Owner: Absolutely Small URL:http://absolutelysmall.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:40:49 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: My home base on the web where I share the things I create and the things that influence what I create. Paintings, softies, photographs and whatever else I happen to be making at the moment. Site statistics:Click here
A tale of two desks 2007-08-10 18:20:00 Daily Photo 8.10.07 Originally uploaded by chicken widget.This is part of my day job desk. Clear of clutter, distractions, work, life.If you scroll to the post immediately below this one, you'll see my home desk. (well, one of them) Full of clutter, distractions, work, life.This is my life.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
Chaos? Frustration? Overwhelmed? Must be show time again... 2007-08-09 17:31:00 Daily Photo 8.08.07 Originally uploaded by chicken widget.Hey, yeah, it is! I'll be at the Midtown Boutique Sidewalk Sales next weekend in front of Cool Cat Gallery. (Sacramento)I'll also be at Handmade Parade in October.Anyway, all the crazyness is making me question something. And that question is "Do I really still need to make jewelry?" I came to this question after a particularly frustrating piece had me nearly banging my head on the table. Not that I actually was. All the head banging would mess up all the tiny beads lined up just so. A brisk walk after this little meltdown got me thinking. Do I actually enjoy creating jewelry any more? The answer came almost instantly, and it wasn't all driven by frustration, "NO." I'd rather be painting, or creating a little plushie. Those things (mostly) calm me down and make me happy. Why not just leave the jewelry making to the people who actually enjoy making the jewelry? The funny thing is, I used to really enjoy making jewelry. My fir Read more:Chaos
, Frustration
, Overwhelmed
Thanks, Monday Artday! 2007-08-08 17:53:00 I won the Weekly Challenge award at Monday
Artday this week. The Weekly Challenge was:"Come up with next week's Weekly Challenge". My suggestion was that we create a toy/plushie out of an illustration that we've done.Now is a really good time to check the site out too, because in addition to the Weekly Challenge I suggested, the other Weekly Challenge (they always have two) is "No Pants".absolutelysmall.blogspot.com Read more:Thanks
Hello from the midtown boutique district sidewalk sale! 2007-08-17 14:21:00 I am at the sidewalk sale and kicking myself for not bringing a project to work on. Pestering you all is the next best thing!absolutelysmall.blogspot.com Read more:Hello
Enough is too much 2007-08-16 16:50:00 Blue Owl Softies Portrait Originally uploaded by chicken widget.I find myself operating from a state of near constent overwhem, a human perpetual motion machine. I am going to be making some adjustments soon...right after the show. This weekend, if you are in the Sacramento area, all the little boutiques along J street are having sidewalk sales. I'll be there too, in front of a gallery. Go forth and buy things. Anyway: here is a link to something neat: The Low Information Diet. Here's a quote from the .PDF: "What information consumes is rather obvious:it consumes the attention of its recipients.Hence, a wealth of information creates a poverty of attentionand a need to allocate that attention efficientlyamong the overabundance of information sourcesthat might consume it."-Herbert Simon Yeah. I need to make a few changes.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com Read more:Enough
Thanks Cuteable! 2007-08-14 14:27:00 Someone at Cuteable likes my softies! And they put together some great photo mosaics of my creatures, too!Have a look!absolutelysmall.blogspot.com Read more:Thanks
In love... 2007-08-14 12:39:00 lamby lamby Originally uploaded by chicken widget.Something new for me- pen and ink. Real ink, real pen nibs. I love it- it gives me the line quality I've been looking for for so long! Why did I not try this sooner?I drew up a few of these little cards yesterday...oh my goodness do I love to draw. I haven't had much time to sit down and focus lately- this was such a treat!absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
So...about the show... 2007-08-21 11:05:00 Sheep's Clothing Originally uploaded by chicken widget.Well...it wasn't a success in the traditional sense of the word...(you know, as far as selling stuff goes)But! It was a lot of fun. I met some great local artists. I manned my table next to Cinder the first day. He makes some great science fictiony paintings. I also met two Jens- One of Wisteria Forest and one of Indie Galore.(Thank you for the lovely write up, Jenn!) Both very nice and talented. Ryanne of Hipee Baby was there, and also the folks from Asbestos Press. And there was one other lady selling some great jewerly...and I'm afraid her name has completley slipped my mind. (I'm sorry!!)Also, you can now visit my work in person at the Cool Cat Gallery. And hopefully take it home, too!(About the painting: I know foxes don't eat sheep. That's not what it's about. He's only going to steal them.)absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
Illustration Friday- Visitors 2007-08-24 17:23:00 Opening the Gate, originally uploaded by chicken widget. An example of the kind of visitor you don't want.The fox in a lamb suit strikes again! Another painting with my new favorite fox.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com Read more:Illustration
, Friday
, Visitors
Bits. Also, bobs. 2007-08-23 14:21:00 Here's a little peek at what yesterday was like:Daily Photo 8.22.07 Originally uploaded by chicken widget. (click to see a larger version)I tried something new-ish: painting on little blocks chopped from 2 x 4s. Super cute robots seemed like the best subject matter. Here's a close up on the Chick Bot block.Chick Bot Originally uploaded by chicken widget.Manic/ Depressive bracelet set Originally uploaded by chicken widget.And, here's something I made a few weeks ago but am only getting around to photographing now: Mental Disorder Bracelets. This is the only one I intended to sell as a 'set'. Other bracelets: OCD, Germaphobe, Paranoid, Procrastinator...Once you get started, it's quite difficult to stop making them. This is my last stab at making jewelry (at least for now).absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
Absolute Press! 2007-08-21 17:40:00 Missing Originally uploaded by chicken widget.A few of my pieces are currently at a show in Miami called diy:mia. Well, the show's been getting a little bit of press, and I got singled out a little bit, too.I got a wee mention in the Miami New Times which you can read here.Yay! Quasi-positive mention by a tiny paper! Huzzah! (Upon reading this for the first time, my head got all hot. Really. Just like the Pedro.)absolutelysmall.blogspot.com Read more:Absolute
, Press
The Daily Photo Project Marches On! Celebrating 100 photos!! 2007-08-28 13:26:00 Last night, I posted what turned out to be the 100th DailyPhoto
! Hooray! That's almost a THIRD of a year. Sort of a big deal for me. It has been very tricky...sticking with a daily type project, remembering to actually do the daily type project... It's getting done, but very imperfectly. The part of that last sentance I am focusing on is the "it's getting done" part. There are ups and downs- parts where it ceases being fun, and other parts where it suddenly is fun again. It's good to know that it can swing back around like that! Here are a few picks from the last week:Daily photo 8.27.07 Originally uploaded by chicken widget This one's from yesterday. A brand new softie in a koala track suit perches on my ancient sewing machine.Daily Photo? 8.26.07 A Originally uploaded by chicken widget I couldn't choose which one of these would be the Daily Photo, so I just had A and B parts. (It's not her dinner- it's her treat jar. And yes, she got a treat immediatley after I shot the phot Read more:Project
, photos
What Do You Need? 2007-08-31 16:17:00 What do you need? Originally uploaded by chicken widgetNot to be confused with it's sister painting, "What do you want?"absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
Good to be a bee 2007-08-30 13:41:00 Good to be a bee, originally uploaded by chicken widget. Or so I imagine it would be. Zooming around, rolling around on flowers, getting all pollen-y. Good stuff.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
Random statements I feel compelled to make 2007-09-21 13:29:00 Again with the baby softies! Originally uploaded by chicken widgetI can only smell out of one nostril and it’s driving me nuts. I sprayed a sample of ‘Usher’ Cologne onto Topanga, just to see what it would smell like. Now she smells like an over cologned teenage boy.No one at work understands my Tokidoki bag. I am so pleased!I am freaking out over my lack of artistic abilities. I am flailing and directionless!I am not ready for summer to end. I have squandered the summer! Woe!Going without coffee midweek is going really well. Wait...why did I decide I wanted to go without coffee midweek again?absolutelysmall.blogspot.com Read more:Random
Part of The Absolutely Small Winter '07 Line 2007-09-20 17:04:00 Part of the AbsolutelySmall
Winter 07 line Originally uploaded by chicken widgetIntroducing: some new softies! In wintry colors! The big tan fella in the back is a Snow Monster. (Abominable? Nah.)The large grey cutie is a Koala Tracksuit. (Koala in a Tracksuit...with ears on the hood. I have a jacket with ears on the hood too, and it is wonderful. Everyone should have one.)Ahem. The two twins there are designed with babies in mind.One piece! Legs to chew on! No chokeable parts! And they are in cashmere and super poodley fleece. And last but not least, the tiny pink kitty. Bright green eyes, bright flannel body. Ready to rock!As always, many more photos avaliable on Flickr! (To go straight to the softies, click here.)absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
Chicken Tattoo 2007-09-17 13:01:00 Chicken Tattoo Originally uploaded by chicken widgetOver on Sugar Frosted Goodness, the weekly challenge was "Tattoo" (a few weeks ago). But, what with the vacationing and the coughing and the congestion and whatnot, I've only got it all together now. Too late for SFG, but still totally worth creating (and hopefully, viewing!). I colored this in with watercolor pencils. I've had them for years, but never really used them much. I must admit, I enjoyed using them and the finished effect very much!absolutelysmall.blogspot.com Read more:Chicken
Working on it... 2007-09-14 15:32:00 If you've visited AbsolutelySmall.com in the last 24 hours, you've no doubt noticed some changes. (Also a couple of broken links!) (Also: that font is TEMPORARY! I'm working on it!) Normally I wouldn't let something so deeply in process go live, but...this has a lot to do with taking advantage of the limited time my techno-savvy collegiate behbeh brother has to offer and a lot more to do with cold medicine induced bad judgement. Anyway, it's up. Ish. Do bear with me.This is just the latest in my ongoing scheme to keep life as crazy as possible. It's also a lot like the way cats puff themselves up to look bigger to their enemies.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
And we're back! 2007-09-13 13:04:00 Wait...you're going to Monterey? And you're leaving me?? Daily Photo 9.8.07, originally uploaded by chicken widget. These little guys are THREATENED! By something. Threatened!, originally uploaded by chicken widget. The ocean contains a bunch more pinkness than I imagined. Neat! Pinkness, originally uploaded by chicken widget. When not looking at natural things, we ate. And ate and ate and ate. Intermission, originally uploaded by chicken widget. There are a few more photos (Ha! A few.) here.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
Getting quiet 2007-09-06 13:03:00 closeup of Bulldouge, originally uploaded by chicken widget. Well, the blog will be quiet. The life will be busier than ever.I'll be going on vacation for the first time in...I'm really not sure how long. A very, very long time. So, as a preventative measure to not have my head blow up, I am writing myself a permission slip to not be around the blog so much for the next week or so. (Plus, it's a super good coverup for my current creative dry spell. Whoops. No it's not.)absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
Photos. Shopping. Links. (Groggy. No Title.) 2007-09-04 10:48:00 Two things to mention this morning:My brother has a thing for taking photos while he's driving. Dangerous, dangerous, dangerous...but the results are very cool. (See above) And now he's finally starting to post some of them to the internets! No Flickr for him- he codes it all himself. Visit him at www.amdubois.comAlso, as many of you probably already know, the Hipp Benefit Shop is now open! Help out a fellow crafty lady in need, get cool stuff. It's a beautiful arrangement. And the shop is only open until September 30th, so be sure to check it out soon!absolutelysmall.blogspot.com Read more:Shopping
, Title
Komaneko 2007-09-28 10:20:00 These little shorts combine two amazingly cute things: stop motion animation and softies. All wrapped up in a neat Japanese package. Komaneko sews her own softies to make films. (See short #1) This is my kind of cat.Also: anyone know where I can find a stop motion animation camera? I've been wanting to make stop motion films ever since I saw it on the Muppet Babies a million years ago.A million thanks to My Little Mochi for bringing this to my attention! Go there- she has links to more of the Komaneko shorts. Highly reccomended viewing.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
Hoping for snow this year 2007-09-27 13:33:00 Closeup of the Snow monster Originally uploaded by chicken widget...and taking it out on the softies!This little fellow (actually, pretty large fellow) is called Snow Monster. He's not abominable...but he's up to something. Hopefuly it's making me some snow. I think snow is the only reason for winter.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
Illustration Friday- Juggling 2007-09-25 10:09:00 Here's an illustration of me, as a chicken.I should have added more balls. Nine just isn't enough.Best viewed large.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com Read more:Illustration
, Friday
Bluebones and... 2007-10-04 14:27:00 Bluebones - handmade winged creature Originally uploaded by chicken widgetnothing else to share this morning. Why not? Lack of time? Well, not really, no.It *may* have something to do with the Game Cube finally being fixed and a rediscovered joy in playing the new Legend of Zelda game. It *may* also have something to do with reading this old post on Seth Godin's blog. That had a way of clamping down on my ability to write anything.(Wait...you're not supposed to write about your cat on a blog? Huh. All these rules! {*5 year old self* "I'm breaking the rules! Noooooo!"})But, anyway: Bluebones!Why the name Bluebones? Because the armature of the wings was made with blue pipe cleaners (the better to slightly be able to see them with). I then detailed the wings in a little bit of blue for some detail. Bluebones is sporting a little blue button collar. It's kind of tricky to photograph, on account of his super fluffy head. The collar is made from two different colors of baker's twine.The
Reluctant to knock the Plush Team contest post off the top... 2007-10-02 11:36:00 but the blog must move on. Oh, but first: update on the contest! It was featured on the Etsy Storque today! Thanks Etsy!Snow Bunny face Originally uploaded by chicken widgetRight, well, anyway. The reason I knocked the contest off the top was to introduce this little cutie. I'm calling her "The Snow Bunny", and she's the first, and probably only, Snow Bunny that I will ever make. I've been trying to make more than one of each of the softies, but that's not really me. I get terribly bored doing the same thing over and over again...I like to create new things from scratch all the time. This of course means I will have basically no profit margins at all, but who cares? I'd rather create what I want to create. (Not that I'm saying I'll never create another rabbit, or that there will always be only one of a given softie pattern- but the details will always be different, you can count on that!)Anyway: Details that make me happy with this creature include: *The extensive use of fancy p Read more:Plush
Announcing: The First Plush Team Contest Ever! 2007-10-01 10:49:00 How would you like to win these amazing goodies? I happen to have them here at my house, and let me tell you- parting with them will be tricky. They're all sorts of cute and awesome.How do you win these cuties? Simple- visit the Plush
Team Blog where all the details are spelled out for you. I'd respell them, but I'm lousy at spelling. I will say that the contest is a combination treasure hunt and word scramble, and a lot of fun. Also, it begins TODAY, October 1st, and it ends October 8th at midnight. So what are you waiting for?The official Plush Team Blog has all the information you need, including the treasure hunt list of which shops to hit to find the letters. Right here!(Hint: one of the letters is in my shop, making friends with a chick. That narrows it down, doesn't it?)absolutelysmall.blogspot.com Read more:First
, Contest
Coming soon... 2007-10-15 12:26:00 Daily Photo 10.13.07 Originally uploaded by chicken widgetA recap of Handmade Parade, complete with photos and links galore!In the meantime, I'm off to get an order packaged and get my 50 samples for the Sampler done.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
March of the business cards 2007-10-12 14:57:00 March of the business cards Originally uploaded by chicken widgetThings have been nuts. It's always this way before a show, so it's really no big deal. However! I seem to have misplaced my stack of business cards somewhere in all the chaos. They're just gone.With no time to get an order placed, let alone received, I did the next best thing. I made my own. I printed the bases out on the computer, and then hand painted a little chick on each one. While painting on beaks, I realized that this is actually the third time I've hand painted a run of business cards. Also, it's kind of fun to do this. So then I decided to number the backs as well. Might as well keep track. We'll see how we do at the show...but if any are left over, I'll be putting them into the packages of Etsy purchases.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com Read more:March
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