Getting stuff done.

Framed up two of my little paintings, listed 'em on Etsy.

Here is one...

Here is the other...

Annnnd...

Finally listed this little monster that has been laying low in my studio for quite some time. He is so sweet and innocent. Totally. Not evil at all! For some more pics, check out his listing...

Going to the Farm for Canada Day. I will not get a sunburn, I WILL NOT. I will cover myself head to toe in baby bunnies for protection.

Earthquake. Yeah.

Wait. We can have earthquakes in TORONTO?? NO WAY.

Just had a little earthquake here, and sitting in my studio, which is in a hundred year old building (which may or may not have been built by unskilled townspeople) I felt the tremors. The building started creaking and the walls and ceilings were cracking. Sounds scary right? Not really because it always creaks and cracks and shakes when people walk on the stairs or sneeze really loudly.

I wonder if it shows a lack of appropriate action in a dangerous situation, because I didn't run to a door frame or whatever you are supposed to do, I complained then looked on Twitter. The cat didn't even wake up.

Anyway, I *was* working on listing a stuffed Skull and Crossbones!

Its available at my Etsy Shop.

The bones are not attached and they can be arranged how you desire, or you can hit people with them.

I also listed a plush bow...

It is also available at blacklilypie.etsy.com

Its a nice tapestry style fabric. Would look great in your boudoir!

I am already tired of people on TV and Twitter and Facebook talking about the earthquake. "I totally dropped my ice cream!" and "It felt, like, shaking, and...stuff." Already BORED of it. Even bored of my own anecdotes. I am such a grump! ha ha.

Guess I should get back to work...

Bones

Hey. What is that? Those?

I have no idea.

Ever make something you don't really know what its purpose is? Heh heh. Working on a few stuffed items this weekend, will probably put them in the shop next week.

FOX!

This may be one of the cutest things I have ever made. I just think it came out really well.

Lil Fox!

Photographing him was difficult, I couldn't get really get the angles I wanted. On inspection I should have faced my photo studio differently so the light was on the opposite side... He turns to the side a bit, with one arm a bit higher than the other. It gives him a natural "good side."

He is stereotypically cute, with his little beady black glass eyes. He is remarkably not quirky, he looks like a real little stuffed animal. I think making the legs grey wool was a good idea. I mean, I think the cutest part of a fox are his black legs! The backs of his ears are also grey.

He is for sale at blackforestcake.etsy.com

I am going to give my hands a rest after sewing for a few days. They always get pretty beat up from wool, which my skin finds irritating. I think once they heal up a bit, I will use this fox pattern for other animals. Maybe after Easter.

Off to eat a cadbury creme egg now. :-)

A few new things

I have listed a few new items today!

A super lady-like cat doll.

I struggled with deciding which of my Etsy shops she should be listed in. She is definitely sugary sweet and an animal (blackforestcake?) but she also is similar to cats I have sold in the past (blacklilypie?) I suppose it doesn't really matter.

I also listed a weird little rabbit...

The little circles of grey behind his eyes instantly turn him from "cute rabbit" to "Tim Burton inspired creepy rabbit." Haha. Such a small thing. They give him sort of a skull like face. He is a test of a new pattern, really. I haven't decided if I will be making more of his type of doll yet...Probably!

I also added this:

A cat face chalkboard.

This item has been hanging out in my studio for QUITE some time. I finally decided to make a "Scratch and Dent" section at blackforestcake, for projects with more quirks than others. This blackboard has some scratches on it from my first chalking attempt. (See them?) But thats ok, its still cute and works great!

I am already working on a new tiny fox plush, and have a little glittery fox mobile to Photoshop and list. It must be the Spring that is making me make animals like mad. :-)

New at blackforestcake.etsy.com

Fox! (Of course...)

Party Fox!

The orange felted wool I had in my studio was calling out to be a bright little fox. He is a quirky one, with little green glass eyes and wild whiskers. He is available at my blackforestcake etsy shop, if you want to see more photos of him.

The little felt hat is removable, and the gift box fits overtop of the cake so you can surprise him. the cake is made from paper, modeling paste and sculpey.

This orange is so vibrant it is really hard to photograph. He looks radioactive in some pictures. Haha.

Critter peek!

Back to work!

I am back at it, in my little studio. I am working on a new little critter that will be listed in my blackforestcake Etsy shop.

Here is a little hat that will come with him...Its about 4 inches tall.

Want a bit of a peek at his weird little face? Here you go...

Crazy whiskers!

I don't know exactly when he will be listed, as I have a few other bits and bobs to add to him that are at that *experimental* state where they could go well or go in the bin. :-) Plus its gloomsville outside and that always makes taking photos more of a pain.

I am also working on a DIY purse project that I will post soon. All I will say is *STUDS!*

Blackforestcake!

This little raccoon was just added to my Blackforestcake shop!

He's waving.

My parents found this amazing wool, which I think was intended for clothing production. May mens suiting or coats... It probably is vintage actually, but I guess I can't say that unless I actually know...but I bet it is.

This wool is perfect for critters! Its so sad that I can only make a few of them then its gone forever. SIGH.

When people touch this raccoon in real life, the first thing they say is "Wow, He is sturdy!" That sturdiness is why sewing felt dolls is only an intermittent thing for me. Its tough! :-)

More critters listed tomorrow I think...

Look at this!

Prezzies!
Originally uploaded by Kyestera

Hey guys, do do remember a sneak peek I did a while ago with a picture of a sock creature? Here he is completed and at his new home! Thanks for posting pics of him L! :-)

He was a birthday git for an awesome friend. For a while he was lost in the mail, I was scared he had escaped.

So is he a cat, or is he a monster? Who knows...

Peek!

Sneaky peek!

New stuffed wool guys, sitting in a box, waiting for their makeup and accessories!

Orange Cat is a gift, but the others will be in the shop in the New Year.

Keeping busy. :-)

Sock thing.

This is a sock creature being born in my studio.

What will he be? His little personality is forming...Life as a pair of pink socks can't be easy, he might be a tough-ass. haha

I will see what he wants to be tomorrow morning.

Socks

I made a sock creature for a friends birthday, then got a great idea to make...

Haha! He is cute! I listed him at blackforestcake.

There is a quirkiness built into sock monkeys. Judging from every one I have ever encountered, there is bound to be some interesting flubs, lumps, and weirdness that makes each sock monkey its own. They naturally have that kind of unique wonkiness that people who make hip, handmade stuff often try to fake. haha! I think I will make more. Its fun!

The one I made for my friend is a prototype, and is still secret. Its a little less "cutesy" and a little more "evil." I am working on the design a bit more before revealing it.

Now I have to go lay in a wilted puddle on the floor. Melt.

New dolls!

I have two little guys to show today.

The shadow has been revealed. Its a smartly dressed mini-cat. I used a version of my larger cat pattern. I just wanted to make the tiny clothes...He has a little tie, vest and a walking stick with a glass bead. Smartly dressed gent. I almost gave him a little bowler or top hat, but it seemed like overkill.

And this little scamp (or vamp?) is the first of the crew of cemetery bats I have been sneak-peeking for you.

He wanted his coffin to match his eyes. I mean, who doesn't?

I have 5 other undead bats to work on photos for. Each is a bit different. Making a ton of little dolls on stands wasn't as easy at I thought it would be, it took really long. The hint in that statement is that these guys may not be a regular feature in my shop...My favorite part was making the little tombstones. That was SO FUN. :-)

More tomorrow.

Junk and Stuff

Working on new mini-items...



I am making some mini-animals on little stands. Its a messy job, because I need SO many different materials to make them and their homes. Felt,beads,cardboard,glue,thread,fabric,paper...PHEW!

Some are sweet and some are spoooooky. :-)

I have a blog?

Five times this week I went "I am gonna post some crap today." But then I realized that this week my life is dull and it would make the world a duller place to pollute it with more dullness.

But I got over it.

I made a Stuffy Skeleton this week!

He is a cute one. His squashy face makes me like him.

With all the craziness about the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) in the States taking effect soon, and what it will mean for anyone who makes kids toys or products it seemed like a good time to get him out there before he is horribly illegal. Even though I don't specifically make kids items, things like this stuffed skeleton could be making his last appearance in my shop because he is perceived as a kids toy. Unless something changes, most people who make kids stuff won't be able to pay for the new testing they will be required to have.

The rest of the word can still snorgle him, but I sell most of my toys to Americans. So it won't really be worth my while to make them. aww. :-( There is a possibililty he could be considered an "art doll" but that will need more researching before I can be sure. The issue is a hot topic on Etsy and all over the place. The US crafty community is seriously kicking butt fighting this. Props to you.

*EDIT * Pretty much right after I posted this the deadline that you would have to start testing some kids products was suspended for one year! Way to make waves! :-)

So, I also listed two original artworks this week!

.
So proud of me. Ok, it wasn't actually difficult. Ha.

Oh and I just have to post this last little pic from last weekend. It makes me laugh whenever I look at it...

Hahaha. We are such idiots.

Before going out to the clubs we were playing on our webcams for way longer than we should have been. (Three computers, one studio? Dork party!) It deteriorated into gang signs and photobooth special effects. So fun. Look how cool we think we are.

Now off to make pad thai and try not to make a fool of myself on the internet. ;-)

More swooping.

Look at this little custom order I made. Isn't it the freaking cutest?

Haha. A chef bat!
Making little clothes is super fun. But I don't want to do it all the time, to keep it fun. :-)

Some other bats I am considering though...
-tax man
-professional poker player
-makeup artist
-Etsy shop owner
-Ricky Gervais

Just kidding.

Monday.

Ok, its Monday. It dreary outside and cold in my studio and I feel like I could just crawl under a blanket and watch House (which I downloaded in a totally legal way.) Is someone being a jerk to everyone supposed to make me smile so much? I might be a bad person...

So this weekend a batch of Batcat plush were finished up. I got a request for a more baby-safe doll, and this is what I came up with. They are nice and floppy, and kind of flat, perfect for kids to lay on and beat up.

I put one sleepy one in the shop. One is spoken for and the awake one might be photographed tomorrow (when its less dreary.)

Another thing that I will add is my new little phone my Dude got for me. I had the oldest phone on the planet, and the worst part is that it still worked perfectly and dependably. How crappy is that?? I wanted it to break so I could get a new fancy one.

I now have the phone of a 16 year old boy.

I have yet to mar its surface with stickers and junk, but that will happen after the honeymoon period of newness. I think its nice I actually have a use for my Bluetooth now. Sending nonsense to and from my phone. Its like I live in the future. (P.S. My Dude got the 'girl' colour and I got the 'boy' colour. Does that blow your mind how we laugh at typical gender roles? HA.)

Ugh, today is definitely the day I turn the heat on in the apartment. It somehow feels like failure. I always try to go as long as possible without it. But Screw that, its officially friggan cold, and friggan Monday. I have written posts about how I usually feel so optimistic and productive on Mondays. I am so sorry about that. I take it ALL back. I just feel COLD.

Ladies, please stop swooping and biting!

The last of the bats...

These two are the last of the little batch of bats I made. I used different eyes than I usually do, and they are cute, but I don't think they are as cute a the smaller ones. It just doesn't fit my style as well. Back to beady eyes!

I have been having a heck of a time photographing things lately. I made a new huge lightbox, and since then I have been struggling. I think it might have to be scrapped. I think it blocks too much light, and then I have to digitally lighten photos to much. Life is so hard.

So now I am free to work on the book again, and also some other secret-y projects. Spray paint some stuff, paint other stuff, NOT sew ANYTHING, and then see Ghost Town this weekend and heart Ricky Gervais. Week is planned out.

Still haven't decided on a Halloween costume. I would say that panic mode is near. Must decide!!

BABY BATS.

(I almost wrote "BB bats" then was shocked with a memory of the old school candy I had forgotten existed...)

A batch of baby bats is trickling into my shop...

Here is a creamy little dude.

And here is a radioactive orange one.

I usually don't like orange. I got this wool to make a fox, and I still might make one, but it just seemed too perfect for some Halloweeny bats! I have three other bats that need to be photographed, but its too late and dreary (and freaking FRIDAY) for me to do that. ;-)

My dude (N. Zombie, my music reviewer) just got some awesome work news, so there will be no more work tonight. But there will be blueberry cheesecake. I guess its "work" to fight the urge to smash my face in it like a pie eating contest. Yum.

Only 48 days till Halloween, still no costume! Tonight I shall decide. I just ...decided.

Dapper little dude.

One bat is ready!



He is ready and in the shop.

His brothers and sisters are in various unfinished forms, and he couldn't wait for them.

I think one or two of the other bats will have costumes or some sort of accessories, I'm not really sure until I finish their faces.

Have I mentioned I like Halloween? NO? I do.