Handmade Fav: Squshies

In a effort to promote handmade, I started featuring some of my favorite handmade shops. Please check out these amazing shops and support handmade! 

Today's featured shop is Squshies, which is run by the amazing Danielle!

What is it that you make/sell?

Felt Animal Ornaments, Hoop Art and Needle Felted Sculptures

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What is something unique about your shop, process, or how you got started?

I started making felt animals as a fun thing to do in between job searches but it quickly replaced my job search. I've loved cartoons and animals for as long as I can remember and I think the Squshies are the perfect combination of two things I love. All of the Squshies are handmade and designed by me and my husband. We try to caricature the features of the animal that make them special. Every Squshie is made of eco-fi felt. We hand cut and hand sew each piece of felt for every Squshie.

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What is your favorite product and why is it the perfect gift?

Favorite product? That is a tough choice! I personally love the weirder animals that we make, aardvarks and elephant seals, animals that you usually can't ever find in stores. Great for an animal lover that prefers the more unusual. Our dog ornaments also make great gifts for any of the dog lovers in your life.

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Danielle also did an awesome collaboration with Cody of Lu & Ed! The super cute Gabos Ornament is a limited edition ornament that was designed by Danielle. A portion of the sale price is donated to Drumm Farm, a home for kids and young adults in the Missouri foster care system. http://drummforkids.org/

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You can keep up the latest Squshies products and news here:

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Handmade Fav: Love & A Cupcake

In an effort to promote handmade this holiday season, I am featuring some of my fav handmade shops. Please check out these amazing shops and support handmade! 

Love & A Cupcake makes amazing crocheted goodies. If you know someone who has a baby or is expecting one, this is the shop to get the perfect gift!

 

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These crocheted button up boots are perfect for keeping little tootsies warm this fall. I need to grab a pair for Amelia before she's too big to wear these little cuties! I love that these can be made in any color!

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This diaper cover and beanie combo are so adorable and would be perfect in all those newborn pictures! I like how versatile they are to be used for everyday wear too! 

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Speaking of pictures, how cute would your little cowboy be in this get up! The best part is, this can also be used for a girl with a change of color. This would make a great keepsake that you can put in a shadowbox to hang in their room.

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I really wish we had some of these cocoons when Amelia was born! Easier than swaddling, great for professional pictures or just a snap shot while they're sleeping.

Follow Love & A Cupcake to keep up to date on their amazing products!

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Her hair is getting long, so I've been looking for some cute headbands to keep it out of her face. I found a tutorial to make the ones you knot, but I think I'll end up ordering some off Etsy. Let me know of any cute headband shops.

This past week was filled with a visit from MeMe, climbing on the couch, learning to feed herself from the squeeze pouches, and finding out some snacks aren't too bad. This lady is on the move, and will probably be walking in no time!

Manga Quest: Kitchen Princess

It's no secret that I like cute things. Add in baking + romance and you get Kitchen Princess. Kitchen Princess is a shoujo manga written by Miyuki Kobayashi and drawn by Natsumi Ando. This manga started my obsession with wanting to eat flan, and made creme brûlée take a back seat.

Sadly I am missing a few volumes from my collection: 2, 3, and 6. My manga quest is to buy these volumes and re-read this adorable, feel-good manga.







Kitchen Princess is about an aspiring young chef with a flawless since of taste and a heart of gold searching for her "Flan Prince". This mission takes her to the prestigious Seika Academy, where she faces many challenges and love interests.

If that doesn't have you sold, there are super cute recipes at the end of each volume.



Do you have any manga to recommend for my next Manga Quest?

Scrawny Girl Shop Update

I've been working hard on a few new patterns I hope to share soon. In between thinking up new ideas, I've been trying to crank out a few chibi dolls.

If you missed out on the giveaway at My Life as A Teacup, you're in luck because I have another Teacup Doll that I just listed today! I only have a small amount of this fabric left, so this cutie is limited edition.

This fabric is actually from a Chelsea & Violet shirt I bought myself for my birthday a few years ago. It had a weird cut to it, so I never wore it, but it was too cute to get rid of. I am glad I am able to reuse it, and hopefully someone else will enjoy the pattern as much as I did.

Am I the only one who buys random things because they are cute?

The other doll I listed is my very first Halloween Doll! Halloween and Fall are my favorite time of the year! I found some really cute fabric, so prepare yourself for lots of spooky cuteness in the next few weeks.

After talking with my business adviser (that's my sister lol), I've decided to lower the prices in my shop. I think I was looking at too many other doll makers and what they were charging, and even though I was charging less it still seemed like too much to me. I want people to be able to afford my dolls and enjoy them! I want the doll to make your face light up like it does my daughter's each time I show her what I'm working on. With that being said, my Chibi dolls are now $8, and made with lots of love!

I've also added my first illustration for sale in the shop, at the insistence of my business adviser. ;)

You can find out more about my inspiration for the Princess Mononoke Illustration here, or purchase your very own copy here for only $5.

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I always said I would never post a picture of my kid in the bath on the internet, and here I am....But her face is too funny. My mom got her these little animal bath toys that shoot water at you. She had the funniest reaction to the water hitting her, mostly this face and a look of disbelief.



Here she is eating an alligator. Her first tooth is starting to come in and she has to constantly chew on something. Teething is the worst, and I feel so bad for her.

Do you have any tips to help a teething baby? I'm all ears!

Scrawny Girl Shop Update: Chibi Dolls

I just listed 4 of my Chibi Dolls for sale in my Etsy store. I am working on a few more that I hope to list this weekend, so stay tuned for an update. :)

My Chibi Dolls were inspired by my original Scrawny Girl dolls, The Powerpuff Girls, and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, who inspired the BIG bows! If you don't know who Kyary is, check out this fun video:



I am currently working on lots of fun patterns and thinking up Christmas goodies! In the works is a boy doll and a mermaid.

Are there any dolls you would like to see made? I'm hoping to make some time to work on my Power Ranger pattern. :)

****SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE**** As thanks for taking the time to read my blog, I am giving my readers a special discount code through MONDAY August 5, 2013. This code is good for 30% off a Chibi Doll! Please use code: BLOGLOVE01

Thanks again for all your support! :)

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Amelia and I are hanging out at our local Starbucks, drinking coffee and using their wifi. I'm hoping ours will be working again by this weekend because I have a shop update planned for Saturday.

Amelia's cousins bought her this cute tutu (which you can barely see). She had a fun time crawling around in it and mostly trying to get it in her mouth. She has been teething and throwing off her sleep schedule (and mom's), but I bet we see some little teeth soon.

Can you believe it's already August?! What plans do you have for the rest of your summer? We have plans to visit the ranch, and get a visit from MeMe at the end of August.

Blogosphere Reads

Source

Here are a few of my favorite posts from the week! Happy Reading!

Speaking of reading, here is a fun giveaway with My Life as a Teacup.

This post will inspire you to check out your local used book store.

This sounds like a great idea. Can't wait to make my own and share it.

Originality is something I think about a lot. Thanks for the link Lemon & Raspberry!

Got a good read to recommend? Leave a link in the comments.

Jubitron the Girl Robot, A Review

The first thing I did when I got my iPad mini, was look for some cute apps for Amelia. Jubitron the Girl Robot is the first one I found, and Amelia loves it! For .99 it has been a huge help at bedtime calming down my cranky little one.





The graphics are cute and interactive. The music is great! Amelia has been digging this app since she was 3 months old, and I can't wait for her to learn how to read so she can read the story to me. There is a 'read to me' option that has the cutest British narrator.









This is Amelia's favorite page, because she can touch the head and make the lightbulb pop out! Again, the music really makes it!













I've been recommending this app to all my friends with children. I hope they make more stories of Jubitron and the gang soon!

You can get your very own copy at the Apple App Store.

The opinions here are my own, and I was not paid to do this review. I just thought this app/story was cute and rad and wanted to share.

Do you have any children's apps you would recommend? Leave a comment, I'd like to check them out!

New Doll Design: Kawaii Ears

I've been coming up with new doll designs, and I obviously have a thing for animal ears. I've been working on more embroidered faces, and in the future plan to add cute sayings or some song lyrics to the bodies of the dolls. I had 'Lost At Sea' by Eisley stuck in my head while thinking up this doll. Hopefully, if my design works out, I will have a new doll for sale in my shop soon.

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I had a hard time picking a picture this week because there were so many cute ones! This is Amelia discovering bubbles for the first time at the birthday BBQ we were at this weekend.

Scrawny Girl Etsy Shop Open

I tried a few different selling platforms and decided to stick with Etsy. I felt like this was the best decision for my business for now. I have 7 handmade dolls up for sale, with 3 of them on sale. The sale dolls are patterns I designed, but didn't love. I'm super excited to have found a focus, and I have really enjoyed designing and sewing these dolls. I can only foresee lots of fun experimenting with my designs, and improving my sewing skills.

Please check out my shop and let me know what you think or if there is something you'd like to see! Thanks!

Happy 5 Months Babycakes!

Today Amelia is 5 months old! Time has flown, and half a year will have passed soon! I've been craving sweets and curious about what is actually in red velvet cupcakes. After looking at a recipe, turned out I had everything on hand, except red food coloring. Luckily I had hot pink food coloring, so I made pink velvet cupcakes.





Amelia loved watching the mixer, and I managed to get powdered sugar everywhere.







I also managed to double line every other cupcake. I have no idea what was going on there. Lol.





I think they turned out pretty awesome (I only had 5 for dinner). It was my first time making a cream cheese frosting. I used Paula Dean's recipe, I tweeted the link or find it here.

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Eating 'real' food is hard. LoL! She actually really likes it, she just wanted more.

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Today we got home from visiting my husband's parents for his birthday. LaLa made an appointment for Amelia to get her pictures taken. She was so cute!

Sadly, when we got home, we discovered our puppies had dug out of the yard and had vanished. I had a nice girl call to tell me she had Loki, but Duo is still missing. Loki was found over 2 miles from our house, where he had to cross several busy streets and the loop. We searched all evening, but never found Duo. I'm worried because it's supposed to freeze tonight, but I'm confident someone took him in.

Amelia has been trying to cheer me up all evening. How can you not smile at her cute face. I also ate some cake.

Cross your heart and kiss your elbow that we find him tomorrow. I plan to call shelters and put up signs in case his collar came off in his adventures. Please come home Duo! 😭

Happy Hipster Easter Dress Round Up

I still haven't found the perfect dress for Amelia to wear for Easter. Probably because I am a bit unconventional and don't want her in some crazy fluffy tulle monstrosity, and I can't find anything small enough. But here are some cute things I would possibly get her, if they came in her size:

All this cute Harajuku Mini stuff at Target drives me crazy! I want it all for Amelia, and I wish it was small enough, (and big enough for me too!).

Bobo Choses has some really unique pieces. I like how laid back and comfy everything looks. Also, you need to be able to move freely if you are going to get your egg hunt on!

Wunway has some rad, original pieces that I can't wait for Amelia to be able to wear. Their styling on the website is super cute! They have tons of cute dresses and leggings.

What is your kiddo wearing for Easter? Know of any cool and original shops or designers?

Handmade Fav: My Kawaii Phone

For a while now I've wanted a decoden case for my phone, but all the ones I found were super expensive. I entertained the idea of making my own, but got overwhelmed with all the different cabochons and also the time it would take to glue all the pieces on. I stumbled across My Kawaii Phone on Etsy, who not only had  great prices but does custom cases. She has a new online shop on Storenvy where she sells her cases, and now uses her Etsy to sell cute cabochon sets.

I ordered a custom case, (pictured above) and was so excited to get it! She has awesome customer service and fast delivery! She also makes cases for other devices! I can't wait to get one made for my DS! She makes all sorts of other cute things too! So please check out her shop and support cute handmade!