The End of an Era

Today was my last day FOREVER at my work. My boss took our little pharmacy team out for breakfast at 7 am this morning. Even though I go to work at 7 am normally it was a whole other thing to be eating out at a restaurant that early, although it was a very nice breakfast.

Cleaning out my desk and packing up was interesting. My cubicle was pretty big and it was amazing the amount of stuff I had crammed into every nook and cranny. I brought everything home from food to clothing to toys. Look at all that crap! Want a little peek into what I sat surrounded by each and every day for the last nearly 10 years?

Memo toast!!! (and little fuzzy guys). Have you seen memo toast? You push the lever and a piece of toast paper pops up. I thought it was too cute to use so I only used it for one note in the last couple years haha.

No office scene is complete without these dudes...and you must have the zombies too. This cube really did look like my real cubicle too (kind of). I wasn't missing a hand like she is and I didn't have a cat calendar.

And an old picture of me with some co-workers on a team I was on.

I don't know what to do with all the crap I brought home and I am waiting for it to sink in that I don't work there anymore.... It is very exciting though...it seems the possibilities are now truly endless.

Keeping Resolutions!

Remember when I said I wanted to work on more plush critters for fun and for shows? Well I realized I have already kept my "sort of" new years resolution. The other day I had this weird urge to make an octopus. Like most of my project attempts the first try did not work out. By the way in case it isn't obvious I don't work with patterns. I draw my own pattern pieces and through trial and error finish the piece. So the first couple attempts didn't work out. There have been times when I have been discouraged by these first failed attempts and the pieces end up stuffed in a drawer until I can get back to finishing them.

I decided to give this octopus one more try and wa-la! She (a cute pirate) emerged from the sraps of fabric. I decided to make her a birdie as well as equip her with some swords.

Another thing I have really wanted to do for a long time is make a pattern line. What would you think about this little octopus being the first pattern I offer?

She is made of a recycled/thrifted piece of blue and white striped linen for her body and the tops of her tentacles. The bottom piece is made from pink fleece. Her face has wool felt pieces and embroidery. The birdie is wool felt and is posed on a needle so she can be moved around. Every tentacle is wired so that she can be wrapped around things or just posed cute. Aye!

Things I bought Thursday

Hi everyone!!! Glad to see you again. School started back up this week and I have been back to stressing and using my brain a lot. Also my job is ending next week. I am sooooo nervous! I have worked for the company for nearly 10 years. They are letting me go because they do not want me to work part time any longer. I suppose it is a little bittersweet. On the one hand I don't like my job, and never have, so I will like to not have to ever go there again but on the other hand I have been there so long the idea of not being there scares me. Change is very uncomfortable for me to adjust to. Hopefully I will have more time to grow my BeBe Babies business and make up for the income loss that way (this is me trying to focus on the positive...you could call it a resolution if I made resolutions that is). Wish me luck...

Now on to the fun stuff. Don't expect this to become a regular post but I just realized since it's Thursday I could make a clever title. I have had a growing pile of stuff I bought lately and I have been wanting to do a post to share them. First off I went to Toys R Us before the holiday to find a gift and came home with more things for myself than the kid I was buying for. But how could I pass these things up? And if you have never been to Toys R Us with me and you are an in and out kind of person you don't ever want to go with me. I look at every last little thing on every single isle.

Mr. Grumpy Plush, Hello Kitty Sushi Plush and a wooden/rope hippo!

I mean how, tell me how, could I pass up these Hello Kitty sushi plush!!!???

And the hippo!!?????? Too, too cute! There were a bunch of these animals...I really wanted the elephant too. Maybe next time.

He can do a trick!

Also the Plushteam did a holiday swap this year and I got this cutie and some other goodies this week in the mail. This little lady is by Fluffy Flowers another awesome Plushteam member. To read more about her and my other goodies head over to this post on the Plushteam blog.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my new additions!

Happy New Year!

Well I figure I need to acknowledge the new year. I have never really been one to get all amp'd about the changing over into a new year. As a matter of fact I have slept through more new years than I have celebrated. Also I have never made new years resolutions with any real enthusiasm or conviction. So generally when people ask me what my resolution is I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind because even though I don't like making them I also don't like being the person that says they never make resolutions. I don't like playing the party pooper role.

While I was laying in bed last night trying to keep my eyes open until the ball dropped I did kind of think about what I might like to accomplish in the new year. Most of my hopes for the new year center around BeBe Babies and that gives me the most pleasure to think about. I guess they aren't really resolutions because whether or not it is a new year I still want to accomplish these things.

What are these things you ask? Well I started to make a list and ended up with three things listed and it was getting painful to think of more. Three seems like a really sorry list for a whole year so I deleted it. The only item on the list that I was even really was excited about was to design and create more plush monsters/critters for fun and for gallery shows. This is really my favorite part of making toys and I think I need to do more of it in the next year. Especially since I should no longer have a "real job" I should have more time for things like that.

Here's a recap of the "fun" plush I made in 2009. There seems like there should be more but I guess that is what the new year will be for right?

Thanks for all your support and friendship in 2009!!!!

It's a Christmas Miracle

I went to Christmas this year at my Dad's and he handed me a stocking. As I unwrapped the gifts I started to wonder if my Dad had lost it or if he had just cleaned out his junk drawer and emptied it into my stocking. There was a used deck of cards, air freshener and a bag of paper tubes to roll coins.

As my brother finished unwrapping his multiple gifts my Dad went to get my gift. He came around the corner with the largest wine bottle I have ever seen. The bottle was about half way full of change. My Dad proceeded to explain that it had taken him several years to fill the bottle in the past. When he cashed the change in the last time he had put the money/bills back into the bottle and started again on filling it. He knew how much I needed a laptop (okay I don't really neeeeed one but I wanted one and I do think it will help with school). So he said the bottle was mine...whatever was in it, no matter how much, was all mine.

Let's just say that I think my Dad was re-thinking his gift when the final tally of how much was in it came in. Today I went to get my laptop.... I ended up getting a macbook and at the moment I am in love with it. I might nearly love it as much as a human being. Plus I pointed out earlier it keeps my lap warm so it might really be all I need in this life.

Anyhoo since I have been sitting in a chair glazing over from staring at the computer so long I thought I would share a cute little shop I just discovered. These are Loopy Dolls. I want this shark one for my nephew so bad. He loves anything with Sharks on it. What I love the most about this doll is that when it is laying down it looks just like a shark. Go straight to the listing here.

I hope you all got everything you wanted for Christmas!!!!

Who Needs Bows?

I am just now starting to get my gifts wrapped and together and unfortunatly I didn't have any bows. Instead of going back out into the nightmare that is traffic right now I decided to just use one of my Christmas Cookie magnets. I think it turned out cute...what do you think? The cookie can be easily removed and is ready to decorate the fridge for Christmas!

I also finished a couple more plush Christmas candles. These were fun to play around with but I'm not sure anyone else would love them. I think I will keep them for myself in case they are dorky.

Things I am Working On

Well between stressing out about Christmas next week and standing in line for hours at the post office I have found some extra time to work on new designs/plush for 2010. I am really proud of this guy....I think he might be my favorite plusie yet. His name is Leo and he is a lion. Look for him added to my toy line soon.

Aaaand I have been making Christmas candles!!! I only have a picture of this one because the others have either found new homes already or are still in progress. I am hoping to make up a whole bunch of different ones with different faces. They are fun!

I hope everyone is having a good week!

Things I Bought Lately

I have been dying to get back on this blog and show you some of the cute things I bought lately. First up is the most adorable little cactus I have ever seen. I got her from Willy Nilly Waterlily on Etsy. How could I resist?

I also finally bought a print from one of my favorite artists, Helen Dardik. It is so awesome even though I still need to frame it and hang it. My other favorite part was the envelope!

And last but not least I also finally made a purchase from Chet and Dot whom I have also always admired. I bought these two little adorable creations at the Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Holiday sale over this last weekend. I don't know yet where I am going to put these items but I love them!

Soooooooooooo Exciting!!!!!!!!!.............

So remember when I was dying for these guys? Well a while back I caught wind of a blog giveaway on the Bluebottle Gallery blog. I have entered a couple blog giveaways in my time and I have entered in countless other giveaways just, you know, in life.... So it was to my great surprise that I actually won something!!!

What could it be?

Peeking out!

It's me!! Pilli Pilli!

Meeting a friend.

Long time travelling...must sleep....night night. Look at the tiny wings!

I am so thankful to have won such a beautiful creation that I already was in love with. Fate?

Admitting Defeat + Halloween!

I have come to some conclusions and cold hard truths this week. If I am going to do this school thing, I mean really do it right, I am going to have to put some other things on hold. I am going to have to be okay with putting said things on hold and stop beating myself up about it. It pains me to admit the things that will be put on hold are my crafting/doll/toy making projects . I am hoping that it won't last. I am hoping that I will be able to alter other commitments in my life to make more room for BeBe Babies but at this very moment it isn't going to happen.

Of course now is the worst time to do this. Orders are coming in for the holidays, I need to stock my own shop and people are requesting my presence at shows. The days seem to be flying by and the majority of thoughts in my head center around Beowulf, Espanol and mathematical functions. My brain is really resisting the above mentioned topics by the way.

So the things that will be different around here that you may want to be aware of:

- I am not going to do a giveaway on this blog every month.

- Shipping will be slower as I do not have the ability to get to the post office each day.

- Orders will take about 4 times as long as they used to. Orders are only available for stores that carry BeBe Babies.

- I will not be committing to any shows until further notice.

- Emails may not be answered for 24 hours or more.

- I don't know when or what dolls I will have available the rest of this year. Join my mailing list if you want to be informed when new dolls are listed especially since I will not be taking orders.

Whew it feels good to get those commitments off my shoulders even though just reading them gives me anxiety. I value good customer service and to me that means fast and available. I feel like I am taking those very things about my business away. But maybe good customer service is also good communication which I am hoping is counter acting what is being taken away. Sigh.

I appreciate every ones support and hope you will continue to support BeBe Babies until we are back to normal.

And now since that was depressing here is a picture of me bribing my nephew with mini m&ms because he wouldn't put or keep on his costume.

Sometimes It Needs to be Just for Me

Hi peeps! So this last week I was flat on my back with the pig sickness. Okay it's true I never went to the doctor to confirm it but I am pretty sure. I mean I have been on the Swine Flu Disaster Planning Committee at my work for the last month or two. I know ALL about it! I also have to admit the reason I didn't go to the doctor and get tested is because one of the nurses on the committee was tested and she said the test hurt like crap. Something about a long q-tip way up in her sinus cavity. No thank you sir that is not for me.

Anyhoo while I was camped on my futon for never ending days on end the only thing I really felt like doing was drawing (oh and cuddling with Maisy). Here are my doodles (do you see Maisy in there?).


I can never make this many awesome doodles without wanting to then create a 3-D plush version. I don't get these opportunities very often. It seems like most of my life I am doing something, making something, saying something, living somewhere just to please anybody but myself. It's these times, when I make something just because I want to, that I remember what this is really all about. Frankly it makes me damn pleased with myself.

Meet this dude.


The special thing about this guy is I created him completely on the futon. That means no sewing machine. That's right I HAND SEWED him and all his pieces. Do you see him up in the bottom left hand corner on my doodle page?


He is made of a mustardy (not a word I know) yellow upholstery fabric from my epic stash that is rarely tapped into. His boom box, headphones, teeth and tongue are all felt and his mouth is embroidered with floss. I drew on his eyes and eyebrows. He has wired poseable arms and the boom box is movable.


There's something about the happiness and hopeful-ness of his face that really cheers me up. And I need that lately. Things are tough these days. Most of the time I really want to hole up on a futon and sew up some of my doodles while my Mom whips me up some chicken noodle soup. But alas there are people to please. It was a delicious illness while it lasted......

A Winner and Some Witches

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted. It seems like I barely get a grip on the day and it's gone. Things are moving so fast! At least I am not alone. I thought I better get in here and draw a winner from my last post....and the winner is Carla!!! Woooohooooo congrats on winning Carla! I am going to have to start thinking about next months giveaway before it shows up and passes me by.

I was planning to get the little witches listed tonight but with getting a cold and my camera batteries dying it is going to have to wait another day. I really don't have time to be working on dolls right now but if I don't get these gals adopted I will have to save them until next year. They all came out so cute and I have been dying to show them to everyone but I keep being delayed by homework and life. I had wanted to create some kind of cool backdrop/set up to take pictures of them in but I just don't think it is going to be in the cards for me this year.

So here is a preview! I hope you like them! Look for them tomorrow on ebay! Happy Halloween! More pictures here.

It's The First Day of the Month--A Giveaway!

I have really wanted to do a giveaway on my blog but haven't been able to pull it together. I really wanted to have some sort of reason or format. So what I have decided is that each month on the first day of the month I am going to post a giveaway. It could be anything as each month will be different. I am hoping to have patterns, completed projects and more!

How to win...please just post a comment with your name and email address if you would like to win. I will pick a random winner in a week.

This month I received the newest magazine to do an article on BeBe Babies and Friends. Dolls magazine asked me a few months ago to participate in a new column called "Studio Snapshot". They are so nice at Dolls magazine because they sent me three copies! Of course I am keeping one and for some reason my Mom thinks she must have her own copy to save so she got one. I figured the other one would be a fun giveaway!

Dolls magazine has a great range of dolls and a lot of big pretty pictures. This issue is November 2009 and includes articles about Hildegard Gunzel (one of her dolls is on the cover), the RDGdoll line, Patricia Cabrera's BJDs and more.

I hope you will enjoy this first giveaway!

Save Boobs!!!

Well it has been a whirlwind week so far. I officially started part time at my J O B on Monday. That in itself is the weirdest feeling ever. School started yesterday and that was pretty weird too. As I was explaining to my brother....it feels like someone died and my brain hasn't caught up with the absense. I feel like next week my life will go back to normal and I will work full time at the job I have been at for nearly 9 years. It isn't going to happen though and I have to keep reminding myself.

School is a whole 'nother weird feeling. First of all I am going to Lane Community College and when I was in my junior year of high school I transferred to Lane's adult high school program. I ultimately received my high school diploma at Lane. The program no longer exists which is a shame because I loved it! I went on to attend Lane for a couple more years taking college courses but never finishing any degree. The point I am getting at is many moons ago I spent several years at this school.

Being on campus has brought back a whole lot of memories good and bad. I remember eating in the cafeteria with my now ex-husband. I remember working out in the gym with my cousin who I rarely see any more. I remember selling Mary Kay in the cafeteria (I know crazy right). I used to wheel this giant suitcase of cosmetics all over campus...it was (and still is) slightly embarrassing. Lucky for me I am going to have two more years to create some new hopefully good memories....

On to other things.... The Plushteam is having a fundraiser through the month of October to raise money for breast cancer awareness. This is a special cause as my own Momma is in remission from this terrible illness. I am thankful every day that for now she has beat this killer. I knew I had to contribute something to this event.

My piece is dedicated to my Momma.

I brainstormed for quite some time before committing and creating what I did. I didn't really think of how I felt but after finishing the "girls" I realized my piece came out kind of angry (and maybe a little funny) which is kind of how I deal with stuff that makes me angry, like my Mom being sick. I hope you like my piece...it is available for sale in the Plush team shop along with a bunch of other awesome booby creations!

Today is THE Day

Today is a really big day for me. After working at the same job for nearly 9 years today is my last full time day. Maybe that doesn't sound as huge as it is because it isn't my last day altogether but the thought of not having to be here full time is amazing to me. It makes me want to cry. I don't think it has hit me at all yet though because my eyes are bone dry. I thought I would have that last day of school excitement of cleaning out drawers and not doing any work but really it feels like any other day.

It is kind of funny though that our computer systems were down for most of the afternoon due to construction workers out front hitting a line or a power surge or something. That type of occurrence rarely happens but when it does it normally heightens every ones excitement: "will we get to go home?" "how long do we get to play solitaire and wander the halls?" but for me it just made the afternoon drag by. I actually would have rather been doing work so the time would have passed faster.

I had all these plans for a super celebration tonight and while I still will celebrate my lovely monthly curse hit me this morning and it has made me feel like not being seen. The thought of sweat pants and my new recliner sound much more appealing. The occasion must be marked though...it really is a big day....it really is the end of something big and the beginning of something bigger. I am sooo ready...I am more ready for this change then I have ever been ready for something in my life.

School starts next week! Oh boy oh boy!