A Stuffed Life

Hacked

2012-01-28T16:15:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to let everyone know, if you got an e-mail from me today do NOT open it. I was hacked. I have it under control now, but I just wanted to give you a heads up!

Why You Don't Let Little Bears Watch Scary Movies Late At Night

2012-01-19T23:56:00.000-08:00

The New Pieces Are Up!

2012-01-18T14:06:00.000-08:00

I have updated my website, and the new pieces (shown in the previous post) are available at http://www.blondheart.com/

Website Update Today At 5 PM EST!

2012-01-18T07:18:00.000-08:00

I have been working right up to the last minute here! I am going to have three pieces for you, the first is Cutie Pie...he even has a little button that says his name!

(Cutie Pie has been adopted ~ Thank you!)

Next up of course is Cupid, you have had a sneak peek at him for a while over to the right of my blog. He has heart shaped wings and is filled with love!

(Cupid has been adopted ~ Thank you!)

(Moonbeam has been adopted ~ Thank you!)

Last but certainly not least...is Moonbeam and his little pal Starshine. My funny little moon clown is definitely a once in a blue moon type piece. I worked on him for almost 8 days! He was far more complicated than you might think.

They will be available at 5 PM EST on my website at http://www.blondheart.com/

See you then! Hugs, K. <3

Working!

2012-01-16T07:20:00.000-08:00

I just thought I would let you know that I have been working away and that's why I haven't posted much the past few days. I have some interesting topics I want to talk about, but I have to finish the pieces for Wednesday's upate first. I am not sure one of them is quite going to make it in time. They are taking so much longer than I thought they would. But that's ok, I would rather take my time and do them the way I envision rather than rush through something. You will see...in the mean time the pic above is a tiny hint. No actual sneak peeks just yet though!

I am off to fall into bed very late today! Hugs, K. <3

Little Things That Are Frustrating

2012-01-14T03:29:00.000-08:00

I am a really generous person, especially when it comes to computer-y stuff. I know that a lot of artists aren't really tech savvy. All anyone ever has to do is ask. There are people who will attest to that. I will help you with coding, setting up a website, paypal buttons...you name it. I will also help you make graphics. In fact I will even offer to make them for you free of charge if I think you are having troubles. I am happy to do it. All I ask in return is you don't simply take stuff without asking permission.

But lets take a moment and look at where those graphics come from. I get my graphics one of two ways. Either I scan things in and make my own from the bottom up, the same way someone would design a bear or anything else or I draw them on rare occasion. That means I spend time away from making bears to work on them.

The other way I get them is to sort through thousands of images to find the thing I want, then purchase it from one of the several websites out there that offer copyright free/royalty free images intended for personal use. (That means you don't make any money from that image, but the artist who created them gets paid for their work.) I spend my time looking for them and then pay for them with my real, hard earned money. While they usually aren't that expensive...$1.00-10.00 each on the average, it is still a business expense for me, and I went the legal route of purchasing them for my use. If you would like to use the same image, then I reccomend you search for them and purchase them too.

I know that people think this is a small thing to just take images or graphics and use them for themselves. But in fact it's kind of a big thing. Tonight I discovered that someone had taken my mail contact graphic and used it for themselves. Ironically they had a "content is copyrighted" notice on their blog.

The result was I had to take 20 minutes away from the piece I am working on, and completely remake the graphic from the ground up to change the wording in order to make it theft proof, because I didn't save the base I made. Again that might seem like a little thing for me to have to do, but it's frustrating and it puts me 20 minutes behind on my piece. On top of that I felt compelled to spend time making this blog post.

Besides don't you want something unique all of your own that reflects your own style? Again I would be happy to spend the time helping you, rather than being annoyed that I have to remake something that someone stole. Please, just ask!

Edit: To the person in question, thank you for changing it so fast. I would still be willing to help you too, just ask.

Alone In The Dark

2012-01-13T04:59:00.000-08:00

When it comes to household chores, I am sort of all over the place. The one I am practically religious about is dirty dishes. I cannot stand dirty dishes in the sink. I have to be violently ill, or unable to walk for them not to get done. Even then I have been known to drag myself to the sink and do them.

Clear at the opposite end of the spectrum I am terrible about making the bed. I am not one of those people who jumps out of bed every morning (or afternoon in my case) ready to take on the day. It's more of a slow, reluctant crawl. The last thing on my mind is making the bed. Now in all fairness, since R and I basically sleep in shifts, the bed is in use about 14 hours a day. We do "tidy" it up before each of us goes to bed though. I can't sleep messy.

The other night R was going to go to bed and we went in for the "tidying and tucking in ritual." I had left a bear laying on his side of the bed. He looked at it, looked at me, and said; "Really?"

He knows that it's not uncommon for me to sleep with a random bear. While he has given me that will-you-never-grow-up-or-am-I-just-married-to-a-crazy-person look on many occasions over it, he has never come right out and asked me why I do this. He probably thinks I am insecure or something.

The truth couldn't be farther away from that though. Having chronic insomnia, I don't usually fall asleep for at least an hour after I get into bed unless I am bone weary or medicated. So some years ago I found a way to utilize that time. Lets face it, one can only think about things like the Heisenberg uncertainty principal and the multiverse/entanglement theory so much before you need something new to focus on, and for me counting sheep just doesn't cut it.

I am the type of person who likes to study something every way it can be studied. Especially when it comes to making bears. I have used five out of six senses over the years as often as I can. I have smelled bears, listened to the way stuffing materials sound when they are squeezed, looked at them of course from every angle I could, and used that inate sixth sense that artists possess when it comes to making something. I can honestly say I have never tasted one though. Ew.

I think an often overlooked sense in creating art is touch. Not the tactile touching we have when we like the feel of soft fur, or huggability...no. I am referring to the type of touch the blind sometimes use when feeling a person's face. To simply feel something in the dark gives you a whole new perspective on it. You feel things in the shape of a piece you may not have noticed. You might notice continuity differences in how it's stuffed, that a line in the design feels a bit off, or that the eyes protrude farther than you had realized. There is a multitude to learn by doing this.

So here is my little challenge for you. Take a piece of your own work, shut yourself in the dark with it for a little while. Choose a time when you won't be disturbed and it's quiet so you can focus. You might be surprised at what you discover when you remove sight from the equation. If you can do it right before falling asleep all the better. What you feel will permeate your subconscious and your sleeping brain will process it all the more. You might be pleasantly surprised to wake up with a new idea, or a minor change you want to make.

I would be interested in hearing what you find out, so don't be shy about posting or e-mailing me if you can't leave a comment.

Also the bear above is a little sneak peek of one of the new pieces coming for the update on the 18th!

Now it's time for me to grab a bear and head off to bed!

Hugs, K. <3

The Happiness Puzzle

2012-01-07T09:51:00.000-08:00

We have all encountered one of those people at some point that is nothing but a giant, energy sucking black hole of negativity. Nothing you can say or do will ever cheer them up. They can find something dreary in every beautiful thing life has to offer. I knew a girl like that in college, she was in my literature class. This girl had taken angst to an art form.

One afternoon our professor was discussing the works of Poe. Poe is of course a master, but lets face it, he wasn't exactly a big bucket of rainbows either. All of a sudden the professor stopped talking, stared out at us silently for a few moments, then snapped his book closed. He turned to the board and wrote out Abraham Lincoln's famous quote; "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." He told us to write an essay on how people can choose to be happy.

All of a sudden from the back of the lecture hall the angsty girl stood up, and announced in a louder voice than any of us had ever heard her use before that this was the "stupidest assignment ever" and that people couldn't just "choose to be happy when they aren't feeling it." She then stomped from the room and slammed the door behind her.

I remember thinking how ironic that was considering it was obvious to everyone that she had chosen to wallow in a self imposed quagmire of undefined misery. Shortly after that she dropped the class. She was so opposed to the idea of happiness that she cheated herself out of a wonderful course where she could have learned many things.

I have talked a bit lately about taking risks this year. I think to be able to open yourself up to taking risks and having them work to your favor, you have to be happy, both with yourself and the world at large. But for some people, being happy is taking a risk.

So how does one choose to be happy? It's not easy. It's not something you can sustain all the time. Happiness is an emotion that ebbs and flows like the tide based on what ever circumstances we are in at any given moment. People often confuse happiness and joy. They aren't the same thing. Joyfulness is something that lives inside of us whether we are happy or not in any given moment. But for now I just want to focus on being happy.

So how can we decide to be happy when we aren't feeling it? It's a puzzle isn't it? I would love to be able to give you a defined road map of how to get there, but I can't. I don't have one. The Zen book I told you about a while back says that one key step is to remember that whatever situation we are in at any given moment is the best situation for us even if we can't see it at the time. Still though, that's a tough concept when we are in the middle of a situation that is bad. And we all go through bad situations.

I can't tell you how to be happy all the time. However, I do know how to trick yourself into starting to feel happy when you're "not feeling it." Did you know that if you force yourself to hold a smile for 16 seconds that the receptors in your brain will register what your facial muscles are doing and release the serotonin to make that feeling real? I did not make that number up either. You don't have to take my word for it, if you don't believe me, try it. It's not easy though, forcing a smile for 16 seconds is a longer time than you might imagine. If you can't hold the smile for the entire time you will have to start over. But by the end of the 16 seconds your smile will be genuine. You will be feeling it.

If you think about taking risks, and it makes you nervous...paste that smile on your face. Hold onto it. You can choose to take the first step to being happy. The next thing you know, you will be feeling happy and ready to take that little risk!

Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs, K. <3

The "Too" Factor

2012-01-06T05:48:00.000-08:00

One afternoon while I was out shopping before Christmas I found a fascinator. It was cute and inexpensive and I bought it. I have always liked them but never indulged. A bit after that I found a vintage pair of red gloves, I bought those too. I used to wear fancy gloves all the time back in my 20's, but for some reason I stopped. When I got home I tried on my fascinator, it actually looked good on me! But then I started thinking where would I wear this? Why did I buy it? I am too old to pull this off. If I went out into public in this people would laugh themselves silly over it. I found it interesting that I thought that, because I rarely bother to care what others think about what I do.

Last week I bought the latest copy of one of my favorite magazines. I was thumbing through it when I came upon a full page ad. The ad caught my attention like a lodestone. It promised that if you went to a website it contained a guide on how to bring forth that fun side of you that you really want to get in touch with.

I believe that deep within many of us resides a romanticized version of ourselves. The one where we embrace those things we wish could wear or do without looking silly. That secret version of ourselves always does things with aplomb in our minds eye and it's successful.

I don't know about you, but I could use a little help getting to that place again. I was that girl once. But where did she go? I was practically tripping over myself to get to the computer to type in the URL for this website. Imagine my disappointment when I got there and found out there was no guide. It was just a site to sell a product. A fun product sure, but that's all it was. In fact I almost bought something...then reality set in.

My brain wouldn't let go of that idea though. I did a web search to see if I could in fact find a site that did offer these tidbits of wisdom somewhere. I came up empty.

I started thinking...my mental conversation went something like this; what if I...no. Maybe I could...no. Why couldn't I...no, what gives you the idea you could help anyone that way? My brain argued back. Yeah but...NO, people would laugh at you, just shut up. (It's no wonder I drive myself crazy.)

But then I thought what if I did a blog...AND what if I used a nom de plume! But my brain said, people would never buy into it unless you were a real person. Nom de plume flew out the window. I thought...hey maybe I could do a separate blog as myself and ease into it slowly. Nope brain said, you won't do that either, we know you too well.

Hmm...I fell victim to the "too" factor. You know the "too" factor. It's the excuse we mask our fear with. I am too old, too young, too short, too tall, too fat, too serious, too staid in my ways, too scared to put myself out there, too *insert your choice of excuse here.* Good golly I finally get it when R tells me I am my own worst critic. Why do we knit pick at ourselves so?

However...like I told you yesterday I have decided to start coloring outside the traditional lines a bit more this year. This year is about me taking bigger risks, and while I was talking about my work when I said that, I think I am going to embrace that in other aspects of my life too. While I don't intend to jump out of a plane or anything, I do want to finally do those things that I want to do. I want to wear what I want to, I want to make what I really want to, and I want to be that version of me that hides inside of me. What are we truly afraid will happen? So something we try doesn't work...so what. What if someone laughs...well they laughed, laugh with them and have fun.

So I think I am going to embrace that romanticized version of myself more and let her out to play. I am going to make an occasional post on this blog as myself, taking you on that journey. I may not be qualified to write a guide to embracing that side of yourself, but then again...who knows I might be. We will find out!

I will tell you this though, I wrote that list of resolutions a few posts back mainly as a humorous look at not being so serious about resolutions. But I decided for the heck of it to try to stick to them. I have discovered that taking five minutes to breathe and not think about anything really does revive you. I have discovered that if you can only find a minute or two to squeeze in a little exercise, it still does give you an odd little sense of accomplishment tacked on to your day. I discovered that R has responded to getting that extra hug in the morning and my doing everything I can to be cheerful even if I am stiff and sore from working or have a headache by the time he gets up. I discovered that taking a few minutes to go outside and appreciate nature has a way of making you feel more in tune with the world and gives you a sense of freedom.

I have had a feeling for a while that this was going to be my year. But I also know in order for it to be my year, I am going to have to work at it, and that's ok. So there is your first "guidebook" lesson. Let this be your year too, but know you will have to invest in it to be your year. Take risks and overcome those small fears. Get in touch with that brave, fun, out there version of yourself that you have been hiding away in the dusty box in the corner of your soul. Take a risk, you can start with a small one. Tell that side of your brain that says no you can't to just shut up.

Later today I have to go to the dog groomer and get my bi-annual blood test....red gloves...check!

Website Update And Follow Up

2012-01-05T15:43:00.000-08:00

When I got up this afternoon I came down with my usual death grip on my coffee and plopped down at my computer. I about fell out of my chair when I saw how many e-mails I had gotten. I have been answering them for hours. But I love that! It tells me that you do really read what I write and that you cared enough to take time from your busy days to respond and help me out.

Every single person was very kind in their critiques and comments. But what you said was also very illuminating in several ways. For one thing I learned that a LOT of people are having trouble posting comments on blogger and aren't really as shy as I thought you were. There are two things that are causing problems, one is how you have your settings and the other is an incompatibility issue with Internet Explorer 9. This is also what was causing the problem with the blurry header images a couple weeks ago.

I use AOL (yeah yeah I know, but I have been using it for so long that I don't want to change my e-mail address) and Firefox. While I don't technically use IE on it's own because I am not fond of it, AOL does use it in the background. When I use Firefox, I have no problems. The other thing is how you have users set to comment. I have mine set to registered users as opposed to followers only and that seems to be working for a lot of people. I also have the captcha thing turned off. I really get very few bots posting, so it's not a problem to delete those rare advertising comments when they show up.

Now as for the bears and how I was feeling last post...I really learned some things through your comments. But first I want to tell you that I usually make these posts right before I go to bed early in the morning, and I have been up alone all night with my thoughts and sewing, so sometimes I think my posts read like I am a crazy and/or neurotic person. But that's what happens after you have been up for hours in the quiet all night. I tend to over think things, and I can't quite always see the big picture.

I did figure out what was really bothering me. It's not a desire to go back to what I used to make style wise. But the thing is Joe (shown in the previous post) was an 18 inch bear. I made a lot of big bears back then. More than I did the smaller ones. I love the smaller ones I am doing now, (thank you Heather, that was such a great thing you did by wanting me to make those smaller bears!) but I think I was going into big bear withdrawal. I think that's what was at the root of my desire to get that old pattern out. It's not that I want to go back, it's that I haven't made a big bear in 15 months!!! You made me see this by asking if there would be more sizes of the new style and so many of you asking for larger ones.

In answer to that, I have pretty much got the new pattern that was like Cupcake, and Cupid shown above, to the place I want that pattern to be. The next step is to draw it into larger bear patterns, which I will be working on soon! So hopefully you will see some larger bears in that style in the coming months. It takes a bit of time because you can't make a bigger pattern properly by just slapping it on a copy machine and enlarging it. You really have to draw them individually.

Through reading all of your feedback I came to another interesting realization. I no longer have an end point in mind. Back in those old days I was working toward that "perfect" pattern. But I have realized at this stage in life I like the bears being in a state of flux. While I want to make each pattern I do at any given time as good as it can possibly be, I also know that I will never have another pattern that I use hundreds and hundreds of times. I like being able to change things a bit here and there as I go along. I don't actually want to have that perfect pattern/end goal anymore. I think that's a good thing, it keeps it interesting.

I don't need to go back. I need to keep going forward. That doesn't mean that I won't ever circle back to a style I did before, but it does mean that if I do it will be in a new and fresher way. I am feeling content again, and I am truly happy that you liked Joe so much! I am also happy that overall, you like the new bears better! This year I have decided to embrace the unique and sometimes strange ideas I have and color outside the traditional lines a little more. This is something I have wanted to do for three years, but it can be hard to allow yourself to do that when you have done things a certain way for so long. So this year you will be seeing some interesting ideas come to life that I haven't done before, but that have been lurking in the shadows of my brain for a while!

In the mean time I would like to let you know that there will be a Valentines-ish update coming January 18th at 5 PM EST. Also I am still going to strive to get a new piece added every week or two along with those bigger updates!

Again I can't thank you all enough for your comments, they really did help me see the bigger picture of what was bothering me.

If It Wasn't Broke, Why Did I Fix It?

2012-01-05T04:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was having a little chat with another artist friend on Facebook. They were telling me about a piece they were working on, and it happened to be something I had made a long time ago so I posted a pic for them to see. I also posted a pic of a monkey I had made and All American Joe, the bear shown above. (I made him so long ago that the pic was taken with a real camera because digital cameras weren't even a thing yet.) I really wanted to just post those pics into my album for my friend to have a peek at, but since I am a bit Facebook impaired that didn't happen and they posted to my wall.

I got so SO much positive feedback on Joe both in comments and in messages. Now you would think that I would be thrilled that people loved him, and I am. I also kind of wanted to bang my head against the wall. But let me back up a little bit first.

Three decades ago when I made my first bear, I was incredibly unhappy with how it turned out, so I made my own pattern for the second one and was pleased with the results. I made another bear after that from my pattern and gave it to a friend for her birthday. She in turn showed it to a woman she knew who had a gifts and collectibles shop and the owner approached me about selling some to her. That's how I started in the business.

Once I was opened up to this world, as most fledgling bear artists do...I started trying out every pattern I could find to see what aspects of making a bear I liked and what I didn't. About a year and a half in I had a fairly good idea of what I wanted to achieve and what I liked. So I studied bears very carefully to get that perfect look I was going for. I made notes about what I saw and liked, and I incorporated those things into my pattern.

It wasn't an easy road though because patterns have never come terribly easy for me and I was constantly tweaking it this way or that to get it just so. It took me about 12 years to truly get to that recognizable style of my own and still make a very traditional bear, which is what I loved. Somewhere in there I started distressing them. When I did finally arrive at a pattern design and style I was completely happy with, I offered it in 4 sizes and I made bears from those patterns for a very long time. I made literally hundreds and hundreds of bears in that style from those patterns. They sold well and people loved them. The only other thing I made was rabbits.

But one morning I woke up, got out my pattern and looked at it and thought...I have done this now. I have done it and done it and done it...so now what? I felt it was time for a change. But the problem with achieving what you consider your ideal, and working for years to get there is that when you want to do something new, you don't know what it is. I had no idea. I was adrift for about a year. I hardly made anything.

By this time I had the bear pattern thing pretty much down, so I sat down and designed some completely different style bears. They weren't distressed or tradtional. They sold, people liked them, but they never really "fit." After a couple of years I decided it was time to go home again so to speak. But I wanted to give "home" a little bit of a modern facelift.

I have been working towards that end ever since. While I like what I have produced over the past six years I am still designing, re-designing and tweaking again. I also decided I wanted to make other animals, so I keep adding those and I am glad I have done that. I plan to continue adding animals of all varieties. Just recently though I feel like I am at a place where I might be able to stop tweaking the bear patterns as much. I like the changes to my patterns I have done in the past couple months a lot. I have also been taking more risks than I used to...as in the case of Sno with his two different sized eyes. I was finally feeling truly satisfied again...and then I posted that picture yesterday. Sigh~

Over the past year I had actually been thinking about pulling that old "perfect" pattern out again (one of the few bear patterns I actually saved because I usually destroy old patterns or I would have them stacked to the rafters) and making it, but I never did.

A couple of posts back I talked about how doubt will sometimes creep into the minds of artists, and I found doubt creeping into my mind yesterday. Should I have stuck with that pattern? Is it better than what I do now? Would people like it better? If it wasn't broke, why did I fix it? Of course the answer is because we always try to move forward and keep things fresh. As an artist you cannot make the same thing forever without it getting stagnant and burned out on it.

But I also find myself wondering...is it really a step backwards to revisit a pattern? I have never done that before. I suspect that even if I did pull it out and make it the end result wouldn't be quite the same as it was all those years ago. At this point I don't know for sure what I am going to do, and I could use some insight from you. So any comments would be welcome.

While I am probably throwing myself right into the middle of shark infested waters here...I am going to encourage your critiques of what I am doing now. I have thick skin, I can take it. So don't be afraid to be honest. Afterall I want to make the best bears I can, and feedback can certainly go a long way. That doesn't mean I will automatically take every suggestion and incorporate it, but it does mean I will certainly give it some thought.

If you're one of my many shy readers, or one of the many like me, that has trouble getting your comments to post to blogger, you can feel free to send me an e-mail with your thoughts instead of posting a public comment.

By the way on a separate note...if you are like me and have trouble getting comments to post to blogger, I have finally figured out the reasons just this week and can help you. Let me know and I will talk you through it. I have had this problem for a while, it's not that I don't like to post comments on other blogs...because I do read them..I just haven't been able to.

Pop Up Sale!

2012-01-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

The Jelly Bean Bunnies will be on sale for 75.00 each + 8.00 US shipping or 12.00 International (they are regular 110.00) for the next 24 hours! If you would like to adopt one just send me an e-mail using the link at the right specifying which color, and with your paypal address and I will send you an invoice. It's first come, first serve!

I am off to bed right now, so you won't hear back from me until later today.

Blue has been adopted, but Yellow, Green and Pink are still crossing their paws and hoping for good homes!

Hugs, K. <3

Resolutely!

2012-01-03T05:34:00.000-08:00

I was working on a new piece tonight and as I was sitting there I decided maybe I would make myself some resolutions for this year. I didn't want to go with the normal big things because those tend to get broken really fast, so I decided to take a slightly different approach. I made ten resolutions, and thought I would share five of them with you. I am choosing not to share the other five because two are personal, one is a surprise, and the other two...well...maybe later!

1. Breathe for five minutes each day.

Now when I say breathe, I don't mean the normal in and out we do all the time...I mean spend five minutes every day doing nothing but breathing. A mini meditation. My Grandma always said she was going to "take five" that meant sitting down from her work to have a cup of coffee. But I am going to "take five" and just breathe.

2. Give R an extra hug every morning.

Did you know that it takes 4.3 seconds to give someone a quick hug? Ok I made that number up...but it really doesn't take long and it's worth it because you enjoy it and the other person feels loved!

3. I am going to go outside for a few minutes every day that it's over 45 degrees.

Fresh air is good for you, and I can combine this one with #1.

4. I am going to exercise every day for one minute.

You might be baffled as to why only one minute? You might be thinking what on earth would that accomplish? It's pretty common for people to start big exercise programs at the beginning of a new year, but all too often they fizzle. Promising yourself to exercise for one minute a day isn't even remotely intimidating now is it? Not even on the days you don't feel like doing it. Everyone can do one minute a day...and the next day you might think hey I can do two minutes...and so on...until you've really worked up to something without even noticing!

5. This is the year I am going to do it! I am finally going to Paris!

Ok that one might not happen...but if I believe it will...maybe it just will!

On that note, I am off to bed! Bon soir! Hugs, K. <3

Happy New Year...Meet Sno!

2011-12-31T22:36:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012! Here we are on a brand new year...isn't that exciting! What better way to start off the new year than with something brand new. So without further ado I would like to introduce you to Sno.

The idea for him began about ten days ago. I was rummaging through my supplies and found a bag labeled lost eyes. Even though I use the premium quality eyes, they are hand blown glass and occasionally one will have a defect and pop when I set them. There were two spare eyes in the bag that didn't have a mate. In my hand they reminded me of my favorite emoticon which looks like this: O.o

I started thinking that could be cute on something. I went back and forth...bear...snowman...snowman...bear? Hmmm. Then I thought since I am wanting to do something chibi-esque...why not combine both! Sno is a brand new pattern though. He has been adapted from my existing snowman and bear patterns, but with some changes. His head is much larger than the previous snowmen, and his body and limbs are shorter than the bears. He is the very first fully jointed snowman.

I hope you like him, as cute as he is in the pics...he is much more charming in person!

You can visit Sno on my website from the animals page.

I hope you all have a wonderful year! I have all sorts of surprises in store for you.

Hugs, K. <3

You Are On The Right Path

2011-12-30T04:44:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas! I know I did. It was quiet, but that's ok sometimes. We opened presents with my parents via Skype, had prime rib and just enjoyed the day. I asked for two small things, but R spoiled me pretty well in the present department despite my assurance I didn't want anything else.

But now that Christmas is over and the last embers of 2011 are about to go out, and I am waiting for the bright new flame of 2012 to ignite...I find myself thinking back over this year. What stood out?

There were many things that stood out...both for the good and the bad, but the first thought my mind went to was a similiar conversation I had with several artists at different times throughout the year. So I want to leave this year by giving you all some words of encouragement.

In nearly every full time working artist's life they have that "what if" moment. I have had it, you've probably had it, and several of my friends had it this past year. The what if moment goes something like this; What if I should doing something more important with my life? What if I should have a bigger job? What if I should be making a larger contribution to the world? What if what I do is frivolous and meaningless? What if my life is on the wrong path?

It's part of the nature of being an artist to have moments of self doubt. They creep into your brain at unexpected moments. But over the years I have learned a very important lesson. All works are important. There are no small jobs. We are making a large contribution to the world. Frivolous plays an important role.

I want you to imagine a world where we are all lawyers defending the innocent, doctors working on a cure for cancer or saving lives, erecting tall buildings, playing a political role, shaping the financial structure of a country, teaching the youth of your city, or trying to save the planet. Those are important things. Maybe right now, this second after reading that you don't feel like what you do is worthwhile compared to those jobs.

But can you imagine a world where everyone did those things and nothing else? At first glance that might seem like a nice world. But it would also mean a world where there is no art, no music, nothing that makes you happy just for it's existence. No teddy bears to hug. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a pretty dreary place.

Lets suppose all artists had chosen to become doctors instead. Lets suppose that we save so many more lives by our being doctors. What would we be saving those lives for? Would you want your life extended in a world where there was no frivolity, no cute, no pretty...no fun just for the sake of fun?

It's noble to think we should want to do something more important in those moments of self doubt. But I will tell you two secrets...one is that there is more to saving lives than the science behind it. And the second is that the universe is a far older and wiser thing than we are, and it's a balanced place. The perfect yin and yang system. It's designed that way for harmony and well being of the whole. As artists we are upholding our end of that perfect balance. That seems pretty important if you ask me.

So as we wind down this year and reflect on what we might want to change or do better for the coming year...just know in your heart that you are on the right path. You are doing an important job. What you do does have meaning. So whatever changes you choose to make, let them reflect the path your life is supposed to take. Don't second guess yourself. You are doing just fine!

Have a safe and happy New Year! Hugs, K. <3

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T16:57:00.000-08:00

Creating A Website

2011-12-22T16:51:00.000-08:00

A couple of the questions that came up in the Q & A were about making websites. I have also had a couple e-mails lately wanting info, seen some artists ask in general and I even offered my (probably unwanted) advice to yet another artist about their website who mentioned it on their blog. So I thought I would just make a separate post about it. I have been working on the Q & A post for a few days, and it will be along soon. Some topics need their own post due to length.

First of all, I want to impress upon you that I am certainly no expert at this. But I try and I seem to get a lot of compliments on my layouts...so I am going to plunge on in!

If you do not have a website, it can be pretty intimidating to start from scratch. Lets face it, we are artists, not programmers. But in this day and age we have to wear many hats if we want to have a web presence.

Lets start with the basics. There are many WYSIWYG programs out there. For those who don't speak geek, WYSIWYG means What You See Is What You Get. These are basically "drag and drop" programs. They do not require much, if any coding skills. It's a great thing to know how to code, but you do NOT need to have this ability any more in order to create a nice site.

When I was going to set up my site, I did a comparison search. I wanted the most user friendly program out there that gave me the freedom to set it up any way I wanted to. I looked at several sites that review programs and they all pretty much said the same thing. The #1 rated program cost several thousand dollars. I couldn't afford that, but it had flash with it. Most of us don't need flash. (Motion images.) The #2 recommended program cost $26.00 at that time. I thought hey I can afford that! It's a program called SiteSpinner and it's available from Amazon.com. It's up to about $33.00 now. Still completely affordable.

When it arrived, it came in a small padded envelope and the cover of the disc case is pretty unassuming. I thought oh no, what have I gotten myself into. Something about it seemed intimidating. But I popped it in and downloaded it and was truly amazed. When you download it, it comes with a tutorial that is written in plain, understandable language. It is truly the MOST user friendly program I have ever encountered. If you have your graphics ready, you could have your site up in about 2 hours.

After you get a program to create your site, you will need a domain. There are so many to choose from it's hard to know what to use. For this step I went to a friend who had been creating websites for years. She suggested http://www.nomonthlyfees.com/

I have used it right from the beginning. I have never hit a bandwidth wall, it never goes down. They do maintenance about twice a year for maybe an hour or so, and they do it late at night when traffic is low. It costs $120.00 a year. So ten bucks a month is pretty good.

Ok so you have your program, you have your domain...now what? I certainly don't want to offend anyone...but I have noticed that a lot of bear artist's sites are somewhat lacking or tend to look dated. Websites are like anything else we make. They go through trends, and while you want to be true to yourself and what you make, you also need to stay current. That can mean incorporating a little of the latest thing into what you do. Lets face it, that's how people stay in business.

There are a lot of sites out there who use that main solid color square in the middle with the floral (or whatever) repeating background. Sadly that makes your site look so ten years ago. Again I am really sorry, I don't want to offend anyone, but I am honestly trying to help you here because the goal is to sell things and I can't sugar coat it. If you and your customers are comfortable with that look...by all means keep it! Keep in mind though, most of us would not always return to our favorite real life specialty stores if they never changed the displays or store window. Your site is your store and you have to keep it fresh and interesting.

My first rule is always continuity. Your site needs to reflect your style of bears. Mine are traditional with a little whimsy...so is my site. You can go really fancy, you can go pared down...but whatever it is you choose, it has to make sense with what you do.

The second rule is keep it simple. Make sure it's easy to navigate and easy to read. When we surf the net we don't want to spend a lot of time figuring things out. When people have to do that, they just get frustrated and click the X. Who can blame them?

Keep your personal stuff off of your site. Don't include pictures of your pets, your husband, your kids, personal stories about your life, etc. Put that stuff on your blog and/or your facebook page. People go to your site to buy stuff. If they want to know you more, they will click the link you have provided, to your blog or your facebook page. The only text walls you should have in your site, are about yourself as an artist, possibly where you create, and your latest news about your work. Also make sure those links aren't the first ones on the list. Put the work you have for sale as your first links. This is why people come to your site.

The next thing of course is pictures. I am always striving to take better pics, and I am not that great at it. But every photo editing program has tools that will brighten, clarify and sharpen your images. So many sites I visit had dark or blurry images. If you don't know how to use these tools, just bring up an image, copy it and start pushing buttons to see what they do. It's not hard to learn and if you ruin the copy...so what...it's just a practice copy.

Also I have noticed that a lot of bear artists save their images as png images. That's great because they are clear, but png images can be bandwidth hogs. I save mine all as jpg images, BUT there is a trick to that. When you save your images before you hit that save button there is a tab that will say advanced or options...depending on what program you use. When you click that it gives you an optimizer button. It will make your image better and you can save a jpg that is about 98% as clear as a png image and won't use nearly as much bandwidth. Some domain's offer more bandwidth than others. If you hit your bandwidth limit for the month your images go bye bye and are replaced by hideous signs that say bandwidth exceeded. Your only choices are to pay more money or wait until the next month. That is not something we ever want to happen.

Now for me personally when I am shopping, I don't need to look at 47 images of your product to know if I want to buy it or not. In fact I personally don't care for image overload, especially if you have provided nice decent sized pics that are clear. I use one image and a different image for the thumbnail on my site and five on my blog/etsy/bearpile. People like images, but they like diversity. If they have to spend too much time looking at one piece, they will get bored and not move on to the next piece. Also image overload can cause customers with slower computers or smart phones to have lag on the page loading. Think about it, when we go shopping in the real world most of us don't pick up a piece and turn it over and over and over in our hands before we buy it. We pick it up, look at it from a couple angles and say yes I want this or no I don't.

You have your program, your domain, and your pictures...but what about all those extra graphics? Where do those come from? For me, I make a lot of them. But sometimes I can't make what I want so I go to http://www.dreamstime.com/ Stock images can be purchased from this site for a fee. Most of them are very inexpensive and royalty free for things like decorating your site or your blog, etc. Just make sure you read the royalty info before you buy an image.

If you aren't the sort of person who likes to play with images or you simply don't have that ability in your repertoire, there are lots of places and/or people you can buy graphics from. You simply have to start searching on the internet. Or you can ask a friend to help if you know someone who can do that kind of thing. But as someone who used to sell Etsy banners...it's good to have an idea in your head of what you want before you ask someone to make something for you. Remember though, they can't see what's in your head. They can only go on what you tell them. So be clear and specific about what you want. Also be forewarned that some people charge hundreds of dollars for design, you do not ever have to pay that much to get good graphics. Do a search, you will find someone who charges reasonable fees.

Once you have everything else in place, it's time set your paypal buttons. I know a lot of people have trouble with this. Setting paypal buttons is so easy, just follow the instructions or find a tutorial. You do not have to use their ugly yellow buy now image either. You can make your own image and upload it to an image host like http://www.photobucket.com/ which is free and put the code into the special box. You only have to do it once and you can change the image if you change your site design.

At this point you should hit your publish button and voila...you have your own website.

Some other important tips to remember...

* Learn to tag in order to get better hits from Google

* Mark things as sold when they are, and don't leave sold items on your available pages for months on end. People get frustrated when they want to buy something and can't have it. Move it to a gallery page or remove it all together in a timely fashion

* Use Google analytics

* Do a mailing list

* Don't forget to clearly state your policies and include an e-mail link in case people have questions

*Don't do a website and then send people to your Etsy shop to buy things, people don't want to chase you all over the internet, and if you're only going to sell on Etsy, why do a website?

* Have fun with it

* There are set no rules, it's your business, your site and the sky is the limit!

* Keep it interesting and creative so it holds people's attention and they want to come back

Good luck with it, and if you need help or have any questions...don't hesitate to ask! I am happy to help!

Hugs, K. <3

~~ Sugar Plum ~~

2011-12-19T23:11:00.000-08:00

I have to say, I was beginning to think I was never going to get this bear done! I have been working on her for DAYS! She was in the works even before the last two were finished. I hand dyed her mohair a dusty plum, I did the polka dots on her legs...I made her SHOES! There was so much gathering on her tu tu...she wore me right out. But I think she was worth the effort. By all rights, I should charge five hundred dollars for this bear! Of course I am not going to...

So meet Sugar Plum! She is available on my website at http://www.blondheart.com/ for much less than five hundred dollars! *giggles*

Now I am going to go collapse in the chair and watch a movie!

Hugs, K. <3

~~ Slalom ~~

2011-12-17T03:51:00.000-08:00

Slalom and his little friend are ready for the slopes! I just finished him, and he is available on my website at http://www.blondheart.com/

Off to do the bear next! I swear I am going to get caught up soon!

Hugs, K. <3

~~ Cupcake ~~

2011-12-15T23:31:00.000-08:00

I have been playing with my pattern again, and I have come up with a slightly different proportioned bear. Not to worry, there will be the regular ones still as well...but I wanted to do something a little more chibi style. It's something I have wanted to do for ages, and I am finally getting around to it. I have to work up to it slowly though, since my brain has done traditional for so long. Miss Cupcake is the first step in that direction, and has a little bigger head and shorter body than bears in the past. She still comes in at a hair under 7 inches, so she is the same size as the others.

I also hand made her collar and flower on her bow from German wool felt. I was inspired by a vintage pair of felt baby shoes I bought ages ago. Naturally winter white wool gets a bit stained and moth eaten over the years, so I have done my best to recreate that feel. I am really happy with how she turned out..if you ask me she is a confection! (Ok that was kind of a bad pun!) At any rate...you can visit Cupcake on the bears page of my website at http://www.blondheart.com/

Edit: Cupcake has been adopted. I want to thank everyone for their inquiries from Bearpile about her. I was surprised how many people were interested in her! I had quite a few requests for her when I got up. I guess I will continue on with this style of bear!

In other news...I will try very hard to get to the Q & A tomorrow, you have waited so patiently while I have been cleaning/entertaining/working/going for follow up visits to the doctors, and I appreciate it.

As for my follow up...now he seems to think that I have arthritis in my knee and a ganglion cyst under the knee cap. But my question was...why didn't any of that make it hurt before I fell? He didn't have an answer but offered to give me a shot behind my knee cap. He said I would feel much better if he did, I said probably but that he wouldn't. So I respectfully declined the shot. I have gotten better over the years with needles, but not that good. To have a shot behind my knee cap I am pretty sure I would have to be sedated.

I also had my bi-annual checkup today with my regular doctor. I have to go in twice a year so I can get a blood test to check my thyroid and my kidney function, so while I was there we discussed my knee problem and he is going to request my x-rays and MRI results and review them himself. I like that idea, because the other guy keeps changing his mind. I trust my regular doctor so much more, so we will see what he has to say about it.

The other bear and the snowman should be along shortly!

Hugs, K. <3

The Weekend

2011-12-13T02:53:00.000-08:00

I figured you were tired of looking at the pic of my toe, so I was playing with the camera tonight. Ridley was happy to accommodate me and have his pic taken. Most of his Christmas friends have been adopted so he thought it was good to have a little play time to keep him from being lonely!

It was such a busy weekend, but we had a nice time. Shopping was great, I found some lovely treasures at The Barn. I got a ring that can only be described as a pink chandelier for my finger! I actually squealed a bit when I saw it!

Plus I swear all we did was eat amazing food this weekend! R made prime rib Saturday, and we went to Red Lobster on Sunday because it was my Mom's birthday Monday.

They are leaving in a few minutes, and I am sad to see them go. That's the trouble with company...it's always sad when the fun ends! Of course it does mean that I will have time to get back to work. I have a snowman nearly stitched up, you will be seeing him in a day or two. I also have two bears in the works. I am a bit sleep deprived, so that's the first priority today.

Wednesday I have to go have my follow up from my MRI. I know some of you asked what the result was, and I was supposed to go last Tuesday, but I rescheduled it. It was below zero and icy all day and I didn't want to run the risk of falling on my head and doing more damage. Lets face it, that was a very real possibility with my track record. My knee paid the price this weekend and it's swollen to twice it's normal size today, but it was worth it!

At any rate, I guess I will get going, Mom and Jim should be stopping by soon on their way out of town.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend! Hugs, K. <3

You Won't Believe It

2011-12-11T02:53:00.000-08:00

Ok so if you actually ventured over to look at this post, you're probably thinking...Kel, why am I looking at this disgusting picture of your foot? I know...but it's so bizarre, I just have to tell you.

As you know I am oh so, SOOO clumsy. But sometimes my little mishaps just defy logic...and gravity!

Last night I took a nap until about 2 am, then I got up and finished all my cleaning and stuff I had to do. About 7:30 am, I decided to have a little nap until my parents arrived.

I was sleeping soundly when they arrived at 12:30. I got up and grabbed my bathrobe off the hook. I have done that hundreds of times without incident. The hook I have for it is this heavy, decorative metal thing with a big ceramic tile in the center of it. It's very pretty...flowers and stuff. Well today somehow when I grabbed my robe it caught and pulled the hook off of the nail and it flipped in the air and came smashing down on my toe.

Long story short...ok maybe it's too late for that...but anyway...my toe is broken. Can you believe it? What are the odds on a thing like that? It's just crazy. Plus I think the doctor is starting to think R is abusing me! (Not really.)

The worst part is it's on the other leg from my knee. Today I am taking my Mother up to The Barn in Castle Rock for shopping. She always hears me rave about it, and she wanted to go. So I will be hobbling around with a double limp! *Giggles* I am such a mess!

Sorry for subjecting you to the pic! It actually looks better than it does in person though!

Oh and I guess Blogger is working on the blurry header problem. It's not just me who has this glitch. It's some issue with Picassa.

Blogger Glitches & Company

2011-12-10T04:39:00.001-08:00

You may have noticed that my header is very blurry. Apparently this is a blogger glitch some of us are having, and there is nothing I can do until they decide to fix it. So I apologize for that, but it's out of my hands.

Also my company is arriving in a few hours, so I won't be posting much until next Tuesday. See ya then!

Have a lovely weekend, Hugs, K. <3

Mozzie's New Friend

2011-12-08T04:57:00.000-08:00

Mozzie got a new friend yesterday and he was so, SO excited that he wanted me to tell you about it. He has decided for himself that since the deer is so small he must be one of the "eight tiny reindeer" of infamy. In fact he thinks it's Comet. I think he may have overheard me talking about cleaning the powder room yesterday and using Comet, and got confused. At this point I just don't have the heart to tell him his new pal is from Williams-Sonoma and not the North Pole. As for the little fawn...he doesn't seem to mind Mozzie's enthusiasm or being called Comet! In fact he just smiles and doesn't say anything...hmm...

New Site Design & Mailing List

2011-12-06T00:38:00.000-08:00

I got the new layout done! I have some tweaking to do still...but it will keep until after my company comes and goes next week. I have to get the house cleaned next. Plus I have an appointment at 10 am to find out what the MRI showed on my knee.

I like the new layout, it's not as fussy and it will be easy to change for each update. Plus I wanted something different from what other people have. I think I achieved that. I wanted to do bigger thumbnails, but I may have gone a tad too big, so that's one of the things that will get tweaked later!
Also the new newsletter service is now in place, so you can sign up for that either by using the link at the right or on the details page of my site.

So go have a look! http://www.blondheart.com/

As always your feedback and thoughts are welcome.

I haven't had a chance to finish the new snowman or the bear...but they are coming. I just have to clean my house since company is coming too!

Busy...busy...busy...Hugs, K. <3

Website Update For December!

2011-12-02T16:02:00.000-08:00

Here they are! If you would like to go visit them, you can do that on my website at http://www.blondheart.com/

Hugs, K. <3

25 Hours And Counting, Changes For Next Year And Sneak Peek #4

2011-12-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

Here is your last sneak peek...now last night when I photographed him for the little peek, he wasn't dressed yet. He has a very cute hat and string of bells on now. But you will get to see it tomorrow.

There are still two pieces in the works that won't quite be ready for tomorrow. I have a snowman and another bear cut out. I also thought I would redo my website, but I underestimated how busy this time of year can really be...and how much I can physically get done in a 24 hour day. Hand sewing and distressing is a lengthy process. I have been working from the moment I get up until I fall into bed on the five pieces I do have ready. I am really proud of them though, they are a nice little group, and I hope you love them too!

I have been giving the coming year a lot of thought and what I want to do for that. All year I have been going back and forth on whether I want to do group updates every so often, or put up each piece as it's made. I have come to the conclusion I can do both, and that should make everyone happy! So for now I am going to have group updates every 4-6 weeks and a new piece will pop up about once a week or so in between. We will see how that goes, and I am certainly open to your thoughts and suggestions.

Another change I have coming is that a little later this month I am going to change my newsletter service. I never could quite get the old one to work the way I wanted it to. But with the coming change you should get a monthly newsletter. I will let you know when I have it ready and you can sign up for that.

I also have a new website design I have been working on, and I really like it. But it won't be quite ready for tomorrow so that will come along a little later in the month with the newsletter change.

Also I haven't forgotten about the Q & A, and I will do that in a couple days after I get the update done tomorrow.

As of yet I haven't heard the results of my MRI. They said it would only be a day or two, but it has been more. I don't believe I will need surgery since it seems to be healing finally, but I have to wait for the official word.

I have company coming and I need to decorate my tree which has been up since Sunday. So it's going to be a very busy month!

I hope you all have a lovely day and I will see you in 25 hours...and counting!

Hugs, K. <3

Sneak Peek #3 & We The People...

2011-11-29T13:19:00.000-08:00

The first line of the constitution of the United States reads:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

At this point it should probably read something like: We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union have instituted more laws, rules and standards than any other country in the world."

It's true we have laws for everything. Things you can't even imagine. Now obviously the big ones are important. If you commit murder or steal something, you go to jail. These are good laws. However there are some laws still on the books that make little sense...for instance in Oxford, Ohio it's illegal for a woman to undress in front of a picture of a man. In California you can own one bear gallbladder, but to have more than one is illegal. Go figure...and why would you even want one? Laws like the last two would be pretty hard to enforce, and I seriously doubt anyone is trying to, but yet for some reason they were turned into laws, probably by well meaning people who saw a need for them.

Aside from the laws set down by government we also have rules that we need to observe. If you go out into the world at any given time, chances are you will come across signs that instruct you on what not to do; "Keep off the grass," "No loitering," "No smoking," etc. People usually make these rules with the best intentions for all.

If you adhere to a religion you mostly also have a set of standards you try to stick to. We don't always succeed in sticking to them, but we try.

On top of all that you have probably instituted a set of personal rules you try to live by. For me, one of those is that I don't ever bother getting even with people. I figure if you do something against someone intentionally you have already done a disservice to yourself and chances are it will come back on you later, so I don't have a need to seek vengeance. I have other rules I live by, but that's just one of mine.

Our lives are filled to the brim with laws, rules and standards we try to live by. But yet this isn 't enough for some people. They feel a need to "organize" and set yet more laws, rules or standards for some of us to adhere to.

I have noticed that in the art and crafting world the topic is raised quite often that a set of standards should be created for the specific genre that we work in. It usually springs from someone being disturbed by something someone else has done. Then the general discussion ensues of what should be included, what shouldn't. Who will set the standards, etc.

I have to be honest, I have a really hard time with this idea. Art is so subjective, and I don't think it should or could be standardized. Now in my little niche of the world, lets suppose for a moment that there actually came to be a set of industry standards for bear artists...some of us have been in business for a very long time so along the way we have already set our own standards by which we create. That must be working for us since we have in fact been in business a long time. Customers know, and they won't keep buying our work over the years if it's poorly constructed. So am I supposed to suddenly adhere to rules created by a group, that I haven't needed for three decades? What if they decide that something that I and my customers find perfectly acceptable is no longer up to their standards?

Or what if I am on the other side of the fence and I am supposed to be part of the governing body who sets the standards...what right do I have to tell you what you can do in your own business? That's part of the beauty of free enterprise...you get to make your own rules. People choose to run their own business in part so that they can separate themselves from the herd and go their own way. I also have no desire to tell people what they should or shouldn't be doing, I can only tell them what I do and why. But what you ultimately do has no bearing on my work and vice versa. So how do you figure out what is acceptable and what isn't? You can take ten artists, teach them the same technique and have ten different results. Who is to say what is right and what isn't.

This idea was presented again in a discussion we were having the other day, and someone suggested that perhaps the best thing would be to only buy from artists who have won awards or who are suggested to collectors by other artists or collectors. Even that to me sounds like a bad idea (no offense to the person who suggested it) because I have never won a real award from the magazine. But then again...I have never entered either. *shrugs* I also know that if customers only bought from recommended artists that a brand new artist would never get a foothold in the community. Also that would exclude artists who live in a bubble and don't have a lot of outside contact with the world at large. They are out there, and they are making lovely bears.

Even if we did set up some industry standards how would we enforce it? Who would enforce it? If someone for instance chose to hot glue and staple their bears together (no I don't really know anyone who does that, it's just an old joke between a friend of mine and I)...what are we supposed to do? Go to their house and take their glue gun and staples away from them? How would we keep them from just going to the store and getting more? The government can't even make all people stick to the laws they set down by threat of imprisonment or fines. How could we possibly insure that people were sticking to industry standards? How could we make certain people were being forthright when they say they are?

Personally I get a little leery when independent people want to start forming organized groups to police the masses in any given set of people. I wish this idea would stop coming up. It's no ones place to tell another person how to create...creation is a journey and we all must find our own path. What works for one may not work for another. If we standardize the process we eliminate the possibility of someone finding something that will work for them that we had not thought of previously, and we also run the risk of homogenizing the world of art. We learn and grow when we create, and that process cannot and should not be standardized.

Also yesterday I had the MRI done on my knee and will give you an update on that when I hear the results. Lastly...above is sneak peek #3. I changed up a couple of tiny things on my small bear pattern, and I like it so much! I hope you will too! The next piece is nearly done...I will give you a sneak peek of that soon!

Hugs, K. <3

Sneak Peek #2 And Q & A Opportunity

2011-11-25T13:57:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving. We did. It was just the two of us, but we still go all out and cook the big meal. One of the few things I have learned in the past few years of my new interest in cooking, is how to get a moist turkey. I brined it overnight, and then when it came time to cook it I loosened the skin and put a butter mixture with herbs and orange zest under it. I learned to do that with chicken as one of my first real cooking attempts. The chicken had Parmesan and herbs in the butter instead of orange zest, but it still makes a bird moist. Along with the turkey R made his fabulous dressing, cranberry relish and he had to have rolls of course since that's his favorite part. My favorite part are the yams, but this year I made roasted sweet potato spears that had a balsamic vinegar, olive oil and brown sugar mixture on them and then I garnished them with Gorgonzola cheese and walnuts...which is good because there are lots of left overs!

As you can see I have another sneak peek for you of a piece that will be available at the website update on the 2nd. I have made a smaller version of my rabbit/squirrel/mouse pattern, and the pic above is the first piece. I love this new size, it's so cute and fits nicely in your hand or pocket.

While I was sewing, I got to thinking about something. How fun would it be if you could ask all your favorite artists one question about how or why they do something. So in that spirit, I am going to try a little experiment, and have a Q & A. If you have a question (please limit it to one) you would like to ask, you can either post it in the comments section or e-mail me using the link to the right. I can't guarantee I will answer every question, but I will try. I will post the questions and my answers next week. I realize a lot of you will be spending time with family or shopping this weekend and I want to give plenty of time for you to get your questions together.

I am off to work on the next piece! Have a lovely and safe weekend!

Hugs, K. <3

Sneak Peek #1 & Knee Update

2011-11-23T02:04:00.000-08:00

As promised I am giving you the first sneak peek at the items for the website update on the 2nd. I have these two done, and another one in the works. There will be more to come, and I will be giving you more sneak peeks later in the week. I am finding myself enamored of things that sparkle and shine...and ring this year!

As for my knee...well lets start with last Friday. They told me that they would be referring me to an orthopedic specialist but it has been my experience that unless you are knocking on deaths door the medical community doesn't move real fast on things, so I took a vicodin and flopped into bed around 5:30 am, and it took about a half hour before I fell asleep. At 8:35 am the phone rang. A woman on the other end of the line who was entirely too cheery for that time of morning told me I needed to be at the doctors office by 9:30 am because the doctor was going to see me between surgeries. She also told me not to eat or drink anything in case I needed surgery! Um what? My sleep deprived, vicodin addled brain had a hard time processing all of that..but by some miracle I made it on time. (And without coffee!!!)

The doctor showed up some 45 minutes later still wearing scrubs and a hair net. He poked, prodded and twisted my knee and announced that he wanted me to get an MRI and sent me home.

Now the doctor who did the x-rays the day before at the Urgent Care place told me my knee cap was absolutely broken. He showed me the x-rays and pointed out the wedge shaped divot in my knee with the piece sticking up that fit into it. I am no doctor but it looked pretty well broken to me. The Orthopedic doctor wasn't so sure. He thought I had a multiple fractures and possibly soft tissue damage.

Yesterday they called and told me it's not broken at all and it's just soft tissue damage but I still need an MRI. I asked them what that divot shaped piece was then? They didn't know, and that the MRI would reveal all...I have visions of a lab tech in a fortune teller costume doing this MRI at this point. I go in Monday afternoon for that.

I don't see how there could be soft tissue damage since where it hurts is directly on top of the knee cap and there is no tissue there. It's just skin over bone. But again I didn't pay a bazillion and a half dollars to go to medical school and I do like the idea that it's not broken after all because I am hoping that means no surgery.

While I am getting lots of work done, I can't hardly stand sitting still for such long periods of time. I am also completely over limping around and being in pain whenever I walk. All I do know for sure is that it's not healing or improving in the slightest. Thursday it will be three weeks since I initially did it. I won't know anything until next week, so I will let you know when I know.

In the mean time I will be busy sewing away...until then!

Hugs, K. <3

1% Of The Population...

2011-11-17T15:12:00.000-08:00

A little follow up to yesterday...last night I was putting things in my curio cabinet and I forgot and kneeled down. A pain so acute shot through my knee I thought I was going to pass out. R heard me scream (which is amazing because he sleeps through everything) and he threatened me if I didn't go to the Urgent Care place today he would pick me up and carry me there himself.

When I woke up this morning my knee had swelled up quite large and was bruised...and I decided for once to be a good wife and actually do as he said. It's probably a good thing because as it turns out my tendons are sprained and my knee cap is broken.

The doctor was dumbfounded that I was able to walk around on it for two weeks. I am one tough cookie! >=} At any rate I learned that only 1% of the population of the US ever breaks a knee cap. Kooky huh!

They put a brace and a splint on it and I am going to be referred to an orthopedic doctor tomorrow, and they will probably cut it open and wire it back together. Oh yay! If I keep doing stupid stuff, pretty soon my whole body will be held together with office supplies.

The good news in this is that even though I am ordered to stay off of it, I don't need my knee to sew bears. So currently I am still planning on having the update on the 2nd. If after I see the orthopedic doctor that changes I will let ya know. But I don't expect it to.

I will keep ya updated! Hugs, K. <3

Website Update And Other Stuff

2011-11-16T15:16:00.000-08:00

I apologize for not posting since I returned from my trip. It's been a flurry of activity around here! I am nearly overwhelmed. But let me back up a bit first...

I will start with Thursday before last. R was out of town, and it was bitterly cold and snowy. As I have told you before I am the clumsiest person ever. It was evening, and I was walking across the floor. That's it, just walking across the floor and I lost my balance and fell down. I felt a searing pain in my knee. But I shrugged it off thinking it was a momentary thing. By 2 AM I was tempted to go to the ER the pain was so great. But it was cold...snowy...2 AM...and I was home alone so I chose not to go. I decided it would probably be better by the next day. I was wrong. It's still bothering me. I never did go to the doctor. I suppose I should have. But it will heal eventually. It's slowing me down in all the things I want to get done though.

I left the following Monday for Montana. I had a lovely visit with my parents. We didn't get to do quite all the things my Mom wanted to do because of my knee, but that was ok with me. I went to visit them, not run around and do stuff.

While I was gone R was painting the living room and foyer. I always have to go away when he does house repairs or renovations. I have some sort of odd defect that I cannot stand to watch people do things that involve tearing things up and making a mess. I can tear things up and make a mess and it doesn't bother me a bit. I am just an odd little ball of contradictions...what can I say! *grins*

When I got home it was completely shocking. You can stare at paint chips all you want, and it never gives you a real indication what it's going to look like. It's much brighter than I had imagined. Of course I have been staring at white walls for 12 years. I like it, but it's really bright. Of course everything had been removed from the walls and furniture so I had nothing to break it up when I first saw it. I have been slowly but surely putting everything back.

I have also been slowly but surely working in between putting everything back. I wish I could focus on one thing and then the other, but my knee won't allow it so I keep switching between putting things back, cleaning and working. I have a bear in progress, a lamb cut out and several ideas for new things. This means hopefully a whole new animal or two! Also there should be a new snowman or two, for those of you who like to collect them from me. So I am going to have a small website update on the 2nd of December with some holiday pieces for you! I used Marzipan in the pic above (she has been adopted already) since I don't have anything new ready just yet, but I will be giving you sneak peeks as I go along. Stay tuned for those!

In the mean time have a lovely day, and I am off to work some more!

Hugs, K.

Leavin On A Jet Plane

2011-11-07T13:43:00.000-08:00

I am about ready to head to the airport in about 45 minutes. I will see you guys when I get back Friday!

Hugs, K.

Quick Reminder

2011-11-04T04:02:00.001-07:00

Today is the last day to take advantage of my website sale!

Halloween

2011-11-01T04:38:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a wonderfully frightful Halloween! We had fun passing out the candy to all the kids in their cute little costumes. Also as you can see from the pic above, Mozzie got both of his wishes...he got a fancy mask and got to pass out (in the) candy!

I apologize for these two pics because they were taken with my small camera which obviously I should set aside some time and figure out how to use. But we had fun pumpkins again this year. R carved the one on top. He always does fancy ones, and this one was a haunted house. I decided to forgo my usual cutesy-Hallmark style and made a scary one based on the pumpkin scarecrow in the movie Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp. The bottom one was inspired by Martha Stewart. They looked great all lit up, but unfortunately I couldn't get a pic of it with that camera.

I found it a bit curious that only one other house in our neighborhood had any decorations out. I always like to do it up right and decorate outside. I think it's more fun for the kids...ok and me too. I do love holidays!

Saturday night we decided to engage in something a little more on the grown up side of Halloween fun and went ghost hunting with a professional paranormal team. We didn't find any ghosts (nor did I expect to) but it was fun and we got out of the house on a nice night...45 degrees, which for this time of year is rare. Plus I got to wear my new coat. R was really happy about that part. He couldn't have cared less that I bought something new, but actually getting me into a coat is next door to a miracle. He nags me constantly to wear coats and scarves and socks and shoes and all sorts of unnecessary articles of clothing. Men and their kooky ideas!

I also managed to get a whole lot of work done around the house, do a mountain of laundy, bake a chicken and brownies and just basically work my keister off all weekend. This week, I need to do some prep work for his painting the living room while I am gone on my trip. So it's going to be a busy week for me. I have also been toying around with a new design for a brand new animal. But that will have to be put off until I come back from Montana.

Lastly...the first wave of pieces sold from the sale will be going out tomorrow. Remember you have through Friday to take advantage of the sale!

Hugs, Kelly

Treats For You, Tricks For Me

2011-10-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

Hi Mozzie here! I had this great idea, since this is my first Halloween I wanted to pass out treats, but I was told I was too small to give out candy. *Sad face* But then I thought we should have a sale so that some of my buddies could find good homes. Can you think if a better treat!? If you want to adopt one of my pals, just e-mail Kelly using the link at the right, and she will send you a paypal invoice with the adjusted price.

What I didn't know is that I was going to get tricked into wearing this silly pumpkin hat!!! BOO for me! I really wanted a fancy mask! *Frowny Face*

Happy Halloween & bear hugs, Mozzie

And The Winner Is...

2011-10-25T22:59:00.000-07:00

I reached deep down into the jack-o-lantern and pulled out a number!

Are you wondering if it's you?

It might be....

Ok actually I used random.org to get the number...there was no jack-o-lantern...

the

winner

is...

yes I am making you wait for it...

but here it is....

Which means Tyler from Teds 'n Such is the winner! Congrats Tyler! All I need now is a mailing address and he will be on his way to you!

Thank you all for participating. Watch for another give away near Christmas!

Hugs, Kelly

Happy, Grumpy & Reminder

2011-10-24T15:30:00.000-07:00

Despite what you may think, this is not a post about dwarfs...Snow White is no where in sight. But lets go ahead and start with grumpy and get that out of the way. Then we can move on to happy things!

Ok so I am feeling a bit grumpy about Etsy. I haven't made a post about Etsy in years, but I really do need to get this off my chest. I don't rely on Etsy much, but I figure for 20 cents a pop, it's worth it as an online portfolio to reach people who might not see me otherwise. I like to shop on Etsy sometimes though. They implemented a feature a while back where they had suggested items from your favorite shops on the front page. It was great. I really liked seeing what people whose work I like and buy, have made recently. It certainly prompted me to buy a few things that I might not have. It was also handy for the girl on the go. Plus my own page views have dropped by about 95%. But with this new person in charge they have removed it. Apparently the thinking is that people should pay for extra advertising. Money hungry little buggers. They also removed the pounce and a couple other features that were effective. On top of that they have removed the just listed section!!! This seems so counter intuitive to me. They were still making a profit from the items sold, probably more than they will on the items sold through people who will pay to advertise. So why...why Etsy...WHY? I am not going to pay for advertising through them. I just do not understand this cut off your nose to spite your face line of thinking they constantly employ. Ok small rant over...now on to the fun stuff!

Now for the happy! YAY! As you see I have posted a pic of my dining room. (Penelope snuck into the pic under the chair...I didn't even notice.) This weekend we finally...FINALLY started redoing the house. R painted the walls. Isn't it lovely! He also bought me a new china cabinet which I need to put the stuff back into. But that's for tomorrow. Today I have to put up Halloween decorations. I also want to repaint the painted part of the chairs white.

When I used to live in a condo I dreamed of the day when I had a house and could decorate it any way I wanted. I had a million ideas. But when we moved into this house 12 years ago the trouble was I had a million ideas! I couldn't settle on anything. So a while back R put his foot down and said pick something woman it's time! I am so glad he did. I had forgotten how much I love color. Of course we are both Leo's so naturally we have to have warm colors. I don't care for cool colors in my home.

When I go to visit my parents in a couple weeks he is going to do the living room and kitchen. I can't wait. It's going to be beautiful! I already have ideas for the bedroom and the downstairs too. My house is going to be fabulous! At least I think so.

Lastly I want to give you a reminder...tomorrow night is the drawing for Caution Mouse so be sure to enter if you haven't already!

Have a lovely day! Hugs, K. <3

Edit: One trip to World Market later and we have new chair cushions, lantern and placemats!

~~ Autumn Pumpkin ~~

2011-10-23T02:48:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite quotes is by Henry David Thoreau; "I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion." If only Henry had a velvety mohair pumpkin to sit on, he could have had the best of both worlds!

I normally don't make things without a face, but just for fun I wanted to do a little pumpkin. I really like how it turned out.

My Autumn pumpkin is available on my website at http://www.blondheart.com/

News Worthy

2011-10-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, every evening we sat down to watch Walter Cronkite deliver the news. For a child, this was pretty boring. But I was always fascinated by Mr. Cronkite. He seemed like such a kindly man. Even when the news was terrible he gave the impression of being a member of the family who had a reassurance in his demeanor that everything would be alright, behind the words he spoke. He had something that is desperately lacking these days. He had grace, and he was able to maintain it even in the worst of times.

Back in those days even though nearly every American watched the news religiously, it was still a personal choice. You could watch the evening news or read the paper...and that was it. Those were the only two ways to have the news delivered to you. If you chose to take the day off from knowing the evils of the world...you could enjoy a blissful day.

I stopped watching the news about 20 years ago. We lived in Connecticut and many of the stations we got were from New York City. They had a way of over sensationalizing everything. My cut off was one day when I watched an anchor woman tell a story about a horrific incident that had happened. She was smiling. I mean like beauty pagent smile type of smiling. I felt sick to my stomach. I know that reporters are supposed to detach themselves from what they are reporting...but really...smiling over a crime so horrific I that I won't even tell you what it was on my blog? I couldn't watch anymore. Knowing things too horrible to imagine on a daily basis, and knowing that you can't do anything to stop them just wreaks havoc on your psyche after a while...especially when they are told with a smile. As a bear maker I have to be a little bit on the happy side or the bears look depressed.

I have been avoiding the fact that I am sick all week. Sometimes I think if I ignore it, it will just go away and I will feel fine. Today I had to own up it. I had a sore throat and an earache that progressed pretty far. As a result of finally admitting to myself I am sick, I was in a differnt kind of avoidance mode. I have one last little Halloween piece I want to do, and I did get it cut out. But I didn't feel like sewing.

Part of my avoidance of work today was to read the news online. Like I said, I don't watch the news unless something specific happens that I really want to know more about. I never read the paper. Ever. R tells me what he thinks I need to know. It's not that I want to go through life with rose colored glasses on or that I don't care what's going on in the world. The problem is when you have the type of memory I do and remember huge amounts of what you see in print, you don't read the paper because it sticks with you forever. Again..happy bears...

In our computerized times it's hard to avoid the news though. It's on the splash page of our server every time we log in. It's almost impossible to turn it off too. It's on our smart phones. It's everywhere. Part of the fallout of all this constant bombardment of news is that sometimes the media seems to run out and things are reported that aren't really what I would consider news worthy.

While going through the 20 pages of news on my server, there was the usual stuff of course. But most of it was just blather...among other things, there was something about a child who has a rare medical condition that causes her to eat glass, something about a movie star who is suing Amazon for revealing her actual age, and some nonsense about a family with 19 kids who have banned TV and pets from their home...um ok. Then I came across another headline that read that the First Lady wore pink twice in one day. I didn't bother to read any of those articles because I don't consider that news. My reaction was so what? I wore two pair of grey sweats back to back...stop the presses! Ok so maybe I don't have the same mass appeal that the First Lady does, but still...who cares? Is this really news? It isn't even a human interest story in my book. So she wore pink twice in one day...maybe she was in the mood for pink, or maybe it was because it's National Breast Cancer month. I don't know...and I don't need to know.

Do we benefit from all this pointless information that is passed off as news? I don't think we do. I think it's just cerebral litter laying on the side of the information super highway. My new rule of thumb is this...if Walter Cronkite wouldn't have reported it...I am not going to bother to read it.

~~ Cybil And Sabine ~~

2011-10-17T01:48:00.000-07:00

Surprise! My pumpkin men turned out to be girls! Meet Cybil and Sabine. These lovely ladies have been added to my website at http://www.blondheart.com/

Sneak Peek And A Reprieve

2011-10-16T01:41:00.000-07:00

I have been so stressed this week you have no idea. I have been trying to get everything done before I left on Monday to go visit my Mom. While I was looking forward to seeing my parents, I was not looking forward to the two day drive. Especially when I had to finish mice and pumpkins and decorate for Halloween and pack all my things from my china cabinet and curio cabinet and pack my clothes for the trip and clean...and do a mountain of laundry...and...sigh~

When I got up this morning I knew I wasn't going to get it all done. Ok well I could have if I didn't want to sleep from now until then, but I am sort of fond of having a little sleep because it makes me more alert and functional and just generally more pleasant. So I finally broke down and called my Mom and told her I wasn't going to leave until Tuesday.

Why all the packing you ask? Well because R was going to take the week off and paint while I was gone. Why was I driving you wonder? I have things I wanted to take to my Mom and flying wasn't an option to get them there.

But my Mom said they were going to come around the beginning of December so she could pick stuff up then. And she suggested perhaps I shouldn't come at all. But I felt bad. I had promised to come and I don't like to break a promise.

So since I don't have to take all sorts of things now, I am flying! But not for three weeks. Which lifted a weight right off my shoulders. Now I have time to get everything done properly and then go! YAY! Plus it also means I can actually stay longer at their house. YAY!

Now about this sneak peek and pumpkin by candlelight you see above...well when I posted the last group of pieces I had done, my little pumpkin man was adopted within five minutes. I know a lot of you e-mailed about him and were disappointed you missed him. So I have two more. They aren't dressed yet, but they will be later today and posted then. I just thought I would give you a heads up that they are coming! Until then...I am going to go off to bed.

Hugs, K <3

A Blog Give Away!

2011-10-12T15:21:00.000-07:00

I promised you a surprise a while back...well here it is! Now I have to tell you I am a bit late on getting it done, because as usual I am behind.

I know I haven't done a blog give away for a while but I have mixed emotions about them to be honest. The last one I had, the person who ended up winning had just raved about how much she loved it in her comment to the post, and then when she won she never claimed it. I waited several weeks and tried to contact her numerous ways. So I felt rather embarrassed and foolish, I had worked really hard on it. And after all that time had passed, I didn't know what to do with the piece. So as you can imagine I wasn't in a big hurry to try it again.

On the other side of the fence, I know what it's like to enter a blog give away and want the piece sooooooo bad. Then to not win and have no other way to get one like it. There was a Christmas bear a few years ago I wanted more than anything and that was what happened. I would have happily bought one like it but there wasn't one for sale. So in case I am not alone in feeling that way, I have made a second mouse...Boo is available on my website at http://www.blondheart.com/.

On to the details!

Caution is 4 1/2 inches tall, he is hand stitched of African mohair, hand dyed, and has glass eyes. He will arrive in a ceramic pumpkin with his spooky little sign that says "Caution." (He is really friendly and not at all scary though.)

To enter you must post about it on your blog, leave me a comment with a link to your post, (just one comment please) and be a follower of my blog. International readers are welcome to enter too. A couple give away pieces have gone overseas before! That's it, and you will have a chance to win my little Halloween mousey! Easy huh!

The winner will be chosen by randomizer on October 25th at 11:59 PM MST.

Good luck! Hugs, K. <3

PS...

2011-10-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

Not to take you away from all the fun of the previous post I made this morning, but I also wanted to tell you that the five new pieces-three halloween and two regular bears are finally on my website at Blondheart.com

Hugs, K. <3

Edit: Seedric the pumpkin has been adopted so he is no longer on the site. More will be coming!

The Church And The Barn

2011-10-05T07:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got to have one of those girl days that I love so much! My friend Carol and I do this a few times a year. We usually meet in Castle Rock which is about halfway for both of us. I have told you about the places we go before, but this time I had the for thought to bring my camera...so you can actually see what we did!

First we went to eat at The Old Stone Church. It's one of the oldest churches in Colorado, but it's been a restaurant for many years. The food is just amazing! I had a hazelnut crusted chicken over pasta with a cilantro pineapple butter, and a little bit of cranberry walnut salad on the side. Yum! Carol had shrimp and goat cheese enchiladas with a chipotle cream sauce...I almost had that. She let me taste it...it was insanely good!

They also gave us a basket of flat bread with chimichurri sauce to dip it in. The sauce was SO good that I was dipping my chicken in it. The server asked if I would like some more, and I jokingly said I would like a whole jar to take home. She said they did sell it by the jar, and when you bought it..you got the recipe for it too! Naturally a jar came home with me.

Next we headed down the block to The Barn. It really is an old barn.

It sits right next to the Purina Chows company.

But inside it's unassuming exterior lies delights that can barely be described!

Every vendor gets a little room for their wares.

This is just a small sampling of the many rooms! They have a real eye for vendors that fit a certain style and it would be easy to spend thousands in there!

While I didn't spend thousands, I did get some lovely little treasures, including the grey scarf in the back, some small reproduction french letters, a key chain and two necklaces.

I also got a carved crow, and a couple of handmade flowers. I didn't show you everything I bought. I got a lovely feather flower but Penelope was trying very hard to help me with it so I decided to put it back on my jewelry amoire safely out of little kitty paws reach! I got some really pretty leg warmers and a truly beautiful headband with a flower on it too. I am wearing the headband though, so it didn't make it into the picture either.

This is just a close up of the swan lake and the Paris necklaces I just had to have!

They have added a small building to the left of the Barn called The Barn Too, which was filled with more delights including the shabby pink table with it's scalloped edge. I thought it would make the perfect stand for my TV, so after some careful maneuvering we managed to get it into the back seat of my car!

It was a really fun day, and also so great to see my friend. I know if you knew her you would love her as much as I do. She is just this fun, cool, sophisticated lady with a little bit of an edge...there is NO ONE else like her!

Show-In-The-Dark

2011-09-27T04:27:00.000-07:00

I got home from the Kansas City Teddy Bear Jubilee yesterday and I wanted to make a post, but I was SOOO tired! I find that driving that hard on so little sleep really took it out of me. I guess I am not as young as I used to be despite the fact that everyone I hadn't seen in years said I look exactly the same except that my hair is even longer.

Now on to the show...the banquet the night before was lots of fun, but I was exhausted and didn't stay for the auction. The next morning I got up and started getting ready. I was dressed and thought I would run my suitcase and laptop out to the car before finishing up with my makeup. That way I could check out and only have to fuss with my duffel bag. At the last second I decided to run the curling iron through my bangs.

When I got back to the room the power was out. As it turned out, it was out for the entire area, not just our hotel. Thank goodness I decided to do my bangs before I went out!

The show had a nice crowd when it opened, better than the previous year from what people said. Sadly we were in the dark for the first three hours. I had a flashlight in my purse, but it's hard to buy bears when you can't really see them.

The power finally returned and we still had a pretty good show. I took some pics, and I have to apologize in advance. I had bought a little camera for traveling and this was the first time I had used it, so some of the pics aren't that good. But it was nice to see some old friends and make some new friends!

Ken Yenke and his lovely wife did a program on Saturday. Unfortunately I didn't arrive in time to attend, but from what everyone said it was quite good. He is holding a 1920's Petz bear that managed to make his way home with me!

I was right next to Martha Burch who is always so much fun. And no she wasn't sleeping...I just managed to snap the pic when she blinked!

On the other side of me was Bettina Groh from Glass Dragon Bears. Her bears are every bit as sweet as she is!

It was also nice to see Virginia Jasmer. She is just lovely and I have missed seeing her.

Terri Larson was really adverse to having her pic taken. I tried three times and this was the best I could get! She is so silly...and was always one of my very favorite people. So it was fun to see her again.

I met Tyler Crain-Davis from Teds 'n Such for the first time. He is just a doll and I liked him immediately!

Isabella Hoffman of Bearly Collectibles was also new to me, but I found myself drooling over several pieces she had. If only I could have brought home everything I wanted!

Somehow I never managed to take a pic of my own table, but you can see it from the side behind Bettina's table.

Quite a few pieces did get adopted, but I do have some new pieces that are still waiting for that special person. (Yes Gideon the Gargoyle is still waiting too...which surprises me considering how many ardent admirers he had.) So I will have those photographed and posted to the blog and site hopefully in the next day or two.

Also I came home with a trunk FULL of mohair, so I should have a surprise coming for the rest of you very soon...as soon as I can get it done. I will be working on that along with pics today since R is out of town.

Until then have a lovely day! Hugs, K. <3

~~Gideon The Beargoyle~~

2011-09-22T01:10:00.000-07:00

I know it's been nearly three weeks since my last post, but I have been working like a mad woman. I am leaving in just about 24 hours for the Teddy Bear Jubilee in Kansas City.

I have made quite a few new pieces but I am only showing you Gideon. He is one of the Halloween pieces, and I just thought he was fun because I have never made a gargoyle before.

I will be back to posting more when I return. It's amazing how hard it is to get ready for a show when you're out of practice. I used to be able to pack and everything in my sleep...but it's been a while. I can't wait to see everyone...hopefully I will be seeing you there!

Hugs, K. <3

~~ Ghostly ~~

2011-08-30T17:36:00.000-07:00

I have made my first Halloween inspired piece...but I am easing into it slowly. It's still summer and it's hard to think of Halloween just yet. So Ghostly has been made to look like a long lost loved one in an old sepia toned photograph.

I have one more bear in the works and then more Halloween pieces will be coming!

Until then...I hope you had a lovely day!

Hugs, K. <3

~~ Flora Bunda ~~

2011-08-23T04:10:00.000-07:00

For such a usually chatty girl, I can't believe it's been nearly three weeks since my last post. There really hasn't been a lot to tell...but I am in the process of getting ready for Kansas City next month. Flora Bunda is my latest creation.

I am also happy to report that my brother, Aunt and friend are all doing well. My toes are on the mend, and I have been weeding the garden. I am not sure you could call it weeding considering how tall and dense the weeds were...I think it was closer to de-forestation. My battle with the snakes has been continuing, but I am sure with the onset of Autumn we will see less and less of them. I am not ready for Summer to be over just yet, but it's time to think about Halloween pieces.

I have one in the works and you should be seeing her soon!

Hugs, K. <3

Etc

2011-08-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make this post already days ago, but I have to tell you...it's been a terrible week for the people in my world. I found out that my best friend, whom I could not get a hold of, had fallen off a chair and fractured a vertebrate. Two nights ago my brother had a second heart attack, but he is holding in there. Yesterday I found out that my elderly Aunt who had dislocated her hip last week ended up having to have two surgeries from it because after the first one she fell out of bed and had to have another. They are saying it isn't looking good that she will make it. That's the price of getting older, things are so much worse that wouldn't be when you are younger. All of these things certainly make my two broken toes and head cold seem inconsequential.

However due to my head cold and broken toes...not to mention worrying myself sick over everyone, I have been sitting a lot this week. Now I hate just sitting, so I have been watching movies and reading to distract myself. I have also been staring intently at the walls. (I did sneak down to the garden once to discover that darn garter snake had babies which are now running amok in there! AUGH!) A couple weeks ago R decided that it was time to paint the living room. So we have been staring at paint chips. We have it narrowed down to two.

When I went shopping in Denver over my birthday weekend I picked up a decorating book. I love decorating books and since we decided to do the living room, what better excuse to buy a new one. The book was entitled "Etc." by Sibella Court, and it's about decorating with things you collect and already own. The book is incredibly charming and smells like rain...and old metal screens...which always smell like rain. So there you go. Why it smells like that, I am not sure. But it adds to the charm of the book.

Now I have to confess, I mainly look at pictures when I get decorating books, but since I had all this time I thought I would read some of this one. Ms. Court has a delightful way with words as well as photography. She likens our homes to museums where there are no "please don't touch" signs. I love that idea. She says that our homes are filled with items that have history and stories and emotions behind them. I think that's absolutely true. I think some of those items definitely deserve to be displayed in some way even if they are things you wouldn't ordinarily think of as decorator touches.

I also want to share one of my own sentiments on decorating that I have discerned over the years. If you were to come into my house it's quite eclectic. But I think that holds true of most artists homes. So my rule is if you like it, buy it. It will work. All too often I have heard friends and strangers alike admire something and then say "that won't go with what I have."

Yes it will! If you love all your items, they reflect your taste and believe me it will all work together. Better than you might think. I am feeling excited to get going on painting and redecorating. Also through looking at the book and some decorating magazines I have some ideas for bears as well. I can take anything I love and turn it into an idea for a bear!

If you haven't seen this book, I urge you to check it out. It's filled with wonderful ideas and inspiration.

Hopefully this drought I have been experiencing on bear making will be over soon. I am also hopeful that everyone else in my life and yours stays safe, happy and healthy!

Happy Hearts And Broken Toes

2011-07-27T09:19:00.000-07:00

I know I know...it's been so long since I posted. I apologize but it's summer, and I have had no desire for the computer at all. I have just been cleaning and gardening and enjoying the warm weather. Sometimes suffering in the crazy heat!

Last Sunday was my birthday and I had such a lovely weekend. Saturday I went to Denver and went shopping. R was so good about it, he didn't sigh or tap his foot once. And he only grimaced slightly when I bought out the mall!

Then on Sunday we went for dinner at P.F. Changs. I had Chilean sea bass...yum!

One of the treasures I picked up was the book above. It presented itself at exactly the right time as things tend to do. I have been thinking a lot about happiness lately. Now don't get me wrong, I am not unhappy by any stretch. But I have been wondering if I am truly happy? How do you know exactly?

They say money can't buy happiness, but I am not sure that's entirely accurate. I have stuff in my house that makes me quite happy just to lay eyes upon it and most of it cost money. Of course I don't think things bring you true happiness. (Except for teddy bears of course!)

So what is true happiness? How do you live happily? I would have to imagine that the answer is different for everyone. For me I think happiness is being satisfied with all that you are and that you have in your life right in this moment!

The book....which I have only read a little of so far...says to be happy you simply choose to be happy. Sounds easy, but is it? It says you have to align your thinking to the fact that every incident in your life is the best possible event right that moment. Now I know that is hard. But maybe it's true.

Monday morning I got up at 4 am...I have been sleeping nights again...and I walked right into Ridley. I didn't see him in the dark and my toes went onto either side of his leg. I heard them snap. I break my toes all the time. I suspect it's because I break my toes all the time and they are weak. This is the first time I have broken two at once. So why would this be the best possible event right now for me?

Pain aside...maybe it's because I needed to slow down and sew again. Maybe it's because it gives me time to enjoy some of my favorite movies while I sew. And maybe there is a larger reason I can't see right now? Who knows maybe it kept me from something bad that I might have done if they hadn't broken.

I think I am going to take the advice from the book and choose to look at this in the best way possible. Afterall...I do need to sew, and who doesn't love to watch their favorite movies?

Hopefully I will have something new to show you soon.

Also I must say that receiving all those birthday wishes on Facebook really did make me feel special, and that makes my heart just that much happier!

Have a lovely day, and be happy...no matter what happens!

Hugs, K. <3

Summer

2011-07-17T05:34:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't posted in a while again. But I have had computer burn out a little bit and it's just simply Summer! So I have been enjoying that.

I also have a kitten which of course takes up more time than you might think. Above are pictures of Penelope with Buster. He loves kitties, and she growing and getting into all the sorts of trouble kittens get into.

I also wanted to let you know that I am going to do the class in October. I think that's best since people are outside and on vacation...and classes are just fun in the Autumn. At least I think so.

I hope you are all enjoying your Summer as well! I will return soon!

Hugs, K. <3

~~ Phalto ~~

2011-07-06T16:01:00.000-07:00

Phalto is now available on the Bears Page Of My Website.

Independence Day And Other Things

2011-07-04T15:59:00.000-07:00

First of all, Mozzie and I would like to wish you a cracker jack 4th Of July if you live in the US! We hope your fireworks are the sparkliest!

Speaking of Mozzie...I told you several months ago that he was named after the enigmatic and mysterious character of Mozzie on White Collar. In last Tuesday's new episode we learned that Mozzie was an orphan and is so named after his teddy bear "Mozart" but he couldn't pronounce it so he called the bear "Mozzie." How cool is that! I guess I picked a bear name for my Mozzie afterall!

Now I have a little bit of bad news. It's been 90 degrees and over here quite a bit lately. If I turn on the air conditioning I get sick. If I don't, it's too hot to work. So unfortunately the website update I had scheduled for Wednesday isn't going to happen. I will however post the one bear I do have made. I want to apologize to those of you who were patiently waiting. I have several bears in the works, but until this crazy heat spell we are having breaks I don't foresee a whole lot of work getting done. In Colorado we just aren't used to extended periods of extreme heat.

I will keep you updated! Enjoy your holiday, or if you're across the ocean...enjoy your day! I am off to eat BBQ chicken, corn on the cob and strawberries...yum!

A Funny Little Surprise

2011-06-28T02:00:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed that I removed yesterday's post. Before I start today's post I want to explain why. As it turned out the article on the TSA that had me so upset was retracted by the media. Apparently it didn't all happen quite the way they originally printed the story. So in light of that I felt that it was only right to remove it.

Now on to today's post which is much happier!

This afternoon I went out to get the mail, there was the usual junk, magazines and bills. But there was also an odd little envelope that felt rather thick. I couldn't imagine what it was. I knew I hadn't ordered anything. When I opened it, there was a cloth pouch inside. It was black with stars and a little star button holding it closed. It's far cuter than the picture shows.

When I opened it, I saw that it said "What's in the stars for you Leo?" It still was very mysterious.

Inside was a cleverly worded card for 15% off of my entire purchase at Anthropologie. I found that pretty darned exciting, since that is my very favorite store in the whole world! I know it's a way to get people to come in and spend money...but you know what...it worked! I will definitely be going up to Denver next month to happily use it. (We don't have one here.)

I love it when businesses go the extra distance. We have gotten used to individuals doing that, but big businesses don't usually do things like that. When is the last time you got something in a nice fabric pouch, that in itself was like a little gift...or even something that made you feel special from a big business? It really made me smile, and reminded me why I love that store so much!

Website Update ~ July 6th, 5 PM MST

2011-06-22T22:27:00.000-07:00

Hung Up On Definitions

2011-06-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

Everyone has an opinion on everything they believe and hold dear. Deep down we tend to believe that our opinion is the right one, even if we say we are open to other ideas and opinions. It's human nature and it's completely normal. In truth each of our opinions is the right one...for ourselves. We have based our opinions and formulated what we believe due to circumstances and episodes that have shaped our lives.

But we have all seen what happens when people get mired down in debating who is right and who is wrong. Wars break out, people fight and lose respect for one another, they will go the distance to prove they are right even if they aren't entirely certain the other person really is wrong. In the end it's a waste of energy and things fall by the wayside and don't get done because everyone is caught up in the debate.

Regardless what business you are in, chances are you have an opposing view of it that differs from one or more people in that same business. If you are new to the business that can be very confusing. If you have been in the business for a long time, then you have your set of ideals already in place and all the debate in the world probably won't change them very much.

When it comes to the handmade world there are two debates that rear their heads quite often. The first one is whether something is truly one of a kind or not. Some people believe that in order to be one of a kind a thing has to be genuinely unique in every aspect. That's kind of a tough one. If we get down to brass tacks, no one makes a one of a kind anything. I certainly haven't made the only mohair teddy bear the world has ever seen. Therefore it could be said that no teddy bear is one of a kind ever. On the other hand, I rarely make anything that is identical in mohair and costuming..thus making it only one. So it's one of a kind since it's not two or more of a kind. But I use the same patterns for a period of time on each of those individual bears until I design a new one. Is it one of a kind or not? Hmmm....that's where the debate enters. But let me ask you this; are you one of a kind? Is there another human being exactly like you? The answer is no, you are unique. You are one of a kind, and yet you are made from the same nifty pattern and materials as every other human being. You have your arms and legs and eyes all in the right places and you are easily definable as a human being when people look at you. So who decides what the definition of one of a kind is and what it isn't? I went to the best authority I could think of...Merriam-Webster. This is their definition of one:

In particular I liked the reference to "one day." It reminded me that each day is the same....24 hours. Dusk is always in the evening and dawn is always in the morning. But each day is unique and one of a kind for each of us.

I think we worry too much over this phrase. As far as I am concerned if there aren't more exactly the same, then there is one. When I buy a bear, a loaf of bread, a pair of shoes, or anything else in the world...I buy it because I like it. I have never once bought or not bought something because it was or was not one of a kind. I am not sure collectors care that much about that sort of thing unless they are buying it solely as an investment which they intend to sell for profit at a later date. I have found that the majority of collectors who purchase my work buy it because it speaks to them in some way. That makes me happy. It's what matters to me and makes me want to keep working.

The second debate that rears it's head in the handmade world quite often is whether someone is an "artist" or not. Again I went to Merriam-Webster, and this is their definition of artist:

I really liked the part about "one who professes and practices an imaginative art." What's more imaginative than a teddy bear? Bear artists employ all sorts of techniques. Things that are not specific to the genre, like painting and sculpting. If you tell someone you are a painter or a sculptor, no one questions whether you are an artist are not, it's simply accepted that you are. While I don't use marble, I take a two dimensional piece of material and sculpt it into a three dimensional bear. I may not use canvas, but I do "paint" (liberal use of the word there) them to give them a certain finish that creates a vintage look and changes the original "canvas." Does that qualify me as an artist?

Now for me, I have used the phrase "bear artist" for a long time. Does that mean I think of myself as an artist? To be honest while I apply the phrase to myself for the ease-of-a-general-definition factor, I don't sit around thinking about it. I am too busy working and I have more interesting things to ponder most of the time. The definition I take away from it is that means I am one person working alone creating the entire piece from start to finish out of my imagination, as opposed to being a designer or assembly line worker at a manufacturer or cottage industry. Also that I go that extra distance to specialize what I create. It's a quick and easy definition that people can identify.

But again when I buy a bear, I don't care if it was made by one person or fifty. I buy it because I like it. I don't worry if it's art or not. I am only concerned with whether it tugs at my heart and if I feel the price is justified for the work involved.

In the end, I think we need to stop getting hung up on all these definitions and just work. Why define everything? Art and artists are subjective. Enjoy our work and the works of others. Live and let live, let others create and define it how they choose.

Memory

2011-06-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

The other day I was talking to my Mother and I told her about something I remembered from when I was a kid. She was really surprised I could remember it. I told her not only do I remember it, but I remember what the chair looked like, what I was wearing, what the temperature was, and exactly how I felt at the time.

A couple weeks ago I was telling another bear artist about the first time we met. He didn't remember it, but I told him a few details. What I didn't tell him was that I remembered a whole lot more details than just what I told him. And...that I remember every detail of every time I have ever seen him, and nearly everyone else I have ever met. I did however give a disclaimer that I am not a stalker. *giggles* I actually have to do that a lot.

Last night it finally rained. We have had a drought, and I was thrilled we had a storm. When I went to bed I was thinking about the first time my Mother pointed out lightning. I didn't know what lightning was though and I confused it for something on the landscape that I had never seen before. I was very, very young. I remember we were walking and she wanted to hurry. I remember exactly where we were and what it looked like, what we wearing and where we had come from.

I even remember the day I began to be able to remember. I was roughly 2 1/2 years old, I was in my Grandma's kitchen. I asked for a green sucker. I can tell you what the linoleum looked like. I remember the room layout, the furniture, the colors of the braided chair pads, what I was wearing, what she was wearing and that she was drying dishes. She sat the dish towel down, which was red and white striped cotton, and reached on top of the fridge to get a sucker out of a can. We were out of green, and I ended up with an orange one. Everything before that moment is a bit fuzzy, although every once in a while something will seep through with a little more clarity.

I don't know if you watched 60 Minutes last night, but apparently it was a repeat. It was the first time I had seen it however, and I have to say I was rather excited about it. They did a piece on "Superior Autobiographical Memory." Now I don't have that, but I am close.

I can't remember numbers very well. That goes back to something that happened in 2nd grade with a dreadful teacher I had named Mrs. Jones. I remember the entire day leading up to it, and after...but I cannot remember what happened exactly. I think I have blocked it out. I know it had something to do with numbers and I know I was crying hysterically. But that's it. I do however remember her making me miss lunch every day to re-write my homework because my hand writing was so bad. I always wondered why she did that, because it was never any better the second time I wrote it. I also remember riding home on the bus every afternoon just starving for having missed lunch. She always took my lunch away and never gave it back. Of course now she wouldn't be able to get away with that, but in the 60's teachers could do more to their students in the name of higher learning.

As a result, I can't recall dates since they are numbers. But my memory is horrifyingly good. Another interesting thing in last night's episode was when they were showing Marilu Henner's closet. While I don't have a closet like hers, mine is colorized and has been since I was 22. All of my shoes are in labeled boxes and grouped together by style, and also colorized. The rest of my house isn't nearly as nicely organized, but I can tell you where nearly every single thing I own is. Believe me, what with 30 years of bear supplies piled on top of the rest of the stuff I have accumulated...that's saying quite a lot. I also tend to be a bit of a germaphobe like the guy sitting in the group to the bottom left. The other thing I have in common with them is that my temporal lobe is larger than normal. I remember a doctor mentioning that during a CAT scan.

The thing I took away from the show was that all of a sudden, I didn't feel quite like such a freak. People who know me well are always astounded by my memory retention, and sometimes doubt that it's really as good as I say it is. But it is that good, and I have come to realize that having a memory like mine is rare, in fact I have never met anyone else with the memory retention I have. Like the people on the show, I have to agree that it can be a blessing and a curse. I usually tell people that it's sporadic eidetic memory, but that's not quite accurate because it's more than sporadic. I seem to have something that falls in between several categories. Being different can make you feel very alone sometimes. It's nice to know I am not alone.

A Little Night Magic

2011-06-16T04:27:00.000-07:00

I want to apologize for such sparse posts. I know that every time I don't post much, people always think something is wrong. In fact nothing is wrong except the heat and the wind. It has been crazy hot here. Today my thermometer read 94 degrees! That's just insane for this elevation. Along with it we have had intense winds. So I haven't been motivated to do a whole lot during the day. Now we have air conditioning but I don't like to use it because it always makes me sick. Today I broke down and used it though.

By the time night rolls around I am exhausted from working around the house and in the garden in the heat. In fact last night I went to bed early because I was so tired. I crawled into bed shortly after 2 AM (yes that's early for me!) R had the window open and it was perfect sleeping weather...except that we still had a slight wind that was making the tree branch outside the window creak rather loudly, and R was snoring.

At 2:45 I admitted defeat and crawled back out of bed. Instead of turning on the lights and doing something, I went and sat in the chair by the open window in the living room. Basil crawled into my lap and we sat there listening to the chatter of the tree leaves as they swayed in the breeze. The sky was just that perfect shade of mauve and it was simply magical. At 3:15 I got an idea....I decided to go outside and see if I could improve my photography-in-the-dark skills. I managed to get a couple pics that weren't blurry so I was feeling pretty good about it.

When I came in the house, I called for the dogs and I saw a streak run past me. Rizzo had bolted out to the back yard in the dark. I can't explain why exactly, but I just couldn't bring myself to turn on the porch light. It would have ruined the magic of it all. But I still needed to round her up, so I grabbed my portable paper lantern and went to look. I still had my camera...so I decided to take some more pics.

There is something much better about the soft glow of a paper lantern don't you think? All in all it was lovely out even if I was wandering around in my frilly nightgown and my gardening boots. Hey the neighbors already think I am a bit eccentric anyway!

I rounded up Rizzo and went to bed. We ended up getting some good sleep afterall!

Also I know that some of you have been asking how Penelope is doing, and as you can see she is growing like a weed:

I am working on a bear, and weather and exhaustion permitting...he or she should be done soon!

I hope you all have a lovely day with good weather. Pray for rain for us...we desperately need it!

Hugs, K. <3

The Meaning Of Five Posts?

2011-06-12T05:46:00.000-07:00

I haven't been sleeping very well again. It's not insomnia this time, but instead I am having a recurring dream...sort of. More like a recurring theme really. I can't figure out what it means.

I used to have recurring dreams as a kid. Three different ones, and every once in a blue moon I will still have one of those three dreams. One of those is I am walking across a kitchen floor we used to have made of tile, and as I step the tiles fall away to either side showing ocean underneath. The second was again with water...I would dream of a white gorilla swimming in a lake like a diver. The last was the most puzzling of all. It was like one of those op art posters from decades ago that had the circle design and if you looked at it long enough it looked like a propeller in the center....well the dream was two of those with a line across. The line would start to vibrate and hum. The hum would get loud of enough to wake me up. I have no idea what any of them represented.

Later in life if I would have recurring dreams I started to take notice of them. The first one that impacted me was in high school. I dreamt of a guy sitting under a tree reading a book for five nights in a row. I happened to be in the book store that weekend and low and behold there was the exact guy. I didn't speak to him, but when I noticed him he was staring at me with recognition as well. In retrospect I wish I had talked to him. It would have been interesting to know for sure if he had been dreaming of me too. I was too shy at that point in life, and I left...never to see him again. So why did I dream of a complete stranger?

Jump forward quite a few years and I began dreaming of a tornado coming at me every night for a week leading up to a show I was going to. This time I was older and wiser and finally consulted a dream dictionary. (Who figures this stuff out?) Anyway...the book said that dreaming of a tornado meant that you were feeling turmoil about work. That seemed reasonable so I didn't give it much more thought until I was driving home from the show. Half way through Kansas, a tornado literally set down on my car. Since then I have paid more attention to my recurring dreams. Apparently my subconscious has more knowledge than my conscious. A few years later, three nights in a row before a show I had the tornado dreams again. I was a nervous wreck. This time the tornado set down in a field across the road from me in New Mexico. Needless to say tornado dreams make me extremely uneasy now!

The past three nights I have had dreams that while not the same, had a similar action. I keep dreaming I am banging away on five posts with the flat of my hands...almost like bongo drums. But I know my intent is not to make music. There is more to each dream, but when I wake up all I remember is the part about the posts, and I have an uneasy feeling. In the first dream I was in some sort of rocky outdoor place and the five posts were made of wood, like short logs. They were painted red and I was banging away on them for some reason. The next night I was in someplace that was black and glittery...like a nightclub after it had closed. The posts were silver metal and very ornate. The tops were domed this time and looked like giant pearls. Last night I am not sure what sort of place I was in, but the posts were carved and black...like onyx tikis or something. Again I was banging away on them, and in the same order each time. It's as if it's a code or I am trying to open something. I just don't know.

I am utterly mystified as to what my psyche is trying to tell me, or why I feel uneasy about it. Whatever it is, at least this time I am fairly certain it doesn't involve bad weather!

~~ Good Time Charlie ~~

2011-06-08T05:10:00.000-07:00

Cause sometimes only a classic bear will do! Charlie is brand new, and he is available on the Bears Page Of My Website.

Tips For A Clever Set Up

2011-06-04T03:25:00.000-07:00

Since cats have been the topic this week, I thought I would share a little of R's cleverness with you guys.

A couple years ago R and I were going to go on vacation and we decided to have a friend come and "babysit" my pets. When she got to my house she said she was really surprised that she couldn't smell my cats. I asked her what she meant and she said well you know...the litter pan.

I asked her if she could figure out where it was. After looking all over the house she was mystified. Finally she gave up and decided that they must be trained to use the toilet.

As nice as that would be, no...they aren't quite that smart. When we bought this house it was nice and large but there really was no convenient, out of the way place to put the pan. So R, being the construction guy he is got right to work figuring out what to do. Now over the years he has been offered money to set this up for other people...and while he hasn't accepted because he is too busy, he is happy to share the details for anyone who wants to do it themselves.

In our foyer under the table against the wall, if you were to bend down and look you would see a round hole that resembles a porthole. It has a nice frame around it and is just about the size of a porthole too. It leads to a piece of carpeted sonotube that goes through the closet and out into the garage. Inside the closet he finished it with a wooden box and drywall to cover it and it makes a nice shelf for winter boots. It looks as if it's always been part of the closet.

The sonotube leads to a large wooden box in the garage. It has a hinged lid on top like an old wood bin. Inside are two large litter pans. He also put an exhaust fan leading outside so any smell there might be is sucked right out the back of the garage.

I have a very sensitive sense of smell and while I love my cats, I don't like bad odors. It's a great system and if anyone wants more details I would be happy to supply them so you can do it for yourself!

Have a great weekend! Hugs, K. <3

Penelope's Adventures In Bear Making

2011-05-31T16:05:00.000-07:00

Hi...Penelope here! Mom said she was too exhausted from chasing me around all day and couldn't make a post so it was up to me I guess. I don't know why I would make her exhausted though. I am completely angelic!

They finally named me. I am named after a cartoon character from "The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop." Apparently she had a really cool car called the Compact Pussycat. I would like to have a car someday, but I have to earn the money...so I figured I better learn how to do something.

This is how that went:

Ooooooh what's this?

Make a bear? I totally got this!

K so it was harder than I thought, but the box is fun to chew on!

I am way better at attacking feet! I wonder if there is any money in that?

Why....just why!

Oh I will watch her alright, but I refuse to babysit!

The end!

Longevity And Relevance

2011-05-30T03:57:00.000-07:00

Some days I feel like a manual typewriter in our computerized world...and some days I wish I had a manual typewriter instead of a computer. In many ways I secretly suspect I would be happier in my naive bliss.

When you are in a business with a very narrow playing field for a long time you gain certain perspective and insight on things along with the honing of your skill. You are a savvy business person, and you are kind to your customers and listen to their wants and desires. You believe you are doing your best to stay competitive, up to the current trends and yet be true to yourself. You think you are going along and doing just fine. But then the day inevitably comes when you discover that what you think you know may not be relevant any more.

I am frequently fascinated by how many things seem to matter that never used to. Like the specific definition of a word, or how changes have come about in how we approach what used to be common place business practices. Naturally everyone has an opinion and naturally no one agrees.

I feel as if I could get lost in minutia some days. Did I say this wrong, did I do that wrong? Is it really wrong since it's my business? Do collectors really care about these things, or is it just that we, as artists are over thinking it now? Do I seem like an antique white elephant in the room? If I do, is it just today or is it everyday?

It's not enough to make my bears and sell them anymore. Now I have to be a photographer, a writer, and a coder. I have to worry that someone will think I copied them because I had the same idea at the same time, and I have to be concerned that I am unique enough, when I make traditional bears. But on top of all that...I have to think about everything in the business end with new perspective too. The world changed somewhere along the line and I am just getting the memos about it now.

It's exhausting and sometimes I am not surprised I can't get out of my head enough to actually work. Computers are a wonderful thing in that they have brought us all so much closer together and we can share information so freely now and also that we can reach people the world over that we never would have dreamed of 20 years ago. But maybe there was something to be said for a little less sharing and closeness? I don't know. Maybe I am just getting old.

Small Surprises

2011-05-29T03:32:00.000-07:00

Sometimes tiny things show up at your door that you just aren't expecting...

A Magical Sale

2011-05-26T13:59:00.000-07:00

With Summer just around the corner, I always think of magic...and what could be more magical than making a wish come true! So I am offering my blog readers and facebook followers 25% off of all pieces on my website. If you would like to take advantage of this sale, please send me an e-mail (by clicking the link at the right) with your paypal address and I will send you an invoice. It's first come, first serve, no reserves and it ends at the stroke of midnight on Saturday PST, so don't be late!

Hugs and wishes! K. <3

Seeds And Stranger Tides

2011-05-23T22:38:00.000-07:00

I was going to make my post this morning, but I didn't quite get that far. I had a great weekend though. Saturday we went to see the new Pirates movie. I love pirates, so naturally I loved it. I won't give anything away, but I will say this...if you go see it, stay til after the credits because there is one tiny scene after and it's funny! Plus...lets face it Johnny Depp really is good eye candy, especially in 3-D!

R and I had been debating where to go for our anniversary dinner for weeks. He isn't a fancy sort of guy, but he will step up for occasions and he was willing to take me somewhere nice so I could wear my pretty new dress that I bought for the show. At the eleventh hour I decided we would go to Old Chicago for pizza. It may not have been fancy and I just wore jeans, but it was fun and relaxed and there is something to be said for that.

Sunday I was planning on starting my garden. A couple weeks ago R tilled it for me, but then we had snow and all sorts of crazy weather. It was sunny and warm, so I took my seeds and my gloves and out I went. There was one small corner of the garden he didn't till, because I had flower bulbs in that area so I told him not to. It was covered with dandelions and I thought I should weed before I got going on the rest. I was pulling up handful after handful when one of them felt oddly thicker than it should have of. I realized that with my handful of weeds I was holding a garden snake. I let out a small scream and half threw, half dropped it.

Normally garden snakes are as anxious to get away from you as you are anxious for them to get away from you. But this feisty little character decided to hold his ground and he scrunched himself into a strike position. I know they can't hurt you very much, but they can bite. I wasn't having any of that, so I whacked him twice with the shovel and he decided that perhaps retreat really was the better part of valor after all. For some reason I seem to have an awful lot of snakes. I never had any for eight years and then suddenly they moved in and I wish I knew how to get rid of them. If anyone knows...please let me know. I took down the bird feeder because I knew the fallen seeds were attracting mice and mice attract snakes, but they don't seem to want to move on.

I had one persistent little guy last year who was determined to live in my garage. I couldn't catch him either. He was fast. I took a tub lid and launched him clear out into the street one night when it was cool and I thought that would have scared him enough that he wouldn't come back, but five days later he was in his usual spot. But I digress...

Anyway...at that point R returned from his errands and came out to help me. We managed to get the entire garden planted in one day! Without his help, it took me a week last year. I was definitely grateful to him for saving me so much time. I am not a very good gardener, but I do feel that sense of satisfaction when things grow.

The weekend went by with only one mishap. I am telling you I am the most clumsy person ever! I skewered my heel on the coffee table. (My coffee table has marble and has lots of sharp fancy cast iron on it.) It hurt but I thought it was ok until I looked down at the kitchen floor and saw a trail of blood. Sigh~ I should buy stock in Bandaid!

Other than that, I am back to my old self and ready to work on those bears! I will keep you posted!

I hope you had a lovely and snake free weekend!

Hugs, K. <3

Grey Skies Are Gonna Clear Up...

2011-05-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

This morning we have beautiful blue skies and sunshine. You would never know that there was rain, hail AND a tornado only a couple miles from my house yesterday. Luckily it set down in open field and no one was hurt and no damage.

I am much better today and feeling back to my usual self. I am cleaning, doing laundry and waiting for R to come home later. Today is our 22nd anniversary! He was out of town last night and since he has such a long day we aren't going to do much tonight except have a little champagne.

Tomorrow however, we are going out to a nice dinner and then I pre-purchased tickets to go see the new Pirates Of The Caribbean movie at the I-Max. We are bother pretty excited to see it. What's more fun than Disney pirates?

In the mean time, I am happy to be hack to normal and once I am done doing housework, I am going to work on those bears!

I was also excited to see that despite the hail, my lilacs are starting to bloom!

I hope you all have a glorious day!

Hugs, K. <3

Lemonade Popsicles

2011-05-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

I have to confess I have had the blahs all week. I am sure you could tell from my post earlier. I have a mountain of laundry that needs doing and I haven't been able to walk across the house to do it. There are two bears waiting patiently to be put together and I haven't wanted to do that either. I haven't wanted to cook or pluck my eyebrows. I watched TV and didn't know what I watched, I tried to read and couldn't focus. In fact the only thing I have wanted to do all week is sit in my chair under the quilt and stare at the sky...and eat lemonade popsicles. They are wonderfully sour. No sugar in them...perfect for my mood I guess.

I feel as if I have been waiting for the universe to open up and deliver an answer to a question...but I haven't asked anything. It's almost as if I am depressed or something..but I have never had depression. I don't feel depressed though...just like I want to hermit myself away from the world.

There are several factors that contributed to this mood. One of course was not going to the show. Another huge thing was the weather. Yesterday alone we had winter storm advisories, tornado and severe thunder storm warnings and every five minutes it changed from sunny to rainy. And I do mean literally every five minutes. I want to plant my garden and I can't. We had frost last week. This mercurial weather is wreaking havoc on my allergies and my spirit.

Business-wise I feel as if I should be stepping things up in some way...but I don't know what way? It has become abundantly clear to me that shows have changed a great deal in the few years since I have done one. The rules have changed and you need more things than you used to. It's all so complicated now. From what I understand you have to change up your displays and have signs and lots of types of payment options and bears with all the bells and whistles and traveling with it all has become more difficult and expensive and...and...and...sigh~

But this morning I woke up to sunshine...it was kind of cold, but consistently sunny. I felt like eating more than popsicles, I had an idea for a sign and a new bear and I wanted to get my laundry done. Hurray I was coming out of it!

Then I made the mistake of checking my e-mail. I had one depressing e-mail from a family member, and one from a friend where I had lavished praise on something they did (I don't pass out false praise ever! If I love something and tell you, you can believe I truly love it!) but for some inexplicable reason they thought I didn't like it. I don't understand. I thought I was quite clear. It hurts.

So I guess when life hands me more lemons the best thing to do is sit in the chair and stare at the sky and eat lemonade popsicles...and wait for it to pass.

A Quick Note About Marzipan...

2011-05-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

I thought I better make a post...I have had an overwhelming response to little Miss Marzipan! I never posted her for sale because she and Sidhe were both adopted before I had the chance.

But since so many of you wanted to adopt her, there will be some more fanciful bears coming soon. As soon as I finish the two I am working on. Now they won't be exactly like her of course...but there will be more striped "stockings" in the works. Plus I had so much fun making her that there will be some other variations as well. So stay tuned! You will have a chance at her sisters (and possibly brothers) in the future. Oh and just so you are prepared she was 185.00, so the others will be in that range.

Hugs, K. <3

New Shoes And Various Moods

2011-05-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that whatever mood you're in, if you're in close proximity to other people, someone will try to change it. If you're in a good mood someone will tell you about depressing headlines in the media, their own personal issues, or they will simply grumble and complain.

Even more frequently if you're angry, sad or upset in any way...someone will come along and try to cheer you up. It's almost as if being angry, annoyed, sad or hurt is wrong. In fact this notion is so deeply ingrained in us that if we experience one of these emotions when we are alone, we tend to feel guilt for feeling it. We try to squelch those emotions and adjust to a better mood.

But the trouble is we are delightfully three dimensional beings and we come equipped right from the factory with a full range of emotions. I believe that it's ok to feel all of them once in a while. I think we should, it's healthy to feel the bad stuff sometimes...that way we don't bottle it up and go postal at a later date.

Yesterday I was angry...and a little annoyed and hurt. My guilt kicked right in and that inner voice reminded me that life isn't fair. Most of us hear that from a very early age. But a second inner voice said why? Why isn't life fair? Most of us are never taught that. Maybe it's because no one really knows that answer. If it was up to me, life would be fair for everyone. Wouldn't that be a nice change of pace?

So naturally I felt guilt and tried to talk myself out of it. I said what's done is done, you can't change it. Being angry won't help. Cheer up...blah blah blah...lots of other cliches. I even went so far as to convince myself that yes maybe life really is fair and we just can't perceive the big picture?

At the end of all this guilt and inner dialogue I was still angry...a little annoyed and hurt...and confused though. So what brought all this on you ask? Well if you will recall a few posts ago I told you that I made a mistake. I was honest about, I took responsibility for that mistake and I was penalized for it. I still accept responsibility and the penalization. However I discovered that others made that very same mistake and weren't penalized for it in any way that I could see.

So yes, I was angry. I don't understand. I was specifically told "If we let you do it, we have to let everyone do it and we can't do that. We have a standard to maintain." And yet from the photos I have seen...many others were allowed to do it. So why wasn't I? *Sighs*

I considered not making this post. I know that people don't like to read negative stuff. I hope I didn't ruin anyone's good mood. I didn't mean to. It's part of the reason I almost didn't make this post. But I am human, and I get angry sometimes...fortunately it doesn't happen too often. I don't make one of those blogs that is only about the good stuff in life. Sometimes I talk about the other things too. You've been angry before...I know you have. I am sure you can relate to how I felt. Wouldn't it have felt good to get it out of your system? So I made this post to stay true to the fact that I am a real person...and that's what I post. Reality...the good...the bad...and the brightly colored sneakers.

I was originally just going to post about my new sneakers. Aren't they grand? You have to love the color. I have a whole issue with "athletic shoes." I think they are unattractive and I prefer low tech, retro style canvas sneakers like Keds, Sperry and Converse All Stars. They make me happy and no one can take that away. How can you not be happy when you have such a lovely color on your feet?

Planning And Inspiration

2011-05-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday as I was curled up in my chair with my quilt avoiding the weather I decided to read some magazines. One of the magazines that I frequently read is Artful Blogging. Now I love the Somerset publications, but they are expensive and sometimes they tend to recycle people over a broad spectrum of their magazines. They also tend to fall into ruts a little bit in that they like certain types of photos and all too often things can begin to look alike. For that price I like to see different things.

One of the other things I have noticed is that many times the blogs featured say that "they set out to create an inspirational blog." Now I don't know about you, but I find that to be a rather odd notion. How do you decide to be inspirational? Do you just leap out of bed one morning and say "I am going to inspire the masses today!" I wonder if Mother Theresa and Gandhi set out to purposely inspire others or if they were just being themselves and doing what they did? I don't know the answer to this...and I feel as if maybe I should?

I can honestly say that I have never set out to be inspirational. I wouldn't even know how to start. I would have to know what inspires each and every one of you, and that's a pretty tall order. To me that's like setting out to change the world. Do people who set out to change the world actually accomplish it? Or are the people who change the world doing it by happy accident on the way to simply doing something they believe in?

I think inspiring others happens that way too. I have had an occasional comment where someone tells me they were inspired by that days post, and it always makes me feel warm inside that I could do that. But it's rare and it's never intentional. In fact I don't plan things very often. Half the time when I sit down I don't even know what I am going to post about. I will be going along through my day and think "hey I should go make a post." Then I sit down and the words come. It's never carefully orchestrated.

I tend to live my life that way. I go to the grocery store without a list, I get up and have nothing particular planned. I let the day unfold capriciously. Even when I work it's often like that. I don't always have a mental image of what I want to make, and even if I do...it doesn't always end up being that thing. Maybe that's wrong? But it seems to be working ok for me, so I guess I will keep on that way until a time comes when I need to change it.

If you're one of those people who writes an inspirational blog, or sets out to inspire others in another way, my hat is off to you! I wish I knew your secret. Maybe I should have planned what my blog would be about before I began it three years ago. But in my naivete I didn't even know I needed a plan. I guess I could make a plan for my blog now...but it seems as if that ship has sailed, and I am just going along for the ride!

I'm Still Alive

2011-05-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

If I go for more than a few days without making a post or answering e-mail, people start inquiring as to my health and well being. I really appreciate your care and concern, but other than another stupid mistake I am fine and there is no need to worry.

This was a different kind of mistake though. I am just so accident prone sometimes. I always have been. It seems as if it's one little cruddy thing after another. Saturday I was going along pretty good. I got up early, cleaned the kitchen and worked outside getting the garden ready...then I came in to sort laundry. When I was sorting I was throwing stuff for the first load into the washing machine when the double doors snapped back closed rather quickly and caught the back of my hand in between where the doors hinge in the middle. I felt a searing pain in my hand. When I looked at it, at first it didn't look so bad. It just looked like a large blood blister about an inch long, there was a cut on one side that was very neat, as if it had been made with a fillet knife. But it wasn't bleeding. It hurt a great deal more than it looked like it should have. In fact it hurt so much I started to hyper ventilate. It was weird, I have never done that before and I have certainly done worse things to myself. Then I felt a little dizzy.

R came running downstairs to see what was going on. He told me to sit down for a minute. I decided to respond to an e-mail while I was sitting there and that's when blood just started pouring out of it. Apparently I had sliced open the vein length wise that runs across that first knuckle. I bandaged it up, but every time I moved my hand for the first couple days it broke open again. It was quite the mess and I wasn't able to do much. It's still bandaged, but it's finally doing better and I am going to live. XD

Aside from that I have been feeling a combination of introspective about work and a bit reclusive. Basically I haven't felt much like talking. Sometimes it's like that when I get stuck inside my own head. I am trying to get back out. I just have to work out a few things for myself. Having to cancel the show threw me off a little. Plus I feel like I am on the verge of an idea, but it's just a whisper in my brain and I can't quite make it out yet.

Then R was sent to Fresno *shudders* rather unexpectedly last night to sort out things on a job that isn't going very well, and the weather is like a Fall day today. It's cold, rainy and windyyyyyyyy! I just want to curl up in the chair with my quilt and a good book.

Now if you're curious about the picture...well...I didn't think you wanted to see my hand because...ew! So instead I am giving you a sneak peek of the weird idea I had before Christmas. It's not done yet...but soon! (And no, I am not making an inside out bear!) However there are two new bears in the works, and with some luck and lack of accidents I might even have them done for you soon!

Have a lovely day! K. <3

Stupid Mistakes

2011-05-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

I think we have all been there. That moment that hits you when you realize you did something stupid. If you're lucky you can fix it. But sometimes you can't.

I had one of those moments yesterday. I realized I had made a mistake. I have no one to blame other than myself, so I accept full responsibility for it. I realized it too late and there isn't enough time to fix it. So for the very first time ever, I had to cancel a show. I will not be in Philly next week. It cost me more ways than one. I had to cancel my flight which of course you take a very large penalty for, and I feel as if I let everyone who was expecting me to be there down. I can't apologize enough to those of you who had said you were going to come to the show to see me, and also to my friends who were doing the show as well.

I am just sick about it. All that work, all that stress, all those nights of not sleeping properly and days of not eating right. Running myself ragged to get ready...and now I won't be going. Sigh~

However, Sidhe is now available on my website. If you would like to visit her, you can do that at http://www.blondheart.com/

~~ Marzipan & Sidhe ~~

2011-05-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

I told ya I had kind of a wild idea...so meet Marzipan!

I also made a blue green bear named "Sidhe" that's a bit fey inspired.

And now I am going back to bed since I haven't slept much the past few days!

Have a lovely day! Hugs, K.

Ready For The Wedding

2011-04-28T08:09:00.000-07:00

For some reason that I am not exactly clear about, Mozzie is feeling extremely excited for the royal wedding. He even got dressed for it. I guess these sorts of things can seem like a fairytale to one small bear. After explaining several times that we weren't invited to it, I had to promise that we will watch it on TV. He seemed a little disappointed we weren't going, but he recovered quicky and said that Prince William would have probably been jealous of his fancy crown anyway! o.O

April Showers

2011-04-27T05:37:00.000-07:00

For most parts of the country April showers means rain...but not in Colorado! This morning I took R to the airport where he is off to Vegas for a few days for a work trip, and I snapped these pics when I got back. It's definitely spring time in tbe Rockies!

I Can't Help Myself!

2011-04-25T04:30:00.000-07:00

Every year when I dye Easter eggs the kids get a little touch of temporary color! What you can't see is that the tip of Jazzy's tail was pink!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T05:08:00.000-07:00

I hope you all have a lovely and blessed Easter!

(And I hope it's not snowing where you are, like it is here!)

Taking A Day Off The Hard Way

2011-04-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

Since you like pics, I decided to post a pic of the finished Bascom who you saw in an earlier post before he was done. I forgot to do it after I finished him.

I have been working and working and working...and it's been sort of like the "Gotta make the donuts" guy and the energizer bunny all rolled into one. R had been gone for three days, and I had been downstairs working on my special piece for the show, and he was due to get home. So I grabbed some mohair to cut while I was upstairs on the next piece. Then I thought of a couple more bear related things I wanted to get done and I was running in a circle trying to figure out what to do first. I realized I was on over drive and terribly stressed and I hadn't had a day off in ages. So I forced myself to stop and decided that I was going to take Thursday off. No work at all.

I called and made an appointment for a massage and made a shopping list. It was hard to not be in bear mode, but I was ready. You know what they say about the best laid plans...

Yesterday I woke up with cramping and a terrible pain in my side. I waited for it to pass and it didn't. So I called and cancelled my massage. By mid afternoon I told R I was going to call the doctor. The doctor recommended I go to the ER. R rushed home to take me. Poor guy, he has taken me to the ER far too many times over the years.

It's a good thing we went though, I had an intestinal obstruction. So after a stop at Walgreens to get the required meds, I had a brutal night. BRUTAL! In fact the fun is still continuing.

I got my day off, but I wouldn't recommend it as a good method to anyone else! Hopefully I will feel better later...and when I do, I am just going to go back to work!

~~ One Eyed Jax ~~

2011-04-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

The rumor is that Jax once belonged to a sea captain. He had a great many adventures until that fateful day when they hit a storm so violent that not even the most accomplished sailor could sail through it unscathed. All hands were lost, save one...Jax miraculously washed ashore but he lost an eye in the process. Only Jax himself knows if it's actually true. If you ask him about it all he does is smile mysteriously.

I have noticed more and more artists are making distressed bears lately. I love distressed bears and I am happy to see there is an upsurge in popularity. However it pushes me to go that extra mile...or inch in this case. He is super distressed, and I sat plucking him for three and a half hours. My hand looked like a claw last night!

A long time ago I was setting a pair of eyes and one broke. I finally got to the end of the bag and had that one extra eye left...so I was inspired by it. The result is Jax. He is the first bear I have ever made with a button eye, but I like it. He has a sweet demeanor despite it.

You can visit Jax on my website at http://www.blondheart.com/

(Edit: Jax has been adopted and will be heading to the South of France very soon!)

Post Office Terrors

2011-04-18T03:18:00.000-07:00

I have to go to the post office today to mail a couple pieces...and it's tax day! I am terrified...if I don't make a post in the next three days...send help!

A Stuffed Life

Hacked

Why You Don't Let Little Bears Watch Scary Movies Late At Night

The New Pieces Are Up!

Website Update Today At 5 PM EST!

Working!

Little Things That Are Frustrating

Alone In The Dark

The Happiness Puzzle

The "Too" Factor

Website Update And Follow Up

If It Wasn't Broke, Why Did I Fix It?

Pop Up Sale!

Resolutely!

Happy New Year...Meet Sno!

You Are On The Right Path

Merry Christmas!

Creating A Website

~*~ Sugar Plum ~*~

~*~ Slalom ~*~

~*~ Cupcake ~*~

The Weekend

You Won't Believe It

Blogger Glitches & Company

Mozzie's New Friend

New Site Design & Mailing List

Website Update For December!

25 Hours And Counting, Changes For Next Year And Sneak Peek #4

Sneak Peek #3 & We The People...

Sneak Peek #2 And Q & A Opportunity

Sneak Peek #1 & Knee Update

1% Of The Population...

Website Update And Other Stuff

Leavin On A Jet Plane

Quick Reminder

Halloween

Treats For You, Tricks For Me

And The Winner Is...

Happy, Grumpy & Reminder

~*~ Autumn Pumpkin ~*~

News Worthy

~*~ Cybil And Sabine ~*~

Sneak Peek And A Reprieve

A Blog Give Away!

PS...

The Church And The Barn

Show-In-The-Dark

~*~Gideon The Beargoyle~*~

~*~ Ghostly ~*~

~*~ Flora Bunda ~*~

Etc

Happy Hearts And Broken Toes

Summer

~*~ Phalto ~*~

Independence Day And Other Things

A Funny Little Surprise

Website Update ~ July 6th, 5 PM MST

Hung Up On Definitions

Memory

A Little Night Magic

The Meaning Of Five Posts?

~*~ Good Time Charlie ~*~

Tips For A Clever Set Up

Penelope's Adventures In Bear Making

Longevity And Relevance

Small Surprises

A Magical Sale

Seeds And Stranger Tides

Grey Skies Are Gonna Clear Up...

Lemonade Popsicles

A Quick Note About Marzipan...

New Shoes And Various Moods

Planning And Inspiration

I'm Still Alive

Stupid Mistakes

~*~ Marzipan & Sidhe ~*~

Ready For The Wedding

April Showers

I Can't Help Myself!

Happy Easter!

~~ Sugar Plum ~~

~~ Slalom ~~

~~ Cupcake ~~

~~ Autumn Pumpkin ~~

~~ Cybil And Sabine ~~

~~Gideon The Beargoyle~~

~~ Ghostly ~~

~~ Flora Bunda ~~

~~ Phalto ~~

~~ Good Time Charlie ~~

~~ Marzipan & Sidhe ~~

~~ One Eyed Jax ~~