King of Mice Studio Giveaway

I've been watching the King of Mice studio for some time. I LOVE the work... and they're doing a blog give-away!

Go here and check it out:
http://kingofmicestudios.blogspot.com/2009/08/little-blog-love-back-atcha.html

Here's the item being given:

Jurassic Park is Frightening in the Dark...

I was walking down the hall at work, and suddenly the overwhelming smell of candy sweetness enveloped me.

Instantly it made me think if a Jurassic Park themed candy that had come out back in '94 when the original movie was released.

They were called Spitters Jawbreakers and they were the most delicious little fruity-sweet jawbreaker balls I've ever tasted. Over the years I've only ever found them again once, but often I think of them, wishing I'd had the forethought to stockpile a lifetime supply.

There's always something a bit mystical about scent triggered memories. I find myself chasing the smell about, because unlike visual memories... when I get a memory triggered by scent, it's like being transported back to the entire atmosphere of the time. It's like 5 seconds in a time-machine, and I love it.

On an unrelated note, I think my blog needs to be redone in a Halloween theme!

Halloween Craft #1

Here's the first of my Halloween Crafts! He's a Spool Doll, which is really no more mysterious than it sounds. He's made to be a functional piece of artwork, and the ribbon wrapped around him comes off and is 100% usable in whatever arts and crafts the owner might choose.

I like how this little guy turned out... it was my first time adding things other than wood onto the spool (the stem is made from Sculpey clay)

I wanted to paint him more vintage... but I had a hard time finding vintage images of Jack O' Lantern faces. My google search skills were out of commission for that evening, I guess.

I have another pumpkin and a black cat on the way too.

Mystery bear/creature is still being worked on, by the way... he's currently not living up to his potential. (which is entirely my fault!)

Sleep

Sleep is something I haven't really been getting this last week. Insomnia is a big jerk.

I'm not sure of this background I have on here at the moment, it's from a free background site... because I haven't yet decided on a style for my own blog.

However, I did buy the domain of www.littlebearries.com so I'd better get it in gear and make use of that website.

I saw District 9 last night... and it's impossible to not tie it to District 6. Is it coincidence that 9 is 6 turned upside down? Not really, especially when you consider where they've decided to set this movie. They *really* wanted you to make that connection.

Rambles...

Yesterday my sister's divorce was finalized.

It's been a hard time for our family (especially my sister) because we embraced her husband as one of us... and yet, he deceived everyone, straight down to his childhood male friends who had no clue he was living such a double life.

It boggles the mind how a person can be so completely NOT who you thought they were... and that they could dupe you for years into believing in this false persona.

I did a sketch from a drawing I saw... because it reminded me of my sister:




Granted, she was never crying from sadness on her wedding day... but it just reminded me of the things this guy took away that can't be given back.

(I am still crafting away, I will try to take some pictures tomorrow)

Well...

I'm trying to figure out how to go about customizing my blog page...

It's daunting.

I thought I knew what I wanted... until I started creating it... now I realize... I have NO IDEA!

Yeesh.

Mystery creature didn't get worked on this weekend because the humidity was through the roof and it was just too miserable to be buried under fabric doing needlework!

I did work on the doll head a bit more though!
And seeing everyone gear up for Halloween makes me want to create some Halloween Arts and Crafts, lol!

I think it's time to buckle down and get to work!!!!

Also, I bought these Jones Soda bottles because they were beautifully designed. The drinks inside were awful... but the bottles now live happily on my desk at work :)

Logo Variations

Thanks for all the great feedback, guys!

Here are some variations I made based on suggestions from folks:

Brighter Colors with other font:



Ok, no one actually suggested these changes, I just thought I'd try them for the fun of it, the logo in red and brown:


Here is one variation with the text bigger... I had other ones... but... I don't know what I did with them!... but this is a little variation in layout too :)

Again, any input is welcome, I take it to heart and love hearing it :)

PS... mystery creature is still in the works! He's a fiesty little one!

Heather

Still plugging away...

at trying to make something of my 'non-bear'... I'm using regular cotton quilting fabric and am a bit put off by the fact that this would go so much faster with my sewing machine... which I have lent out to someone months ago who has yet to make use of it :(

I hate when I do that... I *always* end up needing the item back before the person ever bothers to do anything with it.

Then I feel bad, because I've got to take it back...

Anyhow, I've worked on another logo:



Essentially, the same image with different texts used (there are some minor changes to the bear as well... one has a head highlight the other doesn't and the colors are subtly different). Any commentary (positive and negative) would be appreciated :)

Not quite yet...

My grand plans to *almost* finish this latest creation last night were put off in exchange for cleaning my room.

There's just something so satisfying about everything being put away in its own special little place... and last night the room called to be reorganized!

Mostly, I'm looking for somewhere logical to put this bear-making stuff, I have yet to find a spot for the fabric, and I think, truthfully, that the closet outside my door will have to become the fabric spot.

I came across some of my antique buttons while I was organizing though:




I absolutely love antique buttons and snatch them up whenever I find them... but as of late, they seem to be harder and harder to come across!

I also have a picture of those bear ornaments I had mentioned finding at a garage sale! The woman had actually had teddy bear patterns and tons of teddy bear themed things... I bought a pattern as well:



And finally, because they amuse me, here are some pictures of Re Ment animal sets... Why are the birds in bowls? Why is the Chipmunk in a cup?! I have no idea, but the detail on these guys is fantastic, especially considering they stand about an inch and a half tall! :)

Tragedy with 'tude?!

So, if you read the last entry, you would have seen that I was having some trouble when it came to my current 'in the works' bear.

Well, the trouble continues, and now it's dictating to me how things are going to be. His first demand was that he NOT be a bear... which was a little shocking. Then he demanded an open mouth (ACK!) He's still deciding on whether or not to demand needle felting... and interestingly... he is demanding that I make an actual bear from this pattern too.

He hasn't mentioned a name to call him by yet... and I'm sure he won't until he's done (heck, by that point the 'he' might become a 'she')... but this one might take me a little longer than I had planned, because I'm kinda making it up as I go!

I do have to say though, other than these minor setbacks, I do really like the shape of the new pattern I drafted... and once I modify limb size, I think it will be really cute! (or... at least... cute enough!)

A tiny tragedy

I had found these beautiful old velvety seat cushions to make a bear out of... I was so excited, I had drafted a new pattern and was so confident in it working at least somewhat well, that I cut out all the pieces and begin sewing them together.

Then... dun dun DUUUUN!

The fabric was too thick to turn when it came to the arms and legs! NOOOO!

So, I will have a very strange bear in the works, one with a strange, old, velvety body... and who knows what for arms and legs! Haha!

It will probably look seriously disturbed... but I just can't bring myself to scrap the body fabric, since that turned just fine.
I should have pictures of that tomorrow :)

I also put more work in on the sculpted doll head, and it's going to be baked soon (then it will look even worse!) and then I'll have to figure out what I want to do for ears. I'm contemplating giving it some sort of mechanism that will allow the ears to detach, because I want to make huge fairy ears for it... but might not *always* want it to have huge fairy ears.

Don't even ask me about making a mold and casting that thing in resin. The very thought sends shivers of terror down my spine.

On a positive note!

I was garage sale'n this weekend and I found a bag that was intended to hold bathroom supplies (it's called the "Everything Bag")... but it works PERFECTLY for holding bear making supplies!!!
I know, you're thinking, 'Bathroom bag from a garage sale, ewwww!' ... but it was brand new with tags. Huzzah!!

I'm one of those nuts who has to have a bag for everything... or sometimes several bags...

Also positive, my boyfriend did a very wonderful thing and got me quite a few bear making books from the library he works at... so now I can read up on the wisdom of others.

I want to do nothing but sew little bears and design new patterns...
is that terribly unhealthy? ;)



ps... I also am starting to work on logos for Little Bearries... haha! (I'll probably have a post with a few logos in which I will ask opinions :)