on such a winter’s day…..I sure am.   Aaaaaah I can’t wait to be somewhere a little warmer,  with skies that are a little bluer,  and where I can have a relaxing couple of weeks hanging out on the beach……..sweeeet and while I am out there it’s our 10 year wedding anniversary…….anyone know what the 10 year gift is?  I am keeping my fingers crossed it’s diamonds……teeeheeee just kidding Markie.

I figuered I’d leave you with a new critter to enjoy (told you I’ve stuck to my resolution)  while I am gone,

his name is Blair and he is a very ambitious little critter.  He dreams of fame and fortune and believes he could make for a great spokesperson……..he actually got a toothpaste company’s endorsement but unfortunately he ate his manager……..it’s not Blair’s fault,  he was starving and the onsite catering at the shoot was not to Blair’s liking…….far too many vegetarian choices.   So while he looks for a new manager and campaign (he has his eye on being the Credit Lyonnais lion for the Tour de France)  care too look after him? 

I’m going to add Blair to the shop of course, but I won’t be shipping anything out till after I get back from San Diego……….not that I want to even think about coming back yet……….eeeeeek I can’t wait to be on holiday.

are crap!!!  I mean just in the time space of the 1st to now I’ve already broken most of mine,  so why bother?One that I didn’t break though was to make more critters and here is Bebe the little bear cub, officially the first critter of 09.  

He’s a real sweetheart although probably a little too soft for his own good.  He has one friend Goldie who constantly takes advantage of his gentle disposition,  you know the type….eats his porridge sleeps in his bed that kind of thing…….poor Bebe.

So I hope your new year is going well,  I can’t wait for my vacation although I do hope the critters will behave while I am gone.

So a couple of days ago I was contacted by a lovely woman interested in a bulk order of lovely felted Christmas ornaments for her tree………and look at what happens when you forfeit a few hours of bed

I really wanted to make these guys so I can mail them out with lots of time to spare for Christmas,  I just hope Marion likes everything and that they are how she envisioned them.

Another reason sleep is overated is who can sleep knowing that the Harry Potter exhibition is coming to Chicago……….I am so frickin’ excited for this I have a really strong desire to buy a million tickets for every day of it’s run ( April 30th – Sept 7th at the Museum of Science and Industry) and then just live there…….how awesome would that be?  they are going to set up the exhibits just like you are in the rooms of Hogwarts or Hagrid’s cottage or the Weasleys ……………………screaaaaaaaaaaam!!!! I’m so excited already 4 months is going to be a long wait!!!!!  what’s not a long wait is my last show of the year (what will I do at the weekends?)

So please come on by and wish the critters a Merry Christmas………..

Shows that is,  yup as my last show is rapidly approaching I figured I should have some new goodies for the table….

I was asked to make a little black santa ornament by one of the lovely vendors at the Bcktown bazaar……and here he is

I hope she likes him as she will be picking him up on Sunday at the Holiday Show.  Of course making him set the ole noggin’ to ticking and now I have amassed a little Santa army

Now I would love to tell you he’s my new favourite thing to make……but he’s not.  Why? I hear you ask well simply because these guys are..

They are kind of a bigger version of my little snowmen ornaments with pipe cleaner arms and I am determined to keep a few for myself I absolutely love how they look………I am getting worse!!!!!

So these little goodies (and lots more)  will be available at the show on Sunday I hope to see you there

My last show of the year is quickly approaching,  and I can’t tell you how much this thrills me…..I don’t have my tree or decorations or anything done for Christmas yet as I have been far too busy with the stabby stabby……..sigh I love having a real tree decorated for the holidays and I think this is the longest I’ve ever gone without having one…….waaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Anyway I am currently working on some new goodies for the Holiday show (and for Anthology) I’ll share them with you soon.  I got a request for a little Christmas cardinal last week

I had forgotten how much fun the little birdies are to make,  so thanks for the request Elizabeth I hope he makes your holidays cheery.

Remember if you are in the N. Ravenswood area of Chicago on the 14th  to stop on by and say Merry Christmas to me and the critters at the Holiday show

It feels like so much is going on over here in Stabbyland and yet nothing at all,  all at the same time………if you get what I mean.

I guess it’s because I haven’t moved away from my work place very much in the last week (try month) and yet I’ve been receiving the most brilliant requests and pictures from my wonderful stabby customers showing me the critters in their new homes………I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to know they are so loved.

Just look at Buttercup for example

Doesn’t she look happy?  and I think she is rather smitten with Marco the fabulous sock critter made by her new owner……. I just love that picture.

One request I had that was rather fun was from Miss Bea (one of my favourite Etsians).  Her son Noah’s Christmas list read as follows……. an MP3 player, Animal Crossings, and something from poorlulu.  Oh the pressure I mean how can I possibly compete with an mp3 player?   Well Miss Bea said he loves his hamster Ruby just look at his Etsy store for proof.  So here is Ruby for Noah

I hope Noah loves him just as much as the real Ruby………I certainly did which is why I was inspired to make Gary the Gerbil

I love all things mousey like so of course  he has my heart.

Remember this weekend me and the critters will be in Madison for the day at the Madison Masonic Center at 301 Wisconsin Avenue  from 10 a.m to 6 p.m and did you know that the first 50 shoppers through the door get a fabulous printed canvas tote bag stuffed full of free goodies from the crafters?   How cool is that?

So stop on by and say hi to the critters

So this time every year my hubby’s work has a bit of a Christmas party involving schtuffing yer face with food and swapping white elephant gifts (who exactly came up with the term of white elephant for a gag gift?  I mean it’s kinda odd right? It could just as easily be say a chunky chicken gag gift?  or am I overthinking this?)

Anyway back to the story,  last year I made him a little scientist for the exchange (and the fact it kinda resembled his boss was merely a coincidence  I assure you………..ahem)  and this year I took a little break from my crazy show crafting schedule and made him a little Marie……..

Above is the lovely Marie and below is my homage to her in wool……

I hope she isn’t to offended.

So I’m back to stabbying frenzy for Saturday’s show.  It’s the Craftacular in  Madison Masonic Center at 301 Wisconsin Avenue and will be on from 10 a.m to 6 p.m.  I can’t wait for this one as I adore the regular vendors and the organizer of this show so much,  it’s always a good time and really has quickly become a holiday tradition for me.  I hope if you are in the are you will stop on by and wish the Critters Happy Holidays………

Look a new mobile..

This cute little bug mobile is heading off to California this week and the question I ask is,  is it possible to be jealous of a mobile?  I guess the answer is yes…… as I am!!!  we had snow flurrys this weekend waaaaaaaaa no snow!!!!!!  I hate the stuff,  and I am so not ready for winter.

We had another quiet weekend at home.  I am still working away for the upcoming shows so every minute is precious stabby time, although we did go and see the new James Bond movie Quantum of solace………..Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Daniel Craig just how hot is that man?   and for the first time in Bond history he actually looks like he is more than capable of kicking someone’s arse.  Anyway the movie was fantastic and a good time was had by all………

Alright gotta love ya and leave you as it’s back to the stabby world.

I have had some of the most brilliant requests for critter recently and just thought I’d share a few of them with you before I send them to their new homes.

It’s Shaun the sheep from Wallace and Gromit……..you guys already know how much I love Wallace and Gromit so he was brilliant fun to make,  but of course he wouldn’t be complete with his buddy

Gromit who is participating in the diy craft movement and knitting a scarf (it is getting rather chilly here in Illinois)  although I doubt he’s going to need it in his new home in Arizona (lucky dog) thanks Cheryl for the requests I hope they behave themselves!!!! Shaun is a bit of a sofa nibbler so watch out!!

A few people have asked me for gnomes so I decided it was only right and fair to add him to the shop as well.

And look a new critter box……….a lil piggy, he will be added to the shop too.  I love having different critter boxes so thank you so much for the requests Carol.

And in stabby land news I’m still stabbying away in preperation for the Bucktown Bazaar

I’ll be honest this show is freaking me out a little as it is a 2 day event…………eeeeeeeeek must make critters!!!!

To all you Ghouls out there…….mwah, haha.

I have been enjoying looking at all the Halloween bedecked homes around the neighborhood,  that is something we never did in Scotland.  Oh sure we would get dressed up and go guising around the neighborhood……..but we didn’t just get to shout trick or treat for sweeties (candy) oh no we had to ask whether the family wanted a joke  a song or a magic trick and you had better have something for each one or no pennies for you!!!!  We also would Dook for aiples which consisted of putting apples in a bucket and your hands behind your back and using your teeth to get an apple……..this was considerably tricky if you had a deep bucket but it was said to ensure good luck for the year if you got one.  I highly recommend going first in this endevour as the water and apples were a bit gross after a few goes.  So anyway I figured I would share a little guy I made just for me……

I figuered he was the perfect Halloween acessory,  how can he not be he is the sorceror’s apprentice afterall!!!  I think I just needed to take a time out from craft show crafting and I really enjoyed making him,  although there is no way I’d ever make Disney stuff for my Etsy store (Disney is waaaaaay to scary to mess with).

I also got a request for an elk critter box this week……….what do you think?

elky  enough?

So have a spooky Halloween y’all!!!!  I mostly intend to watch ghost hunters live on the sci fi channel with all the lights out and eat pizza tonight……..what are your plans?