My costume!

So Andy's birthday party is tomorrow, and in his usual weirdness, the theme is "Be free with your friends in the Trees"---dress up as your favorite tree dwelling animal. And luckily my new favorite animal that I'm obsessed with happens to be a tree dweller.....THE RED PANDA!

They're herbivores, slightly bigger than a normal cat. I bet Mufficakes is bigger than a lot of them!


Look how cute they are! My costume won't be that great, considering how crafty I am, I reallllllly hate costumes and I'm always lazy and uncreative about costumes. So I'm going to make a simple felt tail and ears and work with this sweatshirt I got at Value Village. I don't even know if it will be post worthy. I do need to paint my face somehow!


I'm doing well so far with my Etsy goal. Today's new item that I'm uploading is the Pink and Green Dottie Earrings. They are $7. View them at my etsy shop. http://www.stuffbysophie.etsy.com

Etsy Shoppe Update!

WWW.STUFFBYSOPHIE.ETSY.COM

So I finally got off my ass and took some pictures outside today since it was sunny and Andy found the camera battery charger. I've been updating things sporadically throughout the day. I still have a lot of things to update, but I think I'm going to space them out a little to keep things interesting and fresh. Now that the shoppe has a decent amount of items with better pictures I'll be happy, and I'll update 2 or 3 items a day (my goal anyway). Went to the hobby store and got some neat things that I can work with to make some Valentine stuff.

Also I got myself a BLYTHE doll like I've been wanting for a while. Seeing all the cute handmade outfits on Etsy for her was too much and I had to get one. It's actually the mini Blythe which is significantly cheaper....I'll get a real size Blythe one day (maybe on my birthday!). I'm being a little bit PSYCHO about the whole thing. I've deduced that it's because I didn't have enough toys growing up and I never got the American Doll that I always wanted. I have always been obsessed with dolls since I was little, even the creepy porcelain ones with scary ringlets and victorian dresses. Anyway, I've already gotten her 3 custom made dresses from Etsy, which I will post when I get them, as well as a miniature storage trunk for her dresses, and a mini meal that consists of bread, brie, and a cup of coffee. She'll be hungry when she gets here.

Isn't she precious? Her name is Fiona Blythe


I posted some more stuffed things like these Heart Stuffies for Valentine's day, as well as some others.


I'm also gonna post cute things that I find occasionally for resale. Like these adorable little pink Lucky Cat Statues that i Love.


And some mini paintings (all originals, no prints!) like this one. I think I'll sell most of them UNframed with choice of framing if they want it. That way it's easier to ship and keeps it more affordable.


Anyway, you can see them all at my shoppe at WWW.STUFFBYSOPHIE.ETSY.COM.

Long time no update!

I haven't updated because I have been ill and also I can't find my camera battery charger and it's pissing me off because I can't be productive like I want to!! I wanted to take pictures of products today and upload to Etsy but the camera went dead and I couldn't find the charger anywhere. I definitely need to find it by Friday for the party or I'm in big trouble! Things are weird right now in the relationship department. Here was my horoscope in Creative Loafing:

Taurus:
The dramatic version of your cosmic symbols reads thus: early in the week you will come to a finale within a relationship. You are moving on to a bigger world, one which is not so possesive. You need your tim and energy to explore new areas of creativity and yes maybe a different "lover".

This Friday is Andy's birthday party as well as one of my best friend's art show (she does photography) at Black Sheep. We're supposed to all go dancing tonight at Hom but it looks like it's a bust. Dang.

Update

So I don't have a fever anymore but I'm all gross and congested still. I spent all day in the house but at least I got some work done...Andy and I cleaned up the house some....We're trying to get ready for his birthday party in a couple weeks. I made a couple Valentine's items for my Etsy Shoppe. The pictures are pretty horrid, so I have to retake them the next time there's a sunny day, I was just antsy to get some stuff up. For Valentine's I'm making some heart plushies, some plushies with love notes in their pockets, and maybe some cards.


Eric posted this picture on his Flickr today. It was last summer and we were all playing badminton in the field across from their house at Stratford. This was one of my favorite days of last year!

It's Snowing!

The one good thing about my sickness is that I get to stay inside the warm house and enjoy looking at the snow out the window. It definitely isn't "real" snow, but any snow is real snow to us..the kitties seem fascinated with it, they keep staring out the window intently. They won't walk in the snow though, it freaks them out! Today would be an awesome day to stay in and crochet from my Crochet to go Book. It's full of really cute patterns like these:





I have been really slack at doing anything artistic or crafty lately, I'm just not in the mood. I need spring to get here so I can get jump-started and motivated. I can't wait to start jogging at the bog again....and this time Irene's in town so I won't have to jog alone! It sucks to start from square one but I'm excited to start working out again. I'm treating myself to a nice hot cocoa right now to sooth my aching throat because it's freezing, and perfect for snow weather! Today I want lots of orange juice and soup...GOOD SOUP!

I'm Sick!

So I'm sick for the first time in like four years! I never get sick! I think it's a combination of not eating well and of course being around sick people. I'm pretty sure I have bronchitis, my throat hurts so bad, all i want is some TASTY SOUP! and nobody can bring me any because Irene is at work and Andy's helping his mom move so I'm stuck at the house all by my lonesome. Muffin is napping. Sushi is napping. I should probably nap as well considering i woke up every two hours or so last night in a sweat--i was sweating out a bad fever. I still have tons of work to do with online stuff (etsy and cafepress,etc) but I have been busy working (or being sick!). I did send an application via http://www.plushyou.blogspot.com. They do a plush art show once a year. We'll see what happens with that. This weekend is supposed to be really busy, I hope I get well in time or I won't be able to do ANYTHING!

I can't wait for the weather to get warm again so I can drop a few pounds by jogging instead of nesting and eating all the time. And so I can enjoy nice days like this at the bog.

A Day at the Park!

This weekend has been a busy weekend! Friday was warm outside again so we played outside at the hidden park. Later on that night we went to the FORUM uptown because Chase's dj friend, DJ Rocktakon, was in town from NYC. We danced our asses off until 2 am. Saturday we went to Steve Munsell's (www.stevemunsell.com) house for a vegetarian potluck. I brought some mediocre Vegan Beenie Weenies scraped together at the last minute. Then we went to Elon, Hugh, and Bobby's house for Rusty Sneed's going away party. I haven't been working on arts and crafts stuff like I should be, hopefully I'll have more time the next couple of weeks. I'm still not working much but I decided that's cool. I'm fine with that for now. I have more time for days like this.

Here's Andy in his "4-square" uniform ready to play.


The court is really small and the hoops are pretty low as evidenced by white men can't jump here:




We played a game called Horse. It's hard when everyone playing sucks, cuz it takes forever to spell horse.


We played a really intense game of four-square. I discovered that I am awesome at four-square.


We even brought a jump-rope and played with that for a while.


Irene and Jenny worked on their skateboarding skills. I can't even stand on a skateboard.


Laid around in the soft grass and enjoyed the weather as it was getting dark.


Andy looking at the sunset.

Valentine's Day.

So last year I had a Valentine Card Making party. I provided tons of paper, glitter, macaroni, all kinds of fun shit and everyone that came contributed all kinds of neat things as well (lace, vintage paper, buttons, etc). We noshed on junk food, doughnuts, candy, and spritzer and watched Clueless and the Little Mermaid while we worked. In the end we all had awesome Valentine's cards made to give to our friends and family. I wish I had taken pictures of all the different cards everyone made. Anyway, I'm contemplating hosting another Valentine Craft Party again this year.

Here's your photo cred: Jenny Hanson

the infamous snack table


working hard!


look at all the red

A Beautiful Day!

Today is a gorgeous day. I am getting really excited about the impending spring. I already see us frolicking outside playing 4-square at the park down the street, maybe some backyard parties, and laying out in the summer. Awesome. I'm outside right now typing in the backyard. Sushi is eating grass like a little cow beside me. Muffin is still weary about coming outside. She seemed to have a good time yesterday though. There are a few stressful events in my life right now but I decided that if I just go with the flow of things, everything will work itself out fine. (I can hope). I enjoy these days at home where I can do home-related things like laundry and mending shirts and updating my blog. Irene and Andy are both at work right now, this is the first day I've been home alone since we moved in. I go into work later for a few hours. But that's a while away. Today I am going to:
**destress (check!)
**work on designing some more layouts for my cookbook
**update my blog (check)
**sit outside and read Little House on the Prarie in the warm sun
**finish laundry and dishes
**paint a little

So yesterday was the first warm day in a while. It was like 65 degrees at the beginning of January. So we decided to have our lunch of whole wheat pasta outside in the backyard.


Andy's enjoying the warm day.


Andy set up his little workout station in the backyard. Now he can do pullups whenever he wants.

Muffin was being weird about being outside for a little while but warmed up to the idea. Here are some pictures of her exploring. She is a timid kitty. She got over to the neighbors yard for a while and couldn't figure out how to come back into our yard. She's gorgeous, but not as bright as her sister SushiLoo. I hear Sushi pissing off the neighbor's dogs right now cuz she doesnt give a shit. haha.


Jungle Woman


At one point Muffin got stuck between the slats of the fence.


The only picture we got of Sushi because she acts crazy outside. She likes to run up trees.


Thomas and Matt Nelson came over. They played soccer in the backyard. Then we walked to the awesome nearby park and played 4-square where Thomas schooled everyone as usual.

Winter '08....it's cold.

So now it's really really cold. Which I guess winter should be cold, so I should be glad. Next week will be ridiculously warm again (almost 70). I love our house. I am not working much right now, so I am working on trying to sell arts and crafts and selling stuff on craigslist, etc. I set up my room a little more today so at least now it's comfortable to be in. It's helping me sleep better. Probably chi or something. I also got a mini kitty condo for Muffin and Sushi so they would not lay in our bed all the time.

I think they like it. Here's Muffin lounging like a goddess on her window perch. We surrounded it with plants so it would feel more like the jungle or nature.


It was awesome having friends home, but I'm glad I can focus on getting shit done that I need to get done now that everyone's home doing their own thing. joe, andy, and russ.


Things I need to do this week:
**Finish setting up the studio
**Finish a few paintings
**Take product photos and update my etsy account
**start working on my cookbook
**plan the Tea Party

Happy New Year's

So now that New Year's is finally over, friends are leaving town again, I'm not working all the time....I can finally start catching up on projects I want to work on. First, we need to finish getting settled into the new house, there is still stuff everywhere. I'm only working at Anthropologie and 300 east for 20ish hours a week, which is enough to pay bills---I will spend the rest of my time being productive and pursuing other creative ventures. Project one is a vegan cookbook with color illustrations that I am going to make through www.lulu.com. It's going to be a book of my own recipes and filled with drawings and doodles. I am going to make copies to give to family and friends, and make some extra ones to sell online and at craft bazaars. This should be a fun project, I'm so excited about it!!! I'm trying to decide between plastic coil pages or saddle stitch pages....also will try to do a children's softcover book eventually, but I always have a hard time writing the storyline. A book of black and white drawings to sell as a coloring book. And a personal book of photographs of artwork for myself. I am also going to start working on printing things at my CAFEPRESS store. They make these great big canvas tote bags that are good as grocery bags. So I need to come up with a rad design for one of those. I think those are pretty big goals for 2008 so far....

Later 2007. It was fun while it lasted.

Elon and Irene


Sophie and Erica