Sam & Lou

Lou the pony is made from fleece, has a layered vintage button eye, and is stuffed with recycled plastic shopping bags. Lou's ears, nose, eyes and accents are all hand stitched.

This pony is 17 1/2" tall from her feet to tip of her ears to her feet.

By purchasing this LEFTZ you have helped recycle: 30 bags

Give Lou a home.


Sam the Owl is a lazy bird. He always puts off things until tomorrow and can be seen laying down on the job a lot.

This LEFTZ is made from fleece and cotton fabric. His good eye is a vintage button and he is stuffed with recycled plastic shopping bags. He stands a little over 12 1/2" tall and is 6 1/2" wide.

By purchasing this Owl you have helped recycle: 23 plastic bags!

Find Sam and other eco friendly plush in my Etsy Shop

Ted v2

Meet Ted! (The 2nd)

Ted the pony is made from fleece, has a layered vintage button eye, and is stuffed with recycled plastic shopping bags.

Ted's ears, nose, eyes and accents are all hand stitched.

This pony is 12 1/2" from nose to bottom, 15" from feet to tip of his ears, 11" tall laying down, and has an 6 1/2" tail.

By purchasing this LEFTZ you have helped recycle: 26 bags

Give Ted a home.

Jack

Jack the Owl is a funky bird. He likes to party late into the night and sleep all day.

This LEFTZ is made from tweed and fleece. His good eye is made from layered vintage buttons and he is stuffed with recycled plastic shopping bags. He stands a little over 12" tall.

By purchasing this Owl you have helped recycle: 23 plastic bags!

Give Jack a home.

Peacock In Bloom

This is my recent plush. I have previously made Peacocks that were mounted but not free standing ones. This plush is made from fleece, has a layered vintage button eye, and is stuffed with recycled plastic shopping bags.

This Peacock is now for sale in my Etsy Shop

Blog Error

There seems to be a problem with the blog. You can still comment on the blog, the link is just above the article instead of bellow. Since this happens to be more than a simple fix, I will work on it tomorrow and see where the bug is. Until then, keep commenting just remember to scroll back up so you don't click on the wrong article.

Yeti vs Gnome

Yeti vs Gnome is a fun cartoon on YouTube where poor Yeti is constantly harassed by Gnome.

These two plush were a custom order for YetivsGnome.com Yeti is 12 1/2" tall sitting down and 23" tall when standing. He is made from fleece, has vintage button eyes, and is stuffed with recycled plastic shopping bags.

Gnome is also made from fleece, with vintage button eyes and is stuffed with recycled plastic shopping bags. He is 14" sitting down and 20" tall when standing.

Thanks YetvsGnome! They were a blast to make :)

Hook Line & Sinker

This guy is another one of my favorites from my Tribal LEFTZ Collection.
Instead of a shield this fellow is sporting a loincloth.
His latest ketch is a lovely Koi fish.

By purchasing this LEFTZ you have helped recycle: 16 plastic bags

Find this guy and all the other members of my
Tribal Collection in my Etsy Shop

Out and About

Although I don't frequent this ice cream shoppe very offten, it sure is fun to look at. Originally "The Cone" stood in a small parking lot next to an old feed mill, but recently they have moved if a few blocks into the downtown area. History reveals that this building, and about 45 others, are whats left of Robert G. Skiller's creative mind.

They serve ice cream of course, hot dogs, shakes, candy, and gourmet coffe. Ours has become sort of a tourist stop for those looking for the famous house of Jon and Kate Gosselin. To keep in line with the tourist feel, they also have a life size horse statue, a miniature train for the kids, and the normal garden gnome setup. Just a little spice in a small town :)

Straight As An Arrow

Featuring the Tribal LEFTZ Collection with new accessories.
This new plush comes with a bow and arrow!

Available in my Etsy Shop

Careful Sharp Objects

Another member of the tribe has been created. This fellow is the tallest out of all of them at 17 1/2"

Apparently he can't along with the others very well, so he stays to himself.

This Tribal LEFTZ is available in my Etsy Shop

By purchasing this LEFTZ you have helped recycle: 28 plastic bags

No LEFTZ were hurt during the process of this photo shoot.

Photos

Here are a few photos that I've redone for my Etsy shop. After getting my new lights I decided that all my photos should match instead of having brown/green/blue backgrounds. These are some of my favorites!

Above is a group shop of my recent plush owls, including
Theodore Mack and Lydia


My first plush in my Tribal LEFTZ Collection. I wanted to have a little fun and play around with angles and backgrounds.


Finally Stitch the glow of the new bulbs gives this bunny a softer more huggable look.
Hopefully everyone enjoys the new photos of my plush :)

More can be seen in my Etsy Shop

Tribal LEFTZ In Brown

This is the second plush in the Tribal LEFTZ Collection.

This Tribal LEFTZ is made from fleece, has a layered vintage button eye, and is stuffed with recycled plastic shopping bags.








He is 16" tall, a huggable 14 1/2" wide, with a 6 1/2" wide tummy. His spear is 10 1/2" tall. Spear and shield are removable.

By purchasing this LEFTZ you have helped recycle: 25 plastic bags


Give this LEFTZ a home







This is by far my favorite LEFTZ out of all that I have created. His bright white markings pop along his dark brown tree bark, along with his bright red leaves. He's a tad bit chubbier than the first Tribal LEFTZ but I think it gives him tons of character.



Quick Note:
Today I replaced all the bulbs in my studio (including the overhead ones) with day light bulbs. What a difference! The pictures came out amazing and I'm really glad we spent the extra money.

New Tribal LEFTZ Collection

This is the first plush in the Tribal LEFTZ Collection. This fellow lives in the forest and is a great hunter. His shield, made from a giant Bigbe leaf, protects him along with his handmade spear.

This Tribal LEFTZ is made from fleece, has a layered vintage button eye, and is stuffed with recycled plastic shopping bags.

He is 16" tall, a huggable 10 1/2" wide, with a 4 1/2" wide tummy. His spear is 10 1/2" tall. Spear and shield are removable.

Give this LEFTZ a home.



By purchasing this LEFTZ you have helped recycle: 24 plastic bags

While sitting at my cutting table, I dreamt this guy up. I knew I wanted to make him fun, different, and woodlands themed. His accents including, tree bark texture, leaf shield, and sprouting leaves, brings everything together.

I plan on making whole tribes of these fellows with varying details. Until then this Tribal LEFTZ can be found in my Etsy Shop

When you need a smile

This is from one of my favorite blogs "Faces in Places"


People from all over the world have combined their photos of typical objects, but with an artistic view.


My own faces in places photo was an interesting find.

Fuzzy Friday Fun

This Friday has been an upset and filled with some happiness too. My neck problems resurfaced today so I'm stuck in bed. My sewing machine probably thinks I hate it and doesn't want to talk to me.

So since I cant chase down one of my cats for a photo shoot, here is Puppy!

When I lived on my own, in a small apartment, I couldn't have a dog. So I adopted a baby bunny and named him Puppy. He was adorable as you can see!

In fun news, I finally received my postcard back from Stuffed Magazine. It's a relief to know that my plush reached them safely and I can now anxiously await other news.

Tank: When Cute Goes Creepy

So Tank is my newest plush. I've had a stressful week and though I have several cute and fuzzy plush ready to be sewn, I made Tank. Plush, like art, can be expressive, and I think taking the time tonight to just randomly cut fabric was what I needed.

Tank is made from a variety of fabrics including tweed, burlap, fleece, knit, and cotton. I played with the different stitch settings on my sewing machine and tried what felt right.

His story will vary until I get to know him, but as one point Tank was a wrestler.

Cute has gone creepy for the time being in my studio. I've been too worried about making plush that others would like that I haven't been creating ones that speak to me.

My plush are art and they need to express my ups, my downs, and my silly side.


I hope everyone had a good Monday and that you have found the time to be creative.

Landon

Meet Landon!

Landon is the biggest cat in the neighborhood. Formally he was a shirt but now he spends his days napping and chasing mice.

Landon the Cat is a big kitty at 15 1/2" tall and is 13" wide. He is made from a knit shirt and fleece. He has a vintage button eye, and is stuffed with recycled plastic shopping bags.

By purchasing this Cat you have helped recycle: 26 plastic bags!

Give Landon a home.

Dale the Penguin - On Holiday

While Dale normally lives in South Korea with his owner, Noelle, he decided they needed to take a little holiday. From Sydney Australia, to Lake Pukaki South Island New Zealand they had a blast.

Dale's owner moved to South Korea last year to teach English. Here is the great view that Dale gets to look at while Noelle is away teaching.

Stitch the Valentine's Day Bunny

Meet Stitch!

Stitch the bunny is soft hearted. She enjoys a good game of tennis and carrot cake. She is afraid of toasted coconut and sock fuzz.

Stitch is made out of tweed, fleece, and corduroy. She has a vintage button eye and she is stuffed with recycled plastic shopping bags. She stands a little over 13" tall, 18" tall with her ears up, and is 6" wide.

By purchasing this LEFTZ you are have helped recycle 23 plastic shopping bags!

Give Stitch a home.

Fuzzy Friday Fun

Here is a little Fuzzy Friday Fun!

This is Bolt, our other adopted kitty. She was having too much fun with her brother Figgs getting into the catnip, to notice me snapping photos of her. (She is covered in catnip.)

After her hyper spree she now is back to sleeping in the dog bed.

Hope everyone has enjoyed their week :)

Thrift Store Finds

Underwood Champion
Purchase Price: $20


Today we decided to visit a thrift shop that is about an hour from us. We hadn't been there in quite a while but we had such a blast. Tucked away behind some dishes, I spied this typewriter. After a quick ribbon fix, it was perfect. It's extremely heavy and is in need of a good cleaning but I love it.

Josh did a quick internet search and found that Underwood is still in business selling ribbons and even restored typewriters. Also they listed a little history about the typewriter and if our model is the right year, it could have been used in the Army.

I love the history and sound of old typewriters and this will make a lovely addition to my studio!

Small Town Love

As I get older and find myself wanting to settle down, I think of the places that truly make me happy. My dream of owning a ranch is still in the back of my mind, but also I dream of a quaint small town. The best things about dreams is that they comes true.

We have lived in PA for almost 13 years and as much as I miss the south, it is a beautiful place to live.

From my constant need to drive and see new places I happened upon a small town. Instantly I fell in love. Beautiful Victorian homes line the streets, along with white picket fences, and flower boxes. When walking the streets of this small town I felt welcome and at home. Around every turn, a family owned shop pops with color and charm. This is where we want to live.

We have decided to move and are making job and home decisions this spring. I can't wait to start the house hunt and discover the new and old charms of this small town!

Mr. Piggy

Meet Mr. Piggy!

This fellow was so much fun to create. From the beginning, I decided that I wanted to give him a huge head compared to his body.

After I cut him out and began sewing him, I realized something horrible! I didn't have a button anywhere big enough to use for his nose. The only solution I could think of was clay. I hand sculpted his nose and used my tools to make his nostrils.

There may be a farm theme starting...

Mr. Piggy is not for sale at this moment.

Plush Gnome Giveaway

Plush Gnome Giveaway! Prize Worth $29



Minnitwiss is a happy gal from the Land of Many Leaves. She enjoys baking and gardening. She loves to make up little songs as she works.

Minnitwiss stands a little over 19" tall and about 7" wide. She is made from fleece and cotton fabric. Her good eye is made from layered vintage buttons. She is stuffed with recycled plastic shopping bags but is still soft to the touch.

Not intened for children.

International friendly :) Ships anywhere!

HOW TO ENTER:

There are a few ways you can get entries into this giveaway, I'll list them all below along with how many entries doing each thing is going to earn you... Note: You DO NOT need to do all of these things to enter. Doing just one will suffice, however doing more things will equate to more entries! :)

1. Follow my blog, comment below that you have done this (1 Entry).

2. Go to my shop (http://www.arttales.etsy.com/) and find your favorite item, then come back here, and post the link to the item in another comment below (1 Entry).

3. Heart my shop on Etsy, post in a separate comment below that you have done this (1 Entry).

4. Blog about my giveaway, "Tweet" about it on Twitter, talk about it on your Facebook or Myspace, whichever suits you best. Come back here and tell me about how you helped promote my giveaway by posting a link to it in another separate comment below (1 Entry for each promotion done, please post each one in a separate comment)

5. Buy something from my Etsy shop, come back to this blog post and post the link to the transaction in yet another comment below (5 entries).

Please be sure to include your contact information in each comment you post (email, link to your Etsy shop, just somewhere that I can contact you to inform you that you've won). Also please PLEASE be sure to post separate comments for each thing you have done to enter yourself into this giveaway.

Each comment will be numbered, and this is how the winner will be chosen through a random number generator. :) If you have any questions feel free to contact me through my Etsy shop. Good luck! Entries will be accepted until 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) on February 7th 2010. Winner will be announced February 8th 2010, just in time for Valentines Day! :)

Featured

Currently I am listed in 2 Treasuries! What an honor!


1.) Plumard chosen by Flowerleaf

2.) The Rat Pack chosen by Pigglewiggins

The links will only work for a few days. This gives everyone on Etsy a chance to create one!

William the Mallard

Meet William!

For awhile I've been thinking about making a duck. After sending my chicken (Cluck) to Stuffed Magazine, I've been feeling like a bird brain ;) Finally I sat down this evening and worked out the design and then created him.

William is a little over 12" tall, 8" wide, and 14" long. He is made from fleece, felt, and is stuffed with recycled plastic shopping bags.

William the Mallard is currently not for sale at this time.

Pre-work

Today was a day for organization. Other than my normal cleaning up, I like to reorganize everything every couple of weeks. I bought a new cabinet for all my buttons and lots of new bins. Also, I rearranged my plush so that I have double the space! Don't ask me how..

The best thing I did was to get my handmade tags ready. Normally I wait until a plush is ordered to make them, but today I thought I would go the extra, extra mile.

Trevor the Fox

Meet Trevor!

Don't let his cute looks fool you. This guy is more than just smart, he's a sly one. Keep on eye on him or you might find him raiding your eggs in the middle of the night.

Trevor is made from upcycled tweed, knit, and fleece pants. He has a layered vintage button eye. He stands a little over 12 1/2" high and is 9 1/2" wide.

By purchasing this Fox you have helped recycle: 25 plastic bags!

Give Trevor a home!

Fabric!

Here is a little more quick fun from my day. I went shopping :D

I had to knock someone over and run to the register for these.. not really.. but that would have been interesting.

There is a great mixture of corduroy, tweed, and knits. This will keep me busy for at least one day!