the end of summer?  really?    aw say it ain’t so……..All last weekend I listened to all the gloomy gus’s ending every sentence with ”  this is the last nice weekend so you had better do *insert chosen outdoor activity* now” and at the time I rolled my eyes and laughed internally thinking how can you possibly know that?  the weather is glorious how can it possible change so quickly?………oh yeah I forgot we live in the Midwest.   It rained all day yesterday and I don’t mean intermittantly or showers or what ever else that might mean to you…..I mean it didn’t let up raining hard all day (they say it’s the tail end of  hurricane Gustav) and today is looking kinda grim too……….pooooooo I’m not ready for winter I refuse I tell ya!!!!! I feel like I didn’t get my fair share of summer dammit!!!!!

Oh well I guess it makes showing some of my Christmas goodies a little more appropriate what do you think about Rudolph?

or how about a christmas tree pin cushion?

I’m loving the trees……I found some miniature terracotta pots in an art store and got the idea instantly,  but even still they look much better in reality than they did in my head… and that so rarely happens to me.

This weekend Markie is of to Gnomefest a bike ride weekend extravaganza (yawn) so I’ve got the whole weekend to myself………guess I’m going to be sewing a lot of donuts.

Means Lulu has a ton of schtuff to share with you………

I figure it might be a little overwhelming to show you everything I’ve been up to,  so today I’m going to show you my Christmas Chubby Chirpers

A little robin wearing a santa hat.  Robin’s always make me feel Christmassy even the large American kind always represent colder snowy December days to me and this little guy can’t wait for Christmas either.

I think my favourite part of Christmas is all the yummy treats and sugary treats I constantly throw down my throat every second of the Holidays which made me think of the ultimate Holiday treat

yummy Christmas pud

So I know, I know I said I was rebelling against making Christmas schtuff…….looks like I really am a rebel without a clue cos’ I’ve made loads of new goodies and these are just a little taste of what’s to come…….I don’t think I’ll add them to the shop yet,  it seems just a little to early to do that,   do you agree?

Well not me,  but Garfield has a fair few now…….let’s see I’ve made Garfield, Odie, Arlene, Pooky that’s everyone in Garfield and friends right?    wrong!!!!! look who we are forgetting……

It’s Jon Arbuckle,  Garfield’s walking can opener and Nermal the world’s cutest kitten.   I won’t lie to you Jon was very tricksy to tackle,  mostly because I had to invent his mouth area as he only has a line for a mouth in cartoon form which didn’t convey well in wool

See what I mean?    So I just had to think –  what would that look like in a 3d mouth?  and I came up with the top lip being more pronounced…….I think it looks quite effective and still looks like Jon.

Nermal was a lot of fun to make as he really looks a lot like Garfield but in gray indsted of ginger

So these guys are a custom order and will be shipping out to join Garfield soon…………..

And that’s pretty much how I’ve spent my week,  how was yours?

I’d figure out a use for my excess acorns…….yup excess as something wonderful may be happening to the majority of them (keep your fingers crossed and I’ll share with you soon).  Anyway what do you think of my Autumnal door hangers?

I really liked how they turned out so that means of course

I have one on my door……….which meant I made a few extras that I will add to the shop of course.  I’m also working on something a lot more seasonal which is always a little odd when it’s so warm outside but hey welcome to the crazy world of a crafter.

Why?  I hear you ask………well because I stole their lunch

It was fun collecting the acorns from around the capitol in Madison although I was convinced that at some point  I was going to get attacked by an irate squirrel, and people were looking at us very strangely as I inspected each one before depositing it into my handbag.  Sunday was spent yanking the nuts out and making the felty nuts.  I have big plans for these lil’ guys but if that doesn’t pan out I have a ton of Autumnal ideas for them involving thoughts of wreaths and bunting and perhaps pins………anyway those are just plans in my head….. for now.

In good news I finally managed to harass OrangyPorangey into bringing some T-shirts to the market ……..yaaaaaay   I got this one

I love her T-shirts and I’m hoping she will eventually make more as the designs are fantastic so I will continue to harrass her on a weekly basis so that she eventually breaks down and makes them………or just breaks down I guess,  I’m relentless.

In Kidrobot news I can’t tell you how excited I am for these guys to come out

How cool are they?  I so want Itchy and Scratchy although a Lisa would be brilliant too and very apropos dontcha think?

And other than that I’m working on a couple of commissions that hopefully I will share with you soon…..right better get back to it then.

I get that something done

50 new goodies for the Art-o-mat.  And in record time …..I’m telling ya guilt works brilliantly on me ….that and diamond jewelry obviously (don’t want you guys thinking you can get me some guilt for Christmas…trust me I have enough already)

So yeah I’m feeling mega accomplished and rather chuffed with myself………..I don’t think I’ve ever made so many in such a short period of time,   guess I should really make more and stop sitting on my laurels now though huh?

Two new online purchases I am also ecstatic with

First this totally brilliant linocut from Mis nopales art

I love this guy he is so cool I may have to get the squirrel too we will see,  and secondly my new awesome Oakley bag from Steep and Cheap my favorite online discount store.

It looks a bit crap in the piccie but it is actually really awesome as it all scrunches down and holds tons of schtuff……….at first I was disappointed when I saw it as it had absolutely no shape to it whatsoever but I cut up some cardboard and put it on the bottom and voila it’s completely cool and Lulu like, so I am thrilled. And it has a ton of zipper pockets so hopefully my endless search for ringing phones and purses in my regular black hole of a bag will be obliterated………well I can hope can’t I?

I utterly refuse to think about Christmas just yet I made some Halloween goodies for the shop

I know I have to get on with thinking about Christmassy things but for right now I’m on Christmas strike.  Besides I’m working on Art-o-mat goodies now as I’m finally listed as one of their artists look ….how cool is that?  but it does me feel like they need some critters asap.

Oh and the Daggit is completely finished now  (I  still had to make a cylon visor and belt for him when I shared him with you)  what do you think?

You know I’ve never seen a single episode of Battlestar Galactica…….one of my friends was sure it would be right up my street and went so far as to buy us the first season on dvd and you know what I still haven’t taken it out of the shrink wrap……ooooops isn’t that terrible?   maybe I should watch it today,  I’m certainly in the mood to after finishing this odd little guy

It’s a daggit from the original show and this is the picture I mostly used for reference

awwww isn’t he a cutie?   My version isn’t quite finished yet as the customer wants him to have a removeable cylon visor and a utility belt…….and truth be told I’m happy to hang on to him a little while longer as I love him and secretely want to keep him……..ssshhhhh!!!! don’t tell anyone.

It occured to me that I didn’t show and tell my birthday goodies…..so here you are

From my friend Matt (thanks Matt) I got a kitty’s in Paris wristlet made by antiquebaglady I added this to my etsy favourites the minute I got back from the craftacular (her booth was beside mine) I had loved it first thing in the morning but didn’t snap it up fast enough.   The cards are by floatingpalace her cards are all hand printed and gorgeous and last but certainly not least is the rather beautiful Rosie the amigurami kitty by Myissag her whole store is full of gorgeousness.  I also got a gorgeous rug from the lovely Ekra at least I remember it being gorgeous I don’t really get to see it much anymore as Floyd has decided it is his

Going to San Diego really got Markie off the hook present wise………I guess that means he’s going to have to work harder for Christmas………eeeeek Christmas I can’t believe I said that!!!!!  the horror!!!!!!

This past weekend we spent in Madison at the wonderous Art Fair on the square.   It’s such a cool art and craft event that happens out and around the state capitol building.   I actually prefer the crafts at the Art fair off the square as they are definitely more in my price range.. my favourite artist being Suzanne Miller.  She makes brilliant papier mache animals and such… I got two of her pieces last year and it was all I could do not to run to find her booth as soon as we hit the square

see all those hanging things?   Well I got a phoenix and I love him.

The other artists I was eager to check out was Circa Ceramics booth,  they were actually on the square and as always their work looked great…….one of these days I’m getting (at least) one of their vases it’s just hard to pick a favourite when they are all so cool

See what I mean

I also stopped by Anthology to drop of a box of Stabby Goodies…..I specifically made these candy hair clips for them as they like candy theme goodies (the store used to be a chocolate shop)

I wanted them to look like crazy Willy Wonka candies…….they are pretty cute even if I do say so myself.

I will add them to the shop next week as I am of to San Diego for a week  just in time for my birthday…….yeeeehaaaaw

I thought I’d start this post on a positive happy note and show you my chubby chirpers…..

I originally made these for the craftacular and they sold really well so I decided to make a few of ’em and because I got rather addicted to making them (and that they are my new favourite things)  I also made a mobile

So now for the drama………the reason I had so much time to make chirpers is because on Thursday I got the phonecall no one married to anyone who cycles wants to get………..”lulu I’ve just been hit by a car……..but I think I’m fine……..oh I’ll call you back the ambulance is here”  click……    eh?  what?  where are you?    hello!!!! hello!!!!!    oh shit     he blogged about it here  so you can see his knackered bike and broken hand if you want.    So yeah drama isn’t my favourite thing in the world I just thank god he’s basically ok although he is seeing a specialist about his hand tommorrow………keep your fingers crossed his hand is ok cos’ he sure can’t.