soto softies

hello, again!

2011-09-12T15:27:00.000-05:00

It's been a while.... Making stuff again. Making the time to make stuff. Finally executing old ideas, like this bat mobile. Teaching at gather here and loving it. What are you up to?

thanks!

2010-02-08T14:21:00.004-05:00

Thank you to everyone who purchased patterns and puppets over the last couple of weeks. This morning we were able to donate $180 to Partners in Health thanks to you. You guys are awesome! If anyone is interested in making a donation of their own to Partners in Health, please visit their site. Every little bit counts.

because every little bit helps, right?

2010-01-22T12:33:00.003-05:00

I don't know what to say about the tragic events that occurred last week that hasn't been said a million times over already and far more eloquently at that. Following ravelry's lead, I am donating the proceeds from all pattern sales until the first week of February to help with the Haitian earthquake relief effort. The full proceeds from all pattern sales at my etsy and big cartel shops will be donated to Partners in Health, one of the smaller groups out there but one that has been extremely active in helping bring modern medical care to Haiti for the last 20 years.

Also donated in full will be all finger puppet set sales at my etsy shop. So please have a look.

2009-12-16T08:08:00.000-05:00

Have you folks checked out the latest edition of Petite Purls yet? There are lots of fun, beautiful patterns in it (as always), and I am thrilled to announce that my tutorial for the sweet panda pictured here is in their Sew Petite feature. Many thanks again to Brandy and Allegra for including me in this!

2009-12-15T13:39:00.002-05:00

There are lots of fun things still available at the shop. There are several sets of fingerpuppets and some penguin ornaments, as well as a bunch mini-critters. Just a reminder - last day I'm shipping before the holidays will be this Friday. Hope you're all having a lovely holiday season!

2009-12-08T17:34:00.002-05:00

Shop update tonight at 8PM EST! There will be elephants, lions, snails, oh my! I will be posting my leftover penguin ornaments, too. In case you don't snag one tonight, I am working on a second small batch to post this Friday afternoon, which is also when I will post the sets of fingerpuppets. Of the 106 fingerpuppets I made for Bazaar Bizarre, I have 36 left. I tried photographing all of those individually to post onto etsy, but you know, it was driving me nuts. So I'm just going to offer them as sets and include a discount in the price.

Also, those of you awaiting commissions from me, I am working on those and will have all of them ready by next Monday. Sorry for the delay, but prep for BazBiz has overshadowed just about everything here for the last three weeks. (Seriously, you should see the mountains of laundry I have yet to fold and put away. Yikes!) You will all be hearing from me in the next few days regarding your specific commission.

One last thing - the last date that I will ship will be Friday, December 18th. That is my absolute cutoff date. I want to ensure that your packages all get to you on time, and any date after that is pushing it. I don't want to take any chances with that. On top of that, due to health reasons, it may not be in my best interest to have to deal with the stress of the Post Office in the few days before Xmas. I trust you folks will understand.

Thanks again for all the love & support throughout the year! xoxo

2009-12-07T14:09:00.002-05:00

Bazaar Bizarre was awesome this year! Thanks to everyone who went and stopped by to say hello and all the lovely folks who bought a soto softie. And thanks to all the organizers, DJs, and volunteers who helped make this such a fun and wonderful event. You all rock! It was great seeing some familiar faces and checking out all the beautiful work by all the other vendors. Fun times, people!

2009-12-05T11:39:00.003-05:00

Bazaar Bizarre is tomorrow, and I am so excited. I am working on all the final prep stuff today. I believe I have more than enough softies and fingerpuppets. I would have liked to have gotten a couple more bats sewn, but I would drive myself batty (hah) if I were to try to crank a few more out today, especially in light of all the other stuff there is to be done. I thought about printing bat patterns, but my printer is kinda crappy. I would feel bad selling patterns printed on that. So anyone interested in patterns, please feel free to drop by my pattern shop.

Just a reminder - we'll be at table #94, which is to the left of the entrance. We are not set up to take credit cards, but we do accept cash (of course) and personal checks. Also, we are offering a 15% discount off any purchase of 3 or more fingerpuppets. Hope to see you tomorrow!

2009-12-02T11:30:00.006-05:00

Just wanted to pass on the info for Bazaar Bizarre for those folks in the Boston area:

Bazaar Bizarre
Sunday, December 6th, 2009
Noon-7pm

BCA Cyclorama
539 Tremont St
Boston, MA

Admission $1

We'll be at table #94. Hope to see you Sunday!

2009-11-30T11:19:00.001-05:00

Hello there! Long time, no blog. There has been a frenzy of activity around here the last month, culminating in the last week of sewing and detailing and finishing off softies in preparation for Bazaar Bizarre which is just around the corner. In fact, it is this weekend - Sunday, December 6th. Please be sure to stop by and check it out if you're in the Boston area. There will be tons of excellent vendors there with all sorts of goodies to surprise and delight you. Seriously, it is an awesome place to get all your holiday shopping done in one go.

Also, the wonderful ladies at WhipUp included one of my photos in their 2010 calendar. If you're in the market for a calendar, it's a lovely one to have. Thanks again to Kath and the rest of WhipUp for including me and also posting this fun interview.

One last thing for now. There is something coming up that I am dying to share with you folks. Just a few more days and I'll be able to tell you all. So please do check back later this week.

getting ready

2009-09-18T22:32:00.003-05:00

Great news! I will be participating in Bazaar Bizarre again this year. Woohoo! So exciting! I've already starting cutting minis and puppets, and next week I am diving into full-production mode. It is going to be amazing this year! Hope you all have a fabulous weekend, folks.

the battern is now available

2009-09-14T07:38:00.003-05:00

I have been meaning to do this for far too long. Finally, the batty pattern is available! Now you, too, can whip yourself up a little batty friend. Also, I have decided that going forward, my bigcartel shop will be my pattern shop. Why? Because I have a few more patterns in the works to be released in the next few weeks, including some brand-spanking new designs. Just in time for all your holiday crafting!

I am also putting up a bunch of patterns on etsy, just to cover that end. I'm planning to do a shop update there some time next week which will include more minis and a few bats.

One last thing, which squicks me out a little, but I feel that it needs to be mentioned. The patterns I am putting up are for your enjoyment and entertainment. You can make as many as you would like. However, I ask that the patterns not be redistributed or resold or that anyone sell the pieces produced from these patterns as their own. I hate bringing up the copyright stuff, but sometimes it needs to be said because people just might not be aware of the rules.

Anyhootle, hope you folks like the patterns, and happy sewing to you all!

the twitter twatter of little tweets

2009-09-07T13:28:00.002-05:00

I now have a public twitter account for the blog & the shop. I won't be tweeting about what I made for dinner or who I hung out with during the day or sharing the minutia of my existence with you all, but I will be talking about my latest projects, chatting about both the process and the end-result and letting you know about shop updates and promotional stuff. I won't be as conversational as I was in my personal (now self-deleted) twitter, but the truth is that I was having a hard time dealing with that kind of exchange. That's the trouble I have always had with those types of social platforms, like twitter, facebook, and blogging; it's bad enough I feel shunned and reviled in real life, I don't need these feelings reinforced on the internet. Hopefully, this will not only reinvigorate me and get me to focus on creating again, but it will also snap me out of the miasma of sadness I've been experiencing lately. When there's less worrying about people and things that ultimately don't matter, there's more time and energy to invest in making beautiful things and feeling like myself again. So I'm gonna get to it. And if you'd like to keep up with updates and stuff, feel free to follow my soto softies twitter.

all the minis

2009-09-01T18:25:00.002-05:00

The shop has been updated with a small batch of mini-critters. There are mini-zaubermausi and mini-leafhoppers waiting to hop on out of the shop and into your arms.

Also, note to self: Always recharge the camera battery the night before you're going to do a shoot. Always. That way you don't lose precious daylight, waste a ton of time, and keep the good people waiting. Derf! Thanks for your patience, folks. Hugs to you all!

tomorrow - only a day away

2009-08-31T13:32:00.003-05:00

Ooops! I've been running a little late and have only half of what I would like to have finished ready, so I'm thinking the best thing to do is to postpone the update until tomorrow 3PM EST. Same bat time, same bat channel. Sorry about the folks; hope you understand.

Sally the snail, seen above, will be part of tomorrow's update.

so turn around, stick it out!

2009-08-26T13:29:00.001-05:00

I often get asked how do I get the mieces & co. to stand on their own. First, you have to fiddle with their legs a bit. Gently press down on the tips of their feet, and push the legs apart a tiny bit, slowly, so as to balance the weight of the body. This means that they will lean forward slightly. As I told Matt & Stacie the other day, they should look like they're farting. Yeah, I know. Keepin' it clASSy, as always. But seriously, just be patient with it and move in tiny increments, and you can get them to stand on their own. They do stand perfectly when propped against an object, but should you want it to stand freely, well, now you know. And knowing is half the battle, as they say.

snail tails

2009-08-25T08:26:00.001-05:00

Funny thing about sewing these tails. The first time I tried to make one, I hated the process. Maybe it was because I kept stabbing my fingers with the needle, or because my thread kept getting tangled because I used too long a length of it, or even because the tail itself kept unfurling and flapping about in a frustrating fashion as I tried to pin it down. I finally have it down, though. Finally. First, I make sure not to stuff the tail itself too tightly so that it's easier to turn, and I turn the tail as I sew so that it's easier on my hands than trying to hold down a twisted form for however long it takes me. I use a shorter length of hand-quilting thread. I use smaller stitches. And I sing as I sew. Now that I have gotten into the rhythm of it, I find the process to be very zen, and I am extremely pleased with the resulting tail/shell. It's a form that works well on top of the snail softie.

Mary had a little lamb

2009-08-24T15:15:00.003-05:00

And now, so can you!

The shop update has been completed. Sorry about the delay, folks. My computer has been a bit off lately, and processing the photos took way longer than it normally does. Everything is up now, I am happy to report. Also, there's going to be another update next Monday which will include a couple of pieces not finished in time for today's update, as well as a bunch of mini-critters. So please do drop by!

Hope your week is off to a wonderful start!

love those mieces to pieces

2009-08-22T19:40:00.003-05:00

Just two of the little guys that will be included in Monday's shop update.

2009-08-21T15:54:00.001-05:00

Lambikins: OMG! You guys! Have any of you seen the scarves? Where are they?

Mouse #1: Um, what scarves?

Lambikins: You know, the scarves we're supposed to wear for our photoshoot tomorrow? Duh!

Mouse #2: Photoshoot? What photoshoot? There's a photoshoot?

Lambikins: Yes! Didn't you get the memo? Dude, you gotta get with the program.

Mouse #3: Yeah, well, scarves are so 2008. Totally passé. Even the hipsters are finally retiring them. Didn't you get the memo?

Lambikins: Yeah, well... well... um, well, we're still wearing them for the shoot. It's a very important shoot. It's for the mondo shop update, this coming Monday, August 24, at 3PM EST. So tomorrow's photoshoot - be there or be square, my cheese-loving little friends. And bring your scarves!

parting is such sweet sorrow - sometimes

2009-07-23T07:33:00.000-05:00

Every now and then, I make something that I wish I could keep for myself because I like it that much. This is one of those projects. I was so smitten with this bat that I had to quickly wrap it up and get it out the door lest I make it mine. It might seriously be my favorite bat ever.

something kinda different

2009-07-22T10:16:00.004-05:00

I have been working on a bunch of commissions the last couple of months. I haven't been diligent about photographing them or blogging about them. It's not very exciting, and I have little to say about them, so I don't post about them or anything. Mainly, I've been cranking them out and getting them out the door as quickly as possible. There have been a few projects lately, though, that I have truly savored and enjoyed working on immensely - so much that I have to share them with you. The little wizard and curly-headed dude puppets above are one of those commissions.

About a month or so ago, I was contacted by this guy on etsy who wanted me to make puppets for a stop-action animation film he was planning to work on for his fantasy baseball league. The whole thing sounded so unusual that naturally my curiosity was piqued. When he presented me with a list of characters, I became more intrigued. This definitely posed a challenge for me. For starters, I usually don't do "humanoid" toys or dolls. My one previous attempt at a doll was incredibly unsatisfying and downright mediocre. I wondered if I could do this and how. I took the project on because it sounded fun and forced me to do something outside of my comfort zone. And now I can say that I am super-happy that I took it on because it was a ton of fun.

The wizard was great to work on, but the curly-headed dude was the best. Trying to make a puppet in someone's likeness was totally different for me, but I think I captured the guy's expression and defining physical characteristics pretty well. I have to say, I LOVE sewing hair onto softies. Love. It. There's something quite zen about that process.

Working on this commission has inspired me to think about other possible human or humanoid dolls that I can make. But more on that soon....

up up and away!

2009-07-20T16:27:00.002-05:00

I just put up a batch of fingerpuppets and mini leafhoppers over at ye olde etsy shop. Have a gander - hope you find one that's just right for you.

happy accidents!

2009-07-16T17:20:00.003-05:00

The other day I was working on a commission puppet and having a little bit of time trying to get just the right shape for the body. I was trying to sew an owl, and I felt that the form I ended up with was way too pointy for an owl. I put it aside to tinker with later while I worked on a new form for the owl puppet. It then occurred to me that this form would be perfect for a kangaroo puppet, and sure enough, it works! Well, mainly when you look at it head on. From the side, it looks a little... ahem... NSFW-ish.

This little guy and a few other puppets & mini-critters & owls will be part of a shop update on Monday. More details tomorrow or over the weekend....

awww, thanks!

2009-07-14T22:37:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who voted for my finger puppet tutorial over at luvinthemommyhood. It won for best craft tutorial over there so thanks, again, people!

And thanks to the long thread for posting about the tutorial! If anyone has any finished finger puppets, I would love to see them.

In the meanwhile, I am working on puppets and commissions in between trips this summer and having an awesome time at it. Hope you're all having a wonderful summer, too!

well, look at that!

2009-07-09T20:51:00.002-05:00

What a pleasant surprise upon returning from a brief vacation! My finger puppet tutorial has been nominated for a top tutorial over at luvinthemommyhood. There's only one more day left to vote, so please do hop on over there. Thanks again for the nomination, Shannon!

and just in case...

2009-06-03T13:15:00.003-05:00

For those folks who don't have the time to make a fingerpuppet but still want one, I just put up a few batches of puppets at my etsy shop.

warm fuzzy mammal finger puppets - the tutorial

2009-06-02T13:18:00.008-05:00

Hi folks! Wanna make a lamby finger puppet? Or a squirrel? Or a mouse? Here's how:

First off, you'll need this handy-dandy pattern* which I drew up:

MammalFriendsFP

Publish at Scribd or explore others: How-to-Guides & Manu fingerpuppets sotosofties

Now, as far as materials go, you'll need:

tissue paper for tracing the pattern pieces
felt (pieces should be at least 4 x 6 inches in size)
scraps of fabric no smaller than 2 x 4 inches
stuffing material (I prefer Polyfil, but you can use wool or cotton - whatever suits you best)
for the eyes - buttons, discs of felt, beads, or plastic safety eyes
embroidery floss for the face details

1. Trace the shapes on the pattern PDF* onto a piece of tracing paper and cut those out. Next, pin the cut pieces to your felt and fabric and cut out the number of parts as indicated for each puppet. Note: You do not need to add an allowance as a 1/4 inch allowance has already been included in the pattern. Essentially, you'll need 2 felt parts for the body and 1 fabric head panel for each puppet, plus details. Your puppet parts should look like this:

...for the lamb.

...for the squirrel.

...for the mouse.

2. Pin the ears to the body as follows:

For the lamb, pin the ears with the edges facing the bottom of the puppet with the tips pointing to the front, like so:

For the squirrel, make sure the edges face forward:

For the mouse, pin the ears with the edges facing the bottom:

Before you sew, make sure that all your ears look like this:

3. Now we can start sewing. When sewing, allow yourself a 1/4 inch allowance. Sew the fabric head panel with the right side of the fabric facing down along the top of one felt body piece starting with the nose, sewing along to the back of the head, like so:

4. Sew the other side of the head to the other side of the body (sewing from the back of the head to the nose would make this part easier now). Remember to pull the pins from the ears and tuck in the ears before closing the head so that they don't get caught in the seam when you sew the front edge:

Now sew the two parts of the body together starting at the nose and proceeding along the front edge of the body to the bottom:

5. Flip the puppet over and sew the back. For the squirrel, now is the time to attach the tail. Roll up & pin the tip of the tail so that you can easily fit it in the body:

Now sandwich the tail in the body with the rolled up & pinned tip in towards the center of the puppet's body. You want just a little bit of the base of the tail to stick out from in between the two felt pieces for the body:

Now sew up the back, and you're done with the sewing part! We're almost done now.

Quick thing! Don't forget to pull the pin out of the squirrel tail before you do anything else; that's a lesson I learned the hard way:

7. Carefully trim the rounded parts of the head and the parts where the head and body join with little 1/8 inch cuts. Be very careful not to cut any of your seams:

8. Now carefully invert the puppets with the flat end of a pen or pencil. Be very patient; this part is tricky and a total pain in the butt. It is the only aspect of softie-making that I can honestly say I loathe. You want to nudge the puppets inside out very carefully and little by little. Take your time with it. If you push too hard or too fast, you might end up accidentally ripping the seams and undoing all your sewing or piercing through the felt or the fabric. So go slowly.

9. If you're using plastic safety eyes, put them on once the puppet in fully inverted because this next step is stuffing. Use wee pinch-sized clumps of stuffing and carefully press them into the head with your fingers or the flat end of a pen/pencil. Keep stuffing until the head is as firm as you would like it and so that you don't have an excess of stuffing sticking out of the head and into the puppet body.

10. Now detail your puppet. Stitch little faces on them with your embroidery floss. You can even use markers or puff paint or whatever to decorate them. Do what you like. Have fun with it!

Happy puppet making, people!

* The not-so-fine print: This pattern is for entertainment purposes only. You can make as many finger puppets as you'd like and distrubute them to family & friends & your kids & your neighbors' kids & your students and such, but please do not sell the items made from this pattern. Same thing goes for the pattern itseslf. Share it with as many people as you want to, but please do not charge for the pattern nor pass it off as your own. I feel yucky mentioning it, but them's the rules and it has to be said. Thanks!

bat sale!

2009-04-17T21:10:00.003-05:00

These guys are up at my shop, and they are on sale as I hope to make room for new stuff.

pretty in pink

2009-04-16T19:52:00.003-05:00

New mouse up in the etsy shop. More stuff to come over the next couple of weeks, including that long-ago promise pattern (or two).

hello spring!

2009-04-15T17:19:00.002-05:00

Well, hello there! Now that Spring is upon us, I am rousing from my unintentional hibernation and getting back into the swing of things. For starters, I have posted a bunch of finger puppets on my etsy shop and will be updating more later in the week. Also, I am adding the finishing touches to a few new pieces, which will hopefully find their way to the shop shortly. I miss feeling productive; days like today make me one happy camper! Hope you folks are having a fabulous Spring so far!

spring cleaning

2009-03-24T15:36:00.004-05:00

Hi everyone! That break lasted a little longer than I thought it would. Whew! Right now, I am in the middle of re-doing my studio and making it more functional. There are things in the work though, and I am happy to finally be gaining some momentum on that front. So soon, my friends, very soon, I will have something fun to share with you all. In the meanwhile, I am doing some spring cleaning in the shop and having a sale. Please do have a peek. Talk soon!

christmas armadillo...

2008-12-25T12:25:00.002-05:00

...wishes you all a wonderful holiday full of family, friends, love, and laughter! Have a great one, folks!

you can stick a fork in me - i'm done!

2008-12-17T15:01:00.002-05:00

With this last mini-elephant for an existing order, I am done with the shop for the holidays. I will be shipping stuff for the next couple of days and will happily email out penguin PDFs, but no more updates for the next couple of weeks. Also, as I was finishing a couple of mini-critters last night, I realized that I haven't even made anything for the kids in my life, specifically my nephew, whose birthday I totally forgot about (it's this Saturday - yikes!). So I think I need to take care of that because I love my little nephew, and he seems to appreciate my toys. He still plays with the bunny I made for him when he was just a baby. I can't believe he's going to be 3 already. I still can't believe my baby sister is a mommy. And I still can't believe my baby sister is almost 30 and not a baby anymore. Yep, time is funny, huh? Anyhoo, I'll be around, finishing last minute presents and decorations and stuff. Thanks for another wonderful year, folks.

hey mr. bojangles, you coo-coo crazy way-out swinging bat

2008-12-16T07:05:00.003-05:00

One last-minute bat up in the shop, and tomorrow I will (hopefully) have the last of the mini-critters (the handful that didn't get finished in time for Bazaar Bizarre) up there as well. Friday is my last day for shipping before the holidays, folks, so get your softies and finger puppet sets in while you can. I think I am going to close the shop for a week or so after the 19th - no shipping until after Xmas and no shop updates until January when I get back from celebrating Three Kings with my family in NY. My hands totally need a break right now. I will continue to email patterns out as orders come in for them, so no worries about those. In the meanwhile, I need to decorate this place! Hmmm, I need to think of some quick, easy, and cute ornaments....

penguin to the rescue!

2008-12-14T14:42:00.004-05:00

Looking for a last-minute crafty gift to make? Perhaps this plucky penguin fits the bill! I just posted my first pattern to the shop, and I hope people like it. Huge thanks to Matt for the diagrams and layout.

for old times' sake

2008-12-13T13:41:00.002-05:00

I just put some ducky finger puppets and one parrot in the old etsy shop. For sets of finger puppets and bats and owls and elephants (oh my!), please go to my new shop. That is where I am posting all my new softies these days. Please check your bookmarks and RSS feeds and update them to the new shop as I think I will close down the etsy shop in the new year. I guess today's update is one last hurrah over at etsy.

things are bursting in the shop!

2008-12-10T17:09:00.003-05:00

Thanks to all of you who have scored yourselves some mini-critters today. You guys rock, BIG TIME! There are still plenty of softies to be had, including some new owls, bats, and lunar moths, not to mention several sets of finger puppets. So please spread the word. Also, because today's update was so big (there were 40 items in my shop at one point), I am not actually done adding stuff, so there will be more finger puppet sets as well as individual puppets added in the next few days. There are a few minis that I didn't get the chance to finish for Bazaar Bizarre, so those will be going up in the shop over the next few days. I would recommend checking in around 3 or so every day for the next week. My last shop update of the year will be Wednesday, December 17th, and my cut-off date for shipping out items for the holidays will be December 19th. Thanks again for all your support, folks!

update tomorrow! hooray!

2008-12-09T19:55:00.002-05:00

The big holiday shop update will be tomorrow @ 3 PM EST. Please do drop by!

thank you!

2008-12-09T19:32:00.003-05:00

Bazaar Bizarre was a huge success this year. Thanks to all who made it down and showed their support for all the talented crafters. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our table and said hello or bought a softie. It was awesome meeting so many people. I was so psyched to see a few familiar faces, as well as to meet some folks whose work I have long admired. I was also lucky enough to be situated right across from two of my favorite people ever. Can't wait until next year so we can do it all over again!

working for the weekend

2008-12-04T00:43:00.002-05:00

Sorry about the lack of posting lately. I've had my hands full getting ready for Bazaar Bizarre coming up this weekend. If you're in Boston, please do stop by and say hello. There will be tons of crafters with a wide assortment of lovely handmade items available for sale. The details are as follows:

Bazaar Bizarre
Sunday, December 7, from noon to 7 PM
The Castle @ Park Plaza

It looks like my table will be 107, which is straight towards the back if you walk down the center upon entering. I am still not set up for credit cards, so FYI I can only do cash. Also, just to let you folks know, I will be closing my bigcartel shop on Sunday but will reopen on Monday with an update. I am not sure if I will be able to update the blog between now and Sunday, but I hope to see some of you at Bazaar Bizarre. Have a great weekend folks!

guaranteed to brighten up any rainy day

2008-11-28T12:45:00.004-05:00

Shop update today at 3PM EST. Fingerpuppets galore!

why hello there!

2008-11-25T16:44:00.002-05:00

So today I have good news and (kinda) bad news. Let's start with the bad, since it's really not that bad at all. That tutorial I promised earlier? It was going to be a free template for the wee stockings I made a couple of years ago and some ideas/suggestions for decorating them. Apparently, Martha Stewart beat me to the punch, and her tutorial is much better than mine. I will have something fun for you all soon, though. I am just in the frenzy before the fair. Bazaar Bizarre is just a little over a week away, and I am busy-busy. I should have considered how much time I had to devote to the blog before I said I would have fun tutorial and such this month.

Anyhoo, onto the good news now: I have made so many of these finger puppets that I am putting up a few sets in the shop this Friday at 3PM EST. Each set will consist of 3 finger puppets, and there will be a duplicate of each set so that there will be 8 sets available total.

Okay, gotta get back to the sewing machine now. Hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving filled with family, love, and laughter!

matt rocks the party that rocks the party!

2008-11-23T19:52:00.004-05:00

I am so lucky. Matt made a finger puppet display for me to use for Bazaar Bizarre. And he's making a second one. Yay! Not only will I have the neat flat display from last year, but now I will have the two elevated ones that also function as softie propper-uppers. He rocks! We'll be painting them later in the week - white or robin's egg blue.

i've been a busy little beaver

2008-11-20T07:57:00.003-05:00

Last night, I finished up some more finger puppets, bringing the total number of puppets finished for Bazaar Bizarre so far to 91 - just 9 shy of my goal of 100. Almost there! Woohoo! Which is great because now I can focus on the critters and bats and a few other things I have up my sleeve, and it also allows me more time on the side to whip up a batch of fingerpuppets for the shop. I am on the fence about whether or not to totally do away with the etsy shop, as people are pretty fond of etsy and there's a huge craft-appreciating crowd over there. I'm thinking what I may do is put up one batch of puppets up at my etsy shop and another on my bigcartel, giving anyone who reads this ol' blog and folks on the email list the advantage in knowing which batch is going where. It may sound complicated, but I guarantee you, it will be all easy breezy fingerpuppets!

Anyhoo, I have not forgotten about the ornaments I promised you good folks. I just want to get a few more things cleared off my plate before I work on those. I am hoping to have a few things ready for this coming Wednesday morning. Please do have a peek then.

it's nuts I tell ya!

2008-11-18T14:32:00.003-05:00

One of my goals for Bazaar Bizarre is to have 100 finger puppets finished and ready to sell. My secret goal is to have a whole bunch more so that I can put some up at my shop before December. As it is, I have 62 finger puppets done, and if I should continue at the rate I'm going today, I should have a total of 84 done by tonight. This is exciting, or at least it makes me happy and hopeful. I may complete my goal for BB by the end of the week. Granted, I have about 20 critters I still need to sew, and that's not counting the many other softies in various states of completion hanging out on my work table. Still, I feel a little better about everything knowing that I am making some progress. And look! Squirrel finger puppets! Yay!

the day is too long and there's no end in sight

2008-11-13T19:59:00.003-05:00

What a terribly unproductive day I had in the worst way today. I was trying to get a ton done, but my wheels were spinning helplessly. My work area was off limits due to the electricians coming to do some re-wiring and putting in some lights. Suffice it to say, working on a tiny surface that is shared with a pile of laundry (that I really should have put away) and fighting off the curious kitties while standing the whole day makes me a little grumpy. I got very little done, and now I need to keep working until I get the puppets finished even if it means staying up all night. Because tomorrow is another busy day. And the electricians will be back again. Ugh. On the upshot, we now have light in our living room, which makes me very happy. So hooray!

I'll hopefully have some ornaments to share with you over the weekend or first thing next week. Until then, hope you're all having a great week!

pincushion in the top photo by Megan of 100% philistine made
box bag in botom photo by Caro of splityarn

busy busy busy

2008-11-10T14:16:00.004-05:00

Sorry things have been so quiet around these parts lately. I have been busy sewing up a bunch of stuff, including a mountain of finger puppets, for Bazaar Bizarre, and also working on a number of other projects. I feel kinda bad that in all of this flurry of activity, I have dropped the ball on a couple of other assignments, but I am trying to keep my eye on the big prize here and focus on BB.

I am also planning to have some ornament patterns to share with you all soon (end of this week or beginning of next), so please do drop by for that. Huge thanks to all the sites that featured my bat puppet tutorial. I was surprised by how many of you did so. Thank you so much!

happy halloween!

2008-10-31T09:18:00.003-05:00

Running around getting ready for a friend's wedding later today, so creepy LG is here to hold down the blog and wish you all a Happy Halloween! Have a great one, folks!

wow, thanks!!!

2008-10-28T13:52:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to take a moment to thank the kind folks at craftzine blog and WhipUp for posting about my recent tutorials. Thank you so much! And thanks to everyone who has dropped by from these two wonderful sites. Hope you like what you see and come back.

you too can have bats in your belfry

2008-10-27T16:57:00.001-05:00

In the spirit of fun Halloween tutorials, I offer this cute and easy bat finger puppet. I would have made a ton of these for the shop if the idea had occurred to me sooner, but as it didn't, here's the tutorial and a quickie PDF pattern for you to make your own to put in your favorite little hobgoblin's trick-or-treat bag.

You will need the following materials:

a printout of this pattern
a piece of black, brown, or dark gray felt, approx 8 x 12 or so (doesn't have to be 100% wool, although that is what I prefer to work with)
a small piece of fabric for the insert (like about 2 x 3 1/2 inches)
embroidery floss
buttons or plastic safety eyes or teeny felt discs
a small amount of polyfill or cotton or wool stuffing
(optional) fabric glue

1 - Trace the shapes onto tissue paper and cut two of each shape - except for the fabric head panel - out of the felt. Each shape has been drawn taking into account a 1/8 - 1/4 inch seam allowance so no need to add that. You will now have:

2 pieces for the body
2 ears
2 wings

2 - Now cut 1 head panel out of fabric. It should all look like this:

3 - Fold ears slightly and place and pin to head, like so:

4 - Now sew fabric head panel right side down, like so:

As soon as the head panel is sewn onto the one side, remove the pin.

5 - Sew onto other side:

Remove the pin there as soon as you're done.

6 - Before you sew the rest of the body, adjust the ears. Stuff them in slightly to ensure that their tips will not be accidentally sewn together or to the body:

7 - Now sew the body down the front and back, like so:

8 - Trim the ends of threads and snip around the head so that you can invert it neatly and easily:

9 - Carefully invert your finger puppet with the blunt end of a pencil:

10 - Now detail the face. You can get as creative with this as you wish. There is no need to only use safety eyes. You can sew or glue on buttons, beads, or sequins or sew on and embroider felt eyes. Please bear in mind the age of the recipient. I feel a little silly saying so here because I know all of you already know this, but it is worth mentioning that it is NOT a good idea to use buttons for a puppet for a toddler. You can also draw on a face with fabric markers or fabric paint. Do whatever you like to detail your bat and give it the personality you want.

11 - Once your bat face is done, now stuff the head with your preferred stuffing, be it polyfill or wool or cotton:

12 - Finally, we get to the wings. Position them and either pin them to place and hand-sew them (using the whip-stitch) or glue them with your fabric glue. I prefer them to hand-stitch them myself:

Now when your favorite little hobgobblin comes a'trick-or-treating you can give them a treat that lasts longer than candy, is more interactive, and won't give them cavities or empty calories. Happy Halloween folks!

uhhhhh, fail!

2008-10-24T12:26:00.002-05:00

I had big plans for this shop update, but I should have known last week when I lost all my steam and took a few days to deal with personal business and to continue certain fix-it projects around the house that I have too long neglected that I wasn't going to get everything done that I had hoped to get done. There was also a bit of prioritizing as well, being as I am working on a couple of side-projects that I will talk about here soon enough. So today's update is not going to happen. Sorry about that, folks. There is still a lot of stuff in the shop from my last two updates so if you haven't already had a look at those items, please do have a peek. In the meanwhile, as I mentioned in my last post, I am going to continue to post project ideas and other fun stuff through Halloween, and I am definitely going to have one more (hopefully huge) update in mid-November before the holidays. After that, the focus of the blog will shift to the creative process and more holiday crafting ideas as I work my tail off for Bazaar Bizarre. Come December, I will start to update the shop again regularly. You may be reding this thinking, "Dude, you don't have to tell me all this and take me through it step-by-step." Well, I guess I'm just thinking aloud here. That and I don't want anyone to think that I am abandoning the shop, you know. Thanks for all your support and patience! And have an awesome weekend, people!

trick or treat!

2008-10-21T16:51:00.017-05:00

Would you like to make a nifty little trick-or-treating tote like this one for your little hobgoblin this Halloween? It's easy! First, you'll need one of these:

Quick Fuse Inkjet Fabric Sheets
EQ Printables Inkjet Fabric Sheets or Sew-In Inkjet Fabric Sheets
Inkjet T-Shirt Transfer Sheets (they don't seem to be available at Staples online, but I know they have them at my local Staples and probably at yours, too)

And you'll need this here. You can blow up or reduce the image to print it to whatever size meets your project's requirements. For the mirror/inverted image to use with the transfer sheets, please go here.

I did it the hard way since I didn't have either of those on hand and just ironed some lightweight fusible interfacing onto some Kona cotton, then cut it to size (8 1/2 x 11 inches in this case), and ran it through the printer. It kinda smudged a little, so I don't know if I would recommend anyone else do that, but I guess in a pinch, it'll do. In order to make a simple teeny tote like the one I made up there, just follow these instructions here:

1. Once you have transferred the image to your fabric using your preferred method and cut the fabric to size, cut another piece of fabric to the same size so that you now have two pieces. Again, in this instance, both pieces measure 8 1/2 x 11 inches. Also, cut another piece of fabric for the handle. I cut a piece with interfacing on it that is 5 1/2 x 12 inches.

2. Take the piece of fabric with the image on it and place the matching piece of fabric over it, right sides together. Pin to hold in place. Starting at the upper right hand corner, sew around three sides (with a 1/4 inch allowance), leaving the top open. Once you are done sewing, trim your corners on an angle, like so:

3. Once the perimeter of the bag is sewn, now you're going to shape the bag. Stand it up and push the sides at the corner in, like so:

Flatten and mark it with a disappearing ink fabric pen or water soluble pen, like so:

Now sew along those lines, keeping the bag flat as you had it when marking it. (Pin the bag in place to be precise.) The result will be two "flaps" that you push down to the bottom of the bag once you turn it inside out. If you want to be particular about it, you can sew the tips of these two flaps together. Either give it a couple of stitches by hand or a quick two stitches on the machine. I am not being as particular with this model bag.

4. Fold in the top of the bag (about 1/2 - 3/4 inch) and press flat all around, like so:

You can fold it in twice and hide that cut edge if you want to make sure the hem doesn't fray. Now iron it to get a nice crisp top edge:

Once the bag is the height you want and ironed to a crisp perfect edge, pin the edge so that you are ready to sew. I stick the pins in vertically, points towards the edge, so that I can pull them out easily as I am sewing, like so:

5. Sew the handle now. Fold the piece of fabric for the handle in once from one side and then in from the other side, press with the iron for crisp smooth edges, and run it through the machine a couple of times, making sure you stitch both edges and sewing another couple of rows of stitches in the middle to give it some substance:

Once it's sewn, you will trim the edges:

Only you won't leave your rotary cutter lying around open, and you will have the presence of mind to use your ruler with the numbers going the right way, which I clearly didn't. (Because I sew like a maverick! Getting all maverick-y with my tools!) Now place the handle where you want it to go on your bag and pin it in place:

6. Now you're ready to sew the top edge of your bag and attach the handles. Pull off your machine's extension table/accessory box so that the free-arm is open and place your bag on the machine like so:

Leaving about 1/4 inch allowance, sew all around the top of the bag, including the handle ends where they have been pinned. Pull out the pins as you sew so the needle doesn't hit any of them.

And you're done!

If you want to make sure that your bag looks great and that the handle is sturdier and neater than this:

then perhaps you want to sew another row of stitches either around the whole bag or just to reinforce the handles.

Anyway, have fun with this image. Reduce it to make little paper treat bags or enlarge it and put it on a t-shirt or make a sign for your window or door. If you guys have any suggestions or additions to these basic instructions, please let me know. This is my first time writing a how-to like this really (besides a very quick and non-detailed sew-as-you-go softie thing a while back), so there's definitely room for growth, but I hope this works as a basic tutorial. Enjoy, and Happy Halloween!

call it a premonition

2008-10-20T12:54:00.004-05:00

This week is going to kick my ass. I woke up this morning with no voice, much to the relief of Mali and the gang, and what I have now is scratchy and strained. I have no idea how or why or where this came from. All I know is that I have a million deadlines this week, in addition to a personal to-do list a mile long. So the shop update will take place on Friday. After that, there will be only one more update before the holidays, in late November. Also, no more commissions and no wholesale. I want to take the month of November to concentrate on Bazaar Bizarre and to work on a big project that just keeps getting thrown onto the back-burner. It's now or never, and I have to get it done. Please do keep an eye on the blog, however, as I am planning to post some fun Halloween stuff (starting tomorrow) in addition to tips, techniques, and ideas over the next couple of months. There's going to be shift here with less of a focus on the shop and more of a focus on the process and how you can do it too. So please drop in for that. Hope you all had an awesome weekend and that your week is off to a great start.

P.S. - The pieces I contributed to SuperPlush! are available for sale through the GhettoGloss wesbite. Please have a look and contact them if you are interested in anything you see.

P.P.S. - Please excuse the gratuitous dog photo, but I have no interesting softie-related photos to share at the moment because my studio is a mess of half-finished items and parts and pieces and other insanity. So you'll have to settle for the pretty puppy shot. Say hi to the nice people, Malachi!

what's going on

2008-10-17T11:30:00.003-05:00

I am frantically trying to catch up on life and the shop and everything this week, so I apologize for the lack of shop update. There are still several bats up in the shop at the moment, however, as well as tons of cards for sending creepy greetings this Halloween. And next week's update should be a doozy! I'm thinking maybe Wednesday, but I will let you all know as soon as that is decided. (I should know in the next day or so.) Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have an awesome weekend.

up in a few

2008-10-06T11:43:00.004-05:00

Hey folks! Just wanted to let you know that I'll be adding a few new bats to the shop at 3PM EST today. Please check 'em out if you can. Thanks!

I am not sure when the next update will be as we have some friends staying with us this weekend and the next few days will be spent on the great clean-up that we've been meaning to undertake, for goodness knows how long now, which entails everything from organizing my work area (which is great) to painting the foyer (not so great) to all the little things we overlook on a daily basis. I am going to cut a whole bunch of new pieces now and try to get some sewing done over the next few days. I am thinking maybe the next update will be on Wednesday. I'll let you all know as soon as I have a better idea.

Also, I am totally overthinking the bat pattern. This is my problem with it, well, besides getting the diagrams right on Illustrator. I keep thinking you will all hate me after this because it is so darn fussy - so many fiddly little bits, so much packing in of the stuffing, and just wait until you break out the 3 1/2 inch long doll needles to button-joint. I think button-jointing is kinda fun, but there are times when you accidentally poke yourself with the needle for the fifth time and everything is fumbly and it is most decidedly NOT fun. Anyhoo, I am enlisting Matt's help with Illustrator, and we should have that ready next week. Sorry again about the delay. I will make it up to you with some other fun stuff for Halloween so please do stay tuned.

hoot hoot!

2008-09-29T10:46:00.003-05:00

These guys and a couple of other friends will be included in today's update at 3PM EST. There is only one bat going up today, but I am working on a few more and hope to have them finished for next Monday's update. As for the pattern, things are slow-going with that because I am fumbling my way through Illustrator. My apologies - I hope to have that available for you all in a couple of weeks, just in time for your Halloween preparations. In the meanwhile, there are still postcards sets available for those of you who are interested. Hope you can stop by the shop and check it all out.

the good stuff

2008-09-26T14:13:00.004-05:00

After a week filled with a string of setbacks and one major disaster averted (thankfully!), I am settling in to finish several pieces for next week on this gray day feeling more than a little tired but grateful, thinking of the good things in life and things that I like, such as:

the sound of the needle on a record as it starts to play, that crackle and hiss
the tufted titmouse that comes to our humble little birdfeeder every morning
having the opportunity to start and almost finish the latest Murakami novel while waiting to see the doctor
a room filled with books with funky wallpaper peeking through here and there like this gorgeous room here
the potential in stacks of new fabric
the crisp smell of autumn in the air
big full cups of Cafe Bustelo

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

tomorrow night - superplush!

2008-09-24T10:31:00.002-05:00

SuperPlush! opens tomorrow night. If you're in LA, you should definitely check it out. Ghetto Gloss is at 2380 Glendale Blvd, Silverlake, CA. The opening is from 7 to midnight. If you miss the opening, the show is up at their gallery through October 2. Hope you can catch it!

the second snail

2008-09-20T15:28:00.003-05:00

It is now just crossing the finish line. It wasn't ready in time to go out to SuperPlush!, but it will go up in the shop in next week's update.

i heart moo!

2008-09-20T15:20:00.003-05:00

These little stickers are perfect for throwing in with an order.

gone baby gone

2008-09-18T09:47:00.002-05:00

These guys went off to LA yesterday and should be arriving at Ghettogloss sometime today. Hope they're a hit!

snail revisited

2008-09-17T17:47:00.003-05:00

I can officially say this snail is finished. My one problem with it last week was that it was tippy and needed something to help balance/stabilize it. These sluggy flaps were the perfect solution! Now it can totally stand on its own.

This little snail, named Sally by the way, is off to SuperPlush! @ Ghettogloss in LA, which opens on the 25th. I was hoping to have a second snail finished today to send out with the whole lot of softies going over there, but alas, I was not able to finish it in time. It will therefore go up in my shop with the next update.

and they're up!

2008-09-15T14:39:00.004-05:00

The shop has been updated. There are several new bats as well as a couple from the old etsy days (Zak and Binky), which were actually not all that long ago (like what? a week?). I have individual postcards available as well as sets of 6 with three matching envelopes. I am planning to sell sets of 8 once I get the new ones in. That way I can offer 4 of one design and 4 of another in a single set. I figure folks like variety; I know I do. Also, as far as the bat patterns, I hope to have those available for the next update, which will be Monday, Sept. 29th @ 3PM EST. I am planning lots of stuff between now and Halloween, including some new creepycute designs and lots more bats. Please do drop by.

oh, i kinda meant 3pm

2008-09-14T16:09:00.003-05:00

As I am putting together card sets and finishing up the last of the items to be included in tomorrow's update I realized that I had said here that the update would be for 1PM, which might be cutting it too close for me considering that I have to walk to the post office and get exact shipping costs for all three different card set options, as well as get the proper envelopes to mail them, in addition to a whole slew of other things that I really should have considered before I announced to you all that the update would happen at 1PM. So for the sake of my sanity, the update has been pushed back to 3PM EST tomorrow. I hope this works for you all as well. Thanks in advance for your understanding.

moth-ras

2008-09-13T14:16:00.003-05:00

These two lunar moths are going off to SuperPlush! next week.

happy arrivals

2008-09-10T18:53:00.002-05:00

Good things in the mail today! First, my recent order of wool felt arrived in the morning, so I was able to cut a whole buncha bats to sew later (or tomorrow since I am kinda tired right now). Then, I got the Halloween postcards which I hope to put up in the new shop on Monday. I'm pretty happy with the quality of the printing, and I do so love lil' Pinky McGee. I was thinking of maybe doing a couple more card designs, but I'll figure that out later in the week. For now, I am wondering if I should sell the sets with or without envelopes being as they are postcards and not folding cards. Hmmmmm, decisions decisions....

i've got four things for ya

2008-09-09T15:46:00.000-05:00

1. OMG SALE! In order to make some room here for new stuff and to clear out the etsy shop, I am offering the remaining pieces on there at new reduced prices. So please have a look.

2. Also, I have been featured on the Bazaar Bizarre Boston Blog. They are posting profiles on all the vendors between now and the holidays. Looks like I was the first person to answer their questionnaire. I heart the folk at BB.

3. All orders that have been placed yesterday and today might end up going out tomorrow instead of today as planned because it has been pouring here and I am not too keen on walking the mile to the post office. It's been clear in little patches, but that also means it's been raining on and off and I don't want to risk getting caught on the way there. I don't care about getting drenched on my way back, but I don't want the packages to get soaked. If Matt can borrow his parents' car and drive me there after work, then everything will go out today. If not, then tomorrow. I'll notify you all as soon as your purchases are sent. (God, we live like fricking teenagers, borrowing a car because we don't have our own anymore. I'm going to comfort myself by thinking that it's not that we don't have a car because we suck and that it's because we have made a decision to live green and just walk everywhere - walking is good, right? Except for when it's pissing rain.)

4. I'm working on a batch of snails for SuperPlush!, and this little guy here is my prototype. I like the design, but there are some kinks I need to work out. I need to do something about its weight because right now it is very tippy. I'm thinking of adding that sluggy edge along its sides on the bottom so that it will balance and stabilize it a bit. I also need to find a better way of sewing the shell together. Once I figure that out, I am going to crank out a few more. I need to get everything ready to be shipped out on Monday, so off to the ol' work table I go. Hope you're all having a great Tuesday!

ciarán & declan

2008-09-08T08:57:00.001-05:00

Ciarían and Declan flew in all the way from Bunratty Castle and are making a brief stop here before continuing on their way to SuperPlush! in CA. Sweethearts that they are, they brought me a case of Tayto for letting them crash on my ironing board. They certainly know the way to my heart. Mmmmmmmmmm, Taytooooooooooo....

zelly played guiiiiiiiitar

2008-09-07T15:41:00.000-05:00

I really don't make enough of these. I should make a whole cast of space aliens and build a funny ship for them and perhaps even film some stop-action animation intergalactic odyssey. Hmmmmmm, let's save that for a day when I'm feeling more ambitious.... For now, I am happy to present Zelly to you all.

aidan & barry

2008-09-06T18:29:00.000-05:00

You know what rocks? When you find a print that works beautifully with what you had in mind.

i'm feeling like the pointer sisters right now

2008-09-05T08:38:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited!!!! And I just can't hide it! Dude, good news abounds 'round these parts here. First, I am happy to announce that I will be participating in Boston's Bazaar Bizarre this December. I am doing a little happy dance as I type. I cannot wait! Second, we are gearing up for Halloween, my second favorite holiday next to Valentine's Day, and I am working on a bunch of stuff for the shop, including cards, embroidery patterns, bat softie patterns, and tons of bats, plus a few new creepycute softies. The next shop update will be September 15th @ 1PM, and all of these items will be included in this update. Third, although I am not at liberty to discuss the details, I am working on a bunch of items for a special client, and once everything is set and straight, I will be shouting about this like the town crier - I am THAT ridiculously and joyously excited about this. So yay!!! The summer was quiet, but things are hopping now as we approach Fall.

talented friends - part 1

2008-09-04T09:30:00.004-05:00

Lately, several friends have started their own on-line ventures, and I am so smitten with what they are doing that I have to share it with you. Many of you are already familiar with Megan of the Knitting Philistine. Well, she has a new blog now, 100% philistine made, and a fabulous shop to go with it. She has started making the most gorgeous patchwork pillows, and there are a whole bunch available for sale now in different styles.

She is also working on some tote bags made of linen and patchwork that are both pretty and practical, a perfect piece of Zakka. The tote bags are not available just yet, but they will be soon, so please check out her shop often. Megan is a well of creativity right now, working on new designs and different pieces every day, with a tremendous amount of attention paid to detail and craftsmanship. Her pieces are beautiful, colorful, and meticulously crafted. Have a look and see what's been up to.

oh yay!

2008-09-02T09:47:00.003-05:00

I am happy to say that Volare the Elephant was featured on custom toy lab a couple of days ago. Many thanks to Raphael for including my work on his super-fun blog.

superplush!

2008-08-26T12:26:00.005-05:00

One of the things that's been keeping me busy these days is working on stuff for this upcoming exhibition that I am lucky enough to be a part of. I am honored to be included among these wonderful, talented softie-makers (and ridiculously excited, in fact, as some of my favorites are in there). If you are going to be in LA on September 25th, please do check it out. It promises to be an awesome show. I'll post more info about it as we get closer to the date.

And I will give you all a sneak peek at my finished pieces soon. Until then!

owlies!

2008-08-22T13:07:00.000-05:00

These are flying out the door to their new home, I'm happy to say.

how i learned to tie a tie

2008-08-15T13:59:00.004-05:00

One more commission down! You know, I really love making these penguins. And I am so happy that the person these are for requested a tie for the boy penguin. How cute is that? It works. I like it. I hope she likes it, too. Hope you are all having a great week and that you have a fabulous weekend.

stepping away from the machine

2008-08-06T08:26:00.001-05:00

Okay guys, Comcast is just killing me. It's either I get no internet or the connection is slower than dial-up. I don't have the patience for this. Seriously, a teeny post (like this one) is a HUGE pain in the butt right now with all the stalling and stuff. I am turning off the computer for a few days because the only other option is to lose my bananas over something that I have absolutely no control over. Here's hoping Comcast gets their guano together soon so I can check my email without banging my head against my desk. If you email me, I will get back to you as soon as I can, but please understand that it may take a couple of days. In the meanwhile, if you know me in real life and need to reach me, text me or call me on my cell. Or you know, send smoke signals or whatnot.... I'll be in my studio, merrily working on some commissions. I'm making progress on them, folks! I should have the first batch finished by the end of the week. Hopefully the stars will align or something and my computer and the Airport and the mofo internet will be working together in harmony just in time for me to post the finished pieces for their recipients. See you all soon!

Nibs the Mouse

2008-08-05T12:48:00.002-05:00

Hey there Nibs!
Hey there, everybody!
So are you excited about your move over to bigcartel?
Yes, thanks! You know what they say: change is good. I'm embracing it, thanks.
Anything you'd like to say to the good people reading this here blog?
Just that I hope you're all having a great summer and that I am so grateful that it's not a hot and humid one. It's so ridiculously pretty outside right now. I'm having a kick-ass time, and I hope you are too.
Thanks, Nibs! You're a sweetheart!

To see a larger version of the photo below, please click on the image itself:

monday monday

2008-08-04T11:13:00.002-05:00

Hey folks! Happy Monday! We’ve been experiencing some technical difficulties over here; our internet service has been out for a few days and then working extremely spotty over the last day or so. I apologize if I haven’t been able to get back to you or respond to your emails. I will respond as soon as I can. Here’s hoping the not-so-great luck we’ve been having lately passes and fast!

In the meanwhile, I am in the process of moving etsy listings that are about to expire over to my new shop. Carly has now joined Pinky and Ben over at bigcartel. To see a larger version of the photo below, please click on the image itself:

Ben the Bibliobug

2008-07-31T09:26:00.004-05:00

Pinky has some fun company in the new shop - Ben the Garden Variety Partier is there with her. Since Ben is a voracious bookbug, Pinky has thrown the book that has taken over blog-o-landia onto his to-read pile. He is slowly getting over himself and warming up to it, even if he grumbles to himself and yells "OMG! Hello stalker!" and "Seriously, what chick falls for a dude who asks her if she thinks he's scary?" as he reads it.

To see a large version of this photo of the many angles of Ben, please click on the photo itself:

Pinky the Elephant

2008-07-30T13:46:00.004-05:00

Meet Pinky! She is one perky pachyderm! And she is now available at my new shop. I am so excited about this! So far, I love the way my shop looks at bigcartel, and I hope that this will work out for the best. I mentioned in my post about commissions that I am in the process of making the move away from etsy. It is not a decision that was made lightly. I talked with Matt about it for months, weighing the pros and the cons, and recently, while talking with Caro of Splityarn about it, it became perfectly clear that I had already made my choice. I love etsy and what they are doing, but it is no longer working for me. You know the saying: don't hate the player, hate the game. Well, I don't hate either, but I would be lying if I said the game was easy. With so many vendors over there and every category so over-saturated, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get new people to look at the shop. I am very lucky and immensely grateful to have repeat customers who are kind enough to tell their friends about me. Thank you so much, seriously. I hope you folks continue to stop by and check out my new shop from time to time. In fact, as Caro pointed out in her latest post, if you subscribe to the shop's RSS feed, you are notified immediately of updates. If you are on my mailing list, I will continue to let you know about new updates and all that jazz. (To get on my mailing list, email me at sotosofties[at]gmail[dot]com.) My next update, which will be in about two weeks or so, will take place over at the new shop, and slowly (as my listings expire) I will be moving what is currently in my etsy shop over to the new shop. Once again, I just want to reiterate that there are no hard feelings; etsy just isn't working very well for me at the moment. Anyhoo, please have a look at the new shop. Hope you like what you see so far. I still have some work to do, and if anyone has any advice or suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it all. Thanks folks!

commission guidelines

2008-07-29T12:20:00.004-05:00

Hi all! I get a lot of requests for commission work, but unfortunately due to my schedule, I usually cannot accept any of these requests. However, time is on my side these days. The summer is slow, and my schedule is much freer. So for the next few months I will be open to doing commission work again. For the sake of making things clear and easy for everyone, I thought I would list some basic guidelines:

To order your custom piece, please email me at sotosofties[at]gmail[dot]com with the word "commission" somewhere in the subject header. I would prefer if you contact me through my email and the blog and not through etsy (as I think I will be making the move away from etsy very soon).
If you contact me through etsy, I will post your finished item for you through etsy (reserved especially for you) as it is only fair to them, but once again, I would prefer to be contacted through the blog and at my email address. If you do contact me through etsy and we finish the transaction through them, please do take a moment to leave me feedback. It is greatly appreciated.
Please allow 2 - 3 weeks for your custom order. If I do not have a specific material at hand or if you have a highly detailed request, it may take a little longer, but I will let you know what the approximate time frame is.
Please note that sometimes there may be delays. I will contact you and let you know if I am running behind. In the meanwhile, I will do my best to get your order to you in a timely fashion.
Pricing for commission work is an additional 25% of what the item would normally cost. For instance, a critter would be $50 and a wee mouse or a bat would be $62.50. If the piece is going to be a specialized, highly customized order, then the price will be commensurate with the amount of detailing necessary.
At this point, I can only accept payment through PayPal, which actually works beautifully and protects both the customer and the seller.
As for shipping, I ship via USPS Priority Mail with insurance.
Any of the designs that you see in my softie gallery would be available as a commission. However, please bear in mind that some of the fabrics you see might no longer be available in my stash, and I may not be able to locate more at a store because the fabric has been discontinued (it happens, sadly). If that is the case, I would let you know immediately, and I would be happy to use an equally lovely and appropriate fabric as a substitute.
If you need to cancel an order, please let me know at your earliest possible convenience.
I reserve the right to turn away a commission if my schedule is all booked up and there is no feasible way I can squeeze in one more order.

I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me. Thanks, all!

you can't help but laugh really

2008-07-21T14:19:00.005-05:00

It's a good thing I am the kind of person who no matter how light I like to pack when I travel, I always bring an extra t-shirt and extra underwear because you just never know. Well, what we originally thought would be an overnight trip has turned into a four day stay in Farmington, Maine. We drove up Saturday morning so that Matt could finish up the mural he worked on during Dance Camp, and sure enough, just as we were driving into town, less than a mile away from the Citylights building, our car died. Now, it can be said that we just have crappy luck with our cars (as some friends may remember the hilarious albeit frustrating fiasco at the Canadian border for our honeymoon when the customs official went to check our trunk and our only key for the car broke in the trunk lock with all the doors locked and Mali waiting patiently inside the car - we were able to unlock everything when a female officer whose arm was very slender was able to slip her arm in through one of our open windows and unlock that door). Call it bad car-ma if you will. Maybe one of us tried to assassinate Henry Ford or something in a past life. Whatever the case may be, the fact of the matter is that the distributer died, and we're in a small town where we couldn't get a mechanic to look at it until today. Hopefully, it will be ready tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully. This is fine; the situation is pretty darn good when you think about it. It's not like we're stranded in the woods with no food and water. Hey, we even have internet access, however sporadic it may be. So we are far from suffering here. The only thing is that Matt has to miss a couple of days of work, and I am also missing a couple of days of work here. It's not like I brought my sewing machine with me or any projects to work on, either, since I didn't foresee this turn of events. Hence, I am going to be delayed on a few projects that have been in the works. Gah! Not a big deal, though. Everything is good; I'm just fighting back that slight wave of panic that hits me whenever I think of all the things that I have on my work table waiting for me to finish up by the end of the week. (I am also trying not to even think about how much this is going to set us back cash-wise. I swear, I will give myself an ulcer if I think about this right now. I can feel the acids in my stomach churning like a washing machine.) Anyhoo, that's how it goes. We may be home tomorrow night. I will post all the info regarding commissions then. In the meanwhile, the mini-mantis pictured above is Mandy, and she is just the first of several minis that will be up in the shop this summer. Hope your summer is going beautifully.

the elephant parade

2008-07-17T14:28:00.003-05:00

When we lived in LIC, whenever the circus would come to town, they would have the elephants walk from the train tracks at Hunter's Point to the Midtown Tunnel, where they would march all the way to Madison Square Garden. Regardless of whatever political stance one may have on circuses (I know people who think it's criminal and I know others who think it is vital to the preservation of certain species), it is truly awe-inspiring to see these gigantic animals get in line and trot through the deserted industrial part of the neighborhood (which has probably been converted to condos at this point) under streetlamps and march to the Tunnel. I am left with a mixture of joy and sadness, totally amazed by their beauty and stature, wishing they were going somewhere much nicer than MSG.

These elephants aren't joining any circus or marching anywhere else for that matter, but they have made their way to the shop and hope to find themselves new homes soon.

ele-pa-hants are on their way!

2008-07-14T20:50:00.004-05:00

Hi folks! It may be quiet around this here bloggy-thang, but it is busy-busy in real life. I have a bunch of new softies in the works, including a limited edition batch of elephants, which will be going up in the shop this Thursday at 3PM EST. I am planning on doing limited editions of different designs here and there throughout the summer, in addition to commissions, so please stay tuned for those as well. And yes! That's right! I will be taking on commissions once again. I am very excited about this. There will be new rules in effect regarding commissions, however, that will hopefully make things run smoother, and those will be posted later on in the week. Thanks for dropping by. I hope you are all having a fabulous summer so far and that it only gets better.

P.S. - The elephants you see in the photo above are still in progress, and they are two of seven. Since I am not quite finished with these, I am unable to take reservations at this moment. Thanks for understanding.

we're back!

2008-07-01T11:03:00.002-05:00

Dance Camp was awesome! Lots of work, lots of dance, lots of fun. To see more photos, please go here.

Now it's back to softie-making as usual! Hope to have new stuff to share with you all very soon.

back next week!

2008-06-25T10:27:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year again, folks. Time for dance camp! We're leaving in a few and will be back next week. The shop will be closed until July 2nd. Hope you're all having a fantastic summer so far!

seriously batty

2008-06-20T13:40:00.003-05:00

Thank you all for your kind comments regarding my last post. I appreciate your understanding, sympathy, and support. I apologize if I can across as whiny or anything of the such. I'm not having any sort of crisis really, existential, identity, or otherwise. It was just a bad day because I've been frustrated with the way I've been running things here. I realize that in order to do the things I want to do and take this in the direction I want it to go, sometimes I will have to say "no" to people, and I hate doing that. I have to also not feel bad about not updating the shop as frequently as I would like. Some folks update their shops once a month, and that's okay. I have to learn how to be okay with that myself. Most of the major changes I need to make are within myself really.

Back to the point, however, thank you all for your great advice and thoughtful suggestions and sharing your own experiences. Now that I've come out from under the mountain of softies I've been buried under the last week, I am able to get around to responding to you all individually as well, so I'll be emailing you. Thank you all. Some of you suggested I start making patterns, which is something I have been meaning "to get around to" for far too long, so while we're away at dance camp next week, I will be able to finally work on that. Because you know what? I think it's a great idea and am excited about the prospect of sharing that with you all. I also have a few more ideas that are reinvigorating my interest in softie-making, but I'll get to those later. All in good time. All I can say for now is that I am extremely psyched about them and firmly believe they are excellent ideas that will get me past this funk. I think you'll be excited about them, too.

For now, I have a batch of bats going up in my etsy shop shortly, so please do check it out if you can. Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

sometimes

2008-06-17T08:41:00.004-05:00

Some mornings I wake up feeling excited about the projects I have lined up and awaiting me on my work table. I get into the swing of things at the studio fairly easily, losing myself in my work until it's three or four in the afternoon and I realize that I haven't had lunch yet. I finish things, photograph them, and feel a sense of satisfaction as I color-correct the images before I post them onto Flickr and then the blog. I even get little surges of hope and promise when I think of the things I can do with this, the places I can take this softie-making venture, a book or two perhaps, so many new designs to work out, patterns I'd like to publish, so many wonderful things I can do if I just pursue those options.

Some mornings I am not so enthusiastic and optimistic about this all. I make the mistake of checking Flickr as I have my breakfast and see that a way more popular and almost "legendary" softie-maker has once again beat me to the punch. While I spent the last week or two up to my eyeballs in mice and bats and bunnies, working on more of the same, this person has come up with a new design, and not just any new design, but the same animal I have been sketching and planning and dreaming of making and in a very similar construction. It's as if they lifted the pattern out of my imagination. Granted, it is their own style; had it come from my hands, it would surely look different. But that's not the point. The point is that in this industry, as with any creative field, if you snooze, you lose. Time is always of the essence, and sleeping on what you know is a great design is going to cost you. I have been so stupid. I keep trying to take control of my shop and make what I want to make, but I end up making the same old stuff because it's "what people want." I respond to what people most request, but it seems like this last batch of softies fell short of the mark, which I shouldn't take to heart or be discouraged by. It's not a big deal. It happens. That's life. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

What is a big deal is how I have been feeling about doing this for much longer because I gotta be honest, I am not so thrilled with the way things are going. Right now, I am thinking that I really have to go back to school and get my Master's or possibly even go for a PhD so that I am not the only person in Cambridge with only a *gasp!* B... F... A.... I want to do more than this. As it is, I finally came to the realization that I made a huge mistake in pursuing art as a career. I feel as if I had been lying to myself my whole life and finally woke up to the truth. I don't want to ever do illustration again. I don't want to do graphics and color-correct images all day or do freelance design crap. There is nothing wrong with that line of work, but it is not for me. I keep trying to convince myself that it is, but it's not. Neither is working at an office answering someone's phones, playing the role of the file monkey. So what do I want to do? I have been thinking about that a lot lately. For the last two years, I thought this was what I wanted to do, and for a while, it was going in the right direction. Am I calling it quits too soon? Or have I done all I can with this? I feel like there are so many more options to explore with this, but I maybe I am not working hard enough at this. I failed myself by not making this particular softie sooner, and this is not the first time I have done this. It happened before when I was thinking of making little space aliens that come with their own spaceship. Great idea, right? I slept on it, and someone else beat me to something that was too similar for me to go through with my idea without looking like a copycat. I frigging dropped the ball big time there. Am I mismanaging my time? Well, I must be, if not I would have finished that design much sooner. Should I even bother going through with my version? Maybe, but I feel a little strangely about it now because I feel like my vision has been tainted and informed by theirs and I will be paranoid about the possibility that someone out there will think, "Oh, look, she made a turkey or an otter or an elephant. Psh! Whatever! So-and-so made one last week and it was SO much better." I am trying not to be jealous, and I love and respect this person's work, so I certainly don't begrudge them their successes. I am telling myself, "Just do you. Just do you." The words feel a little hollow at the moment. I'm wondering why I should continue doing this if I don't seem to be doing it on my own terms and keep coming up short of the mark. As I have said before, I try to make people happy and keep the shop stocked with the items I get requests for, but I am not making myself happy by regurgitating the same patterns over and over and not allowing myself to work on the new stuff that I need to work on if I want this venture to succeed. So what to do? I'll think of something. In the meanwhile, the next update is still scheduled for this Friday, and it's going to be bat-astic. (P.S. - Puns still make me happy.)

who's your batty?

2008-06-13T14:31:00.002-05:00

Hey there! Just dropping by to let you know that the next update will be much sooner than I had originally anticipated. I have scheduled it for next Friday, June 20th @ 3PM EST. After that, things are going to get really quiet around here. We'll be off to dance camp then Western Mass then maybe a quick visit to NY then we might actually go on vacation (which I would really really like to do). I'm hoping to include a new design in this coming update, so keep an eye out for that. I'll post about it here once I have the prototype done. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

meet sparky

2008-06-11T08:32:00.001-05:00

Every now and then, I make a toy that I personally fall in love with. Not to say that I don't love my other softies, nor do I mean to toot my own horn and be all, "My softies are the shizznit!" Just that every now and then, I make something that I can't help but look at and think, "Awwwww! I'm so happy I made this." Sparky is one of those softies. Maybe it's the color combo or maybe it's the way he wears that deer print. He is one of my faves. Just look at his sweet little face! Hope you all love him too.

meet binky the bat

2008-06-10T07:38:00.001-05:00

Although I wasn't able to finish all of the bats that I have (some half-sewn) on my worktable in time for yesterday's update, Binky was ready in time and is now up in the shop. He is a little on the floppy side, but he has a ton of personality and is eager to make friends.

I have to say, the bats just might be my favorite softy to make simply because I love detailing their faces, and Binky has quite the charming little face, if I do say so myself.

now in the shop

2008-06-09T15:23:00.004-05:00

The owls are up, and there are a couple left. Also, there are a whole bunch of other good things available at the shop now, which I will be blogging about over the week. Right now, it's sweltering here, and I am getting a little punchy, possibly because I need water. So I'm calling it a day. Hope you all had a happy Monday!

here we go!

2008-06-08T13:59:00.003-05:00

Mieces for tomorrow's shop update. Please tune in at 3PM EST if you are interested in them.

These are not 100% finished yet; I still need to attach their little bows. However, it is super-frigging hot here right now, and the thought of ironing out strips of fabric to make the bows is not especially appealing - not in the least. I think it's best to work on that later tonight once it cools down a bit and attach the bows to the mice as I photograph each one individually for the update.

I know that I mentioned to a few people that I would have bats in this update, but to be honest, I am not sure if I will have the bats finished by tomorrow. Right now, they are all cut but awaiting to be sewn, and I still have one more piece to finish before I can move on to them. I do have one bat that is done, so that one will be going up for sure. That might be the only bat in this update. But that means that the next update will be sooner that I anticipated and will include a few bats. So hey! Not such bad news after all.

Thank you all for your kind words regarding the post before last. I appreciate all of your comments, and your support and encouragement mean a lot to me. Just want you to know that I am not discouraged or disheartened by that thingy. I just get a little frustrated because I really do try to keep up and make people happy, and all I ask for is a little patience when it comes to stocking the shop. I know that I have been a bit of a slacker when it comes to keeping up with the blog, but that's because I have been working. Making these fussy little toys takes more time than people sometimes realize. That said, I think I am going to stop making the mieces and other button-jointed softies for a while. It's really hard on my hands, and they are time-consuming to produce. This opens a window of opportunity here - I can finally make some of these other designs that I have been kicking around. Hopefully, this will also allow me to finally get these patterns I have been talking about for way too long done. As I promised you all, good things are a-coming this way!

yay for owls!

2008-06-07T19:33:00.001-05:00

In my shop on Monday, at 3 PM EST.

...and we're back!

2008-06-05T11:47:00.005-05:00

Soooo, long time no blog. There have been reasons for my brief leave of absence here - good reasons, in fact. Sometimes life gets busy. I hope that people will understand that. Unfortunately, when the choice is between spending my time making stuff or spending my time blogging about making stuff, actually making stuff wins hands-down. Hence, I have neglected this here blog. And perhaps I have neglected you. I'm sorry about that.

I have been thinking about doing commissions again. However, this time, there will be set rules, both for myself and the customers. The last time I did commissions, things got a little out of control. I took on too many for the time period (right before the holidays, when I was also making things for craft fairs and trying to keep the shop fully stocked), I wasn't as speedy as I would have liked to have been with them, and I under-quoted prices for projects that ended up having tons of bells and whistles. To be fair to all parties involved, I am going to come up with a pricing guideline and a few basic rules, as well as a strict schedule for myself. More info to come on that later. Please remember that right now, I am just thinking about it. Once I come to a decision, I will announce it on here ASAP, with all the rules and pricing info.

Also, I wanted to discuss shop updates. I was trying to update every other week, and for a while that was working. I don't think that this is going to work in the Summer, what with all the family obligations and travel and yes, some time off to myself so that I can rest my wrists. So I'll be announcing shop updates as they come along, as I get stuff ready and finished. The next shop update will be Monday June 9th at 3PM EST. After this one, the following will probably be in July, but I am not sure when so I am not going to promise any set date until I get a clearer idea of that myself. Going forward, I will be better about announcing it on here as well as my email list, but please bear in mind that the announcement will only come a few days before said update. I hope this doesn't inconvenience anyone, and to be honest, I don't see how it could. If you miss out on one update, the next one is never too far away. As it is, the shop has been pretty well-stocked for weeks now. So even if you miss the update on the day it happens, please do drop by and check out the shop from time to time.

By the way, just wanted to say one more thing. One of the reasons why I closed the comments on this blog a while ago was because it started to become apparent that people weren't considering the human being behind the machine, meaning no one was taking into account that the things you see on this blog are made by a human being who invests time and energy and creativity into making them. I have feelings too, and a nice comment goes a long way and can even encourage me. The comments are open now, but if someone is going to leave a comment to publicly shame me for not keeping up with the blog or updating the shop or whatnot, please note that I will delete it. I am not a huge faceless corporation with tons of employees and an assembly line. I am one person trying to make everyone happy. If I don't make you happy, well, I'm sorry, but you can address me personally at the email address I have provided on my blog sidebar and not make it a point to leave me a public shaming within the context of my own blog. I appreciate your eagerness about updates, but really now, no need for scolding messages, especially when you don't even dare sign your name onto said message. Best to scold anonymously, I know. Anyhow, like I said, I try to make everyone happy, but the truth in life is that sometimes that is just not possible. If I do make you happy, please stick around folks, there's lots of good stuff coming this way....

P.S. - You know what? I am really annoyed actually. I am only saying this because it really pisses me off when someone basically accuses me of lying. If there is one thing I am not, it's a liar. Dear Anonymous at 4:44 AM, I would have emailed you personally, but you know, you chose to remain anonymous. April 25th did indeed fall on a Friday, so when you say it was not an actual date, I have no idea what calendar you may be consulting, but you are wrong here. In fact, I even posted on here the same day that I updated the shop. I have no idea why I choose to defend myself here other than to refute the implication in your original comment, which I have taken the liberty to delete, that I lied to you or anyone else. I cannot believe that you even implied that. Seriously. It's one thing to reprimand me for being remiss or slackerly, but don't call me a liar.

after these messages...

2008-05-15T16:27:00.003-05:00

I'm outta here for a few days, folks. I'll be visiting with some friends in Philly. While I feel bad about stepping away from the studio right now that things are so busy, I do need this little getaway and am super-excited (ridiculously so) to see these folks. It is going to be an awesome weekend! By the way, if you happen to find yourself in the South End in Boston over the weekend, please check out the Open Studios at 450 Harrison Ave. Matt will be there in Studio 419 on both Saturday and Sunday, May 17th - 18th, from 10 AM to 6 PM. In addition to the fabulous paintings and prints he has been working on lately, he will also have a few of my softies available for sale. Hope you guys can check it out. There are a lot of truly talented artists in that area so it's worth checking out if you're out and about. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

why hello there, springtime!

2008-05-07T22:52:00.002-05:00

Hey folks! Hope you are enjoying this lovely weather. Just dropping by to say hello. Life is busy; things are great. I was hoping to update the shop this Friday but only have a couple of pieces ready. Being as I prefer to do big updates rather than little ones, since it is pretty time-consuming to update, the next shop update will be on Friday, May 23rd (@3 PM EST). I am planning to go all out with that one. After that, the shop will be quiet for a while, but there are other things in the works, which I will get to in due time. In the meanwhile, thank you kind folks for stopping by and please do check in. I promise to be a better blogger and post more frequently, pretty this place up a bit.

pinky the bunny

2008-04-29T10:52:00.002-05:00

What's pink and sassy and likes it grassy? Available at the shop.