We Meet Again!

I'm back after a long break. These last two months have been filled with European travels, Thanksgiving at home in Tulsa, much success at Crafty Wonderland here in Portland, and celebrating Christmas festivities.

Now things have calmed down and its back to blogging!

These last couple of months have been great for Urban Creatures. In October we were asked to be a part of a local craft fair called Crafty Wonderland. If you read this blog or are a friend of mine on Facebook I know you know what I'm talking about. This was a big deal for us.

The craft fair was such fun! We really could not have asked for a better response.

So, as a thank you to all of our family and friends who have been a huge support we are having a little After Christmas Sale. Use coupon code URBAN15 and enjoy a 15% discount on any of our products at www.urbancreatures.etsy.com. Several new necklaces were added yesterday and today. Check it out!

Ciao for now,
Figgy

Exciting News!!!!

We received wonderful news last night....Urban Creatures will be a part of Crafty Wonderland on December 11 & 12. Crafty Wonderland is a colossal, bi-annual sale that features arts and crafts from around 200 handmade vendors. To be a part of this event is truly an honor.

Also, as an added bonus, UC will be featured in a holiday pop-up shop put on by the lovely ladies of Crafty Wonderland. This shop will be in downtown Portland from November 9th - December 30th. Isn't that cool! For you Portlanders, its going to be at the corner of 10th and Yamhill and open everyday.

If you would like more info check out www.craftywonderland.com.

Ciao for now,
Figgy

Columbus Day Sale

Today I went to Joann Fabrics and to my surprise they were having an awesome sale. My purpose for the trip was to get my fabric and pattern for my Halloween costume. Lucky for me, Simplicity patterns were only .99! So, if you are in need of any patterns get yourself down to Joann.

I noticed that a lot of the fabrics were on sale too. I had some great coupons from a past mailer that gave me 50% of my fabric. I needed a lot of yardage for my project so these coupons really came in handy. If you have not signed up to receive the Joann mailers, do it! In the mailers there is always a 40% off coupon that can be used on anything.

I also needed buttons and elastic and you guessed it, they were on sale. Buttons and elastic were both buy one get one free.

My total savings were $104. I ended up saving more than I spent. I love a great deal!

With Halloween around the corner this is a sale you can't miss. It ends on Monday.

Ciao for now,
Figgy

Fun designs for cool kids!

For those who have a "special little girl" in your life, you must look at these fun dresses for babies and toddlers. They are darn cute!

These little dresses consist of a skirt sewn onto a onesie. They are a simple way to add some character to a plain onesie. 

A fun part about making these dresses comes right at the start - picking out the fabric!

Shown above and below are a very sweet deer print and a Halloween print that I bought from my neighborhood fabric store. I also have some vintage prints in my fabric piles and will be experimenting with some of those very soon.

You can find these and other designs at my new Etsy store at www.figgypuddingandpie.etsy.com.

I have lots of great ideas for little girls, but am currently lacking fun designs for little boys. Does anybody out there have any suggestions? I'm on the look out!

Ciao for now,

Figgy

Fall Is Here!

My favorite crafty season is here, Fall! The time has come to get cracking on some Halloween crafts. So get ready, I can be a bit ridiculous during Halloween and especially during the holidays.

For the past week or so my brain has been working overtime trying to come up with some great Halloween items for Urban Creatures and my up and coming project Figgy Pudding. For Urban Creatures we decided to create some Halloween-themed bracelets.

Below we have incorporated some felted beads with our strands of recycled knit fabrics.

We found these great bat charms sometime ago. Until now we haven't been able to come up with a way to add them to our mix. With the recent vampire craze this bracelet can definitely be worn after Halloween as well.

Today I went out to Fabric Depot. For those of you that do not live here in PDX, Fabric Depot is an awesome warehouse full of fabrics usually at discounted prices. Lucky for me, today was 30% off everything!!

My mission at the Fabric Depot was Halloween fabric for some baby clothes and accessories for Figgy Pudding. What do you think of my choices? I love 'em.

Once I got home I went to work on my pumpkin pin cushions. I was inspired by heirloom tomatoes and then realized if I do these in orange they make the perfect little pumpkin. Who doesn't need a seasonal pin cushion! This will be my first item added to my Figgy Pudding Etsy store.

Check it out at www.figgypuddingandpie.etsy.com!

Ciao for now,
Figgy

Report

So, I tried my new felting tool and I wasn't too impressed. After two stabs, all three needles broke! I wonder if they skimp on the quality of needles that come with the tool. I replaced the needles with ones I already owned. They did just fine.

After all of this I am still using my one needle sans tool. By holding the needle on its own I have more control and the force of stabbing is much greater.

Oh well! Lesson learned.

Ciao for now,
Figgy

New Crafting Tool

I'm so excited! Today I found a new needle-felting tool. As shown below, it is a pen style. I really think this will come in handy for my needle-felted jewelry.  

Usually, for a small project, I use just one needle. What's special about this tool is that it has 3 needles in a small amount of space. The felted beads should become firmer in a shorter amount of time because of its triple power.  

Now, I must go try it out.

Ciao for now,

Figgy