17 -- Frederick

16 -- Elsa

15 -- Parsnip

14 -- Hazel

Made with wool from Kim. Thanks Kim!

13 -- Constance

12 -- Myrtle

I'm running behind on my softies, but I'll catch up!

11 -- Prudence

10 -- Marshall

9 -- Apartment

I'm running a bit behind but here's number 9:

8 -- Kitty Pink is Fancy

7 -- Happy House

6 -- Clara

5 -- Edwin

My dear friend Chary found this amazing trio of cashmere sweaters for me. The colors are so dreamy. I am particularly in love with the heathered aqua. Which brings us to #5 Edwin.

4 -- Lucille

3 -- Karloff

2 -- Winston Applebear

1 -- Oswald

Oh, Japan

How is that you never cease to amaze me with your cute wonders? How I wish to visit you so that I may see the magic in person. I want to buy things from your vending machines, shop in your fabric stores, stroll beneath your cherry blossoms and marvel at your politeness and respect for your fellow citizens. In the meantime, occasional visits to Uwajimaya and Kinokuniya will have to suffice.

I always say that I would need no less than $30k to fund a trip to Japan. Mostly to spend on shipping crates full of goodness back home. I can't think of a more dangerous place for me to be actually. I have little self control when it comes to Japanese cuteness. And I know I'm not alone.

Also, I think I may die if I don't get some of this.

Here are some things I couldn't leave behind in Kinokuniya today.
Cute plastic folder and matching pencil.
Little pink notebook that says "personal simple convenient" on the cove
Yet another craft book
Some of the most beautiful masking tape. Pink polka dots - yes, please!
Shinzi Katoh Red Riding Hood mechanical pencil, seriously, how could I leave without this?


I've got a couple of new sewing kits in the shop and I'm working on a few more. I am completely in love with this tulip fabric:

This one is my favorite! The pins are tiny little houses.:


So I have a plan to make a softie a day for the month of August. I really need to get stocked for the holidays. I actually can't believe it's August already, can you? I'm planning to post each softie here so keep an eye out.
Happy Summer!

Coffee or Tea?

New embroideries in the shop:


It's so hot here today! Tomorrow is going to be 102! In the Pacific Northwest. It's supposed to be cooler here.

New Look

I thought it was time to freshen up this little blog. The banner design is doubling as packaging for brooches and pendants.

On another note, I had no idea I would become a such a chicken nerd. We will be going on the Tour de Coop tomorrow along with a large percentage of other Portlanders who have taken the chicken keeping plunge. In case you're wondering, the Tour de Coop is where you can go to about 25 different homes to see their chickens and coops. What fun! What? This doesn't sound fun to you? For shame! I was delighted to chat with a fellow chicken nerd at a party recently. See, most people have about a 3 minute chicken conversation tolerance. But us chicken nerds, we can discuss for hours. Really, no question is too silly. How big is your run? Do your chickens like zucchini, because mine won't touch it? How old were your chickens when they laid their first egg? This is a sampling of the questions we ask each other. I feel like there should be a secret society for us c.nerds so we don't bore others to death.
Here are some new pictures of the cutest flock in town:

chickens on deck

Millie, Petunia and Freckles

in the run

Petunia, star of the chicken show

Happy Weekend!

Summertime Crafty

We will be all set up at Crafty Wonderland tomorrow! If you happen to be in the Portland area, it's supposed to rain - perfect for an indoor craft show.

Some new illustrations are in or headed to the shop:

Etsy-versary!

Hey! Guess what! Wednesday is my 4 year Etsy anniversary. It's hard to believe it's been 4 years since I discovered the wonderful world of Etsy. To celebrate I'm offering free shipping on all purchases made July 8th on domestic orders, and half price shipping on international orders ! Use code "etsy4" in the checkout and then wait for the revised invoice with your shipping discount. Hooray! The shop is chock full right now, so it's a great time to shop.

I've just posted some of my newest project 'cheap ass art'. I'll be doing some simple illustrations on lovely beveled matboard for only $5! It's bargain city here at Chet and Dot headquarters.

Summer Sunday

Today was just lovely. It started off with coffee out watching the chickens (the best!).

We went to the farmer's market in the morning to get berries for

pie!

felted bowls drying in the sun

Tonight it's off to dinner at a friend's where I will pick raspberries until the sun goes down.

Craft Sale

Just a quick note to let you know that I'll be selling at a craft show/food drive tomorrow (Saturday the 27th) at Urban Outfitters in NW Portland.
Stop by and say hello!

Coffee

I'm waiting for the second pot of coffee of the day to brew so I thought I'd share some thoughts on coffee.
Coffee is good. Stumptown coffee is very very good.
My favorite way to brew coffee is in a stovetop espresso pot. I use a French press sometimes, but the stovetop pot, brews good strong coffee really fast, which is important.
I made some new coffee cup (or tea if you're so inclined) cozies.
I forgot how satisfying these are to make. They're a quick project and great way to use up sweater and fabric scraps. These are in the shop. Which, by the way, now has over 400 items! I can't believe it.



On another note, the weather has been positively dreary here in Portland. The chickens don't care for it one bit. As you can, see it's best to stay close to the coop in case of a downpour.

Now I feel that donuts are in order. Yes, coffee and donuts.
Happy Weekend!

Prints

I have been going through some of my sketchbooks trying to sort through and pull out ideas I like or drawings to use for embroideries or prints. It's always interesting to look back at older work and see how my art has changed and improved. Some of the older drawings are so crude, but I remember just being happy they resembled what I had in mind.

These prints are in the shop. They're my first new prints since we got our new printer (which is awesome). I'm really happy with the results. Yay for good printers!

Elephants!

The shop has just had a delivery of elephants!
I have had this elephant stamp that I carved a few years ago and today I decided she needed a bow. Then it became clear that a banner was in order. So here's the new and improved elephant design. I'm thinking these would make sweet baby shower invitations or maybe first birthday party. Fun!

Chickens, Gardening and Notecards

The title should give some insight as to what's been on my mind lately. Our chickens are growing big and are hilarious! It's so nice to look out the window and see a flock of little chickens pecking and digging and chasing each other. I love that having chickens gets me outside so much more. I can keep a close eye on the garden progress that way.



the coop is almost done, it just needs the roof and run attached


Miss Millie waiting for some yummy worms


Millie and Honey in the herb garden

There are several short videos of chicken antics here, if you're so inclined. We have one blue egg layer, which I'm so excited about. Blue eggs! It's hard to imagine that soon I'll have my own egg supply right in the back yard. I'm expecting the 2 older hens to start laying around September and the others in October.

I've got some new block printed notecard sets in the shop. I'm anxiously waiting for my hydrangeas to bloom, so I thought I'd carve a stamp in the meantime.