Happy in Yellow

Recently I discovered an amazing textile artist from Australia on deviantART. Her name is Sarah Neale. She creates art out of canvas, fabric, and different fibers. Here is my favorite:

Kate

Sarah just opened up an Etsy shop called Happy in Yellow. You can find Kate and some colorful, adorable bears at Happy in Yellow. Make sure and check out Happy in Yellow on Etsy and on deviantART.

Tiny Sloths

I've been extremely uninspired lately and have been depending on swaps on swap-bot to get inspiration for new projects. I found a very interesting swap yesterday called Managerie Shrine 3. The premise of the swap is that aliens are collecting samples of wildlife on Earth in order to save them. Swappers are to take a 32 count matchbox and create a shrine out of it including an animal in their natural ecosystem. The outside of the matchbox is to be decorated as well. Of course, I went with a sloth. I decorated the outside to look as if what's inside is a specimen for the aliens. While making this matchbox shrine, I got the idea to have the tiny sloth plushie to be hanging off a chain. I introduced this new necklace in my shop today.

Tiny Sloth Plushie Necklace

Sometimes It Pays to Be Forgetful

Why you may ask? Because the thing you've forgotten about turns out to be a huge surprise! About a month ago, I was contacted on Etsy by the folks at Terbear Collectibles. I had won a custom stamp from their shop! I was really taken aback because I hadn't remembered entering the giveaway. I had been so bored that I was entering probably a dozen giveaways, if not more, a week. So with all this slipping my mind, I was elated when I found out I had won such an awesome prize. Look what came in the mail for me today!

The packaging was so lovely, I didn't want to open it. I was surprised to find a wooden mounted stamp! I thought that it would be unmounted as so many of the custom stamp sellers I've looked into only offer unmounted stamps, or offer to mount them for an extra cost.

Isn't it fab? Now I can send personalized cards with my Etsy orders! I am absolutely thrilled with the quality of this product from Terbear Collectibles. Not only is their quality impeccable, but their prices are super affordable, too. So if you're in the market for a customized stamp, check out Terbear Collectibles. You can also like them on Facebook to stay apprised of future giveaways.

40% Off for a Limited Time!!!

For a limited time, I'm offering 40% off your entire purchase before shipping when you use coupon code INEEDASALE at checkout. This offer is not good on custom orders or made to order items. You must use the coupon at the time of checkout and no refunds will be given for forgotten coupons. I'm in desperate need of some sales or I may have to shut my Etsy shop down. The listing fees are much more than the amount I'm bringing in (I've only made two small sales this month). I'd really appreciate it if you'd take a look around my Etsy shop and see if there is anything you might like to have. Thanks so much for your time.

My New Logo

I'm so stoked about my new logo! It represents me and my mascot, Charlie the sloth. I commissioned it from SugarOverkill. Michéle Liza Pelayre is the talent behind the company. Her influences are Japanese pop culture, kawaii, goth, punk, and Harajuku. Michéle is currently taking commissions for illustrations and tattoo designs. If you're interested, you can send Michéle an e-mail.  You can also connect with Michéle on deviantART and Facebook. 

I also commissioned my good friend, Jeanette Wummel, the owner of The Roots of Design to make another chibi of me and Charlie.  I know, I'm a little vain aren't I?  I just love seeing my characters (yes, I'm a character) drawn by different artists.  I think Jeanette made me and Charlie look so stinkin' cute!  Jeanette is also currently taking commissions for chibis.  If you're interested, just send her an e-mail.

I want to thank both Michéle and Jeanette for creating such awesome pieces of art for me!  You all have made the past two days really special. 

My New Shoes

Photo courtesy of Dessah Harrison

Believe it or not, these fabric flats were made out flip flops!  They were made by my good friend, Dessah Harrison, owner of Dessah Kristene Designs.  These flats are super comfy.  The soles are squishy flip flop soles and the ever annoying thong piece has been removed.  Thank you, Dessah, for such an awesome pair of shoes!  If you'd like to commission Dessah for a pair of fabric flip flop flats, send her a convo on Etsy.  Also check out her shop for some super cool downloadable sewing patterns.  Her Coffee Cozy Keychain Sewing Pattern is such an ingenious idea.    

Little Paintings

I've always said that I hate to paint. It's because I'm not very good at it. However, I've been on a painting kick as of late. I've been using acrylics as my medium for ATC's (artist trading cards). I found a killer deal the other day on eBay and purchased 7 mini canvases with easels. I've already used three of them today and they just arrived in the mail this afternoon! The canvases are 3 by 3 inches. I like working on a small scale. It's probably because of my ADD and inability to focus on any task for too long. Here are the little paintings that I made today.

"Cupcake" for a swap on swap-bot.

"Sitting Sloth"

"Self Portrait"

Smash Books, Mini-Zines, and ATC's, Oh My!

I've been trying to branch out to other crafts besides sewing. I'll have to say I'm a little burnt out on Dotee dolls at this point. Yesterday I decided to make myself a Smash Book. A Smash Book is like a journal that you put random stuff in. K and Company has an awesome line of Smash Books and embellishments. I thought it would be more fun to create my own. I painted a composition notebook and added stickers and other elements to the cover.

So far, I've started one page in my Smash Book. The page includes two mini-zines that I completed yesterday. There is a current swap on swap-bot called "Fill It." For this swap, you download a page with prompts on it, fill in your details, draw some pictures, and then fold it mini-zine style. HERE is the blog that explains the project and where you can find the downloadable prompt sheets.

I've also been working on some ATC's (Artist Trading Cards). I made this Frida Kahlo ATC for a tag on swap-bot.

I actually painted a Studio Ghibli inspired ATC for a swap. I usually hate painting, but this was really fun to do. I only hate painting because it's something that I'm not particularly good at. Here's my winter themed Soot Sprite.

I've not decided what I'll work on today. Don't get me wrong, I haven't given up sewing, I'm just taking intermittent breaks. I actually completed two plushies yesterday as well (I was super busy!). The first one is a felt doll for a swap.

The tutorial and pattern can be found at The Purl Bee.

I also made a Spock plushie for an upcoming commission next month. I am to make 3 more Star Trek characters for this order.

A Few Swaps

My creativity level has been low lately. Inspiration and motivation does not come easily these days. I'm not happy unless I create at least one thing each day, so in an effort to gain inspiration and motivation; I've been immersing myself in swaps on Cut Out + Keep, swap-bot, and The League of Extraordinary Crafters (a.k.a. LXC -- a Facebook group full of crafty men and women to which I belong). I thought I'd share a few things I've made for some swaps.

Zombie Swap on Cut Out + Keep

Grimm's Fairy Tale Swap with my friend, Tara.

Pick 5 Swap on the LXC

I have also been making Dotee dolls for swaps. I've been receiving some really awesome Dotee's as well. Here is the monkey Dotee I made for my friend, Alé for a Dotee swap I hosted on the LXC.

Here are the amazing things that Alé sent to me for the same swap: a sloth Dotee, la Virgen de Gualalupé soft sculpture, a matryoshka Dotee, and little bag of goodies.

Here is my Dotee collection thus far. I have them hanging by push pins on my wall. I can't wait to fill up the empty spaces.

A Little Break

I took a little break from making Dotee Dolls to work on a couple of swaps I'm participating in on Cut Out + Keep. One of the swaps I'm in is a Harry Potter swap. My partner loves Snape and Lily. I wanted to do something outside of my comfort zone (sewing), so I decided to make this necklace.

I had seen a lot of "Always" necklaces on Etsy, so I thought I'd make one. I hand stamped the "Always" charm. The "S" is squeezed in there, but I think that adds to the charm. The doe charm was made using the same technique used to make Scrabble Tile pendants. I'm really proud of how it turned out.

Do They Have a Rehab for This?

All I've been doing in my free time lately is making Dotee Dolls. I can't seem to get enough of them! I think I may have a problem. Anyway, here are some of the Dotee Dolls I have been making lately. Notice how "some" is emphasized.

Little Miss Sunshine Dotee Doll

Dotee Doll with a Bad Attitude

Valentine Princess Dotee Doll

Nacho Libre Dotee Doll

Alice in Wonderland Dotee Doll

Cheeky Nun Dotee Doll for "Holy Humor" Month in April

If you are interested in swapping Dotee Dolls with me, just send me an e-mail.

Buy a Doll, Give a Doll!

Sofia

One of my pass times when I'm bored is entering handmade giveaways. I've won a lot of wonderful goodies by entering. I ran across a giveaway on Etsy Giveaways today that really caught my eye. The giveaway is for a custom doll from beMarybyHand. This shop had already found it's way into my Etsy favorites before seeing this giveaway because the dolls are really simple and gorgeous. So of course I had to enter the giveaway to see if I could win one of these dolls. That's not all though. Throughout the month of February, for every doll sold in the beMarybyHand Etsy shop a doll will be given to a child via the Mwangaza International organization. beMarybyHand is also honoring Black History Month by offering 30% off the ethnic dolls in the shop.

Jane

Head on over to beMarybyHand's blog and enter the giveaway and/or visit beMarybyHand's Etsy shop and make a child happy by purchasing a doll this month.

Photos taken from beMarybyHand on Etsy.

My New Addiction

Hello my name is Suzanne and I'm addicted to making Dotee Dolls.

A Dotee Doll is a little art doll originally created by a crafter named Dot. These dolls are meant to be traded or given as gifts, but never sold. The body of the doll should measure between 3 and 6 inches. The doll also needs a hanger and a tail.

Swap-bot seems to be the mecca for Dotee makers. I've been a member of swap-bot for several years, but since I've been sewing I've been on hiatus from the site. Out of boredom the other day, I decided to log back on and join some sewing swaps. Of course I was drawn to the Dotee swaps because of my love for making dolls. I've made a handful of Dotees in the past, but never really got into it like I have now. Here are two that I've made for upcoming swaps.

Annie Oakley Dotee Doll

Blue and Green Dotee Doll

Sloth Quilt Square

My friend Dana Wilson is currently organizing an event on deviantART called "A World of Friends." She is collecting artwork from fellow deviants in order to make a collective quilt. I'm really stoked about my contribution to this event. I love the little sloth I designed, and I'm planning on making another to frame for my room. I may even make some for my Etsy shop.

Anyone on deviantART may join this event. You can find more information on "A World of Friends" HERE. If you're not a deviantART member, it's free and easy to join up, so what's stopping you?

Getting Ready for Valentine's Day

You'd think that I'd be one to hate Valentine's Day. It's very rare that I have a Valentine on Valentine's Day, but for some reason I adore this holiday. Valentine's Day is my second favorite holiday for which to craft (Halloween is numero uno). Here are some Valentine's Day plushies I've already made for my Etsy shop.

The Perfect Boyfriend

Large Kawaii Raccoon Plushie

Ninja and Anatomical Heart Plushies

Each of these plushies (and smaller versions of the kawaii raccoon) are available in my Etsy shop.

I am also open for custom orders, so just send me a convo through Etsy or drop me an e-mail (see "Contact Me" above).