Huck Gee is coming!

Homework

image by KupKup Land
In an effort to help my friends get their work in stores and my own I thought maybe we could ALL help each other.  But hopefully this homework assignment will help you in more ways than one.  I would like to compile a list of boutiques, shops, etc. that are around the country that carry handmade work.  If you submit me something I will give you access to a google document that will be updated as often as I get information.  What you need to submit is the following:

1) Store Name
2) Location
3) Contact Info
4) How they take submissions
5) Type of store (plush, jewelry, kids, etc.)

Item #4 will hopefully help you the most too.  Maybe you have been meaning to ask xstore if they might be interested in taking your work or if xstore takes submissions from out-of-state or if xstore is in need of new products.  By investigating for us, you are hopefully looking into something you have been meaning to investigate for awhile. 
So pick up that phone!

Stuffed Giveaway!

The new issued of Stuffed is out and looks adorable. It's so great to see so many of you lovelies in the issue AND ON THE COVER! Enter your name here with your contact info for your chance to win a copy!  I will choose a winner Jan. 20th.

Flickr Finds

Sciapataus

Siouxsie-Factory

PengPeng's

Woo Work. Hilarious.

Xmoonbloom

Audrey Pongracz

Cross Stitch

I have a few ideas I would like to try in the new year and one big one involves cross stitching. Here are some good inspiration links.

The work by Felicity Hall is stunning...to say the least.

These belt buckles are pretty awesome!

I really love this bird

These telephones would make a good gift for someone I know who used to collect vintage phones.

This laptop case is amazing.

These are pretty

The Year of the Tiger

PicaPau

I still can't decide how I feel about 2009.  It went by so fast it all feels kinda cloudy.  And 2008 seemed so bad that 2009 didn't seem so bad.  I came out with two books, Creature Crochet and Button and Stitch: Supercute Ways to Use Your Button Stash.  It was our first full year of Grassroots Business Association.  I curated a show at Gallery Hanahou and started the plush exclusives and did the usual Schmancy stuff.  It really went so fast and I felt almost constantly busy.  This year there are some secret projects in the works which are really exciting but I also hope to take it easy a little bit more. 

Some things I would like to accomplish in the new year:

1) Complete my braided rug that I started more than a year ago now and for some reason can't sew it correctly.  This weekend I am going to take it apart (again) and try sewing it one more time using directions.

2) See friends more often (this is more towards friends whom I make plans with but it takes us 2 months to actually get it together).  You know who you are

3) If I decide to make a gift...let's say a baby gift, I need to make practical goals so that I accomplish them in time and not 5 months later. 

4) Eat at home during the week as much as humanly possible.  AND eat breakfast!  (i am terrible at that)

5) Try and get wholesale accounts again for some of my items. 

I could go on and on but I won't bore you.  I am hoping because it's the year of the tiger and I am a tiger maybe it's my year.  I'm going with that.  Happy New Year lovelies.  xoxo

Latest Obsession

For my birthday I got a gift certificate to Taste Book. I was so busy that I had no time to check it out. Well today is slow and I am sick of working so I decided to finally work on my cookbook. I know the holidays are over but perhaps you still need a few more presents OR you have some extra cash in your pocket and don't know what to do. If you need a suggestion, I highly suggest checking out Taste Book. It was super fun to compile and I still have loads of credit. I will finally have all my cravings and my kind of food in one place.

If you don't know how it works, it is really simple. I created a book and then searched for recipes I like. If they weren't on their site I went to other sites where I got the original recipe and added it to my book. I have about 66 credits left so I am going to start bringing in my own favorite recipes from home to add to it little by little. I can't wait to get my first round in the mail!!  I even found some ice cream recipes that weren't in the The Complete Idiot's Guide to Homemade Ice Cream

My favorite appliance

About 6 or 7 years ago I got a KitchenAid KSM150PSWH Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, White. It was an exciting gift but it has become an appliance I cannot live without. I swear, if it broke suddenly, even if I was dirt poor I would eat beans and rice for a month just to be able to get another one as soon as possible. Things I love about my Kitchen Aid.

1) Baking is so easy, I don't even think about it.
2) I can make 120 cupcakes without batting an eye
3) I can make pasta with the awesome KitchenAid SNFGA Pasta Maker Attachment for Stand Mixers. Easy as 1.2.3.
4) I never have to knead dough ever again. Bread has become really easy to make!
5)If I have a craving for gingerbread at 9pm, NO PROBLEM

For Christmas I got KitchenAid KICA0WH Ice Cream Maker Attachment. Now life has become a whole new ballpark. Yesterday I made pumpkin ice cream!!! The feeling of pouring that batter into my freezer bowl and watching it turn into ice cream within 15 minutes was the most exciting thing ever. Yes, I am a dork but come on people. ICE CREAM!

Anyways, I know this has nothing to do with plush but once in awhile it's fun to talk food. And I love my Kitchen Aid so much I had to tell you all. If you have thought about purchasing one but don't know if it's worth it. It's WORTH EVERY PENNY!

New York Times Article

The New York Times has a great article on turning your hobby into your full time job.  I especially liked this quote although I would change the Etsy to Schmancy.  Read it here

Merry Christmas!

Photo Eternal Sunshine
I hope you all have a very merry Christmas!