Well that worked....

I would have been writing more but lately got swamped with work.  And hey sold a few items out of the store, ones that I was iffy about putting up because I didn’t think anyone would want to buy something that off the wall, my steampunk/bohemian necklace went to a woman creating a steampunk costume (Which I wanted to keep it for). And my tribal inspired earrings are headed to a girl who loves that look, I’m hoping to get pictures of them with it on. 

Let’s see, I have some new items to edit and put up on the site too, okay so nIIz designs has a lot of stuff that still needs to go up, I’ve been slacking on that lately, but we’ve been trying to get the house cleaned up so that I can take over a corner of the living room as the base of operations instead of being by the stairs, because ugh, whenever anyone bounds down those stairs it causes me to lose count on stitches.  And I’d like an area I can work on more jewelry, the corner I’m in now is horrible for that.

And in the world away from the shop, the weather’s caused me to catch another cold.  We’ve been getting wonderful days, and frost warnings, which makes me glad that we don’t have the garden fixed up and planted.  Though I did want to do that this spring, once the store’s doing better I think I’ll work on that, I miss fresh vegetables that all I have to do is rinse them off a  little with the garden hose before nomming away (Have to love my technical terms here).

Maybe I just have the munchies for something healthy, here goes suggesting chili fries for lunch.  Anyway I have some errands to run, pictures to edit then the blonk lab wants me back in there to whip up some new playmates for them.  I think they’re scared that they’ll be leaving with no one to work the lab properly.  If they weren’t so cute I think I’d be mad about being slave driven by stuffed animals.

In which nicky does a happy dance!

Okay yeah I know I missed a few days writing, we’re going to blame the holidays okay? 

Or the fact that I’ve been banging my head trying to get this rabbit done, and no I’m not talking about the chocolate one… that’s already in pieces next to me as I crochet.

Though I did get a nice Easter surprise, a necklace that I was really debating keeping for myself because I didn’t think anyone else would like it… Sold in the shop, just shows me that I shouldn’t be so hard on myself when it comes to my designs.  The more out there the more people seem to like it.

Tomorrow I’m walking to the post office since it’s not far and I really need to start working out more, So figure this will only help with that goal right.  Nicky wants a slimmer tummy!  It’s probably not going to happen before my birthday (yeah two weeks HAH)  But maybe by midsummer?  Well that’s the goal at least.

Well, I’m going to go package this necklace for shipping, and see about grabbing a snack that isn’t all sugar while I work out this bunny.  I think I know how I’m going to do the ears at least, and thinking I’m doing one with braids, only because I want to play around with the idea.  I don’t think she’ll be good for little kids, but I’m hoping she’s going to be cute. 

And while I’m talking shop today, let’s see we have Hammond up, he’s a pig that Liz made that personally if she’d let me keep him I would.  He’d so be going to my little stockpile of cute toys that is slowly overtaking my work area.  Most of them will be sent out as soon as I can get pictures taken and get them up on line.  Yes that’s my goal for next week, getting at least 60 more items into the shop.

Website updates YAY

Well that needed to be done, nIIz Designs web page has now been updated with almost everything from the shop. We have some more photos to get up, but I’m tired of coding now, I’ll get them up with in the next few days.

It’s something I’ve meant to do a while, but I kept putting it off, something I shouldn’t have done, but with me doing most of the promotional stuff (Okay so my partner’s been on creative streak so I’ll give her that credit) I just haven’t really wanted to work on the site. Though I’m thinking I should change the coloring on the main page to match the awesome banner one of our clients gave me.

 I think that will be a project for another day, right now as I said I’m sick of coding so I’m going to be lying out in the sun taking pictures of the products we still need to get into the shop.

While I was working on things I did put up a link page, I’m going to offer a link exchange for anyone who has a handmade crafts shop. If you want me to post a link in my shop drop a line here, or over on my Zibbet and I’ll get your banner up in the shop as soon as I can. Usually it’ll be one or two days from when you ask, all I ask is a link somewhere back to my shop.

And ooh! My partner in crime (Well friends have said the stuffed animals are criminally cute) just told me lunch is ready so I have to get going, Hoping my next update will have some of the shop stuff I’ve been working on.

Laters!
 Nicky

of blonks and cold meds....

Monday morning and I’m wishing that it wasn’t so wet out so I could get some pictures.  Instead I’m playing with key chain and cell phone charms.  The ones I’ve made so far are kind of cute, would be better if I knew where I had put my doll eyes for them though.  Looks like that’s what I’m looking for later today, organization?  I have none.

And I’m fully going to blame that on the Blonks running my little lab.  Really why did I stick Sack and Captain in charge of it?  Those two can get distracted in a heartbeat.  

On the upside, I think I lost the rest of my brain cells with my sneezing fit, meaning they have a mindless zombie to order around…

On second thought, that might not be such a good thing after all, who knows what kind of creatures will be coming out of my cold meds haze. 

(me on cold meds, trust me)

Hm, maybe I can use this time to work on some jewelry?  I know I’m running low on that to photograph for the shop.  And even Blonks need bling right?  Right, well looks like I’m going to be playing with sharp pointy things today, as well as crochet hooks. 

Anyone see where they stashed my extra large mocha cup?  Because I have a feeling I’m going to need a large raspberry white chocolate mint mocha with extra whipped cream and I’m thinking sprinkles today.  Yeah, sprinkles would just make the day ever so much better. 

Either that or a trip to the book store, Captain wants a few new steam punk geared books I promised him I’d get some if he would leave me alone for a bit.  I’m not holding my breath on that since he’s trying to figure out how to saddle the cat. 

(Captain Steamer Bunny - Yes that's his real name - Looking all smug at me)

I’d be more worried if he wasn’t four inches tall.  And the fact I’m thinking a stuffed animal’s planning that?  Just shows how well my cold meds are working.  Maybe I’ll just call today off.

In which Nicky rambles. Yay

Okay yeah I totally fail at keeping blogs okay? Though I’m trying I really am! Doesn’t help that when I’m at the computer I’m usually listening to the radio crocheting, which reminds me I need to get some better images of some of my blonks to share with my readers. Maybe I’ll do that Monday morning when it’s a little more quiet around here. I know I have some items I have to get up in the Zibbet shop. The unholidays that the housemate and I had ended up being a work frenzy.

And yes I said unholidays, we were so busy until just last week helping her son get things ready for going back to school that we kind of forgot to take time for ourselves. When we weren’t helping him we were crocheting. She made a few tops that I’m tempted to buy from her because they’re so pretty. I just don’t know what I’d wear them with yet. Hm… Black jeans, need to invest in another pair of those anyway and black jeans look good with EVERYTHING in my opinion.

And I’m slowly making a dent in the mountain of yarn around me. I might actually be able to reclaim my wicker basket for the purpose I bought it for which is storing the finished items, not all my yarn! Yeah, that’s a wishful thought okay? I’m allowed them now and then. I have some pretty yarns though that I’m planning to turn into stuffed animals. I want to perfect my monster pattern because really he’s become an awesome buddy to keep around when I’m watching a horror movie, and he doesn’t squirm as much as the cat does.

Once I finish this muffler and gloves set as well as these dish cloths I started like a month ago, that’s the plan make another monster. And this time write down the pattern in notes. I can’t remember what I did to make the original one! Total fail on my part.

Link goes to shop

On that note I'll leave you with one of my favorite jewelry creations.  I love how the colors melded together for this one.  Something about bronze and watery hues that just feel warm and comforting to me.

things in town done... cherry coke in hand...

And I'm looking at the mountain of yarn around me trying to figure out what I want to make today.  I have three more dish towels to finish for a friend's housewarming gift. 

I need to do some things for the shop, including some photos so I can get them up on line. 

Should work on my market bag pattern too because I love the one I'm using and abusing is an awesome little bag that I use everywhere.  Though the bottom I have to work on.  Actually had to repair it today.

I need to make more large Blonks too.  The one pictured is the one I made for my step mother for Christmas.  She adored it and actually had others ask where she got it so yeah, I have to make some more.  If nothing else I'll have a start of a stock pile of things made for craft shows next year.  Shooting for filling the shop first though!

First though!  MUNCHIES! 

Gee I'm doing great at keeping up aren't I?

Well since November I've been working my little hands to the nubs on crochet items.  I need to take more pictures of what I have to get it up on line. 

Also been trying to tame my muses so that I can focus on working on a book.  I have the idea stuck in my head for it, actually been mulling it over for the last two weeks, just need a moment or two to actually write.  Half tempted to just work on programing my voice to text program for my computer.  That way I can actually do some hands free writing.

And sorry this is such a short post.  I have some things I want to get done today while the kid's still out.  Abusing the silence today sounds like a plan.

survived! I think

Well I managed to get the blonk packaged away for my stepmother, it's currently on it's way to Michigan.  Now I just have photos to take of the rest of the stuff we have to get up on line.  Then it'll just be a matter of continuing to keep it stocked.  Shouldn't be too hard really we have a stock pile already and I'm so going to be re-organizing things so that I can get them in a better packaging production mode.

Reminds me I have to get more jewelry boxes.  Yay what fun.

But yeah, I'm planning on using this blog more.  Hopefully I will remember to.  Time for me to actually get off my rear to get the stuff I need done.  the rate I'm going... I'll have everything done by next New Years!  Yeah... I'm a little slow at it okay?

whoah lots of craziness

Currently I have a few Ami's in the works, and I'm trying to reorganize things, so that I can update here, and on my website in the same day as doing an update on the shop. 

So for a while things may look messy here I promise I'm working on it.  Hoping to make a decent banner for the blog too.  It really needs one. 

I know I owe some more, but with all this revamping I really don't feel like writing so I'll leave you with the luv bunnehz. 

Love of the weird and steamed

Yeah I'm into steampunk, just the thought of the clothes, the machinery, and let's not forget the décor. I spent most of yesterday going through steampunk blogs looking for designs that I would love to do to a house. I'd also have to make sure that whatever I did was pet friendly. I've almost always had a pet so I love the idea of animal friendly homes.

Today, waiting for something to load up (Why must my four hours of blowing stuff up take three hours to load Damn you slow computer and Maplestory addiction!), I decided to take a peek to see if I could find any Steampunked Amigurumi (See tied it to the theme of the blog!)

And yeah I'm trying to avoid the whole Chuluthu Amigurumis, I've seen so many of them I think that may be what everyone else thinks when they think Steampunked Ami. So here I go with a Google search for the more rare pieces, I'm going to make this a weekly feature, about four or five steamy ami's (that make sense?) a week? And just so you know, I'm not getting paid to post these nor have I asked the person who made them (Which is why I'll link to their images and sites, these posts won't be filled with images.

Here's one that's creepily cute: Toxic Tots by Crafty Deb Designs on Etsy looks like they could be from Silent Hill as well, well if you go with the movie version. They do scare me a little though, I think if I made one I'd stick it the back of my shelf just to make sure it wouldn't find it's way in weird places… Knowing the ghosts in our house, it would be on my bed…

Then there was this adorable bear from Amigurumi Kingdom. I love the rivets in the ears, he looks like he should be roaming around some steampunked village. Or he's a little messenger bear.

Here's Big Daddy from the Nerdigurumi site. I am so wanting to make myself one of these and a Little Sister to go with it because they're as… Wait no strike that they're a lot cooler than Nemesis, because you know when you get into a fight with one it WILL mess you up. Hm… I make one it'll be out of metal wire though. And I'll need the right kind of lamp to hang near it.

Last for this week is this amazing doll that I found on Toureasy47201's Flicker. I love the attention to detail in her. Considering I'm working on my first doll I'm always amazed at the detail that can be put into them. One of these days I'll have enough courage to so that pattern, right now I haven't felt I could do it justice.

Need to crop some more photos and finish some other Ami that are sitting in the WIP box. Might have to soon put them in my basket because the drawers I have aren't real big.

Oops.

Yeah I've been so busy lately trying to get a bunch of new blonks made and today I'll be photographing them.

Doesn't exactly help that my computer's been crashing on me the last few days so I'm scrambling to save up money to fix that problem too, with luck I'll get that problem situated, because it's hard to run a business or even write when the only other computer I have access to is the housemate's who's I can't use because my programs aren't on it (She refuses to upgrade her software and sorry but I will not be writing out blog posts on a computer that doesn't have a decent word processor. as for last Friday's post…

Well I could lie about it and say I just forgot, but I usually set those so they'll post on the day they're supposed to, just proves how busy I've been lately. Learning how to make a new Amigurumi (Need to finish the legs of this first doll then play with it to see how I like it. Which means my Chinese New Years blonks won't happen this year. Holiday blonks and monthly zodiac will, if all goes well, start next month.

I'm hoping to make enough money with these so that I can save up for two costumes for when I go to visit Dad and my step mom in Michigan, which is where most of the money from the sales of the blonks will be going for right now. Well that and I need to add new stuff to my wardrobe so I can get another job. I want to be able to get my own car because sorry, the one that I have access to now is so not me. I'd rather have something that's a little more adventurous. Hard to take a 4 door coupe on dirt roads, I'd like something I don't care if it gets dirty.

Reminds me, I should price organic local yarns soon, I like the stuff I use, but I want to see if I would like that a little more. I like the idea of organic or eco friendly materials for these.

Okay I have to go finish some of these blonks so I can go play with the camera. Next shop update will have some of my Jewelry too I think. The housemate's too, since she's helping me with getting my laptop fixed.

Hopefully I'll have time to get a story post up too. I need to type up all my notes that I have for the shop too.



Yeah Rambling away cause I'm overwhelmed at the moment.

Nicky

Ah happily watching Doctor Who. Want to make some Amigurumis

Actually I want to make the big cuddly Doctors and Torchwood ones from Pixelated Mushroom.  They're adorable. 

Okay,I really should finish these other projects I have before starting a new one.  Like my WTFery doll, which will probably only be one of... I was thinking it would be cute for my New Years ones, but... I don't like how it looks right now  I might not get them done in time for Chinese New Year.  Which is a bummer.  I really wanted to.

And damn it... Why is BBC America Editing the episodes!  They cut out all the funny scenes in the last two episodes before switching to Eleventh Doctor eps.  Oh well, not like I don't have them already.  I'll end up watching them later.

Now I'm done rambling going back to blonks so I zone out on the TV.

WIP Box show and tell (AKA why I'm so silent)

Yeah I haven’t been writing here in a while I’m so sorry about that I really am trying to be better at that!

Well I figured I’d do a show and tell to show you that the blonky lab’s in full swing!  I’ve been working my little fingers to the nubs trying to get these done so I can pop them up for sale.  

I’m also trying to plot out a little story for them.  They’re whole creation story because really, they are supposed to be monkeys, but tend to want to be mice and other little critters, so figure I’d write something to explain what they are other than really loud and Gods they multiply worse than bunnies!  My WIP box has about sixty of them waiting to be born and I plan on making at least another forty of them before I start working on some actual dolls.

I’m really thinking that I should have something up for their creation by Christmas, my little gift to you, a nice story post. 

Maybe there’ll be a post with a WIP doll in it too.  I found a pattern that I really want to try.  Thinking if it works I’ll be adding actual dolls to my collection of items to sell.  I was going to make some coffee slips, still might knowing how much I drink coffee, I’ll play with the pattern with scrap yarn.  I think after this rush I’ll have some extra.  I need to start making a list of the colors I use too, that way when I run out I can get more.  I think that’s one reason I’m using red heart.  No dye lot is becoming a life saver.  I’ve already run out of one color and had to go back to get more at the store a few times, you wouldn’t think that little blonks, only a few inches tall would take up so much yarn.  I average ten blonks per ball with a little left over for the ears and tails.  They’re a great stash buster project though.  

Now for the show and tell one craft drawer of blonks (And one pencil oops): 

 That was at about 3 am this morning.  I'm slowly trying to get at least ten different colors done so I can do some mix and matching.  Still have 2 pairs of gloves to make as Christmas gifts. 

Blonkies now have a home!

    I just opened up my shop on ArtFire as Tejina's Toy box. I only have a few items up there at the moment; I'm hoping to put the rest of the spook trios up, and thinking I might make a few other things to pop up until I can get more Blonks done. I'll be selling them off once I have a basket full of them. Until now you'll be seeing Snowmen, blob trios and if I get some extra time (Man what I wouldn't do for more than 24 hours in a day) some winter gear.

    Ended up making this shop for two reasons, one, I wanted to have a shop where I'm not sharing the workload with the housemate, which at this rate is 98% me 2% her; and two, Dude! The Blonks are cool enough to deserve their own shop right? Everyone agrees on that right? Awesome!

    Okay this is proof I have to start sleeping nights and not stay up watching British Science Fiction shows back to back late night. I tend to get a little hyper. Though I have a friend out in California who wants me to make her a Master Blonk, should have asked which version of him. I'll probably end up making a Ghostie one, white hair black hoodie… Means I'd have to make a Doctor too… Yeah, that whole idea came about at about 3 am Eastern Standard time really. There's also an idea floating around to make StarGate Blonks and Resident Evil ones. Zombeh blonks… that's actually a scary thought, really scary thought (Yeah there's an evil look on my face now). I'll have to wait on them until much later. After all winter's all about the warm fuzzies right?

    This winter's Trio is going to be a candle, a Yule log, and looks like by random pole done again late night with friends, Holly or Mistletoe! I'll have pictures up as soon as I get the first trio done, until then, I think I'm going to go grab crackers cheese and some lunch meat, pop in a movie and try to get less hyper.

• NG

I’m surrounded by headless blonkies!

Yeah, that's what I'm calling the little creatures that I make with Amigurumi. The set I'm working on now are for the Etsy shop. I just hope that the partner in the shop starts to do a little more for it than what she has so far, because 95% of the shop's been done by me so far. She made extra ears and tails to attach to the Blonks, but really, she should stick with jewelry for it, she can make that with better precision than trying to learn how to make the Ami's like I do. 


I think that's my main problem lately, she seems to gravitate to things I find I enjoy and tries to take them over. Then when she can't get them to look 'right' she gets frustrated and says she's a failure. After a while it gets on your nerves. Which is why I attempted to move all my stuff to my room to work, that worked OH so well, I ended up bringing half of it back down so I could work while zoning out the TV, I'm determined to get this shop open tomorrow though, mostly because I need to start saving some money for a trip to Michigan to meet my sister-in-law and niece next fall. If I can swing it I want to be able to drive there and back. Thinking if I drive I can stop on the way and get my whole Zen going again, since lately I've been far to Warrioristic. Yeah I know it's not really a word, but it should be. 


Let's see, guess I'm going to go crochet my little fingers to the bones, the headless Horseblonk here will be my final statement. After all, he's determined to get a new proper head with a muzzle!

Okay, okay so I really suck at blogging.

I know I haven't used this account as much as I wanted to lately. Been working on a few things; EDL and now my Amigurumi and Jewelry site, which also has a blog on it, as well as plotting out my writing project for November. I think I may actually start that writing project early and totally shine off doing NaNoWriMo this year. I know I can hit the word count in a month, though the story that I have brewing in my head's one that I want to get down without the time restraint. Besides, might be fun to write.

And the idea's a little better than the steam punk one that I was writing about last time. We'll see how it goes after all, I have so much going on at the moment I don't even know where to start. Other than the beginning, right now that's as far away from crochet hooks as I can get for a few hours. Totally blame it on the fact that the little demons I made aren't as cute as I thought they would be so I don't want to even attempt Jack o lanterns at the moment. Ugh, I should go get my drink and plug in the laptop. Sitting out on the porch for a bit, just because it's one of those days where it's a little cool, but comfortable. The day made for apple cider, and a nice happy little story.

Guess it looks like I'm writing for a bit. I should see about getting back into a few writing groups. I haven't been in any for a while, mostly because the writer's block lately. One good thing about the Amigurumi I'm making. The monkeys I've made have started to take on a life of their own and have been forcing me to create little stories for them. One of these days I'll end up typing them all up and posting them. Probably in the little description of them on the new site, just so that readers will see who I'm talking about.

Until next time (Which won't be forever I promise!)

Nick

I know it's been a while since I've written anything.

Mostly because I've been doing a lot of writing and working on amigurumi.  OMG I did the cutest little Sack doll (LittleBigPlanet: Game of the Year Edition) using Moon's pattern.  I'm thinking I may have to make another one add the first to my key chain.

I'm also working on my 'totem' stackers (Working title for them)  I have twelve lists of twelve animals to try to make, think building blocks for more 'grown up' kids.  Though if they work well with the amigurumi, I might make little kid ones too out of fleece.  Yes these will be sold in the shop once me and the house mate actually get things done for that.  Right now we're still playing with patterns and beads to figure out just what we want to sell. 

I'll try to get some more pictures up soon.  It's too icky outside right now for them, and I don't want to move things around to take them inside. 

Yeah I know no updates lately I'm sorry.

I got distracted with shiny things...

Yes that's snow.  A lot of it and we'll be hit with more tomorrow night yay...

And well I was bored, and since the housemate and I are planning on opening an etsy shop we've been working hard... or hardly working? at making jewelry.

This piece I call Tribal

And while I'm at it I'm showing off my newest plushie.  I'm teaching myself how to make Amigurumi and this is the second one I made.  Meet Whispers.  He's happy traveling around and clings to my purse or keychain.  He hasn't decided exactly where he wants to hang yet.  but I think he's adorable.