Smosch

Sandra Juto is an artist based in Gothenburg, Sweden. She has a great portfolio of illustrations, and her crochet buttcrack characters crack me up.





Have a look at her portfolio and blog for even more inspiration. She has a few buttcrack characters for sale on her etsy as well.

The CraftGossip Blog

How many blogs do you discover a day that you bookmark and become obsessed with? I have a NO COMPUTER rule at home and it's because if I took my computer home every night I would continue to go from new site to new site discovering things and would never get anything done. I spend enough time on this thing during the day. I just got a really nice email from the sewing editor at CraftGossip today. I think I will be getting interviewed there soon but check out her kind words about Plush You here

Le Train Fantome

I have something to confess, Le Train Fantome might be my new obsession. These soft toys are beautiful. Each and everyone is amazing. The homepage of her website reminds me of my old Child Craft Books. Here is her blog and her flickr. Once you go there, prepare to have an hour or so...you won't want to leave.

Barter Sauce

The rules are as follows:

Look at what I have up for trade.
Begin to become obsessed with something. Think about it day and night.
Send me a trade offer. Make it something weird.
Write a story about it. How you got it. What it was like owning it.
Anything. It does not have to be true. Email it to me. Wait patiently.
Meet me. Give me something. Get something. Have picture taken. Simple

Barter Sauce. Most likely it's the only place where you could find a paraglider, a tombstone from 1867, cookbooks that tell you How to Cook Like a Stud, and a painting of a cockfight all in one place.

Do it all at Barter Sauce whom will also be at First Thursday here in Seattle. 5-10pm at 216 Alaskan (under the viadcut btwn Main and Washington)

Maker Faire

The schedule is out and I am so excited! Come see me at the Maker Shed this Saturday from 3:00 to 3:30 where I will be signing the Plush You book. This is going to be a great event and will be amazing promo for the Plush You show in general. Also don't miss one of our very own favorite's, Moxie as she will be running all over the place the whole weekend. Check the schedule to find out where you can find her at any given hour. I will also be checking out tons of the events with my friend and cohort, Kurt who does awesome laser etching. He is the one that I started Laser Tag Cartel with. It's going to be a great time.

'Shrooms

I love the mushroom. I love them so and everyone that's a good friend knows this about me which I guess I love too.

Here are some awesome one's that I have found.

From Nancy



From Lucykate Crafts.



Fantastic Toys



Inomi



From Katy Kristin whom also happens to have an awesome set of mushroom street art.

Mucho Interview

It's kind of funny interviewing your friend you hang out with all the time but I did. Mucho is my friend, the one I watch 90210 and Melrose Place with. We watch each other's cat's when we go out of town and we have craft nights which are my favorite. Pamela is really swell and a great crafting friend. Here's a little more about her. Leave a comment at the end of this post and you'll have the chance to win your very own Mucho Drumstick!


S- When did you start crafting?

M- I guess my mom taught me to crochet when I was in grade school but she only taught me the chain stitch so I couldn't really make anything. She taught me to use a sewing machine when I was a little older that was probably the real start. I got into crochet again in my 20's.



S- You sew and do a lot of crochet. Would you say you have a favorite?

M- Definitely crochet but that's because I can create in 3-D easier than in sewing. I haven't quite grasped that skill yet.

Go here for full interview and your chance to win!

Shelterrific

Thanks to Mary for having me do a little post on toys for Shelfterrific. It was fun and that site is great!

I am going to try and add more stuff to my new site today.

Wolpertinger

From Wikipedia.

"The Wolpertinger (Crisensus bavaricus) (also called "Wolperdinger", "Poontinger" or "Woiperdinger") is a cryptid supposedly living in the alpine forests of Bavaria in Germany. It has body parts of various animals — generally wings, antlers and fangs, all attached to the body of a small mammal. The most widespread description is that of a horned rabbit or horned squirrel. It is similar to the Rasselbock from the Thuringian Forest, the Elwedritsche of the Palatinate region, which resembles a chicken-like creature with antlers and to the American invention of the jackalope as well as to the Swedish Skvader.

Stuffed Wolpertingers, composed of parts of real stuffed animals, are often displayed or sold as tourist souvenirs in their "native regions". Each village has its own set of tales about sightings of the Wolpertinger in the nearby countryside.

Like the jackalope, the Wolpertinger is thought to have been inspired by sightings of wild rabbits infected with the Shope papilloma virus, which causes the growth of antler-like tumors in various places on the rabbit's head and body."

I had an email the other day looking to see if someone was willing to make them a Wolpertinger. Anyone up for the challenge? It looks like a really fun project. If you want to get ahold of her, please comment here with your email so she knows how to contact you.

I like this stuff

I think I am sick. It is really lame as I am going to SF in a few days for the Maker Faire. Needless to say I am being lazy and looking at websites, etc. all day long. Here are some of my finds:

I really like these bags by Black Bags




OH MY! This person is amazing! You have got to see them all here. This woman has skills.




I wouldn't mind sending this out to a few people right about now :)



I really like these colorful wallets!



I have never been interested in LA until I started reading this

One of my biggest guilty pleasures

Jeanna Sohn is the guest blogger on Design Sponge this week. Jeanna is awesome.

I love these more than words can describe!



I like this artists work a lot!



This show looks awesome.

The average family brings home 1,000 plastic bags every year. It is time for us to switch from a disposable society to one which reduces, reuses and recycles. This show will help spread the message that we care about our planet and do not want to just consume until there is nothing left. We are certain that we will all make a difference. The proceeds from the sales of the show will go to the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, a New York based organization committed to enviromental advocacy and education.



Ends soon, don't delay.

Hollypop

I am really digging these cute monsters by Hollypop. They look like they are really sweet little monsters don't you agree?




I love the little key chain one's as well.

Maker Faire

Here is a full schedule of the Maker Faire events. It looks awesome. I can't wait. I'll be there so please say hello.

It looks like you can now buy a pattern for these awesome stackable cats from Mochimochi Land here.



I really like this plush by Tarnie



I also really like these knitted toys by Jo Jo's Softies

Madame Bogg

Not all of these are still for sale but I like them all just the same. Check out what's for sale here

Schmancy Gallery

As if I didn't have enough blogs already...I now have a blog strictly for Schmancy's gallery. All updates about our art shows, preview lists, interviews, etc. will happen there. Not much on there yet but much more to come. Thank You Kristen!...not me.