make

i don't often sit to sketch before i start working out a pattern. but sometimes, if there's a little being that i can't quite picture properly, i have to feel out his personality on paper first. often, it's laughable and scribbly and nothing like the finished bit. but this little puppy turned out just exactly like his sketch. makes me think i should do it more often.

it's been a whirlwind of making around here. projects to prepare for and custom orders to fill. but it's my favorite kind of work and i never tire of it. stitch, stitch, stitch.

the deer in her winter woolens and the fierce fox on the left are available in the shop. the tea fox has been spoken for and the wee frenchum bulldogs are for a custom order. (best part of a custom order? seeing pictures of other people's four-legged loves.)

the fabric and sewing supplies will be the last thing packed up around here, and most likely the first thing unpacked. i am afraid to admit this, but in volume and weight, it may rival my book collection. oh, for the love...

xo. r

projects

a few things i've been working on this week...

first, a new nursery for succulent cuttings.

the little buggers grow so well from a simple cutting and it's such an economical way to get a big variety going. i ordered a big batch of cuttings from san pedro cactus, and i'm pretty sure they sent a few extras. i popped them all in a vintage chicken feeder (in fast draining cactus soil, of course) and so far they seem happy as a sea of clams.

all of our windows are already filled with my little houseplant obsession, but i'm thinking ahead to the new house... more windows means more plants!

also, i've started on a funny little bird for a custom order, a quail!

i'm using some of my favorite fabric for the under feathers. it's salvaged from the lining of an old fur stole and both sides of the fabric are incredible. the "wrong" side is silvery blue, the "right" side is copper with pale blue feathering. just perfect for the quail chest. each little feather gets stitched on with a million little stitches. layered from bottom to top, just like mother nature.

isn't this a sweet little find on the lining? a custom monogram. so lovely.

i'll share more photos of the quail when he really starts to take shape.
bird is the word.

xo. r

in white

been working in white lately.

a ghost of a deer.

and a work in progress, a bunny who kept me up late into the night.

xo. r

( something new )

something new

for me, for everyeskimo, and for you too!

i've had a little idea brewing for awhile...

something that combines vintage & handmade.

 taking me away from my needle and thread

and into my father's old workshop.

oh, it was chilly!

the furnace hasn't been lit in the shop

since my father away passed several years ago.

but it was nice to work in there

among the memories and ghosts.

work in progress, standing at the helm of the drill press.

luckily for my cold hands, a drill press can be run with gloves on!

and the result...

a new line of letterpress keychains!

oops, forgot the drumroll.

 an everyeskimo original,

with a love of wood, words, modern history

and subtle style.

 

the first batch will be hitting the shop this afternoon.

 and just for you, i'm offering a free shipping discount!

{ on letterpress keychains only, good until the new year }

simply enter the words "word nerd"

in the notes-to-seller when you check out

and i will send you a shipping refund.

'cause i love you, you know.

 xo. r

( something new )

for a long time, i've had a little idea brewing...

an oeufling mobile.

seems simple enough, but this one took ages to pull together.

five oeuflings, in shades of green, have been sitting on my desk

wondering what was taking so long.

i couldn't quite wrap my head around how i wanted to hang them.

what to string them with, what to hang them from.

( do you know there's no such thing as a pre-made mobile base? not that i wanted to use one,

but i wanted to look at them. i see a small market there.... )

and the more complicated i made everything, the less i liked it.

i finally stopped fighting myself

and decided to work with the simple materials i love most.

a sturdy branch, dappled with bits of grey-green lichen.

and waxed thread, so the oeufling seem to float against the background.

easy does it.

but a few good things did come from all my trial and error.

it wouldn't have occurred to me to seal the branch if i hadn't been sealing a failed option.

( i'm so glad i did, it brought out all the colors so nicely.)

and a great packing solution for the long strands.

(if you're like me, and untangling hangers is your worst nightmare,

a tangle of oeuflings might just drive you off the edge!)

trail and error and finally success!

these little guys will be going into the shop soon

and hopefully oeufling mobile no. 2 won't take me another three months.

any color requests?

xo. r

( wolf in progress )

a wolf in progress

sewn & stuffed -- linen & wool

deciding what to wear

fur? velvet? lace?

but it's funny...

i like the second shot

where he seems to have shed all his winter warmth

and is ready to feel the sun on his back again

( stitching away )

it's dark and cold and rainy here

so i'm huddled under a blanket in the studio

working on a new little fox

stitched & turned

ready for stuffing and finishing

{ i love watching each little personality come to life }

+

one of my goals

is to share more work in progress

with you this year

 as i always enjoy peeking in on other people's

methods & madness

our geometry has perfect proportions.

{it's much easier to see if you click it}

oh dilemma! (i'm having so many of those today.) i made this little embroidery for the shop and i loved it while i was making it. and i love it in person. but somehow the pictures are making me second guess it. i suppose i'll be dithering about it all afternoon...

the unnamed child-thing.

here's a peek at what i'm working on now:

octobunny? squidbunny? bunnypus? he's currently unnamed. but then, he doesn't have a face yet either, so i think that's fair.

i usually sketch before i sew, and it's always interesting to see how closely (or how completely unrelated) they come out. this little guy's taking a lot, a lot, a freaking lot of sewing. 

(a long-winded) process

i always enjoy reading about how other people create their work, and what processes they go through. today, i thought i would share mine.

when i start a new toy, i usually start with a drawing. sometimes it’s just a quick sketch. sometimes it’s something i have been drawing over and over for a while. it’s a great way to see how the details work out and what kind of attitude the little guy is going to have.

then i sit down to draw a pattern. i have never duplicated one of my patterns, and in fact, they get used up as i make a toy. the end result being, things are never the same twice. (all my foundlings are from different patterns, and as a result they have a similar but different body shape. it keeps things interesting.)

i lay out my felt, cut out the pieces. (i confess, Ii really detest this part. my hands only want to cut felt from a certain angle and i get frustrated at the felt flopping around! and then trying not to waste any felt! it just plain irks me!)

and i enjoy making the most out of my fabric.  i have a large collection of vintage felts, and i love all the different weights and weaves of it. sometimes i add in recycled felt (100% water bottles!) and of course, a tightly woven wool felt for the main body. that stuff is nice and strong!

then assembly. this is the fun part. and i do love making the face. change the angle of a stitch just slightly and the face has a whole different look. it’s always fun to see who is going to come popping out of the fabric. after i get all the details finished and i think the toy feels complete, comes the long task of sewing the body together. this is the part that makes me feel like a mad scientist. (i confess, i am thinking of switching to machine sewing for this part. just to speed the process up a hair! thoughts?)

poke all the little parts right-side out. (check out this video for a great tip). stuff, stuff, stuff. (sometimes just fluff, sometimes rice if it wants to be a little floppier. jasmine rice has a really nice smell.) a few more stitches and i’m all finished.

then i troop around the house looking for the perfect nook to tuck the new little toy in so i can enjoy him until he’s sold! (i actually feel very lucky that bernard hasn’t sold yet. i have a huge, huge crush on him!)

and here’s a sketch i am working from right now. trying something a little different by layering felt on felt rather than assembling different pieces. we’ll see how it goes!

heads up...

head goes here: oh deer, oh dear made her debut last week and was quickly snatched up. (insert small whoop of glee here!) as a matter of fact, she's on her way to australia now, thanks to one miss mippy!

i really enjoyed making her and thought i'd share a sneak peek of the next in the head goes here line.

head goes here: giraffe gaffe.

if i'm lucky, this fella will be ready by the end of the week! (it's a slow process tucked in between a full-time job, three dogs and an almost daily yoga practice!)