Worktable Thursday

I've got a lot going on and it's making tired and I feel overwhelmed. So of course I take on ANOTHER project! LOL! I joined another art swap group a while back cause some artist friends belong and it gives me more chances to interact with them. I just sort of followed along, too tired to actually do anything but did join a supply swap and on impulse joined a fantasy swap. Not sure why I do these things to myself but I do. Anyway my partner doesn't read my blog so I'll show more wips here than to the group. I want some elements to be a surprise to my partner until it's done.

Although it looks like a doll it's actually going to be a soft sculpture piece. She'll have large wings too, which I haven't figured the logistics to yet. She'll be sitting on some forest type thing and holding something. The swap ends May 15th, thank goodness cause I'll need every minute to get this done plus everything else I'm supposed to be doing.

Do any of you take on more than you know you should?

Do you want to know how she came out? Here is the post for the finished piece.

Final Logo Done

In the last post I showed glasses vs no glasses on the mouse/rat. I've been playing around with the size of glasses, color of glasses, eye position of mouse with no glasses and then eye position of mouse with glasses. Whew! I finally settled on 2 I liked. 

The mouse with no glasses is cute and has a cleaner look but I also felt that it made the whole logo too cutesy. I do make whimsical things but I didn't want my logo to represent something so very child-like. I am going to make some products for children but some are for adult collectors too. Quite honestly I could keep re-fining and designing forever and never be happy, so I set aside the no glasses mouse (sorry Cindi!) and am calling it done.

On the alternate logo I'm still undecided on the smaller mouse head vs the larger mouse head. See the choices never end! Anyway it is what it is for now.

So next steps will be to re-design this blog using the logo, colors etc. Order product tags (I currently make my own). Finish my packing design. Design my website. Shoot my product. Oh yeah and finish my product! Weeks and weeks of work to go, but my lists are keeping me focused and I'm not overwhelmed yet. Thanks to all who comment and are sharing this journey with me.

Want to see more about this? You can find Part 1 here and PART 2 here.

Starting From Scratch....

turning what was a hobby business into a real business. I was so ill for the last few years I wasn't able to run a proper business but now that I'm better health wise I'm eager to do this properly.

To start I need a real logo. Then I need to create a brand. I did some branding designs a few months ago but I wasn't happy with them and I still didn't have a logo. Here's one design, it was very specific for a certain kind of doll I was making at the time. Cute, but this doesn't solve any of my problems.

I really liked the color palette I originally had, it was whimsical and bright without being too childlike, so I decided to keep it. Since I'm starting a new venture with new dolls I flirted with the idea of changing my business name. I wondered if I'd outgrown it? If it was still me? I started on ebay with this name almost 10 years ago selling vintage toys. I did some research and discovered I have a really good google presence with this name so I decided to keep it but tweak it a little. My original name was four words which I found to be unwieldy, so I decided to make Packrat one word and it became cleaner and simpler, much easier to work with. 

So I dusted off my graphic design skills (such as they are after all this time) and sat down, thought, researched, sketched and came up with some ideas that I liked. Here are four versions of one design I thought had some potential.

The logo will need to cover a couple of different style of handmade dolls, plush and possibly some paper goods too. Once this is finished I can move on to doing a selling site (I'm leaving etsy), changing up my blog, business cards and other promotional materials. I may just be talking to myself at this point but if anyone finds any of this interesting leave a comment.

Want to read more about this? PART 2 and PART 3 can be found here.

Saturday Worktable

I finally said no to another challenge so have time to work on my own projects. Slowly things are getting done for my shop update. Today I'm working on lederhosen for this Wolfie.

 

Would you like a simple doll pattern to make your own fairy tale dolls? I'm making patterns to sell now so comment on this post or email me. My email can be found under contact me at the top of the blog.  

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What's Happening In Sassyland?

I know I haven't posted in a bit. I've been so busy but I don't have much to show. I'm working on a 300 mini penguin project for a client. I have 150 just about ready to sew together and stuff. It's taking up huge amounts of time and is bothering my carpel tunnel but I'm plowing along.

I am still working on my Circus challenge piece. After some initial proportion problems with my companion piece things are moving smoother. Here's the horse. I need to trim her mane it's too Unicorn and and she is a horse. I originally started a horse soft sculpture back in January or so POST HERE that I never finished. I used that pattern with some modifications for this project so although I never finished the first one I did finish it with this one. Does that make sense?

I have 2 other dolls in the works but they are still in my head. I'm still working out the basic details before starting. The Wonderland piece is still bumping around in there too. I plan to start that in the summer. I have such an urge to start Halloween pieces too!

My studio was featured on ADA's Blog so if you haven't already seen my creative space or are interested in my rambling on about it, you can check it out. It's not pretty but it works for me.

Let's see what else. My mom is going to have knee replacement surgery in 10 days so I'll be Nurse Jen again and will have less time for everything I've got going on. My brother again will be of little help during our mom's recovery so I'm sure there will be friction there. I probably won't be posting much for a while.

Worktable Friday

Quietly sitting and painting on this gray and cold day.

My Last Custom Order of 2011

I did a quick post about my making a custom dog ornament for a returning customer here back in November 2011. I got a lot of great response to it and another order. The new client is a friend from The Hive and she gave me permission to share the creation of the ornament with you.

This one is completely different from the ornament I previously did...it's a kitty! And just the face this time and it's much more detailed. My lovely customer sent me a photo and I made a template of the kitty's beautiful markings. Isn't he gorgeous?

 This was such a challenge to get the cat to look like himself but simplified. I did the eyes 3 different ways 3 times until I was happy with them. So many tiny, fiddly pieces!

I did the face pattern on the computer but to make one yourself you could trace the face or scan the photo to the size you want than cut apart the features you want to use for your template. You could also glue the felt instead of sewing all the tiny, tiny stitches I did.

 You can click on this photo to see it larger I believe if you'd like to see more of the details. At this point I'm figuring out where to put the hanger. Then I'll sew all away around and stuff the face lightly.

Here he is stuffed and complete.

You can see he's quite large.

A quick shot of him on my studio tree before he was shipped out. I really enjoyed making this ornament and will make one of my pup Lita for my tree next year.

A New Studio design For A New Year

What I had wasn't working any more. I've changed my work focus and needed to change my studio to reflect that and make it easier to create.

Here's a shot of my little space from the living room. If you've seen my studio before than you might think it's pretty much the same...but there are some major differences. I now have 2 worktables for cloth and felt doll and plush making, a separate worktable for clay and painting and a smaller table just for my computer. Somehow I got another table in here without taking anything out except for the small console table I was using to shoot on. Yea me!
The empty corner wall on the right is driving me nuts. It the perfect place to hang art I have form other etsy artists, so once I organize myself I'll get that done...eventually...you know how I am.

This is my main worktable that you've all seen. It faces the living room so I can watch t.v. while I sew. Yeah I know my living room was a hot mess when I shot this and honestly it still is.

I moved the table my computer and printer were on to this side and can store my felt bins underneath now. I got a great bunch of photo boxes super cheap at the clearance sale Joann's was having and I have trims and lace and buttons etc stored and labeled. I even organized them by season, like all Halloween stuff and all Christmas stuff! Squee! Now I don't have to dig every single time I want to work on something.

I moved my shipping storage to the left corner. And my giant bags of stuffing are in that corner too. Packed away lots of finished work and made space for my clay and painting supplies. I even have room for my toaster oven to bake my little pieces! This clay table is sharing space with my photo printer for now but that will change soon. My sewing machines and another printer and supply storage goes underneath.

This is now my computer station. It's my old drafting table I got for high school graduation that I refused to give away. See I did need it! It fits perfectly here.

I still have the big shelving unit. I just moved it over a few feet since my felt bins are no longer there and that allows me access to the window in front of my computer desk. Daylight! I organized this a bit but there's a lot I just want to get rid of still. My trusty file cabinet stayed in the corner but I went through it and shredded most of my old ebay files.

I want to share this great find. I got it 1/2 off which is good cause it isn't worth more than that anyway. I was able to clean out a whole big bin of ribbon and now I can see what I have. So happy about this! I hated pulling out that bin and digging through it.

Well it's not one of those fancy, super girly pretty studios but it's me and I look forward to getting my hands dirty in here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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.

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?

Bigfoot Needed Some Serious Tweeking.

So I started working on a plush Bigfoot design last week. You would have thought I never made any plush before if you saw the way he turned out. Ugh! Now to be fair to myself I haven't designed any new plush for months and months since I've been concentrating on dolls and things so I know I should give myself a break...except knowing me I won't.

After I made the prototype and stuffed him I realized the "plush mistakes" I made. 

#1. Flat doesn't translate to a 3D piece so what looks good flat NEVER does stuffed.

#2. I made the design too simple. 

#3. His feet should have be the focus not really the face. 

#4 I got cocky and thought I could just bang out a design without thinking about it properly. UGH again! Disappointing!

So I sat back down at the computer and looked at my design. I played with it and think I finally have the final design. In case you are interested and haven't run screaming from this post yet I'll show my designs and you can see my thought process.

First here is the horrid thing I made. I'm embarrassed to show you. This is the mini prototype. The body isn't big enough for the large face features.

This is the first re-design I did. Hate it!! Ugh, pancake feet!

 

This one is modified more with the feet as more of a focus. The body is the same and I was really not happy with it but I felt like there was something good about the feet. So back to the computer I went.

So this is where I am at the moment. I thought I was done really I did but as I was writing this post I was thinking about other changes I can make. He's a bit too doll like. It's a never ending story around here. Once I finally make a firm decision he'll be made from green fake fur. Why green? Cause the person who requested him wants him green and I thought it was a fabulous idea.

Thanks as always for reading my crazed ramblings!