I know I've been M.I.A. for awhile BUT...

THIS couldn't be passed up...You've just officially jumped the shark, Snooki.

Happy Halloween my crafties!!!!

We all live in a Yellow Submarine

I have a few favorite three and four year olds. One of them had a birthday this weekend. 

He is obsessed with the Beatles so I made THIS as a gift...

Fabulous Fairy Party...CHECK!

So, I know I've been gone for awhile...I've been up to my ears in fairy. My three year old had requested a "pink" birthday party and, needless to say, her crazy mother kind of went off the deep end with the proposed theme. Seriously, for the past few weeks it has pretty much looked like a band of rogue fairies threw a rave in my living room. Ahhh, the preparation. Anyway, the fairy party has come and gone and now I return to you, my crafties. I am also getting reaquainted with my faithful sewing machine as I make a Yellow Submarine pillow for another birthday party this weekend (Beatles themed, of course!)

In the meantime, a few photos from the party for your viewing pleasure.

I made these toadstool centerpieces with recycled bowls, paper towel rolls, and felt! 

**reholsters glue gun**

A table set for *gasp* 14!

The birthday girl awaits her guests.

Of course, there was a craft.

The PomPoms make an appearance!

The adorable cake topper by FairiesbyNuria

and fondant toadstools, butterflies and caketoppers by CRLcreations

A real live fairy from Happily Ever Laughter. She was AMAZING!

Fairy Food Favors.

The Regretsy Controversy

So, I simply HAVE to get something off my bedazzled chest. Apparently, there has been quite a bit of backlash in the Etsy community about the Regretsy book up to and alledgedly including a band of crafters entering a NYC bookstore as a group and demanding that the Regretsy book be taken off the shelf. Now, I don't know if any of these crafters were featured in the book (but, I'm going to go with a great big "NO" as everyone in the book agreed to be featured and signed copious release forms to that affect) and I'm pretty sure that they would all vehemently defend their right to express themselves through their art and then, you know, ask people to give them money for it. Soooo,  I'm a little aghast at their demand that someone's opinion be censored. In a phrase, it is the equivalent of book banning. Look out, Someone might be startin' a big old crafty bonfire sometime soon! I mean, fertheluvofgawd, I personally feel that Sarah Palin is a raving lunatic who spreads misinformation and hate, but I'm not marching into my local Barnes and Noble demanding they remove her books. April Winchell is just snarky and irritable (not to mention a great writer and funny as hell.)  Its called the First Amendment, people. You have a right to describe your handmade toilet paper roll cozy in the shape of a sleeping cat as "whimsicle" and "charming" and ask $29 for it, I have the right to make a weird little doll to celebrate the modern medical miracle that is the vasectomy, and April Winchell has the right to point out the ridiculousness of both of these things. And, guess what?  People who don't like Regretsy have a right to say that as well. However, demanding a book be taken off the shelves or ridiculing and bullying Etsy sellers that are HAPPY to be in the book is going a bit far.

The other argument I hear a lot is that Regretsy makes people who have never heard of Etsy think that it is a joke with nothing to offer but shitty handicrafts. The key phrase here is "people who have never heard of Etsy."  If 100 people look at the Regretsy book and 75 of them dismiss Etsy as a load of crap but the other 25 check it out from sheer curiousity then that is 25 new viewers and potential shoppers of Etsy who would NEVER have known about it otherwise. That sounds like a win win to me and if this pisses you off, talk to Etsy about promoting the website more beyond the existing circle of crafters/ craft appreciators. Yes, people should know that it is an amazing place to find fantastic, high quality, artistically made goods, and those profiting from the sales of our items are the oncs that should responsible for that, Etsy AND ourselves, the crafters.

Personally, I know my items aren't for everyone and they will probably never make it to the front page of Etsy (though Botox Betty was featured on the stork! Thanks Etsy!!) and that is fine with me. Clearly a doll that celebrates having your scrotum cut or highlights the fact that someone has had one to many "minor cosmetic procedures" is for someone with a slightly twisted sense of humor. I get it. I am not offended if you don't get it or if you DO get it but think it is stupid. If you are whip smart and super witty, I might even laugh at what you have to say about it.

In my opinion, once a person starts asking for money for their "art" they are fair game for criticism. It's not like my grandma is blogging about the shitty ceramic bowl I made for her in the fourth grade! If you are so wrapped up in what other people think about the stuff you make because it is such an "extention of who you are as a person and an artist" you should be giving it away for free. People are not obligated to like the things you are SELLING. In our country people make a living criticizing politicians, performers, and athletes (Mariah Carey in Glitter, anyone?) We tip service people depending on how well WE think they did their job. Are we now living in a world where the artist is above criticism?? People, please.

In Celebration of the Regretsy Book Release - DISCOUNTS FOR FANS AND FOLLOWERS!!

I just got my copy of the Regretsy book and am so GD excited to be included with the likes of the "Siamese twin fetus Christmas ornament" and the "Uterus earrings" on the pages of this HYSTERICAL book that I am offering a 10% discount on your ENTIRE PURCHASE FROM MY ETSY SHOP for my Facebook fans or Blog followers. So, maybe you'd like to pick yourself up 

your very own Hangover Harold shirt...

(mens & ladies sizes available) 

Or, one of THESE ...

Maybe a little-o-the 'stache...

Or, maybe something purdy...

So take a break from your (perhaps, tedious??) day and come on over to my Etsy Shop and have a laugh or two. Become a Fan on Facebook or become a follower here and receive a Sah-Weet ass discount on some genuine handmade awesome of your very own. 

Come on, all the cool kids are doing it!

It's here!

Well, THIS is my congratulations gift to myself for getting into the Regretsy book. I couldn't resist. It is going to hang right over my sewing machine and "inspire" me as I whip up shit loads of Handmade Awesome!

ADHD Crafter Style

So, you think I would be knee deep in Boo-Boo Monster making now that the Regretsy Book release is less than a week away... But, NO, I am feeling super butterfy-obsessed right now. Perhaps, it is the gorgeous spring weather or my proliclivity for procrastination.  What do you think? Should I start a full fledged felt butterfly line in my Etsy shop?