Well this weekend we were baraged by some of the worst thunderstorms I think I’ve ever seen……we even had a tornado warning or two.   This generally means no weekend excursion,  I mean who the heck wants to go out and look like a drowned rat?  much better to stay home watch old movies and try and do a little of the home projects you’ve put of for ages.

During a break in the torrential downpours I made it to the local gardening store…….so my balcony looks like this now

I got 2 different types of tomato plants (yum) the planters along the top of the piccie have sweet peppers and banana peppers in them……can’t wait for them to grow.  And the lage terracotta plant has a papyrus plant…..I’m always drawn to weird wild flowers and grasses so this was a garden center must have for me.  I also got something called a candy corn plant which I have never seen before it’s so cool and it’s very obvious how it got it’s name,   just check out the blooms

How cool is that?  I hope it can survive our crazy erratic weather……..less than 10 mins of taking these piccies the sky turned  black  and the heavens opened again.  Oh well at least I got in some crafting for the craftacular,  I can’t believe I only have two weekends of crafting left before the big day……ooooops better get busy!!!!

A new big critter finished…….yaaaaaay.  He was a ton of fun to make,  probably because I was itchin’ to make a big guy again.  Something about doing the ickle stuff for a while makes me go a little doolally……I mean I like how the little stuff turns out don’t get me wrong but it’s nice to make my critters,  reminds me of why I’m so addicted to needle felting in the first place.

Anyway meet Marty,  he’s  a dorm mouse

……..that’s right a dorm mouse.   Marty attends Madison University and is currently working on his degree in dairyland farming and production.  He’s determined to put an end to hard cheese and the problem of mould.   Marty despises the fact that most traps seemed to be filled with more mould than cheese……I mean really if you wouldn’t why on earth would he?   Anyway Marty is a very good student and he mixes well with the other collegiates they love his friendly daily greeting of   ” Yo,   got any cheese?”

I’ll add Marty to the shop as soon as I can take some better piccies of him……pesky camera and bad weather don’t go hand in hand

I guess these are a bit of an experiment,  but I thought I would share ’em with you anyway……

I made them at the suggestion of the crafting genius Ekra……..at first I was a little unsure but I have to admit they turned out kinda cool,  thanks Ekra I guess I should know better than to ever doubt ‘ya.

I have to admit though I have gotten a little bored making the little stuff,  so I’m working on a critter as we speak (yaaaaaay it’s about time huh?)  although my hubby is harrassing me to make a mini Donkey Kong or a toad to add to my Mario and Yoshi……..waaaaaaa  don’t wanna………well maybe…….we’ll see.

I know I’ve said it a million times and I’m sure you are all bored with me saying  it but I don’t care I’m saying it again………I love Madison!!!!!! This weekend was fabulous weather so we headed out early to catch the farmers market around the capitol…..It was my intention to have one of those blog posts showing the beautiful farm fresh produce and gorgeous plants and flowers but unfortunatly we bought a yummy loaf of cheese bread and I spent the time wandering around stuffing my face instead of taking piccies.

I did stop by Ekra’s and orangyporangy booths they were having a great time trying to ensure their booths didn’t blow away (it was a little windy) and I picked up my much coveted vase from Ekra

I love it, it’s so cool she used a beer bottle for the brown tiles and a light fixture for the accent tiles……anyway after wandering around the market for a while and buying some catnip plants for the boys we headed on over to the terrace.

I love the terrace in summer it’s always packed with students and it’s a great place to sit out and enjoy a few beers……..I have turned a beautiful shade of bright pink thanks to my love of the terrace.

And other than having a fabulous weekend the only thing I created is more critter clips but this time hedgehogs

These lil hedgies might be my new faves in the critter clip line and of course I will add them to the shop.

Ok so I’ve been busier than I let on,  but I figuered these clips look better in photographs if there is a certain quantity of them…..they also look better pictured in the hair of some angelic looking toddler but I don’t know any of them so I have to make do with my graying mop.

I figuered the stars made sense for July 4th celebrations (it’s funny that now I think of products when it’s comes to holidays…..I used to just think of food) and I loved how they turned out so I quickly realised I needed critter clips for the shop.

Taking the pics of the back of my head made me realise how badly I need a haircut…….dammit…….the pressure of getting a decent haircut.

why I love, love, love flickr…….

A little over a month ago whilst perusing my friend and contacts photos I came across this sweet lil’ guy made by Raggy Rat

I love Raggy Rat’s handmade toys (my personal faves being her rats and mice) so I of course had to leave a comment letting her know just how cute I think he was…. and joy of joys she was up for trading him for a needle felting kit. So he arrived on Friday and I absolutely adore him, he pretty much hangs out with bubbletime’s cats and Skippy the Beastly (I think he secretly enjoys being bigger than them)

Anyway you should check out Raggy Rats flikr pics to see for yourself how well made and unique her handmade toys are. I hope she loves needle felting as much as I do.
And other than my new mousey nothing much else going on over here at the mo. Just trying to make schtuff for the Craftacular but feeling very lackadaisical about it as I still have a month solid of crafting before crunchtime (June 28th)

I haven’t been in the mood to needlefelt this week………gasp, shock…. what!!!???!!! Don’t worry this isn’t the first time this has happened, generally if I take a wee break from it I’m itching to get back to it …….so I have used my “time off ” to make new mobiles this week….. for some unknown reason when the felting bug leaves me the sewing bug comes into town.
I figuered it was about time I got on with new mobiles Lord knows I’ve had enough requests to make different ones so here they are I’ll put them in the shop of course if you wanna check them out there.
 

Feelin’ crabby

Moo cows

What a Hoot

Little acorns

So that’s been my week of sewing and stuffing, I think the owls are my favourites but being a cancerian I do really like the crabs too.

I guess it’s no secret that I like computer games,  I mean I’ve made enough Mario’s and Yoshi’s to have given me away at this point right?  It’s kinda funny that I’ve never thought of this as particularly geeky before,  it’s only when listing these items on Etsy that the Geekery word comes into play.   Anyway I guess I’m proud of being a geek as I just finished a little master chief from Halo for Danielle.

My husband is obsessed with this game so needless to say I will be making another one soon.

I did tell you I was going to Vegas right?   Oh ooops sorry  I guess I forgot to mention it here.   Anyway as always it was fantastic I mean where else in the world is the cop shop manned by Elvis?

I had my fix of blackjack for the year………ooooooh I love blackjack and I seem to do well at breaking even playing it,  well except for one night but that’s a different story ( and a very short and not very  good one at that either…..waaaaaah!!!)

We stayed at the new Planet Hollywood formerly known as the Alladin and as much as I adored Alladin they did a really nice job on PH.  All the rooms are movie themed and our room was the 90’s movie Made in America that starred Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson,  so for 4 nights I got to look at Nia Long’s pj’s suspended in a perspex box………I swear to God I would awake in the middle of the night convinced someone was standing at the side of the bed I mean look for yourself

More than just a little bit freaky huh?   I also got to spread some Etsy love,  one of the dealers at Treasure Island asked what I did and when I told her I made toys she was facinated by how I sold them as she had never heard of Etsy (there’s a surprise..oh how I wish they would advertise)  anyway she makes her own power bars and granola as she loves to hike and didn’t like any commercially  made bar……….who’d have thought a Vegas dealer who loves the handmade life…. anyway I hope she does sign up and start selling them on there.   Giving her the napkin with the website info written on it was like passing secrets to the soviets during the cold war it had to be approved by the pit boss and I know the cameras were honing on it like crazy.

Anyway in other news my little Mario is featured on cuteables.  It was a lovely surprise to find that out this morning and I’m also going to be in the Summer Craftacular at the High Noon in June………so I guess I had better get busy it seems like it has been a while since I’ve made a critter……..gaaaaaah!!!!

I am of course refering to these Daisies

I added them to the shop if you want to check them out.

I’m feeling a little better back wise thanks to the icy hot patch…..mmmm mentholy goodness, although it makes the cats sneeze……is it wrong that I find that amusing?

Two new etsy purchases (hey I’m feeling sorry for myself, so I’m allowed!!!) that I can’t wait to get

They are zippered wallets made by etsy seller kaylah7 you should check out her shop I love the fabrics that she uses for her pouches.

The camera one I’m going to use as a camera case (ooooh aren’t I clever) and the Alice in wonderland I just wanted because of the cheshire cat………sigh I kinda miss mine but I know he is in a good home.