And anyone who knows me well, knows that is a very rare occurrence……but I ask you how can I not be when I received a beautiful surprise package from my Etsy buddy MissBea.  And just what was inside the package I hear you ask well it was this beautiful papier mache bunny

He’s such a beautifuly made lil guy (as all of MissBea’s pieces are)  and Missbea’s generosity just blows me away and I can’t possibly thank her enough……..or maybe I can hmmmmmmm?  anyway my new bunny is lovin’ hanging out with my Kinser toys……..I think the closet beast has taken a real shine to him

And just to show you I haven’t just been sitting waiting for surprise pressies to be popped in the mail I thought I’d share some new Christmas goodies I’m making

The penguins are little guys perfect for hanging on the tree and the snowman and santa are larger…..better suited to tabletop or mantlepiece decoration.   See I’m always busy in stabbyland.

and falling, and falling, and falling………in fact I don’t think it ever stopped raining this past weekend in Chicago which of course made for a very wet Renegade Craft Fair.  Although it didn’t look like a bad time for everyone

He was loving the weather,   showing just how waterproof his new wellies truly were looked like a lot of fun.  Although it wasn’t so much for the vendors…..most of them appeared to give up footwear altogether (probably for the best)

But credit where credit is due I was so impressed with the resilience and friendliness of crafters even under horrible situations…….My favourite booth had to be the Etsy plush team booth

In the piccie is Christina from Dekvenga delights I have long admired her crotchet dolls on flikr, Susan of Susarto (I adore her business card…..she bills herself as a weirdo extraordinaire,  something I feel I can relate with her on) and lastly is Emma of uglyprettythings whose little Abraham I snatched up instantly as it was love at first sight…….although I happily could have stayed in their booth all day as I wanted to take all the critters home.

So here are my renegade purchase in all their glory

See what I mean about Abraham?   He is so cute,  I absolutely adore him to bits. I also got some brilliantly smelly soaps from Rinse…….mmmmm their booth smelled so yummy and I can’t wait to use their soap,  geeky ninja, magnet, pin and sticker from Shawnimals and a few completely cute magnets of cats on bike.  I of course hit up the etsy booth and got some stickers and pins……the hotdog  pin being my fave.  There was a ton of stuff I loved, but the weather being so godawful I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a huge deterrent from buying,  like a huge log pillow by Sally England Designs and the plush and wooden yoyos by suddenly it’s real and the paintings of Johanna Wright were wonderful……but the thought of schlepping them around in a torrential downpour just wasn’t  too appealing (hopefully other people thought differently for the vendors sake).  Still I’ve added a ton of etsy faves for holiday time and I’ve got a ton of insight into the not always brilliant side of outdoor craft shows.  Thanks to all the vendors for staying cheery and still making it a great time……..kudos to you all.

You gotta love when Gordon Ramsey calls people donuts,  it’s almost as good as when he calls them donkeys.  I think these would make the perfect gift for him to give to his chosen verbal victims….

I told you I’d be sewing donuts last weekend……I’m loving them so much,  although I don’t really want to give them up.  But of course  I’ll add them to the shop and convince myself to make some just for me.   I love that I’m able to use my crazy ribbon stash for these guys (I’m a ribbon addict,  I’m not sure why but I have so much of the stuff it’s crazy)  Although I guess that means I should really go and buy some more…..you know……just in case I need it……..sniff, sniff…….I don’t have a problem dammit!!!!!  I just like ribbon!!!!!  crap, maybe I am a pussycat.

I also have decided to show you my new Christmas cards…….I was hesitating in doing so as these cards I will be personally sending to my friends and family this year…..but oh well how else will I be able to add them to the shop if I don’t share them at some point?  I’m counting on the fact that if I show them early people will forget I said I was sending them……at least that’s how my ADD mind works…….ooooh look something shiny,  what was  I talking about again?  errrrrrr!!!

I got the idea for making them from making a Christmas mobile,  which I still have to share with you…ooooooh exciting stuff.

This weekend is the Renegade Craft fair in Chicago.  I LOVE this show so much,  mainly because it’s a huge outdoor event with around 200 vendors and it’s on Division street which is such a trendy part of town you can’t help but have a good time at it and 2 of my favourite crafters Ekra and Orangyporangy will be selling there  so it will be nice to annoy them in a different venue.  Anyway we are staying for the weekend which is a double bonus……….eeeeeeek I can’t wait!!   roll on Saturday

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.

About a week ago I received the sweetest, friendliest email from a fellow Art-o-mat artist.  She was going through her crafting stash and had a lot of wool roving she wanted to give to me……yup you heard right give, free, gratis……and as much as I tried to offer her some critters or a little quid pro quo  she wasn’t having it.

Imagine my surprise when I got this huge box in the mail today

Not only is there a ton of wool she also included a handmade frame, about a million buttons,  some bobbly fringing, yarn and some nifty folding scissors………there was even some cat toys but those are now dispersed in the apartment and no one is willing to let me claim them to photograph them……damn cats!!!

Anyone I am so shocked by this genorisity that a box of crittery goodness will be heading your way soon Valerie.   Thanks so much again it made a lovely start to my Monday morning.

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?

Ain’t nature grand?   I’m happy to report that my little experiment in balcony gardening has gone well,  just look at my banana peppers

and my tomato plants

Not that I really had to much to do with the process (besides applying water everyday)  but I am really proud of myself for my little edible garden……….

look what will be added to dinner tonight………………………….yaaaaaaaay  gosh I love nature

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!!!!!!

Well Ok more like 7 days and at San Diego Zoo it was more like Awwwww,  but still San Diego has left me California dreamin’.

Speaking of the zoo that’s where we headed on my birthday.  The place was absolutely huge,  I think we wound up staying there for 8 hours and we still hadn’t seen half of the place…..

I fell in love with these guys

awwww a lil’ sleepy koala,  I’d never seen a koala in real life before and they were utterly adoreable…..not the most active of critters though,  in fact I’m sure koala must be aboroginal for lazy wee bears but still I wish I could have taken him home.

The pandas were a close second for the cute title although they were also a little sleepy,  hey I hope it wasn’t my company that caused these guys to feel drowsy?

The next day we went to the Hotel Del Coronado,  those who are fans of Marilyn Monroe (I’m obsessed with all things Marilyn) will recognise it instantly as the setting for the movie Some like it hot

separated at birth?…..or  maybe not.  I had wanted to see this hotel for ages it’s such a cool building and of course Marilyn was there.  Coronado is an isthmus near San Diego and it may have become my favourite isthmus (sorry Madison who knew there was another isthmus with golden beaches and perfect weather?)

Our hotel was near the gaslamp quarter and housed some pretty cool old buildings like this one

It originally housed one of Wyatt Earps gambling saloons  and the upper two floors was a brothel where the girls were colour co-ordinated with their room door……..gotta love cowboys huh?  I wanted to know what happened if you were colour blind but I guess it probably wasn’t that big a deal huh?

So I think  I may be a California girl… it’s such a laid back, perfect weather gorgeous beaches and tons to do kinda place but then I remember that I hate the beach (can’t stand sand in my toes)  love to see seasons change (Autumn is my favourite time of year) and like my people to be a little tighter wound guess I’m an East Coast girl at heart.