Coming Soon...

to an exciting, awesome, crazy cool new shop - a real live brick 'n mortar store...

Simon Owl, E (Esmeralda) and Randy Dawg! Along with a couple of their friends.

That's all I'm sayin'. :) Stay tuned because this is pretty exciting!

Three Brown Moose

'Tis a busy time in the ol' studio these days. And although I am still filling Christmas orders, my mind is jumping ahead to post-holiday events. I woke up the other day with a fun idea for Olympic Bears (and bunnies and dogs, etc.) So tune in after the holidays! :)

But until then, these three fellows - Melvin, Magnus and Mickey are off to Georgia tomorrow!

Holidays are Approaching!

It's beginning to look a little more like Christmas in my Etsy shop! Slowly but surely. I've been swamped with local orders ~ all word of mouth ~ so have had little time to devote to my online shop. Yay for sales, but boo for not being able to update online!

At any rate, these three pups ~ Candy (she sports candy canes on her coat), Avery (that means Christmas elf) and Lumi (that means "snow" in Finnish) are in the shop! I'm hoping to have many more holiday creatures there soon ~ especially in time for my featured spot in the Etsy Toy Showcase on November 27! Stay tuned. :)

It seems like ages since I've been able to add someone
new to the shop. I've been busy organizing (made a storyboard which I'll blog about one of these days) and a few special orders ~ they're starting to flow in for the holidays. :) Which makes me smile. :)

Anyway, ever since Joey the Giraffe went to live with a sweet little heart patient, I haven't had too many "wild" animals in the shop. It was time. So meet Samantha.

Samantha says:
"Hi, my name is Samantha and I am a giraffe. I wasn’t really born in Africa, but my ancestors were. I’m looking for a best friend who likes to visit zoos (as long as I’m on the people side of the fences) so I can see my distant relatives. Right now I live mostly with bunnies and puppies and bears, but there are two elephants so we share conversation about the old country.
I am soft and cuddly and ready to find a home! I like chocolate chip ice cream, bicycle rides, Wii bowling and hugs. I hope you’ll think about taking me home with you. And if you like strawberry ice cream, I’m flexible."

She's just hanging around looking for ice cream, so if you're in the market for a giraffe stop on by :)

Gigi and Emma

Because so many of our Breast Cancer Comfort Friends have been leaving us, two new ones joined the freckles & friends shop today. Gigi the cat (above) is feisty and has a bit of a 'tude. She's spunky and full of spit 'n vinegar ~ just the kind of friend you want by your side when you're fighting cancer!

Emma the bunny is a more gentle friend, but will be be your side all the way thru, too. She's a quiet bunny full of love and hugs.

Bye Bye Bunnies!

This little sweetie pie (a special order) left me today for Florida. His name is Séamus and he is really hoping there is air-conditioning in Boca Raton... :)

And Stuart (below) is on his way to Illinois. He's hoping it doesn't snow too much there or his camouflage is blown!

For A Cure...

My little family of Breast Cancer Comfort Friends is growing! (These are only a few in the group.) I'm doing a big push in the next couple of weeks to get these guys out in the community ~ actually across the country ~ and literally into the hands of people I know are committed to Breast Cancer Awareness and finding a cure. It means quite a few "freebies" but if it can help anyone in anyway, it's worth it!

Coming up soon ~ why the issue of Breast Cancer Awareness is important to me personally.

Love, Love, Love

Lovey Moon Blossom just seemed to fit her. :)

Even when I purchased the fabric it made me think of the 60's - flower children, make love not war, etc.

So Lovey Moon Bloossom came to life and is in my shop now looking for a groovy home.

Gearing up for a showcase on Etsy on Sunday, the 13th. I'll be featuring my breast cancer "comfort friends" and other autumnal little fellas and girls. It's going to be a blast. :)

Cyberspace is a wondorous place. I never would have imagined when I began creating cuddly little animals that one would end up on the other side of the world. But one is. And I can’t stop smiling.

I’ve spent the last couple of days communicating with a beautiful woman (who I would love to meet someday!) figuring out how to get Oliver, the long-earred bunny to Australia. This being my official first international shipment it took a little research and in the end, wasn’t hard at all. My customer down under was extremely patient and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that!

So, I this morning finally figured things out (again, with the help of my Post Office guru, Deep – we’re on a nickname basis now), confirmed all the important info and Oliver is off to Australia! I was so grateful for such a patient customer; and I didn’t want Oliver to travel all the long way alone – so I added his little brother, Ralphie, in the package to keep him company on his journey. I know my customer and her family will welcome both of them.

And I hope she doesn't read my blog (till later) or finds me on Facebook (till later), or I just blew the surprise.

And The Rest of the Story...

Remember the story of the wedding dogs? The wedding they attended (thru the grandchildren) took place yesterday. As the children pack up to return to their homes, dogs in tow, I learned that one dog (an extra little guy) will stay in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for now.

Three will be going to live in Connecticut and the remaining two will take up residency in IRELAND! How cool is that? The product of a simple little crafter in Colorado, the dogs will live out their "lives" in Ireland.

I just love that. :)

The Wee Ones

Thanks to the assistance of a very understanding mister (he took the dog to the park and watered all the flowers and veggies and did the dishes) I spent 11 hours in my studio today, focusing on an idea I became obsessed with ~~ Wee Ones.

So here they are. And here I am with my feet up sipping a glass of chardonnay and watching "Mad Men" ready to eat my salad topped with fresh green onions and tomatoes from the garden.

Life is good. I hope yours is, too!

The Wee Ones Have Arrived!

Well, arrived and gone. Mimi (left) and Poppy (right) were in the shop just minutes before they were snapped up. They will be flying to Tucson on Monday. :)

With the economy slowly coming back (emphasis on slowly) I decided to offer some little animals (emphasis on little - they range in size from 5" - 7" tall) at a lower price point (emphasis on lower). And not only are they priced lower, I can offer cheaper shipping because they're smaller and can fit in an envelope!

They are so much fun to create as each one is partially hand-sewn and the expressions and features are limitless! They're perfect for babies ~ small for little hands and soooo soft. But I think they would also make a perfect "cubicle-mate" for anyone in an office. Or perhaps a little someone to keep you company in your car as you commute. Or as a bedside companion for an elder in a nursing home or a child in the hospital. The possibilities are endless...

So help me welcome the Wee Ones to the world. More will be poppping up in my shop today and in the days to come! And, as always, of course I take special requests!

FYI - check out Etsy's Showcase today, Saturday August 8th, for my featured shop in the Toy Category! New items popping up hourly and we'll be featured until midnight!

http://www.etsy.com/showcase.php?ref=fp_banner_showcase_main
(go to the upper right-hand corner where you see "main" and click on the down arrow; scroll down to toys and you will see "freckles & friends" featured)

Thanks for stopping by!

Oliver is looking for a home.

He's the first long-eared bunny I've brought to life and I'm pretty much in love with him. :)

Pardon My Back...

I'm trying to decide if I want to put her in the shop or not... she's not perfect, but what in life is?

'Bye Lulu!

Lulu has found a home! She will be leaving me tomorrow and, as always, I'm a bit sad to see her go. She's the last of my bunnies currently in existence in the ol' shop here. And here's something strange...

Over the weekend my son sent me a link to a really touching song and video, much of which included a whimsical artist's rendition of little bunnies. Of course it brought a tear (I can be a soft touch sometimes...) and as I watched these little bunnies I made a mental note to myself to bring a few more to life and get them in my shop. Because I do love me a cute bunny.

And then today, Lulu, the last remaining bunny leaves me. Coincidence? I think not.

Especially since I've spent the last week away from my studio with other activities and am slowly regaining energy, the timing was perfect. Yay.

Waiting for Papa

Mama and Baby... Papa will make his appearance [hopefully] in a couple of days! :)