cmh design

Going to the Dogs. And Our Service Men and Women!

2012-01-25T08:29:00.001-07:00

Although I only know one soldierpersonally I have wanted to give back to our service men and women for a longtime now. The sacrifices they and their families make to insure our safety and freedom is such a gift. I wanted to give a gift back. I just wasn't sure how to do it.

So I talked to some friends, I did some research and I came upwith some ideas. My Wee dogs are pretty popular so I decided perhaps aWee Military dog would be a good representative. Then I started thinkingabout the correlation between dogs and the Military.

So meet Sgt. Woof. He is here to support two wonderfulorganizations combining our U.S. military and dogs. America's VetDogs providesservice dogs, guide dogs and military therapy dogs to veterans and active dutypersonnel in need. Nowzad is an organization that rescues stray and abandoneddogs in Afghanistan particularly to reunite dogs who were "adopted"by service personnel during their deployment and brings them to the U.S. tolive permanently with the "adopted parent" soldier.

If you adopt Sgt. Woof 20% of his purchase price will be split between these twoorganizations.

So if you love dogs and if you are grateful for all our servicemen and women and their families, I would love tosend a Sgt. Woof (or two or ten) your way!

One Girl Show

2012-01-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

If you pop into my Etsy Shop and the inventory looks depleted - never fear. There is a reason.

I am really fortunate to have my products in seven stores across the country as well as a handful of online shops. When I started on Etsy almost three years ago, I never would have predicted that. But I learned - without even realizing it - "if you build it, they will come." A couple of awesome shop owners came knocking and soon I found myself doing consignment on both coasts. That gave me the courage to knock on a couple of local shop doors, email a couple of awesome shops in other parts of the country and I discovered something about myself ~ I enjoyed "selling" and sealing the deal! (I'm rather shy, so this aspect of my personality still astounds me!)

So with all that going on ~ and I'm planning to add to my brick 'n mortar roster ~ it's a lot to keep up with on my own. I am determined to - for as long as I can - keep my business personal ~ with every product being handmade, handcrafted, stories written, merchandised and shipped by me and me alone. I really don't ever want to lose that personal touch.

So with 2012 upon us I am looking into the new year and I realized if I'm going to keep up (and still have some semblance of a personal life which sadly has been lacking) I needed to restructure a bit. So here's my plan ~~

*Every Quarter (every 3 months) I will offer a select group of 25 products. This will be consistent across the board ~ all the brick 'n mortar shops and Etsy. (Etsy may have a couple of extra products if I have things already made and sitting on my studio shelf.)

*Every Quarter (every three months) those 25 products will change to a new offering of 25 products.

From a production point of view this makes sense as it allows me to work more efficiently and get my product out the door more quickly. Working "assembly-line" style really speeds up production. Of course I have to indulge my creative spirit and take time to develop new designs, so those will be popping up from time to time. Some of these new designs will be offered as Limited Editions for a short time only and then retired.

So that explains why my Etsy inventory went from over 100 products to 33. I'm still here. Here. There. There. And there. And maybe someday ~ everywhere. :)

Things To Come...

2011-12-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

2012 has proven to be a banner year for the Wee Ones and me ~ thanks to the amazing support from you! Four online shops and seven brick 'n mortar stores/galleries have kept me quite busy (hence long time no blog). To that end I am working on some restructuring for 2012 ~ streamlining my lines to make my turnaround time faster and more efficient; but also looking to grow the business even more (without making myself too crazy...).

I am hoping to sign with a few more brick 'n mortars and plan to introduce new little guys in my regular line. Something new I am looking forward to is featuring some limited editions as well. Limited meaning they will be special ~ unique fabrics and/or designs ~ with only a few offered for sale for a limited time, then the line will be retired. Furball here is a tease of what's to come.

I'm nearing the end of my holiday orders and looking forward to some fudge-making, cookie-baking, sitting- around-the-Christmas-tree-and-the warm-fire-family-time, toasting our blessings this year and maybe catching a movie or two.

And sleeping in. Omysweetgoodness sleeping in would be such a treat! ;-)

Happy holidays to all of you with {hugs} and enormous gratitude...

The Sum of the Parts...

2011-11-22T08:09:00.001-07:00

that make the whole.

I know when I buy something I don't really think about all the parts that go into making the whole item. But when I am on the other side - actually making the item - I think seriously about the parts that make up the whole. I scrutinize fabric; in fact, I've been known to get really unreasonably excited if I find just the right fabric for just the right project. I am sure to keep my inventory of threads up to date; yes I do need four shades of pink and eight shades of blue.

In my particular business - making my Wee Ones, et al - I think the thing that really brings them to life are their eyes. For my critters who will be adopted by kids over 3 years old, I use plastic safety eyes. When I attach those eyes... well, that is when the Wee One comes to life. The eyes are the window to the soul ~ even in a stuffed animal. When those eyes become part of a bear or a dog or any critter I'm working on, suddenly a personality appears.

And that is when I smile. And that is when I know I've got a winner.

So, all that being said, eyes are a crucial part of my inventory. And more often than not, I lose track of my inventory "count" and realize that - uh oh - I've only got 4 pairs of 12mm black eyes left! The person I always turn to is my Etsy friend, Clara of 6060. She always has what I need and am in dire need of. Her response to my requests are immediate and her turn-around time is amazing! Although we are many, many miles apart I usually have what I need in just a couple of days.

There are many times she has saved the day for me ~ especially during crunch times like the holiday season. So I just wanted to tip my Santa hat to Clara and say thank you for your outstanding customer service! I don't know what I would do without you!

My Very Own Bug-a-bootie Cuties

2011-11-17T08:01:00.001-07:00

Cyberspace can be a wonderful place ~ both for friendships and finding unique items.

A few months ago I got acquainted with a fellow Etsian, Lauren. Lauren makes the most adorable soft-soled shoes (aka house shoes) for babies, toddlers and adults. Both being seamstresses we often share the trials and triumphs of sewing machines, fabric, patterns ~ you name it. (No one appreciates the thrill of finding a fabric you absolutely love other than another fabric-obsessed seamstress!)

As cooler temperatures began to set in recently and I pulled out my raggedy old slippers, I began seeing some really awesome house shoes showing up on Lauren's Facebook Business Page. So one chilly night while my toes were shivering, I logged onto Lauren's Etsy Shop Bug-a-booties and ordered some house shoes in my favorite color ~ green.

I've known Lauren as a fun and sweet friend; but getting to know Lauren the Business Woman was a real treat, too! Lauren's response to my order was immediate and thorough. She followed up with questions to insure that my house shoes would be a perfect fit for my feet. I realized as we went thru sizing process that making shoes for someone sight unseen could be tricky business. But Lauren is a true pro; she definitely knows her stuff.

My beautiful house shoes arrived this morning and I couldn't be more pleased! I just love them. Not only are they adorable and super comfortable, the craftsmanship (or is that craftwomanship?) is outstanding. Attention was paid to every detail. And soft is right ~ flannel and velvet with fun, soft leather soles. I wish Lauren had been around when my boys were little ~ not only are these great for grown-ups, but they are the perfect shoe for little ones!

So now I find myself thinking... I want to give everyone I know a pair of Bug-a-bootie house shoes for Christmas! Of course that's not possible, but I would encourage you to take a peek at her shop; I'll bet you'll find some Holiday gifts there yourself!

Thank you, Lauren, for making such a fun, unique and quality product!

Bunnies. They're Not Just for Easter Anymore.

2011-11-16T08:30:00.001-07:00

Bunny season is typically in the Spring and near Easter for me. I've discovered something recently as bunnies - both BIG (about 13") and small like the guys above (about 6") - have been selling on a regular basis. Go figure.

Then it was brought to my attention by a couple of customers that in some cases these bunnies are acting as "security blankets" -- or "security bunnies" if you will -- for little ones. In fact some little guys become so attached to their bunny Mom is ordering a "back up" bunny, just in case the original goes missing. Moms have told me they are just the right size to tuck into a diaper bag or a purse and they won't leave home without them.

I think that is the sweetest compliment I could receive! You can be sure these and other "security bunnies" will be in stock at all times.

Clifton

2011-11-04T09:38:00.000-06:00

In my Dad's later years (he lived to be 87) one of his favorite pastimes was to watch television with my little niece. The cartoon they enjoyed the most was Clifford the Big Red Dog. That always made me chuckle because my Dad's name was Clifton (but he was better known as Clif).

As his health failed, he spent the last three weeks of his life in a beautiful hospice facility. My Mother and I spent every day with him, with other family members coming and going. He would drift in and out of sleep and later in and out of consciousness. Once in awhile he would mutter things softly. One day when I returned from running an errand my Mom said, "He keeps talking about a big red dog; he sees a big red dog. I have no idea what he's talking about." Taken out of context like that we were puzzled.. We thought for awhile; then I had a light bulb moment.

"Mom, he sees Clifford. Clifford the Big Red Dog!"

He passed away shortly after that and I'm hoping that Clifford the Big Red Dog ~ or some semblance thereof ~ was there to greet him on the other side.

Yesterday I spent the day creating some new Wee Ones with subtle holiday/Christmas themes. Red is a big holiday color, so I noticed it was a recurring theme in the new "holiday collection of critters." And without even thinking about it, I created a red dog. Once I realized, omysweetgoodness, I have a red dog ~ it was obvious what his name would be.

Clifton. The Wee Red Dog.

Here's to you, Dad. :)

Wee Clones

2011-10-27T17:14:00.000-06:00

Meet a special English Sheepdog, Black Cat and Grey Tabby Cat. Or at least my impressionist versions of the real things.

If you're new to my world, let me give you some background. I design Wee Ones - little stuffed animals - all kinds of species - all my own designs. About a year ago I began getting requests to make Wee "Clones" of people's pets (just dogs and cats to this point). It is always a challenge because I really want to please my customers ~ and designing something as special as a version of their beloved pets ~ well... it's a challenge. :)

The designs (like I said so far just cats and dogs) are in place, but the biggest challenge of a personalized Wee One? Finding fabric that will replicate the real deal. That was my dilemma this week and I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping I did ok.
They are shipping off tomorrow, so I'll know soon... :)

He's Baaaaack!

2011-10-13T19:21:00.000-06:00

It is the return of Rupert the Thanksgiving Turkey! He's all refreshed (ok he had a wee face lift...) and ready for the 2011 Thanksgiving season!

Rupert would like to remind you a bit about himself. His favorite things ~ he is a vegetarian and (hint) loves to hang out with fellow vegetarians. His favorite foods are mashed potatoes and gravy, blueberry pancakes and chocolate cheesecake. He enjoys long walks, playing Bingo and square dancing.
So this Thanksgiving, eat your vegetables and adopt a turkey as your buddy. :)

Why I Love What I Do!

2011-10-12T08:25:00.000-06:00

All of my customers are special to me, but once in awhile an order comes thru that stands out. I just never know where my critters may end up and what their stories will be. And, in the end, that is why I love what I do. A request for Rudy and Toby (the ram and dinosaur pictured here) was one such order.

A few months ago I had a note from Haleigh ~ she was excited to see the addition of Rudy the Ram in my Etsy shop, because one of her two sons carries the nickname of "Ram." As the mother of two boys myself, I remember well ~ if you buy one critter you must by another ~ so Rudy and Toby were on their way to Haleigh's two little boys.

What I didn't know until just recently is that they were surprise gifts for the boys from Mommy and Daddy to let them know that their Daddy was thinking of them. Because, you see, Daddy is a Sargent in the United States Marines and as a member of the 26th MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) was deployed to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya, Italy, Africa and Greece (with a lot of time spent on a ship in those areas) for almost 9 months. Scary stuff.

Haleigh provided the image you see here ~ the top and bottom photos are the boys saying (as she so sweetly put it) their "see you laters" and the center photo is Dad returning home safely and embracing his precious little boys.

I was so touched by Haleigh's story ~ honored that she chose Rudy and Toby for such meaningful gifts at such an important time in her children's lives and honored that she shared it with me. Thank you seems inadequate, but thank you Sgt. Johnson for your service and to Haleigh and the boys, thank you for your sacrifice and your service as well.

I can't say it enough ~ stories like Haleigh's are why I love what I do. It brings wonderful people like Haleigh and her family into my life. And I am grateful for that.

Happiness!

2011-10-05T09:01:00.000-06:00

The second gift shop I signed with - can it be almost 18 months ago? - was Modern Mouse in lovely Alameda, California which sits across the Bay from the equally lovely San Francisco. The owner, Eleen, (lovely herself) and I struck up a cyberspace friendship immediately. Since then her brick 'n mortar store has grown by leaps and bounds, as has her ever-so-friendly and hard-working staff. I'm thrilled to be a part of their beautiful shop!

Happiness has been a recurring theme in my life. It has popped up when I least expect it; I've used the word happy so many times in business and in life it is practically my middle name. I even have a tattoo with the Chinese symbol for happiness.

So, no surprise that Modern Mouse, Eleen and I would eventually join forces. Eleen is all about delivering happiness (inspired by Zappos Founder, Tony Hsieh) and that is completely reflected in how she goes about her business and how she goes about her life. And you know what they say about happiness ~~ it is contagious. Take a peek at her online shop and you will see what I mean! Happiness everywhere!

It was such fun to see my Wee Ones featured not once, but twice in Modern Mouse's October newsletter! Drake-ula is proud to be a part of the Halloween Gift Guide!

And the other Big Deal in October is always (for me, anyway) Breast Cancer Awareness. Modern Mouse partners with me in this cause and is featuring these BC Buddies in their shop!

And if you're just looking for a Wee One in general, a special selection can be found on Modern Mouse's shopping site.

One of these days I'm going to surprise those kids at Modern Mouse and pop by to say hi! Thank you Eleen and crew for all you do. Happiness all around!

Booga Booga!

2011-10-01T17:59:00.000-06:00

Holidays. Dreams and nightmares.

Since I've been creating little critters the holidays have proven to be both challenging and delightful. Some seasonal ideas really hit the mark; some don't quite make the cut and are delegated to the "donation" shelf. Because even if a plushie isn't exactly what I had in mind, it still can bring a smile to a child's face. I'm big on Toys for Tots! And however frustrating it is to spend time on a prototype (or two) and realize the idea just isn't going to fly; it is all part of the game.

But then there are the ones that do. I just know in my gut when an idea is going to work ~ like my friend here ~ Stinky the Dead Cat. Some holidays bring out the more creative side of me than others. Halloween is one such holiday. Last year was my first year creating Wee Monsters, et al, and not only was I surprised by how much fun I had bringing them to life ~ I was equally surprised by how popular they were! And then ~ blow me over with a feather ~ people started requesting them all year long. (You guys are warped. But in a good way! *wink*)

So this year I knew to start early with the current designs and take an hour here and there to work on some new ones. I gave it considerable thought before entering into the Dead Zone ~ not knowing if that would be too sensitive or not. Then I remembered that Halloween is closely associated with Day of the Dead (November 1 and 2) ~ so why not?

Enter Dead Seymour the Wee Monkey.

There are more dead creatures hanging out in my head. I just hope I have time to create them all... Holy cow! It's October 1st already!

All Pink ~ All Month!

2011-09-30T11:19:00.000-06:00

Squeeeee!! Etsy Peeps!! Thank you so much!!

As many Etsy sellers and followers do, I receive an email with featured themes on Etsy every day. They are always so cleverly put together and feature incredible products ~ I am usually tempted to buy at least a couple of things! So today when I received the October Shopping Guide and scrolled down thru the delicious temptations, I was thrilled to see my knit hat featured!

Breast Cancer Awareness has long been a cause near and dear to me. Two maternal aunts suffered for years with the disease and the miserable, painful side effects from treatment (they have both since passed). A few years ago my Mom (who luckily has remained disease-free) volunteered to be part of a clinical study for some experimental drugs ~ hoping to help her sisters. I've had my own scares (and scars) over the years and I'm one of the lucky ones ~ so far I've dodged the bullet.

So when I started my Etsy shop 2.5 years ago, I knew I wanted to do something to support the cause. The main focus of my shop are my Wee Ones and Liten Venns - little stuffed animals. So every September and October a lot of pink pops up in my shop with my BC Buddies. I also do consignment with seven stores across the country and am so happy that five of them partner with me in this effort every year.

Last year I discovered knitting looms and got slightly addicted. So, although I have yet to figure out how to fashion a stuffed animal on one, I do enjoy making knit hats. It's a perfect pastime for those long winter nights by the fire. I decided to add a few BC Beanies to my shop, with a focus on breast cancer patients who often need something warm for their sweet heads. (I plan to add more in just a few days.)

10% of the sale of each BC Beanie and BC Buddy goes to Susan G Komen for the Cure. I look forward to the day when that organization will no longer be needed... because we've found a cure.

Lucky #7

2011-09-26T08:41:00.000-06:00

I am so excited to share that my Wee Ones can now be found at the fabulous I Heart Denver store in the Denver Pavilions on the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver! I made my first delivery yesterday and met store owner, Samuel (he's awesome) and his crew (equally awesome).

The store contains products that are entirely produced by local Denver artists. Everything from glassware to tee shirts to bags to jewelry and more (and, of course, stuffed animals.) :) If you're in the area, stop by and check it out (2nd floor of the Pavilions). You are sure to walk away with something crafted by a Denver artist.

I call I Heart Denver my lucky #7 ~ the 7th store I am partnering with on consignment. I guess my Etsy shop would bring that number to 8, but as far as brick 'n mortar shops ~ this is lucky #7. So you know what that means. Those Wee Ones are going to fly off the shelf. :)

Thanks, Samuel and crew ~ I am so happy to be part of your one-of-a-kind 100% Denver store!

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friend

2011-09-22T19:03:00.002-06:00

I have a mug that reads “Behind every successful woman isherself.” I love that sentiment. I believe strongly in home-grown, women-ownedbusinesses ~ or women being successful doing anything they love. It does take drive, ambition and good old-fashioned hard work to be successful.

But today it occurred to me that as a one-woman show Ireally don’t do all that I do without a little help and support. (Scratch that - a lot of help and support.) Ioften forget that in essence I’m not totally a one woman show. This handsome guy does a lot to help me.

We met thru mutual friends in 1991. Yup, we’ve been together 20 years – married18. I knew the first night I met himthat I wanted to know him. He made melaugh.

He engaged in conversation. He was clever and smart. He was so damn cute. He had an MBA in finance from the Universityof Denver (which came in handy later when I started my business).

Fast forward to 2011. He is a partner in his own IT Consulting business. He is a Type A workaholic. (He is quite often up with me on those 3 amwork mornings - doing his own work.)

And yet before he leaves everymorning he asks me, “Do you have anything for the Post Office?” - and at the end of the work day he texts mewith “Do you need anything from the grocery store? Need wine?”

He does 98% of the grocery shopping and cooks 98% of ourmeals. If not for him I wouldlive on chocolate, chardonnay, hummus, carrots, chai lattes, English muffins and peanutbutter. Seriously. He'snot opposed to washing a dish or two. And once in awhile even a woodfloor. He happily walks the dog in theearly morning hours when I'm slammed with orders. He puts gas in my Jeep. He takes care of all the householdfinances. He passes out my businesscards like candy to his business associates and clients.

So that "one woman show" thing? It's a myth.

My Dream Road Trip

2011-09-15T05:59:00.005-06:00

In conversation with my husband the other day I told him I wish I could have started my little business 30 years ago. But back then the opportunities weren't what they are today. Etsy has been a blessing. With just a click of the keyboard it has offered me a venue to present my items on a global level and yet, is so user-friendly even I can figure it out.

And from there, unique and exciting brick 'n mortar stores started finding me. With every store that contacted me, I gained confidence to to approach another store. To date I am consigning with six stores across the country and am always looking forward to talking to more!

Someday I want to kidnap my husband and take a cross country trip to visit all of the fabulous stores I partner with. Because with the exception of my two Denver shops, I have never met my shop owners. I feel as though I know them because - across those cyberspace miles - we work closely.

We would start in New York City at Stoopher and Boots ~ hugs and puppy kisses for Stephanie and Scout! Travel on to Chicago to stop in hanger 18 and grab one of those famous Chicago pizzas with our girl, Tina. Next stop - Iowa. No shops there, but I'm crossing the country so I have to stop in and see my #1 Inspiration, my Mom. :)

We'll make a brief stop home (Denver) and say hey to Marlene at Caboodle, Then a trip to Cherry Creek North in Denver and check in with Douglas, Deb, Jan, Rich and Frances at Show of Hands. (We may have to stop by Houston's for a glass of wine and Duffy's Cherry Cricket for a game of darts...)

On the road again and we're headed to the San Francisco Bay Area. We'll stop in Alameda (East San Francisco Bay) to dispense hugs to Eleen and her crew at Modern Mouse. And yay - bonus, we'll cross the bridge and spend some time with my son and his girlfriend in San Francisco!

Last stop along the way ~ a visit to the beautiful Seal Beach, California to hug Yoshi the dog (oh and Janet, too) at Hapa Collective. A bonus there may just be meeting Susan - my long time cyberspace pal and sister from another stylist (because it's all about the hair.)

Now that's a road trip. Someday...

Hi Kim!

2011-09-13T17:46:00.000-06:00

Cookie the Wee Puppy is on her way to our friend Kim @ 9News - the Denver NBC Affiliate. Breast Cancer Awareness is near and dear to her heart, as it is to mine. For the past two years Kim has been so generous to share my BC Buddies on her 4 O'clock news broadcast.

We're hoping Cookie makes the cut, too. :)

Made in America!

2011-09-09T10:25:00.004-06:00

A couple of months ago I made a sales call to the fabulous Show of Hands Gallery in the Cherry Creek North neighborhood of Denver. I love this gallery and really wanted to partner with them. So I was a little nervous when I opened the door and made my way to the check out counter to begin my pitch. I brought along Coco the Wee Dog for support.

Coco was a hit ~ particularly when the gallery operators learned that yes, I really do make Coco and his fellow Wee Ones in my little home studio, right here in Colorado. They explained how hard it was to find quality toys that are actually made in America. The rest is history ~ many of my Wee Ones are now residing at Show of Hands and sales are thru the roof. (I say with enormous gratitude!)

But since that day when I learned how unique it was to have a product "Made in America" the thought has stuck with me. I've become much more aware of how special it is to find something to purchase that is actually "Made in America."

I decided to emphasize that in my marketing ~ in the labels (above) I sew into each little Wee One (and everything I create). I added it on my business card as well as any print marketing I do (brochures, invoicing, flyers).

So you can imagine the feeling of validation I felt last night when listening to our President address the Nation about jobs and how important it is to see those three words around the world ~ "Made in America." An excerpt from his speech:

Today you [Congress] passed reform that will speed up the outdated patent process, so that entrepreneurs can turn a new idea into a new business as quickly as possible. That's the kind of action we need. Now it's time to clear the way for a series of trade agreements that would make it easier for American companies to sell their products in Panama, Colombia and South Korea -- while also helping the workers whose jobs have been affected by global competition. If Americans can buy Kias and Hyundais, I want to see folks in South Korea driving Fords and Chevys and Chryslers. I want to see more products sold around the world stamped with three proud words:
"Made in America."
** President Barack Obama, September 8, 2011

I couldn't agree more.

(Labels printed by the wonderful Priya Creations)

For Your Little Pumpkin ~

2011-09-05T09:21:00.000-06:00

Cooler weather this weekend found me back at my favorite fall/winter spot ~ in the family room, feet up, watching movies and pulling out skein after skein of yarn and my knitting looms. It is my favorite cold weather pastime. And it's fun to step out of the studio once in awhile for a change of scenery!

This little beanie was a spontaneous creation and it made me smile to imagine some cute little pumpkin walking around ~ or even topping off their Halloween costume ~ with this soft and warm pumpkin head! It is available in my Etsy shop now.

One of These Things is Not Like the Other.

2011-08-31T16:13:00.000-06:00

Four bunnies, two pigs, two mice, two dogs, a cat, a raccoon, an owl, a bear and a mummy walk into a gallery.

It's a long story.

They all will be taking up residency at A Show of Hands in Cherry Creek North (Denver) on Friday! 10% of each pink sale goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Rumor is the mummy is being sent ahead as a scout. She's not talkin'.

It's Autumn ~ at Least in My Head It Is!

2011-08-28T17:17:00.003-06:00

Autumn has always been my favorite season. I remember a friend once questioning me ~ "Why? Everything is dying!"

Well, it started in my high school days I think. My favorite thing about going back to school was buying clothes, of course ~ corduroys, jeans and sweaters (and as I got older - boots!)! Oh and my special college-rule, medium weight paper spiral notebooks and a new Parker pen. (I was a bit of a writing nerd. Oh, wait, still am.) I was also a football cheerleader and although to this day I don't understand the sport, I loved my uniform and being out there on those brisk fall nights jumping around in front of the stands.

Fast forward to my early 20's when my first son was born in September (of course) and three years later his little brother jumped the gun a little and was born in late August. What's not to love about that? Score one more for Autumn.

Fast forward again ~ marrying my second (and final) husband ~ of course, in September. We will celebrate 18 years married on September 5.

And finally, although I've had a camera nearby since I was 16, I picked one up (ok about seven of them and don't get me started on the lenses...) seriously about six years ago. Nature became my focus (ha) and honestly - when is nature more photogenic than in Autumn?!

Which brings us to current day. I still carry a camera on my morning walks (see my previous post) but other than shooting my products, it is the only time I have to shoot anymore. When you're in the retail business ~ as many of us are ~ your holiday season starts in July. I begin formulating ideas for new designs about then; procrastinate the first two weeks of August and then get really serious about the 15th. And always feel like I'm behind.

It helps that last year I created many new designs (like Drake-ula up there) so I don't have to create the entire wheel, but the work is still there. So Autumn has taken on a whole new meaning for me now. Like ~ get up before the sun ~ I am actually catching some sunrises again ~ and work till I drop. Once again glasses and plates are piling up in the studio as I eat my meals here. Extra clothing, shoes, socks ~ and yes, even some p.j.'s start accumulating. If I work late, I will occasionally (literally) fall into the guest bed on the other side of the "Jack 'n Jill" bathroom.

It's a mess. But I tell myself ~ it is Autumn. And this is what Autumn brings. All that and a redesigned website ~ I figured you all know my logo and what I do. I just wanted a cleaner look. And yes, it will change seasonally. It's how I roll. *wink*

I love Autumn. So do tell ~~ what is your favorite season? Why?

Take a Breath. It's Important!

2011-08-26T17:35:00.003-06:00

When I began feeling a "burn out" coming on a couple of weeks ago, I knew I had to stop and pay attention. Those of you who are crafting your own business (literally and figuratively) know what I mean. You get weepy. You're exhausted. Your spouse/loved ones can't say or do anything right. You're tense and the slightest thing will make you want to throw a plate against the wall.

Yup. You know what I'm talkin' about. It's time to take a break; maybe even analyze how you got here and what kind of changes need to be made. In my case, I have a husband who is building his own business at the same time so to think we could have two people experiencing burn out at the same time is not a pretty picture. I knew it was a situation I needed to grab hold of and handle quickly.

Some family circumstances found me actually taking almost three days off last weekend. Merely by coincidence we had family in town from California ~ a Saturday lunch and a little field trip to my local gallery. Sunday my beloved daughter-in-law was presented her Master's Degree and graduated from Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine (complete with after-party, of course!). Monday was my son's (her husband's) 32nd birthday and we enjoyed a relaxing lunch at funky "Hamburger Mary's" in Denver. Not that I could do that every weekend, but it proved to be a much needed break! By last Tuesday I was refreshed, re-energized and ready to return to a full schedule of work.

So, yes, a three day weekend every week is out of the question. But I did think about what I could do to incorporate some time every day to step away from work, out of the studio and renew.

The answer was right in front of me. I have walked my dog every day (well, with few exceptions anyway) for the 14 years she has been with us. Up until the last couple of years (duh - when I started my business) we walked in the 880 acre State Park that borders our neighborhood. I couldn't remember the last time I did that.

[In an effort to fully disclose - I also had recently taken a break from my daily step onto the scale. Just to see what would happen. Two weeks without weighing in was an eye-opener. Five lbs. of an eye-opener! That's how crazy fast things can happen when I - literally - take my eye off the scale. So I am once again indentured to the scale, back to recording every morsel that passes my mouth on SparkPeople and amping up the exercise.]

So the other day I packed water, my camera, the lens of the day (they vary) and my Boo and headed to the park. It was early ~ about 6:45 am. Our summer days in Colorado are still running in the high 90's, but early morning is still cool enough to warrant a hoodie. So just as the sun was breaking the horizon, we headed down the path.

We fell right back into the wonder of nature we had been missing. I stopped to take the occasional shot - framing it just so. Boo stopped to smell almost every weed and blade of prairie grass along the way. Patience is not my strong suit; but she's 14 now (that's 98 in people years) so I showed a little more patience with her. She seemed to appreciate that.

And I have to admit, I found myself really being in the moment. Oh, alright, at points I was writing this post in my head; but for the most part there were no thoughts of work, no thoughts of any personal situations ~ I didn't look at my phone once ~ we just enjoyed the beautiful Colorado scenery and a lightly cool breeze coming off the lake.

So, if I may be so bold, don't wait till you feel that burn out just minutes away. Devise a plan to take time - every day - to step away and just be. It has made me a better wife, a better pet-mama and a better producer in my own little studio.

Do it. You deserve it.

And On a Personal Note...

2011-08-16T13:35:00.003-06:00

I don't often talk much about my personal life here because this is, after all, my business blog. I have a personal blog called I Need a Cupcake which, sadly, has been collecting dust and cobwebs for a couple of years now... :( Well, ok, I made an entry in February of this year, but prior to that it was almost exactly a year since my last entry.

I thought about why I haven't blogged much there in the past couple of years and came to the conclusion that I don't have a personal life. Or should I say, the boundaries of my business life and my personal life have become so blurred, they are, indeed one. ~~That and I lost 20 lbs. in the last year and honestly, the last thing I need is a cupcake. (Although I still crave them!)

That being said, you may see some of my personal life pop up here from time to time. This is one of those times. Because this is very special.

Four years ago my son married his girlfriend of eight years ~ a delightful young woman we welcomed into our family with open arms. Three weeks after their wedding she entered Traditional Chinese Medical School and he hasn't seen her since. Not literally, of course; but determined to give it her very best, she has spent the bulk of the last four years with her head in a book, her body in a class or in clinic curing people.

Her complete dedication paid off. Next Sunday she graduates. Not only did she pass four Medical Boards (one of them optional, but three required) to be licensed, but she absolutely aced every single class and exam in her four years of school - setting records for some of the highest exam scores in the school's history. This, not surprisingly, has resulted in her being named Valedictorian of her graduating class.

You may have gathered by now that I am extremely proud of her. Because not only is she beautiful inside and out, she is brilliant and devoted to healing people and making the world a better place. And I have to give a little shout out to my son, too, for taking over as chief cook (literally) and bottle-washer and supporting her every step of the way.

But what to do for this amazing person on this auspicious occasion - this graduating girl? I decided she needed a personalized, special edition Chi Chi the Chinese Panda Bear. He will become part of her life as she says good bye to her professors and colleagues and begins her new life as a full fledged practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. That is, of course, after she and her husband return from a much needed 2nd Honeymoon in Kauai! Time for them to get reacquainted!

It's That Time of Year Again!

2011-08-14T11:15:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow I begin production on my BC Buddies and thus the roll out of my 3rd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign! Yay! I will be featuring favorites from years past (in my Etsy shop now) and creating new fun and whimsical critters as well.

Having a family history of breast cancer (and a couple of scares myself) it is an important issue to me. I'm one of the lucky ones though so I want to do all I can to give back and support finding a cure.

Adopt any of my BC Buddies between now and the end of October and 10% of each sale will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. You can find them in my Etsy Shop and, starting in September, in any of the fabulous stores that carry my Wee Ones, et al and have generously offered to partner with me in my campaign:

Stoopher & Boots in New York City

hanger 18 in Chicago

A Show of Hands Gallery in Denver

Modern Mouse in Alameda/East San Francisco Bay

Hapa Collective in Seal Beach, California

I send {{hugs}} and a huge thank you to them for their support! Plan to be seeing a lot of pink around here in the next couple of months! I think I'll be seeing it in my sleep. *wink*

Yes. I Do.

2011-08-11T17:08:00.000-06:00

The other day I was asked a question that took me aback.

A woman (who shall remain nameless, but she knows her stuff) picked up one of my Wee Ones with great curiosity She examined it carefully, turning it upside down, sideways, scrutinizing every stitch ~ and then set it down. She looked at me quizzically and asked, "You really make these?"

"Yes, I do."

"Really."

"Yes."

"Because it is so professionally done."

I didn't know what to say. I mean, was she questioning my honesty? My integrity? My work? My character? So I just smiled and said, "Thank you." (and I was thinking ~ I think that was a compliment... maybe...)

I took just a minute or two to consider what she had said and realized - she had just paid me the biggest compliment I've had in quite some time! If she thought my work was good enough to be deemed "professional," well, then I've made the big time. (At least in my own head) *wink*

So as kind of proof positive, I took some shots of work in progress today. Meet the evolution of Francesca.

And yes. I made her. :) She - a whole gaggle of her friends - will be residing at A Show of Hands in Cherry Creek North this weekend.

Would You Like to Play a Game?

2011-08-05T17:33:00.000-06:00

This morning I realized I was [almost] caught up with orders. I also realized that I am minutes away from the beginning of my busiest season of the year. And each year before the chaos ensues I always like to take a little time to organize my studio and fabric closet. I've been told I'm a little OCD about organization, but hey - it comes in handy later when the fur is flying (literally) and I have some vague idea of where to find things.

In organizing my smallest fabric remnants - because I really do use every bit of fabric that I possibly can - it became obvious which solid colors I use most to create my Wee Ones and Liten Venns.

So here's the game:
*Which color do you think I use the most in my work?
And
*Which color do you think I use the least?

(And lest you think the photo will help you - it won't. *wink* These are my larger fabric pieces.)

As I write I have no idea how I will score the game, but I'll figure it out. And if someone gets the answers to both questions right - there's a prize. :)

Game on kids. You have until Monday (August 8) at 5:00 pm MDT to leave your answers in the comment section. Good luck! :)

The "Wee Clone" Fever is Contagious in NYC!

2011-08-01T19:05:00.000-06:00

The "wee clone" business in New York City is going strong ~ thanks to Stephanie of Stoopher & Boots on the Upper West Side (385 Amsterdam Ave.)! A few months ago Stephanie asked if I could design a "wee clone" of her constant companion, store mascot and neighborhood rock star (a King Charles Spaniel), Scout. I was honored to be asked and happy to oblige with my impressionistic version.

Stephanie has been a fabulous promoter for "wee clones" in the Big Apple. Meet Guy, the golden retriever puppy

And my impressionistic version of Guy and his enormous paws ~ Whoopsy Daisy. :)

Next up? Albert. Who I just want to smoosh ~ he looks like Paddington Bear! {Stay tuned.}

Field Trip!

2011-07-31T09:38:00.000-06:00

Last week the Denver area experienced a first ~ the opening of a 415,000 sq. ft. IKEA store. The first in Colorado and actually the first in the Rocky Mountain region (east of Salt Lake City).

What - you may ask - does that have to do with cmh design? Nothing. :) But all work and no play makes Cindi grumpy. So the mister, the son and I took a little field trip to IKEA the other afternoon. None of us had ever set foot into an IKEA store, so we didn't really know what to expect.

What we found was:
*Roads blocked off and policemen directing traffic - just to get into the parking lots (lots - plural)
*Once inside the store - people wearing "Event Staff" shirts guiding us
*Signs and employees giving tutorials on how to shop @ IKEA
*For every square foot of the 415,00 sq. ft. - just about as many people
*The discovery that this isn't a store - it's a city!

We all found things we liked in the store - I seemed to have a thing for light fixtures and lighting in general that particular day. The mister was attracted to all the little kitchen and techy gadgets and the son was interested in bookcases, shelving and couches. But with that many people and all the body heat generated by said amount of people, we were in and out as quickly as could be - vowing to come back in a few weeks when things settle down.

Which seems to run counter intuitive to my recent thoughts of downsizing, paring down, purging, sorting, tossing, donating most of the "stuff" we currently own. Thoughts of waving goodbye to the suburbs and moving more urban have been pervading my days of quietly sewing and letting my mind wander. Perhaps it is best for me to keep my distance from the temptations of IKEA ~ and think about how nice it would be to walk a couple of blocks on the weekend and enjoy this, as we did after our field trip:

Long Live the Dinosaurs!

2011-07-28T16:48:00.000-06:00

With the most recent request for a Bronte pillow (this one in purple and grey), I reflected back on the many requests I've had for Bronte in various incarnations.

The original and still most popular is the green on green. But I love seeing the imaginative ways people envision Bronte - and how they incorporate him into their own special home decor.

Well, that and it warms my heart to know that dinosaurs are still as popular with kiddos as when my guys were little. :)

La' Tease...

2011-07-27T16:41:00.000-06:00

Someone very cute is coming. *wink*

Hollywood.

2011-07-18T16:40:00.000-06:00

Seriously. Hollywood.

That's where these pillows and bunnies are headed. To join a sweet set of twins.

Who live in Hollywood. Seriously. :)

Good Boy. Boys...

2011-07-17T08:51:00.000-06:00

Remember ET? *wink*

I had a request a couple of weeks ago to make a "wee clone" of this cute little pup. Well, actually seven "wee clones." As always it is tricky business recreating someone's beloved pet. It was a bit of a challenge (think two prototypes to get it right), but in the end, definitely worth it.

The real pup has met the rest of his "litter" now and I would say they look pretty comfortable with each other. Happy trails wee ones all.

Booga Booga All Year 'Round!

2011-07-14T18:37:00.000-06:00

Last Halloween time was the first time I created Halloween-themed critters. I had to really think about it ~ and remember that I somehow found inspiration in the long, long, long drive from central Iowa (visiting my Mom and siblings) back to Denver last September. I guess I just had so much time on my hands (quite unlike me) so while listening to various podcasts, I just pulled out my sketch book and started thinking about things one associates with Halloween.

Before long I was sketching all sorts of monsters and witches and pumpkins. Once home, I began developing patterns and well ~ the rest is history. I was astonished how popular Halloween items were! In fact, Halloween season proved to be a better-selling season for me than Christmas! My sister - whom I affectionately refer to as "Martha" (you know the one... and has done awesome crafts over the years) predicted that. She said she always sold more at Halloween time than Christmas. Go figure.

But what has surprised me even more is that my little monsters, et al, have sold sporadically all year long. Again - go figure. Which kind of raises the bar to come up with some new creatures for this Halloween (which is like - tomorrow - you know). But until then ~

Mum and Susan the Zombie are going to take up residence at A Show of Hands in Cherry Creek North (Denver) tomorrow ~ along with 26 of their closest friends. *wink* Stop by and say hi.

And then there were 6...

2011-07-12T18:30:00.001-06:00

I am so excited to share the news that cmh design has been accepted into the prestigious A Show of Hands Gallery in Cherry Creek North in Denver!

Coco and I visited the gallery today. We were thrilled to be given an online application and filled that out once we arrived home. We were told it could take up to a month to hear if we were accepted or not. Ok, I thought... that will make it all the sweeter if we do get accepted. Within 30 minutes I received a call from the ever so friendly co-owner of the gallery inviting us to join them. She said they had been searching for items for children that were American-made and my guys fit the bill. Yay!

Thought I was thrilled before? I am over the moon now! The Wee Ones and a few other items will be in the gallery on Friday. This brings the number of shops featuring the Wee Ones, et al, to six. A Show of Hands can be found at 210 Clayton ~ half a block north of the JW Marriott and two blocks north of Cherry Creek Mall. Cherry Creek North is a delightful area - full of galleries and boutiques and fabulous little shops and restaurants. It has long been a favorite haunt of the mister and me. So now to know that my Wee Ones will be a part of that part of town kind of blows me away, ya' know? I don't know whether to laugh, cry or panic. ;-)

For tonight ~ I celebrate. So that noise you just heard? It is me doing a happy dance whilst popping champagne! Thank you, A Show of Hands Gallery! I am super excited.

(And no - I'm not at the Bellagio in Las Vegas as the photo might indicate. I wish I was! I shot that a few years ago during a lovely stay...)

Yoshi the Brave

2011-07-09T09:11:00.018-06:00

One of my favorite things about what I do is meeting people ~ especially the shop owners I do consignment with. I have learned that people who own gift shops/boutiques are fun-loving and caring people. And often they are animal lovers.

Much like Stephanie and Scout in New York City, Janet of Hapa Collective in Seal Beach, California runs her shop daily with the help of her 14 year old poodle, Yoshi. Yoshi (which means "the best" in Japanese) is no ordinary poodle. Janet shared his remarkable story with me:

(Photo courtesy of Janet Peters, Hapa Collective)

Yoshi was found running (on three legs) on a highway in Denver. A motorist stopped to pick him up (all four pounds of him) and took him to a local animal shelter, thinking for sure his owners would come to claim him. How could they not? He is adorable. All by himself in a cell, no one ever came and his days were up. A shelter employee felt so sorry for Yoshi she took him home and asked Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanaab, Utah to send an email on their adoption site to see if there was someone who could adopt him and give him a forever home. They estimated Yoshi's age at the time to be between 10-12 years old.

I [Janet]saw the email and convinced my husband to drive halfway (we were living in Utah at the time) to meet with Yoshi and his foster parents. For me it was love at first site. A wee one indeed ~ on three good legs running around the park where we met.

We quickly adopted him and took him home. The vet indicated that Yoshi's leg had been fractured years ago and never set or taken care of. That is why he only has the use of three legs.

He has a 17 pound, 14 year old "brother" cat, Murf. Although the papers said Yoshi gets along well with cats, we found that to be not quite true. Yoshi chases Murf around the house, is very possesive of us and growls anytime Murf walks by him. But all Murf has to do to get away is jump up on the first stair on the staircase and sit there licking his paws and sneering at Yoshi. Yoshi can not negotiate the stairs due to his leg so all he can do is sit and growl.

His favorite hobbies are eating, walking a few blocks then being pushed in his stroller (he gets tired fast), sleeping and hanging out with us.

Yoshi is a wise soul; he often has a faraway look and I wonder what he is thinking, where he has been, what he experienced in his 12 years before we met him. One can only wonder.
Hearing his amazing story, I decided that if any puppy deserved to have a Wee One made in his likeness, it was Yoshi! So last week Wee Yoshi met real Yoshi. I think they have become best friends.

(Photo courtesy of Janet Peters, Hapa Collective)

I was also struck by the series of coincidental happenings between Yoshi and me. I live in Denver and he was found in Denver. I have a 14 year old dog (Simba) and Yoshi is 14. I have an 18 year old cat (A-choo) and Yoshi has an older cat in his life. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanaab, Utah is an animal rescue organization I have personally supported for a long time. So in honor of Yoshi, the best dog in Seal Beach, $1.00 from every sale of pet toys in my Etsy shop (more will be added soon!) will go to Best Friends. Thank you, Yoshi (and Janet) for being such an inspiration!

Scout 2.0

2011-07-06T07:07:00.003-06:00

Meet the new and improved Scout 2.0!

On the heels of some wonderful publicity Scout and his Wee "clone" received recently in the Manhattan press, the Wee Scouts have become quite the popular item at Stoopher and Boots! So we took another look at Scout and his likeness and decided Wee Scout needed a little updating. We found the perfect fabric to make some curly ears like the real Scout.

A few of the revised versions are on their way to New York City as we speak (or write. or read...) and are available exclusively at Stoopher & Boots, 385 Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and on the Stoopher & Boots website.

My Vacation

2011-07-03T19:03:00.004-06:00

Days off around here are few and far between. And vacations? Really? Successive days off in a row? Really?

One thing my mister and I make time for every year is a day to visit Denver's Cherry Creek Arts Festival. It is one of the largest in the country and growing every year. Artists come from across the country to participate in this prestigious juried show. And every year, the 4th of July weekend lives up to it's reputation of being HOT. Blazing HOT. (A little shout out and huge thank you to the people under the green umbrella who offer free sunscreen lotion. Because every year we forget to bring it.) With over 230 artists showing and temperatures in the 90's and the heat beating off the pavement, you walk fast and practice a discerning eye. So much amazing and unique art that it is overwhelming.

But, of course, my mind is never really too far from my Wee Ones. I came home with business cards from a few shops/galleries in the very cool and hip Cherry Creek North 'hood that looked promising. Coco the Wee Dog and I will be visiting them soon, business cards in hand (or in paw, if you will).

My favorite part every year? Getting out of the heat and escaping into the cool respite of Second Home in the JW Marriott. It is quiet and peaceful - just what one needs after hours in the sun. This year we were entertained with a birthday book ~ you look up the day you were born and it reveals your personality. Scary. But entertaining. We got to choose our own music; we chose Bob Marley. As close to vacation as we will get that day. *wink*

We enjoyed delicious hummus, veggies and to-die-for focaccia bread along with a nice chardonnay and the mister's choice, a Guinness.

I loved my vacation. :) Now back to work. Stay tuned because I have another request for what I affectionately call a "wee clone." Yup, my impressionistic version of a darling pup. Oh boy. Can't wait to share. :)

Taking it From Project Hello to Hello Friends!

2011-06-30T18:30:00.007-06:00

Hello! (Which is how this all started...)

I'm Coco and I am a Wee Dog in the Wee Ones collection created by cmh design and I will be guest blogging tonight. I was - if not the first Wee One created two years ago - I was one of the first. Which is why I was elected to play such a major role in our most recent event in Denver, Project Hello. (Well, that and I'm just so darn cute. And modest.)

The object of Project Hello is to introduce yourself (the artist/artisan) thru your art. Therefore it was my responsibility to conduct interviews with fellow artists and visitors. I had a little help translating and interpreting from my peeps at cmh design - Cindi and her wingman, Charlie.

We thought the questions were simple, but we soon learned they required some thought ~ and there were very thoughtful people in attendance last Saturday. For instance - who knew it was so thought-provoking to decide on a favorite food? Here are the responses:

artichokes (2 people liked these best)
avocados (mushy fruit with a big pit making it difficult for a dog to attack)
a cheese plate (I have been known to sneak a few off a party table when no one is looking)
dark chocolate (a man after my creator's heart for sure)
French cheese (from - of course - a delightful artist from France)
green chili burritos (someone not on a diet - lucky guy!)
ice cream (she's a honey, that one)
kale (a super healthy person eating a superfood!)
lasagna - (2 people, perhaps Italian...)
mac and cheese (oh yeah...)
matzo ball soup (when I show you who said this, it will totally make sense)
pizza (he could be my best friend)
raisin bran (really?)
red foods like strawberries and salmon (ok. and ok.)
sushi (2 people who would get along well with the Wee Cats)
Tab soda (again. when I show you who said this, it will totally make sense)
Thai food (again with the health. sigh...)
wine (now I know this person would be BFF's with my creator. Unless it was her!)

Some people had a hard time breaking it down so had to go with categories like:

dessert (2 people - and if everyone was honest they all would have said that)
sandwiches (as he said, "you can't go wrong with sandwiches.")
soup (he needs to meet up with sandwiches for lunch)

We then moved on to "What is your favorite pastime/hobby?" And not surprisingly there were a lot of creative people!

8 people said "art;" 5 with an emphasis on "drawing"
3 people are active folks enjoying mountain climbing, baseball and yoga
2 people like to make music and 2 favor reading and 1 enjoys writing poetry
Others enjoy hanging out with friends and basically loving life
1 person struggled to put it into words and finally said, "I can't keep it clean." (we like that person *wink*)
1 person enjoys shopping for jewelry and another said "Keeping track of Joyce." (again. when I show you who said this, it will totally make sense)

Favorite animals were diverse and interesting!

dogs outnumbered cats ~ 6 people like dogs (one narrowed it down to pugs; another down to moi!); and cats got 2 votes. Go dogs!
2 people favored foxes; 1 coyotes and 1 wolf

From there it was all over the map. Baby goats; bears; camels (yes camels); chameleons; eagles; elephants; humans (that was different); monkeys; owls; peacocks (yes peacocks. Again. when I show you who said this, it will totally make sense); tea cup piglets (that was different); whales and one - moi! (again. when I show you who said this, it will totally make sense)

Favorite colors again showed the creative side of this bunch:

5 people prefer red
4 people like blue
4 people are all about green (including dark olive green)
3 people like various shades of purple (including violet)
2 people each enjoy black, pink (and hot pink) and orange
1 lonely soul likes yellow and 1 is all about "Coco brown" (Again. when I show you who said this, it will totally make sense)

And by this time you can predict that what these folks do for a living will not surprise you...

4 peeps are graphic designers and 5 are artists
2 are students and 2 are in marketing (including a Marketing Goddess!)
We met an accountant; an administrative assistant; a government employee; a designer; an engineer who makes the internet run faster; an English teacher; a fundraiser; a physical therapist; a poet; a video editor; a waiter (hey - he's honest!) and my favorite ~ an abundant liver/lover of life!

The ratio of men to women interviewed were about 2/3 women to 1/3 men. What can I say? I like women. :) So there you have it ~ what I learned about my new friends and had a blast doing. And you may be wondering why those particular questions were asked - we were curious what awesome, creative people think and feel and live. Each Wee One created carries a story, so some of these answers will help write stories; some will help develop new animals. You, my friends, are our inspiration! Thank you for helping us move from "Project Hello" to "Hello, Friend!" Big hugs and big thank yous to our new friends:

· Greg and Jane

· Debbie

· Renzia

· Ethan

· Ursula

· Todd

· Rob

· Towain

· Andy

· Simon

· Mark

· Meredith

· Ellen

· Beth

· Sam

· Micaela

· Vivian

· Driana

· Lori

· Arial

· Erin

· Brennan

· Kat

· and last, but certainly not least - introducing (below) ~~ Ms. Matzo Ball Soup/Jewelry Shopper/Peacock/Orange Lady (aka Joyce) and Ms. Tab Soda/Joyce Corraler/My #1 Fan who loves Coco Brown (aka Judy) ~ thanks for the memories, y'all!

P.S. Apologies if you were interviewed and your name was misspelled or omitted. I did my best to write clearly; but some of the cursive was illegible so my peeps had a challenge translating from dogspeak to humanspeak. And humongous thanks and appreciation to Sandra + Louise who did such an outstanding job organizing and producing "Project Hello." Kudos, ladies!! Peace & Love, Coco the Wee Dog

To Be Continued...

2011-06-30T08:46:00.000-06:00

Coco the Wee Dog asked me to blog a message for him.

As my guest blogger soon, he is busy compiling his interview responses from Project Hello and he plans to blog all the fabulous details and introduce you to our awesome new friends in a couple of days. So stay tuned. Here's a little tease - a couple of the interesting responses he received and he wanted me to share with you:

Favorite foods? For two people it was lasagna (to quote them ~ "Who doesn't love a good lasagna?") - and I don't even think they know The Real Housewives of New Jersey!
Favorite animal? Dogs outnumber cats (but it is close and Coco being a dog, he may be skewing the numbers a bit...) and one person likes camels best.
And finally ~ under "What is your favorite pastime?" ~ Coco's favorite response so far is "Abundant Liver of Life!"

Coco is working diligently and promises to post his blog soon (like probably tomorrow!). Until then ~ enjoy some music by Land Lines. (Now if only I knew how to insert music... use your imagination. ha!)

One Word Tees = Awesome!

2011-06-28T06:23:00.000-06:00

So here was my dilemma ~ I needed a special tee shirt and I needed it in two days. Here's the deal:

About six weeks ago I applied to and was accepted into a very cool local event called Project Hello. It was so named because the concept was to introduce yourself thru your art. My proposal utilized one of my Wee dogs, Coco. Coco would interview attendees asking a few important questions (like what is your favorite food - you know, important stuff) and then blog about all his new friends. (That blog post is forthcoming.)

While perusing Etsy one day I came across One Word Tees and noticed one of the shirts said simply "hello." It hit me immediately - how perfect for Project Hello! It not only would break the ice for interviews and introductions at the event, but it was unique and fun and most of all ~~ comfortable! :) I ordered one immediately and received it in two days. I was so pleased with the shirt and so happy that I had a unique way to present myself and my Wee Ones at the event.

Late Tuesday afternoon, June 21, I had a thought. And then I kind of panicked. You see, my husband, Charlie (although my friend Susan thinks he should go by Mr. Cindi) is not only my biggest cheerleader, but also my wingman. He jumps right in to support me at events - driving me around, loading the Jeep with tables and screens and bags, helping me set up and tear down. But most of all - being one of those guys who has never known a stranger - he is my #1 sales rep and PR guy. He's a good guy. :)

So my thought late Tuesday afternoon was - oh man... he needs a "hello" shirt, too! The problem? I live in Colorado and One Word Tees is based in Delaware. A quick glance at a map of the US and one realizes, hmmmm... can we make this happen logistically? So I quickly emailed Ross at One Word Tees and explained my dilemma. He said he would do his best to get a shirt to me by Friday, the 24th (the event was Saturday, the 25th), but couldn't guarantee delivery. Well, this being Wednesday, the 22nd, now I told him I totally understood; but let's give it a shot. I think we can do it. And even if it doesn't arrive in time, I don't care. I know "Mr. Cindi" will love it and appreciate the thought. :)

Ross didn't hesitate. He got the package off Wednesday ~ a big thank you to his lovely and talented fiancee Nicole for the special drop off at the PO! One of the happiest moments I've had in a while was opening my mailbox Friday afternoon and there it was - a package from One Word Tees!

Long story (sorry) short - my husband loves his tee and proudly wore it beside me and supported me all day long at Project Hello. The most fun though? Going for a celebratory glass of wine (it was a good day) and a bite to eat after at one of our favorite local restaurants, Racines (nicest people, best service and yummiest food in town!). For two hours people were saying "Hello!" I joked that when we sat together we were a U2 song. (Vertigo - "Hello, hello, to my place called Vertigo")

So if you are looking for something unique and fun, check out One Word Tees. I love their concept - so simple and clean, but so fun! And the service? Well I think you can see - it is superb.

Thank you Ross and Nicole. Customer service like this is what sets businesses apart. And you are the best!

Like a Herd of Elephants!

2011-06-24T08:37:00.002-06:00

Last minute preparations going on in the studio today for Project Hello at RedLine Gallery in Denver tomorrow; but I did have time to create a few dog toys ~ or as I call them ~ "ChewUpons." Because that's what dogs do best ~ chew upon ~ anything!

These are "The Elephant in the Room..." They are about 8" long; the seams are double-stitched for durability and triple stitched by the tail (after that it’s up to your dog). Stuffed with non-allergenic polyfill and NO squeakers. Safety first. Our dog toys are a squeaker-free zone; no choking hazards! However, dogs being—you know—dogs your precious may decide to chew off that tail or pull the stuffings out thru the ellie's trunk. (What's that you say? "No! Not my precious!") Should that occur, I recommend keeping an eye on the little critter. (Both of 'em.) I know my precious sometimes enjoys her toys even more once that nasty stuffing is gone and she can toss it around freely.

The elephants are debuting tomorrow at Project Hello and will be showing up in my Etsy shop next week!

Magic Mice and More...

2011-06-22T07:01:00.002-06:00

When people see my Wee Ones (and when I say Wee Ones now I'm including the Liten Venn Small Friends as well - it's just faster to say Wee Ones all inclusive :)) ~ a question I am often asked is, "Do you make pet toys, too?" To date I have said, "They are on the list!"

It would have been easy to just throw something together and call it a dog toy or a cat toy, but I wanted to put some thought into it and produce a fun, safe, quality product. I don't know if you guys do this, but I tend to try something new when I have the least amount of time in which to do it. You know - like trying new recipes when I'm hosting a dinner party in six hours...

So it makes perfect sense that in the midst of my preparation for Project Hello (I've made 50 Wee Ones for the event Saturday so far), that I would decide to develop a new line of pet toys to debut there, right? Of course, I'm frantically designing, sewing, developing catch phrases and information for the catnip toys and dog chew-upons; as well as narrowing down the choices to one animal rescue organization to donate a percentage of the sales to.

The first of the catnip toys, Magic Mice, came easy. I mean, what cat doesn't enjoy munching on a good mouse? These toys are made of soft fleece, double-stitched for durability (after that, your cat is own her own!) and stuffed with non-allergenic polyfill laced with ~ get this ~ home-grown Colorado catnip. Kitty-tested and approved by my own cat, the very particular A-choo. She gives her [slightly high] stamp of approval.

Dog Chew-upons are in the works. (Which, by the way, will be squeakerless. No potential choking hazards for my puppy pals!) Do you think I'll have them ready to debut by Saturday? Stay tuned to my Facebook Page to see!

P.S. And be looking for the new line of "I Heart my Cat" and "I Heart my Dog" toys in my Etsy shop next week!

Meet the Happy Birds ~ Because Life Is Too Short To Be Mad.

2011-06-20T07:55:00.008-06:00

I have always had an affinity for birds. When I was a child visiting my Grandparents I loved the soulful cooing of mourning doves. They fascinated me because I only heard the doves there. So, of course, to this day whenever I hear that mournful "coo coo" I think of my Grandparents ~ especially my Grandfather (a retired farmer) and his bountiful garden.

Hiking thru mountains and meadows with my children when then were young, the sweet song of a meadow lark was always welcome music to my ears. It meant winter was behind us and warm, beautiful hiking weather lay in front of us. Hearing a meadow lark singing today takes me right back to those sunny days hiking with my little guys.

Today walking out my door is like stepping into wild kingdom. Along with the bunnies scattering underfoot, house finches are feeding at one feeder; goldfinches chowing down on another. Hummingbirds buzz past my ear and red-tailed hawks and American white pelicans soar overhead.

So yes. One could surmise I have a fondness for birds. :)

So with birds being so popular these days (those of the angry breed in particular), I wanted to bring my love of birds to my Wee Ones. So welcome my new line of "Happy Birds" ~ because life is too short to be mad all the time. *wink*

Meet (front to back, left to right) - Tango, Sunny, Rufus, Cinder, Twinkle, Boo and Apple. Coming to my Etsy shop soon.

P.S. Apple just flew into the shop
Sunny just flew into the shop

Meet Scout ~ the Star of the Upper West Side!

2011-06-14T10:01:00.004-06:00

Little did I know when opened my Etsy shop where this little adventure would take me. It took a few months to find my focus and when I settled on designing things for kids - with my original designs - I knew I had found my niche. And once I discovered the Etsy forums and started posting and interacting with fellow Etsians, my business began to pick up.

One day while perusing the forums I came across a post from a gal in New York City who was about to open a gift shop and she was asking if anyone was interested in selling their goods in New York City. Hmmmm... I thought about it for awhile, ran it past my husband and my son and we all agreed ~ why not? So I requested more information and the rest is history. In April of 2010 I signed a contract with Stephanie and voila! I'm selling in New York City!

Stephanie owns the charming Stoopher and Boots (located at 385 Amsterdam Ave.). Well, she thinks she owns it... Actually it is owned by her constant companion here, Scout.

As you can see, he is the main attraction in the shop. So much so that Stephanie came up with a fabulous idea. She carries a lot of my Wee Ones in her store, so she sent me a note one day asking if I could design a Wee Dog to resemble Scout. She thought that might be a big seller ~ seeing as how he's the most popular and beloved dog on the Upper West Side and all. I said I'd give it a shot.

I have since lost track of how many Wee Scouts I have created and sent to her ~ and they are sold exclusively in her New York City shop. Scout doesn't seem too impressed with his Wee Clone, but apparently the kids in the neighborhood think differently!

So Scout (and - oh yes, Stephanie, too) have inspired a new project for cmh design ~ Wee Clones of your pet.

With the success of the Wee Scouts, I'm tip-toeing into the land of creating impressionistic versions of people's pets. (With the emphasis on impressionistic!) So, if you are interested drop me a line (cindi@cindimh.com) and we'll chat.

If you would like to follow Scout (and - oh yes, Stephanie, too) on Facebook here ya' go!

(Photos courtesy of Stephanie - and of course, Scout!) :)

Hello Hapa!

2011-06-09T16:56:00.002-06:00

One of the things I love the most about operating a little business is getting to know other people who operate little businesses. And I have to admit to having a special affinity for women-owned and operated businesses. I love how women support each other.

[Enter Susan. Enter Janet. Enter me.] :)

About a month ago my fabulous cyber-friend of 5+ years, Susan Sabo, recommended my Wee Ones and me to a shop owner she does business with in the charming little town of Seal Beach, California. Within about 24 hours, the contract was signed and my Wee Ones were being created for Hapa Collective. And here they are - displayed in an adorable bunny carriage! I am so excited to know Janet Peters and be a part of her cool little store. :)

So the saga continues ~ signing with Hapa Collective brings the number of stores across the country carrying the Wee Ones to five! I absolutely love each one of my stores and store owners. It is a blast working with them ~ and each and every one of them a woman!

Susan was kind enough to snap these pix for me, so thank you my friend ~ another incredible business woman! If you would like to see some of the most awesome pet portraits and wedding photography ever check out Susan's work here and here. And if you would like to follow Susan's engaging sense of humour and unique photography, follow her on Facebook here.

Just Hangin' Out

2011-06-06T17:13:00.005-06:00

Testing... testing...

My dining room has become a test laboratory for my display for the upcoming "project hello." I'm fortunate to have inherited some snazzy wire mesh screens/panels (about the size of doors) which are literally going to take my display to the next level. As in a few feet up in the air.

I am experimenting with shelving and am closing in on the perfect solution. I'm excited about the possibilities and looking forward to playing with my new display. I even ordered a couple of professionally made signs with my logo and tag line. Whoot!

As you can see, The Wees are quite excited, too. Onward and upward! :)

The Color of Business

2011-06-03T14:33:00.017-06:00

I have spent the last couple of days educating myself on the ways of logos and branding and the marketing side of business. As my little business grows I realize it is important to hone in on such things. That - and I'm having some signs professional printed. (ha) I realized that as I start investing money in larger and more professional promotional materials, if I was thinking of making changes, now is the time.

I have known from the start the importance of branding and being very consistent with images and words - logo and tagline. (I worked in the cable industry for a long time and branding was drilled into me!) I don't like to change things too often; people will lose interest and/or not know who I am.

But with growth comes the need for change. And now I know just enough to be dangerous. *wink* Since the bulk of my products are child-oriented I focused on which colors would work best for a child-oriented business. I learned that colors in a logo are very important. Who knew that colors can have a subliminal psychological effect on us? It's so interesting. There are tricks to this advertising gig. I learned that orange represents fun, lightheartedness, youthfulness, creativity - and purple has many of the same qualities. They are happy, cheerful colors and appeal to children. Children who will drag their Mama and Papa by the hand to a booth with an orange and purple logo. So it seemed logical that orange and purple should be my color combo, no?

Running it by my pal Stephanie of Stoopher & Boots (who ironically uses orange and purple in her logo as well and is well-schooled in the ways of a child-oriented business), we agreed it was a good choice.

So my teal pup is now orange (and in need of a name...), the text purple. I'm in the process of changing things across the board - all my printed material and all my online venues. For starters I freshened up my blog here with some simple color in the background that kind of coordinates with my new color scheme. I'd love to hear what you think of my new look ~ the logo and the blog. Especially if you like them. *wink*

Onward and upward, peeps!

Giraffe-a-rama!

2011-06-01T17:01:00.007-06:00

Special requests can be challenging, but they always move me forward and take me to places I would not think to go myself.

I had a special request for a giraffe pillow (which turned into two identical giraffe pillows). These are going to be a gift to a wonderful woman who does amazing philanthropic work. Her favorite charity is her local zoo and giraffes are her favorite critter. So the request was for a "mature" looking giraffe to appliqué on a pillow for a grown-up woman.

I finally settled on a silhouette; finally found the right fabric and went to work. It may not look difficult, but it was a challenge. But one I am so happy I accepted.

She deserves the best; I hope she enjoys them!

Buttons - We All Have 'Em

2011-05-31T18:26:00.006-06:00

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!

2011-05-21T16:43:00.010-06:00

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!

2011-05-20T15:44:00.002-06:00

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!

2011-05-19T07:32:00.000-06:00

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.

2011-05-12T08:00:00.000-06:00

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. :)

2011-05-04T19:30:00.011-06:00

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!

2011-05-03T15:47:00.005-06:00

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?

2011-05-01T16:23:00.014-06:00

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.

Humbly Accepting...

2011-04-28T16:41:00.011-06:00

And now for something completely different.

I was recently tagged with a “Versatile Blogger” award. Thank you very much sweet Dana. And the deal with that is – you share 7 things about yourself and go on to tag 7 of your favorite bloggers. I’m not huge in the blogging world and I only follow a handful of blogs so Kat, Susan, Kathleen – you’re it. Because you are awesome.

And here are some [I’m so sure] fascinating facts about me.

1. I have to create something every day or it is a wasted day to me. It is a value/obsession my Mom instilled in me from a young age. And I am eternally grateful to her for that. I will never be bored.

2. I function quite well in solitude. I enjoy alone time. It is the joy of having more interests than I can fit into a lifetime. Again – I will never be bored. That being said ~ put me, my kids, my mister and a few friends in a room, add a glass of wine or champagne and I’m the biggest social butterfly ever. As long as I know I can retreat into my studio the next day and be alone.

3. Jimmy Buffett once invited me to a New Years Eve party at Margaritaville in Key West. Unfortunately I couldn't go. Bummer.

4. I am a television, Netflix and movie addict. (And really true confessions? Any online fabric site.) My guilty pleasure is “Real Housewives of…” ~ anywhere. But Beverly Hills Housewives are my favorite. Please come back Camille, you little vixen you.

5. I abhor talking on the phone but will email you in a heartbeat. And I still believe in writing handwritten thank you notes. Come on, people. If someone cared enough and took the time to choose a gift for you, you owe them at least a handwritten note.

6. My BFF is my husband’s sister. I had never met her until the day I married her brother. Who knew what a gift that would turn out to be? Our friendship has grown incredibly close over the [almost] 18 years despite the fact that she lives in another country. We share a love of art in all forms; good wine; laughter; deep conversations; silly conversations; hikes along the ocean (or lake) shore; not to mention all the shared highs and lows of just being “family.” We even published a book together ~ her poetry and my photography ~ Flight of the Magpie.

7. My favorite thing in life is being a Mom. The greatest gifts I have ever received are my two brilliant, talented, charming sons. And bonus – the women they have chosen to spend their lives with are equally brilliant, talented, beautiful and strong women! Yay – I now have 4 children and double yay ~ I finally have daughters!

So there are 7 oh so fascinating things about me. Thanks for playing.

Key West Anyone?

2011-04-23T17:33:00.012-06:00

I grew up in the Midwest, but am positive that in some previous life I must have been an Island Girl. I have such an affinity for anything tropical or ocean-related. So of course when I decided to make some pillows for my own home, it was a given there would be palm trees and flamingos involved. And the retro feel makes it all the sweeter. I love retro...

With the weather getting warmer, I thought why not invite that tropical breeze into my home? And what better time to experiment with a new style of pillow? I've been wanting to try out envelope pillow covers and decided to try them out on myself first.

Easy peasy. I think I'm going to like this new method. And the really nice thing is the covers are removable and can be washed. A couple more trail runs for the home front and I will be ready to put them in my Etsy shop. :)

So crank up the blender, blast the Jimmy Buffett, throw out the tropical pillows and let's get ready for summer! :)

Take a Chance. Say Yes.

2011-04-21T17:27:00.013-06:00

Last month I blogged about saying yes. It is a fairly new concept to me; but each time I have nodded the affirmative it has lead to a new and happy experience.

Most of my product line is sold online or in my fabulous consignment shops. It is only recently that I have ventured out into the world ~ literally packing my wares into a couple of bags and physically carrying them to various venues, setting up a table and selling. Selling. Me. Me ~ who is not even too fond of talking on the phone. If you know me, you know that. *wink*

And it is a lot of work preparing for events. I try to have at least 30 products to display and sell and have a variety of what I create on hand. Sometimes events have a theme and I work around that. I update brochures and business cards and print plenty of each. I have gift bags made with my logo ready to go. I need to be sure I have enough cash on hand to make change. It is a lot of work.

And before each event I say, "I don't think I will do this again for awhile."

And each day after the event, I am applying for the next event that catches my eye.

Why? Because all the hard work pays off ~ literally and figuratively. Events always end up being fun. It's fun to interact with both event attendees and fellow artists. I love seeing what other artists do ~ wow, there are some talented, unique people creating original and awesome art out there! And it is fun to swap "creating" stories! Add to that ~ I am constantly surprised by how well my little Wee Ones, et al, find their way into people's hearts and end up going home with them. :)

So, if you are an artist or a crafter and are hesitant about participating in "real live" events, take it from me ~ if I can do it, you can do it! Say yes. It's worth it!

(Oh and it doesn't hurt to have a really supportive, sweet husband who will lug the 6' table around for you and keep you company, too.) :)

Top Ten Reasons to Shop Online

2011-04-11T08:29:00.027-06:00

A couple of things I heard recently on the National News got me to thinking about online shopping as opposed to Mall shopping. See if you agree with my

Top Ten Reasons to Shop Online:

Vacancy rates at Malls across the country are on the increase. In fact, a report in "The Consumerist" on April 7, 2011 stated that close to one in ten stores in malls are now vacant. It went on to say that predictions are that online shopping will become so mainstream soon that retailers will begin to question the need for brick 'n mortar stores.

The price of gas is increasing all the time. Why drive all over town wasting not only gas, but your time, when you can do one stop shopping from home? I actually have personal experience with this particular reason. I have a lovely local customer that I would often meet to deliver her orders. Recently she has started paying my $3.00 shipping charge to get it delivered to her door (next day) because it is cheaper than what it would cost in gas to drive and meet each other.

As a seller you can reach a worldwide audience from your own little site. As a buyer you can shop the globe and have the world delivered to your front door.

Forgot your mother-in-law's birthday is tomorrow? You can go online and order something to be overnighted. She will never know.

With online shopping becoming more competitive free shipping, coupons and other deals are readily available.

Inclement weather and dangerous driving conditions are never a concern.

You can multi-task while shopping online ~ feed the baby, do the laundry, make dinner, pretend to be paying attention to a conference call...

Sometimes - not always - but sometimes, things are cheaper online.

Just my opinion, but I think you can find more unusual and unique items online. (Of course Etsy and online venues like that immediately come to mind.)

And last, but certainly not least, you don't have to take a shower, style your hair, put on make-up or even get out of your 'jammies and fuzzy slippers to shop online. Or even operate an online store! :)

But the big Malls that all look alike? I don't think I would miss them. What do you think about online shopping vs. Malls?

The Mighty E and E Team!

2011-04-05T16:51:00.005-06:00

It's Spring time and you know what that means!

Little chicks and bunnies and lambs. O my!

And sometimes creating new designs pan out; sometimes they don't; and sometimes they turn out to be happy mistakes that work.

Hence the Lil' Eddie portion of Edith and Lil' Eddie. :)

For the Love of Fabric. And Flamingos. :)

2011-03-28T17:31:00.011-06:00

I love fabric.

I can spend hours in a fabric store. (And a chunk of change.) The colors. the patterns. The textures. It makes me dizzy. And oh so happy. I credit my Mom (as usual). She loves fabric, too.

I also love flamingos. I have no idea why. I grew up in the Midwest and live in the West ~ neither of which are exactly flamingo territory. For years I collected them. I had to buy every single flamingo-related thing that crossed my path. Then I went thru a decluttering stage and either packed them away or gave them away. But every once in awhile I just can't resist. So when I came across a slim bolt of this very retro-looking fabric today, I had to have it.

The other day I stood on our upper landing and looked down into our living room. I saw a lot of brown. Brown is a nice background color, but holy moly - we need a punch of color!! Especially coming out of a brown winter and into spring (my tulips will bloom soon!) ~ it's time to bring some life into the house, too.I have a feeling my couch may be sporting some retro flamingo pillows soon... and once I get started, oh boy. The fun is just beginning... :)

Winters are long. Don't you just want to add some color to your life, too? :)

Doing Business.

2011-03-25T17:33:00.006-06:00

I recently watched a segment on the Today Show about women over 50 starting their own businesses. And honestly I don't remember their suggestions; mainly because I was so surprised they didn't mention online venues ~ of course Etsy being the most well-known. It made me wonder who did their research for the segment. Sheesh.

Etsy is the most popular but there are many other online venues that offer anyone who has the time, the drive and a good product to sell the opportunity to do so. I'm learning now two years in, that it is important to get yourself and your wares out there locally, too. But online is a good place to start - to test the waters so to speak. It is a safe space to see if the idea you have is worth pursuing.

Of course, it is not just the product itself. You could have the most fabulous one-of-a-kind awesome product; but if you don't know how to promote it ~ or take time to promote it, it will fall flat. And that is, again, where sites like Etsy go above and beyond to help you learn ~ if you take the time to study.

Facebook is another good way to get the word out. Building a business page is easy peasy and can reach millions. Again, you have to be diligent in posting and making it fun; the posts aren't going to write themselves.

Of course there is Twitter and all manner of other options as well. But, at least for me, there are only so many hours in a day (mine is usually about 15).

Blogs - of course. But (and I've learned this and I try my best...) keep it fairly brief ~ again, fun. Online viewers/readers attention spans are very short. I know because I'm one of them. :) Unless it is your Mom or your best friend, you're probably going to lose them after the second paragraph. And on that note, I'm done.

One Idea.

2011-03-22T17:47:00.020-06:00

Some of you may already have heard part of this story, but I do have a point and I wrap it up with a new bow at the end. So if you've heard my "one idea" story go have a sandwich and come back in five minutes. :)

I'll try to be brief. When I first opened my Etsy shop I had a hodge-podge of all kinds of things in there - photography, stuffed animals, knit hats, books I've written, note cards ~ all kinds of stuff. After a couple of months I started thinking that maybe it was too confusing for people stopping by to know exactly what I was doing and selling.

Then I came upon a quote that set me on the path to my decision. (I'm big on inspirational quotes.)

"Take up one idea.
Make that idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea.
Let the brain, muscles, nerves every part of your body be full of that idea and just leave every other idea alone.
This is the way to success, that is the way great spiritual giants are produced."
*Swami Vivekananda*

I distinctly remember the moment I settled on my "one idea." We were visiting my son and his girlfriend in Berkeley, California, in June of 2009. I went for a solitary pre-sunrise stroll along the East Bay overlooking the brilliant city of San Francisco. (Walking has always been how I do my best thinking.) I thought about that quote and which one idea I should choose. I asked myself honestly what I enjoyed doing the most. And I kept coming back to making the little stuffed animals. I had been focusing on photography (no pun intended) for a long time and realized I really enjoyed doing something more tactile. I have always had an affinity for stuffed animals ~ since childhood. They filled a void in a lonely little country girl's life.

So that was it. My one idea would be my stuffed animals.

Done with that sandwich yet? Come back in here.

So partly because my business has taken off in ways I had never anticipated; partly because I just celebrated my 2 year anniversary; partly because I felt I had earned a little treat ~~ one night I came across a beautiful jewelry shop on Etsy - one that personalized pieces ~ and she liked quotes as well. It took me very little time to decide this was going to be my gift to myself. And I knew exactly what to inscribe on the ring.

Yup. "one idea"

So now every day as I'm sewing or typing or doing anything ~ I can look down at my hand and be reminded of my "one idea" ~ and how it has changed my life.

One idea. That is all it takes. Just one idea.

I'll bet you have an idea. You can do it, too. I promise.

(Thank you Brigit of Two Silver Moons for my very special good luck piece. I love it. And it will continue to inspire me every single day.)

Share Our Strength!

2011-03-21T11:24:00.010-06:00

Recently a dear friend asked if I would be interested in making a donation to a worthy cause. Well, I'm always up for a worthy cause!

Chefs Up Front Denver, a group of amazing restaurateurs and chefs in the Denver area, are holding a fundraiser for Share Our Strength's Cooking Matters on April 17 at the Colorado Convention Center downtown Denver.

Their goal? To raise the critical funds needed to empower low-income families with the skills, knowledge and confidence to prepare healthy and affordable meals. Now that is a worthy cause!

So meet Chef Luis who specializes in Spanish dishes. His favorite ingredient is chorizo and his speciality is gazpacho. He's off to be a part of the silent auction at the fundraiser on April 17. He is really looking forward to meeting his colleagues and sharing recipes!

Hellooooooo Chicago!!

2011-03-19T10:31:00.006-06:00

And it is a GO in Chicago!!! What a great topper to my 2nd Anniversary celebration! Wahoo!!!

I just signed a consignment deal with an awesome shop hanger 18 in Chicago. Chi-town. The Windy City. Chicago, Chicago, that toddling town!

I super excited as I have wanted to get into the Chicago market for some time now and hanger 18 looks like a perfect fit. Thanks to Tina at hanger 18 for the opportunity!! My mister is a native of Chicago and we absolutely love that city. Who knows... perhaps we'll need to take a business trip one of these days...

So if you're in the Chicago area, stop by hanger 18, 4726 N. Lincoln Ave. next week and visit my Wee Ones. Who, by the way, are super excited to be going to live in Chicago!

Imagine That... 2 Years and Counting.

2011-03-17T17:04:00.017-06:00

Some people celebrate March 17 as St. Patrick's Day. I totally respect your day ~ may the road rise up to meet you.

Me? I celebrate my anniversary. Oh no, not of my marriage, but of the start of my little business. At the time March 17 was just a random choice of days to open my Etsy shop; now I find it an easy anniversary date to remember. You know like getting married on Valentine's Day so you'll never forget your wedding anniversary. ;-)

So today I celebrate 2 years of sketching, designing, sewing, photographing, writing, posting, promoting, selling, tagging, shipping ~ and then starting it all over the next day. Two years ago my challenge was to see if I could actually sell something online. I never imagined that two years later I would have my products in fabulous shops on the East Coast, West Coast and my adopted hometown of Denver. I never imagined I would be joining artistic organizations and actually stepping out of my Hello Kitty pajamas and into some fancy go-to-meeting clothes (I wore heels, people!) to promote my products. I never imagined I would actually design my own lines with my own original ideas. I never imagined I would actually make a couple of bucks.

I didn't imagine that two years later I would still wake up in the middle of the night with ideas and quietly sneak up to my studio to start sketching before I forgot them. I didn't imagine that I would still wake up each morning and after walking my dog and making my peppermint hot chocolate I would walk upstairs to my studio and dive in - every single day - to create something whimsical. And never tire of it!!

But what I really never imagined is that in this little endeavor I would find myself. I didn't go to college. Well I put in a couple of years at a community college; but I always felt like I really missed out on something not going to a four year school. You know - lesser than... I married young. I worked many years as a secretary/administrative assistant/office manager ~ and mind you, I was pretty good at it. But I was never fulfilled in my work; never truly happy with how I spent 8 of my 24 hours in the day. So it took me a long time to find my calling ~ which is ironic because I am doing almost the same thing I was doing as a teenager. But at the ripe ol' age of 56 I finally embrace each day with joy and cannot wait to see what waits around the bend.

Which, by the way, may lie in a city I really love. Mums the word until all is finalized, but I can't wait to [hopefully] make an exciting announcement soon!

Thank you to my family and friends for all their encouragement and support ~ especially my charming husband who has totally taken over the kitchen and cooking. Dinner is so yesterday.

And omysweetgoodness ~ thank you to all my fabulous customers, many of whom keep coming back and have become friends as well. No way would I be here without you.

Maaaaawah! Kisses all around! Here's to Year #3!!!

Listening to the Customer.

2011-03-15T16:02:00.009-06:00

When one of my loveliest of customers called last week with a special request I immediately said, "Sure! - What do you need?" (See my previous post re: saying "yes!") In retrospect this was maybe one of those cases where I should have said the "What do you need?" part before the "Sure!" part. But on second thought ~ as always ~ I learned and grew.

My lovely customer is an older woman ~ very creative and imaginative ~ and lucky me, she loves my products. A friend of hers is throwing a baby shower for her daughter and my customer is invited. She decided she wanted one of just about everything I make: a dog (but not a Wee Dog - something else); a knit hat; a Wee Traveler bag; a pillow and a baby blanket for the baby's car seat and stroller. Oh, and none of this pastel-baby-looking stuff; we want dark, strong colors because the baby is a boy. And she loves my little truck applique, so could I please incorporate that somehow. And coordinate them all? Oh, and she needs them all in a week.

Keeping in mind that I was in the throes of preparing for the RAW: Natural Born Artist event at the time and slightly freaking out about that, as well as having many additional orders in the queue, I wondered... what had I gotten myself into?

But she is a dear soul, so I agreed. The dog, the pillow, the hat - snap. Done in a short work day. The bag... I hadn't made one in awhile and it took a couple of runs to get back in the groove, but it finally clicked. And the baby blanket ~ I've been talking about adding Baby Bubby Blankets (small for car seats and strollers) to my line for about a month, but hadn't made a proto-type yet. So it was time to dive in. It was surprisingly easy and I am excited to say I can officially add them to my line.

You see the finished gift set above. Not something I ever would have dreamt up for a baby shower, but now that I see them all complete and together ~ I must give credit where credit is due. My dear sweet soul of a customer had a fantastic idea - unconventional, one-of-a-kind and fun! Now I can't wait to show it all to her!

Once again - lesson learned - to listen to what the customer wants and go with it. Inevitably delightful surprises will result!

Saying Yes

2011-03-14T07:14:00.000-06:00

In my previous post I eluded to the thought that saying "yes" is a new concept for me.

From childhood I fell into the habit of immediately thinking "no" and always going to the down side of things first. I'm not proud of that, but once a train of thought like that starts, it's hard to retrain the brain. Since starting my little business two years ago I have learned if I want to grow and be successful it is important to say"yes" more often than "no."

It kind of started with saying "yes" to myself when I decided to open my Etsy shop. Within a year, that was followed by saying "yes" to consignment opportunities across the country. Following that, I started saying "yes" to supporting fundraisers for worthy causes like Make-A-Wish. Recently I've ventured out of my introverted shell and said "yes" to participating in real live venues to display and sell my wares.

Each step has been one of learning and growth - both professionally and personally.

And along the way the one thing I think I have always said "yes" to is special requests from my customers. That has been the most rewarding thing of all - challenging at times - but rewarding in the end for sure. My customers inspire me and take me places where I would never go ~ an orange and brown dinosaur pillow; a neon green giraffe; Wee ones in a variety of Colorado sports colors and resembling sports mascots; a bear that looks like Pooh ~ and on and on.

So it is all a good reminder to think about saying "yes" in general ~ to say "yes" to opportunities and invitations that come along in life. After all, this isn't a dress rehearsal, ya' know. ;-)

Constantly in Motion...

2011-03-11T13:59:00.009-07:00

Last night I had a unique experience as a participant of RAW Natural Born Artists Denver. What is that you ask? Well, let's share.

About a week ago the Co-Director of the Denver RAW organization contacted me and asked if I would be interested in participating in the upcoming event at Jet Hotel downtown Denver. I learned the monthly events feature a wide variety of artists ~ poets, musicians, photographers, painters, fashion designers, jewelers and more. I decided my Wee Ones and I must fit into the "and more" category. Kind of like Andy Rooney used to be on 60 Minutes. (And if you don't get that reference, then I really AM old.) She explained to me the March event was going to have an unspoken theme of animal-esque and my Wee Ones were perfect for that.

So, since I am trying to adopt a new attitude of saying "yes" to things (particularly related to my Wee Ones, et al), I said "yes." I should follow that immediately with ~ I have the greatest husband/best friend ever because he's always up for coming along on my little adventures. He quickly said "yes" to my invitation. That raises my comfort level immensely because as an introvert and someone who doesn't even like to talk on the phone, my husband balances me by being the kind of guy who has never known a stranger. It works.

Which is why, as part of the RAW Artist experience, I would have much rather sent him in for the one-on-one interview with the videographer and the sound guy and the lighting guy; but I took a deep breath (oh, and a glass of wine) and made it thru that on my own. Miraculously.

So, anyway, I spent an entire week preparing. And it was worth it. What fun we had! And what wonderful artists and creative people we met! I made a fair amount of sales, but I can't put a price on the contacts I made, the exposure the Wee Ones received (and may I say, they were very well-received!) and just the fun we had and the interesting people we encountered. What a great experience!

I'll explain the photo now ~ because it does tie in. I snapped it with my iPhone as we were leaving Jet Hotel this morning (we spent the night and it is a charming little place). And as usual I'm in motion and the image is blurry. But I decided I liked it because it is who I am and how I am - constantly in motion. And yes, that's my BFF in the background holding the elevator for me. ;-)

My Dad was a man of few words but I do remember two things he said to me in my adult life.

"You sure know how to make work for yourself, Cindi."
and
"I get tired just watching you run up and down the stairs!" Constantly in motion.

Both of which have certainly helped me get to the point I am at today. Constantly working and constantly in motion. So yay on that.

And thanks for coming along. :)

Something Very Special... for Someone Very Special

2011-03-02T15:20:00.006-07:00

I always say that I welcome special requests.

Some requests are more special than others.

Today I received a request for these two cupcake pillows for a young girl suffering with life-threatening cancer. My customer (a lovely repeat customer) requested they be made with an incredibly soft and comforting fabric as the young girl is now spending most of her time in bed.

So I used the softest super duper fleece I had. (I wish you could reach thru your monitor and smoosh these.)

I was honored to make them. They are on their way now carrying all the love they can possibly hold ~ for sweet Delaney.

His Royal Highness

2011-02-11T08:31:00.003-07:00

Having recently viewed (and thoroughly enjoyed) the movie "The King's Speech" I was inspired to create a king of my own.

Meet King George (aptly named as an homage to Colin Firth's character, King George). This King George is completely soft and fluffy ~ perfect for cuddling. And he's guaranteed to bring a smile on even your darkest, foggiest London day. *wink*

His Highness is available now my Etsy shop.

Bunny Love

2011-01-24T16:48:00.005-07:00

Meet Romeo and Juliet ~ Valentine sweethearts. Romeo enjoys golf, grilling and reading historical novels. Juliet likes to crochet, bake cupcakes and play Solitaire on her iPad (presumably while Romeo is golfing).

They are sweethearts and best friends. Just what everyone should have on Valentine's Day...

Valentina Supports Go Red for Women!

2011-01-23T17:00:00.005-07:00

What's better than Valentine's Day?

Combining the fun and romance of a Valentine with awareness for a good cause! Valentina here is doing both. She holds her red heart in her hands while sporting a red tulle tutu to support Heart Health month (February) and Go Red for Women! Heart disease is the #1 killer of women, so we want to do all we can to raise awareness.

10% of each sale of a Valentina dog will go to the American Heart Association. Thanks for your support!

Banana

2011-01-21T07:14:00.004-07:00

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I've got some fun things in the works. Easter is rather late this year (April 24), but on these cold January days it is encouraging to think about Springtime.

So Banana and her Wee Traveler bag are a little tease. ;-) Omygosh this little bunny is so soft I wish you could reach thru your screen and smoosh her.

She's in my Etsy shop now. And her relatives will be showing up in the days and weeks to come! But until then, I've Valentine ballerinas to bring to life. *wink*

(This particular duo is a baby gift for a friend. The Wee Traveler bag can be personalized with any initial or a yellow rubber duckie applique.)

March of the Raccoons :)

2011-01-18T08:27:00.014-07:00

Some requests and some customers are just special. And super fun.

I had a blast making these little guys ~ and even more fun putting them in formation and playing with them. :)

Now they are off to the Pacific Northwest to join their fellow "raccoons."

Let the wild raccoon ruckus begin!!! :)

Dreams and Wishes and Hope...

2011-01-17T09:54:00.005-07:00

As promised ~ more items benefiting Make-A-Wish! They are in my Etsy shop now.

These super soft, super warm chunky knit beanies were hand-knit on looms and are sized as "child size;" I would say they would fit a toddler from about age 2 - 4. Sporting buttons full of hope, one states "Dream" and the other "Wish." (Watch the little guys with those buttons, though!)

10% of each sale will go to Make-A Wish Foundation of Colorado. Thanks for taking a peek!!

Go Team!

2011-01-16T08:53:00.007-07:00

As I mentioned in my previous post I was honored to be asked to create a few Wee Ones for a local fundraiser for Make-A-Wish of Colorado. It is a sports themed event (in very sports-crazy town) so, keeping copyright restrictions in mind, I decided to create my impressionistic versions of mascots for the Denver and Colorado Professional Sports Teams, as well as the four mascots for the major Denver and Colorado Universities.

So all done. And delivered. The Collegiate Wee Ones ( Rudy the Ram - CSU; Bob the Buffalo - CU; Reggie the red-tailed hawk - DU; and Brewster the Bear - UNC) and the Professional Wee Ones (Raquel the fierce cat - Denver Nuggets; Dinah Saur - Colorado Rockies; Bert - Colorado Avalanche; and Buckaroo - Denver Broncos) are now in the safe keeping of the wonderful Make-A-Wish volunteers. They will be auctioned off on February 2 at the "Sporting Affair Celebrity Waiter Dinner" at Denver's Four Seasons. Have a good life little guys!

But (as I stated previously also) why stop the love there? Stay tuned for more items featured in my Etsy shop ~ with 10% of each sale going to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado.

What is more important than a child?

Say I Heart You with a Special Wee One and More!

2011-01-11T18:19:00.006-07:00

Need a Valentine for that special little girl in your life? This is quite foo-foo.

How about this Wee Traveler bag and Coco Chenille the Fancy Wee Dog? The bag can be personalized with your princess's initial. Coco fits perfectly inside the coordinating fleece bag with room to spare. You know for important stuff like a box of raisins, some chapstick, the dollar Grandpa gave her and a stick of sugarless gum.

Both items are in my shop now .

I had such fun making them! The first in a line of coordinating Wee Ones and Wee Travelers. :)

Quick ~ Make A Wish!

2011-01-08T08:26:00.004-07:00

One of the things I love most about making my little critters and all that goes with them, is it allows me a venue in which I can give back ~ pay it forward. A new cause just kind of fell into my lap when an awesome customer asked if I would be interested in donating a couple of Wee Ones to a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado.

Is that even a question? Of course I want to!

So, nothing gets the wheels of creativity churning like a new theme. The fundraiser has a sports theme dubbed as "Sporting Affair Celebrity Waiter Dinner." It will be held at Denver's brand spankin' new Four Seasons Hotel and feature silent and live auctions along with a dinner served by Colorado's favorite sports heroes.

So. Sports... In a sports-crazy town and state, I'm more of a theatre, comedy, music person; but I love a challenge! So, keeping copyright restrictions in mind (i.e., don't use any copyrighted logo fabric; the pro organizations -and their attorneys - frown on that), I pondered the project.

What I came up with was the idea to look at the mascots of each Denver/Colorado pro teams and the mascots of the top four universities in Colorado. I decided to make "impressionistic" versions of the mascots in the form of my Wee Ones, using each team's colors.

The photo above depicts my version of the four professional teams' mascots:

Buckaroo representing the Denver Broncos (football)

Raquel representing the Denver Nuggets (basketball)

Dinah representing the Colorado Rockies (baseball)

Bert representing the Colorado Avalanche (hockey)

Today I tackle the mascots for the University of Colorado, the University of Northern Colorado, Colorado State University and the University of Denver (which will prove to be the most challenging as there appears to be some controversy over exactly which of two mascots is the real mascot! Yikes!)

But to my point (and I do have one!) ~ I decided why stop the love with the fundraising dinner? So I will be carrying a line of sports-themed Wee Ones (and other Wee Ones) in my Etsy shop indefinitely with 10% of each sale going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado.

Thanks for stopping by. :)

Inspiration.

2011-01-04T18:13:00.006-07:00

Sometimes when I'm working my Mom pops into my head. And she is adorable.

She jumped into my head today when I was creating a Piper the Penguin.

My thought? I thought - I hope I'm still doing this when I'm 92.

If you follow my wanderings you know that she is an inspiration to me ~ and anyone who knows her. She is 92 years young and sews, crochets and crafts every day. She does word search puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. She takes the stairs as opposed to the elevator. She is always open to learning something new. She quilts with her friends several times a week. She plays Bingo on Monday nights, volunteers every Saturday morning at the nursing home across from her apartment and is active in her church. She has taught my nieces how to sew, bakes a mean kringla (a Norwegian kind of shortbread) and has a mini-business doing alterations and designing quilts from all manner of things like treasured tee-shirts and baby blankets.

So, yes, when I am working with my hands I think of her. And am resolute in the notion that when I grow up I want to be just like her.

Wee Travelers are Here!

2011-01-03T14:33:00.008-07:00

The next idea...

Voilà! Introducing "Wee Travelers" ~ little travel bags for kids! Something I've been thinking about for awhile and finally had time to work up a prototype. Mind you, these aren't the best images; I found it difficult to find the proper lighting for this particular item, but you get the idea.

"Wee Travelers" will be offered in a couple of sizes ~ this particular cupcake version is larger ~ about 12 inches high and 28 inches in diameter. It sports a cupcake appliqued pocket on the front and another pocket on the inside in the pink and white striped lining. Both fabrics on this model are flannel - super soft and completely washable ~ and the bag has a Velcro closure (easy for little hands to manipulate). A coordinating ribbon on the 18 inch handles and a cute pink heart button on the outer pocket complete the bag.

Of course there will be "manly" bags for boys as well; and I will be making a smaller version, too. The bags are perfect for overnights at Grandmas; play dates with friends; traveling on an airplane (they'll make it thru security just fine!); going to the beach, the lake, the mountains; going to the market with Mom or on a camping trip with Dad.

OR ~ the bags will be perfect for carrying a Wee One (or two!) along on all those adventures!!

More to come. This cupcake bag may or may not show up in my Etsy shop ~ I haven't decided yet. It may be going to a special little girl... Stay tuned for all kinds of bags and especially the "Wee Travelers" for guys coming soon, too!

New Year ~ New Ideas!

2011-01-01T08:21:00.003-07:00

Not one to make New Year's Resolutions, I have always been one to set goals for a new year. Goals seem more positive to me than resolving that I've been doing something wrong. *wink*

And fortunately each new year brings new ideas for projects ~ everything from photography to things around the house to, of course, my designs for little ones. I've been a little obsessed the last couple of days with the thought of personalizing things. (This may eventually involve upgrading my sewing equipment, but we'll have to see how the year goes. *wink*)

Till then, here is my first personalized item ~ a plush pillow with your child's (or your!) initial. Of course I see sets of three for all three initials (first, middle and last name). Or if one wanted to spell out a short name; or a couple's initials on one or two pillows to celebrate a wedding or anniversary. Ack, the possibilities are endless.

And I'm chomping at the bit to get to the sewing machine for the next idea for personalization. So here is to 2011. Bring it on! :)

Merry Christmas ~ with Gratitude

2010-12-20T18:28:00.007-07:00

I wanted to take a minute to say thank you to those of you who follow my blog ~ and thank you for your patience when I am absent. I appreciate your comments ~ and you! Never one lacking for ideas, I have a few new designs and products I am hoping to develop in 2011; a few causes I look forward to supporting.

But until then I am wishing you and yours a beautiful holiday ~ full of sweet memories and tons of fun!

Catch you in the new year. :)

Keeping Things Current

2010-12-07T06:22:00.005-07:00

One cannot stay unplugged for long at this time of year (see previous post).

Something that I have started doing with my Etsy shop lately is updating photos for popular items. I'm sure every shop has a handful of items that are good sellers, thus bought and relisted over and over.

It occurred to me yesterday as I was making my ~ umpteenth ~ Simon Owl (not that I'm complaining!) that he had kind of progressed over the last year and had some upgrades from my original Simon; and yet, I was still using the original photos. It actually got me to thinking that ~ just out of curiosity, plus good marketing ~ I wish I had kept close track of which animals sold the most. Which ones have I relisted time and time again. (Note to self: that is something to start in the new year. I'm sure if I check, Etsy can help me track things like that. I love all the tools provided!)

But I digress (it is early and as I wake up I am thinking out loud). I think Simon Owl was the very first Wee One I designed. So to still be using the original photos for him was outdated ~ and somewhat inaccurate ~ information. Plus he's just cuter now ~ the new and improved Simon! I made sure to digitally document the latest incarnation of Simon and replaced the photos in my Etsy listing.

Just something that occurred to me on this holiday season morning ~ it is important to keep online information accurate and up-to-date. It may even result in more sales! :)

Unplugged.

2010-12-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

Like many of you, I spend probably about 90% of my waking hours connected ~ either on my iPhone, my netbook or my studio computer. It has enabled me to take my little critters and my little business to levels I never could have imagined ~ nor could I have accomplished without all the technology available to me.

I have often thought how different my life would have been had all these avenues been around 30 years ago (yes 30 years ago!) when I was a stay at home Mom with two little guys. I did a lot of the same things I'm doing now back then and how I would have loved to been able to work from home and market to the world! But back to present day ~ I am just grateful to have the opportunities I have now.

However (you knew this was coming, right) ~~ however, I sometimes need to unplug. Walk away. Turn it off. Step back 30 years.

At least once I week I try to sit down and snuggle up with a cup of peppermint hot chocolate, my dog, my cat, a stack of magazines and catalogs and a note pad. I find that when I slow the pace down a little, open my mind, tap into some inspiration from unusual places ~ creativity flows in new and fun ways!

It is often a time when my best ideas are developed. My physical being appreciates the relaxation ~ and the dog and the cat are pretty darned happy I spent some time with them, too!

And The Winner Is...

2010-12-01T09:08:00.005-07:00

Freddie helped me draw the winner of the Wee Pillow design contest this morning.

And the winner is... (drum roll)

KETRYN!!! Ketryn suggested a teddy bear design for a wee pillow so that will be the next design!

Thanks everyone for playing! I loved all of your suggestions and am keeping them all in my design file. You just never know when one of your ideas may show up on a Wee Pillow... :)

(Ketryn ~ I'm not sure how to contact you, so I'm hoping you will see this! Can you email me at cindi@cindimh.com by Friday, December 3 and we will work out the details. Thanks!)

Win a Free Gift!

2010-11-26T09:36:00.005-07:00

The holidays are upon us! And what's better than a free gift?? How would you like to win a free gift for a special little one in your life? (or even for your BFF?) Yes? Then read on, dear reader! :)

The latest in my line of products for kids are "Wee Pillows." Some little ones like to drag a security blanket everywhere; others prefer to carry a security pillow with them ~ kind of like a stuffed animal. So I have started designing Wee Pillows (8" x 8") with a variety of appliquéd designs. (You can see examples of my Wee Pillows in my Etsy shop.)

My dilemma? I have so many ideas I don't know which one to choose next! So I decided to run a Wee Contest. ;-)

You can leave your suggestion in the comment section of my blog here or log onto my Facebook Page and give me your suggestion as to what you would like to see on a Wee Pillow. The contest ends at midnight, November 30. All entries will be thrown in a Santa hat (literally!) and a winner drawn Wednesday morning, December 1.

The prize? Oh yes, the prize... the winner will receive his/her choice of a Wee One or Wee Pillow from my Etsy shop. :) And I will [do my best to] make the winning design on a Wee Pillow! Now get busy suggesting. :)

(P.S. If you enter the contest, be sure I have a way to get in touch with you -- you could be the winner!)

A Wee Contest ~ Just in Time for the Holidays!

2010-11-23T17:34:00.008-07:00

My latest obsession is making wee pillows ~ like Louie here ~ (8" x 8") for toddlers. As mentioned in my previous post, some toddlers drag "blankies" around everywhere with them; some hang onto a little pillow for security and comfort.

I am having so much fun creating the designs for the appliqued pillows and actually have so many ideas I don't know which to do next! I've got ideas for lambs, pigs, ponies, cows, zebras, hippos, dogs, cats, cupcakes, ice cream cones, monsters ~~ and on and on. You get the idea.

I would love to hear what you would choose for your little one. Leave me a comment with your choice (one of mine or one of yours) by Wednesday, December 1. If your suggestion is selected you will win your choice of a Wee Pillow or Wee One from my Etsy shop!

Pink Elephants and Such...

2010-11-21T07:47:00.005-07:00

It is a common site to see a toddler walking along, cuddling his "blankie" ~ tripping over it, dragging it thru the dirt and subsequently refusing to give it up to be washed. (If this sounds like the voice of experience speaking... um... you're right.)

What may not be so common, but I know to be true ~ some little ones like to carry a small pillow around. One that is just their size, to fit in their tiny hands and rub against their little cheeks thus providing a unique form of comfort.

I've had this project in my head for a long time and am just now taking a bit of time out to present a few in my Etsy shop ~ 8" x 8" pillows with appliqued designs ~ small little guys for small little hands.

Unless, of course, you would like to give the pink elephant to your girlfriend who may have had one too many cocktails the other night and swore she saw one walk across the road... *wink*

Ho! Ho! Ho!

2010-11-14T09:42:00.006-07:00

Yay! The Holidays are definitely upon us!

Check out my Holiday Shop on Indie Handmade ~ open from today, November 14 thru December 11. New items will be added on a regular basis!

Peppermint hot chocolate all around! :)

And The BC Awareness Beat Goes On!

2010-11-11T17:55:00.021-07:00

I love to gather ideas - ideas and inspiration from people, places, experiences... I am basically a shy person and many years behind a camera lens taught me the power of observation.

The idea I am writing about today was inspired by Stephanie, the owner of Stoopher & Boots in New York City. In late August I asked Stephanie if she would be interested in carrying a few of my little BC Buddies (a variety of pink BC Awareness inspired Wee Ones) ~ with 10% of each sale going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure ~ she enthusiastically said, "Yes! How soon can you send them?"

In the past I had only run my BC Awareness Campaign during the month of October. The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in New York City took place in early September so I extended my campaign to two months. At the end of October I asked Stephanie if she would like to pull the BC Buddies from the shelf until next year. She responded,"I'd like to keep them ~it is always a good time to support such a good cause!"

So thank you, Stephanie! You inspired me to keep the BC Buddies in my Etsy shop year 'round. Because I totally agree ~ it is always a good time to support a good cause! Thinking about it, I realized women (and men!) don't just get breast cancer in September or October. It is estimated that in 2010 about 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women* ~ and that's just women. That is day after day after day after day...

And proof positive of that ~ I have sold three BC Buddies in the last two days. I am thinking they will make dandy Hanukkah and Christmas pressies...

Yay!

*American Cancer Society

Bundle Up for Winter!

2010-11-04T18:46:00.006-06:00

Where I live we are having an unusually warm November, but winter will be upon us all before we know it. So some of my Liten Venn* characters are prepared with their winter scarves! Gregory the Penguin and Sasha the Polar Bear are happy to model for you.

The Liten Venns are going to be showing up in many varieties this holiday season. They make great stocking stuffers as most are 6 inches tall and 6 inches wide (from wing to wing or paw to paw). Most of them have some small parts so are for children 3 and up; but I'm always happy to substitute those small pieces with baby-safe features! Exchanging plastic eyes and noses for felt eyes and noses make a Liten Venn completely safe for baby.

So pop by my Etsy shop often and wander the aisles. Hot chocolate and sugar cookies on the table in front. *wink*

*Liten Venn is Norwegian for Small Friend ~ an homage to my Norwegian heritage.

A Little Holiday Tease...

2010-10-31T18:58:00.006-06:00

Ruthie the Reindeer (Rudolph's sister) makes her debut.

She and a several of her holiday peeps will be making their appearance in my Etsy shop, Stoopher & Boots (New York City), Modern Mouse (Alameda, CA) and Caboodle (Denver) soon!

Hoot! Hoot!

2010-10-28T17:38:00.002-06:00

When I was in high school in the 70's (yes I'm ancient), owls were all the rage.

So to see them come back into fashion is a kick. I don't know why I liked them in 1972 and I don't know why I like them now.

But I do know that Simon and Greyson make me smile. Hope they do you, too. :)

Gooble Gobble!!!

2010-10-26T18:14:00.007-06:00

Thanksgiving is exactly 30 days away! Rupert is in my Etsy shop now and looking for a vegetarian household to share some tofurkey and great veggies!

He is looking forward to the holiday ~ as long as he has a chair AT the table and isn't ON the table. :)

A Visit to Where it All Happens...

2010-10-23T10:11:00.011-06:00

This week I was honored to be paid a studio visit by the awesome crew at Modern Mouse in Alameda, California. They have featured my studio in their "Show Your Studio" segment on the Modern Mouse website.

Ironically I had been planning to do a blog post about that very thing - my studio. I know I am always interested in seeing where creative people do their creating and thought maybe some of my fabulous cyberspace and IRL friends might like to see where the Wee Ones , et al, come to life! :)

So, lucky me, Modern Mouse saved me some time. If you would like to take a tour of my studio ~ and meet my creative assistants ~ pop on over here and I'll see you there! :) Cupcakes and milkshakes all around!

How Time Flies...

2010-10-22T05:37:00.007-06:00

With the countdown to Halloween on ~ in my head, it has already happened! ha! That's what happens in retail, I guess. When you have a product to sell, you have to stay ahead of the game, so to speak. On a personal level it takes some of the surprise of out holidays for me; but believe me, I still enjoy them!

So always looking ahead I turn then to my sketches I so roughly drew (believe me, I'm no sketch artist) for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas it got me thinking that maybe my fabulous friends out there in cyberspace might enjoy knowing how my Wee Ones and Liten Venns come to be. I know I love learning how artisans, musicians, artists - any creative person - go about their craft; maybe you do, too.

My process is pretty simple actually. First and probably most important, I find inspiration everywhere - in movies, in cartoons, books, magazines or just people-watching. I often sort thru these inspirations in my head and something solid begins to take form ~ more often than not ~ on my morning walks with my dog.

Then I turn to my cheap little sketch book (it is a kid's drawing pad from Target). Almost all of my holiday sketches - 40+ total - this year were dreamt up and drawn while on a road trip to and from the Midwest (my Mom turned 92 recently). It gave me something to do rather than remind my husband of the speed limit. :) When I'm home, I keep a notepad with me at all times, especially on my bedside table for ideas that come in the night - they are quite often some of my favorites! (Think zombies.)

I then take the sketches and marry them with my basic template of a pattern and tweak the pattern to match the sketch (which becomes easier over time). I head to my fabric remnants first and use every bit of remnant I can to cut the pattern.

And from there the Wee One or Liten Venn is born. And I have to admit, the thing I enjoy most is creating a new character and seeing it come to life for the first time.

I absolutely love what I do. I posted on my Facebook page one day that I am so lucky to do something every day that makes me laugh ~ because almost every time I look at a completed Wee One or Liten Venn ~ I laugh.

The Unveiling ~ and the Importance of Branding

2010-10-20T19:07:00.007-06:00

Creating my new logo actually turned out to be easier than I had expected. I went in knowing pretty much what I wanted. I knew which image I wanted to use (see previous post) so that was half the battle.

Then it helped that I am blessed to have savvy geeks in my family. One son works for an interactive advertising agency and the other owns his own IT business. They provided techy and artistic advice.

I knew I wanted a simple image, clean lines and something that would be easily recognizable and memorable; and yet, something whimsical that would represent what I do. (I learned the importance of branding when I worked in the cable television biz.)

Something I hadn't considered, however, was creating versions in different colors for different venues (thank you my Mad Men son) ~ or as I have chosen to use them, for different causes or holidays. The images here depict pink - for Breast Cancer Awareness; teal - just because that is my favorite so far and may be the standard image; and purple for "Stop the Bullying."

I'm already envisioning something for Christmas... :)

I find projects like this incredibly fun. But there definitely is a serious side to it as well ~ branding your business is important. And once you find something that works, stick with it. People begin to relate to you ~ they feel comfortable with you and feel like they are your friend.

Once it's working, don't change it. Just ask GAP. *wink*

The Chosen One...

2010-10-19T19:20:00.008-06:00

This dog - recently renamed Coco - is an image I have often used to represent cmh design. He was one of my first Wee Ones and there is just something about him that I love. I am sentimental about him, of course, being one of the first; but there is something else... I think it's his eyes.

Many of my first Wee Ones were made with felt eyes to insure that they were baby-safe. (I still offer that option, by the way, in place of plastic safety eyes.) Beyond the safety factor there is just something that is so soulful in his eyes. He looks like he really needs a hug ~ and is ready to give one back. :)

I have made many incarnations of Coco (clones actually) but I am working on a totally new version. I'm designing a new logo (it is time to brand) and Coco is playing an integral part.

Stay tuned. :)