QDP Annex

Thank You and Here's Your Package!

2011-07-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

So the show is over, I'm recovering from all the hard work and I'm gathering materials to make more bears. I think I learned a lot from doing my first online show and I want to thank everyone who graciously took one of my bears into their "hug" as well as the show's Promoter, Daphne Blau of Backroad Bears and the force behind Teddies Worldwide. Daphne was also lucky enough to enlist the help of her web-handy father for the event so a big thanks to him too for making it such a successful and fun event for all!

One of the things I've been working on over the years is how to package my bears. Sometimes, I put them in little pastry bags that I've purchased. They have a "window" in them so my bears can peek out. Recently, I've started using the cellophane treat bags you can purchase in the party section of any local discount store such as Target. I wanted professional looking headers for my bags but didn't feel like investing a ton of money so I went ahead and purchased a bulk package of "Thank You" notes for the headers and then cut and glued on one of my old business cards that I was no longer planning to use because they had my old business name at the top of the card. I think it worked out just fine and my packing is now cute for a very thrifty price!

Anyway, I hope to be back making bears again soon and showing you all my progress. Maybe I'll get super organized and even throw a new free pattern in now and then!

Just a Few Hours of Showtime Left!

2011-07-17T04:16:00.000-07:00

Just a few hours of showtime left and I have to say it's been fun. Daphne Blau of Backroad Bears and now Teddies Worldwide has really done a great job as show promoter. This was my first online show and it's been really nice meeting new collectors from all over the world! It's inspired me to make more bears and maybe do another show or two. Oh, and perhaps dust off the cobwebs of my Etsy.com shop. My poor Etsy shop seems to always be empty.

What made it even more like a real show than an online show was that Daphne, genius that she is, has this awesome chat room set up so that we can talk to collectors and get their feedback as well as shoot the breeze with the other artists who are participating. Now if I was sweating like a pig hauling all of my bears and backdrops to set up my show table, it would almost be like I was actually there! But thankfully, I didn't have to do that, nor did I have to drive, fly, or worry if my bears would get there on time if I sent them ahead. Instead, I could just sit behind my computer, watch my E-mail for questions from collectors and visit the chat room to see how all the other artists who are participating are doing.

And there are a LOT of other artists participating - to be exact there are 74 other artists with so many different styles that when you go to the show's homepage, http://www.teddiesworldwide.com, it's almost a bit overwhelming. I love looking at their bears, how they photographed their bears and how they set up their show webpage. It's definitely given me a ton of ideas of how to improve for the next time.

So, the show ends at 4:00 p.m. today Easter Standard Time. If you have a little time, stop by Teddies Worldwide and see all the great "Bears on Parade!"

Bears On Parade Show and Sale

2011-07-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

Today's the day! The show just started and all the bears are making their way down the Parade Route! This is my first show in many years, at least three, since the my last show I believe was the 2008 Doll and Teddy Bear show. I haven't made many bears since the show moved away from the Washington D.C. area. In fact, I had pretty much given up on bear making because right after the show moved, the economy kind of went in the ol' tanker. I'm hoping, as we all are, that that will change sometime in the near future. To compensate for the hard times we've all been facing, I've priced five out of the six mohair bears that I made below $100.00. The other artists who signed up to do this show did the same. You'll know which artists are offering specially priced items as we all have a little "globe symbol" beside our company name. It looks like this:

Anyway, you can enjoy the show from July 15th to July 17th by following this LINK. Enjoy the show!

Thank You Eunnie, Her Friend and All My Pattern Fans!

2011-07-08T04:21:00.000-07:00

A while back, a very kind lady named Eunnie from Manhattan contacted me with a message from her friend. The message she relayed was a very sweet one saying how much she enjoyed my work and this Blog. We exchanged E-mails back and forth and her friend happened to try the free Sock Elephant Pattern and Tutorial that you can find on my new FREEBIES page. Well her elephant turned out so cute that since then she's made him a little friend. I just wanted to show them off here so you could see how cute they turned out. If you have tried any of the free patterns here, please forward me a photo of your version of my pattern and I will be happy to post it here along with your name and whatever else you'd like to tell me about yourself. You can find the E-mail address to send the photo to on my CONTACT page.

In other news, today is my Birthday. Yep, I'm older. Thankfully, I've made it to 44 with a few minor scraps, bangs and bruises along the way to show for it. Now normally I would give you all a little "gift" to celebrate the event by giving you a free pattern but this year I am not only busy getting ready for the Teddies Worldwide Show, Bears on Parade but I also just had toe surgery so I've been slowed down a bit. Never fear though, I will be back up and running soon (okay, walking -- I only run if I'm being chased. Or if there's cake. Is there cake?). Hopefully, I'll get my act together and this Blog will be as crafty as used to be. Enjoy all of the older patterns, craft projects and tutorials though and as always, thank you so much for visiting and enjoying my Blog!

Tush Tag

2011-07-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

Tush Tag, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I am currently up to my eyeballs in bear parts. The show is fast approaching just 11 days away. I am hoping to have all my bears done by this Thursday so I can take a break on Friday as it's my Birthday.

While I was working on my bears, I had to run into town to Hobby Lobby and pick up a few things, namely stuffing, when I passed by the Scrapbooking section and some ribbon caught my eye. I had been looking for a "tush tag" for my smaller bears. I used to make my own "tush tags" but I got a new printer and truth be told, it's pretty stinky, and it's just not up to the task of making decent tags, business cards or, well, or anything! So my little eye spied this ribbon that had Monogrammed letters on them. I was not surprised that they happened to have a lot of "Q" ribbon in stock -- not anymore! I grabbed every single roll of "Q" that they had. My apologies to all of the "Quincy's" "Quigly's" and "Quinn's" in the world but I'm sure they will get some more in sometime. Hobby Lobby never seems to be out of stock on anything! So I've been humming along inserting "tush tags" as necessary and enjoying my favorite Independence Day movie, "1776", while I sew.

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July!

Bears on Parade Show Preview Bear

2011-07-02T05:03:00.000-07:00

Here's my "preview" bear for the show. His name is Spaulding, the Spectator. He's 5", mohair, 4-way jointed, pellet filled and has glass eyes. He's a hefty little fellow that will enjoy watching any parade from the palm of your hand. You'll just have to watch him to see where he sticks his lollipop after he's enjoyed it for a while. Sometimes it ends up in the hair of the person in front of him!

I am making five bears for this show so four others including Spalding. There are 74 other amazing artists participating in the show meaning there will be a lot to choose from including various styles because I think we each have our own. I was kind of shocked though when I looked at the full screen of all the preview bears because mine kind of stuck out like a sore thumb -- pretty quirky compared to the others but that just about sums me up to a "T!"

Enjoy the show preview page and don't forget to cast your vote for your favorite bear in each category. Spaulding will be hanging out with the "big boys" because he didn't make the cut for mini bears. Apparently the mini bears have to be 4" and under and at 5", Spalding is like a MAXI mini!

So please vote and I'll keep you updated with what I'm working on and when the show will begin!

Teddies Worldwide Bears On Parade Show Preview!

2011-07-01T12:35:00.000-07:00

For Show Preview Visit http://www.teddiesworldwide.com

We're getting closer and closer to showtime folks! With that said, it's nice to know that you'll be getting a little preview of what I have been up to lately. Of course, I'll be joined by 74 other truly talented artists but seeming as my bears are pretty quirky, you might be able to pick mine out amongst the others. Besides the bear in the preview, I'll have 4 others available during the show.

Oh, and I forgot to add -- one exciting thing about this Preview. You'll be able to vote for your favorite bear and the winner will receive a pretty digital "trophy" to put on their website. I thought that was pretty cool. It would be nice to have a little something to gussy up the place here -> insert shameless begging for votes HERE.

Anyway, if you want to catch the preview, visit the website http://www.teddiesworldwide.com!

Happy 13th Anniversary to ME!

2011-04-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

Happy 13th Anniversary to ME!, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I drew my first bear pattern as a professional on April 28,1998 and made my first bear from that pattern on April 29, 1998. I made him out of that "plush felt" and he looked pretty similar to the one you see above which is the first bear I made from the same pattern but this time out of mohair. I still have the other one as well but I was a bit of a scavenger and I used his eyes for another bear. I did keep this one "as is" but he's a little "mussed" from being stored so pardon his less than fluffed appearance. I suppose I was gung-ho back then because my diary says I made two other patterns that weekend!

Yes, I used to keep a diary when I first started of all the bears I made. I really don't have time for that now but it's pretty cool to look back on it. And, yeah, I'm kind of geeky but who cares!

I went from traditional to no so traditional. All I can say in my defense is that I have fun making things a bit offbeat.

My First Website STILL Up and Running

2011-04-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

My First Website STILL Up and Running, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I was really shocked when I was surfing the web to find that my very FIRST website (actually, this is from my second year) is STILL up and running. My first business name was Bear With Me but after going to my first show and finding a number of businesses with that oh so clever play on names, I decided to change it to be a combination of my maiden and married names with a twist of German to acknowledge my husband's German heritage. It wasn't until after I had the twins that I became Twin Cubs and then I finally somehow morphed into q.D.paToOtieS.

Ah, a trip down memory lane. Anyway, here's the link in case you want to enjoy some of my old creations!

Yeah! I Got In The Show!

2011-04-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

Yeah! I Got In The Show!, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

This is my first bear show in almost 2 years. I was supposed to the Teddie's Worldwide Christmas Show two years ago and chickened out with a case of the has-beens. For some reason, I don't have much confidence in my bear artist ability lately. We shall see what I can come up with for this show. It's a theme that I'm all too familiar with and that is a Parade. I've always loved Parades as you can tell by my other Blog, Plush Parade and the contests I used to have on this Blog that were Parade themed namely the "Thanksgiving Parade" and "Easter Parade" for Softie/Bear Artists. I can't believe that they were held back in 2007 -- it really seems like yesterday! Time flies as they say when you are having fun (or juggling a business and three kids!).

Don't Mind the Construction Debris

2011-04-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

Break Time, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I'm going to start working on my Blog to tidy it up and make things easier to find. Since I started this Blog over 3 years ago, Blogger has added a lot of cool new features like Pages. I'm going to be taking advantage of some of those new features so if you see stuff flyin' or maybe I accidentally nix a link or two, please, please let me know.

Thanks and happy crafting!

Don't Be A Fool

2011-04-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

My Creations, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Yes, it's April Fool's Day and the tricksters are already tricking. I've already had my fun and tried my hand at being an April Fool and with that out of the way, I'm ready to have some more fun by having a "Don't Be A Fool" sale in my Etsy.com shop. Free shipping will be offered starting today through the end of the week as a thank you for sticking with me while I muddle through the trials and tribulations of my duel role as mom and artist.

I've spent more time being mom this past month with projects that are due, field trips and playing nurse. So that's why I've been quiet. Let's hope all gets back to normal (or what we consider normal) soon!

Enjoy the sale!

FREE Blythe Hat Pattern

2011-03-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

The "Throw Away Hat" is a hat I crocheted for my Blythe dolls out of some curling ribbon I was going to just "throw away." The result was a cute, stretchy durable hat. Enjoy the pattern!

For the "Throw Away Hat" --

Materials:
1 - Spool Curling Ribbon (this will make a TON of hats -- my spool was 500 yards)
1 - 5.00mm Size H Crochet Hook

Stitch Guide:
Ch = Chain; Sl St = Slip Stitch; DC = Double Crochet; HDC = Half Double Crochet

Directions:

To start, Ch 4. Sl St first and last in the chain to form a ring. Ch 3 and turn.
R1: 11 DC inside of ring. Ch 3 and turn.
R2 - R4: DC in first stitch, 2 DC in next stitch. Repeat pattern until you've completed the row. Ch 3 and turn.
R5: DC in each stitch. Ch 3 and turn.
R6: HDC in each stitch. Sl St to join first and last HDC and make a knot. You're done.

To make the Flower accent:
Ch 4. In first Ch, do 11 DC. Sl St to join first and last DC to form a circle and make a knot. Leave a long tail of ribbon and thread through to sew on your hat. Once it's on the hat, stretch it to make it look like a flower.

This pattern is VERY, VERY, simple and the coolness of working with the curling ribbon is it is very stretchy so it really forms to your doll's head once you put it on. Enjoy!

Crazy Daisy Gronster (Girl Monster)

2011-03-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

Crazy Daisy Gronster (Girl Monster), originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

So I went from knitting bears to monsters. That's the normal sequence of things for me so it seems. This little Gronster (girl monster) that goes by the name of Crazy Daisy because of her little flower belly button just kind of took form after I started knitting with this new wool yarn. Know if she can just get those grumpy bears to accept her, all will be well!

Little Bears Looking for Homes

2011-03-03T16:32:00.000-08:00

My creation, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Little bear, little bear who knows where? On Etsy.com! I've uploaded my shop with my little knitted bears. They make perfect pocket protectors, computer buddies or a gift for your favorite doll. They are quirky, probably not perfect but that's really what I'm all about. I think everything I make looks like it needs a little TLC but that's the added charm for me.

Anyway, you can find them there. I think this is my first Etsy.com shop update in over two years!

A Pile 'o' Pandas

2011-03-02T06:59:00.000-08:00

A Pile 'o' Pandas, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

See, when I'm quiet, I'm actually doing something! I've been teaching myself how to knit and decided to turn my knitting practice into little softies. I will be offering these in my Etsy shop because the three Pandas you see are only the tip of the iceberg. I think I have 10 or 11 that will be added to the shop and I'll let you know when they are there.

My husband has started calling these "Bullet Bears" but I didn't think that was very appropriate. I was thinking of either Thumb Kins because they are about the size of my thumb or Bumble Bears after this game we owned as kids called "Tumble Bumble." The bodies kind of look like the little game pieces.

Hope you are all enjoying a nice pre-Spring day!

Bossy Bear

2011-02-18T07:31:00.000-08:00

Bossy Bear, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I got sick of pulling out my sewing supplies each time I wanted to make something so I re-taught myself how to knit (like for the 95th time). This is what I came up with and it's my second try. A very simple bear with a little attitude. As a bear artist (primarily), I knew anything I made would end up as a bear so why fight it? Anyway, meet Bossy Bear who is all concerned with his TPS reports.

Finally...

2011-02-04T12:55:00.000-08:00

Finally..., originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

a new post!

Let's see what have I been up to. I successfully cleared out some glassware (it was wanted but after it ended up in a bajillion pieces that took care of that!). Evidently, I am not all that good at mounting heavy objects. I was not aware of my shortcomings of course until I purchased the piece you see above on Monday and propped it up while I took my girls to dance lessons. My husband was at home and thought he heard an explosion (he said it was THAT loud). My lovely new piece fell off the mantel and took all the glassware with it. Luckily, he had it all tidied up before we got home. It just took a big gouge out of the top of the piece which gave it more "character." And that pretty glassware? Eh, who needed it (me!).

The kiddos have had a hard time adjusting to the snow day school day schedule and I have had to spend some extra time with them to make sure they are understanding what they have been learning in the few hours they have spent at school over the past two or three weeks. But, the groundhog took care of that for us. We heard he saw his shadow so springtime is a comin'. An extra dose of cool sunshine-y weather with no allergies attached please!!!

Needless to say, with all that's been happening, I have gotten very little done on my studio re-do. I did get my mohair scraps, patterns and my favorite sewing notions moved to a desk I have in the living room where I can work. I'll show you my little set up when I get a chance to snap another picture!

For My Studio Re-do

2011-01-31T12:42:00.000-08:00

For My Studio Re-do, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Well the kids are back in school and I'm back to work cleaning out my studio so I can paint and re-arrange things for a bigger small workspace. It's only 5x8 you know so I have to make the most of every inch.

While I was out on a errand run this morning, I went to Hobby Lobby and found these really cute dressforms in the gardening area. I guess we're supposed to want to hang these outside in our garden? Hmm. I was thinking they'd look better hanging on the wall in my studio. I was also thinking of a way to cover them with a very light fabric or maybe even paper and then put a light inside them so they could be wall sconces. It's just an idea and I have to figure out how to attach the light. I'll probably use one of those ones with a clip that you find at Christmas for the villages. I have several of them laying around. Anyway, it sounded like a bright idea when it popped into my head. No pun intended.

Tonight we have ballet which means I had to buy a new magazine to read during the lesson. I'll fill you in tomorrow -- it's the latest issue of Greencraft.

On Frozen Pond

2011-01-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

On Frozen Pond, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

The weather outside is frightful but some crafts are so delightful. At least that's what my kids are starting to think. So we were supposed to have school, then it was 2 hr delay, then after waiting at the bus stop for almost 1/2 hour, I called the school only to find out that Elementary school had been canceled. So I let the girls get out the craft materials again and make some Pom Pom critters. Next we'll be making some hot cocoa and home baked cookies which should pretty much round out the day.

In case you haven't guessed, I get absolutely NOTHING done when my kids are at home. I love them but they are time consuming little buggers. I have two that like to play in the snow and come in to leave me a huge mess and laundry and then one that hates to go out in the snow and would rather I just stay inside and entertain her 24/7. In fact, she's watching me type this post and wondering how my fingers can move so fast. Ah, 30 years of computer experience combined with 36 years of piano practice. Nimble fingers are blazing fast!

So now that you know where I've been, I hope that you all have had some craft time on these winter days. I might make my Blog reading 'rounds this afternoon to see what you all have been up to!

Retro Sewing Fabric For My Studio

2011-01-25T08:24:00.000-08:00

Retro Sewing Fabric For My Studio, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I think I may have mentioned a while back that I am in the middle of completely re-doing my house. Bathroom complete. Check. Kitchen complete. Check. Great room complete. Check. Laundry room in progress. Check. Next on the list are the bedrooms and my sewing room and I have great plans for all three of them.

The trick with my sewing room is going to be how to make it seem spacious even though it's small. I work in a 5x8 room that was initially supposed to be our Pantry as it sits just off the kitchen. I had the foresight to ask the builder to install a pocket door so I wouldn't have a door swinging into my room and taking up space. Right now the carpet is dark green and my sewing table is also dark green. My walls are bright yellow and I have wallpaper up that pulls it all together. It's all going buh-bye. I'm sick of it. I want something frilly, feminine and over the top in cutesy. I want a crystal chandelier. I want a window seat where I can sit and draw out my patterns. I want plenty of storage space for all of my odds and ends -- the pom poms, the chenille stems, the paper clay and the fabric. I want. I want. I want. Yep, I'm that greedy.

So, when I was at my local JoAnn Fabric store the other day, this really cute retro fabric caught my eye. I collect vintage children's patterns (among many other things) because I adore the illustrations. This fabric would be perfect for my new studio. I'm thinking of a pink, black and white scheme which is very feminine. I already bought a three foot tall ornate wire sewing mannequin that is black and oddly enough I bought a smaller one in pink. Kismet. Fate. Nothing that amazing really it's just how it worked out. I have plenty of patterns that I can scan in and frame for wall art. Pink gingham fabric to coordinate is very economical and there are plenty of other colors in the fabric that I could bring out as well if I got tired of just a pink and black scheme.

All in all, I think it's the perfect beginning!

Wreath for Re-Use

2011-01-23T17:29:00.000-08:00

Wreath for Re-Use, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

And from the thrift-ing files comes my find from this weekend. I was at my local Goodwill and found this wreath. It was Christmas-y with it's mix of red and green but the fabric itself was a wonderful old calico. So, I ended up tossing it in the cart for $1.00. I felt a wee bit guilty as I paid because I am just going to take it apart for the fabric. I would have felt guiltier though if I was the one who gave away a handmade item to the local Goodwill. Someone's granny could have made this for them. I hope some happiness will come from it after I re-cycle it and turn it into who knows what! I sure don't but what I do know is that it coordinates with the sweater I dyed and felted the other day!

What a Difference a Day Makes...

2011-01-21T07:07:00.000-08:00

What a Difference a Day Makes..., originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

So this is the sweater that I posted two days ago after a round in a vat of Kool-Aid on top of the kitchen stove. I really *LOVE* the way it turned out all blotchy from being folded up in the dye bath. Also, it turned out really vibrant which is wonderful because it was total blahs-ville just one day earlier. Kool-Aid is the greatest!

Now here's what I did just in case you are interested in doing it yourself. Fill a small pot with water and bring it to boil. While you're waiting, take your fabric and thoroughly wet it down and then wring it out. It doesn't even have to be 100% like this garment -- truthfully, most fabrics with a little bit of natural fiber in them felt just not as much as say something made out of 100% natural fiber like cotton, mohair, wool. Once the pot has come to a boil, toss in three packets of Kool-Aid in any color combination that you choose and stir so that the powder dissolves. Use the original Kool-Aid that you have to add sugar to and not the Sugar Free which I believe has aspartame in it already. Never use a product with sugar as it will be sticky and attract "critters" -- a.k.a. bugs. Blech. Now, lower your heat temperature to medium and add your fabric. Give it a stir with your spoon and flip it once or twice. This doesn't take very long and and when you're done you'll see the dye be "sucked up" by the fabric and either cloudy or totally clear water will remain. Take the pot over to the sink and pour off the remaining water (don't forget to turn off your stove top). Rinse your fabric thoroughly with cold water until it runs clear and then really wring out your garment. You can either use your dryer to speed up the process or hang it out on the line.

And now you have tons of COLOR and you'll sit around scratching your head about just what to make with this fabulous felted fabric you've created!

It's Just The Way I Felt

2011-01-19T16:31:00.000-08:00

Felting. Fun., originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I didn't feel like doing much today but I had gotten some sweaters from Goodwill over the weekend to felt. In case you didn't know it, it's sweater weather and really a great time to find some 100% wool sweaters that need a little pick me up. This sweater is a vintage 100% Virgin Wool one in a very light camel. It is on the thin side but I like that because I hate it when I felt a sweater and it's as thick as a board. I just threw it in my washer with some jeans and then in the dryer.

It came out slightly felted and after I looked at it a bit more, I decided it needed to go a round or two in a batch of Kool-Aid dye tomorrow to really bring out it's full potential. The hot water from the dye bath will felt it a bit more and then it's back to the dryer after it's been thoroughly rinsed out for a little "fluffing." I don't know what I'm going to make out of this particular sweater but I think I have more fun manipulating the fabric prior to creating than actually making something out of it!

So when you stop by Goodwill, be on the look out for potential felting victims, er, I mean test subjects. And, while your at it, save that dryer lint because it can all be used as well in your next needle felting project!

Springing for Vintage Birds

2011-01-18T13:09:00.000-08:00

Vintage Cotton Spun Bird, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

It's kind of odd I guess in below freezing temps that I would even have the nerve to mention the word Spring. Here, in the oh so icy mid-Winter, I use the word "spring" as a verb meaning to spend money. I saw a bag of vintage birdies at the local Goodwill and decided that they really needed to be part of my craft stash. There were more than a half dozen and at $1.00 the price tag was right.

They were each beautiful with some being cotton spun and a few being flocked. All were still lovely with a few having glass eyes and brilliantly colored. Who could pass up springing a few dollars to add such a treasure to their craft stash? Not me! They've been added! Now to decide just what I'm going to do with them. Hmm...

And The Guitar Goes "Bling!"

2011-01-16T08:48:00.000-08:00

And The Guitar Goes "Bling!", originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

So here's what I did yesterday. I shopped, shopped and then shopped some more. My daughters were all with me and after I scooted them off to music lessons, we went to breakfast and then they set out to find something with the money they got for Christmas. The twins have already spent their money (about 3x so far) but my older daughter is a wiser shopper. A gigantic "Hello Kitty" gumball machine for her room finally called out to her and she was one happy kid. We bought books, chatted a lot along the way and also got a little inspired in the craft store.

My daughter has been drooling over the glitter guitars at the local guitar store so I decided to dress hers up a bit using scrapbooking embellishments. The great thing about the scrapbooking embellishments is they are all pretty much acid free and I am thinking that the mild adhesive will not damage the exterior of her guitar. Let's hope it holds out long enough that we don't have to worry about that one. She's always hopelessly dinging it so maybe the embellishments will help cover some of those dings that her guitar has suffered over the past year. Anyway, besides being a great crafty idea (in more ways than one), it's all part of my evil mom plot to get her to practice more. Muhaha! Cross your fingers that it works -- I'm expecting my kids to take care of me in my geriatric years and honestly it's not that far off!

Psst. Please pass the Geritol, will ya'?

All the Entrants for My FREE Drawing...

2011-01-14T09:33:00.000-08:00

All the Entrants for My FREE Drawing..., originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

are in and I am about to shake it up and pull out a winner. And that winner is...

pipercat99. P.S. If you didn't win this free drawing, please don't fret. I have a lot of my samples that have been to magazines and they will be up for grabs throughout the year. Thanks to all who enter and thank you to everyone who made 600 posts possible. I am really grateful for your readership and friendship. :)

Hey Lizzie -- I need your address! :)

Vintage Valentines

2011-01-13T16:07:00.000-08:00

Vintage Valentines, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I found a shadow box at an antique store a while back for a really great price. It needed to be cleaned and at first I was going to paint it but I decided to leave the "chippy" paint and just hope people would think I was going for a "Shabby Chic" look. In reality, I was to lazy to dig down several layers and strip it so the finish would be even so there you have it!

I just hung it after we painted our walls right before the holidays. I filled it with some vintage Christmas items because I hadn't really decided what to display in it and then it dawned on me -- just fill it with my vintage holiday items that I've collected over the years because they really seem to inspire me.

Nothing better for motivation than a little inspiration!

P.S. There is still time to enter the free drawing. Just click HERE and leave a comment!

Fun With Sketchbook Express

2011-01-12T08:13:00.000-08:00

Fun With Sketchbook Express, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

So this is what I did during the little snowstorm that wasn't...a dusting, really? C'mon Mother Nature you can do better than that now can't you? I want some deep, actual fluffy stuff that requires my husband to spend hours outside shoveling and my kids to lend an assist so I can stay warm indoors with a cup of cocoa and a mound of new magazines and fabric. Capish? Glad we understand each other -- next time don't wimp out with a dusting, 'kay?

Now back to my half an hour of uninterrupted play time (that's when the kids weren't arguing but had already dressed themselves after the two hour delay was announced, eaten breakfast and were bug-eyed in front of a daily dose of Sponge Bob). Ah yes, I took the time to look over the Apps available at the Mac Apps store ('cause I'm an official Mac'ie - once you have Mac, you don't go back) and decided to download some of the freebies before I invested in another Graphics package that I will end up not liking and/or not using. I downloaded Sketchbook Express and in a half an hour had gotten the hang of layers and I have to say that it's fun. It's going to take a lot more work on my part but I have to say that it's intrigued me enough to make me think it's actually worth it to spend the extra bucks and buy the full blown version. I'm wondering if I can make some cool fabric or even a softie for you all to eventually print out and sew. Keep your fingers crossed that I stick with it and become a PRO!

Later gators -- off to get some work done!!!

Ditch The Toilet Paper -- Snow Storms Require New Magazines!

2011-01-11T15:59:00.000-08:00

New Magazines, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

If you're going to make a run to the store just before a big snowstorm hits, make sure it's for something important...like reading material.

Sure, most people will be standing in line at the local supermarket with carts full of milk, bread and the last rolls of toilet paper. But take my advice and make sure you have a good supply of the boring stuff way before the need for urgency arises or you'll end up stuck with some funky one-ply off brand toilet tissue that hasn't been processed quite right and your fingers stick through every time you go to wipe. Trust me, there's nothing grosser in my book then ending up with a handful of what was once a mouthful. There...I've said it and my fourth grade giggly sense of potty humor has finally surfaced just in time for post Number 601. So avoid the bread that tastes like cardboard, the milk that leaves you wanting to scrape your tongue and the aforementioned holy-er than thou likest toilet paper and head on over to your local bookstore.

Now isn't that better than fighting the crowds at the local supermarket? Seriously, I had Borders all to myself this morning and I was free to roam, poke and prod all the new periodicals. The best part was that it wasn't like the end of the day where they were all in a state of disarray. Instead, they were all neatly arranged, re-stocked with the freshest issues and my grabby hands were all over them plucking my favorites from the shelves for a night of glorious kick-back reading by my pellet stove. I even found some new magazines to help me fulfill one or two of my New Year's Resolutions as well as the latest had-to-have copy of Stuffed: The Crafting of Softies.

So take my mid-winter advice and head out to the Bookstore the next time they call for snow. You'll be thanking me!

Hot Diggity Dog - U Can Be a Winner!

2011-01-10T15:15:00.000-08:00

Hot Diggity Dog - U Can Be a Winner!, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Wow, yesterday was my 600th Blog post -- no kidding! Who knew I could be so chatty? I have really surprised myself hanging in there, plugging along, trying to spread joy through soft sculpture art and general craftiness! So, to celebrate, I'm going to be giving something away.

Remember Hot Diggity Dog? Well I am going to be giving away my original Hot Diggity Dog who ventured all the way out to California for a photoshoot at Stampington and Company. He was even lucky enough to have his picture in the article about me in their very first issue of Stuffed, Winter 2009. So he's not only a Hot Diggity Dog he's one Lucky Dog as well!

I will be taking comments on this post and I will draw a winner on Friday at noon EST. I will give you three entries if you mention this giveaway on Facebook and on Twitter (so comment, Facebook, Twitter gives ya' three chances). Hot Diggity Dog could be on his way to your digs as early as Saturday morning!

Cheers and thank you so much for following my Blog and enjoying my work!

Me and My Bright Ideas

2011-01-09T12:21:00.000-08:00

I Made This For My Studio!, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I was running around doing some errands over the weekend and it ended up in a project that was pretty simple and was complete in a matter of minutes.

The project started in my local Goodwill store where I was fulfilling a New Year's Resolution by getting clearing out stuff I haven't looked at in several years. Anyway, I saw a bunch of these pendant fixtures still in their packaging. I didn't know quite what I was going to do with something like that but I thought it would be cool to add some extra lighting to my studio so I decided to pick one up. For just $2.00 and brand new, it seemed like a great deal.

Shuffling off to my next errand, I found myself in Marshalls looking for skirts/dresses for my seven year old. I just happened to go past the "New Markdowns" aisle and I saw a beaded container. I am not sure of it's original purpose but it had an insulated container like the kind you use to mix cocktails inside of it which was missing it's top. So it had been marked down (several times I might add) to $3.00. I liked the beaded flowers which reminded me of Black Eyed Susans (state flower of my home state of Maryland) and I thought I could use it in my office to store all of my colored pencils. So I promptly placed it in my cart.

It wasn't until I got all the way home and unpacked all of my "finds" that the proverbial "light bulb came on" and a scathingly brilliant idea popped into my head and that's when I tossed the partially complete cocktail mixer in the trash and approached my husband with a little task (much to his delight). I asked my husband if he remembered a restaurant we used to go to a long time ago (it's since gone out of business) that used to have tin cans above the table as light fixtures and he did (hey, if food is involved his memory is GOLDEN). So I told him to take the beaded canister downstairs to his workshop and drill a hole in it so the pendant would fit through it. The hanging pendant is two parts which consist of a threaded fixture where the lightbulb fits in and then a plastic piece that screws over it and holds your lampshade or in this case tin container in place. In five minutes he came back up the stairs and with a few twists I had myself a spanking new light fixture to hang over my sewing machine for a mere $5.00 and a little elbow grease (okay, I supplied the money and idea and my husband supplied the grease but who's keeping tabs?).

My On-Going Addiction to Magazines

2011-01-08T08:33:00.000-08:00

Not all magazines that inspire me are bear or softie related -- some of them are completely unrelated to my normal interests which happen to be crafting, and oh yeah, crafting. So yes, believe it or not, I do read periodicals other than Teddy Bear Magazines or those printed by Stampington, who I have untold amounts of xoxo and appreciation for almost each and everyone of their publications (sorry Stampington, I can't say I read your jewelry making magazines -- give me time though!). And when it comes to magazines, there's nothing more I like doing than supporting a publication in it's infancy.

Over the past 5 years especially, I have seen magazines disappear from the news stands because they ceased publication due to a major decrease in readership. For me, reading something online just isn't the same as holding it in my hot little hands, hearing the turn of the page, inhaling the aroma of freshly printed paper and doing that exact same process over and over and over again. I know of one back issue of Teddy Bear and Friends that I squealed with delight when they gave it out free at a show because I had worn my first copy out! I still pull it out and look at it over and over again because that particular issue REALLY inspired me.

One of my new favorite non bear magazines is Fresh Home: Easy Ideas for Hands-On People. When I first saw the cover at my local Borders bookstore, I thought "ho-hom, just stuff to make my living space look cool" but really it's so much more. After I thumbed through it a bit, I realized that some of the ideas/techniques that they share for completing the projects featured in their magazine can be applied in some way, shape or form to my work as an artist. Also, the way things are grouped in the photographs throughout the magazine, gave me an idea of how to arrange/beautify my studio, my table at my next show or even how to group my own creations to take better more eye-catching photographs. Ah, the joy of magazines completely unrelated to normal interests, it's all good!

Most Popular Pattern

2011-01-03T15:55:00.000-08:00

Pretty Please With a Cherry on Top, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I was looking at my statistics the other day and the most popular pattern/tutorial by far is for the little sock elephant, Pretty Please with a Cherry on top. With well over 6,000 downloads, I have dubbed him my MPP (Most Popular Pattern). He's followed closely by Hot Diggity Dog! with over 2,500 downloads. I have featured several reader's versions of the little sock elephant here on q.D.paToOtieS and I know that Hot Diggity Dog! has been used for charity fundraising events like Softies for Mirabel. It's nice to know that people enjoy making these "creations" as much as I enjoy designing them.

So what will be next? A toothless shark? A deer with a lion head? Who knows? Stick around to find out!

New Year's Resolutions

2011-01-02T14:27:00.000-08:00

New Year's Resolutions, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Welcome 2011 and welcome back resolutions. I haven't made any resolutions for the past 10 years because I always end up breaking them. I thought I'd give it a whirl this year and maybe by saying them "out loud" on the Internet for all to hear, I might end up keeping them. So here it goes (and if you'd like to play along you may use my little photo in your Flickr photostream):

1) Take more time for me (seriously, I take care of everyone BUT me)
2) Learn to use the SLR camera and lenses that I got at the thrift store a while back
3) Clean out "stuff" that I haven't looked at in at least 5 years (including clothing and shoes)
4) Finish painting my house
5) Play the guitar and/or piano at least once a week
6) Eat healthier by cutting out some sugar
7) Get more sleep (It's been a sleep deprived 7 years with the kids)
8) Spark my creativity by living creativity (creative people really do gravitate and/or learn from each other and if you think you don't you are "out there.")
9) Plan my garden earlier (I didn't get to plant my pumpkins this year because I didn't start them indoors)
10) Try to Blog more (I find writing to be a relaxing activity)
11) Don't take life so seriously (I usually let people get me down)
12) Work on my sketching/painting
13) Find an exercise that I actually ENJOY (I used to love bowling and be quite good -- I have a couple of 200 game pins)
14) Search out a pair of jeans that are not "low rise" (seriously, "muffin top" is not a good look people -- fashion designers take note)
15) Redo my studio and put in a window seat w/storage as well organize it so I can find stuff when I need it.

Happy New Year and Plush Parade Starts TODAY!

2011-01-01T11:41:00.000-08:00

Plush Parade Starts TODAY!, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

First and foremost, Happy New Year and welcome 2011! Now that we're into the next decade of the 21st century, I am hoping for creative new ideas to just come popping into my head on a daily basis. Often, I am inspired by others and their creativity and that's why I started the Plush Parade. There are some awesome artists out there and I hope they inspire you too!

And speaking of the Plush Parade, it started today! What better way to start off the New Year!

New Softies Group and Blog

2010-12-29T07:05:00.000-08:00

New Softies Group and Blog, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I've been working hard to get the Plush Parade up and running -- it's coming along so take a peek --> http://plushparade.blogspot.com.

The purpose of the Blog is to feature original Softie artists and show off their work. The Blog will be set up more like a website with a main page and then a page for Etsy shop listings with a link to your Etsy.com shop. I have other ideas for different pages such as a Tutorial page but since I am just starting up again, I want to think it through so it's neat, clean and easy to navigate.

You can also check out the Blog's Flickr group where you can place your photos and I will grab them to feature on the Blog with a link back to you of course:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/plushparade/

Thanks and looking forward to featuring your work! :)

Thanks For a Great Year

2010-12-24T05:51:00.000-08:00

Thanks For a Great Year, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Well, like my little handmade Christmas card says -- thanks so much for visiting and commenting on my Blog and for enjoying what I do here. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2011!!!

Plush Parade Returning in 2011

2010-12-20T10:06:00.000-08:00

Plush Parade Returning in 2011, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Several years ago when the girls were little, I used to have a Blog called Plush Parade where I showed off the work of other Soft Sculpture Artist. I'm happy to say that I'm going to try to bring it back in 2011. I think there are so many talented people out there and many of them are too shy to "toot their own horn." So, I plan to do it for them by showcasing them in my daily parade!

plushparade.blogspot.com

There's a Flickr group for it as well. I'm just now setting it up -- if you want to join and start putting photos of original Softies that you've made in it that would be great! I'll start Photo Blogging on January 1st.

www.flickr.com/groups/plushparade/

Still Enough Time to Make a Quickie Gift for a Friend!

2010-12-17T16:24:00.000-08:00

Free Patterns On My Blog, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

With dozens of quick patterns on here, it should be easy to whip up a last minute giftie or two for a special friend! Have fun with them and make them up in holiday fabric or holiday colors -- even Monsters can be Holly Jolly (just ask Crusty Crinkleton -- the Monster who lives under one of my twins beds -- but we'll talk about him later).

And don't forget the craft tutorials that are on here as well because most of them are no sew. You could make a felt ornament for your friend's tree or a super slim, super cool snowman for them to decorate their home. Take some time and sift through these almost 600 posts (I'd use the SEARCH feature) and you would be amazed at how much I chatter on and on and how many cool things I have on here for you to make and give away.

With that said, I hope I get all of my last minute shopping and wrapping done in time. I've been without a car for a little more than a week so my DH and I are sharing one while the Bug is in the shop for some transmission work. I would love to have some time to sit back, relax, bake some cookies (I have a couple of new recipes I'd like to try) and make some crafts myself! I'm crossing my fingers that things will take a turn for the better and Christmas will be Merry(er)!

First Snow Day of the Year!

2010-12-16T08:20:00.000-08:00

It Started Snowing!, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Snow Day! And you know what that means. The kids are home, every twinkle-y Christmas light in the house and on the house is turned on, cookies are in the oven and a full day of crafting is ahead. Or at least that’s the plan. Here’s my prediction. Kids will go in and out to play in the snow, become cranky, fighting will start, mom will lose her cool and kids will end up in separate rooms away from one another. Of course, I’m hoping for the first version but I just know my kids.

Yesterday, I was blogging about plans for me, myself and I and just what will be coming in the New Year. Well, I'm going to make a few changes (not here) and try to re-invent myself once again. I don't want to do just teddy bears or softies as I feel the urge to create some Folk Art type pieces (I think I mentioned that in a post a couple of months ago). I used to do some work in Paper Clay and I’ll be toying around with it again with my new pieces as well as throwing in a bit of Mixed Media. This site will stay the same and there will be patterns and tutorials added from time to time but I won't post here daily like I used to because I just need more time to sit down and create.

I also plan on taking some classes so I can learn some new techniques. I have been self taught so far with one or two teddy bear classes added for fun but I would like to study other areas of art and see if I could apply them to my soft sculpture designs. I kind of consider this whole thing a “resolution” of sorts to become a better artist. I hope this is one resolution that I won’t let fall by the wayside.

Keep warm and keep crafting!

Santa Scratching Head...Is It Our 600th Post Yet?

2010-12-15T06:08:00.000-08:00

Santa Scratching Head...Isn't It A Little Early for Snowmen?, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Nope. No it's not. Just ten more posts after this one and it will be our 600th post. By that time we will probably be just about to turn the corner and head into the new year. It will be 2011 I think but really I have lost track of time. This year has FLOWN by with the kids in school and all of the effort associated with keeping them in school. Plus, my husband and I have really been working on our house. After almost 10 years and three kids, our appliances were shot, there were "kid marks" on just about every wall and surface and we really needed to dig our heels in and give it a once over (or in our case a "twice over" because trust me it needed it). So with everything that was going on, it put me about a month behind schedule. I'm hoping to have completely recovered by January 1st so I can start on the other rooms, the basement and the garden (*shudder*).

I am making a few New Year's resolutions though as far as my business and crafting go. And just where did they go is what I ask myself every day! Basically, I got burned out. I think everyone who is an artist of some sort goes through this type of thing and loses their inspiration. Why did I lose mine? Well, let's see. It seems as though every time I had a brilliant idea that I would get started and then something would stop me in my tracks -- be it kids, or cars breaking down or just life in general. So I got discouraged and kind of thought why try? I guess I found out "why" by reading your comments to old posts. Your comments keep me going -- they really do. They encourage me by saying you like and appreciate all of the patterns and tutorials I have here at q.D.paToOtieS!

Ah, Christmas, Just 60 Days Away!

2010-11-02T06:02:00.000-07:00

Vintage Infant Socks "Creation", originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Actually, Christmas is just 53 Days away at this point. Now, if you want to be precise and you live on the East Coast of the United States as I do, here's a breakdown for you:

Hours Left: 1,268
Minutes Left: 76,086
Seconds Left: 456,135

And as I'm typing, the clock is ticking down, down, down. So, when the Sunday paper came, I put my plan into action. I distributed the toy catalogues that were included to the "wee folk" living in my household. I passed out crayons, pencils and paper. I had them circle, write and re-write. Lists were made, names were taken, and the shopping date was set. When the bus pulled out at 8:06 a.m., I was right behind it but going in a different direction.

I arrived promptly at Toys 'r' Us when it opened. And apparently, I wasn't the only mom with the idea to buy ahead and get out while the gettin' is good. There were more of us, each with our carts (sometimes two carts) piled high. Struggling to find each thing on the list and trying to make each kid happy in the process. The only thing I didn't find was the Mattel Monster High dolls. Mattel, why do you taunt me? My girls all wanted the Monster High Ghoulia doll and the Monster High section in each of the stores I visited was completely wiped out (Toys 'r' Us, Target and Walmart). You would think they would have been able to gauge how popular they were going to be by the reaction at Toy Fair or from when they were released back in July but apparently not. So there will be some slight disappointment on Christmas morning unless some Elves that have so graciously agreed to be on the lookout for me come through. Thank you Elves!

So to sum it up, I'm done with Christmas shopping except one IOU from Santa Claus. And now, I'm ready to finish painting my house, make it all "Holly Jolly" and maybe squeeze in a little time for crafting, sewing and baking!

Psst. No, my Blog isn't decorated the way I want it yet. None of the freebie background providers have put up their "Winter" selection yet. So it went back to being Fall here. Maybe next time you check in though it will be all "Holly Jolly" too!

Cookie Baking, Home Remodeling and Playing Catch Up

2010-10-31T07:44:00.000-07:00

Meet My New Best Friend, Samsung, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

It's been a whirlwind month here. Besides trying to get ready for the holidays and helping my kids with all of their school work, my husband and I have been doing a little (okay, I'm lying a LOT) of work on our house. We survived the appliance FIASCO, and trust me, it was a fiasco which included but was not limited to the store we ordered from forgetting to put some appliances on the truck to sending the wrong parts to my husband not having the water turned off prior to disconnecting the dishwasher which ended up TOTALLY FLOODING my kitchen. Let's just say I've been a bit stressed out.

I've been so stressed out in fact that I've had to take some measures to cut down on my stress level.

First of all, I "retired" from Blythe, sold most of my dolls and turned my forum which had 2,600 people as members over to new management. I'll miss Plastic Paradise but since my heart wasn't in it and I was completely exhausted it was for the best.

Next, my sister and I closed our Antique Shop. With the holidays coming, the customers were more interested in doing Christmas shopping rather than buying antiques so it was for the best. Plus, with kids of our own, it was hard to run out and keep it stocked as well as manage the business aspect of it making sure we were getting paid for everything we sold. We'll be closing the Kitschy Witchy Blog down as well.

Lastly, I've been trying to not spend as much time on the computer. I am hoping to limit my computer time to my Blog(s) and photographing things for my Blogs and posting those photos to Flickr but I don't think that I will be able to do that until I have my house and the work that's going on there a bit more under control including it being totally decorated for the holidays. Whew! I do promise once i have that all settled, nestled and tucked in though that I will be back with goodies for you to make for Christmas and probably some giveaways.

If you see the colors and background on this Blog change sometime in the near future, I will be updating it for the holidays. It makes me feel as though I've accomplished something to have at least one little place in my life looking festive.

A Handful of "Gee I Hope This Works"

2010-09-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

A Handful of "Gee I Hope This Works", originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

So this is what I started working one while I was sick. I'm making some little vintage-y style Halloween kitties. They will be dressed and come on top of little containers. I'm hoping to get at least one prototype made before October 1st. I love the "bump" chenille pipe cleaners. They are getting really hard to find and I have to stock up on them when I go to Ben Franklin. You can order them on E-bay but with shipping that really gets to be expensive. I am hoping my new Hobby Lobby will carry them because they are really one of my favorite (and my kids favorite) craft items.

Other than that I am still working on my house, cutting out some bears and doodling. That's pretty much a normal day around here!

More Information on the Holiday Bear Show

2010-09-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

And just where have I been and what have I been up to? Truthfully, I've been sick. *sigh* Yes, I'm having a little pity party for myself if you want to stop on by and cheer me up. It's been just over a week and I actually was feeling a little better when my oh, so generous hubby came home last Thursday with a bad cold. I came down with it yesterday. So let's just pile it all on shall we?

In the meantime, I've got my new appliances coming on Friday of this week so I've been cleaning my house like a crazy woman stashing, pictures that might be bumped, excess furniture, and cleaning finger prints off all of the old appliances because as o Friday, they are going buh-bye! And good riddance I say -- now I'll have a stove that cooks things evenly as opposed to leaving one half of a frozen lasagna COLD AS ICE after more than 90 minutes in the oven. And, I bet all of the burners will work too! My refrigerator that sounds like it's about to "take-off" will be hauled off and replaced by one that I am hoping will be so quiet I won't even know it's there. Ah, and the DH will have to remember to get his old underwear that he's been using to block the ice shoot out of the the freezer (hey, it was clean). I think our ice maker worked for a whole YEAR before it broke. That thing that calls itself a dishwasher that leaves all the dishes dirty and had multiple broken parts will haunting some landfill somewhere. Now the washer and dryer are alright and useable but I got a bit greedy when I saw the new ones have an allergy feature. Dust mites beware! You are TOAST! So if you're in our area and need a washer and dryer, my hubby will cut you a good deal I'm sure.

Now after all of the appliances are replaced, I get the joy of trying to paint a 14 foot ceiling. My mom told me I'll never be able to do it by myself which just made me want to do it all the more. I showed you the paint a couple of weeks ago -- I still love it and am anxious to get rid of this sunny yellow and go to a tranquil turquoise-y blue. The last thing we'll be buying is a couch. Anyone got a nice barely used couch they'd like to swap for a barely used (*cough*) washer/dryer combo? I'll trade ya'!

I did get a little work done over the weekend that is actually related to this blog and creating. I drew out some characters I want to make and I started on a little folk art project that I'm working on. Say you're proud of me despite my illness and all the stuff that I'm trying to do when you attend my pity party later on.

Oh, and I almost forgot that if you stop by the q.D.paToOtieS website it's under construction again too. I dumped Joomla and am going to a more Blog-like layout for that as well.

Back to work, work and more work.

Pssst...we're almost at 600 posts. Maybe I'll give something away to celebrate. Let's count down as we've got 14 more to go!

Why Spreading Your Self Thin Is Never As Good As Really Being Thin

2010-09-18T08:25:00.000-07:00

All My Blogs..., originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I was laughing at myself this morning when I took a look at my "dashboard" here on Blogger. What the heck? I have five blogs. Seriously, I could have more and not even know about it. I think, in fact, at this moment my sister is setting me up to be an author on one or two of her blogs. It's like an addiction. As you can see though, I usually only feel like blabbing, carrying on, showing off "my creations" and giving away "stuff" here. So I'm really operating at about 20% efficiency statistically speaking if that. So let's review shall we?

Okay, the first one, the needle.org, isn't actually "all mine" -- it's a group of Softie artists.

The second one is me and my sister. We chat about all the "stuff" we score when we are out and about.

The third one is actually my main one. I'm almost on my 600th post. I talk a lot and give out free stuff.

The fourth one is my Blythe Blog which has changed names like a gazillion times and never really gotten off the ground.

The last one is my dream blog that I'm not sure what in the world I'm going to do with it but I've had it for over a year.

Now that we have all that straight, you may have noticed that I've been in here "tidying up", sweeping some cobwebs and decorating for my favorite time of year -- FALL! Make a mental note here -- this is when I am most inspired, give away the most free stuff and actually Blog the most. Somehow chillier air really gives me my second wind!

Pirate-y Fabric Goodness

2010-09-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

Pirate-y Fabric Goodness, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

ARrrGH! Like me new fabric matey? No, I did not create this wonderful fabric but I bought it at Jo-anne Fabrics. They had a couple there, in fact, that had anime style characters. This one was so bright and cheerful that I couldn't resist. I am not sure what I'm going to make out of it but then again, I'm never sure. I just buy fabric if I like it and that's pretty much that!

If I think of a super cute softie to make out if it, I'll be sure to post the pattern here. Hope everyone's having a great day...matey!

A Sign Of the Times

2010-09-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

Cute Folk Art Sign I Found, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

For those of you who haven't known me long know this -- I am constantly reinventing myself. I'm not sure if it's out of necessity or boredom but there you have it folks. I do still enjoy making bears and softies. However, there's also a part of me that enjoys using Paperclay and making little "folk art" pieces like my pumpkin people and my snowmen.

I haven't made anything like those figures in quite some time and I really do enjoy vintage holiday decorations and dolls. So making more "folk art" is something that I want to get into in the future. I want to make things that make people go "awww", that look pre-loved with a Japanese twist. I used to call my bears "Pranime" because they were Prim Anime. I think I'll have to think of a new term to cover the Anime Folk Art!

I am also busy trying to improve my graphics art as a whole. I think I've only shown a few of my drawings here primarily because I lack confidence where actual art is concerned. So I bought a book of exercises to try to not rely on my computer so much. I might just incorporate the two as I have done sometimes in the past so it will be my drawing "enhanced" by the computer.

There are so many things I want to do and try -- I hope you all stick around for most of it and continue to enjoy the free patterns and craft tutorials that I have available.

Teddies Worldwide Holiday Bear Show

2010-09-13T05:56:00.000-07:00

I know it seems impossible but Christmas is coming and it's coming QUICKLY! The craft stores already have their holiday crafting items displayed for your crafty pleasure and the 'tis the season to be jolly and buy gifts for your favorite niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, grandchild, daughter, son, husband, or neighbor twice removed is just a snowflake away.

I myself do not step foot in a store with the intention of buying a gift after the second weekend in November. The day after Thanksgiving Sales -- Black Friday? Totally not my bag. I'd rather have a root canal without anesthesia while covered in honey with an army of fire ants approaching then deal with the crowds during that time of year. My best alternative and last minute gift buying place of choice is the Internet. And, of course, I know there are tons of people out there like me who feel the exact same way!

So last year I participated the Hugable 'n' Luvable Show which went very well I might add. This year I will be participating in the Teddies Worldwide Holiday Bear Show which will take place November 21 - 22, 2010. I'll be making at least three pieces for the show and maybe a little more if I get all of the new appliances in place and all of the papering and painting that I have planned. Besides bears, I'll also have some softies available so watch for them as well.

Now if you are like me, and you've finished all your holiday shopping and you have a husband that is notorious for "forgetting" all gift giving occasions, you might want to stop by the show and pick a little something out for yourself to wrap up and surprise yourself with on Christmas morning. Everyone should have something to open Christmas morning and since Santa doesn't consider me a kid anymore (although I clearly am still in my first childhood), I can't count on him to come through for me either. With some gifts being available for less than $50, maybe I'll be able to afford two gifts to put under my tree. But then I ask myself, have I really been that good?

The Home Beautification Process and If It's Not Broke, Why Fix It?

2010-09-09T11:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, I lied. It is broke. Fingerprints everywhere, dull yellow wall color, blank walls staring me back in the face. It's time for a little home "pick-me-up." Time to beautify from "c" to shining "c" (ceiling to carpet). Next time you see pictures of the interior of my house, expect it to be a little shinier and a little newer looking and not covered with 7 years of kiddy grime.

I just wanted to show off my wallpaper and this wonderful "Oops" paint that i found at the local hardware store. I have tons of "Oops" paint and I can honestly say that I cannot walk into Lowes or any hardware store now for that matter without stopping by to see what lovely color has been discarded by some poor, frustrated "just so" HIT (Home Improvement Technician) man or woman. I don't have to be all match-y match-y but it was nice that the paint just happened to match the inside of the leaves on the wallpaper.

And now that I've said all that, I'm back to work.

Vivaldi - Free Pattern!!!

2010-09-08T07:33:00.000-07:00

The Vivaldi Pattern is now ready to download. I originally uploaded this pattern like three years ago. But, if you guys remember, I had a similar pattern called "Nervous Nelson" and we had a little vote. It ended up that you guys (or my readers three years ago) preferred "Nervous Nelson" so poor Vivaldi got tossed. Well I feel that maybe poor Vivaldi here, my little operatic feline, didn't get enough of a chance so I decided to bring him back and let you enjoy the free pattern again.

So here he is in all of his "me-me-me-meow!" glory. To download the pattern, simply click on the link or photo above and when the downloadable version pops up, right click and save it to your hard drive. Please add 1/8" seam allowance to the pattern for best results (unless you want a really skinny kitty -- it's your choice!). I made mine out of felt but you can make him out of whatever material you choose. Please let me see your "creation" by either E-mailing it to me or uploading it to the q.D.paToOtieS Flickr group. Enjoy!

What I Did On My End of Summer Vacation

2010-09-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Birthday parties, an amusement park, a holiday, and last minute school shopping filled the minutes of our "official" end of summer vacation days and when the school bus pulled up this morning, the girls were a little tired but happy. Now I only have six more Birthdays to go this month and a pile of cards and packages almost as tall as one of my kids to mail out and I should be freed up until October when I have two more Birthdays and Halloween.

And am I getting any work done? Kind of. It's not the kind of work I had in mind. You see, having three children so close together really takes a toll on your house. My appliances are overworked and basically shot and need to be replaced. My walls all have little fingerprints on them below 4ft. which cannot be scrubbed because our builder put the thinnest coat of paint on them in the world and if I wipe them down, the paint wipes off too. So besides making bears and softies, I am a self appointed Home Improvement Technician, otherwise known as a HIT wo-MAN. I have got so much work to do it's amazing but I do plan on taking a break at night to do some crafting after I help the girls finish all their homework. I think I owe it to myself and the people who read my gibberish to do this for my relaxation and your entertainment (?) and I use that last word loosely. My only good news is that I found a Grand Opening date of October 11th for the new Hobby Lobby we are getting. Whoopie!

So I'm off to make a pot of coffee 'cause there's work to be done!

I ♥ Gnomes and Fabric

2010-08-30T05:36:00.000-07:00

I ♥ Gnomes, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I also love Spoonflower.com and all of the new possibilities I see for crafting. So far, I've designed a couple different fabrics and I am working on more. Some of them will be hand drawn but most will be my little computer generated "digital doodles." I'm also going to have some softies that you can just print out and sew together -- DIY q.D.paToOtieS! When I get all of my designs ready, I will have some fat quarters available in my Etsy.com shop as well as those DIY creations.

In other news, we got our "Welcome Back to School" postcards in the mail yesterday. School starts here next Tuesday, September 7th. This week is going to be INSANELY busy for me. I have my oldest daughters 7th Birthday (I can hardly believe it -- where has time gone) and we're taking her to an amusement park on Friday and out to pizza with the rest of the family on Saturday. We'll also be doing some last minute school shopping so expect my posts to be a bit irregular until they are actually IN school.

I want to give a shout out to Linda from "The Best Free Craft Articles" Blog for featuring many of my patterns on her Blog. Thank you so much Linda. It makes me so happy that you like what I do and makes me want to continue creating. You're the best!

Now back to school, birthdays, crafting and INSANITY!

Just Playing and Funky Colors!

2010-08-27T09:31:00.000-07:00

I was playing around with my software that I had re-installed and man is my color off on the other monitor! I did this little witch on my Lenovo and when I transferred it over to my Mac I was horrified. Blech. The colors don't look anywhere near the same. The colors on my old Lenovo or kind of toned down and almost grayish in comparison. I am definitely going to have to go back to the drawing board and make some adjustments. Because again. Blech. I wanted to use this to make special fabric for a project using my June Tailor fabric sheets.

So now you all know how I spent my morning. And now I'm going to go cut something out and spend the rest of the day working on it instead of my computer!

Enjoy the weekend!

From My Past

2010-08-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

My little hippy bunny was called "Give Peas a Chance." I was actually nominated for an award for this guy. I think he was one of my all time favorite pieces that I made over the years. He's got a needle felted face, paws, and belly with cream alpaca and then needle felted hair and "peace" belly button in tye-dyed wool. He liked peas more than carrots so decided to try to persuade other bunnies to switch over with a "peas-ful" protest!

"Squiddly Doo" was a little squirrel (6 inches) that I made about 5 years ago. He had alpaca needle felted face and paws and the rest of him was made from mohair. The tail was made from a special tipped mohair and was HUGE! It was wired so you could "pose" it and he was 5-way jointed.

"Arid, the Dryer Fairy" was the first needle felted piece that I made. I had purchased a needle felting kit (the needles and some foam) but didn't know if I could actually "do it." I didn't have any wool but had just felted some wool sweaters in the dryer. So I gathered up all the dryer lint and poked away with the needles and this is what I came up with -- Arid, the Dryer Fairy. He's the guy that steals all of your socks so you end up with "onesies" instead of "twosies!" I made his wings out of used dryer sheets and starched them. He has one of my kids baby socks (yep, my kids were that tiny at one time!

"Hide and Seek" was one of the larger pieces I created. Sorry for the craptastic photograph but these were taken with a film camera and then scanned in to my machine. Anyway, the large bear wearing a duffle coat has lost her little hamster pal so she sets out to find him by hanging up signs. He ends up hiding in her duffle coat hood! She was 12 inches fully jointed with an alpaca needle felted face, 5 way jointed with glass eyes. Her coat was made from wool felt and I crocheted her a scarf out of some coordinating wool yarn. Her little hamster friend was 1.5 inches needle felted from Alpaca. He was fully jointed and poseable too.

I ran across a bunch of photos last night while I was cleaning and decided to scan them in to my computer. I was on a "needle felting" kick about 5 years ago and these were some of the pieces I made during that period. They were quite labor intensive and really each one took days to complete. I didn't sell a lot of them but my needle felted work has been the only thing I have actually been nominated for an International award for in the 13 years I have been making bears, softies and what not. Eventually, I kind of got tired of doing it and I think most of these pieces are still with me but in storage. I guess they were good enough to be recognized for an award but not good enough to capture someone's heart meaning they didn't sell.

I kind of re-invent myself every couple of years. I think I know where I am going next. Please keep following me to find out!

Fabric Finds and Fingers

2010-08-24T06:37:00.000-07:00

Fabric Finds, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Well my fingers found this fabulous vintage fabric while thrifting this past weekend. What my fingers need to find is some Tylenol because they are aching from pulling weeds yesterday. So you can guess, I got no cutting, sewing or stuffing done after I weeded the front and side gardens for 3 hours. There were some pretty tough weeds and in hindsight I should have used my little garden weasel (or whatever that weed pulling tool is called that I hook up to my power drill). It whips them right out. But no, I thought I would be all tough and do it "old school." The only thing that proved is that I'm old. Pfft. Raspberries.

So over the weekend you might have noticed that I gave a little Snow Dude away. I will be doing that more often with my "samples" so if you happen to be hanging around you might be able to win something. Now some of these things will be brand spankin' new and some will have been around here for a while like things I have sent off previously to be photographed by the magazines.

Back to the fabric. Do I know what I'm going to do with it yet. Well, no. But I'm a fabricaholic so I never really think about what I'm going to do with it. I collect it for the pure pleasure of having it around haunting my shelves and taking up room in my workspace. I do love the design, the feel and the look of it all stacked up in there though if that counts for anything. The plaid fabric is really amazing. It's wool but you can tell it has a bit of mohair mixed in -- yummy! I'm wondering how it will felt and might have to try that with a small piece of it.

So off to take some Tylenol and whine a bit. I'll probably Blog tomorrow and maybe the meds will help and I'll actually have something to show!

And the Winner is...

2010-08-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

From the Pile of Entries...

that were later folded and put into a hat, my 5 year old daughter picked a single entry and the winner is...

Nomie!

If you can contact me or leave me an address where you can be contacted, I will arrange to send the little Snow Dude your way!

Win My Amigurumi Snow Dude

2010-08-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

Win My Amigurumi Snow Dude, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I know it's too early to be thinking about snow and Christmas but hey, I need a little something to feel cool. Since I'm approaching my 600th post here, I thought I'd celebrate by doing something cool for the people who read my constant blabbering by giving away a piece of my work. So you can win this cute little Amigurumi Snow Dude and it's easy peasy. To enter, just comment on this post and I will put all the names in the hat on Sunday, August 22nd at 6:00 p.m. and draw a name. One of my "helpers" will be picking the name out of the hat so you know I didn't have a hand with deciding the winner.

To give you an idea of his size, I put up another photo to your right. That was the original photo taken back in December when I made up his pattern.

Thanks for reading and following my Blog and Good LUCK!

P.S. I've heard reports of the comment "Word Verification" not working correctly so I've turned it off for this weekend until the contest is over. So if you tried earlier and couldn't get through it should be easier now.

P.S.S. I'm not going to use the info if you comment to put you on some "mailing list" or keep sending you stuff to tell you what's up with q.D.paToOtieS. I really don't have enough time for that and can barely make it here to post! :)

Jo-Ann Fabric's Craft for a Cause Contest

2010-08-19T06:53:00.000-07:00

I got my Jo-Ann's sales flyer the other day and was flipping through the pages and I saw that the are running a new contest called "Craft for a Cause." Even though I am not much of a contest person myself (for some reason I have a problem meeting deadlines for contests). If you are one of the finalists, you will win a $1,500 Jo-Ann Gift card and your charity will win $50,000. Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts will also be donating $90,000 to the top three charities that were chosen by entrants. The contest began August 15, 2010 and ends October 30, 2010 so there's still plenty of time. You can enter online and find more specific details about this contest on Jo-Ann's website.

Have fun and good luck!

We're Getting a Hobby Lobby!

2010-08-18T10:38:00.000-07:00

We're Getting a Hobby Lobby!, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I've actually know this news for almost a month and have been smiling every since I found out. I visited a Hobby Lobby with my friends Laura Lynn and Daphne Blau when I flew out to Chicago to check out the Chicagoland Teddy Bear show. I had so much fun there (and bought so much stuff that I actually filled two other bags I had brought with me) that I've been thinking, hoping and praying that we would get one here. And low and behold, on a whim I happened to check their website one day and we were on the list for getting a new store! They don't actually have to build a new store because it was the old Linens 'n' Things but they do have to stock it and hire quite a few employees. I really hope they have it open by Thanksgiving or for the Christmas season. I currently drive an hour and a half to go to Ben Franklin because it rocks the socks off of my local A.C.Moore, Michaels and Joann's Superstore. I can't see me giving up my quarterly trip to Ben's (ugh, 'cause there is a massive Goodwill store there too as well as Lowery's Restaurant on the way home) but I probably will buy a little less than I usually do.

So I guess I'll continue to check the Hobby Lobby website on a daily basis to see if there's an update on their Opening. I might actually put up a countdown clock when I find out the date. That's just how excited I am to be getting one locally!

Free Pattern for Creature From The Moldy Spoon

2010-08-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

Creature from the Moldy Spoon vs. Monopoly, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

And just who is the Creature from the Moldy Spoon? He's a small distant cousin (like 5th cousin twice removed I believe on his father's side) of the Creature from the Black Lagoon. I found a spoon with some moldy food on it in my kids room under the bed. I threw it in the sink to soak and it morphed into this "creature." To make your own "Creature from the Moldy Spoon" just follow the simple pattern below. But be warned, your game boards might be at risk!

Materials:
3.75mm Crochet Hook
Medium Weight Yarn
Polyfil
Needle
Thread
Small Piece of Felt
Embroidery Floss
Buttons for Eyes

Head:
Row 1: Ch 4. In first chain, DC 9. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 2: SC in first DC, 2 SC in next DC. Repeat until row is finished. Ch 1 and turn.
Rows 3 - 9: SC in each stitch. At end of row 9, tie off and leave a long tail.

Body:
Row 1: Ch 4. In first chain, DC 9. Ch 1 and turn.
Rows 2 - 8: SC in each stitch. At end of row 9, tie off and leave a long tail.

Arms/Legs:
Row 1: Ch 9. SC in stitch 8 all the way down the row. Ch 1.
Row 2: SC in each SC. Tie off and leave a long tail.

Assembly:
1. Using either your crochet hook or needle go around the neck of your head piece with the long tail weaving it in and out of the last row of stitches. Stuff with Polyfil and then pull the neck opening closed using the long tail (like gathering a drawstring purse) until it is about the same size as the neck opening of your body. Tie off and set aside.

2. Using your Polyfil, stuff your creature's body. Using the long tail, sew the neck of the body to the neck of your creature's head. Next you're going to make him some fins!

3. Lay your creature on it's side on the small piece of felt. Draw around the top of his head and that's the part you're going to attach to his head. Next make some spiky points for the top of his head. Cut it out and set aside.

4. With your creature still on the felt laying on it's side, draw around the back of his body and that's the part of the fin you will attach to his back. This time, make the top of the fin more like a half circle and cut it out. With his back fin, you are going to make slits with your scissors so it's still joined but fringed at the top. Once you've completed his fin, set it aside.

5. Attach your creature's eyes and using your embroidery floss, make a little smile or frown for him. Attach the fin to the top of his head and then the one to his back. Set him aside.

6. Now we're going to work on our creature's arms. Fold your arm in half lengthwise. Now sew it up with the long tail that you left using a ladder stitch. Tie it off at the end and repeat with the other three arms/legs.

7. Sew on your arms and legs and now your creature is complete! Hide your game boards though or he will be on a rampage!

Enjoy! Please remember that I only crochet for fun and consider myself an amateur. If you need any help on your creature, I will be happy to answer your questions but as for stitches, I may have to go look them up!

Thanks to Unanimous Craft!

2010-08-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Unanimous Craft!, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I won a free advertisement to tell everyone about my Softies and free softie and craft patterns I have here on the Blog! Woohoo!

What is Unanimous Craft you might ask? In their own words, it's a tagable, sortable directory of resources for crafters, artists and indie business owners. So it's a place to find crafts, stuff to make crafts and more! Cool huh?

I first found out about them on Facebook where I entered to win their contest for the Free Ad. I was kind of shocked when I did win but it was a good kind of shock. Then I threw down what I was working on (sorry to those of you waiting for the free Crochet pattern I was working on) and ran off to do a little graphics work. And about an hour later...Tada! There it was -- big, bright and hopefully eye catching enough for people to come visit here and see all the free goodies. And I did all that work with my software program (that was having problems) that I uninstalled and reinstalled over the weekend. It's the one I use to make up most of my patterns so it's pretty important to me as it should be to you too because it's much more legible than my chicken scratch handwriting and makes my patterns so much prettier!

Besides those two nice things happening, I also want to say a big, heartfelt THANK YOU to the good folks at Blogger for making my life a WHOLE lot easier. Now when the comments come in for moderation, instead of just an "Publish" or "Delete" choice, they've added a "Report for Spam" choice too. Whoopie! That just shows me what a great company they are because they actually listened to our cries of "Spam Relief" and did something about it. THANK YOU again from the bottom of my crafty little heart!

Crochet WIP and Relief from Summer Heat

2010-08-15T07:01:00.000-07:00

Crochet WIP, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Finally, yesterday was a practically perfect Summer day here in my little neck of the woods. It was bright, skies were clear, no humidity, and an occasional nice breeze to cool you down even more made doing chores and getting the weekly grocery shopping done almost pleasurable! And today, even though it's raining, it's still cool enough to sit on the porch and work out a crochet pattern for you guys without feeling completely wiped out by the heat. I have a couple of words to say about the situation and they are in no particular order: Woohoo! Woot! Yip yip! Hooray!

So here's what I'm working on. A wee little pattern and I'm not even sure what it's going to be yet. Since I'm on a Halloween/Fall kick, it will more than likely be something geared towards the season. I've written down the pattern for the head, and now I'm going to start working on the little guys body!

Stay tuned!

What Can We Do With a Friday the 13th?

2010-08-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

So, it's Friday the 13th. I usually have really good luck on Friday the 13th. I've gotten parts in plays in the past, I've won contests in the past and all sorts of good things have happened to me so I basically have no fear of the day. In fact, I almost welcome it and it's practically become my "lucky day" instead. The only bad thing to happen to me today (and hey, it could have been yesterday because I wasn't around) was that I lost a follower. So to whomever you are who I've either offended or thinks my crafting and/or softies are as stinky as yesterday's cheese, I am sorry! I know I'm a complete weenie but I always wonder when someone decides not to follow my Blog what I could have done to upset them.

Now what can you do on a Friday the 13th? Here's a few things:

1. The actual "fear" of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia. Learn to say it and then say it three times fast.

2. Watch the "classic" horror movie "Friday the 13th" alone. At home. Tonight. In the dark.

3. If number 2 scares you, watch "Tuesday, the 17th" which is an episode of the hit TV series Psych that spoofs the original movie. It's highly entertaining. I could watch it over and over again (in fact, I do!).

4. Go buy a "bakers dozen" (13) of your favorite treat -- donuts, cookies, etc.

5. Make 13 crafts for your favorite friends. There are more than 13 patterns here for sure so it should be an easy task.

So there's some ideas for you to pass the time on a normally superstitious day. Sorry my post wasn't very crafty but I am working on crafting so maybe I'll have something to show sometime soon!

Happy Friday the 13th!

P.S. If you're following me on Twitter, please let me know who you are when you start following me. I've had a lot of SPAM'ers start following me and so I just started blocking people that I don't know (or that don't have tweets dealing with crafts, softies, etc.)

Things I've Drawn Out But Never Made

2010-08-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

These are just a few of the ideas I've drawn out but I've never made. Actually, I decided to only show the ones related to Fall and even these three are not all of them. There are two more that I can think of off the top of my head and I can't seem to lay my hands on the images. They are probably on one of the two back up old computers we have here hanging around the house. Did I mention we really need to do a good housecleaning and get rid of some of this stuff we've been hanging onto? I'm hoping that will come this Fall as well.

Another thing I'll be welcoming with open arms this Fall is cooler temperatures. The oppressive heat and almost drought conditions we've had here in the Northeast has been almost too much to bear not to mention the worst allergy season of my life for me. So while you're creating try to keep cool and if you're like me try not to hurt yourself when you sneeze!

Some of the FREE Patterns on my q.D.paToOtieS Blog!

2010-08-09T09:14:00.000-07:00

Some of the FREE Patterns on my q.D.paToOtieS Blog!, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I was looking at my Blog and I could not believe how much stuff I've created and given away in three years. No, I don't need a pat on the back or anything like that -- I feel good about doing it. And this doesn't even include all of the free craft tutorials or recipes. I get joy from sharing with people, I've met some really nice people along the way and I can't deny that the comments they leave encourage me to keep on creating. So thanks!

Other Free Halloween-y Type Patterns

2010-08-08T12:39:00.000-07:00

After posting Count Truffula's pattern yesterday, I scratched my head and tried to think of any other free Halloween-y type patterns I may have posted. Here are a few:

Monkeynottukhamun, Mummy Monkey

Half Past Midnight, Halloween Kitty

Rosefrom Dagrave, Cute Crocheted Zombie

Pretty Little Monsters

I'm sure there will be a few more before Halloween actually gets here but these are some that you can start on to make for friends as "treats!"

Free Pattern for Count Truffula, Vampire Piggy!

2010-08-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

Free Pattern for Count Truffula, Vampire Piggy!, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Sorry it took me so long to upload this but when I went to open my software last night that I usually use to clean up my patterns, it said the link wouldn't work so I guess I will have to find my discs and re-install it. In the meantime, I am hoping you all can read my chicken scratch handwriting on the pattern pieces to make out what goes where!

Double Click to Open Larger File

Materials:
1/4 yard Felt or Other Material for Pig Body
Scrap Felt for Ear Lining, Mouth Lining, Eyes and Teeth
1/8 Yard Felt for Cape
Embroidery Floss
Yarn or Ribbon for Cape
Sewing Machine (a little too much to do by hand)
Poly Fil
Embroidery Floss
Needle
Thread
Craft Glue
Pipe Cleaner

Instructions:

1.) Copy and save pattern to your hard drive by double clicking on the pattern image. Right click on the pattern and then choose "Save Image As" and name the file.

2.) Print your pattern and cut out all pattern pieces. Trace pattern pieces according to the number required for each pattern piece onto your fabric.

3). Starting with the ears, line up the bottoms of both the inner and outer ear pieces and then topstitch the inner ear piece to the outer ear piece. You may tack them in place by pinning, basting or using some craft glue if you feel uncomfortable just sewing them without them being securely in place. Repeat for the second ear and then set aside.

4). Next, line up the notch on the fangs pattern piece with the notch on the mouth pattern piece. Topstitch the fangs to the mouth piece (as with the pieces above you can secure them the same way if you like before you topstitch) and then position it underneath the cut open mouth on the front pattern piece of your piggy vampire. Pin in place and then sew by machine or by hand if you choose.

5). Find the nose pattern piece and position it about an inch above the open mouth on the front piece of the pig pattern. Make sure it is centered and then stitch in place by hand or machine.

6). Position each eye between the mouth and nose and about an inch and a half from the side on the front piece of the pig pattern. Secure them prior to sewing with by basting or with a little craft glue just to make sure they are even before you sew them into place permanently. Sew them in place by machine or by hand.

7). Set the front piece of the pig pattern aside and sew all of your arms and legs making sure to leave them open at the top for a little stuffing. I did not turn mine but just clipped them close to the seam, filled with a little Polyfil and then pinned them to the right side of the front piece of your pig pattern making sure the open pieces of each part were pinned to the edge of the pig pattern and all of the closed ends of the arms and legs pointed in towards the mouth. Pin on the ears the same way. Set this aside while you complete the back of your pig.

8). Sew the back piece of your pig pattern from Point A to Point B and then from Point C to Point D leaving an opening to stuff your pig. Set this aside and work on your pig's tail.

9). Sew your pig's tail together. I didn't turn this either just clipped close to the edges and then inserted a small piece of pipe cleaner (bent in half) to make it curly. Set your pig's tail aside.

10). Pin the right sides of both the front and back pieces of your Pig Pattern together and then sew around the outside. Now you can turn your pig and clip as close to the seam as you can. Stuff your pig with Polyfil and you are ready to sew up his back seam. He's transforming before your very eyes!

11). Grab your pig tail pattern piece and pin at the very bottom of the open seam on your pig's back. Ladder stitch it in place as you are sewing up the back of your pig. Your getting close now -- he's almost done!

12). Lay a small piece of felt down underneath your completed pig. Cut out a rectangle the length of your pig and 1 1/2 times the width of your pig. Using a large eyed needle, thread it with yarn or ribbon and do a running stitch about 3 inches down from the top. Leave a long tail on each end so you can secure it around your vampire piggy's neck.

13). Count Truffula is now complete and is ready to start sucking the life out of all of your chocolates! I would hide them now if I were you.

Now that you've completed your Count Truffula, Vampire Piggy, snap a photo and send it to me or just drop it in the q.D.paToOtieS Flickr Group. I'll show off your creation and send a link back to you at your Blog or on Flickr.

As with any of my patterns, this is not intended for commercial use but just for the fun of making for yourself or your friends.

Enjoy!

Count Truffula, Vampire Piggy!

2010-08-05T15:16:00.000-07:00

Count Truffula, Vampire Piggy, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

As cooler weather drew near, it just so happens that a family of vampire bats moved into the pig barn on Farmer Chip's Chocolate Farm. Things were a might strange there anyway already. I mean Farmer Chip wasn't an ordinary farmer by any means. He raised Chocolate Bunnies for Easter, his hens laid Cadbury eggs and instead of diggin' for truffles, the pigs just made their own chocolate ones from scratch!

But when Farmer Chip noticed that the filling from the famous Truffles that he usually sold to the fancy stores in the city was sucked plumb dry, he knew that something was up. Sure enough, one of his prize truffle making piglets, Bittersweet, had been bitten by the vampire bats and transformed into Count Truffula, Vampire Piggy!

Now you might think this is a tall tale, but the next time you open a box of fancy chocolate truffles, see how fast they disappear. More than likely, Count Truffula is to blame. If you want to make your own Count Truffula so you can blame all the disappearing chocolate in your house on him, stay tuned as the pattern will be up tomorrow. You can make one up in time to share all of those chocolate Halloween treats that will be coming your way!

Road Trip

2010-08-04T12:52:00.000-07:00

Road Trip, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I took a little road trip yesterday with the family and am still recovering. It was a REALLY long day and somewhere along the way I managed to either eat something that didn't agree with me or pick up a 24 hour cootie. I have something all cut out too -- a new pattern for you guys. So when I am feeling a bit more like myself, I'll finish sewing it, tidy up the pattern and share it on the Blog. Until then, blurgh...

UFOs And Why I Both Fear and Cherish Them

2010-08-02T09:56:00.000-07:00

UFOs And Why I Both Fear and Cherish Them, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I keep a bag close by in my sewing room. At first, it was a tiny bag just for scraps of mohair that were too small to do anything with but too big to throw away. My "rule" for that being if it's big enough to eek out an ear then it's a keeper in my book. Gradually, the bag began to grow. I started filling with other things like projects I had cut out but never completed or projects that were nearly complete but I deemed unworthy and undeserving of being finished off -- you know, the stuff a lot of us refer to as UFOs or "Unfinished Objects." Vintage doll clothes that I had ordered online and arrived in "not as described" condition with holes or much LaRgeR than anticipated also managed to find their way into the bag and were now happily keeping all of the scraps and UFOs in there company. Eventually this bag that was once little became roughly the size of a small town in Rhode Island and was so large that I had to move it out of my small 5x8 sewing room and into a galaxy far, far away that we like to call the "basement." This move happened roughly a year or two ago just for reference.

Now, I just happened to wander down to the galaxy far, far away this morning on a quest for something else. By the time I got down there though with all the nagging from the children who whined because they also wanted become "space explorers" I had forgotten why in the heck I went down there in the first place. It's not unusual that I forget silly things like this because frankly, most of the time I can't tell you what I had for breakfast the same morning. Now the "galaxy" is packed with stuff that neither my husband, children or myself need but we can't bring ourselves to throw away (actually, I can but they can't which is just plain odd). It was while I was wandering, spinning and tripping over all the "space junk" down there that I saw a trash bag. I was thrilled that I found something that was probably from one of my own clean outs down there that I had obviously forgotten and could now justifiably throw away because it's neatly prepackaged in a TRASH bag so it belongs in the TRASH, right? Boy was I surprised and happy that I dug into the bag before I decided to dump it because it was the the same one I had stored away a year or two ago with all of those scraps, UFOs and vintage, unwanted doll clothes. The interesting part is though that what was originally thought of as just UFOs and other needless items was now a fabulous find waiting to be turned into new much smaller bears and quirky softies that I am now making! It seemed that time away from this bag gave me a whole new perspective on what is trash and what is treasure. What was once a scrap big enough to do just an ear two years ago would now almost do a whole body on my new bears. It was seriously like having Christmas in August which, again, I know it was supposed to be in July but I am perpetually slow so I'm used to missing deadlines.

The moral of this whole story is if you have items like I've described above that you think you want throw out just hide them from yourself for a little while if you have the extra space. Discovering it again may open up a whole new world for you and may make you look at your UFOs in a whole different light!

Vintage Fabric Finds and Hey...How'd That Monkey Get in There?

2010-08-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when I was out thrifting, I found this...

and some of this...

and a little of that...

and a little more of this...

and finally a few of these...

all in all, I'd say it was a pretty good day!

More Storage Options

2010-07-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

More Extra Storage in Vintage Jars, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I am always looking for interesting ways to display my supplies besides the plastic bins that I purchased at Target the other day. Vintage glass jars are wonderful because it gives you a sneak peek at your supplies without looking messy. So it's kind of a twofer -- great storage and pretty to display.

The chunky style peanut butter jar was actually passed down to me from my Grandma. I don't know if you can see it but there are some vintage bobbin shuttles in there from her treadle sewing machine that I also have and is another project on my list! I'd like to get it running again and refinish the case. It's an old Minnesota Treadle I think if I remember correctly.

Another VERY large jar and a great vintage tin I found when I was out thrifting. I plan to store some styrofoam balls in the big jar -- they'll almost look like preserved snowballs! I love the vintage cookie tin too with the faux needlepoint top. It seems like it is hard to find a tin like this that doesn't have a holiday theme so of course when I spotted it I put it straight in my shopping basket. The colors in the flowers almost match the ones on the plastic bins I showed you the other day so we're still coordinated without being too matchy-matchy.

Tomorrow is my "day off" away from the kids so I am hoping to get to my local hardware store and pick up some paint colors. Of course, I won't be able to paint until my kids get back in school but that's another story!

My Sewing Room "Makeover"

2010-07-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

Storage Bins for Sewing Room "Makeover", originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

My Studio, sewing room, office or place where I hide so no one can find me is going to be getting a "makeover!" I have purchased fabric and bins and soon I'm going to get some paint and just "have at it" so to speak.

I love the color of the tops on the smaller turquoise bins so I was kind of thinking painting my walls the same color. My carpet though is a deep green like the leaves on the larger bins so I'm not sure how it will all "flow" together.

I also managed to find some fabric when I was at the thrift store. It's a lovely vintage piece (actually, I got two pieces that are very similar) and it is marked Copyright 1956. The fabric was really the inspiration for the bins as they are kind of similar with the floral and turquoise but not too matchy-matchy.

It will be so nice to have everything where I can find it. I'm also going to change out my doll display and use dolls that are more anime/kawaii like my Blythes, Pullips, Dals, mod dolls and other big headed friends.

Some of My Favorite Magazines for Inspiration

2010-07-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

Some of My Favorite Magazines..., originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Inspiration, for me anyway, comes from many different sources. Sometimes it's something that I see on television (and yes, I watch a LOT of cartoons ☺), sometimes it's a vintage toy that I already own, and sometimes it's just something someone says in passing. Most of the time though it is just something that I see or read in a magazine that makes me want to "create." Besides the normal magazines I might read like Stuffed: The Crafting of Softies and Art Doll Quarterly, I find that magazines that feature techniques or even articles on repurposing tend to get the creative juices flowing even more. Here are some of my favorites:

Cloth Paper Scissors: I LOVE this magazine and have been buying it on the newstands for years. It's got great articles on not only on theart of manipulating fabric but also on how to combine fabric and other material for mixed media masterpieces.

Ready Made: A fun magazine dedicated to the DIY'er in all of us. Lots of repurposing goodness fills their pages as well as helpful household hints like how to remove stains, etc. I love this magazine because it is chock full of so many inventive ideas.

Green Craft: A new-ish magazine put out by Stampington and Company so it's got that great smell, feel and look that really only Stampington can produce. Plenty of repurposing projects from cover to cover and great photographs throughout.

Christmas 365: I just found this magazine the other day but already it's one of my favorites. Year 'round Christmas? I mean seriously could any holiday junkie ask for more? Mark Lipinski does a fabulous job of bringing together reminders of Christmas past as well as projects, fun and food for Christmas present.

HandCrafted: Another magazine that just popped up on my "can't get enough" radar. I love the fact that Stampington and Company (yes, I've already professed my ♥love♥ for them and just the way they do things) took the time to make a fabulous "Encyclopedia" of sorts for their best loved projects. It's kind of like a handy all-in-one reference tool. I found the latest issue which was Volume 6 but now I'll be on the lookout for Volumes 1-5 as well as any future releases to complete my "set."

Anyway, those are just a few of the magazines that I read in my spare time. They make me think and they make me dream. The printed magazine is quickly becoming a lost art form so buy them and really cherish them while you can!

Chickenhead Revisited

2010-07-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

Helloooo Lady!, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

So a couple of you thought that I should go ahead and finish poor Chickenhead and not leave him as a UFO (unfinished object) just collecting thread and lint in my sewing box. I took a little time yesterday and stuffed his little limbs and sewed them all on and here's how he came out.

Now, what I'm wondering is if I should just keep this one as a pattern too because truthfully, he didn't turn out as horrible as I imagined he would. He's kind of cute in a quirky kind of way and just in case you didn't know it, quirky is my middle name (ha! and you all thought it was Renee!).

Now I'm sketching out some new creations and picking out fabric to make more bears. I seem to be running out of stuffing though so I might have to make a quick run to Joann's Fabrics and pick some up (since our Walmart no longer carries fabric/stuffing). I might also have to clean my sewing room again because I tend to make a HUGE mess when I, er, create. Yikes! Maybe I'll add an "Enter At Your Own Risk" sign to my list of things to buy!

Mummy Monkey Monday!

2010-07-26T06:34:00.000-07:00

Here are few of the cute creations from the Flickr group featuring people who used the FREE Mummenottukhamen Monkey Mummy Pattern here on the q.D.paToOtieS Blog!

K0dama made this Amazing Love Monkey in a hotrod for Glen on Valentine's 2009. She was thrilled with the way he turned out and so am I -- he's adorable!

Batwrangler made one up in wool felt with perle cotton for the nostrils, mouth, and muzzle stitching and 6mm glass eyes. Eyes reddened and muzzle shaded with Prismacolor pencils.

Crafting with Cat Hair made hers up out of felt and used cheesecloth as her "mummy wrappings!" Great idea and too cute!

Thanks a bunch for posting those to the q.D.paToOtieS Flickr Group. I can't wait to feature more of your creations right here on the Blog. So if you've made 'em, you have 'em and you've photographed 'em just pop them in the Flickr group and I'll show them off here.

Thanks and enjoy!

Christmas in July

2010-07-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

With the Cartoon Network playing Christmas shows all day long, I thought I'd dig out some Christmas pics for your "enjoyment" - heh, heh, heh. Oh, and to keep me cool too. Seeing Christmas pictures in July when I'm dealing with temperatures still hovering around 100 degrees makes think of chilly Winter breezes, snow on my rooftop, and a fire in my fireplace...wait, that's HOT! Back to wintery thoughts, here are a few pictures of Christmases past. I'm considered "vintage" so ugh, you'll note the Aluminum tree with color wheel and some of the toys that are now unfortunately considered antiques (gulp!).

Here I am (in gorgeous Pooh Bear yellow) telling Santa (shhh...it's my Dad) what I want him to bring me.

Check out our groovy Aluminum Pom Pom Christmas tree complete with color wheel. I'm almost embarrassed to say I still have most of the stuff in this picture (including the tree) minus only a few things!

Yes, I still have most of the stuff in this picture too. Look how happy I am there with my Dollikin, her ultra cool Dune Buggy and my Humpty Dumpty doll. We were so poor you can see my sister had worn out the feet in her sleeper and her toes were sticking out!

By the way, there is a "Save the Chicken Head" campaign going on. I've had more than one person now ask that I please, please finish the little guy who sat in my sewing box for almost a year and who was the inspiration for my latest bear. So, okay, I'll give it a whirl! Who nose, with it being Christmas in July and all, maybe there will be a little "Christmas Miracle" and he won't look like a "Chicken Head" anymore!

Cheap Socks = Good Craft Material

2010-07-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

Cheap Socks = Good Craft Material, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I braved the intense heat (it was 113 degrees on my VW Bug exterior thermometer) to go out and grocery shop for my family because that's what kind of a mom I am. A mom who wants to have proper snackage available should they be hungry. A mom who is a provider. A mom who just wants to get the heck out of the house now and then! I really hate when my kids go back to school in the Fall but I do get a LOT more done it seems. But it sure is quiet. I almost think I need the noise to function properly at this point!!!

And what did I find for all my trouble providing for my kids and hubby? Well, besides the foam water balls I found the other day, there were other goodies on clearance like...SOCKS! I love socks,sock animals, sock monsters, sock dolls...all of which take plenty of socks, sOcKs, SOCKS! And I'm going to use these little babies to make fun projects to share with you guys. Who knows, I may find some time to add even add something to my Etsy shop. Okay, now I'm pressing it.

Anyway, try to keep cool, keep your eye out for great craft material, and enjoy the thrill of finding great deals just as much as I do!

P.S. This is me back in 1972 playing with my sister in some fresh snow that happened right before Christmas. I was using this picture yesterday to keep myself cool! Ah, SNOW! Glorious, wonderful, super cold, powdery then slushy SNOW!

I've Got the Balls for Crafting!

2010-07-23T06:26:00.000-07:00

I've Got the Balls for Crafting!, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Er, foam pool balls that is and I got 40 of them! I was filling up my cart yesterday at Target when I found these babies marked down 90% off of their original retail. They ended up being only .29¢ for a package of four so I bought all they had which was 10 packages. Now I have 40 balls to play with -- yippee! I know this all sounds kind of dirty but truthfully, foam pool balls are good clean fun. Just look at all the projects you can make here on the q.D.paToOtieS Blog with them:

Super Skinny Snowman
Christmas Boot Pincushion
Suey the Super Sock Pig

And from the Kitschy Witchy Blog:

Vintage Planter Pincushion

I was only a little sad that they didn't have any water footballs to make Suey the Super Sock Pig but that's okay. I think I have enough from my score at the end of the last "Summer Season." It's weird when Summer ends (according to the Retail world) right after 4th of July. If we lived by their calendar, my kids would be back in school and I'd be at a sitting back enjoying a comfortable 75 degree day but in reality my kids are running around me as I type this and it's almost 100 degrees outside. Hmm. Go figure!

Enjoy the projects and let me see what you make! There will hopefully be a couple more projects coming this fall now that I have this bag of "inspiration!" Anyway, if you do end up making anything, just drop the photos in the Flickr group and I'll pick some to show off every now and then!

And This Is How Things Happen at My House

2010-07-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

WIP, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

1. I look at a prototype that's been in my sewing basket for months and dub it "Chicken Head."

2. I determine that I don't even like the looks of it from the front because it looks like a flat boring lightbulb "Chicken Head."

3. I cut out a quick, make-shift pattern noting the adjustments I would like to make from scrap fabric. I used to use paper towels but I'm older now and like to live on the edge.

4. I work up just the head but then become "obsessed" about seeing the project completed so I move along, cutting out more pattern pieces as I need them and then putting him all together.

And really, that's just how it happens around here. Luckily, I have learned a few lessons along the way like to draw a second copy of the pattern out on paper right after I cut it out of fabric so in case it DOES work out and I end up liking what I made, I won't have to pull it out to figure out how I got from Point A to Point B! I, unfortunately, never learned that lesson with my crochet projects and after I make one, I have to make a second one immediately and make sure to right it all down the second time I work through the project!

I Dream of Softies

2010-07-20T15:11:00.000-07:00

My Cute New Harajuku❤Lovers Journal, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Seriously. I do. I dream of softies. I dream of fabric. I dream of what softies I can make with that fabric. I think it's quite normal but I suppose other people would think it was strange. I suppose I could be dreaming about some hot celebrity or something but I kind of grew out of that as a teenager. So now I just dream about what I can and want to create. My DH tells me I smile in my sleep. Sometimes I giggle. I keep a journal beside my bed so I can write down all of the ideas I come up with while in this very relaxed state some call sleep but I call working with my eyes shut. Today when I was out shopping I found the ultimate CUTE journal for jotting down those ideas that come in the wee hours of the morning. I think the added cuteness will help me dream in cute too. Or at least that is the plan!

Adding To My Fabric Stash

2010-07-16T13:42:00.000-07:00

Fabric, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

and I keep adding...

and adding...

and adding. And what do I plan to do with all of this wonderful fabric you might ask? Well, I did spend a couple of hours last night sketching out new ideas. And yes, I will share some of the patterns with you too because I am like that and I like to share. If I get enough done, I might actually stock my Etsy.com shop! Look for snow in July if that one happens folks!!!

Dog Days of Summer

2010-07-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

Ugh. One day of slight relief and then it's back to the sweltering "Dog Days of Summer." I always wondered where exactly that phrase originated and the nerd in me found out. It actually refers to the period between July 3 and August 11 when the "Dog Star", Sirius, rises with the sun. The event seemed to coincide with the hottest time of the year so the time period of sultry summer heat became known as the "Dog Days of Summer." I know, I'm just full of interesting tidbits of knowledge.

One other thing I do know is that you guys have been using my patterns to make some ultra cute softies of your own. I grabbed a few pics of softies you made using the "Hot Diggity Dog" found here on the q.D.paToOtieS Blog to show off on this very hot and muggy summer day.

Little Munchkins!, originally uploaded by meetmeatmikes.

Hot Diggity Dog by kiddo47, originally uploaded by kiddo47.

I will try to show off Softies from the q.D.paToOtieS Flickr group at least once a month and if more of you put your creations in there, I will bump it up to twice a month! Thanks for using and enjoying the patterns here!

Pretty Little Monsters

2010-07-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

Pretty Little Monsters, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I was going to put this up last night but my scanner was acting up. So I finally finished my monsters and have drawn up the pattern so you guys can make your own! I was going to upload it last night but my darn scanner would not cooperate. So here it is in all it's Monster-y glory.

Just click on the image above to view it at it's original size or click HERE. Then, right click on it with your mouse and save it to your hard drive. Or you can just print it directly from your browser and it should work. I tested printing it using Safari as my Browser and it printed as a full size page without any alterations (meaning I did not have to check "shrink to fit page").

There are instructions on the pattern but I'll go over them for you here as well. Please note there is a 1/8" seam allowance built into this pattern. Trace the pattern onto the wrong side of your fabric. Working with the two back pieces, place right sides together. Sew from Point a to Point B and from Point C to Point D making sure to leave your opening for stuffing. Open your fabric and then pin the front side of of the monster to the back side with right sides together. Sew, turn, fray chek and clip cures. Stuff and sew up the back of your monster using a ladder stitch. When you give him a face, you have a choice. You can either make a "cheering monster" or a "jeering monster." The "cheering monster" will have his hands up in the air and be happy and the "jeering monster" will have his hands down by his side and be all sad. So with one pattern you get a twofer -- two monsters in one!

After you make your monster, I'd love to see them. If you're on Flickr, it's really easy by joining the q.D.PaToOtieS group there. I will start picking some of the photos I find on there to share here on this Blog.

Enjoy!

I've Created a Monster...

2010-07-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

or two! Actually, they are still works in progress. I have to finish stuffing tonight, sew them up and then add their faces. But here they are so far in all their "cheeky" glory both struggling to get the attention they think they deserve!

hOoRaY! wE're aLmoSt COMPLETE!

wOrK on ME fiRst!

nO! wOrK on ME fiRst!

vIcToriOus!

SPAM Not Always As Delicious As It Sounds

2010-07-11T06:07:00.000-07:00

Ah SPAM. That tasty treat that has tantalized our taste buds for decades and has jammed our computer mailboxes for almost just as long. Here, at Blogger, there is no way of getting around people who comment just to leave a little SPAM on your doorstep. It's almost as pleasant as opening up your front door and finding a flaming bag of dog crap and when you try to stomp out the flame, you are automatically up to your pants cuff in something that looks gross but smells worse. I've never had that happen at my own house and I'm not about to let it happen here. So since Blogger does not have a way of blocking my fellow registered Bloggers who do not Blog but just have these "bare bones Blogs" set up so they can SPAM me with Pornography (which is not only annoying to me because I find it degrading but it's also a waste of their time because I'm a chick and I'm married), I've decided to fight fire with fire. I'm going to list the Bloggers here that have been annoying me with Pornography as they come up and if you report them you will be not only doing me a favor but doing everyone a favor. It takes time to go through comments and reject those that contain a little surprise and this is time I could be using to create stuff to share with you the people who actually read this Blog and leave nice comments. So here's my first list and this is just the past two days.

Anyway, I did not get around to finishing my Monsters yet because we got a bit of bad news about my oldest daughter. What we initially thought was problem for the Pediatric Podiatrist has now turned into one for the Pediatric Orthopedist. So we've been a bit concerned. We're making an appointment for a second opinion tomorrow so we'll see how it pans out.

P.S. I'm bored with the look of my Blog again so if you come back and it looks a bit different try not to let it throw you off. It's still me!

Here's What I Have To Look Forward To This Year...

2010-07-08T15:03:00.000-07:00

Here's What I Have To Look Forward To This Year..., originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

So I didn't get much done today because it is my birthday. I spent the day working on Monsters but I was interrupted periodically for presents -- I got a guitar, a Monster High doll and a Blythe doll -- and some interpretive dance routines the girls came up with in my honor. Then, we went out to eat crabs at a local restaurant. Now I'm back and stuffed. I'm not sure I can even sew at this point I am so full. Ugh, I had the "all you can eat" and didn't eat all day to make sure I got my money's worth and let's just say I did. I think I should have stopped 3 crabs ago but my mind kept saying "first crabs of the season -- eat 'em!"

Anyway, if I start to feel a little less full, I may waddle over to the sewing machine and do the final stitching on the Monsters. Thanks for all the well wishes to those of you on Facebook and i hope your day is as good as mine was -- enjoy!

Even Monsters Need Something Pretty

2010-07-07T14:54:00.000-07:00

Even Monsters Need Something Pretty, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

I know, I know -- I am probably the slowest person on Earth. But trust me, I have little obstacles that sometimes get in the way of me accomplishing everything I want to accomplish. Although, they aren't so little any more!

My five and six year olds absolutely REFUSE to go outside during the Summer because of a fear of bees. I don't think they are allergic to them (although they've never been stung thank goodness) but they are afraid of being stung. I can't say that I blame them because I remember being the same way as a child. So fear of bees stays but fear of monsters goes.

And speaking of Monsters, they did help me pick out some fabric for the new Monster pattern I am working on. They'll be made out of some new floral fabric I picked up over this past weekend at my local Joanns. I asked the girls why they picked floral for Monsters and they said because Monsters need something pretty too!

So stay tuned for "pretty" Monsters!

Doodle Takeover

2010-07-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

Doodle Takeover, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

So, it's 106 degrees here today with a light, warm breeze making it feel more like 110 degrees. I mean when you don't see any bees or butterflies out there enjoying what you have left of your flowers after two consecutive weeks of no rain, then it is just way too hot to be outside. So we stayed inside and doodled. And we doodled. And we doodled some more.

So far we've come up with a monster or two, an idea for a new cat and an idea for some woodland friends. We're going to start with the monsters first.

My kids have now made friends with monsters when just last year they were having me check underneath their bed and in their closets before they headed off to sleep. I guess they realized that no matter how scary monsters try to be, it's very possible that they need love too. So we're going to try to conjure up some creepy cuteness here that you can work on and have a whole Army of them by the time Halloween rolls around. All the craft stores are starting to get their Halloween supplies and patterns in now so I figure we better start here as well.

I'm not sure if you can see in the photo above but I have one little monster dude crudely sketched out and a preliminary pattern cut out. As soon as I turned my back though, the little paper monster doodle stole my pencil and started to draw himself a friend. That just goes to prove, that even paper monster doodles have to be watched -- they can be pretty sneaky!

Sewing Finds (and a Friend)

2010-07-04T10:19:00.000-07:00

Sewing Finds (and a Friend), originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Where was I yesterday when I said I was going to be "all about Blogging" from here on out? I was out hoofing it at Flea Markets and Thrift Stores getting a little physical exercise in and enjoying a nice Summer day. It wasn't too hot but I definitely needed an iced tea or two to keep me going. And what did I find while I was out and about? Oh, what I usually look for which is some great vintage sewing stuff.

First of all, I found this very large vintage sewing basket marked "Made in Japan." It's as pretty on the inside as it is on the outside and it was chock FULL of vintage sewing notions and old patterns. One of the sewing notions was something I was lamenting about not having just the other day. Remember when I said one of the features I missed using the Gnome was that it didn't have a built in seam allowance guide? There were actually two in this basket that fit conveniently over the machine's feed dogs. Also, some elastic, trim, thread and other items were like nice little surprised tucked inside waiting for me to find them.

Next, I found this cool vintage Dritz automatic scissors in a very pretty retro pink. I've already tested them out and they work like a charm even around curves! That will definitely save me some time and some tired fingers when it comes to cutting out a lot of softies/bears at one time.

Finally, I found this super cute planter with a gOoGly eyed little dog. You may ask yourself, what in the world does a planter have to do with sewing? Well, I am thinking that I'm going to fill his little pot with something and turn it into a pincushion. He's cute and I think he'd add a little cheer to my studio.

Also, I found some great clear plastic storage bins at Target. Well, they are clear but they have really pretty designs on them (flowers, stripes and bubbles). And they are large without being "too large" if you know what I mean. I also got some more shoeboxes in a coordinating color. I am in the midst of re-doing my whole house and my studio will be no exception.

And don't think I've forgotten about the freebie pattern. I did sketch something out but I just need to sit down and finalize it. And that will have to come after the 4th.

Enjoy the fireworks (if you have them where you are), food and good company but most of all have a safe holiday weekend.

Fiona Fuzzworthy

2010-07-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

Fiona Fuzzworthy, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Now that I've had an equipment test, I really need to grab some patterns, fabric and gumption and start sewing.

The last Softie I made was Fiona Fuzzworthy. I had some mohair scraps laying around and combined them with some new vintage-y style fabric and out popped Fiona. Okay, it wasn't as easy as all that there was some stuffing, some assembly and some other finishing involved. Now there's two things left I need to that to get started and that's time and a little kick in the rear and I should be good to go. It is nice to have the Gnome though because my studio is hot so now I can sit out underneath the fan and work.

Now to sketch out some ideas and see if I can get some real work done!

So What's It Like to Test Drive a Gnome?

2010-07-01T11:38:00.000-07:00

A Day With My Janome Gnome, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Actually my Gnome proved to be a little on the noisy side but other than that he provided a pretty smooth ride. Let me break it down for you:

Instruction Manual

Well laid out and pretty simple to follow in English, Spanish and French.

Initial Set-up

Pretty easy. The only thing I had a hard time getting used to is the thread is supposed to come of the spool in the opposite direction of my current machine that I use regularly which is a Viking.

Starting to Sew

Since this is a downscaled version of a regular machine, expect that it has downscaled features as well. There is no thread cutter (so keep your scissors handy), no seam allowance guide (so you have to find an "invisible" mark to line it up), no interior lamp which makes threading for the vision impaired a challenge (so find a good overhead source of lighting), and there are only two stitches -- a running stitch and a zigzag stitch. Both stitches have several different length setting which can be adjusted using a knob. There are four different length settings for the running stitch and three different settings for the zigzag stitch. The tension is also on a dial and is a little stiff making it difficult to adjust but I chalked that up to the machine being new. The reverse stitch control is a lever in front of the machine and is very easy to use. The foot pedal though small is well made and sturdy and is pretty easy to control (meaning it is not overly sensitive to pressure). The bobbin shaft has a clear cover and the machine comes with three clear bobbins which is nice because you can tell when you are running out of thread.

Humming Along

Since I use a lot of felt in my creations, felt was the first fabric I tested. It sewed a single thickness of felt very nicely with even stitching on the preset tension which was set at four. There are six different tension settings on this machine. So, I got a little braver and doubled the fabric to see if it would sew through two layers of felt. Without adjusting the tension or changing the needle, the Gnome did an excellent job. The feeddogs pulled the double layer thickness through with ease. I then switched to a paper towel to see how it would handle switching from thick to thin fabric. Again, there were no problems and it seemed to handle the switch well and with ease. In fact, my only complaint the entire time I was sewing is that this little machine is a bit noisy but other than that I think it did a great job.

Overall Opinion

For a lightweight machine that I can pick up with just two fingers, the "Gnome" a.k.a. Janome Sew Mini is a tough little machine. The exterior is solid and not cheap considering the price point. It also did very well considering it's lack of "options" and really the only thing I missed was the interior lamp because it makes threading the machine and changing the needle much easier. I think that it was definitely worth the $29.99 I paid for it (it retails for $59.99) and I think the "Gnome" will be with me for a while.

Meet My Little Janome Gnome!

2010-06-30T14:10:00.000-07:00

My New Little Helper, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Meet my new little helper! I had been looking for a small machine to take with me when I go to craft night at church, to shows to finish up last minute tasks and to classes. I decided this after my last class was on the fourth floor of an older building and I had to lug a 30 lb. sewing machine up several flights of steps. By the time I got to class, I was too pooped to partake. So after I recovered, a thought came to mind and that thought was tiny, compact and as light as possible without being too cheap. Now a friend of mine who also took the class had one of these little machines but it was pure, er, trash. It took her forever to get it threaded and by the time I had completed my doll, she was just starting. The teacher poked fun at it the whole time but when I got home after lugging my lil' heifer around I thought...I got to get me one of those babies!

And after searching online and looking around in sewing and craft stores, I settled on this little Janome who I've dubbed the Janome Gnome. I need to find a little gnome sticker and put it right underneath it's name to seal the deal. It's just what I wanted so far, tiny, compact (I bet I could get it in a backpack), and light enough that I can lift it with one hand. I was even surprised to find it had a foot pedal included. Now the real test to see if the Janome Gnome stays with me or not will be to test it out and see how it sews.

I'll let you know that in tomorrows post!

Stuffed Vol. 3., Issue 2

2010-06-28T18:12:00.000-07:00

Stuffed Vol. 3., Issue 2, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

Time has sure passed quickly since I went on my self imposed short lived exile from blogging. I mean I stopped blogging here and then started blogging on my new blog about all my adventures in thrifting, yard sale-ing and general downward spiral descent into borderline hoarding. And have I done what I thought I was going to do in giving up one of my loves which is blabbering on, taking up valuable Internet space and sometimes providing you all with a free pattern now and again? Nope. I have not. I am sad to say that I am still...wait for it...FAT. All in all, I am not surprised. I am proud of myself for giving up those addictive Facebook games because that took a lot of willpower. Unfortunately, giving up Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and occasional Mocha Frappe at the local Mickey D's is not as easy.

Mocha Frappe - 1
Farmville - 0

Mocha Frappe wins out every time. Okay, I did manage to lose a little weight but then my kids got out of school and I started to gravitate towards the junk food again. Apparently, I can't scream at them as loud with a mouth full of Pringles.

In the meantime, Stuffed Vol. 3, Issue 3 hits the news stands soon. I got my preview copy and am happy to say that I have two features in there this time. Suey, the Super Sock Pig and Ooo La La the French Chef Hippo both got their own spread. And I was all smiles from one chin to the other.

So here's what I was thinking. Why not try blogging as a way to entertain my idle hands? Instead of making one more dig into the cabinet for that last pack of stale Ding Dongs, I could be back here entertaining you all with my sparkling personality and wit. We'll have such good times -- just like we used to in the old days. And I might even be able to eek out a pattern or two every now and then.

Anyway, I will try. And you guys please keep encouraging me. I am still trying to lose weight and now blogging is my weight loss therapy.

Kitschy Witchy, My New Blog

2010-05-21T06:08:00.000-07:00

Kitschy Witchy Blog, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

As you all know, I have put a hold on this Blog while I try to "find myself", lose some weight and really get a little inspiration to continue making my bears, bunnies, and slightly-off-the-wall softies. I am still unsure of what will happen to this Blog in the end, if I will continue or not, but it does seem that I want to go in a different direction creatively. I have kind of been doing the same thing since 1998 and honestly, I am in a creative "rut." It's time to dig myself out, dust myself off and do something else that might in turn "inspire" some creativity and more importantly lead to some cool and crafty ideas that I can share with you once again.

Going with the idea of trying something else, I've started another Blog with my sister to show our Thrift Store finds and what we do with them. Call it re-purposing, call it obsessive compulsive collecting, or call it "kitschy." It, and my latest "ramblings", can be found here:

kitschywitchy.blogspot.com

Thank you all for sticking around, for continuing to read my sometimes insane ramblings and for understanding my hopefully short lived burnout. I guess it all comes with doing what we do and that is being creative. I will be posting some crafty ideas there so if you like just kitschy crafts in general or ideas of what to do with "stuff" you may find while out and about please stop by and visit. Also, if you have a similar Blog and would like to swap links, I would love to do that as well. So think happy thoughts that my creative spark will come back soon and that all these kitschy things I am finding while I am out and about will be the catalyst.

Progress Report

2010-05-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

So standing in the supermarket I noticed a Women's Day magazine with Dr. Oz on the front promoting his latest, greatest diet. He promises that if you try it you'll be slimmer by Memorial Day. Well, I have tried just about every diet in the book and I was sure if I bought into it that there would either be some funky supplement you had to go out and buy or worse yet a menu that included foods that I wouldn't give my dog. So while I was waiting for the grocery clerk to do a price check (I have some sort of freakish chromosome defect that inherently draws me into the wrong line at the grocery store EVERY SINGLE TIME), I decided to scan it for grins and giggles. I was shocked. There were no funky supplements and the menu actually consisted of things I like to eat. Even chocolate was included as a snack. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming (and yes, there was more than an inch involved). Somewhat inspired, I threw it on top of my groceries and glared at the cashier to speed it up. Glaring is one of my many talents -- I do it well.

I read the entire article when I got home and made myself a grocery list and saved it on the computer so I could just print it out again when I needed it the next week. I've been following this diet now since Sunday and I did have two meals that I've substituted because of Mother's Day and my Wedding Anniversary (Thirteen years can really feel like Fifty sometimes). I stepped on the scale this morning and was really bummed out. I hadn't lost a single Pound! I cursed Dr. Oz and Women's Day for obviously screwing up and shamefully printing a diet that was way too tasty to be true. Then, I looked down again and blushed. I have a vintage scale and had read it wrong -- I lost 10 lbs.!

I Am Taking Back My Life

2010-04-07T07:06:00.000-07:00

squared circle health o meter, originally uploaded by zen.

Okay folks so here's what the ch-ch-ch-changes are all about. Apparently the thing that's been a changin' the most is my rear end. It's gotten much, much larger than I ever imagined or expected because of inactivity and poor eating habits. I sit here on my computer and type most of the day or play the games on Facebook or chat on Twitter. I wait until the last minute until I get hungry and then just grab something quick which is usually junk. Truthfully, when I was a kid, I was stick thin. Then, I grew up, my eating habits changed, I had kids of my own and I hit 40 which is the magic number for you're going to have a much harder time shedding all those extra pounds you picked up on the way. I don't want to be this way anymore so I'm putting my foot down (or up as it may be) and am going to make some drastic lifestyle changes one of which is deleting a lot of my computer accounts. I thought about deleting this Blog but I decided to turn the Comment feature off so I don't have to moderate them (I get a lot of SPAM when I don't post). I also will not be renewing my Flickr pro account but will try to go through it and snag all of the tutorial/project related pics so they remain with this Blog.

So there you have it. To summarize I'm fat and spend way too much time on the computer. When I can control my urge to not sit here and type all day or play, I may be back. Thank you to all of you who have supported me over the years. I hope you enjoy the patterns and continue to give me credit if you end up using them.

Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes...

2010-02-19T10:54:00.000-08:00

New Blog Look, originally uploaded by qdpatooties.

What can I say but it's been an interesting almost two weeks now. Snow, snow and more snow kept my girls home for most of the month of February. In fact, I looked at their "behavior calendar" that they keep in their school folders and they've been in school a whopping four full days this month! Wow. I guess they'll be getting out of school this year around the 4th of July!

So during that time if you've popped in and out of here to see if I added anything new, you may have noticed the "look" of my Blog has changed not once, not twice but at least a dozen times. Maybe it's boredom or just that the snow has made me want a fresh look for Spring, either way, I think I finally found what I was looking for today. If you are a fan of thecutestblogontheblock.com you'll be happy to know that there are several sites out there that now offer the same service -- absolutely FREE backgrounds for your blog. Hotbliggityblog.com is one of the other ones that comes to mind and the one I ended up using this time is from Shabbyblogs.com. All three websites have a huge assortment of professional looking backgrounds for FREE so take your time if you enjoy Blogging and try some on for size.

Now I have to go clean my sewing room so I can actually get some work done. I hope you all are keeping warm wherever you may be. It's freezing here!