I’ve been a very bad blogger………In my defense I’d have to say it’s because I’ve been very busy…………but the reality is I’ve just been enjoying the warmer spring-ey weather that is currently coming through the Midwest.

I did finish Travis though

And I am currently fighting the urge to go to Target everyday to buy up all the Liberty of London line they have.   You see I shopped on the first day it came out as I am a huge Liberty fan (even my wedding album came from Liberty) and I bought A LOT of it,  no seriously when I say A LOT  I mean I am pretty sure I heard my credit card give out a little gasp and sob a little………and yet here I sit still pondering over whether or not I really, really want the watering can and gardening gloves that I had already deemed a little silly and was sure I’d never use….. (how mental is that?)  I clearly need help.

So I’m going to get on with a new big critter today,  I love making the big guys so I’m sure that will keep my mind of useless consumerism……..for now.  Oh and today is my mum’s birthday……..

so Happy Birthday mum!!

Pudgy Bunnies are here!!!!!

A sure sign Spring is on the way……..yaaaaaaaaaaaay.

I just love, love, LOVE my new Pudgy Bunnies only thing is I can’t decide on one thing,  care to help?    Should they have chins or not?

See I’m conflicted, I kinda adore the stylized  no chin bunnies,  yet the chinny bunny probably looks more conventionally bunny faced………gaaaaah I can’t decide.   I guess I will just make an assortment of both for the stores,  I will of course add them to the shop.

So Illinois is starting to look a little spring like……..it’s not quite so cold and it’s not quite so dark so I am of course ecstatic at the the though of summer,  and have resolved to spend as much time as possible outside this year………maybe I can figure a way to craft comfortably outside this year.

Although I have tried before and sweaty hands and wool is not a great combination…………..yicky.

So here they are Obi Wan Kenobi from Star Wars old and new…………I gave Alec Guiness’s Obi a light sabre because he is my favourite Obi Wan.  They sure were fun to make and I hope Justine is pleased with them.  Mark certainly like them,  his exact words were “oooooh I want them” so I took that as a good sign.  I would love to make all the star wars characters  in this size eventually………we will see as there are only so many hours in the day and I am loving making new big critters right now.

Oooooops,  I didn’t mean to leave it so long to make a post and update you guys from Critterville.  I am not sure what happened exactly,  I’ll blame it on these guys

They are rotters after all.   I can’t believe it’s finally getting close to Spring (not that you can tell from outside)  but making Easter-ie goodies always gets my mind ticking over in anticipation for Spring,   YIPPEEEE finally .

So other than the rotters which I will of course add to the shop…… I also have been working on a big guy

About time right?  I still  haven’t quite finished him though so this is just a teaser,  I just didn’t want you guys to think I’d been slacking.   I also remembered just how much I love making the big guys.

Alrighty back to work,  can’t wait to show you my latest commission……..a hint?  ok well it involves star wars and old and new……..cryptic enough for you?  guess you’ll just have to wait and see won’t you ; )

I love special requests,  so when I got the request of making the Mario guys for a baby’s mobile I knew I wanted to see the finished results in situ.

And here is what Meg did with them

How cool is that?  I was hoping Meg would adopt me when I saw this piccie alone,  but just look at the rest of the room

Never thought I’d be jealous  of an ickle one before………but i gotta admit it I wish I could live there!!!

I also got a fun request for chirpers,  they had to match the colour scheme of this rather funky baby blanket made by the uncommonkid on etsy

So here they are

Lots of pinks, fuchsias and greens………I’m tellin’ ya these are some of the luckiest new borns ever  to have such interior design conscious mamas.

So I’m still stabbying away in preparation for the Valentine craftacular which is next Saturday……….gulp!!!  and this Saturday is Markie’s 37th birthday (haha he’s old) so to celebrate we are going to see Bishop Allen in Chicago which  is terribly exciting as it’s been ages since we’ve seen a band and I now have dimmer perpetually stuck in my brain……………..olly olly oxen free.

Alrighty signing off for now…..

So I finally got on with the long awaited task of adding some new goodies to the critter box line……… (about time right?)  I’m really excited about the Valentine Craftacular at the High Noon in February and figured that would be the perfect place to debut the new guys,  but of course I’ll let you guys take a peek first……  inspired by my trip to California

Dolphins

Koalas

Pandas

and my personal favorites…….Snails

Anyone who reads my blog with any kind of regularity knows that every once in a while I kinda get attached to some of the critters……you know I love making them more than others and every time I catch a glimpse of them smile like a loon.  Well the snails are my new guys for that……….I just adore them!!  (many thanks to Kim of lula and deedee for suggesting I make them)  I just hope other people will feel  like I do about them.

So now the countdown starts……….It’s less than 2 weeks for the aforementioned Valentine Craftacular in Madison and I am stabbying away in anticipation for it……. gaaaaaaaaaaaa better get back to it pronto!!!

Well the leaves weren’t all brown (does autumn ever really happen in California?) but the skies were kinda grey (I don’t think I had ever seen rain in California before but I’ve certainly seen it now) and we did go for lots of walks……………so 2 out of 3 ain’t bad huh?

In truth we got very lucky with the weather the week in San Diego was beautiful,  nothing but blue skies all the way.  And I got to reconnect with the love of my life…………….The Hotel Del

And we had the best room ever,  a complete view of the hotel from the front windows and the pacific and the beach from the side…….it was lovely waking up every morning (not something I would ever say) and falling asleep to the sound of the sea was something I would love to get very used to.

San Francisco had lots of highs and lows (barump bum ding) It was around this time the weather changed so we saw lots of rains.  It kinda reminded me of British summertime very overcast and rainy but not particularly cold………This didn’t stop us having a great time though,  we ate sushi from conveyor boats in Japan town

yummmmmm and did I tell you how much I love Japan town?  Everything is super kawaii it’s ridiculous,  the motto in Japan appears to be be if it doesn’t have a face,  what’s the point?  I stocked up on much cuteness.

And checked out the sealions everyday

I am glad to be home though……….as I found out the exciting news that I am going to be doing the Valentine Craftacular at the High Noon in Madison

eeeeeek so exciting,  but I gotta get busy as critter stock is very low,  and I am thinking of new critter boxes to make in honour of the show.

The best part  of being home……

Floyd was thrilled with his vacation hat……..can’t you tell?

But all I caught was some silly love bugs

They are pretty cute but they have a pretty effective little bite……….buggers!!!

I also made some Valentine candies

So basically I am just excited to be going to California tomorrow.  The snow is still thick on the ground here,  and it’s bloomin’ freezing to boot,  the thought of spending some time outdoors on the beach makes me jump for joy.  Making the valentine’s goodies did make  me excited for spring and Easter and warmer weather though………..alright see you in two weeks.

Wow it’s already going fast isn’t it?  I mean I can’t believe it’s already the 5th!!!!  OK sure I have been very lazy this holiday season,  but still.

I didn’t make resolutions this year as I tend to make the same ones every year…  and then break them all within the first 20 mins , so I’m just going to stick with making more critters and being a better blogger……..let’s see how I do.

So how was your holiday?  get everything you wanted?  a few of my highlights

Awesome new ornaments from beastlies and girl on the rocks that I just couldn’t resist and bought for myself for my Christmas tree this year.

It turned into a very beastlie Christmas as my friend Matt sent these 2 little guys along for the party …….thanks Matt,  I adore them!!!

prawn cocktail an essential part of our Christmas dinner………yummmmmmmmm  and chocolate milk

an essential part of pussy cat Christmas………….Sandy Paws was very good to the boys this year.

So a few highlights of Christmas,   and now I’m waiting for the 10th as we are California bound again……..yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

Staying again at the Hotel Del……….otherwise known as my happy place,  sigh I can’t wait as it’s also our 11 year wedding anniversary on the 14th and there is no more perfect a place to be to celebrate it.

And all through the house,  not a critter was being felted………..not even a mouse (and I love them the most!!!)

It is looking an awful lot like Christmas around these parts though

I love my Christmassy mantel,  and this year the cats have shown absolutely no interest in the tree at all……….I figure they just think mama has finally flipped and it’s best to simply ignore the evidence……….phew!!!

Last night my neighbourhood had a  luminaria display and it made for a lovely if  a little chilly walk

But that was the perfect excuse to warm up with some Christmas pies when we got home………….mmmmmmmmmm

God I love Christmas,  it’s the most yummy time of the year………….

Happy Holidays everyone!!!  Hope Santa brings you everything you asked for………..