James Kochalka's JOHNNY BOO!

James Kochalka's JOHNNY BOO!, a photo by callie callie jump jump on Flickr.

My friend and neighbor James Kochalka just happens to be a super awesome artist, the Cartoonist Laureate of Vermont, and the creator of Johnny Boo! The Johnny Boo books rule, and if you love them or know a kid who loves them you are in luck because.... Top Shelf Productions has sweetly licensed me to create 25 limited edition Johnny Boo and Squiggle sets........!!!!

Made of white acrylic yarn with CPSIA certified, safety washer backed plastic eyes, felt, and a whole lotta' love. If the toys will be given to a child under 3 I can stitch eyes instead if you prefer.
Johnny Boo measures approx 7 inches from top to bottom. Both stuffed with non-allergenic fiber fill.

Get one for the Johnny Boo lover in your family, or just get one for yourself, because he's so damn cute! Seriously he's really, really, really cute.








Johnny Boo and Squiggle created by James Kochalka and licensed by Top Shelf

t.v. and remote

t.v. and remote, a photo by urban farmgirl on Flickr.

finally, some new stuff!

My latest creation...

A collaboration, actually. My handsome and talented husband and I are so pleased to introduce Miss Sadie Lou, born on March 23rd. We are all terrific, tired, and behind in our work! My apologies to everyone whose order may be delayed while I work through the blur of the first weeks of life with (gasp!) three kids!
xoxoxo
erinn

Nature and machines

Two of my new designs are getting lots of attention on facebook, flickr and etsy these days... mr. robot


and this little thing I like to call "treee" for now...

I listed the robot on Etsy yesterday and have already sold three, a massive record for me.
Treee is not for sale yet, since this guy was a prototype and while I love the way he looks, he doesn't stand on his own, and his skinny trunk makes him an unlikely cuddler... I have to put some more thought into making him more functional in one way or another. But boy, do my flickr peeps love him! He even made it onto Cuteable today - gah!

What I really want to do though is thank my handsome and talented husband, Sam Simon.
I am beyond lucky to have an unbelievable photographer for a husband, and his photos of my work are at least 50% responsible for anyone ever buying anything I make. He knows how to make anything - alive or inanimate - look fantastic.
Check out his stuff... especially if you're in need of a photographer. He does amazing portraits, kids, families, weddings, sports, parties.... and he will make you look great!

www.samsimonimaging.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shmoolio/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Sam-Simon-Imaging/48508148684

and like him on facebook too!

Pyon-Tauros ピョンタウロス a photo by knitting doll factory on Flickr.

I have been pretty devoted to my weekly horoscope as delivered by Rob Breszny of Free Will Astrology since I was in college (which was longer ago than I like to think about..). This week he really nailed it for me, especially since I read it almost directly after finding the work of this fellow fiber artist on flickr while eating my cereal yesterday morning. Here's what he had to say to us Geminis this week...

Legend has it that when Bob Dylan first heard the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, he only made it through the first few tunes. "Turn that s--- off!" he said. "It's too good!" He was afraid his own creative process might get intimidated, maybe even blocked, if he allowed himself to listen to the entire masterpiece. I suspect the exact opposite will be true for you in the coming weeks, Gemini. As you expose yourself to excellence in your chosen field, you'll feel a growing motivation to express excellence yourself. The inspiration that will be unleashed in you by your competitors will trump any of the potentially deflating effects of your professional jealousy.



This lady is excellent. I am inspired!

Callie Callie Jump Jumps! (and Mr. Giant Jellyfish)


Eli with Mr. Giant, soon to be newest addition to my Etsy shop...



and some new design Callies with their namesake - Cal Leo, the original Callie Callie!




It was a productive weekend, and I'm feeling the design spark in a big way. I have a few more ideas I'm working into prototypes, hopefully some more pics sooooooon.... xoxo

Oh, dear.

The holidays are long gone, so what's my excuse for being away for so long? I don't really have a good one, sadly. My loyal friends say that growing another human inside my body is excuse enough to slack on other responsibilities, but I don't really think it is. I have been crocheting though, as Spring 2011 will bring not just a new addition to our family, but the onset of another busy (I hope!) season of shows and the Art Market. I have to get my application in next week, so keep your fingers crossed for me.
I have a year-long plan mapped out for myself ( and my handsome husband too... if I can get him to cooperate :) and it all begins here. I was rejected by the Etsy Plush Team on my first application, and after a day of sulking I decided that they were right, and the time had come to step up my game. So I developed some new designs that I'm excited about, and have some more in the pipeline. Here's what I've been working on in between orders for the past few weeks...