The Witch Doll is Done!

OMG Finally! I know! Whenever I make a doll I try and do something new each time, plus the clothes are always a challenge to me. Sometimes I have to set them aside until I feel confident enough to drive in and just do it. I'm such a perfectionist and hate having to re-do things. I want them to be right the first time (yeah like that ever happens!) Any hoo with no further adieu here is the first witch.

 Oddly enough she's really witch #3. She has 2 sisters that I need to finish also. Now that I've worked out all the details, I hope they will be done quickly as this witch is tired of tending the cauldron alone.

 I made her as my usual felt doll but added a spiderweb fabric overlay material to her skirt that I've been dying to use. I also found a witchy quote and printed it on fabric that I then used for her torso and the band of her hat. This was also the very fist time I used more realistic hair instead of felt.

 She's 19 inches from her feet to the point of her hat. Her arms are positionable. Her hips are jointed too so she can sit. She stands nicely with a doll stand.

 Her hair is made from Lion Brand "Homespun" yarn. You have to process it a little but it's super soft and perfect for hair. (I'm allergic to wool so can't go that route) And yes I wanted her to have choppy messy hair. After all she's a witch and that cauldron is hot you know.

I hope you like her. This was the first time I completely left my comfort zone and I'm pretty happy with her.

Witch Doll Sneak Peek

I was hoping for a very productive weekend but because of my crazy allergies that didn't happen. I did almost finish the first witch doll. She's still armless so can't cast spells on me to hurry me along...lol. But that's all so I thought I'd show some quick sneak peeks of her.

Witchy hair

Skirt

That's all for now. Hope to have some other WIPs to show later this week. I'm surrounded by sketches of other Halloween type things I've love to make but may have to save those for next year.

Lots Going On..

I'm not doing Friday Finds this week due to too much going on but I have 2 more great artists lined up and am looking for more.

This has been a crazy week for many reasons. My oldest and only son turns 21 today. I'm working away at my witch dolls which are coming along well. I learned how to sew hair on my dolls which gives them a whole new dimension and I'm pretty geeked about that! I have tons of felt to cut out for Christmas/winter plush creatures and more dolls. I've also revived my stationery business. 

Oh you didn't know I had a stationery business? Not surprising as I let it slip by the wayside this past Spring. I needed a rest and unfortunately that couple of weeks turned into months. I really wanted to concentrate on plush making and while I think I used that time wisely I feel the pull of drawing little graphics and miss my clients. I'm also currently working on a separate blog just for my stationery.

I've been on ebay for 6 years and my stationery was headquartered there but was tired of the fees. I also was unhappy with my website so am putting everything on Zibbet.

http://www.zibbet.com/sassypackratstationery

So if you are a former stationery client or just looking for fun and whimsical paper goods, come check me out there.

I've gotten a wonderful response for my little witch owl giveaway! Thanks everyone! I want to mention a great blog friend who was so kind to put a button/badge on her blog about my giveaway. She is also having a giveaway, so quick get over there she's picking a winner tonight!

 http://yoborobo.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-made-my-deadline-so-lets-have.html

Feltalicious!

18 yards of felty goodness arrived yesterday. Just enough to finish some extra Halloween projects and get a good start on Christmas ones. Yay! Can't wait to drive right in!

Worktable Wednesday and Back to Dolls

A dark Cave. In the middle, a Caldron boiling. Thunder.
Enter the three Witches.

Halloween Owl Giveaway and some Halloween Hooters.

After I made my Halloween plush dolls I had an overwhelming desire to make Halloween owls too. So..I did. I would have made more but I ran out of felt in the colors I needed...figures.

Any hoo, I made a fun one for my Halloween giveaway. He's a little mini but sweet as can be. He's a Witch Owl. Magical and fun. Casting happy spells as he flies through the forest.

He's 11 inches tall (27.5cm) Made of eco felt and fabric and all hand sewn.

Giveaway Info.

1. Just leave a comment with a way to contact you if you win.
2. Become a follower of my blog if you don't already follow me.. 

Simple and easy. If you want to blog or tweet or facebook about my giveaway then thanks, but you don't have to to win.

Giveaway starts today September 20th and ends October 1st. 

Halloween Hooters

Available in my etsy shop today.

Mini Halloween Owls going in the shop, minus the giveaway one.

Large and small Witch Owls

Large Halloween Owls

Hope you enjoyed seeing my Hooters!

Sassy's Friday Feature - LEFTZ

LEFTZ on etsy has some of my favorite plush characters. They are fun and eco friendly. And I'm all about re-use, re-cycle anything and everything so LEFTZ plush are a personal favorite. The genius behind LEFTZ is Mary Casher. All LEFTZ creations are made using thrift store finds and donated fabric. They are also stuffed with plastic grocery bags, you know the ones that end up in the landfill or caught in the tops of trees. Mary puts these to good use and they make surprisingly good stuffing material. (these bags are all clean, btw) Mary also lets you know how many bags each LEFTZ creature is stuffed with. I tweet with Mary often on twitter. She's a lovely person and such an inspiration to a plush-want-to-be-maker like me. I own 2 great LEFTZ creations and can attest to the fact that they are very well made and just plain fun.

Mary's creations are called LEFTZ because they are missing their left eyes. The right eyes are fun vintage buttons. She doesn't use patterns so each creation is slightly different than the last.

Mary has had several of her LEFTZ creations featured in STUFFED Magazine and is having a giveaway on her blog of Pepper the cat that was featured in STUFFED. Giveaway ends September 23rd.

Giveaway

Ted and Dew Drop are in the sale section of LEFTZ shop and I believe once they are sold no more of these will be made. (no more sparrows will be made) So grab them up folks!

Ted the horse

Dew Drop the sparrow

Nessie the water monster

Mary had a plush series that she recently sold off and retired called Tribals. They are tree like creatures with spears. I was lucky to purchase one before they were all gone and I love it.

Retired Tribals no longer available for purchase.

Mary is taking her plush in a new and fun direction with the addition of monsters. Some are fleece and fabric and some like below are fur.

Bananas the monster

This monsters unique name comes from the fact that he used to be a monkey plush found unloved in a thrift store. He was taken apart and recycled into this fun monster. You can read about his transformation here. From Monkey to Monster

 

Geeky plush bunny

This guy was sold the same day he was listed. 

How awesome is he in his geekyness?!

There's a fish trend on etsy right now and LEFTZ does them the best! Look at these patterns and colors. Luscious and I don't even like fish but I like these!

 Largemouth Bass

Holiday ornament

Want a LEFTZ on your tree this holiday season? These mini largemouth bass are perfect. Grab them quick LEFTZ always sell fast!

Where to find LEFTZ

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtTales

http://www.facebook.com/LEFTZ

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leftz/

http://leftz.deviantart.com/

http://twitter.com/arttalesleftz

Featured in 2 More Treasuries.

My items are in 2 treasuries this week. Frank the plush doll is in a fun kids Halloween Treasury.

 Halloween Treasury

And Tallulah the owl is in a fun Owl Treasury

Hoot Hoot!

I really appreciate when someone has taken the time to include one of my creations in a treasury. Thanks!

Wordless Wednesday

Girl resting bad soccer injury and watching videos with dog on her laptop.

Worktable Tuesday and A Witch.

At the last minute I decided to add a witch to my Halloween Plush Dolls and finished her over the weekend. I think she's my favorite. She's a cutie, isn't she?

 The whole gang is now ready to list in my etsy shop.

 

Some Christmas worktable peeks.

A finished prototype peek.

And yes I went a little nuts last night and started cutting out Halloween owls. How could I not?!

Treasuries and Random News.

2 of my items were including in treasuries in the last few days.

Purplicious Treasury

Team Bacon Halloween Treasury

Over the weekend I added a witch to my Halloween Plush Dolls and they will all be listed hopefully today. Lots of things are going on in Sassy's Studio so there will be sneak peeks later this week. Also I'll announce a giveaway too, so check back for that.

Sassy's Friday Feature - Chickengirl Designs

I have a very fun and talented twitter and blog friend who is an amazing illustrator. Her name is Jannie Ho and she is Chickengirl Designs. If I was an illustrator I'd be Jannie. She has such a fun, colorful, whimsical style that I just adore and is perfect for the children's market but amusing enough for adults too.
Jannie is a children's illustrator (something I dreamed of once but well that's another story) and is well published in Scholastic, Highlights and Nickelodeon Magazines.

She also has illustrated several books for children. (I'm a sucker for kid's books. Love the illustrations and have a whole library of them just for me.) Jannie's books can be found on Amazon and in bookstores.

She also does commercial work such as gift card design for Target. Also partyware, textile design and more.

How adorably cute is this?!

I love her animals as people illustrations best as they remind me of my childhood love of Richard Scarry's great books.

For the stampers out there Chickengirl Designs has a line of Digi stamps available through http://www.iheartpapers.com

Chickengirl also has a line of ecards available at Pingg with some delightful illustrations. Look an owl...sweet!

Chickengirl Designs also has an etsy shop that did sell great prints and note cards but at this time doesn't have any items for sale. But here's the link in case she does add some, cause I know you'll want them!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/chickengirldesign

More ways to contact Jannie and see more of her awesome illustrations.

http://www.chickengirldesign.com

http://www.facebook.com/jannie.ho

http://twitter.com/jannieho

http://www.chickengirldesign.blogspot.com/

I hope you enjoyed seeing Jannie's illustrations as much as I always do!

Peeks of Around The Studio Today.

Having a difficult time getting motivated today so in the spirit of the procrastinator that I am, I decided to take some pics of areas in my studio. I have no idea if you want to see them or not...but well you're going to anyway.

A new doll series in the works but sadly set aside for Halloween things right now. I keep taking him out and looking at him. Excuse his nakedness.

Cabinet where I keep some of the finished items.

Some vintage fabric that I'm not sure what I'll do with but couldn't pass it up.

Just some of my Sunshine Family collection.

Vintage owls. You know I love my owls!

My Ann looking worse for wear at 40 and my favorite Gnome from Bit of Whimsy.

Dr. Seuss dolls from Kohl's and my childhood Seuss books.

Box full of frames that I need to paint someday...for something or another.

Yeah I know not too exciting but thought I'd share where I work instead of what I'm working on. Love to see pics of where you work too.