Remembering

My Mom died on New Years Eve, 1982. She had just turned 56. She died of breast cancer.

My Mom taught me how to knit, sew, and be an independent woman. She taught me lots of other things too.

I still miss my Mom, 29 years later. I like to think that she would be proud of me, my children, my husband, our home, my little Woolies business.

I have lots of beautiful things my Mother made - here's one I wanted to share with you.

This ornament is always on our Christmas tree, so I can remember her hands making this.

Happy New Year!

Knitted Pony Giveaway

Visit the Natural Kids Blog for a chance to win a knitted pony, by me, Woolies! You can choose
your color too! Your pony will be knit just for you!




!

Busy Busy!

It's that time of year - the weather FINALLY isn't in the 90's! Craft Fairs galore! Last weekend did a 3 day fair that benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters - check out the link! (On the site, there's even a link to my shops). So much fun!

My big news is that I was invited to be a vendor at the Tucson Museum of Art's Holiday Craft Market next weekend, another 3 day fair. Watching the news on TV last night and there was a TV ad for the fair!! Wow! And I'm scared to death that I don't have enough Woolies inventory!

So just wanted to say hi, I'm sorry I've been incognito! Here's some pics of recent work:!

Have a great weekend!

Quilting

One day, I want to learn how to quilt. There are some amazing quilters on Etsy - Look at these beauties:

Rag Quilt from pandjcrafts!

Pincushion!

Julie specializes in rag quilts. I actually have a tote like the one above (only in pinks) that lugs all my knitting around. I love it!

So...one day....

Well, maybe I'll stick to knitting.

When I was a kid

When I was a kid, I was a tomboy, as my Mom said. I played with my brother and his friends - we climbed trees - I was always up in a tree. We rode bikes. I rode horses and ponies wildly, and when I wasn't on a horse, I was pretending to BE a horse. Dirt and sticks and stones were my friends.

There is one picture of me though, pushing a doll in a baby carriage. Seriously? My hair is even neatly braided. No Way. I need to find that picture and frame it. :)

Sooo - I rarely played with dolls, if at all (unless you believe that one picture, which I don't). Is this why I am now fascinated with dolls of all sorts??

For example, I really really really want this one............

I don't even want to tell you where to find her. (fairiesnest) (there, I put that in there so that if you want to buy her for me for my birthday in November, you can....).

This guy would be awesome to take on adventures! You can find him at Merrydale Dolls, but I'd rather you didn't. :)

This adorable little cutie I managed to snag, from Princess Nimble Thimble. I play with her a lot. When I'm supposed to be workiing, muhahahahah!

And here's one that I yearn for...................from Ruprecht.

And of course it didn't help that I have no girl children. So if you're ever wondering what to get me for a present, now you have some ideas!!

Creative Friday

For those of you that knit, you know that knitting things takes a long time. Each of my Woolies takes hours of knitting. Which is OK, cause I love to. It's a wonderful rhythym - knitting - and I love the process and watching the new creation become 'alive'.

But, I'm also in the need for something that might take a bit less time to knit. Which also makes them more affordable.

What do you think of my new Wee Woolies? Lots more color choices will be in the shop soon....as well as little boy Wee Woolies. :)

Original

I have 2 shops on Etsy.com.

Woolies Knitted stuffed animals and toys

and

Buster and boo Typewriter key jewelry

I love to knit and sew and not that long ago taught myself how to make jewelry.

I want to talk about originality, for just a moment.

If you ever dare to meander into the forums on etsy, you may read about copycats. And more copycats. And she stole my design. And her stuff looks just like mine. And a lot of times, it does.

And if you wander into some shops, you may find declarations like - I am the first one to make this. The original, whatever. Who knows who came up with the idea first?

The truth is, in the world of arts and crafts, I think it's hard to design a true original. I also think that lots of times, you may think you have the 'first of it's kind'. And then one day you'll be surfing through etsy, and omigosh that looks just like mine! Because we influence each other. And we are inspired by each other. Of course, there is the random outright theft of an idea. Upsetting, yes. Copycat, yes. Wish we could all copyright our own designs. But that costs money. And when you put yourself out there, on the internet, you expose yourself to the rest of the world. Which can be great, and maybe, at times, not so great.

At Woolies, I use lots of patterns by other designers. I credit those designers. I have permission to use those designs in my shop. I thank those designers. And still I strive to make it my own. To change it up, some. Or to be inspired by their designs to make something similar, but still different. And occasionally, I make my own. I even offer 2 patterns of my own designs, for sale in my shop.

And occasionally, I come up with something that is really one-of-a-kind. I didn't write the pattern down for the bear, as I knitted him, just made him up as I went along. Can't imagine I'll ever be able to duplicate him. And I hope nobody else does either.

At Buster and boo, my shop has evolved into jewelry made from typewriter keys. There are other designers that make the same thing. They might even use similar settings, or bails, or necklaces. We compete with each other - this is OK with me. This is e-commerce. It's fine. It is not my original idea.

However,

I think....

at Buster and boo we offer one truly unique product.

Oftentimes, during my gathering of vintage typewriter keys, I find that some keys in a set are unusuable. The letter under the glass is faded, or cracked, or just too darn old to make look better. So, had an idea.

Replace the image with another.

Or,

Or,

Beautiful, vintage-y images, under the glass of a genuine vintage typewriter key.

Cool?

Now, I'd be willing to bet, that just because I've never seen this done before, doesn't mean it hasn't been. But I've never seen it done before. So maybe, just maybe, it's an original.

Happy Easter!

Bunnies want to wish you a Happy Easter!

Black Cloud

I think we have a black cloud hanging over us.



Health worries; job loss; cars breaking down - it seems to just go on and on. I don't have to tell YOU!







So I made this today .







A little puffy black cloud pendant.





The best part about the black cloud, is the tag that reads "Angels watch over you". Because I like to believe that they do.






Do You?














You can find it at Buster and boo.

Vintage Typewriter Key Jewelry

At Buster and boo, I make jewelry using vintage typewriter keys. Sometimes really !!! vintage. The keys typically date from before 1950-1960 at the latest. Around then they started using plastic.


I make a lot of pendants, and some rings. I started recently to make cufflinks. So far I've had 2 orders for bridal parties - so much fun to think I had a small part in such a special day.


One of my customers (not for one of the bridal parties) is a photographer. She sent me this picture of the cufflinks, and I just HAD to share!!

What a fantastic photograph! Photographer is Susan Yee - you can find her here:

http://blog.enpointephotography.com -

For cufflinks of your own, please visit my shop!

Bunnies

Bunnies just want to say - hope you're having a happy holiday season!

Winner!

Brownhairgirl7 - Congratulations - you're the winner of the Earring Giveaway!

Huge thanks to all who entered!

Buster and boo Earring Giveaway!

In honor of the Fall season, I'm offering a pair of Harvest earrings for my latest giveaway!

Beautiful Soft Pink 7-8mm Fresh Water Cultured Pearls are paired with rich and sparkling swarovski amber crystals. Wirewrapped in sterling silver and hanging from sterling silver earwires. Glorious for the fall harvest! Value $18.00

To qualify for the giveaway:

1) Please visit my online boutique, http://busterandboo.etsy.com/. Come back here and leave a post with your favorite item from my shop.

2) Or --- you may also visit my other shop, http://woolies.etsy.com/. Again, come back here and leave a post with your favorite item from that shop.

3) If you visit both shops, you will be entered twice.

4) If you become a follower of my blog (button to the right), you'll be entered again!

5) If you blog about this giveaway, you'll be entered yet again!!

6) If you tweet about this giveaway - another entry!!

So - lots of chances to win! Giveaway will end one week from today - Thursday, 10-29-09, at midnight.

Thank you - and good luck!!

:0)

Waldorf Dolls

I was a tomboy, growing up. I didn't play with a lot of dolls, although I did have one. Her name is Pitiful Pearl. I still have her. Her hair is a little....unusual. I may have had something to do with that...

So now I have a thing for dolls. I DROOL over dolls. Here's a sampling of some of my favorites:

This is Josie. Josie was made for me! by Gopita. I adore Josie; she sleeps on my bed every night. And Yes, I am a grown woman.

:0)

Here's another adorable one:

You can find her at Ruprecht's shop on Etsy.

This georgeous doll is available at Dragonflyshollow.

This little guy would love to come live at your house:

You can find him at PolarbearCreations.

Oritdotandolls makes the most beautiful and engaging dolls.

Hope you enjoy!

Chickens

HA! I knitted a chicken! Spent a few days taking care of my friend Cathy's chickens, such lovely, well-mannered ladies, and then found an awesome pattern for a knitted chicken - rooster - fowl.

Check him out!

You can read more about him HERE. He was a ton of fun to make!

Money, Money, Money

Nobody wants to really talk about how much money they make. It's in poor taste. It's nobody's business but your own. And I agree. (well, kind of. If you're blabbing about how much money you make in public. discussions among friends are fine...)

But those of us that dream of quitting our day jobs, and making a living on Etsy - are very interested.

I read an interesting blog post today here, written by a shop on etsy with over 10,000 sales. So, it got me to thinking.

You can see Etsy's top sellers here http://etsybynumbers.blogspot.com/2009/04/etsy-top-200-sellers-handmade.html.

The #1 handmade shop has sold over 24,000 items, at an average cost of $15 (guessing, it is probably $18) - 24,000 x $15 = $360,000 - etsy and paypal fees = $335, 241. Of course, I have no idea what the costs are for making her items. And the shop joined in June of 2005, so that is over the course of 3 years. I could live well on just about $100,000 per year.

Could you?

It takes tremendous talent, as well as marketing know-how, fabulous customer service too.

But the #1 thing that will make you a success is your product.

How fabulous is your product?? And how much demand is there for your product? Is your product so fabulous that 24,000 people HAVE to have it??

The Magic of Harry Potter

We went to see the new Harry Potter movie on Sunday afternoon. Got a big vat of disgusting popcorn and settled in.

I was riveted the entire time. I had NO IDEA how much time had passed. It was over in the blink of an eye.

Can I tell you how much I LOVE Harry Potter? It's great storytelling, in the very best way. Incredible characters (Oh Snape). I was disappointed to not see some of my favorite villians - Lucius Malfoy, and Voldemort himself. They were lurking in the background somewhere. And as much as I loved Harry, Hermione and Ron when they were younger, they're still equally mesmerizing as they get older.

If you're a fan too, you might just LOVE some of these awesome handmade Harry Potter-type items that I found on etsy. Here are some of my favs:

Everybody needs a Defence against the Dark Arts Notebook, from celesetfrittata.

And in case you like villians as much as I do, here's a particularly charming one.

Draco Malfoy, by houseofmouse.

In case you'd like to crochet your own wizards, here's an amazing pattern.

By darncatcrochet.

Can't crochet? Here's a finished wizard for you ---

by girlcalledric.


Do you happen to write for the Daily Prophet? By all means then, you need this badge --

Also from celestefrittata.

But NO self-respecting wizard would be caught without this ---

A wand, by woodwitch.

And how are you going to get anywhere without your broom?









By broomchick.



So.....how long do I have to wait for the next Harry Potter movie to be released????
I wish Snape would come along and teach me some Defense against the Dark Arts....

Natural Kids Giveaway - #4 !!!!

Natural Kids Giveaway #4 !!!

The Natural Kids is a team of Etsy shops that create items for Kids using natural materials. I'm in love with the items for this next giveaway - can I enter to win???


These truly are heirloom pieces that your children will reach for again and again. Total Prize Value is $65!!!



First we have PolarBear Creations Mini-Baby. I can imagine this baby being toted around all day, everyday.

Next is Pupa's cotton bunny. Safe for young children, as the face is simply embroidered. All natural and so beautiful.

Wee Blossom Babe from FaerieRebecca would bring joy to any young child's playtime.


The Rules:

Visit each of the 3 shops

Polar Bear Creations

Pupa

FaerieRebecca

Come back here, and leave a post with your favorite item from each shop. This Giveaway will run for 2 weeks, and end on May 130th. (Which is when the next one will start).

You MUST leave an email address for me to reach you.

Have fun!

Natural Kids Winner

Random.org has chosen #40 for the Natural Kids Giveaway #3!

congratulations Lori!!!

Buster and boo Giveaway!

There are a TON of items in my Buster and boo shop. Pendants of ALL sorts, earrings, necklaces - you name it.

I stumbled on a wonderful blog recently, and she is hosting my giveaway! So please head on over to Confessions of a Stay At Home Mom!