The green one with no feet and folded ears is the final version of the owl. I’m pretty excited that the pattern for this owl will be included in Softies, a book that will be published by Penguin Books and is due out in September of 2007. I am working on a second pattern, one for the lizard, to be included, too. If everyone naps this week I should be able to finish it. Let’s pray for some much needed New England snowfall so that I can run the tot around outside and wear her out.
On Friday, Mimi came over in the morning while Roxanne was at nursery school. She brought over a fat fairy and a tourist doll, along with her new valentine fabric postcards. Mimi’s work is so fine and she is so skilled. I asked for a satin stitch lesson and she sat at my desk and stitched eyes and a mouth on a little doll head I had taken down from the shelf of the damned (where soft toys that don’t work out go to die). Now I see how to make my satin stitch really filled in and really neat. Thank you, Mimi!
Besides this little lesson, we had such fun talking. One of the things we discussed was how to define exactly what it is we make. When we say we make "toys" or "dolls" people immediately think they are for children when, in actuality, the majority of people who buy our pieces are adults who buy them for themselves. But they aren’t "art dolls" and "art toys" sounds like a toy you would use to make art. So maybe "artist-made toys"? Hmmm… Anyone have any thoughts?
Mimi lent me some awesome books, including this Woman’s Day soft toys book. I would really recommend this one to anyone who is interested in getting started making toys. Great patterns and lots of them.
And finally, I want to send a huge thank you to Sarah who had so kindly offered to help me with my postcard and spent the weekend emailing back and forth with me. She took the rough draft I had made in Illustrator and fixed it all up in Photoshop and sent it back to me. Sarah – I just mailed a thank you package to you. This week I was so thankful to be part of the craft blog community. Here is what the finished card will look like. I should have a big stack of them in a week or so.
All of my current work will be for sale through my Etsy shop in the month of March.
i already commented on mimi’s blog how jealous i was that you two got together. jealous seems like a mean spirited word, excited is really more like it. you postcard is wonderful, sounds like you have a lot going on and it is all great!
So glad I could help! And though I expected nothing in return, I’m uber excited to receive said package! Looks great! I’m spreading the word through my one Wellesley contact, so hopefully, it will be a great venue for you!
I think the brown owl is my favorite. I love how tall he is!
beautiful beautiful all gorgeous. i’m so impressed.
i just aquired the same “womans day” book and love it…
Congrats on having your patterns published in a book! That’s very exciting! I like how your postcard turned out, very nice!
Superbes tes hiboux !! j’adore !
Moi aussi je fais des hiboux…je te mets le lien si tu veux découvrir ce que je fais loin là-bas à Paris !!!
http://clemenceg.typepad.com/blog/hibou/index.html
Félicitations c’est vraiment très beau ce que tu fais…
What about “plush”, like “plush creations”? Of course, that probably wouldn’t work for telling someone in person either.
Congratulations on the owl success in the book. I love the card too, just fabulous.
I see both your work and Mimi’s as “soft sculpture” you built it up with many pieces you consider structure and form so why shouldn’t it be sculpture? also using the S word would really put those people in there place!
The owls are gorgeou s- it sounds like that will be an awesome book when it comes out!
The ‘what you do’ problem is a universal one. Lately, I just tell people that I’m a textile designer, and leave it at that. The toy thing just gets too confusing.
Mimi Kirchner. I am SUCH a fan.
toys to spark your imagination…..i love that!
i’m so thrilled for your library exhibit. how exciting!
elles sont trés originales tes chouettes , j’adore les couleurs
wow, your card looks fantastic. Are you going to have an opening?
love the owls!
Really wonderful that you’ll be published!!
the owls are lovely
&
congrats on the book. how exciting!
I love your blog and all of your softie designs. It makes me smile that you’re called “while she naps”. It’s the only time I get anything done over here too!
I love your toys!!!
Hope we’ll be able to purchase your book with Amazon! I live in France …
That would be THE book to get back to serious sewing! 🙂
I absolutely love that Woman’s Day book, too, isn’t it just full of things you want to make right this second? Your stuffies are so wonderfully done, you should have at least an entire 96 page book, too!
totally love your owls!