Handmade Pick of the Week

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I have a bit of an obsession with all things handmade! Just when I think I couldn't possibly discover another amazing artist or crafter, I stumble upon a new one and I am once again amazed. So, I'd like to start featuring and sharing some of my favorite handmade finds.



Today, I'd like to share a great Etsy shop with you that I discovered just in the past month. Monica with Mo and Ozzy Creative Crochet Hats makes the cutest crochet hats! Her creations are truly creative and unique. I love both the colors and the designs of her hats. They are bright and cheerful, and just plain fun!



And Monica doesn't just make hats! You can also check out her Etsy shop to see her other creations including hair accessories and purses. www.etsy.com/shop/moandozzy



She is hosting a giveaway on her blog right now. Be sure to check it out! Oh, and wish her a Happy Birthday while you are there!
http://moandozzycrochet.blogspot.com/2010/02/great-birthday-giveaway.htm

400 Facebook Fans Giveaway!!

It amazes me that I have 400 facebook fans! To celebrate I will be hosting my very first giveaway. One lucky fan will receive a $5 gift certificate to my Etsy shop. It will be good on anything in my shop including custom orders! Just be a facebook fan and leave a comment below and I will enter your name into the drawing. I'll draw the winning name this Friday morning (February 26th). It's just that easy!

I am so grateful to all of you for following my work and providing support and encouragement. You inspire me every day to continue to create. Thank you!

Monkey Business?

Somehow I've fallen in love with monkeys! I can't say that I was ever a huge monkey fan before I created this crown, but something happened the moment I put the finishing touches on this little guy. Pure monkey magic. And now I have a bit of an obsession with all thing monkey. Which means that there are more monkeys to come. Don't worry, if you aren't a monkey fan this obsession will pass and I'll be on to another one. Maybe next it will be puppies, or elephants, or who knows? That's the beauty of this "job", I go where it takes me!

In case you are curious, this monkey is entirely hand cut. I start out with a drawing, and then I create a pattern for each felt piece that must be cut. Some pieces don't require a pattern at all, but if I want to be able to reproduce a design I'd better have a pattern for the complicated components! Then I set out (painstakingly sometimes) cutting out all of the pieces. It's a labor of love from beginning to end, but I love what I do! Who knew life would take me on this path. Right now I am enjoying the ride! Now, back to more monkeys!

A Little Bit of Irony

I was at a dollar store one day last week with my youngest daughter trying to kill a little time while my oldest daughter was in preschool. As my daughter entertained herself rummaging through the toy bins I happened to notice a book for sale across the aisle. The topic of the book centered around the global impact of cheaply made Chinese goods. Of course the book was only a dollar, and although I didn't check I am very confident that the book was publish in China too. I couldn't help but notice the irony of my discovery. It also made me even more appreciative of my obsession with handmade goods. Not only do I make them, but I buy them whenever possible. I feel good knowing that I am helping to support a mom in Illinois or a student in Ireland. I know that they are paying themselves a fair wage (or so I hope) and that they truly enjoy what they are making. Buying handmade makes me happy! So, shop handmade this holiday season and fill your life with beautiful things made by fantastic people.

Have a wonderful Holiday!

The Purple House

I recently returned from a trip to visit my family. My girls love visiting their grandparents, but they aren't too crazy about the long car ride. I enjoyed this trip because the girls were in a good mood most of the way. That doesn't mean that I didn't hear "Are we there yet?" a million times!

I'm beginning to find that one of my favorite highlights on this trip back home is our passing of the purple house. This brightly painted house is a thrill to my daughter who loves the color purple! It also stands as a reminder to her that we are almost to our destination. I love this house for other reasons. I wonder every time I pass the house who must live inside. It is a modest house close to the road, but it stands tall with pride. I can imagine it is saying "Look at me!" I wonder if the person who chose to paint this house such a vibrant hue of purple is also bold, daring, and willing to say "Look at me! I'm proud of who I am!"

This house reminds me that we should all be proud of who we are. We should take pride in our talents and celebrate our uniqueness. We shouldn't be afraid to show our true colors even if it is bright purple in a sea of browns, tans, and white. So, I look forward to seeing the purple house again. It reminds me to step outside of my box and live a little!

Welcome to my blog!

I'm in the process of getting this blog up and running. I still have lots to learn so please excuse the dust while I get things organized!