the princeling of pestilence

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my sweet elfling prince has been sick for a few days now. he has had bursts of energy  now & again, but mostly his play has been quiet. (note :: i detest that toy he's holding. it is the loudest piece of plastic. it is crapstic.)

i haven't been able to enjoy that quiet however, because i have been too busy feeling my heart break. would you just look at that teeny red nose? & oh my - those puffy eyes make me want to cry. sigh.

my hope is that by the time you are reading this, he'll be back to normal. i am not getting much time to myself right now, so am writing this post a day in advance. that makes my today your tomorrow, and your today my yesterday. or some such.

~peace.

ps :: the crown he is wearing is one of my new smaller birthday crowns. whilst the regular ones can be adjusted to any head size, these new ones are scaled down for dinky heads. i'll get them in theshop... eventually.

pps :: that adorable shirt is by my sweet friend soap. i don't know if she has any in stock, but you can always ask her. here is the link.

a royal collaboration

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photo shoot :: outtake

a few months ago i was asked by my oh-so-fantastic teammate, pin pon, if i would like to create a crown to go with a capelet she made. seriously? well, of course i would! even before joining natural kids i was a huge fan of her work.

once the (utterly adorable) capelet arrived i got to work on the crown. i believe i even showed a sneaky peek or two, way back when. the delay has been in photographing the set. unfortunately my little models & i never seemed to mesh schedule-wise. thehobbit, as willing as he usually is to pose for me, was not interested in modelling an ultra-feminine ensemble.

finally i accepted that i would need to just find another model. you know, that's easier said than done. i know many little girls in the required size, but a) i wanted a classic look, & 2) very few in this age group are willing models, once the camera is in front of them.

as you can see from this post's photo, i did find the perfect model. not only was she still willing with the camera clicking away, she was the cutest little ham i'd ever worked with. what you see above is one of a few standard "model" poses she has in her repertoire. she cracks me up :)

so! the royal set can now be purchased here! i still have to take some closer photos of the crown's details, as well as the gorgeous interior of the capelet - just waiting for the rain to stop. if you have a princess in need of this set, i suggest you buy it before i get the photos uploaded. it may not be around long.

~peace.

love is in the air

kats in the belfry has been getting some love on a few oh so nice websites/blogs. it is quite a wonderful feeling, i must say. lookie here:

* pure pixie features autumn. doesn't he look handsome?

* a few items are shown on natural suburbia, though only my portobellas are mentioned. if you look closely you may also spy my mini mushroom set, & spring on the bottom shelf.

* scroll down oh my! handmade goodness' fantabulistic (real word) holiday gift guide to see my birthday crown.

if all that were not woohoo enough, today i spoke with a woman about carrying my birthday crowns & birthday tiaras in her lovely boutique! we shall see where that path takes us. & yes, i am speaking of the royal we :)

i hope you get some love today as well.
~peace

a fresh start OR finding me

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i have been spending a great deal of time thinking about my blog & biz. lately i have not had the time to give either proper attention. that's resulted in half-arsed posts; when i remember to post; & too many shop items in desperate need of being rephotographed. those things - for me - lead to stress.

all that thinking; besides being vastly less fun than daydreaming; led me to decide it was time for things to get back on track. or get on the right track. oh! now this song is stuck in my head. your welcome :)

blogging how i used to should be an easy enough thing, once i get my mind set on doing so. & um, perhaps get a bit of sleep & exercise? a sluggish body makes a for a sluggish mind. or something like that. remembering to take photos should also aid in getting back to my bloggerific ways.

as for theshop? i am not sure yet what i am going to do. closing isn't an option, i love creating & selling too much. i do think i need a fresh start though. i want to get back to how i began this adventure: sewing. i miss making funky drink slings, & market totes. i have never even put my funky mama/kid aprons in my shop, not to mention a bunch of other things i'd sold only at shows, or given as gifts. & do not get me started on the ideas that fill the pages of my sketchbooks!

that is not to say the little wooden dolls & toys are going to be discontinued, not in the least. i just want to things to be more me. some days i think a brick & mortar shop would be a better venue for me. etsy is just so big a pond, & it hard getting people to find my quirky little fish of a shop.



so my first step on this fresh start is to clean house, so to speak. it came to me that a sale of freakish proportions would be just the thing. i get my stock moved out to make room for my fresh start, & you get quality handmade items for freakishly low prices - just in time for the holidays.

from now, until the end of november (or stock runs out) everything in theshop will be 40% off!!!! i told you it was a sale of freakish proportions. so let's get things rolling: please take a look in my etsy shop, &  shop till you drop. oh, & don't forget to share the link with others - no hogging the goodies! thank you :)

here's to a fresh start, & finding me again. (did i forget to tell you that you'd need a glass of wine with this post? sorry.)

~peace.

lavender blue, dilly dilly

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poorly lit photo of a birthday crown wip

last night i was working on a birthday crown, when i realized i hadn't any lavender floss. this crown has to match a capelet made by the talented pin pon, so my palette is set: orange, light orange, white, & lavender.

i knew that the color i needed was in the box of floss i'd brought back from my mother's home. until now though, i had not even considered using any of it. as it was, it took me a goodly bit of time to convince myself that it was ok to use a length of lavender.

you see, when i was in oregon, i only took a small box of her gigantic collection of embroidery floss. i honestly don't know why i didn't take it all; it just seemed right at the time, to take a bit as a remembrance. of course i'm kicking myself now. so, the floss has taken on a sort of sacred aura - to be fondled & hoarded. yes, i know i am being silly, but i imagine it's all part of dealing with the loss of my mother.

short story made long; i used a bit if her lavender floss on the crown. it did feel strange to do so. i remembered the countless times i saw her embroider, the gorgeous works of art she created, as well as the silly. my brother & i each had pillow made from our little jeans, with tush, stitched onto the pocket. & no, i don't still have mine :)

some of these memories brought with them a feeling of peace as i worked, others brought immeasurable sadness. i'm told by the (too many) friends who've lost mothers, that this will be the way of it. how ever does one get used to such things?

another poorly lit photo of the birthday crown wip

once i finished, the lavender floss went back into its box, & the whole was placed on its shelf in my sewing nook. that's her writing: 211. i miss her all the more when i see it.

a favorite song from my childhood, that is stuck in my head:

~peace.

one.

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today my sweet elfing is one. there is so much i should say about this past year, about this child & how he has changed who i am. i should tell you about the joy he's brought, the way my heart has expanded beyond what i believed possible, or a million other touching & profound things. the thing is, i cannot.


my emotions are playing me fiercely today, & i find i am unable to give voice to any of it. please understand, & forgive me my silence. thank you for being a part of my journey from family of three, to one of four. i am glad you are here.

to celebrate elflings birthday, i am offering all sorts of fabulousness in theshop!

* all mini buntings are half off their original prices!

* a free prezzie with every birthday crown & birthday tiara!

* free shipping on all purchases over $40.00!! (yes, even to your corner of the world!)

please spread the word about the celebratory fabulousness - no hogging the love! & please, please, please go eat some cake.

~peace.

saturday give-aways at the nk blog!

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do you want this birthday crown for your very own? that question is purely rhetorical - of course you do! for a chance to win this crown, head over to the natural kids' blog, & follow the instructions. this contest is over, you waited too long!

the crown pictured is the one offered in the give-away. it's made of wool felt, & grosgrain ribbon. the buttons were saved from clothing that had seen better days - they have little stars upon them! i don't know about you, but to me, this crown feels a bit where the wild things are.

it's perfect for any boy or girl, so long as the child doesn't harbor a hatred for blue. or stars. or crowns. it's also perfect for you! why let kids have all the fun?

time for you to head over there, & enter the contest. oh, & don't be stingy - tell your friends. good luck! (shh, don't tell the others, but i hope you win.) too late, the contest has ended.

~peace.

tiaras are for every day

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i think everyone should wear a crown or tiara, all the time. sure they might attract dirt when working in the garden, get messy in a food fight, or crushed beneath your motorcycle helmet. really though, i'm sure you could figure out a way to solve those problems.

seriously! why wait for a special occasion to plop a tiara or crown on your head? children certainly don't feel they ought. do you have a royal headpiece sitting in a closet or drawer? if you answered yes, go get it, & put it on. i'll wait...

above are the latest tiaras for theshop - made from vintage samples, & fancied with vintage sequins. that sparkley rickrack on the center tiara came from my mother's stash of vintage bits & bobs.


this gold damask tiara was inspired by a friend. she showed me to see my creations in new & exciting ways. can't you just see this on a beautiful little flower girl, as she walks down the aisle?

perhaps at a same-sex wedding? i love that ethereal rainbow ribbon.

no more time for show-&-tell; the wee elfling stirs.

~peace.

!!!!!!shop update!!!!!!!

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head over to theshop, & see the newest creations! can you believe i actually got things a) created, & 2) in theshop? clearly i am not kat, but kat's more together twin ;)

there are: birthday crowns, felt mushrooms, & wooden forest gnomes. woohoo, indeed.

my crown listings are sans models this time around. thehobbit decided he was no longer willing to model for me. no worries, as oddsox' youngest boy looks like a younger version of my hobbity one, & is more than willing. as soon as we've done the photo shoot, i'll be updating the listings.

a few things in the works: crowns in paler hues, crowns of damask, drink slings, & aprons. i also have been sketching new shakespeare people. is there anything you'd like to see?

i'm off to make gluten-free brownies with my unwilling model. i'd love to stay & chat, but i need some brownies, & you have to go buy all my stuff :)

have a glorious one, do!
~peace.

a sneaky peek

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a monster designed by a monster. my monster, that is. thehobbit came up with the idea for this crown. i think he's cute - especially those wonky eyes. they wobble, but then whose eyes don't? ;)

this birthday crown is 1 of 6 for monday's shop update. there are other things waiting to be uploaded, & even more in the works.

it feels good to be creating again.

~peace.

a celebratory give-away!!!

it took a bit of thinking to come up with the perfect something to give you.

after all, we're celebrating a 6th-month unbirthday, & a 12th-year birthday!

i think i found the perfect something - wonky birthday bunting!!!

this bunting measures 6ft, & is oh so sweet. the triangles are ivory damask, with each being a different pattern. they are pinked, & the edges left raw - over time the edges will get that wonderful fuzzy look. the ribbon is a funky magenta grosgrain (yes i still have some of that left!).

if you haven't any kids, or your kids are not of the girl-sort, or if your girl hates magenta - hang this on valentine's day! it's nearly here, you know.

***

so to win this wonderfully wonky birthday bunting, do this:

go to the comments section, & wish my boys "happy birthday". easy as pie. now i want pie. rats.

i shall draw a winner on thehobbit's birthday: next saturday, the 6th of february.

good luck to you!!!!

(the drawing is now over)

~peace.

royal proclamations!

maeve popped by to tell you that:

a) there are a few valentiney things in theshop now, with more to come asap! there shall even be things if your valentines happen to be of the children variety.

~also~

2) i am working on a give-away for one oh-so-lucky reader. in honor of the teeniest boy hitting the 6th month mark yesterday, & the bigger boy's upcoming 12th (gasp!) birthday; i am sewing a special something just for you! pop back here tomorrow to enter. (if you share my swiss cheese memory, you can sign up to receive posts in your email. that way you won't miss a thing.)

i love giving you prezzies. see you on the morrow!

~peace.

crowns & drawing kits

my hope is to get a bunch of birthday crowns, & drawing kits completed (& in theshop) by the next weeks' end. they've been high on my to-do list for quite some time. of course that would be the same list my house-cleaning chores are on, so, yeah.



the crowns are half-done at least. with the exception of the blue, this bunch is made from darker hues of wool felt. they aren't colors i'm drawn to, but they were included with the stack of lighter felt i was given. seems a shame to not use them.

doesn't the blue one look a tad where-the-wild-things-are? these little starry buttons are adorable - they came from a jacket thehobbit wore when he was teeny. i get such a kick out of reusing things.



as for the drawing kits, i have enough fabric to make a dozen, but i don't know that i have enough time to complete that many. wee elflings do greatly reduce a mama's free time. still, a few is better than none :)

i've long wanted to stock theshop with these kits. the thing is, every time i've made a batch,
they have sold before i could list them. there's no show on the books, so no danger they'll be snatched up.

you can see what they'll look like here. with different buttons though, as i use ones i've saved from thrifted clothing. that was the only kit that ever made it into theshop.

the colored pencils come from my beloved japanese dollar store. they don't always carry them, so i buy them out when they do. i'd love to find this brand in bulk, so i can decrease the packaging waste. until then i'll continue cutting-up the thin boxes for thehobbit's atc (artist trading cards).

keep your fingers crossed that i find the time to get all the to-dos, to-done.

~peace.