Cutest. Story. Ever.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-452482/Orphaned-owls-new-cuddly-toy-mum.html

CPSIA news

Some wonderful news concerning the proposed CPSIA testing. The Commission has voted for a one year suspension of the mandatory lead testing and certification, while they look over the rules. Wow! Their statement even mentions crafters and home based businesses!

You can read the full statement on etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/breaking-news-the-cpsia-mandatory-testing-certification-prop-3347/

I love democracy!

ETSY!

I finally started a shop on etsy! I've been planning it for a long time now, and it's finally up! I only have a few things posted, but I'm planning on adding more over the next few weeks. What would you like to see in my shop? I have some original paintings (which I can make into prints) and lots of ideas for plushes and dolls. I'll also be adding the preview edition on Justin's novel, Divita (which I made the cover for)

We found a kitty

There's a little kitty at my house. It just showed up yesterday. He's very friendly and I wish we could bring him in the house, but he isn't neutered and we already have two cats. I'm not sure if they would like him...


I think he's already adopted us. Every time we open the door, he tries to get in (and mews like crazy when he can't)

Help save small businesses from a scary new law

In August 2008, Congress passed The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. The CPSIA bans lead and phthalates in children's products, mandates third party testing and certification, and requires manufacturers of all goods for children under the age of 12, to permanently label each item with a date and batch number. The law goes into effect February 10, 2009.

I'm all for making toys safe, but the new law will affect all businesses...not just large companies. This means that someone like me, who makes plush toys and dolls or any product considered a toy, will have to have a thrid party test EACH toy produced. Thousands of small business could be put out of business very shortly if nothing is done to change the bill.

The site below explains it better than I can.
http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/

I'll be writing more about this soon.

Just finished...

Last night I finished a custom plush of Sebulba, a character from Star Wars. He's one of the biggest plushes I've made (three feet tall!)


And he has teeth!


I also just posted some pictures on flicker and DeviantArt of a werewolf plush that I made as a Christmas gift for my friend Phyllis to give to her husband Rob. He's a huge werewolf fan! This is one of his favorites, from Hammer Horror's movie "Curse of the Werewolf"

I was in a "It's a new year, so I need a new look" kind of mood today, so I got a haircut. It's short! I haven't had it this short before. I love it!


More pictures are on my Flickr page.

Resolutions, wishes, and dreams

Things I want to do this year...

- Illustrate a comic book (or two)
- Get a job (even a crappy part time job)
- Start my own line of plush toys and dolls
- Get my internet shop running
- Watch lots of fun movies
- Go to more concerts
- Go on a road trip
- Organize my room
- Get rid of things I no longer need (stop being a pack rat)
- Be more independent
- Save money
- Buy a car of my very own
- Do something creative every day (even if it's just a doodle or a few minutes of sewing)
- Finish reading all of the books in my "to be read" pile
- Wear more skirts and dresses (dress up for no reason at all)
- Enjoy every moment

So, this is the new year...

Happy New Year to you all! I thought I'd do a year end blog, something about how my 2008 turned out. It was a pretty good year, overall. Even with all of the bad things going on in the world, the horrible economy, and the sad news of wonderful entertainers dying...I still think it was a pretty good year.

Obama winning the election made my year! In less than three weeks he'll be our new President, and I'm so very, very excited! I spent my whole adult life with Bush as president (he was elected when I was 18) and now it's finally over :)

I had a hard summer. I was sick and sad and worried all of the time. I found out that I have anxiety disorder. But through the miracle of modern science, they have pills for that...so I'm feeling much better.

I got to go to my first comic book convention with Justin. I really wish I could have stayed the whole weekend, but I felt horrible and sick so we only stayed for one day. It's ok, though. It was fun day, and we're going back this year.

I had an absolute blast at this year's Monsterfest! Justin and I shared a table. He had his preview edition of Divita for sale (with my illustrated cover!) and I had a bunch of my plushes for sale. I met some cool people, and later we watched horror movies until dawn.

I want 2009 to be even better. I'm already planning some awesome stuff. I just signed up for a shop on ETSY, so I'm hoping to grow my business this year. I'm working on designs for my own plush characters and creatures. I'm going to be illustrating at least one comic book (maybe two by the end of the year?) And maybe (finally) I'll get a real job and movie out on my own.

This year I want to do something creative every day. I want to see lots of good movies, and read lots of awesome books and comics. And I want to spend time simply doing nothing with Justin, feeling calm and loved.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas. Mine was pretty sweet!

I got some awesome presents. I got a bunch of books, including the Tori Amos book "Comic Book Tattoo," the first volume of Hellboy, "How to Be an Explorer of the World" by Keri Smith, and the new Neil Gaiman book "The Graveyard Book." My dad got me subscriptions to Juxtapose and Craft magazines, and Amanda Palmer's new CD. Justin got me the Dr. Zoidberg action figure!

My cats love Christmas!



After spending the day with our families, Justin and I went to see "The Spirit." The previews weren't amazing, but I love the character and the recent comic series so I went with an open mind. It was...ok. Not great, but not horrible either. I'm not sure if Frank Miller was the best choice for director (I love his visual style, but he seems to be stuck in film noir) It was a little too goofy and cartoon-ish, and there wasn't much of a plot. I give it a 5 out of 10.

While waiting to see the movie, we wandered around looking at all of the coming attraction displays. I found one for Coraline! I'm really excited about this movie. What could be better than a Neil Gaiman story, with Henry Selick animation and direction?



I'm going to be posting again soon about this past year, and my wishes and hopes for the new year.

Cheers!
Lindsay