PlushYou!

Purl Snowmen

2009-11-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

I am a huge fan of Purl and was a little bummed that I didn't get to visit them on this last SUPER short NYC visit. Here is a cute pattern for the knitters out there that love the holidays.

More UCU

2009-11-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

More goodies I would like to get my hands on at Urban Craft Uprising are:

Anything by Scrumptious Delight would be good. Again, one of those things I am not sure whom I would give to but I can figure that out later...or just keep it?

I have also been making a lot of items to give. I want to give my landlords a package full of yummy treats and would love to get a few of these salts to throw in there!

My aunt has really gotten into knitting in the past few years and Spincycle makes the most beautiful yarn!

I think my mom needs a bag from Tote2Go as well!

I am also really loving the work by Wooly Bison. Maybe I can convince them to trade...I love trading!!!

There are tons of other amazing vendors who will be at this winter show so check them all out here. I could just go on and on!

Urban Craft Uprising

2009-11-19T11:39:00.001-08:00

So the holidays really are not that far away. As I have mentioned I am going to make a full hearted effort to enjoy the holidays this year. I have been stacking away gifts to give for my family and friends for awhile now so that I don't stress out about getting stuff together. I am going to take a little break however because craft shows are coming up and I love to trade and purchase from fellow vendors. I will first be at Urban Craft Uprising which I am so excited for. If you are in the area and going to be attending please do say hello! Anyways, I am still making notes of what I might like to purchase or trade from people and here is a small list to start:

From Urban Craft Uprising

I think it would be fun to get my little doggie nephew a gift from Apartment C. She uses great fabric!

Last winter I did a trade with Berkley Illustrations. I am a huge fan and think it would be fun to get a print for my dad every year for some reason. Or maybe someone new? Either way, they are a must!

I also did a trade with the fantastic duo, Chikabird. I love their notebooks and was happy to give it to someone but have kinda been pining after one ever since. I think it's time. Maybe another trade?

Annie, owner of Dotted Line has mentioned trading and I think I want to finally take her up on the offer!

I was a huge fan of Lush products until I discovered Estrella

One of my goals for next year is going to be send more mail. It's nice to get mail and it so rarely happens anymore. I would be really happy to send love notes with postcards by ilfant

I think my mom and/or aunt would really enjoy needle felting so I got to pick up some kits from Moxie

And I must get one of these shadow puppets for someone...not sure who but I'll figure that out later!

Squeakers now for sale!

2009-11-18T14:17:00.001-08:00

You can now purchase these fantastic Squeakers by local artist, Made by Moxie. Exclusively made for Schmancy! Get them here

Made by Moxie toy EXCLUSIVE

2009-11-17T16:30:00.000-08:00

I think Moxie makes the most awesome, clever, funny amazing felted toys this side of the Mississippi. Don't you? She has made these adorable squeakers for a Schmancy exclusive. Something I would like to add she doesn't do much of anymore...so get 'em while they are hot! They will be up tomorrow!

S- What was your inspiration behind these fantastic creatures for your plush exclusive?

MBM- Because it's an exclusive, I wanted to make something fun and personable... something that would "speak" to the people. Replace "speak" with "squeak" and you pretty much have it.

S- How has your work evolved from the beginning of creating magical felted monsters?

MBM- While I love making squeakers and finger puppets, I've become driven to creating conceptual pieces. A lot of times my work might be anthropomorphic, but if you look beyond the cuteness, you'll find layers of meaning.

S- Where do you see your monsters in 10 years?

MBM- Ruling the night.

S- What are you most excited for in the next few months?

MBM- I'm excited to be a part of the 5th Annual Urban Craft Uprising show in Seattle. I'm also working on an instructional needle felting book due out in 2010. The next few months will be full of felting, writing and possibilities.

Friday at Schmancy

2009-11-12T16:14:00.000-08:00

Friday, the 13th, Terry and Vince Go...Way...Way, opens up at Schmancy. New work by Le Merde and John Black. Opening Reception from 6:00 to 9:00pm.

in LA?

2009-11-12T15:31:00.000-08:00

Going to be in LA in December? Then this is a great opportunity for anyone who has "plush aspirations" and wants to learn the basics to get started on his/her own creations. Visit here for more info on the event.

Bazaar Bizarre SF

2009-11-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendar because we've got an awesome show for you! The 2009 Bazaar Bizarre San Francisco is a TWO DAY Handmade market, Indie entertainment extravaganza and D.I.Y. Festival all under one roof!

SHOP HANDMADE & SHOP LOCAL
Bazaar Bizarre San Francisco will feature over 120 carefully juried artists and designers. You'll find the crème de la crème of indie goods: art, pottery, letterpress, silk-screened t-shirts, baby clothes, body products and more! Handmade food will also be for sale in the form of luscious cupcakes and udon soup with sushi rolls.

FREE WORKSHOPS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Groove all weekend with our crafty DJs including the genius of Slide and Spin Studios. Swing by the Maker Shed and Craft Magazine booth to create D.I.Y. projects for FREE! Capture the moment by posing in the Magnolia Photo Booth, FREE to all customers! Pick up some FREE swag from the Yelp and Kaboodle booths, enter product raffles from Chronicle Books and Craft Magazine. Attend Book Signings and Crafty Workshops with indie superstars such as Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching.

REFASHION YOUR HOLIDAYS WITH SWAP-O-RAMA-RAMA
Jump into the D.I.Y. spirit! For $5 and a bag of clothes you can enter the WORLD FAMOUS clothing swap and workshop Swap-O-Rama-Rama. Swap-O-Rama-Rama's D.I.Y. experts will help you cut, sew, print and personalize your up-cycled fashion finds!

HELP US TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
50% of this years door fees will be donated to the Out of Site Center For Arts Education and Keep Turning Heads. Out of Site offers SF students free programs in visual and performing arts. Turning Heads provides vocational arts instruction, entrepreneurship, and leadership training for high-risk youth in San Francisco.

WHERE AND WHEN
Saturday December 12th 2009 12:00 PM - 6:00PM
Sunday December 13th 2009 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
San Francisco County Fair Building Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
$2.00 Per Adult ~ 12 & Under FREE
50% of Admission Fees Go To Charity

Meet Lizette Greco

2009-11-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

Lizette Greco will be exhibiting some work this Sunday. Info below.

Flower Hill Art Showcase
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Noon-5 PM
Flower Hill Promenade
Del Mar, California

Hello Kitty!

2009-11-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

I love Hello Kitty! I really feel like she is the reason why I love toys. Every time we would go to a "cool city" as a kid, I would buy Hello Kitty items and got so excited. I actually used to work at the Sanrio store in SF making gift baskets which was pretty fun considering I just sat in the basement and got to be creative a little bit. Anyways, Hello Kitty is celebrating her birthday this month and there is a great article about her creator, Yuko Yamaguchi. I used to think we had the exact same DOB but now I am unsure. The days might be different. Anyways, Happy Birthday to her!

NYC here I come.

2009-11-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

airplane by Bumbleday
Today I am going on an airplane to spend a long weekend in upstate New York with some of my best friends. I have known these girls since the age of 11 and next week I turn the age of not telling. So this blog might be a little light for the next week depending on how much I can get done between now and then. xo

Stitchy Kitty, Fuzzy Puppy

2009-11-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

I just got a copy of Stitchy Kitty Fuzzy Puppy: 60 Motifs to Stitch Everywhere. This book is really adorable and perfect for any cat or dog lover. The projects range from simple to more complex AND I really like some of the new embroidery stitches I have never seen before which add nice texture to not only dogs and cats but for many other projects and creatures you might like. I feel like we all know someone that is a true dog lover/cat lover. Get this book to make a unique and adorable project for them this holiday!

Shelly visits Gallery Hanahou

2009-11-03T16:29:00.000-08:00

Shelly, my lovely and fantastic intern was recently in NYC and visited Gallery Hanahou and I asked her to write a blog post about her visit. Here it is:

First you have to get the street name right… HOWston… not Houston and Broadway… Then you have to actually find the small entrance to this large building (the Cable Building in SOHO), which I walked by at least twice before going in!

Once I was there I was shocked, you are walking by all of these small businesses and then BAM! You make it into the tiny Gallery Hanahou. “Amazing” was the first word out of my mouth as I walked into a bustling Parson’s Workshop led by Shoichi Ishizawa (the President himself!). The walls, ceilings, radiator and floor are completely covered with creations in the show titled “Before and After” created by the Japanese group Ossu! Shugeibu that translates into: Yo! Crafting Club.

I of course had to introduce myself to some of the gallery people milling about as I had met Koko the previous weekend at Schmancy’s Plush You! Show in Seattle. Koko was completely surprised to see me since I totally forgot to mention I was headed to NYC… ha ha. Koko walked me around the show and I noticed that nothing was really for sale, NONE of the toys/crafts were for sale?! What!? But the passion of Ishizawa is for everyone to be able to craft these incredible toys on their own, hence all the instructions on the walls! Cool.

Walking around and checking out all of the interestingly usable objects I think my favorites must be the umbrella birds and the “don’t buy Fake!” tea kettle cover. Let me tell you if you are at all crafty this show was a definite push to go home and make something!

Asher Jasper

2009-11-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

I like these needle felted toys by Asher Jasper

Things I enjoy

2009-11-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

From Casscette

From Syppah

From Skunkboy creatures

From Scrumptious Delights

From Nonesuchgarden

From LisaJHoney

Yarn Spool Tutorial

2009-11-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

CUTE!! Get it here

Abbey Christine

2009-10-31T09:00:00.001-07:00

These finger puppets are HILARIOUS! A woman after my own heart with some of my favorite celebrities and characters. Find them all here

Getting Ready

2009-10-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

I am determined to enjoy the holidays this year. Working in retail, owning a retail shop, makes you have a love/hate relationship with the holidays. It's busy (love +1), you work all the time (hate +1), it's festive (love +1), you have no energy to participate in the festivities (hate +1), there are tons of craft shows (love +1), you have no time to make anything gifts b/c you want to do all the craft shows (hate +1). This year I have started early because I want to give gifts I am excited about giving and I want to have a relaxing holiday as much as possible. On my way to work I went to Barnes & Noble to check on Creature Crochet (yes I am a dork, thanks for asking). I checked out the magazine section and noticed that Martha Stewart's Holiday Sweets issue is out. I got one a few years ago for Christmas and I love it. It seriously has the best recipes for all year so I quickly picked up this one before I forgot to. I am starting to make my plans. I highly suggest this issue for anyone that loves baking.

I also noticed this magazine, Donna Hay Magazine - With Donna Hay Kids. There is an adult one too and even though I don't have kids, this one looked pretty awesome too. Very Martha

Crafty Superstar

2009-10-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

Crafty Superstar: Make Crafts on the Side, Earn Extra Cash, and Basically Have It All comes out in November and you will find little old me along with some of my favorite crafters and hero's. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy and you should get one too :)

Ghosts are cute!

2009-10-28T14:58:00.000-07:00

My brother in law was just in the store discussing Halloween. Oh what to be. I think I might try to be a ghost because it's lame but less and less people do it these days...probably because it's kinda lame. But ghosts are cute!

Like this baby ghost

or these cuties

awww

I would totally sport these

Cute embroidery patterns from Blackbird

Cake Tutorial

2009-10-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

Find out how to make this awesome cake here

The cutest alphabet.

2009-10-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

This tutorial seems to be making the rounds already but it was too cute not to post about. Learn how to make your own alphabet magnets here

Every Eskimo

2009-10-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

I really like the work by Every Eskimo. The faces are so sweet! There is some pretty awesome vintage items on the site too.

Plush You online

2009-10-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

I am slowly yet surely getting all work up online that is still for sale. Please visit here often for new pieces.

Tonight at Vermillion in Seattle

2009-10-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

Ever found yourself interested in self-publishing but had no idea where to start? Or maybe you have a book idea, but don't know whether to pitch it to a publisher, find a literary agent or publishing it yourself. Kaie Wellman, the creator of the eat.shop guides and a self-publisher, can help you answer some of these questions.

About the eat. shop guides:

the eat.shop guides focus on cities both big and obvious (nyc and paris) and small and not-so-obvious (kansas city and portland). you could say we’re an equal opportunity publisher with 24 cities in our back pocket and counting. because we believe that a guide needs to come along with you–and not languish on your coffee table looking all pretty and pristine–an eat.shop guide fits perfectly into a handbag, a glove compartment box or your empty hand. and instead of having it indiscriminently feature everything but your kitchen sink, we put our eat.shop colored glasses on and carefully choose 85 or so unique, authentic, scrumdilicious local businesses that range from eye popping and brand spankin’ new to deeply patinaed and way off the beaten path, funky and unexpected to chic and shiny.

the first eat.shop guide was published in portland, oregon in late 2003. kaie wellman, the creator of the series, was at the time an art director / graphic designer with a bad attitude. to abolish the attitude, she thought about what career change might make her happy, so she took a solo road trip to san francisco to visit the gift fair for inspiration. after spending 30 minutes at the fair, she was not inspired. so with two days left in town, and looking for a new career path, she hit the streets—not to take up the oldest profession, but to explore the city neighborhood by neighborhood.

For all info visit here