My dad (who really is a hero of mine) had a birthday this week and is celebrating by spending the week with his lady partner (my mom) just south of the hoosier state. I wanted to write about how rad he is and how we both just finished this mindbending book and discussed plans for deeper discussion.

Let them piggies dangle in the cool breeze.

Sometimes the kid just says things that merit being said by a talking pony.

Sometimes the kid just says things that merit being said by a talking pony.

We’re weeks, maybe days away from the arrival of Itty Bitty. Baby Jane is apparently wearing this princess bandage over her forehead until the arrival. At least that’s what i’m assuming since she’s going on day four. And just in case you’re curious, there is no head wound of any kind beneath its protective surface.

I also wondered if maybe she wasn’t trying to keep her creative ideas from spilling out onto paper too quickly for her to keep up with. After all, take a look at these recent pieces…

We’re weeks, maybe days away from the arrival of Itty Bitty. Baby Jane is apparently wearing this princess bandage over her forehead until the arrival. At least that’s what i’m assuming since she’s going on day four. And just in case you’re curious, there is no head wound of any kind beneath its protective surface.

I also wondered if maybe she wasn’t trying to keep her creative ideas from spilling out onto paper too quickly for her to keep up with. After all, take a look at these recent pieces…

Then several days later we turned a chicken into a fish…

In case you live in Indiana and you just so happen to have missed one of the days sandwiched between Springlike weather when Olde Man Winterbone stopped by for a sit-and-spin, here’s a look-see. Baby Jane and i spent one afternoon digging snowfingers, building snowdudes and hurling snowsaucers at our new friends, each other, and ourselves. Therapeutic, to say the least.

Then several days later we turned a chicken into a fish…

Magic.

Sometimes, even new shoes are a privilege to be taken away.

And also fireman helmets.

Lately, i get it. 2-year-olds like to say “i don’t know” an awful lot. Sometimes, things get hairy and everyone’s left with weepy eyes. No need to fear. This dude with the strawberry lips and the sunshiny nose gives all the ladies a smile. Other times, things gotsta go on top of the fridge for a time out…

Sometimes, even new shoes are a privilege to be taken away.

And also fireman helmets.

Baby Jane done went and gone graduated to a big-girl bed. I suppose it’s all downhill from here on out. But for reals, she’s snoozin’ like an olde pro on that thing. Now, what shall we do with that crib that’s just hangin’ out in her room with nobody in it? Hmmmmmmm…

The Mustard Room keeps a tweedley-deein’ along. We’re movin’ t-shirts and gettin’ ready to print up another big batch o’ hoodies this afternoon for some olde pals. Why, we even put together THIS TIMELY CATALOG of last year’s t-shirt line for your enjoyment. All february shipments have gone out with bonus prizes like this here hand-drawn likeness of Mr. Zippy. Congratulations if that were you.

Now, while you’re adding that data to your pocket calendar, enjoy this outtake from the Kiss It All Goodbye sessions titled… Glorybound

Y’all come back now. Y’hear?

Round ye olde Rockey home, we’ve been enjoying the likes of some newly acquired record LP’s what we’ve been spinnin’ ’round the table. Plenty of booty-shakin & goodness-sakin’ to the tune of Nilsson, Wilco, Willie, & the Heads amongst others. If Willie & The Heads isn’t already a band name, i do believe i’ll claim that one for one of my imaginary bands right now. Hands off.

Baby Jane done went and gone graduated to a big-girl bed. I suppose it’s all downhill from here on out. But for reals, she’s snoozin’ like an olde pro on that thing. Now, what shall we do with that crib that’s just hangin’ out in her room with nobody in it? Hmmmmmmm…

The Mustard Room keeps a tweedley-deein’ along. We’re movin’ t-shirts and gettin’ ready to print up another big batch o’ hoodies this afternoon for some olde pals. Why, we even put together THIS TIMELY CATALOG of last year’s t-shirt line for your enjoyment. All february shipments have gone out with bonus prizes like this here hand-drawn likeness of Mr. Zippy. Congratulations if that were you.

Roundin’ out the month of February, we got a rare public performance of sing-songing comin’ up at Calvin Fletcher’s Coffee Comany in good olde Fountain Square. The night will also include the magical harmonious tones of Old Thyme Eskimo (aka Scott Hensley & Court Wilkins). Details can and will be found at the following location: HERE

Now, while you’re adding that data to your pocket calendar, enjoy this outtake from the Kiss It All Goodbye sessions titled…
Glorybound

Y’all come back now. Y’hear?

Following our eleventh collaboration with Westwood United Methodist’s student ministry dude, Dr. Lemons, we decided it fitting to retire the old lady pictured at the top of this post. This frame which was handed over to us so many years ago will now be forever stretched with the screen bearing the word ‘Inked’ as she has been so many times.

I only just now realized how ridiculous this post has been.

Nevertheless, sail on, silver bird! Your memory shall live on in the apparel which you gave your life to help ink…

Way back in the early days of The Mustard Room’s textile screen printing department, we were given a sizable donation by my generous Dad-in-Law; a donation which included many used screen frames, squeegees, and glow-in-the-dark ink. These screens were used to print, among other things, apparel supporting the cause of La Leche League. Workable negatives of clever captions such as “I Eat  at Mom’s”  were still visible when the screens were entrusted to our care. Mama Jane discouraged me from printing my own LLL apparel using said images. Since that day, we have more or less squeezed the ever-lovin’ life out of these donations, particularly the screen frames. The weathered wood has been re-stretched and washed to the point that the frame no longer lies flat and the metal brackets at each corner are wiggling their way to freedom.

Following our eleventh collaboration with Westwood United Methodist’s student ministry dude, Dr. Lemons, we decided it fitting to retire the old lady pictured at the top of this post. This frame which was handed over to us so many years ago will now be forever stretched with the screen bearing the word ‘Inked’ as she has been so many times.

I only just now realized how ridiculous this post has been.

Nevertheless, sail on, silver bird! Your memory shall live on in the apparel which you gave your life to help ink…

The next day, i was awaken by a toddler feeding me bunny crackers while the soft glow of PBS Kids fell gently upon us. We lifted our tired bodies from the hotel linens, freshened up, and stepped out into the fresh winter snow as it beckoned us onward toward the heart of Chicago. Once we arrived at the museum, there was time to ride the rails from Chicago to Seattle and back again before our 12:45 appointment with the Muppets. On the way, we saw a cattle drive as well as a family picnic being interrupted by a ferocious bear. Outstanding.

When we were finally granted access to the Fantastic World of Jim Henson, we were informed that there was to be no personal video or photography taken during the tourof the exhibit. Grrrrrrr. Well, anyone who knows me is privy to the fact that i am nothing if not a stickler for rules. Therefore, i had to instead hijack the following imagery from the interwebs to present them as my own…

Thanks to the lovers, the dreamers, and you.

Them Jane gals and i saddled up and headed to the windy city for a hot minute. For moments upon moments we’d been chit-chatting about a short trip north to the Museum of Science & Industry to experience the Fantastic World of Jim Henson exhibit. Well sir, that’s just about what we did. Our road trip began with some intense conversation regarding personal and family goals for the new year. Baby Jane decided that twenty-eleven would be the year of  learning to fly solo on the potty. After about an hour’s worth of discussion, i reluctantly agreed. After all, i’ve put these gals through enough already. In what seemed like no time at all, we had been robbed by a hand full of toll booths, we plowed through two floors of IKEA, and finally found ourselves passed out in a Red Roof Inn.

The next day, i was awaken by a toddler feeding me bunny crackers while the soft glow of PBS Kids fell gently upon us. We lifted our tired bodies from the hotel linens, freshened up, and stepped out into the fresh winter snow as it beckoned us onward toward the heart of Chicago. Once we arrived at the museum, there was time to ride the rails from Chicago to Seattle and back again before our 12:45 appointment with the Muppets. On the way, we saw a cattle drive as well as a family picnic being interrupted by a ferocious bear. Outstanding.

When we were finally granted access to the Fantastic World of Jim Henson, we were informed that there was to be no personal video or photography taken during the tour of the exhibit. Grrrrrrr. Well, anyone who knows me is privy to the fact that i am nothing if not a stickler for rules. Therefore, i had to instead hijack the following imagery from the interwebs to present them as my own…

Regardless, we did see all of these things and so much more including silkscreen prints, sketches, ideas, storyboards, short films, fraggles, etcetera. Rather than not do justice, i’ll simply say that i left the exhibit quite inspired and with an even deeper appreciation for the artistry, craft, and vision of the dreamer, Jim Henson.

Thanks to the lovers, the dreamers, and you.