home sweet home

It was a busy week for some of us, but the holidays were definitely well spent. Now that we're back home, there has been plenty of time to catch up, slow down, and enjoy as many layers of blankets as we can get away with; while it continues to snow outside. It's that cozy reminder of what matters most. I love being home for the holidays.

again

It has reached that time of year where it's time to put away the yarns, rest my hands, and say that the holiday rush is -more or less- complete! My Etsy shop will remain open through the next few days leading up to Christmas, but anything closer to the 20ths of December and it's just cutting things too close for me to promise anything in time.

It actually takes a lot for me to slow down and turn off my brain, after a consistent wave of being busy. When I find the time, and say that I plan on doing nothing for once, it is a total lie. Like when I said I was 'done with making toys' for the season, and started making Christmas gifts within the same breath; toys, scarves, paintings, ornaments. Yeah, I am my mother's child. There is no such thing as doing nothing, in this house.

I'll be taking a very nice chunk of time off from toys, to plan some things out for the new year. I'll be coming back with some new patterns, some time for custom orders, and some fun and fancy giveaways to my followers/fans and furry friends. I don't want it to stop! Don't forget, I do a lot more than just make toys... so it won't stop. I don't know how to stop, so you're lucky.

And so, if I haven't overdone it already, I just want to say thank you ALL for your love and support.. AND for the smoothest season I've ever had! No sore fingers! You have no idea how grateful I am to get to call this my job. Really. For real. I mean it. Thanks!

wintertime

Once Upon a Wintertime is one of my favorite wintery specials.

cuddle weather

Turns out the bedroom mattress spent the weekend in the living room. It makes up for not having a couch to lay on, while we play countless hours of Christmas specials and movies; in between last minute toy orders before the holidays. 

It's been incredibly cold, lately, so I don't mind being bundled in the center of the room where the sun spills in during the day. Someone else seems to agree that it's the place to be... even if it's only temporary.

rob-bear-y

 Matthew Beary is all about business. 

I sometimes think it would be funny if someone were to break into my house and find bears, in ties, scattered all over the place. The stranger part would be if they got stolen. Anyway, bears are next on my list of things to do. This was just a random thought.

top 10 children's books

To say I love children's books would be a bit of an understatement. I have many on my shelf, and have even more on my list of wants. It never ends, and I'm okay with that. If you're looking for ideas for little (or big) readers, here's my list of must haves: 



1. This is Not My Hat - Written & Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Anyone who knows me well, knows that I don't shut up about Jon Klassen. Everything he touches makes me happy; his use of color, texture, his line work, and character design. Really, I can go on for days about his talents. Because of this, I wouldn't say that this is the only title you should seek out. This book in particular though, is incredibly simple, witty, and clever. Get it, it's great. *swoon*

2. The Day the Crayons Quit - Written by Drew Daywalt, Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Books about color have always been one of my favorites. This story is an enjoyable collection of hand-written letters, from a box of crayons; voicing their concerns about how they are being utilized. Such a great idea. It makes me want to color.

3. Where the Sidewalk Ends - Written & Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

This was one of my favorite books, as a kid, and also one of my biggest influences in creative writing. Each page is filled with clever rhymes, verses, and illustrations. It is also a good read for those with a short attention span, like myself. It doesn't matter where you leave off or where you begin. 

4. This is ____ - Written & Illustrated by M Sasek

I left a blank in the title because this is a series. This is New York, This is San Francisco, This is Russia, This is Scotland... This is everywhere! I have yet to collect more places (and visit them.)  A great gift for a traveler. 

5. The Day I Swapped my Dad for Two Goldfish - Written by Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by Dave McKean

I love, love, love, when Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean collaborate. There are plenty of titles that I could recommend, by these two, but I'll start with the most recent one I picked up for myself. This story is as funny as the title, and the illustrations are chalk full of incredible textures of mixed media. Each page is a surprise.

*Another great read, for the reasons above: Wolves in the Walls. 

6. The Quiet Book - Written by Deborah Underwood, Illustrated by Renata Liwska

Being an introvert, I love this book for so many reasons. This book is all about everything quiet. The sweetness of Renata's illustrations will lead you into a comforting, quiet, bedtime sleep. Adorable.

*For the extroverts, there is a Loud Book. 

7. Wizard of Oz- Written by L. Frank Baum, Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

A classic story, but with incredible illustrations. Lisbeth Zwerger is one of my favorites, for her sense of style, use of color, and charming character design. I can go on for years about her, but I won't. All sorts of lovely. A must have. All of her books are beautiful.

8. Children Make Terrible Pets - Written & Illustrated by Peter Brown

The illustration style of Peter Brown is enough to sell me on getting his books. I don't own any yet, but I have enjoyed flipping through the pages of his stories, when I visit the bookstore. Super cute; and yes, children make terrible pets.  

9. The Dark - Written by Lemony Snicket, Illustrated by Jon Klassen
I warned you that I love everything that Jon Klassen touches. I am also a huge fan of Lemony Snicket, after having read all 13 of his Unfortunate Events series. The Dark is full of charm and character. Of course, the illustrations are what make me the most giddy. Marry me, Jon Klassen. Kendyl Klassen sounds pretty great. I'll stop before this gets creepy. Get this book.

10. Once Upon a Winter Time - Written by Tom Oreb, Illustrated by Disney Studios/ Mary Blair

I couldn't make this list without including something associated with Mary Blair (my favorite classic Disney illustrator.) I remember this story in animated form, and I absolutely adore its style, and background pretty bits (trees!). For a wintery tale, this is a story to hang on to. Little Golden Books of all kinds just have that certain nostalgia that is hard to ignore. 

Happy book reading! 

random thought

A very random story, today I was asked about my previous addresses and could not -for the life of me- remember my Calgary address. I've lived in a number of places in my lifetime (counted 19 places) and the house number completely slipped my mind. I remembered the street, so that counts.. but the rest? Not a chance. Not sure how I feel about that, but it was interesting for me to draw a blank and realize how long ago it was that I lived there, and how far I've come since then. I'm incredibly grateful for moving forward, but wow memory is a funny thing. 

stamp of approval

Check this out! I got some custom made stamps, thanks to Alberta Stamp & Marking Co.  Now I can put my brand on every surface I touch. Stamps are fun!

rawr

All I can say is that it's getting down to the wire! We're -finally- into December; which means that time is incredibly limited. I am so happy with this year's outcome, and all that I managed to get done (and still going!)  I'm keeping it short so I can get back to the rest of the bits that have yet to be assembled and put up for grabs. Did I mention that cats are on special? 

NEW

Maybe you want a Slimer mug...

OR a Breaking Bad onesie for your baby?

Now on Society6.

sale on, right meow

I believe I am going to feel like a crazy cat lady once I get all of my cats put together -so to get them out as fast as they are made- I'm taking down the price, as a holiday special. Currently, there are two available in shop and six more to come in the next week(!) 

You guys have been so great and supportive through this whole process, I just wanted to say thank you for making this a purrfect experience.

...Sorry, I couldn't resist a cat pun.

sunday wrap

Playing with packaging is a lot of fun. I ordered some rubber stamps so I can put my mark on everything I touch. Pretty stoked. Learning as I go. Loads to do! Happy Sunday. 

mer-holla

Just sayin' hey. There are some new items on Etsy, today. 

Mermaids are so much fun, and I'm running out of mer-time.

snappy

Someone got me camera, as an early Christmas present, and wowies I could not be happier. I was so frustrated with my old camera (4-5 years old) that I didn't even want to touch it. With all of the toys I have on the go, it won't be long before my new cam and I become great friends. Change is good.

2 years: an ice time

I find it kind of funny -in a way- that I recently lost the car that brought me here; almost 2 years ago, to the date. The accident occurred last Thursday, due to icy streets and a stop sign that didn't work for someone. I don't want to get into it. On the positive side, no one got hurt. Accidents suck, but they're always a learning experience.

Thanks for the ride.

hey you!

Click here, to go directly to the shop!

goldie

I'm sure I'll probably get sick of mermaids after a while, but for now, I am loving them. They're all so different from the last, and they're a lot of fun to decorate with sparkly things. This one, who is named Goldie, is one of my favorites so far.. but then again I said that about the last one I made....

did you know

Cyan may be blue on the surface, but she's tickled pink to be your friend

I've been taking photos and posting items all day, including (the very popular) mermaids. I wish my hands could work faster!

Check out Breakfast Jones, on Etsy.

open for bidness

Sooo... Breakfast Jones is now on Etsy! 

Errr, at least there are a couple of items up for the sake of opening up shop. I wanted to make sure I held up to my promise to have some things available by this weekend. I still have to structure my shop and brand things the way I want, and take proper photos. This would be a fail, in marketing.

It also turns out that I'm not much of a fan of my camera anymore. I got myself a new lens when I was in Winnipeg, before I moved here, and it's much different from the lens I learned with; which allowed for closer shots and manual focus. My current lens is limiting, I feel, and I don't get as excited about taking pictures with it. I just don't want to be a full time phone-tographer.

I have two bags full of doll parts, which I've been stocking up on since the spring of this year. Crazy. I'm pretty proud of myself. It's going to be so fun to see how everything turns out, as I put them together, because I've forgotten half of what I've made already. I'm trying not to do more than what I'm capable of, but my hands just keep working, and new yarns keep coming home with me. Mermaids have become far more popular than anticipated, so I might have to take a couple of weeks to make more.. which is totally cool because they're so girly and fun to make. It's refreshing to have something new to play with. The girls at work LOVE to play with their hair. 

Unfortunately, it's just too much to take on custom orders, so I cannot do any special favors for anyone this time around, at least not until the new year. Custom orders slow down production, quite significantly, and I have a large, curious, audience to keep happy. I have to stick to my plan as much as possible, to make sure I get everything out on time. It is so difficult to say no to special requests, but I won't lie that it gives me a sense of control over my work which I've never had.  No. Sorry. 

When everything is done, I know I'll be happy to lay on the floor and rest over the holidays. For now, there is so much to do. I can't believe we're in November! Thank you everyone for your support, patience, and excitement. You keep me going. 

monster mash

Terrence is going to need braces.

I've been working all day, and I don't mind at all. It's snowing outside, and I've been taking plenty of breaks for tea, stretching, playing with Breakfast, and sifting through the pieces that will make up the fun that is yet to come. I hope to have some items up on my new shop, within the next day or so. I will make sure to announce it, loud and clear, so don't worry about missing out on anything.

 This has been a very good weekend for reminding myself of the hard work I've done -over the last 6 months- in order to achieve my goal of getting back into the swing of creating things more consistently. There is SO much more to come!

cat lady

A very quick update to say that I have been making enough cats that I could soon be labelled as a crazy cat lady. This weekend is packed with stuffing and buttons, while it snows until tomorrow. 

Happy Saturday!

jason's mom

Mrs.Voorhees dropped by for Halloween. She lost her head. 

mermaids on board

Surprisingly enough, mermaids have been selling faster than I can post them, or put them together. I have a bunch on the go, and more to come (because something has to be done with my leftover yarns.) Each one is so different than the last, I love it. Next up, will be a month of putting things together, setting up my shop, and posting as I go. Wee!

Contact me to snag yourself a mermaid, or other creation!

cute &sinister

Gage Creed, Pet Semetary

The parents from Pet Semetary were really terrible parents. 

monzy

My Pet Monster was a toy for boys that came with handcuffs. Curious. Happy Halloween! 

slimer sunday

Slimer, from Ghostbusters. 

Took some time to doodle out one of my favorite ghosts. Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

snowsday

We got our first sampling of winter, today. 

It's a pretty good day for a Sunday. Tea, yarns, blankets, and pumpkin-izing going on.

Happy Sunday to you.

keeping on

Working on monkeys for the last couple of weeks. 

It's getting down to the very last bits before I finally put my things together. I haven't looked at how much I've done so far, because I'm still tackling a pile of things that I've started. For the most part, it's a matter of legs and arms (or fins), while for others, it's a whole lot of stuff. I'm trying not to focus on the big picture and just take each piece at a time, and enjoy it, because it'll be over before I know it.

Mermaid hair. I can't wait to finish one up and see how it looks. 

I'd say the toughest part, is the time that it takes to finish a piece, when my hands can only work so fast as I make them. I give myself a goal to finish at least 2 toys a day -if I can- which often requires a late night or two to keep up with the promise. I think I'll feel good when I can see it all, in the end. It's such a repetitive process, it's easy to lose track of what is actually going on.

Autumn is such an inspiring season, it's so hard not to drop everything and paint!  

The biggest challenge, right now, is keeping myself from doing other things; like painting, drawing, and other random crafty bits that I like to do to keep from growing bored. I know I can't waste any time, to keep up with my goal, so I've been turning off my distractions and tucking the pens out of sight. Even freelance is at a stand still.

I love going outside for a break.

I make sure to get out of the house as often as I can, and find a different environment for the sake of entertainment. A cup of tea, a bite to eat, or even just a place to sit and people; change keeps me going. I've met a lot of curious people in the process, and for that I am happy for what I do. I am looking forward to sharing it all when I'm finished.

Hang tight friends. We're almost there!