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.

Meet me at the rally

In a few hours we are heading of to St louis for the weekend for the Daily show’s  rally to restore sanity and or fear……the main event is actually happening on the national mall in DC but there will be a craft fair going on at the base of the gateway arch and beer and food vendors and a giant jumbotron showing the rally live ……..How cool is that?  I’m very excited about it,  I am also excited that thanks to the wonder of Hotwire we are staying at the mega fancy Hyatt St Louis Arch hotel tonight……yipppppppeeeeee.  What a fantastic weekend I cant wait!!

Some new Christmassy critters will be making the trip with us (is it too early?  I can never tell)

I told you I had been busy…….I love the santa hat wearing pengies……I got these little felt santa hats and I think they look absolutely perfect on the lil’ guys.

So now it’s back to packing and prepping for the trip (groan) not my favourite thing in the whole world but I can’t wait to get on the road so I guess it’s worth it.  Hope I see you in St Louis for the fun.

No it’s the super mischief monkeys bringing chaos and mayhem wherever they go.

I made these little caped monkeys at the request of Sher.  Her mother in law had given her children long armed catapulting plush monkeys that the kids loved playing with on their vacation in Florida this year,  so naturally Sher wanted a stabby homage to the vacation and fun everyone had and requested I make goofy monkeys for the family  Christmas tree this year…

And so that’s the story of the super mischief monkeys,  I hope Sher likes what I came up with.  I’m rather smitten with the lil’ fellas I love thinking of the mischief that ensues upon their arrival.

Bob Omb has finally arrived to add to my stabby homage to Mario……

He’s a fun guy to make, and one of my favourite characters to play……..remember in Mario cart when you lost,  you could control Bob to bomb your opponents?  aaaaaaaaah good times.

So he will of course be added to the shop later today.

Tonight we are heading back into Chicago to see The xx at Lincoln Hall,  which should be great as the venue is brilliant…..although I have a feeling we may be the oldest people in the room……..(not difficult when you consider the fact that the 4 members of the band are only 19).

So back to stabby frenzy for the upcoming Craftacular………Gaaaaaaaaah only a little over 2 weeks to go before the show………busy, busy,busy!!!!

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.

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………..

What I’ve been working on for ages………..

It’s always a challenge to get prepared for winter shows when needle felting takes so long,  I’ve been knitting mini scarves and stabbying snowmen since the start of July so it’s nice to finally show them to you……..although I do kinda think to soon to share?………….nah It’s almost November,  gulp can you believe it?   I’m shocked at how fast this year has flown by.

Anyway I will be starting to add the Christmas goodies to the shop so grab ’em quick as my first show is less than 2 weeks away……………eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!

I’m not sure I’ve said that enough,  but you guys come up with the coolest suggestions for critters……..and I sincerely thank you for being so cool and brilliant.  Sher (Blinky’s soon to be new owner) requested a chicken ornament sort of a cross between the lil’ roasters and the chunky chickens……….and so here we have the lil’ cluckers

I really am so grateful for the requests,  as sometimes I think my craft mind has a tendancy to get stuck just a little bit in a rut…..especially when I am preparing for shows.    I made a few of these guys as I love how he turned out and seeing as how my quest for egg cups with chicken feet has turned into real holy grail territory maybe this is the way to go afterall.

booooooo….

Did my lil’ Halloween ghosties scare you?   They hope so,  trouble is they are just too cute to be terrifying……poor guys.  I made the ghosties for my batch of Octoberie goodies I’m working on in preparation for my fall show,  I still have a few more ideas I want to work on but I am starting to feel good about my quantities of  Autumnal offerings and I will of course add them to the shop today.

This past weekend we went to Chicago for the Renegade craft fair.  I was incredibly excited about this years show as one of the new vendors was someone who’s work I fell in love with about a year ago when  I purchased some of his comic books at Quimby’s (a fantastic comic book store in Chicago).  Anyway his name is Matthew Reidsma and he is awesome,  so of course within 5 seconds of finding his booth I had pretty much blown my Renegade shopping money,  but the original artwork I got is so super cool I’m sure I will be gushing about him for a long time to come.

Anyway here are my Renegade goodies. I bought some  beautiful hand painted roving from kitchen sink dyeworks and Hands and Notions.  And I’m thinking the colorways are perfect for my rotten eggs for Easter……..argh good grief can you believe it?  I’m thinking of spring 2010 and it’s not even through September 2009…….how mental is that?  Oh well i guess it’s good (and totally unlike me) to be prepared.