Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis:  a profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism... I feel like this is what's happening to HinckleDoodle.

I started June 26th, 2011 with the art of plushie making. And yesterday, I looked through my photo albums and it amazes me how my work has progressed in about 6 months time.

Here, I'll show you:

My owls. My first popular product. 

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2.

3.

As far as construction, huge differences in all 3! And design is relatively similar, but there's so much more personality in the newer items.

Then there's Mushcakes to Cupkins...

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2. 

3.

Ahhh, my beloved Mushcakes. They were actually rather difficult to make. I'm so glad that I upgraded to Cupkins. Still just as cute, but much better made. I'm growing as an artist and I'm hoping it shows.

I was so proud of my creations in the beginning. Looking back I'm almost embarassed...what I feel now for my latest creations is what I felt back then.
It's odd...you know that's what's going to happen the longer you stick with something, but you forget it as you go. I took the time today to stop and smell the roses and take in the progress, success, and growth I have experienced thus far. I love this journey!

And I'm glad for all those who have stuck with me. I've tripped a few times and I know I'll trip a few more and then some because it's inevitable (and I'm just plain clumsy!).

Mood Music

Since I've created somewhat of a schedule for my blog to hopefully keep me more active in it. I've decided that Fridays will be for Mood Music. Some little taste of what I've newly discovered, obsessed with, or songs that are attached to a memory, so on and so forth to maybe set the mood for your weekend.

Speaking of schedule, I've decided my blogs "closed", so to speak, on the weekends. Unless some wild adventure occurs or I take a plushie on some sort of escapade around town. :)

So here's a little something that I hope will put a smile on your face...

Said The Whale "The Light Is You"

I chose this as my first Mood Music Fridays' song because it's mine and my daughter's song.
When my husband was away in Korea for a year, my daughter and I bonded immensely! All of your out-of-the-house affairs, especially during the summer, were spent with the windows down and the speakers blaring this song and she learned all the words. It was wonderful to hear a preschooler (at the time) sing along to one of my favorite bands, Said The Whale.

RAWWWWWRRRRR!

I like to multi-task projects. It keeps me from getting bored and frustrated. So in the midst of other orders, I've been working on a brontosaurus AKA long neck dinosaur! It's turning out to be one of my fave projects this week!

I can't get over how wonderful felt is. It's so easy to work with and the colors from my suppliers are spectacular!

Here's the dino's head:

Here's a head piece

And here's the stuffed head! SOOO CUTE, right?

Here's another view! :)

She's coming along so well! I can't wait to see the finished product! I may be just as excited as you all because even I don't know what it will look like. I have a general idea, but that's what I like about this work is that I surprise myself! It's so gratifying!

****New Day****
I wrote this post a few days ago, and as of this morning...I've gotten this far on the dino! I may have a finished product by the weekend!

I think as of now she looks like the Loch Ness Monster's girlfriend :) lol

I have the legs partially sewn, just need to be stuffed and then I'll be adding a bow, and I'm thinking some spots on her rump. Or the always favorite: heart on the rump.

Also, if you're interested in winning a HinckleDoodle owl...Miss Farrah is in a giveaway featured here at this link: amberpless.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveaway-hinckledoodle.html!

This is Miss Farrah if you didn't know :)

Step Into My Sketchbook...

Every Wednesday, I'll be posting sneak peeks into my sketchbook.
I'm always sketching what could be the next best thing to hit HinckleDoodle!

Most people watch a little tv or read an enthralling book before bed, but me? I sketch.
It's therapeutic and calming for me because my mind is constantly racing!
My mind has always been like that. I used to journal write every night, but these days I have my good ole sketchbook.

My dad recently got Facebook and he left me a comment on one of my HinckleDoodle Creative Process Photo Album photos saying he likes seeing what I'm creating because it lets him know my mood.

It's true...my creations...ANYTHING I do creatively is how I have always expressed myself. It used to be with my fashion sketches, my wardrobe, my scrapbooking, etc. etc. and now it's my plush goodies!

Here's a few sketches now :)

Inspire, Inspire, Inspire!

Let's see... what's inspiring me right now...

COLORS!

I have been scouring wedding planning websites to see if there are color schemes I haven't used yet.

Here's a few that I'd like to dabble with in the near future...

And MOHAIR!

Mohair is so super soft and would definitely add some texture to my plushies. I've been asked to attempt a llama and I was thinking of buying mohair to make the body!
And I've also been considering getting a little bit to test it out for the manes of my ponies! :)

ATTENTION!!!!: I also want to let you all know that there's a Love & a Sandwich giveaway for a custom newborn monstroctopus! Here's the link to enter: Click here to get your grubby hands on some plush goodness!

Chelsea at Love & a Sandwich is one of my idols and one of the few plush artists that inspired me to even start making my own plush! I want to win this so badddddddd!

Bloggetha Revival!

With a few rounds of CPR and extra doses of TLC, my beloved Bloggetha has been reborn and has a clear cut path. I've been building HinckleDoodle for some time now and I still feel like a newb. I'm still trying to find the most efficient way to manage everything between my business and personal life.

I definitely have a grand appreciation for mothers who work from home. There's always something to do. I said last night before I went to bed to my husband at 10:30 pm..."I feel like I've been working for 24 hours." Any more so I'm exhausted by 7:30, but just push myself to stay up later to get more things accomplished. Then I push myself to stay up til midnight and I'll stay up until 2 in the morning...and wake up at 6:50 am to do it all over again. (Yes, I realize that's why I'm exhausted lol)

I'm always trying to implement some sort of organizing skill or schedule or checklist into my life to try and make it a little easier. And I think slowly, VERY slowly the benefits are starting to show.

So speaking of schedules, I have finally created one for my blog and for the past week have been trying to get 2 weeks worth done to give myself a head start :) And here you have it! I have designated subjects for the weekdays and given myself the weekend off from my blog unless something exciting happens that I just HAVE to share :)

Now I've given you the gist, let me put some pictures in...because everyone likes a photo!

Some of you may have seen the pony I've been working on...She was bald in the Creative Process photo album but she has grown some between that time and now :)

Ooooh and check out her button hooves! I did orange and green to bring out the colors in her accent fabric!

And now on to my million (not really a million, more like 13ish) other orders I need to fill!!! My fingers hurt!!! ;)

I've got these sort of animals ahead of me:

Llama, Frog Prince, Catfish, Dinosaur, Kung Fu Panda & Monkey... and not to mention I have got to make some headway towards holiday items!
I hope to be more prepared for Halloween and Christmas this year :)

Been too long!

I have got to get back in to blogging. I have been so obsessed with just making more items that I've neglected so many things...including Bloggetha here (my nickname I made for my blog lol).

So I'm trying to reorganize and I'm going to make sure there is one day a week where I do not sew for an entire day and focus on other things. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!? Seems so impossible now. I've pretty much sewn most of the day, every day, since the end of June of this year except for one week when we were moving into our apartment here in NY.

But ANYHOO, today I'd like to showcase where 'the magic happens'...you know, my work room lol.

My things spread out into 3 rooms...sometimes 4, depending on if I pull out my sewing machine. I don't know why I bother pulling out my sewing machine anymore though, I always opt for hand sewing. Well, I know why, it's because I love my sewing machine. It's still pretty much brand new and has so many options, but in the end, I prefer the satisfaction of seeing what I can do all by myself with my hands :)

I house my supplies in the hallway closet that's allllllll mine.

On the top, I keep a basket of yarn and extra stock of stuffing, bean bag filling, etc...
Then the next shelf has my scrap fabric that I use to practice new patterns and there's also a basket of items that I made, but the freaking moving company pretty much demolished it all. And I just don't have the heart to throw them away.
Then my favorite shelf is where I have my fat quarters of fabric! Ohhhh how my heart skips a beat just thinking of them.
Then the next shelf has miscellaneous supplies. Like my backup thread/floss, canvas bags that I plan to decorate, bag of scraps, and my sewing machine supplies box.
And underneath it all is where I keep my yardage of fabric and felt. And I have a few embroidery hoops underneath that I plan to make plush wall art with :)

Seriously, I have a TON of fabric! My addiction <3

And when I first moved in, this was my work table looking very empty, but full of promise in the laundry room.

And this is my work table now...Well, I took this pic just before I tidied up. I reorganize it every morning religiously. I love my bobbin box and button box that I had customized by Angela's Embellished Boxes! You should definitely order from her. She's great! :)

I haven't had the funds yet to add shelves and other things I have planned to make it more organized and aesthetically appealing. But whew, HUGE plans! It's going to look amazing.

(And underneath the table is where I keep my packaging and shipping supplies)

And beside my computer armoire in the den area, I have a plastic dresser that I use to house all my inventory. To keep them safe, dust-free, and away from my daughter who gets attached too easily, until they find a new home!

And that's pretty much it...Besides my family, you've seen everything that makes me happy!

I'll leave you today with an Owenism.

I was telling my daughter the other day...I don't remember how the conversation started, but I had said that I knew I was a good wife and mom, but I wish I was better.

Her reply: "There's no 'better' in this house. You're already the best!" Yeah, my 6 year old came up with that wisdom all by herself! <3 <3