Buttons - We All Have 'Em

Buttons. People push them in an elevator, on a phone, on a keyboard or just to annoy their spouse.

But there is another kind of button. The ones I grew up with were stored in a big old pickle jar. Some of them matched but not many. I didn't have many toys as a child, so I improvised. And I remember that big ol' pickle jar of buttons being one of my favorite pastimes. I loved to sort them out by color and size - group them together. (Perhaps that is when this whole OCD thing began...)

And today I am no different. I still love buttons. I love the colors and shapes and sizes.

And yes - I keep them in ziploc bags and organized by color. :)

Hello Project Hello!

I am so honored and excited and a wee bit nervous to have been accepted to be a part of project hello on June 25, downtown Denver at RedLine!

It is unlike anything I have participated in (although it is similar to RAW in a way, but different). It is a juried event with the theme of "introduction" - introducing yourself to artists of all genres thru your art. A written proposal as to how you would do that was required, as well as submitting images of your work.

My proposal (in a nut shell) was:

When people walk down the street and encounter another person the inclination is to look down or look away and just pass by in silence.

When people walk down the street and encounter another person walking a dog - well... the inclination is to stop, pet the dog (or at least admire it) and strike up a conversation with the dog-walking person. "What's his name? What kind of dog is he? Where did you find him? What a good boy! Do you walk this park a lot? Do you know if there is a coffee shop nearby?" Introduction made and conversation ensues.

When people stop by my booth at project hello they will meet me "walking" my Wee Dog, Coco - well resting on the park bench (actually a chair). To switch things up a bit, Coco will be the one asking questions - i.e., "What's your name? What do you do? Where did you grow up?"

The responses Coco receives to his questions will recorded and later will be shared in a post on my blog. I will also post a link to my blog on both my Facebook pages (business and personal). That, in turn, is a way for the connection to go beyond "project hello" to "hello friend." :)

I honestly was surprised (and delighted) to see "project hello submission acceptance!" in the subject line of the email last week. So today, preparation began. My goal is to have at least 50 Wee Ones ready for the event. I plugged in my inspirational movies (it was Johnny Depp day) and started the assembly line process. Five dogs and three zombies to start. I'm grateful to have a month to prepare - usually it is a week!

So background entertainment for tomorrow - possibly some British comedies like "Waking Ned Devine" or Meryl Streep movies or something crazy from Netflix online streaming. :) Stay tuned.

ARRRRRRR!

If you are a fan of Jack Sparrow, you know what today is! Yup, the opening day for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides!

As an homage to Captain Jack, Captain Mack (inspired by his mackinaw-like bandana) has entered my Etsy shop

Arrrrrr, matey and shiver me timbers! Party on, crew!

Thank You Amigos!

Being a one woman show as I am requires I spend about 85% of my life working alone in my studio. That works for me as I'm kind of an introvert (aren't most creative people?) and a control freak with a bit of OCD sprinkled on top. About 10% then goes to my family; the additional 5% to local events where the Wee Ones and I mingle amongst the population.

What's missing? There appears to be 0% time for friends.

Which is why I am so grateful for my online community of friends - both those of the crafty variety and those who are just fun, inspiring, brilliant in their own way (the ones who make me laugh are especially dear to me...) - and most of whom I will probably never meet in real life. But as I work away [in that 85% of my time], my computer is always on and as I walk by I check in.

So this is for you, my cyberspace friends - you have no idea what the support you give me has done for me. The support, the encouragement, the "go for it; you can do it" messages have given me a sense of confidence I've never known. There is no way my "wee" idea would have taken me to where I am today without you.

I totally heart each and every one of you. I once told my husband that even in my older years (come on, I'm only 56!), I will never be lonely. Can you imagine Facebook in about 30 years???! *wink*

Grab this kiss I am blowing to you and carry it in your heart every day.

Maaaaaawah!

Memories.

Seeing the ongoing popularity of dinosaurs and dinosaur-related items in my Etsy shop has me waxing nostalgic for the days when dinosaurs roamed my own home... No, I'm not really that ancient; but in the mid to late 70's when my little guys were growing up dinosaurs: plushie and plastic; on paper: hand-drawn or in a book - were everywhere. (I recall stepping on - and writhing in pain - a particular set of plastic dinosaurs often.)

My older son started drawing dinosaurs at age 4 and both of them could explain to me the difference between a Stegosaurus and a Triceratops and beyond. Dinosaurs were a huge part of their childhood.

So when I think of creating something for little boys, of course dinosaurs are usually the first thing to spring to mind. And nothing pleases me more than knowing that I'm sending something dinosaur-related off to a new generation of dinosaur-obsessed little boys.

A couple of weeks ago I learned that my now all-grown-up son is coming from San Francisco to visit this weekend and that both my boys will be spending the weekend with us, the first thing I did was bring a couple of Wee Dinosaurs to life.

Waxing nostalgic...

Newbies. :)

Once more a special request from a favorite customer has led to a new concept ~ and a fun little line of Wee Ones. Meet Finn the Dog, Cotton Candy the Mouse and Lemon the Summer Penguin (a rare bird) ~ with more to come.

These guys are made with a cotton black and white herringbone patterned fabric mixed with solid colored fleece fabrics. It has really been fun playing with new designs.

As I have said many times - special requests from my customers stretch my imagination and take me places I wouldn't go without them. So, thanks, Ivy. :)

Thank You!

Just wanted to send out a big thank you to the ladies at LaunchHER for featuring cmh design today! Women supporting women ~ doesn't get much better than that!

And as a bonus ~ check out the coupon offer for my Etsy shop ~ the deal is on until May 13. :)

Coffee Anyone?

Mother's Day is next Sunday, so I've been working on a little something for my Mom. She is a coffee lover, an awesome baker and at age 92 - a social butterfly. So obviously she needs a coffee-themed apron.

My gift to her will be this coffee-inspired apron. The fabric is by monaluna for Robert Kaufman and so my Mom. She is very active in her church and her retirement community and that always involves food and coffee and serving food and coffee so I thought this would be a nice little fashion statement for her to wear at those functions.

And of course there is a little inside story, too. When I was growing up my Mom had a coffee cup in her hand from morning till night. Coffee was definitely her drink of choice. Alcohol has never touched her lips, but coffee? Oh yeah. Constantly.