Top 5 Tuesday

Today I realized I was sending a lot of links on Twitter... so it was probably better to blog about them instead. Hello Top 5 Tuesday!

1. To start the first week of the new year, its a good idea to keep your computer in tip top shape whether its backing up files, deleting programs you don't need, or in my case, clear up some memory. If you're a Mac user like me, I found a really good article for 11 simple ways to keep your Mac running smoothly. I used six out all of them and improved my computer's performance by so much. Some of the major culprits were keeping too much clutter on the desktop, too many icons on the menu bar, too many shortcuts on my web browsers, and too many widgets on the dashboard. After all of that [and more] I increased my computer's memory by 96%! I knew my computer was running slower than usual, but I had no idea it was by that much! I'll make it a point to check on my computer every couple of months now.

Yummy New Colors!

I did some fabric shopping over the weekend. To my surprise there was a sale going on at the Fabric Warehouse: 40% off ALL fabrics! How lucky! I'm not sure if you are familiar with what a Fabric Warehouse looks like, but it is appropriately named. At least the fabric warehouses that I know of... they really look like warehouses! There are a few of them in my area. Sometimes I have to walk down a scary alley behind a parking lot or walk down a mysterious dark staircase! I always get an unwelcome feeling. A prickly feeling that I'm-not-supposed-to-be-here-because-there-are-bad-guys-waiting-in-the-bushes feeling! But once inside, I feel safe because there are always other customers. Most of them look like humble grandmas. If the warehouse is safe enough for grandma, than its safe enough for me! *Whew* this is an adventure in itself!

You Surprise Me! This is Why I Love What I Do!

Hello Friends! Happy Daylight Savings Day! Did all of you enjoy that extra hour of sleep when we turned back the clocks? As much as the next person, I would've preferred to be asleep while time traveling. I somehow woke up super early (7:30am which is really 6:30am) on a Sunday morning! But you know what? The sun is up and its a beautiful day! I'm going to make the most of it.

Last month I had some unusual requests on my Etsy. One of my customers purchased a rice doll and I was confused at first because they also sent in extra money. Too much extra money! It turns out that this person needed the rice doll sent via Express Mail. Whoa! Never in my life had I had a reason to send something via Express Mail. To me its a fancy, forbidden luxury like the candy in the mini-fridge of a hotel. I have been using the U.S. Postal service ever since I was 11-years-old. My usage was limited to first class mail. The letters to my grandma and my first penpal arrived at their destination cheap yet effectively. Express Mail?! The day had finally come! I'm rollin' with the big dogs now! I waited in line, nervously filled out the form, and off it went somewhere in the sky! The packaged arrived the next day. Whew! Mission accomplished!

My customer gave me enough money to cover the cost of shipping but there was so much extra. It wouldn't be right to keep it so I sent extra money back. A few days later when I had to mail another package I found a letter in my mailbox. It seemed familiar somehow but I didn't recognize the handwriting. It turns out that my Express Mail customer sent me a hand-written thank you note!! Oh my gosh! How sweet! <3 What a lovely way to receive feedback! I was totally shocked!

Also in October, an Etsy cutie sent me a message asking if I do custom orders. I love the idea of having something especially made for someone. So I try my best to do custom orders if I can. She liked my Fox Pouch a lot but wanted to carry it around like a purse and I came up with this:



Eee! I'm really happy with the way it came out! And even happier that my customer loves it. She recently sent me feedback saying that the strap was the perfect size. I was so relieved because I didn't have exact measurements. She did mention that she was "very short" and I am very short as well! So I adjusted the strap to my height and then compared the length to some purses that I owned. I guess me and my customer are the same size lol.

You guys are so kind! I have been working on my Etsy shop for almost a year and every step of the way I have been embraced and supported by the crafting community. Sewing makes me happy and I am so incredibly happy and grateful that you enjoy what I do. Thank you everyone!

I'm Back and Open for Business!

Hi All! I've been having an absolutely magical summer! The last couple of weeks have been bliss! I spent the last couple of weeks traveling from coast to coast. I still have to sort through all my photos and videos! I'll probably share some tidbits from my trip when I'm finished editing everything. But more on this when its time :)

I got home last week, took a day to relax, and this week I've been back to work developing new designs, sewing, and stocking up my Etsy shop!



I'm happy to announce that there are a few new items available in my Etsy shop!



The All-Purpose Fox Pouch! It fits a lot of things for a little bag. Its small enough to put in your bookbag or purse, but large enough to be used as a clutch bag! It can fit all of your essentials like keys, wallet, phone, and there's still plenty of room.

And for the first time, I'm making my eye patches available online. I used to sell these at anime conventions. For now, I am selling them in black, but I will have other styles available in the future.



Two new cutie rice dolls are available in my shop now. Teddy Love in periwinkle! The fabric is soft and fluffy. There is only one available because I had just enough fabric to make one. I really like how this fabric feels, I'm hoping the fabric shop has more like this (and in more colors) the next time I go shopping!

I always save the best for last. I made a French Bulldog-shaped rice doll! Ah! I know its weird to keep gushing about French Bulldogs, but I think they are the cutest dogs ever! I don't have the time and space to own a real dog... so I made a doll because I love them so much. This one is special because it has an action-tongue! I made it so that the little felt tongue sticks out, just like a real dog! This is the perfect dog because it doesn't need to be fed or walked. It doesn't even poop! It only requires your love :)

My shop looks really small right now, but I still have more surprises to come! I have tons of ideas that I wish I could share right now, but not just yet.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hawaiian Hamster

My good friend Yvi loves my Etsy shop**, but wanted something extra special made for her. How could I say no? :) She had a few suggestions on the design though. She introduced me to "eye pillows" which I found out are the same kind of rice-filled pads that I've created. The only difference is the shape. Its meant to fit over the eyes for "sleepy relaxing time", or over the forehead for "ouchie migraine time".

This is what we came up with together. I like to call it "Hawaiian Hamster".





I really like this design! Its a lot easier to make than my rice dolls. Its just a rectangle... with stuff on it. The face is still handsewn. I've also added a flower for the first time. I think it came out pretty cute! I think I might make a few more of these for my shop to see if anyone else would like one. Since these are easier to make, I can price them a lot lower than my dolls too. Yay!

Yvi was totally cute with her suggestions! She gave me a list of her favorite colors and favorite things. And based on the fabrics I had, I sketched out some possibilities:



She immediately picked out the hamster! Which I was super excited about because hamsters are like... my #1 animal! haha! I've owned hamsters since I was a kid and I know them pretty well :)

Speaking of... this was one of my hamsters, Bambi-doll. She passed on a long time ago, but I still remember her. Bambi-doll was one of my favorites! I used to treat her with a biscuit and she would walk all around her cage with the big treat in her mouth... trying to find the perfect spot to put it down. It was almost like watching a dog play fetch! It was so cute!



Things have been super busy so far! I have tons of stuff that I'd like to share still! I have a Twitter if you'd like to keep up with my daily adventures. And also a Tumblr. I haven't exactly figured out what Tumblr is supposed to be used for yet. However, I like to use it as a collection of pictures and colors for ideas and inspiration... oh yeah, and also share lots of pictures of funny French Bulldogs! What can I say? I think they are AMAZING!

**please note: my Etsy shop is on vacation mode for the time being. I'm working on some amazing things and will re-open it sometime in August.

What the heck are Rice Dolls?

I have been super duper busy preparing for the upcoming craft shows this weekend for JC Village Art & Flea Market and Single, Mingle & Bark. I wanted to share photos of my progress so badly! Sadly, I have been too busy sewing to even do that. Every day this week I've been sewing into the wee hours of the morning! And I can do this without coffee! I don't mind so much. I'm having fun sewing that time just floats by. And I get to watch a lot of DVDs at the same time. Its gnarly!

My rice-filled dolls aren't a new idea, but I feel like its part of some sort of underground culture. Most people don't know what they are. But when I actually do meet people who know what they are, its like we have an unspoken gang symbol or something. haha! I love how excited people look when they see my version of these rice-filled bags. For the rest of the community, I find that I have to explain what they are. And sometimes people are plain confused that they're filled with rice and wonder if they'll actually work. I don't mind at all. Its kinda fun to introduce them to my critters. I've broken it down in this chart:



hahaahaha, that cat cracks me up!

I have tons of new rice dolls for this weekend. Anything left over from this weekend will be put into my etsy shop I'll do my best to take photos of this weekend!

More Rice Dolls for Etsy (Series 2)

Over the past few days I've been hard at work to come up with new designs for my Etsy shop. I thought it would be fun to show a few behind-the-seams (Sorry! Couldn't resist a bad pun there!) er... behind-the-scenes look at my work area.


Two new designs! Boo-boo bear in teal and Baby Walrus!



I come up with my designs by drawing them first in my sketchbook. Usually my ideas come out as quick doodles and then I elaborate on them later. Or sometimes they look like this and I figure things out while I sew on my sewing machine.



This is the sewing machine that I use. Its actually the same one that my mom used to make all of my grade school Halloween costumes! Its older than me and still pretty reliable. In the back is a fried egg & bacon plushie that my friend Angie made. I hope she doesn't mind that I turned it into a pin cushion. We're in a recession, and unlike many, this egg has found long-term employment. So no need to be upset, in fact, I think we should be jealous.



"Ahh! My eye! Help meee!"



Hand-stitching



Series 2 available at the Bennyville shop!

If you're new to my blog, the dolls that I created have a dual purpose. They are actually hot/cold packs to relieve minor aches and pains! They are filled with rice and scented with peppermint. It can retain heat when it is microwaved. Alternatively, when placed into the freezer, it can be used as an ice pack. Pretty cool huh? I think these are better (and cuter!) because they aren't filled with chemicals or made of plastic and you also don't have to worry about filling a wiggly bottle with hot water. That's just an accident waiting to happen.

I had a lot of fun making these. I hope you enjoy them too :)

I haven't forgotten about Top 5 Tuesday! I've had a busy week and so much I want to tell you about but it will be late. I definitely have adventures to share! Stay tuned <3

Top 5 Tuesday: Etsy Extravaganza!

This edition of Top 5 Tuesday is an Etsy special! There are a couple of things that I've been eyeing and I'd like to share :)



1. Foodie Soaps by Soapopotamus! I particularly like the ones that she molded into breakfast foods. I have to repeat that these are actual soaps and not food! They look so real! The fried egg even looks like it has some flecks of black pepper over the yolk! Gosh, I really want to get these because I think it would be hilarious to have guests over and have them wash their hands with a fried egg or a piece of strawberry toast! omg! That would be the joke of the century! Soapopotamus has lots of soaps to choose from like donuts and cinnamon buns. But she does not limit the shapes to sugary confections. She even has some that are shaped like roasted chicken and false teeth! I want to be this girl's friend. She sounds like a lot of fun!

2. Breathers mini comic series by Justin Madson. I met Justin at Mocca Festival a few years ago. His comic books caught my eye when I passed his table because of his interesting character designs. He dresses his characters with goggles, wings, and robotic arms. I picked up Breathers vol. 0 for $2 and it was a very quick but deep read about a post-apocalyptic world where the air isn't safe. Its a sad tale, but I'm still interested to see where it goes.

3. Bear vase by Prettyrandomobjects. I was never really into pottery until I saw the work by Joanna Mendicino! Everything she makes is so cute! I love the simple face on her critter planters. I seem to have inherited a green thumb from my dad! I'm planning on raising African Violets someday and I would love for them to live in these darling pots!

4. Little Red Riding Hood Shirt by Em & Sprout. I have always been a fan of Lindsay's designs! Lindsay is an internet darling who was formerly known as "kid pirate". Now she extends her cuteness as Em & Sprout and is also the brains behind a sister site called Sick for Cute. I have a hard time choosing which shirts I want because I love them all. But I think I might end up getting this one because Little Red Riding Hood was one of my favorite children's stories (aaaand its in a lovely shade of green!)

5. Custom Cupcake Necklace by Migoto Chou. How cute! I love that she lets you customize something special. Its everything from the color of the frosting, the flavor of the cake (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry), toppings, to the scent! These would make wonderful gifts, or even a gift for yourself :)

Do you shop on Etsy too? If so, please let me know some of the things or shops you like. I love looking around Etsy!

Have a great week everyone! <3

Open for Business!

Hi Everyone!

Ok, the super duper amazing project I've been holding for so long can finally be revealed! I'm happy to announce that I've opened the Bennyville Etsy Shop! I've been wanting to do this for years but the timing was never right. I've been brainstorming on things I wanted to make and finally settled on something I'm comfortable with. Hand-sewn crafts!

I was taught by my mother on how to sew when I was a wee-lassie; just short of that awkward puberty stage of life. Sewing was something I've always been around. My family has humble beginnings and handmade clothes were one way to cut corners and save some money. My mom told me stories on how she would make her own bras and panties when she was a teenager! When life started getting comfortable, sewing became less of a need and more of a hobby. My mom's sewing abilities became limited to hemming pant legs to fit our short legs, fixing torn seams, and halloween costumes.

This is me as Raggedy Ann


When my mom felt comfortable trusting me to sew independently (those sewing needles are dangerous!), I would create doll clothes with my inexperienced hands. This hobby eventually grew into my love for cosplay.

Big Apple Anime Fest 2003 as Sumomo from Chobits
Made by me, and a little help from mom!


So here we are today, my not-so-secret-project for 2009. Now with a few more years of sewing experience (but will never be quite as good as mom)! My etsy shop!!



The idea behind my shop is to provide cute handmade pieces that are either wearable or functional.

These are brooches that can be pinned almost anything! My personal favorite is the cheeseburger pin! It looks good enough to eat! I am also a big fan of Pokemon! So I created a couple of felt mascots in their honor. Pictured above is Combee (female) and Marill the water mouse. Just wait until Combee (female) evolves into Vespiquen. She'll become a force to be reckoned with! Bug Pokemon are not the weaklings you once thought they were!

I've saved the best for last! The Bennyville Rice Dolls! I was first introduced to the idea by my pal Risu and I wanted to create my own spin on the idea.



These are reusable heating pads that are filled with rice. They are easy to use: just pop them into the microwave for 30-seconds and you can keep your hands cozy warm or relieve minor aches and pains.

You no longer have to mess around with the old fashioned hot water pack. Its dangerous to fill those with boiling water especially if you're clumsy like me! Why not have a cute one that's safe to use instead?

Alternatively, they can be frozen for a few hours in a plastic bag and used as an ice pack. And the best part is that they come with an outer-covering that is washable! Just don't wash the inner rice-filled pack or both of us will be very sad.

I made a few original designs including: Boo-Boo Bandaid Bear, Honey Bunny, Mischief Kitten, and RoboPanda!

I have tons of design ideas, so please check my shop if there is anything new. These are all handmade by me, so if there is anything that is sold out, I'll be sure to restock as soon as I can. Right now I'm only shipping within the US. This is only because I'm getting used the idea of opening a new shop. I plan on shipping everywhere eventually ;)

Love,

Sarah