I.F.-"Hollow"

Here is my entry for Illustration Friday's theme "hollow".

My first thought when I heard this week's theme was the emptiness felt within our bodies when dealing with depression, and heartbreak. I have the hands bound with "debt" and "doubt", two potential catalysts for depression and common immobilizers in fulfilling one's true potential.

I'm done!

Still working on it.

Here is another sneak peek of the progress of my Luke and Yoda softie for Stitch Wars. I've been working on this project non-stop for over a week and a half and I'm still not done, just a few more details to go!

This pic features Luke's backpack kindly modeled by Chubster McCullister and Charcoal Bear.

What I've been working on lately~

I will be recreating this scene from Star Wars for the Stitch Wars show at Bear and Bird gallery. I need to work quickly and ship it out for the July 18th opening. EEEP!

"Not good is procrastination" -Yodalyn.

Also I've been working on Timmie 200's accessory, it is taking me so long to finish! I will post a pic as soon as I am done with it.

In other news, Sal and I discovered popcorn flavored gelato (yumsy!). I don't have a picture because we scarfed it down in 2 seconds. I always thought that gelato and ice cream were the same thing until I heard on television one day that ice cream is made with cream and gelato is made with milk, so it is less fatty. So schnnnnaaarf away. Well, not too much schnaarffing or else you will turn into a plump pudding like me. If you feel like taking a trek to the middle of nowhere Brooklyn you can find this gelato at Villabate bakery on 18th avenue. If you find yourself on Bleecker street in Manhattan you should try the straight-up CORN ice cream at Cones.

That is all the crafting and ice cream/gelato news for today.

Obsessing- Ecobridge Pencils

Recycled paper pencils ~ engorgeousness (engorged with gorgeousness). It reminds me of beautiful Japanese linen like this. I got this picture from this Korean website but I first saw it on Etsy.

mini light tent

I made this last night/ this morning at 4 am in case the sun didn't come out today and I had to take emergency pics of the Timmies.

The test photo:

June '09 update

Here are the 6 Timmies I will be adding to the shop tomorrow at noon. I will also be adding 11 other softies, a carrot messenger bag, 2 pairs of the prototype glasses, 2 pear keychains, 3 Timmie oil paintings, and a couple of Mr. Blackbean journals.

For July's update I will add more accessories, some Timmie jackets, some small Mr. Blackbean softies, and Timmie 200!

If you have a wish list or I've promised you something years ago and then forgot, feel free to comment with your request. So far on the promised list is ~ Crocomonster themed hat or outfit, red hooded jackets, a purple elephant, and a girl version of Timmie (Tammie Tadpole?). I do not take custom orders but I am open to hearing your requests.

up! up!

up! up!, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

This Squeezel (squeezable weasel) wants to be carried around :D

Day 75

Day 75, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

If anyone was wondering where on the tadpole development chart Timmie was at.

Shop update next Saturday!

I will be adding about 18 softies to my Etsy shop next Saturday. Hopefully the weather will be nice and sunny this upcoming week so I can get decent pictures of everything. Also I've been working on some Mr. Blackbean stationery that I will post and I will also post 3 small Timmie paintings. Hmm...I think that is everything. Oh... and I have some pear keychains too.

Art Star Craft Bazaar 2009

Here are some photos of my table at the Art Star Craft Bazaar. ASCB took place this past weekend in Philadelphia.

You can click on the pictures if you want to see the notes on each item in Flickr.





Although I didn't sell many things, I had a great time at ASCB. First of all, the location is beautiful - right on the Delaware river waterfront. I felt like I was on vacation the whole time; very relaxing. Just as lovely were all the nice people I came in contact with. I was touched by seeing kids use up their allowance money to purchase a Timmie. It really meant a lot to me. Also, I saw a few cases of friends buying gifts for friends who were standing right with them in my booth, which I thought was really sweet. Annnnnd... I met other Patrizios!!! I have never met another Patrizio randomly. Our families come from the same area in Italy too! If you are reading this ladies, keep in touch!

I also made 2 excellent trades with my neighbors. I have to admit, lately I am a bit of a trade snob. I will only trade for items that I can use on a daily basis or art/craft supplies. I live in a small apartment so I have to be selective. I got some delicious smelling soap (my mouth actually watered when I smelled the cherry amaretto scent) from Bunny Butt Apothecary, and some lovely wool pebbles from Traveling Rhinos, which I plan on turning into super fancy pom-poms for softie hats. Yay!

I will try to add all the items I have left over to my shop soon. I will post an official shop update notice shortly.

postcard peeps

So far I have Emily, Donna, Jean, Becky, Ismoyo, and April...did I miss anyone? I have some more postcard/flyers if anyone is still interested. I am going to the post office today.

2 more crafting days till ASCB!!!

I'm freaking out A TAD. I have so much more I need to get done before I leave for Philly. I decided to keep Timmie #200 at home because I don't have enough time to make a special outfit for him. So after I have this "special outfit" completed I will put him and any other items that I have left over from the fair in my Etsy shop when I return. Unless I grow a robotic crocheting arm (patent pending) over night or Santa's elves come a knockin' at my door I won't have many softies at this show. I recently looked over a picture from a craft show I participated in the past and noticed my table looked too much like a rainbow junkyard. This year I will try my hand at minimalism and make the most of what I do have.

who wants one?

I have a bunch of beautiful postcards (illustrated by Julie West) for the ASCB this weekend, anyone want me to mail them one? Email me your mailing address and I will send you one.

Edit: I just added my email address to the image, so you don't have to search around for it.

Do not leave your man unattended

Results if you do so:

1. The purchasing of very expensive dirt.

"Oh my SOD, did you just buy dirt?"

To counteract this purchase, I just purchased a small moss terrarium from weegreenspot on Etsy. I think our little patches of earth will look cute together.

2. The turning of your spatula into a piece of coral-like art.


It reminded me of this coral hook I saw at Anthropologie a while back-

The spatula is still functional, so I am going to hold on to it till it completely falls apart. I can't get too mad about my melted spatula because he was making us din-din when this happened. +1 -1, we are even.

What I've been working on...

My wrists have been hurting again for the last few weeks so I switched up my routine by working on some little paintings of Timmie. Painting puts much less stress on my wrists than crocheting, so I am probably not going to have too many softies at the show this year. I am going to switch my business name to So where are the Softies?. What do you think? :P

Carrot messenger bag

Carrot messenger bag, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

Now available in the shop!

Timmie's foray into opera

turquoise and green

turquoise and green, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

I am always fascinated when similar objects end up near each other in my apt.

Crocomonster hat

For the Timmies that don't want to commit to a whole Crocomonster outfit. I will be adding this hat to the shop shortly.

Back to his roots

A lily pad mat for displaying your Timmies! This lily pad comes with a removable water lily that can be used as a fashion accessory for yourself.

Now in the shop!

Run for safety!! It's...

with 25 linen thread teeth for ripping through ...umm...ah... BAGELS (with vegetable cream cheese) like nobody's business.

Some more experimenting with glasses

Some more experimenting with glasses, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

I played around with some more ideas.

Top left - tortoise shell style
Bottom left - vinyl rim
Right- blue tint, which reminded me of Dexter's glasses (from Dexter's Laboratory).

I *might* put some of the imperfect ones (all of the glasses above) in the shop for cheap.

Timmie gear prototypes

Malcolm X inspired glasses and a messenger bag. I am working on some new Timmie accessories for the Art Star Craft Bazaar.

Here are some of the unsuccessful attempts at making the glasses.

Timmie night school

mca, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

This Timmie is off to his night school classes. He is working on his MCA (Master of Cuteness Administration) degree.

Free offer for blog perusers!

shop special, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

I just reduced the price on my parachuting owl tee in my shop to $20 and I have a special offer for my internet buds. Just mention this free notepad offer and I will send a complimentary Tea Time notepad along with your order. WOW, what a deal :D!

This offer is valid till I sell out of the parachuting owl t-shirts.

Art Star Craft Bazaar!

(illustration by the talented Julie West)

I will be participating in this year's Art Star Craft Bazaar in Philly! It takes place May 30th and 31st rain or shine on Penn's Landing Great Plaza. I'm excited because this will be my first show in Philly! weeeee...

What I learned this past week:

Craft-wise what I learned this week was not to put regular acetate into my ink jet printer because it will be a ink drippin' money wastin' blob when it comes out. Also, I learned that trying to ink designs by hand is messy (I'm trying to get crisp lines for this particular design) and tedious, especially if you are trying to use india ink from 10 years ago. I ordered some transparency sheets for ink jet printers, it should be arriving today. Let's see how that goes.

In other news... why is black printer ink so expensive? I don't understand. It would be awesome if Epson (my printer) came out with vegetable/soy based inks for home printing use. Does this exist already?

ice skate

ice skate
Originally uploaded by m patrizio

I made this mini skate as a b-day gift for a friend who teaches ice skating. She took me on the ice recently for my first time ever! I only fell once, hurrah!

View from my window

...a police bust

Playing around with textures

The sun peeked out for a moment after a gloomy and depressing morning and afternoon. I am grateful.

Bunnies ♥

Is it wrong to pose grown men like bunnies you adore from the internets? Yes, probably.

Look at that bunny's little tongue sticking out. Irresistible!

bunny pic by craftybeaver

office wall 4.09

office wall 4.09, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

screen printed envelope

screenprinted envelope, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

I made this print last year but made the envelope last night.

recycled office chair cover case

recycled office chair cover case, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

Remember a while ago my office chair broke down from the pressure of my fat butt sitting on it all day long? Yes, that one. I made the storage ottoman (with my dad) and a pillow with some of the parts and I still had the leather (which I had thought was vinyl) left over. I started a new sketchbook the other day and I thought to myself," this delicate flower of a book needs a case!". I was going to make one out of linen but then I remembered the chair cover I had saved. I looked at it again this morning and realized it was not made out of vinyl but in fact it was leather (fancy schmancy) with the outside strip just being vinyl (see photo 1). I unstitched the center piece of the cover (photo 3) and made this handy dandy case.

P.S. I am hoping the discoloration on the inside of the cover is dye and not dirt.

why spend money on groceries when you can spend it on this -

tapeaddict, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

I've relapsed into my tape addiction this week. Empty fridge -> full tape dispenser. I've been doing all-nighters on some web projects this past week so I rewarded myself with some adhesive goodness.

!!!!WANT!!!! NEEED!!!

Oh. my. gourdation. Have you seen this? A self-contained screen printing machine!!!

After I took a screen printing class back in '07 (geez, time flies!) I had intentions of making a micro screen printing set-up in my apt. I bought most of the supplies and modified a light box with blacklights to be an exposure unit, but never got around to actually burning my own screens (it has been sitting there for a year and a half). Also, cleaning out screens in my bathtub is backbreaking & messy. Tonight I was looking over my mail and in a Michael's circular they mention this Yudu contraption. Does anyone have this?! It looks awesome!! I am thinking about bidding for one on ebay, but after the busted-scooba-after-one-month-of-usage fiasco of '07, I don't know if that is a good idea.

Earth Hour

Shut off the lights for an hour this Saturday (tomorrow) for Earth Hour.

Pouch for transporting wounded Timmies

Pouch for transporting wounded Timmies, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

Started Spring cleaning...

I still have a ways to go. I want to go bring some stuff to the Free store. I think there is one in Manhattan.

Edit:

Boo.. I just did some research and the Free Store project ended on March 22nd! I loved the idea of it!

My first Peeps of the season

My parents brought some Peeps over my place today. I actually tried to buy some for myself the other day, but my BF slapped them out of my hand (boo). I have the right to indulge in marshmallowly goodness and yellow #5 like the rest of the population!! The Peeps victory is mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some pics from the March update

(click image to enlarge)

Quick note about the Sunday shop update:

The March update will have a small amount of items (8 or 9 or 10 if I don't sleep tonight), quality not quantity, right? I was trying to do more but some of the items that I made took me a full day to make.

Edit: I just noticed my horoscope for today,

Aquarius (1/20-2/18)

There is much more work to be done now, and you need to keep working at it today!

Ha! Perfect!

For the discerning Timmie in your life...

a one-of-a-kind horse head hat! Has your Timmie experienced the luxury of horse... on his head? Act fast! Supplies are limited. Dial 1-800-Redunkadunk..leave off the last DUNK for savings.

This has to be one of my most redunkulous Timmie accessories ever! I swear I could be happy just making miniature gear all day long. If only I was independently wealthy...weh,weh <--baby cry.

Rar!

This lion hat was based off one of the paintings I did of Timmie a while back. This hat will be part of Sunday's shop update.

Timmie #185 & #187

Timmie #185

Timmie #187

Currently in the shop!

Etsy Labs Craft Night

Last night I went to check out the free macrame demo at the Etsy Labs in downtown Brooklyn. Dari was teaching people how to make plant hangers out of string. Since I killed all of my plants and had no use for a hanger, I decided to make myself a wristband/headband/belt/bag handle. I haven't decided what it is yet because I have no way of figuring out how long it will be. Judging by its current length I am leaning towards a small bag handle. String is definitely one of my favorite mediums, so practical.

Next Monday at the Lab they are demonstrating glass etching. I definitely want to go to that too.

Shop Update March 22nd

The next shop update will be Sunday March 22nd at noon Eastern time. I originally wanted to do it this Sunday, but I ran out of time. [insert disappointing sound effect here]

The color scheme in this illustration was inspired by a picture of a rusty tin I saw on Flickr.

Fuzzy Bunny in Arizona

Fuzzy Bunny in Arizona, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

Fuzzy B & I are back from a trip to Phoenix, AZ. After I finish up one of my computer projects I will post some new creations.

Link love

I want to thank all these nice people for linking to some of my creations this past week-

Cuteable

Dr. MOZ

Stylesmith

Thanks for helping me spread the cuteness around! :D