My gosh it’s been a long winter here in Massachusetts.  I started to dream of green lawns and spring flowers and feared they would stay in my dreams forever.  But finally the snow has melted and the nights are getting longer and yaaaaaay Spring is on the way.

I  (as always)  have been busy.  First off we gave this guy a home…

We got him from the Worcester Animal Rescue League  and they were super nice and helpful through the process.  I highly recommend them if you are looking for your new baby.  We called him Murray  (after the Scottish tennis player Andy Murray)  and he is completely bonkers and lovely.  He seems  to be fitting in well with Floyd and Lewis too

I also got a brilliant commission for a giraffe,  and I loved how he turned out

He was super fun to make and I may just have to make one for myself.  I have also been productive with a few other projects which I hope to share with you soon.

So you may have noticed by the slightly shorter days, chillier nights and, oh yeah, all the leaves on the ground that fall is here.  And so begins the start of critter craft shows.

Last Saturday was my first show of the year.  It was in the rather gorgeous location of Sudbury, right outside in the center of town by the church (very New England).  I was excited to set up as I have changed up my booth display from my previous circus theme to more of a farm stand look…..what do you think?

I figured it was time for a change and the farm stand idea came into being from enjoying all the local farm stands over the summer.  I hope you can see some of my new critters in that piccie too……..you know the new critters I promised to share with you last post (whoops) and on his first outing Morris found a new mama

Laura was lovely and I am super thrilled that Morris was going to live in such a fun new home…….the other cool info about Laura is that she is crafty/arty too  so Morris should make the transition into his new home easily……..yaaaaaaay.

And I just though I’d show you some new critters that showed up just in time for Halloween………..the Jack O’Pumkins they are listed in the shop but are very limited in supply and anyone who has pumpkins on display knows that their shelf life is not that long so snag ’em while you can.

Speaking of Halloween I decorated the house

I got the pumpkin buckets from Target and used them as planters………I love ’em!!!  it will be sad to take them away the boys aren’t so sure though

 I think it’s more proof for them that mama is crazy.  Happy Halloween…….I hope you decorated.

I always love coming up with new Christmassy goodies but I always am hesitant to show them too soon.  It’s an interesting quandary for me as there is nothing I hate more than walking into a store that has set up for Christmas and it’s not even the end of July……I mean really?  are they serious?  So yes I know it’s a little early and I don’t want to panic anyone about Christmas so keep breathing as you enjoy my new Christmas offerings

I have a few other goodies still to take piccies of  but these are my favorite.  I LOVE the  Knitting Santa’s,  something about a crafting santa makes me smile. I have of course listed them in the shop so snag ’em while they are fresh.

I have been busy over here in Critterville and I figured it was about time I showed what I’ve been up to .  I’ll have a list of shows to post soon too………I’m super excited to be doing shows in Boston it will be nice to have a change of venues and start new holiday traditions.

I am just loving my new apartment,  we have a balcony which is brilliant for sitting out and enjoying the weather but doubley brilliant for enjoying the chirpers

We have a lot of other birdies that come and enjoy our feeder but I managed to have my camera near me when the grosbeak, cardinals and jay stopped by (which is really rare for me as normally I’m not at all prepared).

It certainly has been very exciting for one new critter………Spencer

Spencer is the neighbor’s cat,  but he just loves hanging out with us……….especially at lunch time and dinner time or if a new fire is lit in the grate………….unless of course the neighbors are home.  I’ll add Spencer to the shop  which I’m excited about doing as he will be the first new critter that I’ve added for ages.

What?  You don’t believe me?……..sure,  sure they are not going to comic con anytime soon (it’s not  really their thing) but hey a hamster has to be fancy dress party ready (oh my how hamsters love fancy dress parties……..just ask one and they will squeak excitedly for days)

Julie sent me a piccie of one of her party ready furry friends…….do you like his cupcake outfit?

Pretty cute huh?  I mean you really can imagine picking him up and eating him he’s so sweet……..or is that just me?

So of course being this cute means that he needs a stabby homage……

No offense to the original hammy but I felt that his costume would have been a little more fun if he had a blob of cream as a hat so I made him a detachable one that he can tie on, should he choose to,  his cupcake I hand sewed from felt.

I hope Julie likes her little furry cupcake as she is one of the vendors from strangefolk (which is how she found me to request this critter).

Speaking of Strangefolk I can’t believe the date is getting closer and closer

I am really excited for this show,  almost as excited as I am to be leaving for Las Vegas on Saturday………wooohoooo I love Vegas!!!!!

Well ok not tigers and bears exactly,  but anyone who knows me does know that  I am prone to over  exaggerate.  And as  we are heading to Vegas in a few weeks (yippppppppppeeeeeeeeeee) it got my mind ticking to the critters of Vegas,  hence the lions and tigers (is anyone capable of thinking Vegas and tigers and not instantly have the image of Roy being mauled or is that just me?)

So anyway I introduce to you Pierce the little white Lion Cub…..

He’s still a little shy but he’s eager to be a big star like his dad, and his dad before him.  He’s really a born performer.

And he will be appearing in the shop today.  Oh and keep your fingers crossed for me as I am on the waiting list for the Diy trunk show in Chicago,  which I am (nuttily) very excited about……..it would be great to get in but I am feeling terrible about thinking of apocalyptic diseases that may just happen to  befall the crafters that made it in……….aren’t I terrible?  I promise I do feel guilty though : )

Alrighty I told you I was working on a sweet commission and here it is…

A lil’ cutie cupcake…….I couldn’t work out how to do the cupcake paper for the longest time,  I even bought real cupcake papers but didn’t like how it looked………. then at about 2 o’clock in the morning it struck me how to do it,  it was all I could not not to leap out of bed with scissors and felt right then and there but somehow I managed to restrain myself to wait till morning.  I am really pleased with how it turned out especially as I had some pressure on who it was going to,  you see the person who requested it is the incredibly talented doll artist Jen of Nanassisters…….I have been in absolute awe of her chibi juice dolls for a very long time,  they are sooooooo good there isn’t a word for how good they really are.  Take a look at the doll she made for me

and of course I couldn’t have Alice without the Cheshire cat

They are so perfect and wonderful it’s as if they came straight from Wonderland to hang out with us.

Anyway I highly recommend that when you check out Jen’s shop you look through her sold items I promise you’ll be blown away by her talent.

Ok so everyone loves the weekend…….that’s kinda  a no brainer right?  But this weekend I especially love as I’m going to see the rather brilliantly funny Joel Mchale at the Chicago theatre.  I Love Joel Mchale his comedic timing on the soup always has me in stitches, no one can say chicken tatrazini and make me need to weeeeee quite like Joel (in a good way).  And for the longest time I’ve always wanted to see something at the Chicago theatre so this really is a win win weekend……..plus we are staying at the Palmer hilton hotel for the night so we don’t have to endure the late night drive back to Rockford yaaaaaaaaaaaay life is good.

I have a new critter I’d like you to meet too

THis is Smithy,  and he’s a bit of a scally wag…….he is looking for a forever home though so I will add him to the shop asap.

Have a great weekend.

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.