Ninja approves

Thought I'd show my inspiration for creating my crested gecko plush terrarium - Ninja!

She's about a year old now, a fat happy gecko.

Here she is inspecting the cage:"Hmm, looks about right to me""Hey, you look familiar!""How can anyone resist my charms?"

The plush tank is for sale on etsy, and there will be more to come! Thinking about doing a snake next, or maybe some sort of desert lizard. Hmmm.

Pining for the fjords

So last night my family was watching a tv show about really classic wrestling matches, with people like Hulk Hogan, etc. So, there was lots of yelling and cheering coming from the tv. My parrot, Pepper, was in his cage behind the couch covered with a blanket because it was bedtime for him. However, he kept squealing and chirping. He has lots of little sleepy time happy noises, but he was also responding to the tv and really making a lot of funny sounds.

Now, I've heard from my parents that they've caught Pepper sleeping upside down sometimes. I've found him underneath sheets of paper or newspaper on the bottom of the cage before, but never actually seen him upside down myself. The first time my dad saw him like that, he thought he was dead and started freaking out. Tapping on the cage caused Pepper to squeal and get up.

So, last night I lifted the blanket and looked inside to see why Pepper was being so happy and noisy. I didn't see him at first. Then I looked at the bottom. And ran to get my camera.

If this isn't the silliest thing you've ever seen, I want to know what is.

He has plenty of good perches meant for parrots, and he only does this once in a while. Nobody knows why.

I'm too awesome for my own good

Seriously.Yup, it's a fish tank. Everything inside is made of fleece, either hand sewn or machine sewn by me. I love when ideas like that pop into my head.

It's for sale in my shop, and I'd looooooove to take custom orders on something like this!

Next up... I'm not sure. Thinking of some sort of lizard or snake set up.

And nudibranchs. Of course.

A new adventure

I get way too many good ideas in my mind all at once. First of all, I finished up another custom order and I love it... it's a Bryozoan. Supposed to look like the things on this page.And have any of you seen the latest issue of National Geographic? With the article on nudibranchs? They are my dad's favorite animal, and I think they're amazing. They have the articles and photos on their website, you HAVE to check this out. Because I'm going to make some of those. The black one with green spots is my favorite.

Aaaaaand... another idea floating around that's starting to take shape is - fish tanks. I have a clean empty 10 gallon tank and I'm going to decorate it with everything plush - sand, background, decorations, and of course fish. I have an idea to make it so that it could be removed and put into any other 10g tank, and some of the decoration able to be moved around. I started making my first one yesterday and it's going to be awesome! So far it's got seaweed and rocks and a starfish - going to have corals, anenomes and clown fish. I was also thinking terrariums - like plush setups for lizards and snakes and things. Would be great for people who don't want to actually take care of a pet but just want something to look pretty, haha. It's something different, at least.

So that's what's up with me and hopefully I won't be struck with another great idea until I get some of these other projects out of the way first.

Watch out for that beak!

My latest masterpiece is a custom order that I've fallen completely in love with. Sending this guy in the mail will be a sad day.

It's a giant water bug, Lethocerus americanus. I often keep them as pets. Well, whenever I can catch them. I had some dead specimens (found that way in parking lots) that I used as models. In reality they get about two inches long. They live in water but breath air through tubes sticking out of their abdomen, and will sometimes fly around at night, attracted to lights.

They have a nasty bite, that beak they've got in the front can be really painful. So I've heard... for all the ones I've handled I've never been bitten. In fact, I rarely get bitten or stung by things, and I play with a *lot* of animals I shouldn't, haha.

I'm a pirate

ArrrrrrrrNow you can see Pepper in action... he loves/hates his red cup.

New business cards!

I decided I needed more info on my cards... so I spent an hour or two carving out a new stamp. It's a bit messy but readable, I hope, haha.

Don't bring me dooowwwwn

I sold three things over a two day show. I won't get into any more details than that because it's painful to think about (though I got some custom order possibilities). Let's just say it was the wrong sort of crowd.

Now I have to list on etsy all the things I had made for the show. I've got lots of keychains and pins and things... here's just a few of the new ones (not all of them are listed on etsy yet):

Beetle pin:
Butterfly hair barrette:Bee keychains:Butterfly wing necklace:

Be sure to check out my shop for these and other new goodies.

So much for the rain...

Turns out it's a beeeaaauuuutiful weekend, but I think the rainy forecast scared everyone off. I didn't need my tent after all, I got a spot indoors where almost everyone else was. Super small show, not many vendors, not much publicity, and barely any people. They all crowded around the booth re-selling expensive looking jewelry that was obviously not handmade. Right across from me. Sigh.

Sold one thing before the show even opened for the day. Luckily my boyfriend was great company, talked about things I should do to improve my display.

Today I'll be alone and bringing a book. Because when people only show up to my spot every five or so minutes, it gets boring.

I talked to the other vendors at the end of the day yesterday and they said it was the worst turnout/sales they ever had. Many had been to this show before.

Oh well. Learning experience, right? But I've gotta do it all over again today. Yay.

Ahhh I'm so excited!

My first craft show of the summer is this weekend! I just finished packing up all my stuff, going to set up my tent at the spot either this afternoon or tomorrow morning. And I'm signing up for more craft shows this summer... so far this is my schedule for the shows that have been paid for (there are more places I still need to call):

May 17th + 18th
10-4
Lakeside Farms
Ballston Lake, NY
http://www.lakesidefarmscidermill.com/

June 21st
10-5
Art on Lark Street festival
Albany, NY
https://www.larkstreet.org/festivals.php

July 19th + 20th
Arts in the Park
Inlet, NY
http://townofinlet.org/

There won't be any other shows in June because that's when I'll be doing most of my collecting trips for my research project. However there will be plenty in July and August!

I'm getting more custom orders which is really exciting. Someone asked me to make a giant water bug, one of my favorite insects. I keep them as pets whenever I can catch them... here are two water bugs I used to keep in my dorm room my first year of college. They're sharing a goldfish. They make awesome pets (they are about 2" long).

Sneak preview

I've been sooooooo busy getting my business in order (DBA, sales tax, all that fun stuff) and getting ready for my craft show next weekend! It'll be held at a local shop called Lakeside Farms, more info on their website.

So today I practiced setting up my tables with the stuff I have so far, and setting up my brand new tent. Only $82 at Walmart, woohoo! All went well putting it up and taking it down, here's to hoping it lasts through the summer (I've heard so many horror stories about craft show tent disasters). I also practiced hanging up my new banner. All the letters are hand sewn! Part of my table setup:I've been making a lot of bee themed items to sell, and I'll be donating 25% of the sales of those items to the making of the documentary Vanishing of the Bees. There was an article on the front page of my local newspaper this morning about how 30% of the bees of New York state have disappeared, and that doesn't bode well for our apples. I have some bee pins currently for sale in my shop.

Busy busy busy!

Whew. Now that I'm all settled in I've gotten to work finishing up some custom orders! The goodies I'm about to show you are all spoken for but if you're interested I could make anything your heart desires.

Water bear - these are very strange tiny aquatic creatures.Amphipod and daphnia - more tiny little swimmy things.
One more little guy... a clam shrimp.And now for the big guy and one of my absolute favorite soft sculptures I've ever made - a bearded dragon.This guy is 30" long head to tail. Made of variously colored fleece, all of his details were hand sewn (the rest of him put together with my sewing machine). Part of me really wants to keep him for myself (as usual). My brother's bearded dragon helped me out:
Last night I also put together a limpet and a slug. I have only one more animal to work on before I'm all caught up - and then I'm going to need more work to do! I have some ideas but I'd love some more custom orders. It's so much fun making creatures that I otherwise wouldn't think to create.

Schoooooooooooool's out for summer

Home at last! Spent the day yesterday driving home with my mom and unpacking and cleaning. Went through my room and throwing out/collecting for the salvation army SO much stuff that was cluttering up my bedroom. I have my sewing space all organized and it's going to be AMAZING to work here, I finally have space. Can't wait to work with my 1947 Singer again, my portable plastic machine is, well, plastic-crap. My old Singer feels like a real machine, I love her.

Today I'm going shopping to get more sewing supplies, I'm so excited. I'm going to be spending the day cleaning cages and sewing!

And all my pets missed me. My parrot Pepper came rushing out of his cage to sit on my shoulder, chirping away so happily, he's such a cutie. However, now if I'm ever not in the same room as him he calls for me endlessly until I return. Even if he doesn't want to play or be picked up. Just to make sure I'm there. It's cute, but I've got work to do too, hehe. All the reptiles and things seem to be doing well but while my parents feed them and give them water, they don't clean out poop or shed skin. Today is going to be busy.

Pictures of my new wonderful work space and some of my animals shall be posted soon :)

Oh! And I ordered another parrot toy from wyspurcreations on etsy, and it arrived the same day I came home! I got out of the car, my mom checked the mail and there it was. And she even threw in another little goody for my Pepper. I got the Shredder, which Pepper just loves to shred to pieces. It was good having new toys to distract him with once I got home so he wouldn't freak out that I kept leaving the room. She has many parrots of her own (including Caiques like mine) and supports a parrot rescue. If you're looking for bird toys I highly suggest you check her out.