March!

After an extensive cuddle session with Gus...

Gus:
I managed to finish and take photographs of this new St. Patrick-y Needling:

The little shamrock has a little pinback so it is removable.
You can steal it and wear it yourself if you so desire.
Complete with cute little vintage button.

I'll be working on a little story so I can have her in the shop soon.

Leap Day

Hey guys!
I had a busy week with lots of not as fun conventional work but I'm just starting to work on something more fun for the Needlings shop. :)

A submission for the Plush Team St. Patrick's Day Challenge.

Let's just say that, so far,
there is a shamrock involved.

Let's hope I have something new to show you in the next couple of day.
Have a lovely weekend!

Tuesdays always feel important

I'm not sure why.

I just feel like, "oh, It's Tuesday!"
I think because I worked at a store for two years where Tuesday is release day.
Yeah, that's probably it.

Well along with the mysterious fake excitement,
I have REAL excitement because I finished another tote!
I was so happy to find these great fabrics that I showed you guys the other day,
and even happier to put them to good use.

Have a happy Tuesday!
I'm going to go think up a new Needling. :)

Newities

Hello folkies!

I was such a sleepy this week that I made up for it all last night.

I had a thoroughly wonderful sleep so I feel like I am completely alive once again.
:)

I forgot to show you my AWE-some finds at Value Village the other day.



I've already put the great geometric pattern and yellow fabric to use.
(Really cute bag that will be shown upon completion!)
I think it is great and it's so much fun to find vintage fabric and finally use it as I'm sure it's hoped to be for all these years.

I haven't decided what to make out of the other two vintage quilted placemats yet.
It's just a great green with little tan flowers.
I'm thinking either pillow or small bag.
Hmmm.
Any suggestions?

So, that's been my inspiration for a few fun projects but I also finished the tote (Yes, tote!) that I let you peek at the other day.


I think it is perfectly springy and cheery.
Sort of a zoomed out version of my first, "On a Limb" tote, don't you think?
It will be in the shop shortly.

On that note...
I hope everyone has a great Saturday!
The last Saturday of February.

Almost

For spring:

(can you guess what this will be? :D)

For fun:


(Domino, the cat, likes box)
________________________

It is beautiful outside today...
feels like spring is actually coming.
Despite the large quantity of snow all over of course.

I hope everyone is having a happy day.

New Needling!

Another new Needling is going to make her way in to the shop today.

She is of the legless variety but I think her dress replacement is a fair trade.

My favourite part is the pockets. :D

So, like I said, she'll be in the shop a little bit later today...

But first I must go with my Ma to a 50 percent off sale at Value Village - thrift o'plenty!

Wish me luck!

And have a lovely Tuesday (after holiday fake Monday).

Panda

This here is the little pouch/clutch I spoke of yesterday:


It shall be in the shop later today!
Happy Family Day/Monday!

Family Day Weekend?

Yes.

Family Day.
First one in Ontario.
Who cares?
Me.
Why?
I get the day off.

I love my family and with us
every day is family day.

So yay!

I will be working on The Needlings of course.
Although I already made a couple new Owl Baby pins...
that are now currently up in the shop.

And I finished a new little Needling that will make it's (her) little way in to the little shop sometime this week.

AND, I also finished a little Panda Clutch that you may see at a sooner than later date.
(ahem, tomorrow, ahem.)

Friday

It's not quite yet the weekend for me (I work 7am-11am
tomorrow morning), but the week is practically all over and then
I have two whole days off.
In a row!

I'm excited to be able to sleep in but also more excited to be able to stay up latewithout feeling like bedtime is 10pm.

I'm feeling good and
here's the new pouch I finished last night:

Should be up in the shop a little later today.

Pink and green is such a great colour combination.
Isn't it?

Happy V-Day!!

February 14th!

I can't believe February is half over!

I finished a little pink faced owl mama pillow last night...
perhaps I was influenced by the pink laden holiday.


I was also hoping to get another pouch finished but I feel like I may have a case of the sickies
coming on so I may have to nap for a bit instead.

At any rate, I hope everyone has a very love-filled/lovely day regardless of what holiday it happens to be.

So busy!

So please bare with me!

I know there is nothing fun to look at except maybe this
that I put up in the shop yesterday:


I will be working on some more owls and owl pouches (they sold fast!)
after I return from the post office tonight...

So there is that.

I'll have a lovely night full of owl making and television watching.

Hope you all have a good Wednesday night!

New Owl and such

I made a little snap pouch this morning that I think is pretty cute.



I'm kind of excited about the possibilities for different colour combos and appliques.
I think everyone always needs another new pouch for something.
I definitely do!

And I have been in love with these by Julia Bravo of Simbiosis.etsy.com:

This little zippy pouch is actually on it's way to me where it will
become the new home for my camera!

I also want to tell you about a happy forum that I frequent called DIYscene.com
Everyone is lovely and it's a great place to talk shop
and maybe find some like minded folks. :)

So check that out too and happy Monday!

Squee

Hello everyone!

This is "Squee."

I made Squee last night.

He'll be in the shop sometime today.



and I'll be working on some more things today...

Mama

Last night I decided to make a Needling sized Owl. Like a full-sized version of the pins.

I think she looks like Mommy Owl.

Exciting New and Different Shop Update!

Fun new things!

I finished a happy pillow with that great new fabric I showed you yesterday.



And without further ado...

My first Needling Tote:

On a Limb




Both of these just went up in the shop today!

Happy Monday!

Progress and Mail

So I've been working on one bag forever (the unnamed yellow and pink project below) but it is almost done. I think it's going to be worth the work and I'm excited to show it off. Hopefully it will be completely finished tomorrow so I can take some photos and get it up in the shop!

We had a huge snow storm that kept me from my mailbox but I was finally able to make my way in today!

I recieved some great new polka dot fabric that I bought online a little while ago...
I think it's plenty cute and I'm brainstorming as to what to use it for.

I also got "Grandma Roses," who is a great Dolls for Friends plush that I'm totally in love with.
Their stuff is great and I particularly love the photographs in their shop. Go take a look!

Here is a quick shot of my new presents to myself:



And here's me being in love:
Talk soon.

Lost!

Ok, so who's watching Lost tonight?

I am.

And while watching it...

I'll be working on this:


Just to give a little peek.

I love pink and yellow together.

Fun-guy!

Sorry. Lame.

BUT.
Max is up in the shop.
As promised.

Happy Sunday!

As promised...

This little guy is up in the shop!


And sneak peek:




I love him.


Coming soon folks.

Another Weekend for Work

I finished a couple more things that may or may not end up in the shop tomorrow. I want to work on some photos too.... We shall see.
I'm really happy with the new Needling I made today though. Think, "mushroom."
He's a little different and pretty cool looking.
Also an owly keyring. (Oo Ah)

So goodnight for now, dearies.

I'll leave you with a photo of the completed plushteam banner that I spoke about months ago. (Remember? I did the little pink "T" in Street.)

Heart in hand...

...or something.

Put up a couple new pins in the shop this afternoon.

In related news: it's snowing.

New Ideas

I've put a new pillow up in the shop that I'm extra proud of.


I'm also in the process of making some other little new things for the shop that are a little different.
So keep an eye out.
I'm excited about being able to incorporate, "The Needlings," into the pillows and pins and have
been thinking about more ways of doing this that allows me to make lots of different little things.
It's fun.

Cinnamon Hearts

So I've never been a big celebrator of Valentine's Day but I have always loved the toys and gummi hearts that start showing up in the stores around this time.
At work for instance, all the Christmas stuff is being cleared out and all of the pinks and reds and chocolately are being put by the front door.
So this pink and lovey dovey holiday also allows me to embrace my tendency to make the pinkest and cutest things I possible can. I struggle with the compulsion to make cuuute but thank to the Plush Team Valentine's Challenge I was fully able to make an adorable lovey teddy bear.
It's not in the shop yet...
but here's a taste.

Tastes like cinnamon.

Working Away

I just put a new little owl up in the shop.
They haven't been staying there long (which is awesome).
And this little guys is soon to come:

Hopefully everyone's week is feeling as productive yet still as peaceful as mine is seeming to go so far.

Etsy Love

I was thinking today about how much time I have spent on Etsy for the past few years.
Now that I sell my plushies on etsy, of course, I've spent significantly more time clicking around and still buying lovely things from lovely people.
I'm happy to be a part of it and really want to wiggle my way in there as much as possible.
I even wrote an article for the Etsy online journal, The Storque, where I wrote up a little summary of one of the great critique workshops EtsyLabs conducts.
So I suppose I am now a published writer and a small business owner all thanks to this website with the funny name.

A day off for work

I was woken up this morning at 6am by the fire alarm.
Don't worry, nothing was on fire. In fact, my house was freezing.
But off it went anyway.
So I just decided to stay up and start making a pillow. I intended it for the shop but I decided to keep it!
Here it is in the middle of sewing.
Made from some pretty little fabric swatch I had and some deconstructed brown pinstripe pants I decided to destroy.


It was a nice day.

End of Days

Well the end of 2007.
I've really had an amazing year.
Lots of changes but lots of good constants too.
I'm excited about the future and sad about things that have passed.
I will not be making a resolution of sorts because I feel it's cliché (though occasionally made with good intentions).
I'm still happy though and I feel like things will keep getting better as long as I have the good mind to attempt to make them that way.
I hope everyone has a lovely, lovely night.

New Pins

Ok, finally a photo of my little fawn pins (and test Squirrel for myself...probably will make more for the shop)

Without further ado..."Resting fawns":

And my squirrel:
They will be making their way in the shop over the next little bit.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Christmasy times to anyone who celebrates it!
Today I have been hanging out with my mom and brother; opening presents, playing with new toys, making dinner, wearing pajamas.
It's been great and I love how laid back Christmas is for my family.
I hope everyone is getting a chance to relax a bit and hang out with all the ones you love.

That is all for today.
I promise I will get to photographing my new Needlings goodies very shortly.

Love.

Fawns

Today was a day off and a day for pin making.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve when I will be fully immersed in retail chaos once again.
A herd of lovely fawn pins in the making.
Photos to come.

Very Tiny Year in Review (and Owl)

Retail is crrazy this time of year but I feel great big heaps better about where I am this year than where I was last year.
I suppose I feel that way all around.
I know the year has yet to end, but I feel a little gushy right now. I'm really happy to have my Needlings. I feelthat as long as I have them I know I am at least doing something that is wonderfully good for me and something that I love.
There are things I want and don't have, like everyone...big things too involving being further away from people I love that I ever want to be...but I am happy and feel lucky.
Nothing that is bad lasts very long but I feel the good things are staying.
Which is a good feeling if nothing else.

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Mine was great and pajama wearing filled. I love having days off work, let me tell you.
I finished a little owl brooch that people have been looking a lot at. I think it is adorable and am just about to officially make one for myself that I'm allowed to keep.


One more week!

Storm's a brewin'

There is literally a big storm brewing around these parts. Tons of snow is expected and luckily I am (ecstatically) off of work for the next few days. So, excluding a trip or two to the post office, I have nowhere to be and can work in the warm dryness of my home.

Today was a day for Christmas gifts, making and buying. I also made a little sock creature as an experiment and ended up with a little guy that, although possesses an almost phallic tail (ahem), is quite cute and was fun to make.
I think I'll stick with my Needlings though.

The new pillow seems to be quite popular which I am happy about as a lot of work went in to it and I think the little owl turned out exactly how I wanted him to.

I never understood why people dread the winter holiday season.
It doesn't feel lonely to me at all.
I'm lucky.
And cozy.

Keep warm.

Clyde and More

I put up Clyde in the shop today.


I think he's pretty cute although he lacks some of the bright colours my others guys have. He has a sweet little face and it was fun to make a black and white (and grey) Needling for a change.


I also finished up a little guy for my mom to give to a little girl she works with who has a bunny. So here he is:

I'll be working on some more things slowly this week as it's a busy week with my "real job," but hopefully I'll be able to get a few more things up before Christmas.

13 more days!

Clutter and New Cuties

I was able to sleep in a bit today which was wonderwonderwonderful. I stayed up late last night finishing a little blue and orange Needling. I just had to see him finished before I went to bed. He's very cute and I think he might be my own.
I took a few pictures and him and my "work table." That is really just a place to store my Needlings and other supplies.


There he is, the little blue one in the front.

and his backside:





















In other news, I've been reading Jose Saramago's "Blindness," which is sososo good. I'm so excited for the movie that is coming out next year!

Seriously, if you're looking for a book to read...read this one: