What I Was Doing Last October.

I saw a post about what someone was doing a year ago. I got curious about what I was doing then too, so I took a look back. Surprisingly or maybe not so surprisingly I had myself more together and had started lots of Christmas stuff. It just makes me tired to realize how productive I used to be.

I made everything on this table except for the Santas and they are all hand sewn too.

I made some holiday owls in different sizes last year. I miss my owls. I was kind of becoming know for them and I feel like I abandoned them. Just one more thing to add to my list!

I LOVE Nutcrackers! And this was to be the first of many. I need to revisit this design cause he's a serious cutie!

This little trip down memory lane sure let me know I need to pull myself together and make some decisions about how I want to move forward. I do have a few of these pieces left which I'll put in my etsy shop soon. I need the storage space so I hope they find new homes.

What were YOU doing at this time last year?

Sleepless Night and Decision Making.

It was an emotionally draining weekend. I thought I'd have to fly my son home because things aren't going well with him. After a lot of back and forth he's decided to try and stick it out but is grateful that he can come home as a last resort. So...preciously saved money will go to him to help him thru this difficult life experience.

 My Goofy Kid

Meanwhile I took a serious look at all my projects and decided I need to scale way back on what I thought I could get done. I've decided to make just a few gingerbread people, reindeer and snow people in the large plush doll size and more smaller little plush that would be good for stocking stuffers, ornaments and decorations. I really want to make sales and since my designs are a bit odd and different I know they won't appeal to the masses, so I think the smaller ones will do better. I'll continue to make Large Snarky Girl dolls in different designs and smaller ones too. Also Christmas and Holiday Owls...got to have owls! I'm already thinking of designs for Easter and Spring!

Mini Reindeer Plush

I'll also be concentrating more on my stationery business. I took a long break but am back up and taking orders in my Zibbet shop. It will take a huge time commitment and lots of hard work to get that business back to the level it was. I'm slowly getting items loaded there. So if you are looking for gift stickers, address labels, note cards, enclosure cards, gift tags, shipping labels or invitations for any occasion come check me out.

Sassy's Friday Ramblings Today

Usually this is my Sassy's Friday Finds day. But I'm going to do something a bit different today so bear with my ramblings a bit..o.k.?

I thought it would be fun to do a once a month feature of someone who follows my blog. You don't have to create anything although I think most of you do. I will feature you, your hobbies, your garden, your blog, your creations, your dog, your kids, whatever, anything fun and interesting. So if you are up for it email me at sassypackrat@hotmail or just leave a comment.

This post needed some photos so here are some new digital 5" x 7" prints that are now in my etsy shop. My long time readers will remember my plush flower owls.

WIP Sneak Peeks

I'm holding off on Sassy's Friday Finds until next week so I can catch up with some other posts. Finally got my camera problem solved so can do the post I meant to do yesterday. Sneak peek at 3 projects I've got going on right now.

When this is finished I'll do a special post all about it. Gnomes, hedgies, shrooms and leaves. Squee! This is a fun personal project.

Prototype of a secret project. Shhhhh!

Yes I know owls again but in a fun new way!

Hope you enjoyed these quick sneak peeks!

Sassy's Friday Finds - Owls!

 I guess it doesn't need to be said that I love owls. Owls of any kind not just plush. I picked a fun selection from etsy that I liked and thought you might enjoy too!

 Owl Couple

Sunset Owl

Amigurumi Crocheted Owl

 

Felt Owl Ornament 

 

Felted Owl with Owlet

 

Barn Owl Greeting Card

 

Recycled Plush Owl

 

Polymer Clay Owls

 

Sterling Silver Owl Necklace

 

Rainy Day Owl Painting

 

Owl Fondant Cupcake Toppers

 

OOAK Owl Bracelet

 

Owl Vinyl Wall Decal

 I want this in pink for my studio so bad!

 

Owl Charms

My Shop Was On The FP of Etsy

And I missed it! According to Facebook, my shop was on the Front Page of etsy on or around 6 am central time this Saturday morning. I can't believe I missed it! Sigh!

On another note. My vintage inspired Feather Owl is finished and in the shop.

This is Freida. She's the last OOAK owl I'll make for a while. I really liked this design and want to make it again in a different color pallet. Thinking of maybe hand dying the felt for some colors I want but can't get.

My Owls were on 2 Great blogs Friday!

Two of my new owls were each on these awesome blogs on Friday May 7th!

The Tulip Owl was here.

 Paper Cake Finds.

And the Sunflower Owl was here.

Cuteable.

I had a huge increase of views in my etsy shop and now I know why!

Garden Owls Are in My Shop!

Finally am finishing up the Garden Owls. So time consuming but so worth it I think. I have 3 finished and in my etsy shop now with one more in the works. Thought I'd do a quick post so show them off.

This is Groovy The Flower Power Owl.

Tallulah The Tulip Owl

Sunny The Sunflower Owl

Still in the works Feathers

I'll also be finishing up the Mermaid dolls and listing them today too. So do you like the owls?

Dr. Crap, WIP and Craft Store Shopping

So I had a Heart Echo test done today. Not too invasive unless you count wearing a gown with a man you don't know poking at your naked chest with a goo covered probe. Not the best of times but it was over quickly and the tech was very professional. Then I was off to the lab to be poked with needles. This tech was awesome and sweet and got my vein the very first time which is highly unusual. Needless to say I did not have a panic attack and cry like I usually do, I'm probably going to save that for my stress test next week when they try and put an IV in me. Oh joy, oh fun, not! 

Anyway the whole point to all of this is I had a really good morning so to treat myself I went to the craft store. Alone. Yeah you know that means I over spent as usual! I go in for one thing and come home with 25. Typical.

So here's what I got:

 Embroidery thread, photo fabric, buttons, a cute owl tin (for a dollar), fabric fray stop stuff, great teal felt (not shown) and 2 packs of 2 frames. All but 2 things were on sale so I didn't feel too bad.

Spent time last night cutting out felt for some new Garden Owl designs. I have 3 new designs but only have 2 started.

This one is my favorite so far.

Haven't pieced the front together yet.

Here's a sneak peek at one of my zombies I'm working on. They are still at the drawing and planning stage, very rough. Think Frankenstein + Addams family + Zombies.

 
I really can't do gruesome, wish I could but cute and demented seems to pour out of me! It must be a personality trait! Hope you enjoyed seeing what I've been doing.

By Air and By Sea

I'm the kind of person who can't sit still. If I am sitting still then my hands have to be occupied somehow. I guess that's why I like to hand sew so much. Usually I can work thru most of my bouts of illness but not this time. So when I was upright again I was feeling very behind schedule (a crazy, unrealistic schedule that I delight in making for myself!) and kind of worked overtime to get some things done. Luckily my patterns were already made and just waiting for me.

I'm making a new line of owls...can't seem to stop making them. They are called Psychedelic Garden Owls. They are vintage inspired with a floral theme. I have several designs and the first completed is below. They will be one of a kind soft sculptures. If I repeat a pattern the colors will be different so each will be unique.

I've also been working on the rest of my Under the Sea themed items too. Mermaids, octopus, crabs, fish, etc.

The mermaids are still a work in progress. I'm waiting on my product tags so I can finish sewing their tails and then they will swim along to my shop.

This is Arnie The Anxious Octopus. A tough design for me but I finally figured the mechanics out.

He's so cute I might have to keep him. Hope you've enjoyed seeing what I've been up to. What do you all have going on lately?

Sassy's Tribute To Molly The Barn Owl

Molly and Magee and their nest of eggs has become an internet

sensation and I, like many people have sat glued to the computer

watching and waiting for the eggs to hatch. If you know me at

all then you know I have a "thing" for owls so I decided to

make a little plush as a tribute to Molly.

First, please let me say I'm not really a professional, I just make 

fun things that I enjoy showing to people. This is my interpretation 

of Molly and my first attempt at something so realistic. She's

made entirely from eco felt and completely hand sewn. This is 

probably the most detailed piece I've ever done. Enjoy!

Pattern pinned together.

Another view.

Completed Front View.

Side and Back View.

Nesting.

I'd love to hear what you think of her!