed lots of plush pumpkins scattered throughout our house for the fall season. I figured that they would be great for general fall decor and could hang around from October through Thanksgiving. For this project, I already had all the fabric I needed from past spontaneous ‘fat quarter’ purchases and I was very pleased to find a project for them. You may be surprised to learn that I actually only made ONE of the eleven total pumpkins we have. Nick made the other 10 one night while watching a soccer match! I woke up and couldn’t believe my eyes! Next year he’ll have to be Rumpelstiltskin for Halloween! :D
