Wordless Wednesday

Last Blue Dude...er, Gal

I don't know why I think of this one as a she when the other two struck me as boys. Maybe it is the cute slate blue dottie fabric I used for the body. And tail. The tiny one did not have a tail. This one does. It props her up nicely too.


So now there is a whole family. Although one is just embroidery. And the original was a sketch.


They have been in a few treasuries also, which feels great. Daddy is usually found by his smile :)

America's High Five
Monster Need Love Too
Monsters
Smile
All Creatures Great & Small

Another Blue Dude

He's so cute and teeny. That's my sewing machine he's leaning up against and a 4x6 notebook to his left. See...tiny. But not quite tiny enough to be a key chain like the one in my shop. Well, maybe. I need to think about it some more.

I like the little suckers on the feet. And what a goofy grin. I hope he's not laughing at me. I do look pretty silly sitting here on the couch in my sweats watching TV while I sew him up. Or maybe he's just happy to be a part of the family. Papa is still in the shop. I'll have to keep them boxed together to keep each other company until one sells.

Green Jellies

Two down this time. Both green. Both possibly sea creatures. They are actually the same as the very large Orange Jelly I made a couple weeks ago. Only teenier. There was also an even teenier one a very long time ago that became a key chain. He looked more squid like. Actually, so do these. Hmmm...so Jelly or Squidy? I may have to refer to the 5 year old for the best answer. He is good at that.

The larger one is nice and soft and made of fleece. The suckers and face are both felt.

The little guy has the same coloring as mama, but has yet to grow into his softiness. The young are felt - much sturdier for survival.

Mama Dervil

Remember the little pink paisley Dervil? Well, I made Mama.

Don't they make a cute pair?

Pink Paisley Dervil

Dervil? Yes, Dervil. Almost a devil but not quite.

I feel good that I am feeding the hungry stuffies. Someone asked me what they are for...selling or keeping. I am thinking sell. Otherwise my home will be quickly over run.

Now if they meant what do you use them for, um, well, nothing. They are just cute little buddies to have around. Although I have been using one as a pin cushion.

Don't worry, he wasn't harmed :)

Mini Squishee

I said I would get to their buddies and I have. Last night was busy with my son's new bed, but I did sit down to make this little guy.

The original idea was to attach a loop so he could hold keys or hang on a backpack zipper or something. In the end I decided not too, he's just a tad too big.

Of Jellies and Squishees

Say hello to Orange Jelly and Purple Tie Dye Squishee. See, he's waving hi. How sweet.

These guys have been sitting around for ages waiting for me to finish them off. I don't know why exactly I put it off. I guess just because they were for the heck of it and that kind of thing just keeps getting shelved.

So after over a year, yes, a year, of the Orange Jelly slowly being built - he is done and stuffed. And stuffed he is. It took a lot to fill him up. Hungry guy. Guess that's what happens when you aren't fed for more than a year.

And his little buddy has been waiting for quite some time too. Although he sat nearly complete after just one session on the couch. All he needed last night was a final fill and stitch. He sure looks happy about it too.

Next up - finish Squishee's relatives that are waiting in a pink bin on the shelf. Okay guys, I hear ya...I'm coming....

Vampy Cat

My son finally got his Vampy Cat. I can't even remember how long ago he started asking for it. No idea what a Vampy Cat is? Well, he's another Whedonverse character. In Season 8 Buffy (the comics) he appeared all cute and cuddly.

Little brother picked out the material since big bro did not want to go to the fabric store. I can't imagine why. Who doesn't love the fabric store? Anyway...we went with a fuzzy felt for the body, embroidery for the nose-mouth-fang details, felt for the eyes and black stretchy cotton/poplin for the vest and cape.


And then, of course...they attack....

My youngest wants me to make this attack version of Vampy Cat for him. But with removable brain for his soon-to-be zombie teddy bear to eat. Um...I think I created a couple of monster/zombie/comic/sci-fi geeks. I couldn't be more proud *sniff*

Monsters in Progress

As always, I have more than one thing I am working on. I talked about the clothes I am making for myself...most of which are now cut. Woo hoo for me :) But I also have the monster mayhem thing going on.

The monsters are great because they are hand sewn. So when the day is ending, the littlest is in bed and the others are off doing there own thing - I can veg to the tv and stitch on the couch.
This one eyed creature is a tad psychedelic. I just love the colors. I got a grab bag of goodies from Sol Sisters a while back & am finally making use of it. The majority of the bag will be used for a mixed media piece or art quilt, but this piece just said "monster".

And then there is Squidy...which actually does better resemble a jellyfish like my youngest said. All he needs is some fluff 'n stuff.

Monster Mayhem WIPs

I have my next batch of to-do's cut and ready to go. These are handsewn, so it is also a great time to take in the sewing machine for a tune up. A while back I posted my monsters and the sketches they grew from. Well, these are more. And in different sizes. I am making a small (keychain size) medium (hand size) and larger size. I may super size two or three of my faves. Not yet sure.
The white cat faced one in the upper right...that is going to be my son's vampy cat...which he has patiently (mostly) been waiting for. Vampy cat is a small teddy bear from the Buffy comics...so cute...not so sweet, but cute :)

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

What I made at last Sunday's Artisan Market...

melty brain

one eyed yellow and mango monster dude


at home WIPS...

tentacle from large squid guy

one eyed green polka dot octopus-like monster

More Monsters Invade

I have scanned all the monster sketches to prep for pattern drafting...I think there are about 12. But I couldn't resist playing more until then. So I made 2 more keychain guys based on the sketches. The proportions aren't quite right since I was just eyeballing it, but they're cute anyway...right? My youngest thinks they're fun - it's ok to base stuff on a 4 year old's opinion - right?


This next guy may look familiar to some of you. He is my 3rd flying piggie. I worked out some of the assembly kinks and used a darker pink so it's less see through. Plus, I skipped the white fur trim & used felt instead - much easier on the fingers...and my shirt.


I have 4 more cut and ready to go. The yellow & maroon ones are based on some I saw while browsing Etsy - I couldn't tell you who because it was just an image that stuck. Those guys will be staying home with us or head off to my niece & nephew.

I have finished this maroon one since these were taken, but have not taken a pic yet...which is okay, he didn't turn out so great. The circles & the body colors didn't look right once put together. But again, my 4 year old loves him :)


You can't tell from this pic, but this one is rather large. The head is almost as big as my arms when circled together. I hope I have enough fluff to fill him :P

This last one started as a bear. Yup, a bear. The head of this guy was a belly. I had it laid out on the table with some other color strips to use for eyes & stuff, but when I looked down at it, I saw this octopus type guy. My oldest dubbed him Troctopus (tri-octopus)...since only 3 legs/arms/appendages. I have already got him going. I hope to show him early next week.

Where are my bags you ask? They are there. And I need to get going on them. But sometimes, changing up what you create can help get the inspiration & motivation back for what you do regularly. A recent custom order for lots of fun matchy things helps too . I love it when the customer helps "design" the bags :)

Loving the Monsters

Okay, I am on a new kick...stuffies. I have made some before, mostly felt ones. But now that I am in a stuffie swap on Craftster, I am making more. More than I needed to. And I have sketches for even more...almost an army.

This guy here was so fun to make. And he was kind of freehand based off one of my sketches. He looks nothing like the sketch. But I love him. Plans to make another are already in my mind, but, well, um, I forgot to copy the pattern. But I am still going to try.


After the blue guy was done, I wanted to make my 3 Eyed guy. My mind was envisioning a larger monster, but something said "keychain" to me. SO I made a teeny one. Loved him so much, I plan to make many more. Which shop they will go in? Not sure yet. They are an accessory, so the bag shop would work..b.ut the Too shop is a mish mash where monsters may feel more at home.

And that army...here are 3 WIPs ready to roll. And the sketch book has about 12 more. I plan to alternate X number of bags, then that number of monsters. I don't want to get too "stuck" on one.

Oh yeah...if you are wondering which one is for the stuffie swap - none of these. I won't post pics until my partner receives...no spoilers in case she peeks over here :)

My First Giveaway on Tilt's Creations Too

Contest has ended...winner is being informed & I will post once they have responded.
Thank you to all who joined in on my first giveaway!
I hope there will be many more to come!

And the winner is...Just Jingle

Woo Hoo!
I have been trying to figure out just how I wanted to do the giveaways on this blog and came up with, well, too many ideas. So I am starting with non-handbag crafts that I have done. I love playing with different medias and can never choose just one. Solution: give them away. I am hoping that in the process I will discover which ones are sellable, but either way - it's fun.

I also wanted to help other artisans along the way. Sometimes I will be giving away their goodies and other times just working along side them, promoting them...like now.

This little Flying Pig stuffie/wall hanging was originally made thinking of Shannon from Pigatopia. She is a fellow Plugger and wonderful artist. She creates to help those that can not help themselves.

I spoke with her about why she does what she does for the animals and this is what she said:

"lets see my first pig Vinny is now 11 years old. I got him when he was 6 weeks old. I hand raised him and carried him everywhere with me. until he got up to 60 lbs. lol anyway when he got to be 300 lbs I needed to get his feet trimmed and tusk trimmed. Trying to find a vet was a big joke. I called around after 30 phone calls got the phone number for Noahs ark pot bellied pig rescue in New Port Richey Florida. Lynne taught me that pig's should not be that big and that dog food was bad. she came out and trimmed Vinny's feet and tusk and taught me how to do the hooves by myself. I call Lynne to this day if something goes wrong with one of my kids. I soon realized that I needed to do something to help Noah's ark more then just giving her money and I could not bring home more pigs as at one point I had 22 pigs and 9 dogs. I now only have 12 pigs and 6 dogs. I started helping Noahs ark with her fund raisers and making art to sell to raise money for her. was not long before I found other wonderful sanctuary's and rescues that could use help with not only funding and donations but just public awareness. Just seeing the rescued pigs eyes when they look at you you can see they are saying thank you for helping us. It just makes my heart sing."

So for this giveaway - I would like you to go check out her shop and tell me which item is your favorite. I also recommend checking out her blog, just for the fun of it :)

And while visiting her shop, don't forget that the money generated from her sales of are used to pay vet bills, shelter and food for animals that have been abused and Rescued.

Rules:
1) For one entry (required) Visit Pigatopia's Etsy shop and leave a comment here telling me which item was your favorite PLUS the link to that item.

Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you - if there is no contact in your blog profile or any left here in your comment, I can not include you in the drawing.

For an extra entry, follow this blog and leave a separate comment letting me know.
For 2 extra entries - purchase an item from Pigatopia and leave me a comment with a link to the item you purchased.

• This contest will go until midnight EST March 10, 2009.
• I will pick the winner using the highly advanced technical method of having my son shout out a number from 1 to however many entries I have...then count down the list & find the winner!
  
• You must be 18 to enter...having a blog is not necessary...but very fun - you should try it.
• You need not have an etsy account to enter.
• I will contact the winner via email or whatever contact they leave, who will then have 48 hours to respond. If I hear nothing back - I will choose another winner.
• I will pay the shipping fees: if International, any customs related fees will be yours.
  

So - Comments away!
note: Look for these little animal felt stuffies in my Etsy shop, Tilt Too, soon...they will be herded on in during this month.

on another note: If this basic design looks familiar to you - please let me know from where...I had it sketched out in my book and think I got it from an image online...but can't remember where from...I would like to credit whoever made the basic design originally :)