My Pup Lita Has Been Sick.

My poor baby had a bad infection that required minor surgery. She was sedated and knocked out which is always a worry for small dogs. She came through the procedure fine and her vet (who is the best btw!) made sure she could come home the same day and also blasted some plaque off her teeth while she was already out. Lita was in lots of pain and ended up having her butt shaved which she is very embarrassed about. She spent most of last week sleeping and laying around like this.

This week she is back to normal which makes me realize that she hasn't been normal for a while. I was just too stressed and busy with family matters and the upcoming holidays to notice. I feel like the worst dog mom ever that she had to suffer so long! I will not let that happen again! It's been quite the adventure here in Sassyland.

A New Christmas Stocking For My Daughter

It was one of those "unfinished" projects I had laying around. I actually started this last year but never got beyond cutting the stocking shape out. Well by golly I was going to finish it this year! And I did!

My daughter originally requested hot pink with zebra stripes. I was going to cut out a zebra pattern and sew it onto the pink, which would have been cool, but the amount of sewing and cutting required had me not wanting to take on such a time consuming project. Then on a trip to the craft store recently I found zebra printed felt! BINGO! PERFECT!

I sat down with my daughter and showed her different options of what I could do and she made the decisions and I cranked it out. For her name I printed letters out, then cut them from felt. I did double letters sewn together so the zebra pattern didn't show trough plus the letters are puffy and fun. My daughter's name is Seneca but we always call her Sen for short.

 It's slightly imperfect but handmade with love and she is crazy about it. And that's the important thing.


*in case you are wondering, the stocking is 4 layers of felt for strength and the toe and heel are an extra 2 layers for durability.

My Studio Tree Is All Decked Out...

...With ornaments from a swap on The Hive. I gleefully received my box and carefully opened everything. I love how every ornament is a different style and made with different materials and is handmade.

How fun are these? 

I really love them all. There is something fun and unique about all of them. I hope we do this again next year.

The penguin tucked away is mine. I had another ornament planned  just for this swap but my hated sewing machine broke and didn't have time to hand sew 12 of them so I dug in my shop stock and sent the felt penguins. Next year I'll plan better!

Holiday Coupon Code

I'm offering 20% off all my in stock and ready to ship TARDIS plush, Pink or Blue until December 15th. Coupon code: TARDISHOHO

I have 3 blue and 2 pink ready to ship for

your Doctor Who fan.

Free Christmas Tag Printables

I did these tags last year and hoped to add to them this year but time wasn't on my side. So if you are a new follower or don't know about this freebie I have a link below to it. 

For those of you on Blogger you can find the original post under my popular posts list too. 

 They come 6 to a sheet and can be printed on card stock. Just punch a hole and tie a ribbon on and you are good to go. You can also print them on sticker paper and stick them right to a present. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

NEW Download Link 7/29 2017

Semi Wordless Wednesday

I carry ziplock bags full of body parts around with me...that's normal..right?

My 2011 Holiday Plush

Every year I make a new holiday collection. There is only one of each type of character and I don't make more so they are very OOAK pieces.  I had a Mrs. Claus planned too but time got away from me so she got cut. I have to say that these are my favorite so far. All my new Spring and Halloween plush for next year will be of this design too. These plush are between 11 and 14 inches tall (28 and 34 cm) and in my shop this weekend.

Happy Holidays!

A Look At A Favorite Artist.

I've been following Zan Asha's blog for quite a while now. She such an amazing artist and all around interesting person. I've gotten to know her better on Facebook. She's an amazing painter. I first started following her because she makes art dolls and quickly discovered all the other wonderful things she does. She's also a bee keeper and a farmer. How many times in your life can you say "I know a bee keeper?"

She also hosts an amazing doll swap that I hope one day to join in.

Anyway, when this beauty came into her shop I had to have it! So I snatched it up right away. I have a crazy passion for owls and I wasn't letting this one get away.

 Her Blog

Her Etsy Shop

I hope you'll check her art out!

The Making of A Custom Ornament.

I was asked to make a custom ornament this year by a customer that I made custom ornaments for last year. It's sooooo nice to get repeat business! Anyhoo I thought I'd document the process for those who are interested.

 The client sent me a photo of their new dog. I did an ornament of their Yorkie last year. I then made a graphic of the dog. She has such beautiful markings but it's a felt ornie so I have to simplify them.

I printed out the basic shapes and started to cut and layer the colors.

Teeny tiny stitches.

This sweet Doxie has blue eyes so I used blue mini buttons. The white details have been layered on. The ears attached and the hanger too.

Here she is all sewn and lightly stuffed. Much more of a challenge then the Yorkie of last year.

I think she's really quite sweet! Just needs a bow then she's off to a new home!

Here's last year's Yorkie. I think I did a much better job this year. ;0)

FREE Holiday Shipping!

I'm offering FREE shipping on my larger plush items for US customers today thru Monday. No code needed. Added some new items.

Sugar cookie plush dolls

Plush Tardis - In stock

Tardis stickers

Winter character stickers

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Special Thanksgiving Treat For You!

I made these free printables last year to share with my blog followers. They can be place cards or you can write the names of dishes if you have a buffet dinner like we do. All you need is Adobe Reader. Print, cut, write and enjoy!

They have been on One Pretty Thing's blog, HGTV's printable archive and all over Pinterest. I plan on doing more since they seem to be so well received.

You can find the link to the printable on this post. http://sassypackrat.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-place-card-printable.html

If you download and use them would you please comment on how you used them and if you liked them? It just makes me happy. ;0)

I Won A Great Giveaway Last Month

It was this fantastic Halloween bracelet from Eleanor at Corner Store Goddess. She has amazing and unique jewelry and each has a story to tell. I've gotten so many compliments on this that I started to wear it everywhere. Heck I'm a Halloween all year round kind of gal!

This photo does not do this bracelet justice.

You can read the stories that go along with each of her pieces on her blog here.

Here are some of my favorites in her shop right now.

Awesome pumpkin earrings.

Sweet Puppy Bracelet.

Awesome Day of The Dead Earrings.

 Click on each photo to go to the listing.

Please do stop by and see the lovelies that are available in Eleanor's shop! I bet you find something you just love.

Worktable Wednesday.

I dyed the buttons I needed to finish my penguin ornaments last night and they came out perfectly! Even color and nice and glossy. I think I'm hooked and may be doing more colors soon.

I have a new design for holiday plush this year. I finished Santa and he came out really well so I cut out all the other characters. They are waiting on the worktable for their chance to come to life. I really love working on new designs! And yes Sarah these are in my style that you like so much. ;0)

What's on your worktable this Wednesday?

Rainy Day and Monday In The Studio.

I finished a crazy amount of felt penguin ornaments over the weekend. I made a ton to be in stock and ready to ship and once they're gone that's it. I completed about 30 of them before I realized I forgot to sew the tags in them...UGH! Oh well, I ended up leaving them all tag less.
I already sold a set right after listing them! Yay!

Here's all 12 colors.

They are sold in sets of 3 and here 

is a new color combo for this year.

I bought out all the mini buttons I use for their eyes but I need more. I have a ton of white ones in the same size so I think I may try and dye them. Any suggestions on that would be most helpful.

In the process of cutting out some new holiday plush designs. Not sure how they will turn out yet so I'll hold off on showing them until I work the kinks out. Trying very hard to use what little time I have to myself to create.

Gingers and Snowmen and Reindeer Galore.

2 sweet Ginger Plush Pillows. Available right now in my etsy shop. Sold separately.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63386895/geoff-the-felt-holiday-gingerbread-man
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63387625/gerta-the-felt-holiday-gingerbread-man

 

 Bert the Snowman is in the shop too.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60967401/bert-the-felt-holiday-snowman-plush-doll

These Reindeer Plush Buddies will be available later today.

Still sewing penguin and owl ornaments. I have about 30 of 150 penguins done. I'll only have maybe 10 to 12 owls this year. They will all start to appear in my shop this weekend and once they are gone that's all.

Saturday WIPs

I'm busy getting ready for the holiday. Lots of ideas not enough time so I decided to work on the smaller, quicker items first.

Box O Penguin Ornaments

These little guys were very popular last year, so much so that I ran out quickly. Making a big box this year.

Owl ornaments that I never had time to make last year. Only doing a few in different colors this year just because I love owls so much.

I also have to make something for 2 swaps and a challenge too! How do I get myself into these things?!

Paper Clay Skellie Doll is Finished.

I think I may be in love with this doll. She's a manifestation of turmoil and emotions that I've been dealing with in clay form. I started her just before my step dad went into the hospital and just finished her Monday night. She's a bit disturbing possibly and certainly not cute. She appears to me to be a bit sad and slightly crazed but she has a place in my heart.

Introducing Morilla.

This is the sneak peek I put on Facebook last night. 

She's made from paper clay and has jointed arms and legs. She can sit on her own. I added diamond glaze to her eyes to get the glassy spaced out look that I'm sure I wear myself most days. She wears a simple skirt with dancing skellies on it. She has a headband with red roses.

Her body and head have 3D details but her limbs have the bones painted on. She has thighs, a separate knee and lower legs with attached feet that have been wired together.

She's the most complex, detailed and largest paper clay doll of mine to date. She's approx 13"  (32.5 cm) tall.

She and my felt skellie have been getting on great.

Monday In Sassyland....

...or peeks around and finally a finished piece. My brother finally got my shelves above my computer desk up for me. He has the height and long arms that I lack, lol. So of course I had to rearrange everything.

These hold my finished pieces and a few of my collections of other artist's pieces. I have an elf from Kaerie Faerie, a jointed paper doll from Honey Girl Studios, a doll from OCR Primitive Arts, A Bit of Whimsy Dolls Gnome and Patrick's awesome Prim Santa. The empty shelf above will hold my Christmas dolls.

 

Rearranged this set of shelves above my work table too. Yes I know I did it recently but hey things change...right? I really wanted a place to display the great but few Halloween pieces I have. I also filled out the shelf with a bunch of owls.

Patrick of Cre8tor's Touch made this wonderful witch on a moon piece that I got in a swap. She's the main feature of this shelf. I also have a tiny little paper clay matchbox goth doll from Moriah of MLBetterly, a sweet black cat doll from Cindi Meyers, an awesome pumpkin from Linda Kennon of Gourdqueen, Sherry Hall's pumpkin ornie, a Day of the Dead ornie from Mealy Monster Land oh yes and a great candle from Joni Nickrent of Pop Art Minis.

Here's finally is my finished retro, vintage, prim, goofy, whatever pumpkin head. I like him so he's been added to the shelf too.

In other news this fun plush couple has been sold and I'm so thrilled that they are off to a new home. The Vampire and the witch are both still available if anyone is interested.