Softies Central -- Go Vote!

Obviously, I'm not a finalist in the Let it Snow! Category but that bunny up there by my new friend over at Etsy is! Astulbee is going to be at the Bust Craftacular in Dec. with me.

Check out the finalists and do some voting over at the Softies Central blog.

Buy Handmade!

I took the Handmade Pledge this year and so should you! It doesn't mean that you have to buy ONLY handmade items but it means that you're making an effort. I'm about halfway finished with my holiday shopping and most of it has been off Etsy. I'm so glad these guys got together and organized this online event. It's really cool.

I'll be selling my stuff at two major shows in the upcoming weeks (Handmade Arcade and the Bust Craftacular, links to left). I always buy stuff at these types of events, even though I'm always rushing to see all the stuff from the other vendors. I love Etsy but it's really cool to meet the makers in person sometimes too.

Softies Central Holiday Softie Awards

I mustered up the courage to enter this year's Holiday Softie Awards sponsored by the amazing folks over at Softies Central. I've mentioned this blog before. They feature plush -- all day, almost everyday, on their blog.

I don't remember how I found out about them -- just clicking links, I think. Every year they have cool contest categories so I entered this bean into the Let It Snow category.

You can view all the entries in the flickr pool and more pics of my bean here. There's some really really really great stuff so I'm not expecting to win but it sure would be cool to get a mention, huh?

The front of the bean is the same amazingly soft faux fur that makes my yetis. The back is some super soft fleece that I picked up just for this. As always, he has a little Lemon Cadet label on the back. The rules for the category specify that the item had to be mostly white but you could use some color for accent. My favorite holiday colors are white and silver and metallic blue so when I saw the category, this is what came to mind. You know I gotta sport my Jewish heritage every now and then.

In a week, they will be announcing the top 5 in each category and I'll let you know when you can vote.

I'll post the winners as soon as I hear. And I'm sure you'll hear my shouts of joy if I'm one of them!

Wow!

Today I reached a huge milestone: 3,500 hits to the blog. Thanks so much for reading! What's really cool, is that the little number way down there on the left sidebar shows how many visits I've had. That means people are actually spending some time here.

I've had over 6,000 page views. Those are the quickies. I'd rather keep track of the real deal and 3,500 means a lot to me.

Above is a picture of the Dunleary Pier in Ireland. I went there on a visit to Dublin with a friend when I was a Freshman in college. I took a picture of this huge white rock on the side of the pier and said, "I'm going to tell everyone that this is the famous rock at Dunleary Pier." You know, 'cause once you're home, all your photos tend to look the same to the people you show them to and what harm would it really do.

When I was searching Google for an image of a milestone, I remembered that. Thanks to the people over at Reclaim the Sea for letting me use this awesome image that has absolutely nothing to do with my now over 3,500 page views nor does it depict that rock I once took a picture of. But I think that somehow it might give you some insight into where my designs come from...

What I want for Christmas... a holiday gift guide

clearly so........original aceo by Tim's Sally.


Every Christmas, my family demands to know what I want under the tree or in my stocking (Yes. I'm 33. Yes. We still do stockings. And I hope we do stockings until I'm 66). So instead of making a boring list of links to items on Etsy, I thought I'd create a little gift guide of sorts. These are some awesome things I have found and I think they would make excellent gifts. And if you're my mom, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, or husband (who bought my Christmas presents from Etsy last year ON Christmas day), you can take this post as a major hint hint.

An Etsy shopping tip: If someone sends you a link to something they want and it says it has been SOLD, just look in the shop. Many artists and crafters make multiple copies of their pieces or have something very similar. If there's nothing listed, feel free to send a convo. Most Etsy sellers are super nice and are more than happy to accomodate requests -- as long as you give them plenty of time before the holiday.

Above is a little ACEO by a shop I ran across the other day in the Time Machine 2. She has some amazing little items in her shop and they are very well priced. I also like Now Can I print and this larger original Onlooking guide although I love the idea of hanging tiny little works of art around my studio as inspiration.

Yeti shadow puppet by Owly Shadow Puppets.
As you may know, I'm obsessed with yetis. What better to give a yeti lover than a shadow puppet that she can play with in the evening hours to her hearts content. Imagine large looming yetis all over the walls... Heaven.


division by 2 by cori d, another great shop I recently discovered.


Zanzibar Girfkin by the talented odkins.
See my post on the Yeti Loves Seamonster blog for more on this craziness.


one of these from nectar.
I am a big fan of handmade jewelry. Nectar is a great shop. My favorite of this bunch for color and style is the middle one. But you couldn't give someone a fabulous necklace without matching earrings, could you? Well, of course you could but if you wanted to give a set, then go with either style of dot earrings in a matching color.


metropolitan earrings by siren jewels.
Cute huh? Hip and retro without being too pretentious.


Round but Square ... Sterling Silver Earrings by Lunasa Designs.
These are nice for the person who likes geometric shapes but pines for the organic as well.


poppy earrings by nikole sarvay designs.
Nikole is new to Etsy but no newcomer to jewelry making. This earrings rock my world. I love red. I love coral (as long as it's sustainably harvested).


Simplicity Pendant from Block Party Press.
Isn't this just lovely? They have such nice things. Their items are all made from polymer clay so they won't weigh you down or break up your pocketbook like precious metals do.


yuzu soap by you stink soap.
I bought some of this shortly after joining Etsy. It's amazing. Really amazing. You must try it. We are out and have been jonesing for more.


squall jointed paper doll set by Wool & Water.
What words do I have for these paper dolls that they aren't already speaking themselves? If I got these, I would either cut them out and assemble them right away to hang next to the wolf I already have hanging from my studio shelf OR love them love them love them so much that I couldn't bear to chop them up.


Chairry. I want a Chairry doll from Pee Wee Herman's Playhouse. It may seem ridiculous but I do. I don't care if it's used. I don't need it to be in a box. I just want the doll. And I don't want him to be dirty. My chair from Blue's Clues is lonely. Sometimes on eBay you can get them cheap if someone has called it "Chairy" instead of "Chairry."


Craft Magazine is amazing. Perhaps you'd like to renew a loved one's subscription. $34.95 (I think -- it may be cheaper to renew).


And a gift certificate from Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble is always a good gift -- especially if the person in your life needs some sort of business/craft book and can't decide which one is best. I prefer Border's but there isn't one near us.

I desperately need a new pair of fabric scissors.


I should have gotten a scarlet spoon rest from Fiestaland for my birthday this year but we've been so busy we didn't take our annual trip up there. They are available here or order one from Elder Beerman.

This list has gotten longer than expected and I will probably add items to it as Christmas draws nearer. When I was in Jr. High, one Christmas I remember making an elaborate collage of all the things I wanted using pictures I cut out of magazines. Yes. It did contain a picture of a Caboodles. I won't lie. A blog is a little more time consuming but not as messy.

Beans and brooches

A few of the new bean dolls are finally in the shop. I also decided to list the brooches. Instead of listing them individually, I just made one listing and you can choose the color stitching on the face. This one is pink.

I've finally been able to get back to working on new stuff. I have a nice stack of bean dolls ready to stitch. I have more of the Asian print brocade that sold out at Crafty Bastards, some new stripeys, a couple from the Joel Dewberry bud print, and even a couple out of that cool black and white fabric that I used to make some guys a while back. I didn't realize until just the other day that it was designed by Alexander Henry. Go figure! I was buying his amazing work before I even knew who he was.

Neglected but not forgotten...

It's been a crazy time around here for Lemon Cadet. Since Crafty Bastards, there's been a lot of catching up, taking new photos of the goods, and filling custom orders.

I have 5 bean dolls to add to the shop and a few new shirts. The sizes are mostly for toddlers but include some super thick awesome quality sweatshirts (even a couple of hoodies, size 4). Please forgive me. I love you.

Handmade Arcade is also coming very soon. And as promised, we'll have something new. I'm thinking yeti. I'm thinking plush.