getting ready

doing lots of last minute stuff around here in Pretty Little Fings world. i got some new business cards for Sunday and they look adorable! thank goodness for Instagram and square business card makers everywhere!

sorry for the crappy photo. i didn't notice that it was blurry. oh well, you get the feel of it, right? i love them!

Handmade Mart

here's another peek for what you might see at our booth this Sunday.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'll be at Handmade Mart!!!! this will be our third year (i think). that's really crazy if you think about it. CRAZY!
check out my vendor profile here!!! and come visit!

inspiration

the farmer's market is in season and since Handmade Mart is coming up, i want to show you where some of my inspiration comes from. enjoy!

sew little time

next week is Handmade Mart! could you believe it?? i've been sewing here and there on what ever little time i have and i wanted to give you a little sneak peek!







ever since i started working at the juice shop, i've been getting so inspired by veggies and fruit...i've been introduced to so many new varieties like the Watermelon Radish above!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

join me and the FINGS at the Black Cat in DC tomorrow night for some holiday shopping!!!!!! i got a few new items up my sleeve!!! see you there!

poster by Fire Studio.

W,I.P

 look who's back in that craft nook again...

rain, rain...went away

Sunday started out not so fantastic. lots of rain was in the area and it dampened the start of Handmade Mart. J and i (and most everyone) had to put up tarp walls (or if you owned a easy up, nice white walls) to protect ourselves and the FINGS against all that water that was falling from the sky.


once it stopped though, people started to show up and things were good. i got to see lots of familiar faces (thank you return customers and friends from home!) and meet new people!

here are some photos just in case you missed it!


Fings in suitcases (i got this one from a thrift store for $3, steal!) and awesome lamps by Minda Merinsky!


scary rain clouds


Oh Meaghan was there to lend a helping hand with her sunny yellow shirt! one day, we will win this gigantic mustache!


met Ned from Maneating Flower. i just freakin love the name!


i was really smart and painted a paper sign. logo by This Paper Ship of course! and Handmade Mart wouldn't be complete without these lovely ladies! they are the best!


thanks to This Chickadee's booth partner and friend, Dandelion Blu for the photograph!

go here for more photos!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!

this Sunday is the second annual Handmade Mart in Silver Spring!!! i am an official vendor (ahem, duh!). i have lots of new things in the works so come by and say hello!!

here's the vendor map:



ps - sorry i've been MIA. i have a hard time saying no and i am drowning in work right now and getting ready for the HMM. i missed Foto Fun Friday, we will catch up either this week or next. be back later tomorrow for another post!

show and tell

i am working feverishly (in all aspects really) on inventory for Handmade Mart at the end of this month. this time around, i will be flying solo. to be quite honest, i'm a little nervous...mostly the fact that i don't think i will have enough Fings to fill a booth...oh no! and i will miss my partner in crime Oh Ginger! i had a show at the Ballston Arts & Crafts Market last summer all by myself last year and that was quite nerve wracking (before the show).

anyway, i am working on a new plush. my friend Liz had a request for me to make pop tarts (which has been drawn in my doodle pad for some time as well) and i finally decided today was the day. here's two out of a pile that i've worked on: strawberry pop tart & chocolate pop tart.





oh!! and i finally get to unveil a couple of custom plushies!



it was custom made for OhMeaghan for her one and only's birthday last week. Em loves pirates, crabs, and plaid and they both REALLY love their pug, Seamus. there's magnets behind the beak for kissing and embroidered initials in the back. i thought Seamus in plush form would be the icing on the cake, and i think it rounded out the whole family nicely.



it looks like i must go. Betty White is about to have a beer pong rematch with Jimmy Fallon (hilarious)! let me know what you think about the pop tarts. any feedback helps!

Nuggets of love

the Easter 'eggs' and some friends inspired me to make plush chicken nuggets with chicken legs. i'm pretty happy with the way they came out. i am working on more and all of them will have a different shape (remember the boot looking ones? think the shape of Italy). let me know what you might think or if you have any suggestions. i want to try to devote more time to sewing now that craft fair season is right around the corner. i have lots of ideas, but would love to know you guys might like to see made into a FING?

and ps - to all you animal lovers out there, no chickens were harmed in the making of these nuggets of love.

Donna's Decembers

i've been meaning to write a little post about my friend Liz's lovechild, Donna's Decembers for a while (i must admit, my brain has not been functioning normally). you might remember me mentioning a thing or two about her when i had talked about taking engagement photos for a friend (Liz was the first to believe in my photography skills enough to actually hire me!!).

what's in the name? well, Liz's grandmother, Donna, taught her how to crochet many years ago as a child and twice in the month of December, Donna, was diagnosed with cancer. while going through chemo, her grandmother would crochet for enjoyment. Liz's grandmother passed away recently, but that hasn't stopped Liz from crafting. she makes beautiful crocheted earrings, purses, berets and even custom pieces for her shop!

{photograph via}

Liz is now one of the featured guest artists at The Muse for National Craft Month! so if you're in the Frederick area on Saturday, March 13th, stop by and say hello! if you can't make it, stop by her cute blog (which i just found out about today!) and send some love! who knows, perhaps you'll see us sharing a booth at a craft fair near you!

a little crafting

before the move, i worked on a little tiny surprise for a dear friend. we were still in the midst of all the snow the sky had dumped on us and she mentioned that i should embroider 2010 on the snowballs i had made for the Handmade Mart's Holiday show to commemorate the blizzard(s).



i didn't really know another way than to take it apart in order to embroider them (or make new ones, but i was seriously pressed for time), so i decided to make a winter hat of the little bugger. i embroidered 2010 and snowflakes on the bill of his hat free handed (that's why they were not perfect) and made a yarn pom pom for the top of his hat. i actually REALLY liked the way it turned out...perhaps i'll make more when the studio is up and running again!

...and while we are in the topic of crafting and Handmade Mart. have you thought about applying to their show in May? they've got a spanking new website and you've got a month to apply!! i had an absolute blast doing these shows with great friends and great organizers...even if the weather wasn't so great the second time around! do consider applying, you won't regret it!



<-- do you recognize these?

my first plush of 2010.

have i ever mentioned that i LOVE sushi? i can eat four rolls by myself in one sitting...i consider that a lot for a girl my size...i decided to extend my love of these delicious treasure in a roll into crafting and made plush sushi! now, you might think, yea, well, a gazillion people have done it before you...and yes, i know this, but has anyone ever made a fresh crab meat asparagus and Old Bay roll? i mean, not to my knowledge!



i made this roll cause i love it! i'm thinking that it needs more though, and i'm not sure about the bigger one with the mustache...i am partial to cute and small (like Remy).

i've made some new sketches and have a few ideas up my sleeves for plushies. hope you will like them.

Rock me mama.

Rock n Shop was a success! i'm so glad to have been a part of it again for the second year. maybe next?


my blurry booth and my sales clerks. thanks guys!


this Chickadee came to visit! she was kind enough to help me set up (we were stuck in traffic and had only 15 minutes to set up before the show opened) and took home this lonely banjo.


BFF Sean impersonating a lump of coal. i'd say he did a pretty good job.


OH HAI! i got a quick chance to visit Oh Ginger even though her booth was on the other end of the floor. Meaghan and i met for the very first time at Rock n Shop last December and have been friends ever since! i'm so lucky!


look! Jennifer Cowham of The Sea Change was there too! i a big fan of her jewelry and have a mini collection going. this year, i moved too slow and some of my favorite pieces were sold before i could get them...but! i did get a cheese & camera necklace. it's so me!

anywho. thanks for coming out to support all of the artists. i loved seeing repeat customers (sorry if you had to remind me cause my memory sucks!) and making friends with new customers. much love for you all!

sewing sewing sewing!

being snowed in yesterday was a benefit! i got a whole lot of extra sewing done. i worked on more FINGS for Rock n' Shop (again, rescheduled for this Tuesday, Dec 2nd). then worked some more on a custom order, which i continued today.


new owls!!! i think they are my favorite batch thus far!


lumps of coal for the naughty people on your list.


here's my WIP. can you guess what it is? (wait, have i already told you?)

i hope everyone's had a nice weekend!

gasp!!!

i was featured on Stitchgasm yesterday! wooo!



thanks to Meaghan for keeping me updated!

in other news, tomorrow is Rock n' Shop at the Black Cat. i've been working really hard to get everything ready for it...now there's pretty much going to be a blizzard starting tonight. (oh snow, couldn't you wait til next weekend?!?). needless to say, i am a little worried about the road and whether or not we will be able to make it there/back (it ends at midnight!). if you're in the DC area tomorrow, keep me updated on the road conditions!! thanks!

oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree

this year, J and i decided we wanted a Christmas tree...a bigger tree in comparison to last year's mini fiber optic one that belonged to Lacey. we went out and got a cheap 4 ft. pre-lit tree (bad idea, it looked pretty sorry, but that's what we got for the money we spent), borrowed some ornaments from his mom (bought a few also) and came home to decorate. voila!




i took this picture one morning when the sunlight was shining on the ornaments. it was beautiful.


being a photo geek that i am, i wanted to add photographs to our tree. i was inspired by Elsie's instant photo ornaments...doh! so simple!


we placed our tree on a side table to keep it away from curious animals and to put prezzies under. J and i have a bad habit of opening gifts early, so one of my gifts is already sitting under the tree...Yuki, the mini bottom feeder from The Cotton Monster! i've been wanting one forever!


i adore this paper house ornament we picked up for less than $1. CHEAP!


a gingerbread man ornament that J gifted to me for our very first Christmas. sigh.


our tree wouldn't be complete without something weird in it! one of our ornaments is a monster claw!!! we got this while we were in Seattle. i miss that place.

the Holiday spirit is in the air. i still have a few gifts to make so i should get going. working on a few custom orders and wrapping up projects for this Saturday's Rock n' Shop show at the Black Cat.

nine days until Christmas! WHAT?!?!?

happy Wednesday!

Oh the weather outside was frightful

...but Holiday Shop-n-Stroll was so delightful. yes, Oh Ginger and i braved the weather and showed up! set up our tent in the rain/snow and bested the cold in our plastic igloo (that our lovies had set up for us).


wrapped up tight with tons of clothespins!




i love Oh Ginger's cubicle art!

a few things got soggy along the way (including my socks that i had to change twice!). but my heart was warm to see all of the familiar crafty faces (and new ones too) and all of the supporters who came out to shop! you brave souls you!


we love This Chickadee! Meaghan and i visited her booth before the show and goofed off!


my friends Brandi & Twan came to visit! they were such troopers and helped us pack up! thanks guys!

we goofed off a bit, got hooked on hot cider and J became the unofficial spokesperson for our neighbor, Fuzzy Ink.


i WANT to win this giant mustache from Fuzzy Ink so bad it hurts!


J had to watch Fuzzy Ink's booth for a minute and he fit right in!


Luigi...er...Meaghan modeling a wooden salt & pepper shaker that This Chickadee gifted to me! yes!


my two very wonderful crafty friends! i love them!


i got a chance to walk around a little bit and checked out a few booths! Tina Seamonster, Craftgasm, and This Chickadee of course!

big ups to Debbie and Kim! they did such a wonderful job organizing and advertising. i can't wait to see what they come up with next Spring.

and a special thanks to Em & J for enduring the cold and stuck it out in the booth with us. thanks so much J for missing work help make this happen! kisses!