I found a giveaway!

I know I've done a "feature friday" post on the Raggy Rat before, but I had to share her giveaway. Now, when I was first starting to make plushies, I happened upon some of hers on flickr - and I've been a fan ever since! She is definitely an artist that I look up to!

So when I saw her giveaway, I had to share it!

(well, truth be told, I'm being selfish - I want another entry!)

What do you win?

This adorable bear!!!

How do you enter?

Pop on over to her blog and leave her a comment!

Etsy Owls Team Black Friday Bonanza!

The Etsy Owls Black Friday Bonanza is running from Thanksgiving Day through December 6th. Each shop has a specific sale, and some shops might be running different dates, so check out shop announcements for the full scoop! Here's a preview of some of the specials in advance. You can't get the specials yet, but you can start favoriting and planning in advance! Odds are, if you're looking for that certain gift, someone here has just the thing!

Plush Christmas Trees by TattieTats
Prices reduced 30%Free Priority Shipping on orders over $5011/26 through 12/6

Zombie Snowman Ornamentby IckyDogCreations
15% off Storewide, 11/26 through 12/1

Bright Eyes Owl Painting by lalala08
Buy One Get One Free, 11/27 through 11/30 Free Gift with Purchase

Gray Stars Tshirt Purse by remixstudio
Free Worldwide Shipping 11/27 through 11/30

Bumblebirch is celebrating the Black Friday Bonanza with discounts from 5-25% off! Check out the sale section for daily specials on yarn, stitch markers, and stationary! Sale dates 11/26 through 12/6

Forest Flower Superwash Merino

Personalized Choo Choo tag by WeiOpenSecret
10% off your total order 11/26 through 12/6

Gift bag set by thatDESIGNshop
20% off storewide 11/26 through 12/6

Jeff the BlackEyed Pea by GubFactory
20% off Storewide, 11/26 through 12/6

Mocha Latte Wool Cable Knit Gloves by Squarejane
Buy One Get One Free (pay shipping on free item!) 11/26 through 12/6

The Mega Cowl by suenosdejmi
PICK YOUR SALE!Special sale sections include 50% off, Buy One Get One Free, and Free ShippingSee Shop Announcement for details before purchase!

Silk Crochet Choker by anadiazarte
Free Shipping 11/27 - 11/30Free Ring with Purchase 11/27 through 12/6

Lady Godiva Rides Necklace by PrayingforFall
40% off Storewide11/26 through 12/6

The Dutchess of Malfi Necklaceby MABjewelry
20% off storewide, free worldwide shipping11/26 through 12/6

Silver Autumn Circle Earrings by fashionablychic
35% off total order Free Shipping plus Free Gift11/26 through 12/6

Ice Ice Bangle by knitandpearl
50% off storewide 11/27 through 11/29

Nemo Earrings by HollyStott
30% off Storewide, 11/26 through 12/6

Christmas Owl Pin by BlackCatMima
15% off Storewide, 11/27 through 12/6

Mocha Pearl Necklace by Taw0106
20% off Storewide and Free Shipping11/26 through 12/6

Red Leaves over the Moon by HeesenJewellery
Free WORLDWIDE shipping 11/26 through 12/6

Be sure you get in on these great deals!

Scavenger Hunt!!!!!

Several of our members have joined together to host a team scavenger hunt, we think it's a fun addition to our Black Friday Bonanza and a great way to get yourself an extra 10%off our bonanza sale specials.

All you have to do is start here:http://www.etsy.com/shop/OffTheWall

In one of the stores items where the 5 item pics are listed you will find an image of this:

In that items description you will find a link to the next participating Owls member shop. Follow the links and images to the last store, making a list of which shop and shop item you found the image, and once you are done email the list to prayingforfall@gmail.com.

If you have it right a promo code will be emailed back to you that you can use for an additional 10%off at the shops that were part of the scavenger hunt during our Black Friday Bonanza sale.

So keep your eyes peeled and good luck! Gobble Gobble Gobble!

My First Bear

I've been wanting to make artist bears for a while now. well, yesterday I was called off from work so I spent 6 hours making my first bear! His name is Branson. He's certainly not a complicated bear, but he's stinking cute and I'm quite proud of how he turned out (especially since he is my first ever bear and I'm completely self-taught!).

He is five way cotter pin jointed, and is 6 inches tall sitting (alas he cannot stand by himself). He's made out of faux fur.

On a side note, you all know I'm on the Etsy Owls Street Team. Well, out team is having a huge BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY SALE!!!!
Starting on Thanksgiving and running through December 6th. Details to come . . . .

Somebody likes markers . . . .

Yep. That would be my son Ayden. Loves him some markers. He calls these his tattoos.

See, mommy and daddy have tattoos, and he doesn't want to be left out. What to do, what to do . . . . markers!

Luckily they're washable . . .

Feature Friday - rainabedaina

Todays featured shop is rainabedaina!! (aka Shelly Schwartz Studios). Shelly has about the cutest polymer clay sculptures ever!

I mean really - take a look!

Who doesn't need this adorable ornament?!

And look at the little raccoon!!!

There's too much cute in her shop!! Please go check it out!

Look what I won!!!

If you read the blog by The House of Mouse, then you know she's giving away a mouse every month. Well, each month she gets around 200-300 (or more!) entries. I've entered every month, even though I know the chances of winning aren't great. So, imagine my surprise when I get a convo from her telling me that I won October's challenge!!! I squeeled like a school girl! My hubby stared at me like I was crazy.

Meh. What does he know? This is only the awesome-est prize EVER!

I had a hard time choosing my mouse, but I finally decided on Axel the Executioner mouse!!

Oh the anticipation!!! Trust me - it was hard to contain myself long enough to snap this pic!

My postcard from Anna! WITH (wait for it) a button with a freaking cute mouse on it!!

Axel with his mouse head! And certificate!

I wuvs my Axel mouse!!!

Anna is still giving away a mouse a month! Hit up her blog and show her some love!!
Or better yet - check out her Etsy shop!!

Winter Fun!!

Ahhhhh, I went on hiatus for 2 days! Not like vacation hiatus. Neglecting my blog hiatus.

We got snow over the weekend, and yesterday the sun was shining and it was crisp and beautiful out. So what better way to spend the day than playing outside with my son?!

He's kicking over a wee snowman.

And holding a wee snowman.

Showing off his larger snowman.

Destroying his larger snowman!

Eating snow off an icicle! Don't worry - no yellow snow!

My latest zombie . . .

I thought I'd share some pics of my latest zombie bunny. She's eating a nummy bear cub head! (yes, even though yesterday's post was me loving cute teddy bears).

But come on! She's so cute and proud of her noms!

Om nom nom nom!

Feature Friday - Bare Cub Creations

We all know that I love icky things. But I also LOVE cute things. I'm especially being drawn into the world of bear making. And the bears from Bare Cub Creations are amazing. Simply amazing.

This adorable bear is made out of mink fur! Looks so soft and cuddley!

Tiny and precious!

Love this panda! Made from mink fur.

I love her bear's poofy cheeks! They're so darn cute! I truly hope that one day I can make bears as lovely as these.

Please be sure to check out Bare Cub Creations!

Fabulous Fall

Autumn is my favorite season. The crisp bite to the air, beautiful fall foliage, hot apple cider . . . ahhhhhh.

I thought I'd share some fall finds from Etsy!

Gorgeous leaf print from MistFlowerPhoto.

Leafy pendant from twentysix7.

Amazing real copper coated leaf from lauralidesigns.

Oh the HILARITY!

This is by far one of favorite videos on youtube!! It's a classic, it's funny, and it's a little cute!
Enjoy!!

Taxidermy

DISCLAMER:

If taxidermy bothers or upsets you, please do not read this post.

If you've followed my work at all, you may have noticed that I use real fur and tails in some of my pieces. I have a soft spot for dead fuzzy things. Most people see this as morbid or weird or gross (or all of the above). One of my favorite Christmas gifts was a coyote face from my dad. My collection has expanded to include faces from several species (coyote, fox, badger, opossum, raccoon), tails (coyote, fox, raccoon, bobcat, mink), and full pelts (raccoon, opossum, ermine). For a while I also had a professionally mounted raccoon and squirrel.

Why?, you ask. Well, I'm not sure. I'm an animal lover. I've donated a whole heck of a lot of money to different wildlife organizations, and am all for preserving our wildlife. But taxidermy fascinates me. It always has. So I'm considering doing my own taxidermy mount. Not a traditional mount (like our bear friend above). But a soft mount. Meaning the head is mounted in the traditional way, but the body is soft and plush like a stuffed animal. There are several artists on Deviant Art who do these soft mounts, and I'd love to give it a try. They are made from an already tanned pelt and the results are beautiful.

This is a gorgeous example of a soft mount. This one is by FoxyCreations. She is credited on Deviant Art as being the first to really do the soft mount. Her work is amazing!

If I do start my own, I will be taking pictures and blogging the process.