plush you!

(all photos via Schmancy)

Plush You! is an annual exhibition of plush toys, curated by the ace Kristen Rask of Schmancy Toys in Seattle (You may also recognize the name from the book they brought out a few years back). I was super-excited to be part of this years show with my bearded men!

I've had a look on the interwebs (alas I did not fly to the US for the show. Woulda been nice.) at some of the artists, and good heavens. This gal is my fav, methinks. Although it's very very hard to choose. You can see a bit about it here on Unanimous Craft, or you can read my interview with Kirsten on the Schmancy blog over here along with a whole lotta interviews from plush artists and links to their work.

Yay!

new bearded men in progress, merman, viking and hero

Working on versions of the bearded folk man. Why not a bearded super hero? (he looks a bit funny without eyebrows on yet) Mermen are too awesome to be forgotten (and with tattoos)

And Vikings? Well.



Anyone else need a beard?

wanted: crafty sewer assistant

sew print by masacarphotography

Hi!I need an assistant!

My stockists are growing, and I need to step away from the sewing machine to design new ranges. I am looking for a crafty sewer/ sewing machinist to work with me in my sewing studio, mostly sewing but may be some cutting, stuffing and finishing. You need to be pretty quick, and we can chat about payment per piece or per hour. Suitable for a friendly, creative type with just a few hours a week to start (good for mums too).

Please note that you would be hired as a contractor, not an employee, so you may need an abn (but that's pretty easy); and I'm in Brisbane, so you'll need to live close by. If you're on my blog, you probably already know what I do, but you can see more here.

If you have any questions, or would like to meet for a cup of tea and a chat, drop me a line at pepperstitches(at)yahoo(dot)com; and if you know of anyone who might be interested, please pass this along! That would be ace!

Pepper x

'Holy Dooley I'm In a Book' Giveaway!

A while back, I made some cushions for a book project and yesterday in the mail came the book! (Reason #128 I love my mailman)

Compiled by Kathreen from Whipup, Kids Crafternoon: Sewing is full of simple sewing projects for kids from crafters around the world; and there is my pocket cushion project, on page 94! Sewing is the first of four great titles in Kathreen's Kids' Crafternoon series. Papercraft, Felting and Beading are due for release in November 2011. Yay!

I have a copy of Kids Crafternoon: Sewing to give away (thanks to the lovely folk at Hardie Grant).

To enter, leave a comment on this blog post by 10pm Tuesday 12th July.

Yay Again!

my creative space- dolls

I've been making some more dolls from calico and vintage fabrics. They are fun to make and to hold, but I'm just.not.sure. about those faces. Do they look too surprised? Just innocent? Do they need a nose?




What do you think?

*update* thanks for your lovely comments! I decided to alter the eyebrows a wee bit, and am much happier. I have named them Agnes, Abigail, Anne and Ada, and they are in my etsy, madeit and bluecaravan stores now x

clever grrantler and brother and sister grrantlers

Yay! The grrantlers are finished!

The grrantler siblings are quiet but playful once you get to know them. They like to whisper scary stories and collect funny shaped rocks.

The clever grrantler is quiet and studious and dislikes poor grammar, but loves to eat toffee, read books with long words and giggle at the rude bits in nature documentaries. With a waistcoat and spectacles, this grrantler is well suited to a bookshelf, library or study, and will make a loyal friend. (do you think he pulls off the waistcoat, Jessica?)

The siblings are off to France! Oui! and the clever grrantler is in my etsy shop and reading a book while he waits to meet his new family.

bearded folk men dolls

Bearded folk men like drinking tea on steps, patting dogs and playing guitar in folk bands. They are ready to make friends and will make loyal and trustworthy companions.

They are also available as a custom item, if you’d like your favourite colour. Or if you have a bearded friend you’d like to immortalise in cute bearded doll fashion.

Bearded folk man dolls in my bluecaravan, etsy and madeit shops now.

telephone animals

I finished these guys last week, but just got around to posting about them. They use a pattern I made years ago, with the addition of ears and noses. (I thought, hmm, telephones, bit ordinary. What do they need? Of course! EARS!)

There's a bunny, a bear, a mouse and a squirrell; and they are made from new and recycled textiles and felt. Soft and squishy, they're safe for kids and cute as, perfect for playing or looking sweet on a shelf or couch. They are in my etsy and blue caravan shops now.

Sophie & Marie

Sophie and Marie are this guys sisters, made to fit those cute dresses from way back when. They have soft ginger hair with a lace bow, removable dresses and if you peek you can see their green underwear. They are big enough for cuddles and small enough to accompany new friends on outings and visits.

Sophie likes to play pretend, feed ducks at the pond and listen to bed-time stories. Marie prefers dressing up, picnics and singing along to nursery rhymes.

Sophie is in my etsy shop; Marie is available on blue caravan.

Mabel's Monster

A custom order tattooed girl monster I just finished. I never use a pattern for these guys, so they all emerge unique. I was a bit worried about this girl's long body, but I think her arms balance her out. I used a bit of lace for the skirt, and this time machine-embroidered the tattoos instead of hand stitching them. I think she looks a bit shy and mischievous at the same time. Now she's on her way to Sydney for a little girl named Mabel, from this lovely lady.

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Goodbye monster girl.

folk man doll

Remember these doll clothes? I finally got around to sewing up some dolls to wear them, but it took a few tries. I was afraid for a bit I would stuck in a never-ending cycle of sewing dolls and clothes and clothes and dolls that would never quite fit each other. With a bit of alteration on the overalls, I managed to make them fit the second doll I made, with a smaller plaid shirt. But because it was a prototype (and I'm lazy) I left the blue thread on the machine when I made the doll, and you can see it. Darn Blast Silly Me.

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I've wanted to make a folk man doll for a while. I think the next one will be a little smaller, with long sleeves and a brown beard (and white thread). Maybe a beanie.

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What do you think a hipster-folk man doll would have?

my creative space

I've made some Christmas cards, watercolours printed on cardstock, with matching envelopes and all. Although I kinda missed the Christmas card timing while everything was upside down. Oops. (the inside of the top card reads; (Good Luck Dave) Merry Christmas. and the bottom one reads; ho ho ho) These are my first cards and I was a bit chuffed they turned out nice.

a finished custom team mascot watercolour. Go the Tigers!

wrapping orders

new pink foxes

yellow fish waiting for their embroidered eyes

I've also been looking through old craft books and magazines for new ideas, and considering collecting salt and pepper shakers. They're so darn cute.

PepperStitches Pocket Cushions Project in Kids Crafternoon

I have been invited to participate by the lovely Kathreen from Whip Up in a sewing book for kids called 'Kids Crafternoon'. How exciting! Hooray! These are the samples of my sewing project in the book, a 'Pocket Cushion' that reuses pockets from old clothes and are perfect for hiding secret treasures in. The book is due for publishing in July next year, I'll be showing you then anyway!
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I am very excited, yes?

my creative space- pattern rage

I

I found a pattern for dolls clothes at my local op-shop for one dollar. I couldn't resist and have sewn two little dresses and a pair of overalls, but not before throwing a bit of a tantrum and making several parts up as a went along.

The overalls were okay, but attaching the collar to the dress? Oh My!

The pattern says; with right sides up, pin collar sections to neck edge, matching notches, placing circles at centre seams.. Baste. Stitch.

Okay so far so good, done that.

Then it goes on; Turn collar seam allowance toward bodice (um..what the?)

On outside, stitch on bodice close to neck seam thru (sic) the seam allowance. Okay WHAT THE HEL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

The picture gives no clue. I have no idea. I ended up ripping seam and starting again, this time putting wrong side up, so I could flip the collar and sew again on the right side. But it is slightly messy and obviously-not-quite-right.

Does anyone know what I'm missing? And do you get pattern rage too? I'd love to hear about it, it would make me less likely to shred the offending section into little-eeny-tiny pieces..

my creative space- Penny!

Results are in from the name poll to name my new sewing machine, 56% voted for the name Penny, so Penny she is! (Alice came second at 35%, and Jane last). Thanks everyone who voted!

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Other things I've been doing in my creative space
- sorting fabric by colour and size into lovely new plastic tubs and stacking them up high

- freaking out when the now-named Penny flashed and blew smoke (she's better now. phew)

- madly calling repair centres

- staring out the window instead of sewing. watching dog walkers and cranky birds.

- being unsure of what to do first. watching movies instead

- writing lists. crossing out lists. merging lists and then rewriting lists neater

- spending time shopping instead of sewing. finding old patterns and materials and possibilities

- spilling tea on everything and swearing

- cutting out sweaters for cushions

- planning a giant giraffe. Giant. Giraffe. you heard me.

- feeling a little bad for not sewing much. going to the pub instead

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VERY productive, as you can tell.. (*cough*) But now that Penny is named, we can chat and sew all week long. Uh-huh.

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more creative spaces here

Oh! Deer!

Here are the deer I finished last week, I think they turned out pretty deer-like after all. They're in my shop now, and I'm cutting out some more in lots of colours including pinks, greens and blues to suit all deer lovers.

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I sure do like antlers.