I'm giving away a blog award!

I've been blogging for about 7 months now and in that very short period of time, through the mysterious world of blogland, I have met some very, very amazing people.

People who have helped me on my way in bear making, people who have inspired me through their work and their blogs, people who have encouraged me and people who have complimented and enjoyed what I have made so far... it's for people like these that I have made this award.

Yeah... it's starting here... and maybe it's too goofy... but it's to point out and appreciate blogland interactions that repeatedly make my day better, whether through amazing thoughtfulness, a simple comment or inspiring work and posts in their blog.

If you haven't visited the blogs I'm giving this award to... please do! They are filled with talent, humor and amazingly kind-hearted people :)

Here's how it works!

If you receive this award, please share one artist that is inspirational to you (but not an artist you plan on giving the award to) and then pass the award along to 8 people who have inspired you, helped you, made you laugh... you know, 8 people you REALLY appreciate. :)

First, an artist that inspires me:

This is the cover illustration of Gashleycrumb's Tinies... a rather... gruesome book by one of my all time favorite illustrators... Edward Gorey.

He was a strange, strange man and I love him for it!

Now, the blogs to which I give this award!

H 1. bearbits
O 2. bingle bears
O 3. A Stuffed Life
T 4. Skunkboy Creatures
H 5. Rainbow Project
O 6. Bearly Sane
O 7. Cart Before The Horse
T 8. Ciia... What's Up?

Here is a smaller version :)

Heed, Down... NOW!

(hah, name that movie quote!)

So, three things today!

First, something I made... then what I made it for, then a brief tour of my desk :)

Ok, I made this stupidly tiny dog (1 and 3/4 inches). It's really cute and I want to make more!:



Second... Pullip Dolls!!!! I have 6 now... oh my, but I find them to be just so cute! They are a foot tall and fit into barbie clothes... they remind me of chibi-style drawings from Japan.

Here is one of them holding the puppy I made:

Here are two of the more super frilly ones...

This is a character from an anime that is suppose to have bright red hair, but I took her hair off and gave her new hair... because frankly, her old hair sucked.

She's a pirate!



Finally my desk!
My desk is filled with toys and curiosities...


Because that's how Sue... "C"s it.


It's a place where dinosaurs still roam the earth... right next to World of Warcraft characters...


A place where no pencil is safe.


That's all you get of my desk for now, because this post is already an image overload!
But hopefully I'll have more things *I've* made to show off soon :)

Gumi Gumi Island is having a giveaway!

One of my favorite bloggers is at it again!

Gumi-Gumi Island is having a giveaway!
Although her new name is Rainbow Project and no longer Knitting Turnip...
the crafts remain as great as ever!!!

Go check it out!

This is not a diaper!

So, for whatever reason, I have recently found myself fascinated with Pullip dolls... but I hate saying their name.

In America, at least, there is a brand of transitional diaper for toddlers called "Pull-Ups" ... so when you walk around excitedly saying "I want more Pullips!" people generally look at you like you're insane!Regardless, the dolls are very cute, and I will post pics of some of the ones I own tomorrow :)


I will also post pics of the disaster that is my room, because last night I got the brilliant idea to totally rearrange the furniture to make my room more craft friendly... but I didn't finish yet and, frankly, the place is just scary.
I will post pics when it's done too :)


I am working on new patterns, on some little meeses for a swap and on a few other things... It should be a very busy crafting weekend. :)

Dogstar

Here is my holiday ornament exchange from the Teddy Talk Ornament exchange :)

I hope Cheryl likes it :)

It's Sirius, the dogstar... and then each little dangly star has a puppy pin that has a bell collar and a sprig of Holly... I made three pins, one for Cheryl, and one for each of her daughters.

I hope they like them!!

(the star has really cute pink blush that you can hardly see at all in the pics!!)

The Fabulous Work of Kyoht!

Some of you may have noticed the adorable white rabbit illustration I used in my Tea Party story... well... that came from an artist who goes by the name of Kyoht.

Her website is: http://www.kyoht.com/

And I think her work is fantastic... but... while I was stumbling around looking for imagery for the tea party weeks ago... I found this work by Kyoht... and had to wonder... does she know my cat?!

I keep expecting my cat (The Salacious Crumb) to give me a huge, creepy grin!!!

Bear Share!

Here is a Holiday bear I made, he's red and festive and this is the first time I really tried the whole facial needle sculpting thing. :)



Also, let me say, I truly appreciate the concern people have expressed for my absence.

2009 has possibly been the worst year I've had in a long time. Here's what went wrong this year:

1. One of my best friend's father's unexpectedly died at 54 (from, essentially, bronchitis, so please please, if you have a lingering cough, get it checked and watch it closely)

2. My sister's husband, who we all thought was perfect (and all his friends and family thought this too), turned out to be a pedophillic, cheating jerk (I'm truly refraining my language here)

3. My boyfriend, who up until even the very day before, had been claiming he loved me... dumped me because he is going to leave for grad school in 8 months and may need to sleep with other people.

4. Grandma had a heart attack

5. AND I've been in and out of the hospital a lot with quite a few 'undiagnosable' maladies, and stuck with more needles than I care to think about.

Between funerals, broken hearts and hospitals... I'm feeling very spread thin emotionally... so... I say, BRING ON 2010!!!! I've had enough of this 2009 business.

Despite all of that, I am thankful to have found a wonderful community in the Teddy Bear folk, you guys have really given me something to look forward to everyday. I love reading your blogs.

I am also thankful for friends and family and their love and support... and I'm thankful for knowing these are all things that, while horrible, are things I am strong enough to make it through.

But... seriously.... I'm done with 2009!