Killdeer in my Pepper Patch

I have had a returning killdeer since we moved here 3 1/2 years ago - and each year she tends to build her nest in the middle of the grass - which is not like the normal killdeer - they lay their eggs in gravel...

However this year she decided to do something different. She must have remembered Buster chasing her away each and every time last year - so this year she laid her eggs in the mulch around one of my almond trees.. Buster did finally find her nest and that was pretty much the end of the story.... until I spotted her hanging around my garden....

When I put hte garden in a bit ago she had already taken up residence - she somehow indented last year's newspaper weedblock and she moved in some wood chips for decoration and laid 4 more eggs...


She has been becoming more and more tolerant of us in the yard and she doesn't seem to mind th sprinkler in the garden although the first time or two it really freaked her out. Yesterday she was actually walking with the water drops looking like she was taking in a bath. It was really adorable and I regret not getting it on film....

But here are pics of her and her nest. Her babies should be out soon. It seems like forever since she laid them!

Perfet Sized Stuffies are up on the site!

Last night I released the Perfect Sized Stuffies to the site.
The headhunter, hula dancer, devil and the base pattern of course are up on the site very reasonably priced. I do try to keep prices on the low side.

I am starting to work on more scalps/hair for this series as well as removable clothing. I'm hoping to get some ready for next weekend. I have a few testers with several of these dolls already made up and just waiting to be finished off.

I will say that within minutes of the Perfect Sized Stuffie series going live I had my first sale with them. That did not take long. I'm not sure if the purchaser just happen to be on the site and said oh my! Look at that! of if they saw pictures on Ravelry, crochetville or Craftster... who knows.

David will be working on more improvements on the site in the upcoming weeks as well. He has several things on his to do list - some of them are technical requests from me and others are things to make surfing the site easier - like the ability to have one item in two different categories. I know it seems like a trivial thing and those of us that do not work with computers much but apparently it is a big thing with writing perl and websites. He is working on it though!

Spring fever has hit me as well and I have been gardening like a madwoman! I'll be taking some pictures today to show off what all is in bloom. I promised to make this a not always business blog! I regret that I missed taking pictures of the flowering almond when it was in full bloom. That is such a beautiful shrub but my variegated weigelia is gorgeous! I'm so happy it is doing so well!

Perfect Size Stuffies Nearly Ready!

You guys are probably starting to wonder if I have been sleeping on the job - but I assure you I have been working - and working hard!

I have a new series of upgradable amigurumi dolls - and I'm kicking them off with a bit of heat! Some from way down under and some from an island or two...

Here are a few sneak peeks!
They will all be available shortly! They are out with testers as I finish up a few more accessories for the hula dancer and the head hunter....!

On the Cover...

So I knew I was going to be on the cover of Creative Home Arts Magazine - which is sadly not available on the news stand... You have to have a subscription to get the magazine but it is only $12 a year so it's not too bad. I just subscribed because of my Rainbow Bunny being on the cover...
Over here on the left is the cover shot... so sweet!

But who knew that this bunny should actually be on the next season of Top Model? Strike a pose!
How on earth did they get him in to those positions??? I can't find anywhere the size of this bunny but it is HUGE. We are talking like 30" long huge!

So here's one of the other shots of him in the magazine. I am beyond proud of this guy!

I just had to share my wanna be skier Rainbow Bunny hot off the presses! Even cooler - I was sent three copies of the magazine! When I subscribed I told the woman that I was the designer - she must have sent me a care package! Very cool indeed.

It's Notta Cat Monster

So I have to say It's notta cat okay?! lol.
Seriously. I created a monster and it does kind of remind me of a cat - a rather mutant one with an extra bit on the top of his head but I do love him. I did not intentionally make him in orange and blue being all yeah for Auburn University and all. I have to admit to a bit of total laziness... Here I am on the couch.. and I wanted to add some facial embroidery - well, the burgundy just did not pop.. there was no black to be seen so I spied at the end of the couch a skein of blue. sold! Blue embroidery it was! So sorry to any Auburn fans - it was not intentional just looked good together so I flew with it!

He will soon be out for testing and hopefully be up on the site soon.

And then the dinosaurs marched in.....

I am nearly completely done with a dinosaur. All I can say now is that he is pretty darn cool. He is just a stegasaurus but he is my stegasaurus. It isn't the first one I have designed though - and is loosely based on the previous one that was published in Creative Home Arts Magazine - although he is much smaller - more like half the size.

I did not just resize the pattern... I did start from scratch but when you have a style things just are very reminiscent no matter what you do to them. I'll post up pictures after I get all those spikes sewn on to his back and complete the second one. This one will have two different ways to finish it off so I get to do double duty with the hook and yarn...

OH Bull!

The second in the Bevy of Bovines set is completed... I will be working on the final one soon - maybe even today. We shall see.... I am a bit hoarse today. My throat is scratchy and froggy and my face feels a bit warm... I am not feeling the healthy love today... so we shall see how much I actually get done!

I got the ears the way I want them and I am pleased with the bull....! How often can you actually say you are pleased with a bit of bull?

He's roughly 6" tall and 6" long - just a good size over all!

I am not sure what is next on the design couch after these guys. I am still in the middle of a set of Russian stacking dolls... I really need to get them done... but I also have some fabric crocheted baskets that are ready to get remade and edited. So many projects... so little time!

A Bevy of Bovines is pulling out of the corral soon!

The first in a trio of cows is done - and the other two are soon to follow! The first one is a longhorn steer! I just had to come out of the rodeo cage just wild! I'm smitten with him!











But before that cow moves in to your heart check out this cat! El Gato is out for el testo and will be up sooner than the cows! Look for this feline to debut in the next week...!












New this week? Monoster and the first set of Smidgens! The Smidgens are a trio of cuties with jointed arms and legs just waiting to be posed and played with! Monoster also can have jointed arms and is not going to take no for an answer! Check them out in the Creatures & Monsters category and the Animals category - the Animals category is new and already getting filled in the upcoming weeks!