Nippy, Tippy and Zippy Headed to Gallery Hanahou for the Luv-able and Hug-able Show

Pocket Protectors -- Nippy, Tippy and Zippy
Originally uploaded by qdpatooties

Here are three more that are headed to Gallery Hanahou's Luv-able and Hug-able show. The theme of the show is "Mediums and Minis" and these are my minis. I never thought I could sew this small. These little guys measure 3.5", are made of wool felt, and come inside a plastic Pocket Protector. Of course, they would probably only lick your enemy to death but hey, that's one form of protection!

Dandy Lion Headed to Luv-able and Hug-able

Dandy Lion Headed to Luv-able and Hug-able
Originally uploaded by qdpatooties

Dinnah Belle Headed to Luv-able and Hug-able
Originally uploaded by qdpatooties

Dandy Lion, Dinnah Belle and friends will be headed to the Luv-able and Hug-able show at the Hanahou Gallery in NYC. The theme for this year's show is Medium and Mini.

Luv-able and Hug-able Show Coming to Gallery Hanahou!

Luv-able and Hug-able Show Coming to Gallery Hanahou!
Originally uploaded by qdpatooties

Everyone in my family is sick right now. I was trying to stay healthy but then came down with Strep throat today.

Anyway, I'm quietly working on my softies for the Luv-able and Hug-able show. It's coming up sooner than you think! The Press Release just went out today!

Luv-able and Hug-able
New 2009 theme: medium and mini!

December 3 - January 9
Opening party: Dec 3, 6-9 pm RSVP info@galleryhanahou.com

gallery hanahou / 611 Broadway, Suite 730, NYC / galleryhanahou.com
extended holiday hours Mon-Sat: 12 - 6 pm

FREE Patterns for the Twofers!

Meet the Twofers!
Originally uploaded by qdpatooties

We got Yella Belly Twofer, the Chihuahua, and his 3rd cousin twice removed Blue Bunny Twofer, er, the rabbit. Wanna know how they're related? Same pattern with a twist. Or a flip for that matter. I was scrounging through my pattern box and I always draw faces on my patterns to "jog" my memory of what I had originally "envisioned" because truthfully, sometimes I draw a dozen or so at a time and just toss them in a box for later. Anyway, I saw this bunny and I thought, wow, that's weird. I didn't draw a face on this little guy. And when I flipped him over, there was my crazy little Chihuahua's face. So, that's how "Twofer" came about. 'Cause with one pattern, you get a twofer one...get it?

Now you can create your own set of Twofers by following the very FREE pattern that I've made up for you. The instructions are all printed on the pattern this time so just print it out and enjoy! And please remember, I'm sharing my own designs because I love Softies and the hobby so please no using my pattern for commercial purposes unless you get the "okay" from me first. I'd also appreciate a link back should you decide to make one or two for yourself!

Anyway, to make your own Twofers, click HERE!

Making Friends

Making Friends
Originally uploaded by qdpatooties

See? I have been working on stuff. Now finishing stuff? If that were only possible...

It seems my real girls have had a rocky start the first two weeks of school Last week, they just couldn't seem to decide on what bus they would ride on and seriously, the bus number changed three times the first week. On one occasion, I had the bus driver call me at home to ask if the twins were with me! I politely replied, "Well, they are supposed to be with you!" I was kind of upset by this considering they did lose my twins on the first day of school last year and the arrived home in tears two hours later than they were scheduled.

With that resolved, we moved on from transportation problems to teacher problems as I received notes home for two out of the three girls. Unfortunately, they were not "happy" notes but notes of concern. I always thought my girls were pretty good but it seems like the twins have a little bit of separation anxiety, i.e. bawling hysterically for mommy, and the first grader can't seem to follow directions or pay attention so I've kind of been pulling my hair out.

I swear that I WILL get around to doing SOMETHING softie related so please don't give up on me. And hopefully, just hopefully I will get to finish something or I'd settle for ANYTHING during the third week of school!

Send happy thoughts my way...

Work In Progress and YEAH, It's September!

Work In Progress as of 09/01, originally uploaded by q.D.paToOtieS.

I can't believe how quickly this year has passed. Just one week from today I will be standing at the end of the driveway with my three little girls waiting for the big yellow school bus to come by and pick them up. *sigh* There's a bit of sadness there as I know I will soon be losing my cool factor as well as my sanity trying to keep up with field trips, and homework and who's lunchbox smells the most like a candidate for just tossing it out instead of trying to clean it for the umpteenth time.

The picture you see is stuff hanging around waiting to get, er, stuffed? Roquefort hates unfinished projects just as much as I do. He's been shoveling coffee down my throat to get me to finish off some of this stuff. GAH!

Roquefort Rollins, Mouse Trap Security Guard

Roquefort Rollins, Mouse Trap Security Guard, originally uploaded by q.D.paToOtieS.

Roquefort Rollins has acted as a Mouse Trap Security Guard every since he can remember. Most monsters aspire to be good at scaring kids by hiding underneath their bed or in their closet. But Roquefort found a different calling and it all started with a growl in his stomach and a chunk of cheddar. Roquefort loves cheese or should I say LIVES for cheese. With a cup of strong java, he follows mice around from trap to trap and then sits there and talks them out of what their about to do by gruesomely describing the painful death they'll suffer if that trap should go off. Then, after they leave, he disables the trap and eats the cheese that was left out as a lure. The mice have never failed to lead him to the most delicious cheeses in town and he's never failed to talk them out of trying take it for themselves. Ah, it's a real chore of a job but somebody has to do it and that somebody is Roquefort Rollins, Mouse Trap Security Guard!

Look for the free pattern for Roquefort hopefully by this weekend!

WIP Monster

WIP Monster, originally uploaded by q.D.paToOtieS.

Here's a little monster that I'm working on. When I crochet a new pattern, I usually have to do it twice. I just rough it out the first time and then the second time I crochet one, I go back and write down what I did! I don't like the yarn I used for this one as it SPLITS way too much when you're crocheting but the ease of the pattern is good so that's a plus. He's similar but not quite the same as "Rosefrom Dagrave" from last Halloween. When I get it all worked out, I will share the FREE crochet pattern with you so you can make some up. Now "Rosefrom" will have a buddy to hang out with and just in time for Halloween this year!

FREE Pattern for Igor Mousenstein

Igor Mousenstein
Originally uploaded by q.D.paToOtieS

Igor Mousenstein's ancestors were once helpers in the infamous Dr. Quackenburg's laboratory (ah, you thought I was going to say Dr. Frankenstein, didn't you? tsk. tsk. shame on you for making assumptions). Coincidentally, Dr. Quackenburg also had an assistant named Igor who was not very imaginative so he ended up naming all the lab mice after him (Dr. Quackenburg was also broke -- he was so poor he couldn't afford lab rats so he had to scale it down a bit). So he could tell the lab mice apart during testing, Igor put rubberbands of different colors around their tails. Eventually, this led to their tails falling off and over time new mice were born without tails. But this mouse has a tale all his own that's for sure. Just ask him what was going on in that laboratory and he'll tell you. Make one for yourself and let him weave his own tale. You'll be glad you did!

To make an Igor Mousenstein of your very own, just click HERE! The pattern is free and all the instructions are written on the pattern. Have fun and enjoy!

P.S. I hate even having to add this part but please remember that all patterns provided on my blog are for personal use only. Please do not reprint them to sell or make creations from them to sell unless asking my permission first. Also, if you make something from the pattern and show it off to your friends, family, and people you meet on the street, please let them know where you found this pattern and many others. A little credit would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Ah, Now to Relax by the Fire

Ah, Now to Relax by the Fire
Originally uploaded by q.D.paToOtieS

Well I thought last week was going to be SOoo easy and that with the girls at Vacation Bible School, I would get a lot of work done. Nope. Nada. Not so. I didn't even have time to blog. I eeked out this one little bunny, a head to another bunny and then a Softie I still have to put together which will hopefully be today. You really won't believe how much time is involved in taxing kids from here to there (or if you have kids, oh yeah, you will) and then trying to get your other work done in the meantime. I barely had time to get the bulletin done at church and it took me twice as long from typing it to printing it this week as it has the rest of the summer when they've just tagged along with me.

So the question remains, will I get anything done when they are actually in school? I hope so. I really hate to let you guys down and for me, making softies is a blast, so it would be a let down for me as well. Cross your fingers that I get everything ironed out the first week of school or two.

Thanks to all of you for sticking with me. Hopefully, I'll have more to show than a 2 1/2 inch bunny sometimes soon!

Simply Batty About Softies

Simply Batty
Originally uploaded by qdpatooties

All of my softies start with weird little drawings. Sometimes I just sit and literally draw on the computer or in a sketch book all day LONG. I love to draw and come up with kooky characters. But all of this requires peace and quiet and peace and quiet. Today I had none of that as the girls are getting bored, bored, BORED from staying home. I am looking forward to school for the peace and quiet but not looking forward to it as they'll bring home "germs" and "attitudes" from other kids. Seriously, some of the stuff they pick up from school is just downright scary.

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to two doll shows coming up in September and October. Fall also brings in a flurry of flea markets and craft shows where I can find stuff to make softies or spread the joy of softies by telling everyone about the blog and the free patterns I offer.

Anyway, I guess I'll get back to being Batty or maybe just plain NUTS!

Inspiration Files - I Still Do It!

I still have a thing where I "troll" vintage toys on E-bay and gain inspiration from them. I haven't made anything similar to this little guy yet but I just LOVE his kooky look! His little lopsided grin, his bug eyes, well, everything about him makes him just "perfect" in my book. I love mixing the Prim and the Anime and if I ever made anything like this little guy, it would be an equal combination of both styles.

So another busy day running to church, typing up the bulletins and then back to church to print out 75 or so for the weekend. My girls are all busy "helping" me when I'm there. My oldest has decided to sell her "artwork", the colorful pictures she draws, to help raise money for our Church's organ fund. Our organ is really on the fritz ( the electronics) and it needs to be fixed desperately. Years of trying to "fudge it" by using odds and ends have come to an end and we need to call in a professional. Sad but true is the fact that things don't last forever!

So back to doodling, crocheting and trying to think of some fun stuff for this fall. Thanks for sticking with me!