Signs...

This is what I do on road trips. Well, this and shoot out the window a lot.

I go thru stages with hobbies/addictions. My knitting looms have been lonely and ignored for several months ~ since my little animals took over anyway. But since it was a little crowded in the Jeep to bring my Janome sewing machine along on this most recent road trip (although my mister offered an adapter and was sure I could keep sewing), I opted for something a little more compact ~ a couple of my knitting looms.

I decided to knit hats (these are small!) for Olympic Bears (both USA and Canadian) I plan as my next "freckles & friends" project ~ and thought I'd knit a few for Valentine's Day as well. (Did I mention addiction?) Well, I get a little obsessed. I not only knit these six, but I think there are about ten or twelve more in a suitcase (knit thruout the trip). So, of course now the challenge is to make the bears to match the hats.

An aside ~~~ My Dad was a man of few words, but I do remember two comments he made to me over the years. One was:

"Cindi, I get tired just watching you run up and down the stairs. Don't you ever sit down?"

and

"You sure know how to make work for yourself..."

Like I said, he didn't talk much, but he was observant. ;-)

Now back to my story ~~ I found it an incredible coincidence that I picked up my looms for the first time in months and last night I sold a knit hat (people size) on my mister's website (a little plug for www.buyoffseason.com/ ). I had forgotten I had anything listed with him. So isn't that the strangest thing? That I'm finally making hats again and one that I had totally forgotten about sells??

I believe in signs. And I think that's one. I just haven't figured out where the sign is pointing yet...

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.

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 Kids

Part of the great studio organization resulted in a couple of extra shelves that wouldn't fit in the closet. So, although they're not the classiest display space I did find a home for the kids awaiting adoption. And they make me smile every time I walk in.

That's the fun part. Now today I tackle the great guest room clean-up. Bah.

Finding a Voice

It was brought to my attention yesterday that this little guy didn't have a voice ~ and he needed one. Fair enough.

But it did raise a question. As I looked around my studio at my little animals awaiting adoption I realized, with just a couple of exceptions, none of them had mouths. I had never noticed.

So being who I am (slightly analytical) I pondered why. As a child if I didn't hear "children should be seen and not heard," I think it was implied. As a shy girl (who grew up to be an older shy girl), I found my comfort zone behind the camera. It has allowed me to quietly fade into the background and observe life from the sidelines. Marrying into a family of wonderful people who have never known strangers, there was no need for me to speak. The joke was ~ Cindi was in the family for a year and a half before she spoke and that was only after someone asked, "Hey, who's that girl in the corner?" Which has, over the years, evolved into me raising my hand during a neverending conversation and requesting, "May I please speak??!!"

All kinds of possible psychological deep-seated reason why I may have created little creatures without mouths.

Or it could be that I just think they're unique and kind of cute without them. :)

Little Monsters

What began as a group of odd little creatures I dubbed "fuzzy wuzzables" has now morphed into "little monsters" ~ because that's what they're being called. And I like that. They do remind me of days gone by when I read "Where the Wild Things Are" about a kazillion times to two sleepy little boys.

But I'm finding myself creatively challenged in shooting the little monsters, 0r any of my creations in general. (With my cameras, of course!) I'm thinking I need to take them on little outings and shoot them in not so common places. I guess I'm just bored with simple backdrops. And then there's the whole time factor and only 24 hours in a day thing...

See? There went another 5 minutes... *wink*

Each One Unique...

Well, the wedding dogs are done. Today I add their "collars;" sew a little traveling/sleeping bag for each; make a hang tag "information/introduction" label about each one and they will be ready to meet their delivery man this week. He will hand-carry them to Canada for me.

As I lined them up this morning for a group shot I realized even though they are very, very similar, each one has their own unique look and personality already! The two in the middle are for 2 year olds, so their eyes and noses are made of felt ~ safer for little hands and mouths. The ones on the outer edges will go home with a couple of 8 year olds and a couple of 4 year olds (I think). I hope they enjoy their homes in the Great White North!

I'll miss them... As with any of my little guys, I get attached as they come to life. This group, especially, because as they have grown in number I've spent more time with them than any other special request. I feel as though I'm saying goodbye to sextuplets! :)

Repurposed

Roger - repurposed, recycled. Fleece fabric remnants and what used to be a tee shirt. :) It took a little while for him to grow on me, but he has.

Baby Boo Blue

Baby Boo is in

the shop. He's so simple, but so darned cute -- only 8" tall and just

screams "baby" to me.

How is it that each new little creation - just fabric and thread and polyfill - can have a personality? It is so strange.

And why is it that I have trouble letting go of each one of them when they fly away? Definitely something in me that harkens back to my childhood and the comfort I felt from my little creatures.

Strange.

It's Like She has a Butterfly Tattoo. :)

By special request. This colorful little pup and 2 more like her (plus 3 of her "brothers" ~ I've posted them on Facebook) will be winging their way to Calgary for a wedding soon. All of them will be gifts to children attending a wedding there.

Too much fun. :)

In the Workshop...

Petunia is the newest little piglet in the shop. She's very sweet and very petite. I heart her.

And then there's "black dog" - who shall remain nameless until he reaches his owner on the east coast. (When somone special orders they get to name it.) He's pretty darned cute, too.

And I finished the special order for the twins - the dog, the teddy bear, the pink baby beanie hat, the blue/white baby beanie hat and they will be delivered to the customer tomorrow. It's really been fun creating something special for a little guy and girl yet to be born. I like to think of their little nursery (it too somewhere on the east coast) and as mama and papa rock them to sleep, the last thing they see before their little eyes close are a pink polka dot teddy bear and a blue polka dot smiling dog.

It makes me smile, too.

What To Do With Old Tee Shirts

Recycle them into little critters.
First attempt. They will improve, but I kinda' like this guy. I'm keeping him. :)

Two Down; Seven To Go :)

No, the hats aren't really for them; I just decided to get everything in one shot. My friend ordered a pink hat, a "blue/white" hat - for the actual babies, a pink polka dot bear and a blue polka dot dog for twin babies in their family who will be making their appearance soon.

So now before moving on to the rest of the special orders, I think I'll experiment with something I've been thinking about. If it turns out, pix to follow. And it may even end up in the shop. ;-)

My Mess

Actually it's an organized mess, but what a busy day... the little sugar bear in the pouch is personal, not business. A gift for a friends of friends who have a 4 month old baby in Children's Hospital suffering from a severe liver problem. :( If I can bring a smile to Mom and Dad's face for one minute, I want to. I had to stop for a minute and be grateful for having healthy children - back in the day and now...

The other bear - special order for twins due soon, a girl and a boy. Just starting the blue polka dot dog for the boy. And I just received an order for 7 more dogs (what's with all the dogs?) - 6 of whom are gifts for children attending a wedding. All to be completed in the next couple of weeks.

Can you say busy? But such a happy, fulfilling busy. YAY! Just finished lunch (lowfat vanilla yogurt, strawberries, grapes, flax seed and almonds if you were wondering. And yes, that chocolate in the back of the picture is an addiction...). Now I deliver the little sugar bear, turn down an offer for last minute tickets to a concert at Red Rocks tonight and back to the sewing machine.

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian friends! And what lovely people you are!

Miki w/a 'tude

I've been stocking up on supplies today so haven't had a chance to do any creating. :(
But here's the little guy I came up with yesterday - another in the Fuzzy Wuzzable collection - Miki. Miki with a bit of an attitude, even though his button reads "be happy." He's for sale in the shop http://www.cindimh.etsy.com/ ~ however the mister has temporairly stolen him for his desk . How funny... I guess it's a little reminder to "be happy" whilst working. ;-)

Booga Booga!

It's been a busy day in the ol' workshop today (which reminds me it's not to soon to start stocking up for Christmas. O man...)

I decided to try something different and experimented with this little monster type guy (a friendly one to start) and have dubbed this new collection "The Fuzzy Wuzzables." I may have to reshoot as I think this little monster (Izzy) is much cuter in person. Quick and easy to make ~ with all kinds of creative possibilities for these guys. My mind is spinning with ideas!

Also thinking of starting to go in new directions with materials - recycling old tees, socks, blankets, jeans to make some of my critters. I'd really love to locate some old (but in good shape) chenille bedspreads! Let me know if you see any out there!

So with two projects done for today, time to whip up some turkey burgers and maybe, maybe work a few more hours tonight.

One Down; One to Go!

For my friend's niece's little girl twin.

Now on to a similar image in blue for her little twin brother. :)

In the Works

My good friend and neighbor has a niece expecting twins - a boy and a girl - at the end of August. She commissioned me to knit two little beanies (done - must remember to post) and two stuffed animals, a bear and a dog.

This is the little pink polka dot bear for the little girl - both in progress. ;-) I'll post a pic of the finished product later.

Hope it's a beautiful Sunday in your part of the world! Sunny and summery out west. After a short walk with Boo, I'm settling into my little sewing studio to crank out a few critters. I played yesterday, so today it's a work day - albeit casual work day - but a work day nonetheless.

Cheers (she says toasting you with a chai tea latte)!

I Heart Special Requests

So those quotes that inspired me to open my shop and have one focus and one focus only? Prophetic.

"Take up one idea. Make that idea your life.Think of it, dream of it, live one 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."

*Swami Vivekananda*

[For our economy to survive]

"We have to start making stuff again."

*Peter Schiff, American Economist*

I have found something to do that fulfills my creative spirit and makes me smile every day. Not to mention in some small way I think I'm bringing smiles and just a bit of whimsical happiness to others as well...

Good karma. I have three special orders to fill. YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! And thank you, thank you, thank you!

Bye Beau!

I waved goodbye to Beau today! He's on his way to his new home in Kentucky. He's a special one so I'm glad he's going to a good home. :)

And I'm back at the sewing machine!