We're Still Here! :)

I've been quite remiss in updating... my little friends have totally taken over my life. But it's all good.

In addition to Stoopher & Boots in New York City and Modern Mouse in the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda) carrying my Wee Ones and Flat Baby Travel Pillows, On A Lark right here in my beloved Denver has joined the bunch! I'm thrilled to work with Ivy (the owner) ~ what fun it is to know her and her sweet shop!

My new line of Flat Baby Travel Pillows (featured above) double as a toy and a practical travel aide. A plushie-stuffie, which also serves as a dandy pillow! That little curve where my neck is? Well, that's the perfect nook for a weary neck ~ great to rest a little one’s head in a car seat or on an airplane ride. And a secret? Adults can use them, too!

They are the perfect size to fit in a diaper bag or a back pack. Each one is fairly flat so easily packable. They are all about 10.5 inches tall and skinny, so they don't take up much room at all. They have no removable parts, so they are pretty safe - but parental supervision is always advised when it comes to little ones and toys.

If you aren't in Manhattan, Alameda or Denver, pop into my Etsy shop ~ freckles & friends and see what's new!

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.

Bunnies and Puppies and Love

Chloe the Bunny joined the Breast Cancer Comfort Friends today. She's pretty cute. And she is just waiting to share love with someone...

Molly the Dog joined the effort today, too! They are both waiting to find a loving home...

And wish me luck as I don my sales hat and head out into the real world tomorrow!

Gratitude...

This is Hope. Next week she is going to be a gift to a sweet young lady who is a local anchor-woman in Denver. Surprise! (I really doubt Kim reads my blog.) ;-)

Kim has leads the campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness at our local NBC affiliate and has made it her passion. I just want to stop by and say thank you to her.

I "hope" she likes Hope. :)

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.

Some of Them are Just a Little More Special...

One of my favorite things about sewing is finding awesome fabrics. I know some of the designs and patterns I choose one would not look at and instantly think, "OMG that will make the cutest dog!" But I absolutely love thinking outside the box when it comes to fabrics. The stranger they are - the cuter I think the animal will be. :)

So Buzz (above) the "Coffee Mate" dog turned out so darned cute I can't stop smiling. And Ruby (made of multi-colored autumn leaves fleece) is (if I do say so myself) adorable! Go figure...

Wait till you see what I've got in store for Christmas... :)

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. :)

Happy Travels, Rebecca and Fifi!

Today I learned that Rebecca the Breast Cancer Comfort Bear and her little compadre, Fifi the Bunny will be leaving the shop. I am sending them off with a hug and a kiss ~ I always do that... Wishing them safe journeys and may the love they were created with go with them and embrace their new families...

'bye 'becca. 'bye fifi. god speed...

Breast Cancer Comfort Friends, Part II

Lucy the Lamb has been around for awhile, but she decided to join her Breast Cancer Comfort Friends, so she now sports "the badge." (When I added the ribbon to her heart today I was reminded how incredibly soft and cuddly she is. Shhhh - don't tell the others but she really is a favorite of mine...)

Others have now joined in the cause in my shop and the Breast Comfort Friends category is growing. And there will be more!!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month starts early (and will stay late) in my shop. I have a commitment to finding a cure not just for family members who suffered for many years, but for all those affected. Please check out my “Breast Cancer Comfort” category featuring “Comfort Friends” for anyone who has been touched by breast cancer…

Until the end of October, 20% of each sale will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Comfort Friends will be added on a continual basis, so if you don’t see anyone you want to adopt today, please check back! The family is growing to help the cause!

Breast Cancer Comfort Friends...

Breast Cancer Awareness Month starts early (and will stay late) in my shop. I have a commitment to finding a cure not just for family members who suffered for many years, but for all those affected. Please check out my “Breast Cancer Comfort” category featuring “Comfort Friends” for anyone who has been touched by breast cancer…

Until the end of October, 20% of each sale will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Comfort Friends will be added on a continual basis, so if you don’t see anyone you want to adopt today, please check back!

Rebecca here is the first friend in the shop. She's a little different in that she is made of cotton flannel, but still very soft and cuddly!

SSSSSSSSteve

I don't know why I associated a snake with Halloween, but originally I did. But now that Steve exists he doesn't look all that scary to me. He more just reminds me of a snake (stuffed, not real) I had as a little girl. I know, weird toy for a girly girl. But it was a gift and who was I to turn down a gift?

So Steve lives in the shop now and he's kind of lonely as he's the only reptile there. (Freddie is an amphiban, so that's close. They hang.)

But if anyone is looking for a not-so-scary snake, Steve's your guy.

Weeeeeeee!!

This adorable little one was my first baby-tester for freckles and friends (she still sleeps with Dotty - the first teddy bear). I don’t see her often enough; so when I knew I would be seeing her last weekend, I made sure to tuck a Wee One in my bag just for her. I think she liked it. *wink*

I was so pleased to see that “Poppy” was just the right size for her little hands – perfect for walking around and handy for that spontaneous hug whenever she needed it (or vice versus).

But most of all, seeing her so happy made me so happy I smiled all day. In fact I’m still smiling. It is absolutely why I do what I do.

Thank you, dear heart ~ until we meet again.

(images shot with Lensbaby 2.0 plus telephoto adapter - which explains the slight fuzziness.)

Sundays

I think the answer to unblocking my creativity is to totally remove myself from my work space. To actually stay away from my studio.

Movie night out last night (literally out – an outdoor double feature in my son and daughter in law’s side yard!); a relaxing morning walk in the park today with my mister and my dog and a scrumptious breakfast prepared by aforesaid mister… All of which has served to relax me, make room in my head for some ideas and remind me that awhile back I had promised myself to take Sundays off. Everyone really does need down time to renew, refresh and not burn out!

I am also reminded that when I was growing up Sundays moved at a relaxed, slow pace. Stores were closed; the only one working on Sunday was our minister. Sundays meant church, followed by a big noon meal, visits with family, “The Wonderful World of Disney” at 6:00 and popcorn for supper. A little different from Sundays of 2009... So the mister and I are making an effort to slow down our Sundays. Our church is nature, so we walk together. A late morning breakfast is our noon meal. Watching “CBS Sunday Morning” (which we tape) is our “Disney.” And rather than family visits, we visit each other – something we don’t take time for during the week.

And because a little free time not only sparks my energy level, but also my imagination, I jot down ideas to implement on Monday. Take the catnip pictured here, for instance. I did a little clean-up in my garden-on-the-deck this morning (fall is definitely in the air) and decided it was time (perhaps past time) to harvest my catnip. I grow it every year for my cat, A-choo. During the summer she likes to roll around on the leaves I bring in and drop on the floor for her. As summer winds down, I harvest what is left of the catnip; I dry it; smush it up with a pestle and mortar; store it in a covered bowl; sew little pouches; stuff them with the catnip and there ya’ go ~ A-choo and her friends are set for the winter.

Three people have suggested I should add a line of pet toys to my shop. I have been designing dog toys in my head and now I’m expanding… (she jots a note) ~ this year A-choo will be sharing with a wider audience. ;-)

Breathe

Some days are more inspired than others. Some days are more productive than others. I think I experienced a delayed “jet lag” of sorts yesterday (after returning from a whirlwind weekend in Vegas – Vegas will do that to ya’.) I couldn’t seem to focus and the only thing I created was this little orange monster. I was envisioning Halloween, but it just wasn’t coming together for me. I wasn’t feelin’ the love, so to speak.

So I set her aside for the evening. When I woke up this morning I took a look at her and knew instantly what was missing – the little drops of blood. Just to keep things friendly, I explain in her description that she is a vegetarian vampire, so those aren’t really drops of blood; they are drops of beet juice.

So creating Vicki the Vegetarian Vampire of course lead to creating her boyfriend, Vinny the Vegetarian Vampire with drops of ummm… tomato juice. Yeah, that’s it. Tomato juice!

That little creative block reminded me that sometimes it is really good to step away and take a break. You can’t force creativity and sometimes that part of the brain gets strained and just needs a breather.

Back to School :)

After a really fun weekend in Vegas with family and friends (much laughter was enjoyed; great food and grog consumed; a little money… umm… spent – it was Vegas after all), I feel like a kid going back to school. However, without the new outfits, but also without the dread of the unknown ~ new teachers (– I heard the history teacher is mean); new classes (– do I really have to take geometry?); new schedules (– I’ll never make it to biology on time and where’s my locker?) ...

Rather I am returning to the convenience of my studio where I can work in my 'jammies and [usually] all I need is right at hand ~ not to mention the comfort of my cat snoring in her bed next to me and my dog begging for a treat from the jar she knows I keep next to my desk. I returned to a long list of special orders as well as the items already on the list to get my shop stocked for the holidays. I’m working on an online newsletter I plan to publish monthly and a snail mail holiday preview catalog I want to mail in a couple of weeks (not everyone is online, ya’ know ~ there are Grandmas out there with Grandkids and Christmas Wish Lists). ;-)

So it does appear that another summer has waved goodbye and as we enter those crisp, bright days of autumn (my favorite season btw) ~ it is, indeed, time to get back to school/work ~~ smiling all the way!

Vegas, Baby

Because that is her name ~ Vegas, Baby.

I'm thinking of taking her along on my weekend and giving her to some random person along the way. If I see anyone I think needs a smile. And a hug.

Just thinkin'...

L.O.V.E.

No time to start new projects as I'm packing for a weekend trip. So I spent a little time looking back on the animals who have walked thru my life in the last couple of months. There have been a few. Quite a few.

So I celebrate them. And the homes they have found. And the lives they have touched. And the wonderful feedback I get; the blessings I have received. A reward I never expected to find when I started this little venture of love...

Funny about love - you put it out there and it comes back. Tenfold.

Did Someone Say Halloween?

I know. Before I woke up the other day and realized I'm in the retail world, I hadn't given Halloween much thought. Or Thanksgiving. Or Christmas. But now that I realized I am in the retail world, I also realize all of the above are like... tomorrow.

So I'm already behind, but I'll catch up. I've got two black Halloween cats in my shop - Pumpkin here is a "Wee One" - all of 5 inches tall. She has a cousin, "Mystic" who is 10" tall. Lots of other creatures - both cuddly and... not... will be joining them soon.

After a quick 4 day trip to Vegas to celebrate a special someone's 30th birthday, I will be back in the studio pretty much 24/7 stocking up for the holidays and working on a snail mail "holiday preview" catalog and an online newsletter.

Whew. But a very excited and fun-filled and happy "whew." :)

(Oh, and I'm playing with a new look for my blog - something a little cleaner, better organized with more info and links, so bare with me!) :)

Thank You Fellow Etsians!!

Last week I was so excited when I checked my Etsy shop and learned I had my first international sale. A delightful customer from Australia had purchased one of my favorite guys (yes, I’ll admit I have favorites…) ~ Oliver, the long-eared bunny.

This being my first shipment halfway around the world, I wasn’t quite sure where to start. And to complicate it just a little, her purchase had already gone thru Etsy and PayPal before I had a chance to calculate the international shipping rates and change that in my shop for her order. I didn’t want to lose a sale and a nice customer, but also couldn’t afford to forego the additional shipping costs.

Not sure how to proceed, I turned to the Community Forum on Etsy and posed my dilemma. Within in minutes – and I mean minutes – I had responses from fellow Etsians willing to brainstorm the problem with me. It didn’t take long to figure out what to do. Again, within minutes, I had my answer. I simply emailed my customer and explaining I would need to send a PayPal invoice for the additional shipping charges and once I received that payment, the bunny would be on his way. She was fabulous about it, paid immediately and – bingo, bango - Oliver was winging his way Down Under.

So I wanted to thank my fellow Etsians – ShopRedLeaf, GoTo, missbreezybox and HammelArt who all came to my rescue! I was so happy to have an answer so quickly and not risk losing what has turned out to be a wonderful customer and sale! Thank you guys so much!! It’s reassuring to know I have a friendly and helpful place to pose any questions and there will be someone out there in cyberspace to help me. I only hope I can return the same in kind sometime soon! Thanks again!!!

The Wee Ones Are Big in Arizona!

First Mimi and Poppy. Then Bella and Daisy. Then Suzy and Penelope. They've all gone to live in the desert with a beautiful, wonderful family.
Thanks oodles and poodles, dear Gracie. :)