🧶 Syrup, Shag Rugs & Sunny Little Projects 🍓☀️

🧵 Tufting Trouble

Lately, I have found myself signing up for every art class I possibly can. Last week I learned how to tuft and this past weekend I learned how to make fake food. 

The fake food class was hosted at a Japanese café which made the experience even more fitting because I spent so much time admiring fake food displays while traveling in Japan, especially in Osaka. Every restaurant window looked like a tiny surreal art installation. Seeing how detailed and realistic everything was made me realize that fake food is such an untapped art form in the U.S. and now I fear I may become deeply invested in it. 

I made a stack of adorable fake pancakes that somehow look very real. The best part is that they are functional too. The whipped cream top lifts off to reveal a little storage container inside. I’m thinking it will become home to tiny treasures like my collection of wine stoppers that include ice-cream ones, matchbooks, or other tiny objects.

Following my tufting class, I immediately bought a tufting kit. Thankfully my boyfriend agreed to split the cost with me because these things are no joke. This means there will probably be far too many rugs in our future.

I spent most of my designated “productive” art time last week completely consumed by making my second rug instead of focusing on the work I was technically supposed to be doing. But honestly, art is art.

This second rug did come with an important lesson though. Never trust the cute plushy yarn at Michaels. It may feel dreamy and magical in the aisle but the second you touch the rug... boom. Shed city. Blow on it? Even worse. Tiny fibers flying through the air like dandelion fluff. So instead of becoming a functional rug, this piece will now live its best life framed in a shadow box as an art piece. You live and you learn.

🍒 New Shop Updates

On the note of tiny objects and collectible things, all of my custom merchandise has officially arrived!

I now have new prints from my recent series, “The Things I Keep”, along with stickers, stationery, and custom matchboxes. The prints and stationery are already live in the shop and the stickers and matchboxes will be added this week along with a brand new mini painting.

The minis are also still available at a reduced price of $99 for a limited time!

🌞 Tombolo Dreams

I’m currently applying to the Artist Residency Program at Tombolo which feels incredibly exciting.

Tombolo describes their clothing as “escape wear to transport you to a sunnier time, place, or state of mind,” which honestly feels like something I would want my artwork to do too. Their pieces are filled with whimsy, character, and creativity in a way that feels rare in clothing today.

While attending NYU in New York, I lived only a few blocks from the store and would constantly stop in just to admire everything. The clothing genuinely felt like wearable art. I especially love the terry cloth pieces and the way they transform playful ideas into details like buttons, pockets, collars, and patterns. It feels imaginative, nostalgic, and very aligned with the kind of worlds I try to create through my own work.

📚 Secret Illustrations

As for other projects, I’m currently illustrating another children’s book for someone which has been very exciting. I’m keeping most of the details secret for now, but I’ll definitely share more in a future newsletter once everything develops a bit further.

For now, my days have mostly consisted of paint, yarn fuzz, resin pancakes, tiny paper goods, and trying not to accidentally start ten new art hobbies at once.

With love and color,

Rosalie