Doing what you like...

Critter wise, I have been lucky to have a few orders, and discovered a new (to me) marketing trick, working on this has been exciting.

Out of all my patterns, I am enjoying making the new horse.  I haven't sold any of them, yet, but I just ordered some real wool felt to put together a few Magical Rainbow Unicorns in the new pattern.  Because making these horses is what I like to do right now.

Palimino Pal

Little Joe

Pegasus

And now some random thoughts:

So, the "ladies" at the golf course planted some flowers last Spring, the Hibiscus I brought inside after the first frost, and it flourished.  I just put it back outside yesterday.  There is some kind of ferny plant in the same pot, and when I went to pull it out the door a prickle from the ferny plant got me.  Now where it got me is itching, and I remember the last time I got one of those prickles in the palm of my hand, it took forever to heal...and until I figured it out, I thought I was going to get a whole buncha moola coming my way, the way my palm was itching!

Two golfers that I am friends with are "at odds" with each other over a card game.  A .25 cent card game.  This makes me very uncomfortable, but it is not up to me to fix it.  They've been friends for years.  A person would think that two grown men could either talk it out or get over it, or duke it out.  I wish they'd do one of those things, just get back to normal (whatever that is)!

I have a date with my sweetheart tonight.  And a couple more hours here before,  Love my job. Really I do.

Later that same day.  

We (Sweetheart & I) went out to dinner, and our food was tasty.  He's watching some basketball game, I am waiting for a load of laundry to dry...such is the life of the goddess that is me, and I like doing what I do.

Play Nice!

xxoo

Cyber Friends

I have some pretty good ones.  Some I've had since 2004, from a blog site called Xanga.  Some I've made playing games on FB, or friends of friends that I hit it off with, some are family that I don't see very often...but the group I wanted to tell you about  today is a crafty bunch of ladies (and one man) that belong to a group called Artists Loft.

We really do care for each other, we check on each other, we advise, laugh, cry and celebrate together, all online.  And generous?  One of our girls is pregnant, she's getting gifts from everyone in the group.   There doesn't hardly a day go by that one of us is thanking one of them for something they've received.  We proudly share our latest creations for all to see, and to ooh and awww over.  We promote each other, we encourage each other, we're friends.

I was the lucky recipient of a couple of gifts this week.  Well, one gift was for Delightful Delilah, along with a Steamboat Willie tin for me from my friend, Sophia.

A very soft hat made from Alpaca.

A very cute dragonfly and a couple of flower embellish this thoughtful gift.

Check out Sophia's shop here.

My friend, Pam, gave me the BF discount on this custom scarflet.
Exactly what I wanted, in the colors I wanted, and I love it.

(Seriously cold blooded woman that I am, I'll wear this until May.)

You can take a look at Pam's shop here.

Pam and I have met in person, she actually came to see me at work one day.  It was a little out of her way, but she made the trip and I was very happy that she did.  It's nice having a cyber friend in the same locale, at least to commiserate about the weather with!  One of these days I'll tempt her with a greasy cheese burger, or another Reuben and she'll come out for another visit!  

On the Handmade by Cosmo side, I've been busy fixing up some new patterns.  I'm getting used to a "new normal" now that my girls are here, the weather's been so blizzardy, I've been hanging with them, getting to know my granddaughter, and getting to know my daughter as a mother.  She's a good one, I'm proud of her.   Soon I'll be back to working 6 days a week, and sewing Critters like crazy again.   So ready for Spring!  

Play Nice!

xxoo  

Learning From Experience

One of my favorite things about being "crafty" is that with every thing I make, I learn more.  For example...I made a sweet little, plain little Dog Critter, simply to experiment with it.  

I've been toying with the idea of using crochet thread all over a Critter, like hair...so I tried it how I saw doing it in my head, here is the result.

A hairy mess!

But here's what I learned...that I need to start from the bottom, and probably in 1/4" increments, that would give me a more uniform "coat of fur" and it will probably lay down a whole lot better.  (If you have any hints in this regard, the Comment section down there would be a great place to leave it.)

My next experiment on this Critter will be to do some hand embroidery on the side that isn't hairy, just to get a feel for it.  

There are three new Critters in my shop today, Grayson, Dempsy, and Speedy Pig.  You really should go take a look.  

I gotta get started making a list of things I need to pack for my trip next week.  It's only one night I'm staying, but I know I'll pack enough for two, just in case.  I'm quite excited to see the Denver Airport for the first time, and besides the later than I'd like start for the drive home, I know it will be a glorious trip.  We are all quite giddy, to say the least.  *gs*

Play Nice!  

xxoo

Un-Puny

Feeling much better today...you know, sometimes I think I just need to take a couple of days to just be.  Hang out in bed, nap a bit here and there...and not work on anything.

Unfortunately, the view from my bed was pretty bad.  I have a roll top desk, and it is a mess of paperwork, felt, thread, newspaper clippings, etc.  The top of it is covered with finished Critters, and Works in Process.  Tonight when I get home, that is my project.  It won't take long, of course, it's just a matter of putting things where they belong.

Next stop will be my sewing room.  I have got to come up with a good storage system for my felt, and scraps of felt.  And buttons, and shipping/packaging supplies, yarn, etc.

...and I have pics to take and descriptions to write and listings to list, and a ding dang fish tank to clean...and...my daughter and family will be here in about 3 weeks!

All those "ands!"  Seems pretty clear to me that I've been lacking in my ability to put things away.  At Christmas I was legitimately busy with custom orders (thank goodness), but now...well, I have no excuse.

So, when you think of me this evening, you can envision me walking back and forth across the hall from my bedroom to my sewing room, or standing at my work table sorting felt, or draining the fish tank so I can give it a good scrubbing...those are my goals for this weekend, and I will accomplish them all.

But...while I'm at work, I will proceed to stitch up a Valentine Critter.  :)

Play Nice
xxoo

New Year - Re-Connections

I would like to introduce y'all to a goof/good friend of mine, Jeri.  We have been cyber-friends since 2004, when Xanga was it, at least in our corner of cyberville.

We never really lost our connection, we both just got busy with the "kids are almost grown ups but not quite and need us more right now than ever," phase.

So, be a pal, go say hey.  She used to be quite a crafter in her day, maybe we could get her creative juices flowing again?

Play Nice!
xxoo

Are you ready for Christmas?

We didn't put up a tree this year.  I decorated the Pro-Shop more than here, and I did that by hanging one ornament and one string of green tinsel.  It does look awesome, didn't think to take a picture of it...I will before I take it down on Wednesday.

Darlin' Danielle and Delightful Delilah (and Ben, of course) were here the beginning of December for D's 1st birthday party!  We had a house full, and everyone had a good time...

My mind has mainly been on my Critters these last few weeks.  I've made I think 5 purple unicorns, 3 pink unicorns, a set of The Three Little Pigs (with the Big Bad Wolf), The Three Bears and Goldilocks (Goldilocks is pretty bizarre looking, but the set was for a little boy, so the doll isn't that important.)  A kitten, a lizard, a few flying pigs, a purple giraffe...and there may be a few more in the mix that I don't remember right off the top of my head...my hands have been busy!

I've been experimenting with some merino wool, and I really, really like it.  I have a whole lot of craft store felt to use up before I can go that way exclusively.

I've added a few Critters to my line.  One I am really excited about is the Little Dog Critter.  I have a few of them stitched up, each and every one of them turns out just a little bit differently.  The Ritzy Dog is new, I'm loving that one, too.

I've been using yarn and crochet thread as manes and tails for some of them.  I really like the haphazard look of it.  I have to admit, though, I'm nervous about cutting it too short, 'cos y'know, it can't be un-cut.

I'll wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I have high hopes for the future, starting right now!

Play Nice!
xxoo