Dinosaurs A Go Go

This week has been a very busy one fulfilling actual commissions for actual dinosaurs people actually want. 3! All in one week! That was my Christmas rush then! Still I was very pleased to do it and also managed to do a few felt Christmas decorations around the edges aswell. This weekend I can rest a little and finish all those knitting projects I told you about in a smugly manner.

As he has already gone to his new home I can introduce you to the following fat spotted chap. The others are still under secret guard:

And if you are thinking about Christmas you can skip on over to my Folksy shop and peruse my wares!

Broken Neck

I have had to open a Dinosaur Hospital! One of the little boys I know in the village, whose mother purchased a dinosaur from me at Xmas, seems to have very strong hands. He managed to virtually decapitate his toy, which was a bit distressing to see and pretty amazing if you have ever tried to rip a soft toy in half - it wasn't the seam that broke but directly across the fabric? I can only think there was some sharp nail involved.... Anyway, I took in the poor unfortunate animal, patched him up, and he has gone home now sporting a new scarf to remind his owner about the poorly neck. He even had a discharge letter, signed Yours Dr T. Rex. I hope that the good doctor will not be getting any other patients!

Folksy Friday - Dinosaurs Rule!

OK all this week I have been posting on the wrong days, but what can I say? I am trying to be organised but almost not doing it correctly. So in the same vein we have a Folksy Friday, on Thursday. Doh!

I, and my little daughter too, love dinosaurs! And I make a few too, which you can find in my Folksy shop. This one is Rainbow who is a little dotty............

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Anyway, here are a few other dotty dinos from Folksyland, that have caught my beady eye.

1. Hobbysaurus by Sue2
2. Ceramic Personalised Decoration by Dotty Pottery
3. Dinosaur notepad by She Draws
4. Faux Dinosaur Scarf by Freshmade
5. Steggie by Molly Moo and Jessica too
6. Baby Stanley by Pink Tree Studio

Nervously go I to the Craft Fair

As I have had an epic FAIL as regards getting stalls for any of the larger fairs I applied to this year, I am in the ridiculous position of doing my first Christmas season stall on the 18th December. Hopefully people will still want Christmas Decorations, and anyway, what a good time to be selling my last few off. As it is, I am in two minds about making many more for the sale itself, I know that the last thing you want is to run out of stock early, but neither do I want to be stuck with lots of out-of-season merch. Because lets face it, online sales of Christmas items are not going to carry on for many more days!  I guess my only alternative is to get upstairs and make some enduring classics for gifts and the like.

My best seller, on Folksy and in the little stalls I do at toddler group are my fleece cuddly dinosaurs, the wonkier they are the more people seem to love them. I have done so well with local commissions this year on the dinosaurs, both large and small, that I can only hope that their appeal will endure after Christmas, as I do like making them!

Happy Fleece Dinosaur Chewies

This is my prototype for a friend who wanted a Triceratops doll.
He turned out so cute, I am making her a blue one for her son, this one can stay mine! 

Dinosaur Doings

I  have been beavering away in the evenings making all the dinosaurs that I have been commissioned to make for Christmas. Quite a few have come from local connections - I did a stall at the village Toddler Group, and although sold very little on the day, many people contacted me subsequently to order a custom dino. Result! It just shows that you should take every opportunity, no matter how small it seems, with good grace. Because you NEVER KNOW how things will turn out.

Needs his eyes sewing on!

Got to get on and make a bunch of these guys in blue

Last main task: figure out how to make a triceratops baby dinosaur. OK I have figured it out on paper, but when I start to sew it I will know if my calculations are correct. Better make a prototyposaurus!

New Day new dinosaur

Actually had a functional day today and got a whole lot of things done. I put it down to the tiring but oddly rejuvenating effect of having been to two parties in one weekend. This happens rarely and I must point out that they were the sum total of all my social engagements for quite some time! Anyway I soothed my post-hangover hangover (too old) with a batch of spiced apple chutney. Now have three jars in the larder. Yum!

Another sunny cold day today, we've really had to root around and get out the coats from their various hiding places. To my happiness this baby beret that I knitted last year when I was pregnant is actually getting an outing even if I was told it makes the baby look like a gypsy (is that a bad thing? I can't really work out why!).

Have finished a fun new dinosaur friend, inspired by the baby and her love of toys that have a handle on them. We have lost her toucan; she used to love hurling it from the pushchair then watching us all race after it like greyhounds. Now I bequeath the same 'joy' to others by creating this strange big tailed dude, Rex. He's waiting for you in my shop!

Folksy Friday - Spaced Out

It's Friday and I due to having seen 4am (ouch) I have been rather spaced out. I smell a theme coming on!

Robot and Rocket Pegs by Spaldilocks

Rocket the Dinosaur by Made by Dolly

Space Invader Earrings by Tessies

Astronaut Cushion by Sixes and Sevens 

Rocket Man Cape by Iwishiwasa

Oxford Museums Trip

On the home front this week we have been on a mammoth trip to Oxford to 'do museums'. Mainly for DDSnr to see dinosaurs, but we did all get to have a quick look around the Pitt-Rivers (what a treasure trove) and the Ashmolean, which is lovely after it's overhaul. Also had an unexpected visit to Wadham College porters lodge to shelter from the torrential rain. Due to the rain the museums (which are free) were very very busy! But it was a great day and when I get the opportunity I would like to return to the Ashmolean and have a good poke around without crying babies.... I can say at least it has a good cafe, but beyond that I saw little as we spent all our time there in the Education Suite watching DDsnr do a picture!

Some more dino friends

Have just posted off my first dinosaur commission. I felt proud but a little sad as I mailed off Swampy last week, and now the orange twins JH asked me to make for her. It's like when your kids go off to school for the first time, but with more postage fees.....

Never set yourself targets

because it makes you stressed! What with unforeseen child illness, having to finish 6 tabards for the pre-school carnival float and other such fun, my 'easy' target of sorting out a few items for Folksy seems doomed! But I have opened the shop, at least, and will list the dinosaur and bib that I HAVE made asap. Asap means tomorrow, or the next day.............................

Busy Busy Busy

Was delighted all this week by the post! My internet fabric buying spree has borne fruit of the most delicious kind and I have a million and one projects to do now. I have taken a picture of a selection of my favourite, check out the Retro Rocket Rascals.



Prototypes of things to sell continue to be produced, in rather a bodgy way I have to say as I am trying out a few things and have been a bit lazy about my prep and finishing. So I know that these baby bibs are crumpled and wonky but lets call them a work in progress. OK? Also there you see T the Test Dummy Dino who is destined for hard washing to see what happens. Ulp!


My latest creation.... the Apron Bib, which I designed to look like a tiny apron, with a crumb catching pocket, and ties at the back as well as fasteners at the shoulders. This one will do for the baby but I think I need to work on it a bit more before it's acceptable. Perhaps I should just be less impatient....

Introducing Eggy and Peggy, the Prototyposaurus'

Product development is underway for the dinosaur toys and doorstops I plan to make for selling. Stage one was to test out and modify the pattern by making toys for my two girlies. They were instantly named Eggy and Peggy (one is the girlfriend of the other, according to Izzy). When I can source some beans and curtain weights I will start on making some with heavy legs.
In the picture Peggy has still got pins in her eyes, I haven't finalised which buttons I should use for her eyes. She looks pretty belligerant with the big black ones! I am still tinkering with the mouths too, which aren't as neat as I would like.