Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!, originally uploaded by Needlings.

The Tree 2010

I think all but 5 or so ornaments on our tree are handmade and the others are silly sentimental ones from Christmases past.
My favourite, as always, are my Sugarelf trees, teacups, and birdies. They make me so happy.
I love this time of year - we've finally got some snow on the ground and I'm happy there are some fun holiday things planned in the next couple weeks.
I hope everyone is enjoying their winters (I know that's a lot to ask for some of you snow haters) - talk soon!

MacFair '10

I'm still working on sewing things for upcoming holiday shows but I wanted to take a minute to show some of the pictures I took at the last show I did, MacFair, at the McMaster University Museum of Art.
This was the third year of the show and my third year participating. My mom had her second year selling her knits so we had a lot of fun hanging out at the museum for those three days last week.







Boo to indoor museum lighting shots. I can't wait to get my camera back from being repaired! Still, you get the idea - it was a lot of crafty fun. :)

Novemberrrr

The holiday season is here!
At least that's what I'm trying to get in to my head.
I've been getting ready for the holiday shows coming up. This week is MacFair at the McMaster Museum of Art on the 10th, 11th and 12th. Fun show to do so I'm looking forward to Wednesday - not only because my birthday happens to be on Wednesday too. :D

I even managed to finish a group of Christmas tree owls and took some photos so they're all up and available in the shop!



I can't wait until the tree is up and there's snow on that ground and all that. I know, I'm one of those weirdos that loves winter.
Well, back to work!
Hope everyone is enjoying their Novembers so far!

Just reduced some prices of a few things I'd like to see find homes!

Take a look at the clearance section over in the shop.

This weekend was busy with shows and I still have a couple coming up. Off to do some more sewing!

JuneJulyAugust

Hello everyone, I hope your summers have been everything you love about your summers.

I had some fun and vacation time, now I'm back in the studio sewing away getting ready for FanExpo in Toronto at the end of the month.



I've managed a big bunch of Happy Ninjas and will be working on a batch of Owl Mamas next week.



There's never enough time.

See you soon!
Love,
Heather

Curious Rabbits

Hello again friends.

In the midst of packing and getting ready to move next week I made this funny bunny and tiny mushroom.





The rabbit looks something like a smaller simple version of the White Rabbit I made for the Alice in Wonderland show I did last year.



I hope to make a few more of the little ones...and I had so much fun making the little mushroom.

May News

Hello all.

Well, I will be spending the next few weeks getting ready to move (not far at all, but that doesn't mean packing takes any less time) in a few weeks so I will be spending less time on Needlings work and more time on packing my belongings in various boxes.

I hope to get right back in to sewing right away but I thought I would let you know why I've been a bit more absent than usual lately.

I'm not doing as many summer shows/fairs/etc. this year because we weren't sure when the house would sell but I can let you know now that the next show Needlings will be attending will be FanExpo in Toronto at the Convention Centre in August. My second comic-y one so I'm excited for more costumes and craziness. It's the largest one in Canada and Stan Lee, who created Spiderman and other famous things, will be attending this year so it's expected to be bigger than ever.

So although you may not see me here too often - I've been "tumbling" over on my new tumblr blog if you wanted to see quick links of things I like I'll be keeping that up in between throwing books in boxes and the like.

I'm still around.

Here are my last few tumblr posts and reposts (ie: stuff I liked that other people posted).
It's fun! Follow me and I'll follow you to see what you like too!

Happy Work Weekends

Hello friends!

So since you may be wondering - Comic Con was a lot of crazy fun and I'm so glad we did it! Three long days of hanging out people watching. We saw lots of interesting things including crazy costumes and lots of TV cameras.

You can see a few more pictures from the weekend if you click here.

My table partners were Jen of SparkleGirl.etsy.com who brought her nerd friendly superhero pouches, pillow cases and bags, and Lisa from Bellisal.etsy.com who brought her fun prints, buttons and t-shirts. I had a great time sharing the table with them and I'm happy to say we have a few collaborations planned for the future too.

Our table on Saturday:

A couple costumies:

Direct Energy Centre hallway right outside the convention:

Darth something? (kidding)

Happy Needlings bucket:

Table on day one:

I hope everyone is having a good long weekend!

I spent the week recovering from Comic Con and taking another little trip in to Toronto to check out the One of a Kind Show so I'm making this weekend a work one.

Good work though, don't worry.

I've been working on some new little guys and finishing up a couple more Owl Mamas to be sent to KoOKY store in Chicago, IL.

If you're close by Michigan Avenue - you can go check them out in person! Looks like there are lots of other amazing plush from fellow Plush Team member Tyler Poncho so it would be worth the trip, I only wish I could go check it out myself.

Talk to you soon!

Love,

Heather

One Week Away!

One week away from what? Comic con of course!

Lots of sewing and tagging going on around here lately. The robots in the photo above are almost all done and I have plenty more things on the to-do list for the next week. Nothing quite like a deadline to motivate me.

I'm excited to see what it's all about and hopefully see some crazy costumes and other hilarity over the three days.

Of course there are always Owl Mamas on my to-do list. I'll be making more for Young Blood in Atlanta as soon as I'm home from comic con. You wouldn't believe the amount of rickrack I have hanging around. I love it. It really is one of my most favourite things.

Spring is also on that list.

Thursday Work

Packing owls for various shops and still working on that little stack of them in the back there.

The days are getting away from me closing in on comic con and hoping I have enough stuff and enough time to keep making things. I never think I have enough time. I'm the type that leaves way too early for things...or conversely way too late. I guess they say creative types have issues with time. Well, that's me.

I hope you are all seeing and liking the little beginnings of spring happening. I love this time of year. I don't even mind all the mud.

February Shop Update!

February Shop Update, originally uploaded by Needlings.

Look! I managed to make a few new things for you!

It's been a busy month with some sadness, we're moving soon and we lost our sweet Domino after almost 20 years of kitty life, but I'm one month away from comic con and I have lots of work still to do!

It will be hectic amidst packing but I hope to get a lot done over the next few weeks. Hopefully with a few things to show you again next month.

See you soon!
♥Heather

February

Hello everyone!

I can't believe it's February already and Toronto Comic Con is only a month (and some) away. So many things to make!

I spent practically all of January making Owl Mamas for the shops in Canada and the U.S. that carry them and I still have a few yet to restock. Lots of owl parts currently floating around my work table.

I did however manage to make this new Needling and I hope to have a few more new things for a mini shop update closer to the end of the month. I'll update you with a date when I'm feeling more committal.

Oh, I also set up a springform account so you can ask me questions if you'd like. You don't even have to tell me who you are! But please do because I'm sure you're lovely.

Talk soon!

Love,

Heather

January Shop Update

A month's worth of new stuff...

all in the shop today!

Happy January!

Toronto Comic Con

Just confirmed that I'll be at Toronto Comicon in March at one of the Artist Alley tables!

Mark your calendars!

I've never been to a comic book convention and never showed my stuff at an event this big so I'm excited to see what it's all about.

And even more happy to have two months to get lots of stuff made!

Plush Team Swap Goodies

The Plush Team put together a fun plush swap this year and I just have to share the amazing goodies I recieved from Chelsea of Love and a Sandwich!

Not only did I get this amazing little monster who is completely adorable in a yummy fuzzy rainbow sherbet way in a happy christmas parcel with a little monster drawing on the front...

Chelsea did this amazing drawing of both our owls hangin' out, that I just love!

AND

monster buttons!

I'm pretty sure we can all agree my swappee is totally awesome.

Thank you so much Chelsea!

Plush Team for Haitian Relief

In an effort the help raise money for the victims of the Earthquake in Haiti, many of the group of plush artist I belong to, Plush Team, are donating plush sales at the Plush Team store on Etsy. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross.

Teeny Tiny Mini Mallow by Scrumptious Delight

My Owl Baby Pins are up as well as some other things great little guys from Plush Team members that will pop up in the team shop over the next few days.

Owl Baby Pin by Needlings

If you'd rather donate directly to the American Red Cross, you can do so through this link or by texting “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 (USD)

Just Peeking In

Another one for the shop update on the 25th!

Now back to non-update work...I have a bunch of things to make to replenish Young Blood in Atlanta with various Needlings goodies and lots of paperworky jobs to finish (which can be a nice break if planned) before I can just make things all willy nilly.

I think I can do it though!

I hope you're all having a good week.

Happy Tuesday!

January Shop Update - Monday, January 25th

New year, new ideas, new things.

So, in an attempt to keep myself making new things instead of just filling orders on a monthly basis - I'll be doing shop updates this year! The first one will be Monday January 25th so mark your calendars!

In addition to the new Owl Mamas in the photo above; here's a sneak peek at some of the things that will be part of the first update of the year on Monday January 25th when everything will be available for purchase in the shop.

I hope to add a few more to the list by then so back to work I go!

Collecting

I was never really much of a collector of things. We moved a lot when I was growing up and although I, of course, always loved my plush toys, I never sought to accrue them and have to move them all around with me.

Since I started designing my own plush, I've been exposed to this wonderful world of plush art and now find I am never surprised to find works I have to own by talented plush artists.

Here's a little shot of me nerding out with some of my handmade plush collection that's come to be over the past few years - the newest addition being this adorable rosebush given to me by the endlessly talented and sweet Christine of Sugarelf as a completely unexpected and loved Christmas gift. Isn't it beautiful? I have a little collection of her sweet little birds and you can even see a pink owl of hers in the back there that's another one of my favourites.

Surrounding my messy jewelry box, there's also a little Cutesypoo coconut bun, Follow the White Rabbit doll ("Madawaska" with the little nest on her head), and a Mint Conspiracy Petunia monster.

I really want to find a better way to display everything since they're taking over my dresser top and workroom with every (great) addition.

And below, a Fantastic Toys Christmas Fawn that I was lucky enough to win in Tim's blog giveaway. It definitely felt like Christmas when I received it. I've been a fan of his fawns and now I finally have one of my own! Lucky me!

So I guess it's official.

Now I'm a collector.