squirrel momma

Warning

It is definitely not a good idea for a fourteen year old girl and her mother to go to Ulta:

 

How can they possibly be expected to resist the coupons?  The gift with purchase?  The nearly infinite selection of girlie goodies?

Now, where'd I leave that new Sheer Amaretto lipstick?

Goodie Bag

I just got the most fabulous bag of goodies, courtesy of my brother- and sister-in-law, and, of course, my niece.

If I were Johnny Depp (or Gene Wilder--still haven't decided which is better) and had Wonka Vision I could send you the little bird, so that you could experience the fabulousness of the fact that it chirps when you pick it up.  But you'll have to take my word for it, at least until technology catches up with Squirrel Momma. 

Thanks so much, guys!

Fairy Door

A friend and I drove to Ann Arbor yesterday to have a girls' day out and do some shopping, which had to include a stop at Peaceable Kingdom.

Here's a shot of their front window...

And their second front door--the one for fairies!

Fairy Doors are sprinkled around downtown Ann Arbor. Peaceable Kingdom's is special because you can peek through windows and see the little fairy store inside.  

In the big person store I got this extremely necessary object...

And why, you ask, is a woodpecker toothpick dispenser necessary? (This will be the same question Squirrel Man will ask when he sees it.)

Because I said so, that's why.

Score, Part II

I have to show you the little dog I got at the antique market on Sunday, because I need someone to fill me in on what breed he is:

I thought a terrier, but then I changed my mind. Schnauzer? Too short. I've pretty much exhausted my minuscule dog breed knowledge on this one, so feel free to tell me what's what.

And in other news, the PACKAGE arrived today!

The PACKAGE was a treat for myself I ordered from the Etsy seller Sawako Hayakawa, whose shop is called Alleluja. I could barely stand to wait for it to come all the way from Tokyo (and I think my mailman was tired of me waiting, too).

Let's take a closer look at that stamp, shall we?

Well, obviously a package with a squirrel stamp on the outside must have something wonderful on the inside.  And it did, wrapped in soft wool felt.

Here's my little cat, who is both a pendant and a pincushion.

Yay for packages with squirrel stamps!

Score!

The last couple of times we've hit the Allegan Antique Market we haven't had a very good haul, but yesterday we hit pay dirt. Among other things, Squirrel Girl found a jewelry box, Nut Boy got a mini pub-style dart set, and I scored not only a cast metal terrier from the 1920's (I am a complete sucker for metal animals) but also...

A teeny tiny ceramic gnome! He was originally a candle holder, but as soon as I got him home I felt it necessary to make certain modifications...into a pincushion.  Surprising I would do that, isn't it?

I've Been Gnomed!

Look what I got myself the backyard squirrels got me for my birthday yesterday! They're from LayerCakeShop, and boy, are they cool (my favorite is the guy with the little lantern).

They are happily keeping me company by the stove right now, but if flying pasta sauce becomes a problem they may relocate to the safety of the windowsill. Gnomes, I was surprised to discover, do not like being dunked in marinara.

Bye for now. My brain is mush from 24 hours straight of birthday sugar, an hour and a half on my webcam in the Etsy labs, and the fact that Nut Boy just finished making cascarones and scurrying around looking for a head to smash them on.

Spring Plushapalooza

Wait, did I hear you say you need an easy way to shop for Easter basket bunnies?

Or you're desperately searching for a gift for that hard to shop for friend/child/second cousin twice removed?

Or you're wondering what's new in Plush Land?

Or, maybe, you've been wondering what someone as strange as yours truly looks like?

Well, hallelujah, friend, your prayers are answered!

But wait, you say, what is this strange new world, this "Etsy Labs"?  Dare I venture there?  Will people laugh at me?   

No worries!  The Etsy Labs aren't scary at all, they're just a fancy schmancy chat room run by Etsy.  Just log into your Etsy account (and if you don't have one, it only takes a second to get one--the only private info they'll ask for is your email).  Once you've logged in, the Virtual Labs are located under the "Community" button.  Or click here and I'll magically send you there!

I'll admit, a few months ago I had never set foot in a chat room anywhere, and was really nervous about going to the Labs.  But I really wanted to, and I finally screwed up my courage and attended a shop critique.  And guess what?  It was great!  And now I love them so much that for the Spring Plushapalooza I will be turning on my webcam* to meet and greet you guys! Which is saying a lot, because as a rule I hate having my picture taken, and truly despise being on camera.  But for the glory of Etsy Plush Team, I will bare all!

Wait...I don't think that came out the way I intended. But you know what I mean.

*Perhaps I should explain that you will not have to worry about being on camera--just I and some of my fellow Etsy plush artists will up on the screen.  You can come in your pajamas, cup of tea in hand, if you like. And definitely wear your pink bunny slippers, because this will be the perfect kind of event to wear pink bunny slippers to.

It's a Small World

Oh, you knew I had to place an order from Tiny Things, didn't you?

I photographed this wee little squirrel family atop the chess board my dad made as a birthday present for Nut Boy several years ago. That chess board is getting a lot of use right now, because with his dad at home on crutches Nut Boy has a chess opponent who can't say no to a game!  Even better for Nut Boy, at nine years old he is finally able to beat the old man once in a while. And even better for me, because I am actually getting a tiny, but steady, trickle of work done.

Just like the icicles growing from my roof.  Drip.  By drip.  By drip.

Tiny Things

Okay people, how come nobody told me about Tiny Things Are Cute? A whole shop devoted to tiny kitschy things! Just look at this 2 inch high chalet...

Think how cute these itsy bitsy wooden birds would be in an Easter Basket...

And of course there are squirrels...

 

I think somebody might need to order a teeny tiny package.  Very, very soon.

Fresh Start

Whew!  I got sucked into the vortex of the holidays, and didn't know if I was going to get back out alive! But the new year has definitely arrived (although I haven't managed to transfer birthdays and appointments onto my new Whip Up calendar--note to self, must do today) and I'm already excited about my goals for Squirrel Momma this year. Hopefully you'll be seeing them start appearing on this blog (tutorials for you) and in my store (new products) in the next few weeks.

In the spirit of the new year I cleaned up my book list on the right hand sidebar, and added some titles. The Gentle Art of Domesticity is living on my night stand these days, a gorgeous, thoughtful book that I sip before bedtime as my crafty nightcap. I do have to say that if you are expecting a volume packed with Jane Brocket's recipes and patterns this isn't the book for you. Instead it's a collection of thoughtful mini-essays about crafting and the life that surrounds it, beautifully accented with hundreds of photos (and I am so jealous of her skill with a camera...and her camera, for that matter). It's really made me think about what it means to work with your hands every day, and the value we put on that work.

One last thing.  You know how sometimes a small purchase can make you ridiculously happy? I found these at Blick's Art Supplies in Chicago:

A rainbow of colored markers. Ultra fine point. In a zippy plastic case that will keep them all neat and organized in my WIP bag. They give me exactly the same feeling I got when I was six and got my first Crayola 64 box, with the built in sharpener. Bliss.