Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Things To Come...


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...

Thursday, October 13, 2011

He's Baaaaack!



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. :)

Sunday, August 28, 2011

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

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?

Monday, December 20, 2010

Merry Christmas ~ with Gratitude


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. :)

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Bundle Up for Winter!

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.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

A Little Holiday Tease...


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!

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Booga Booga!

Get ready! Crazy, scary creatures are about!

And more are on the way!! Booga booga!!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Countdown Begins...

I have always worked better with a schedule, a time line and just a bit of pressure.

If you are like me, here's some interesting information for you:
  • There are 66 days until Halloween
  • There are 91 days until Thanksgiving
  • There are 98 days until Hanukkah
  • There are 121 days until Christmas

My intent for the next two days is to seriously clean and organize my studio and storage spaces ~ start with a clean slate before jumping into holiday production. Which means, of course, I will be chatting on Facebook a lot; returning emails from two weeks ago; taking an extra long walk with my dog; cuddling with my cat; going thru my photo archives and phoning my Mom.

You see how the "pressure" part plays into this. :)

Monday, December 14, 2009

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!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

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. :)

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Thinking Holiday...

And the holiday frenzy begins... Even though it's a bit of a challenge to picture snow falling, candles glowing, family gathering today as the window above my desk is blowing a warm 80 degree breeze into my studio. *wink*

Yet I am filling a special order for 9 dogs in various holiday-themed fabrics. One down, eight to go... This is the first little guy ~ Nicholas.
Too much fun. :) Puts me in the mood to get my own holiday critters ready for the shop in a couple of weeks!