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 : )

The circus is starting to arrive in  Critterville…….first up Nellyphants

They are kinda tricksy to take piccies of as they are so well trained they go into incredible stacks of amazing wonder as soon as you point a camera at them………but I’m glad they are here and that the circus is coming together……they will be appearing in the shop asap too.

Yesterday we went to Chicago to see She and Him in Millenium Park,  it was crazy busy in the way a free concert in Chicago can only be.  But they were really, really great……not as great as how cool the Geary stage is surrounded by the big buildings though

The park really is a lovely venue for a show,  and it was a brilliant way to spend a sunny Monday night.

It must be as the temps are finally hitting the 90’s here……..I love the sticky hot of summer,  nothing better than sitting outside and getting some rays enjoying an ice coffee or 4, which I guess means you now know how I spent the last week.

Although Connor bounded into our lives in the meantime

He’s a sweet if rather timid lil’ fella and he will be heading to the shop soon.

Meanwhile my head is buzzing with sewing projects……always slightly dodgy for me,  as I always think big when it comes to sewing projects but my skill set is always a damper to my plans.  Regardless I shall be heading of to the fabric store a little later today to purchase the required fabric…..let’s just say lots of red and white pinstripe,  and that’s the only clue you’re getting.  I’m so excited to start but scared of the possible outcome if I can’t follow through on my grandiose plans.

Can’t wait to show you what I’m up to but I’d better get back to it………….

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.

Meet CC

He’s called CC for his chubby cheeks ……I think it’s from his constant smiling,  as I’m sure you can tell he’s a pretty sweet guy.  He’s made entirely from alpaca wool which is a lot softer than the corriedale and although this sounds like a silly thing to say more hair like than sheep’s wool which means it requires quite a bit more stabbying.  But as you guys know I love the process so it was fun to work with something different,  makes the ole’ brain have to rethink things to make ideas work……I will of course add CC  to the shop.

I got a super sweet custom order that I’m working on at the moment…….I would give you a hint as to what it is but I think I just did,  I’ll share as soon as it’s done of course.

Have a great weekend

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.

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!!!!

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.

For the first time ever I’m going to do a show in October.   The St. Cornelius Parish in Chicago’s Jefferson Park neighborhood is hosting a Fall Fest on Saturday  October 3rd,  and while it sounds like brilliant fun I don’t have much in the way of Octoberie/fall goodies……….until now

I’m loving putting little faces on everything right now (you probably guessed that with my acorn obsession)…….I guess the anthropomorphic magic is really strong  in Critterville right now.

I’m of course busy, busy, busy in preparation for the show………eeeeeeeek exciting!!!! lots of pumpkins and new goodies to come too.