Messenger bag with leather strap

This is the last item for April's shop update. More bags coming in May and by request I will attempt to make a human size version of the Timmie hats.

Here is the link to this bag.

Diamond pattern hat for Timmie

After 3 attempts with this pattern and colorway I finally made one that fit Timmie perfectly.

Available here.

The funky hats crew

The funky hats crew, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

ipod / iphone case prototype

Is it just me or does this case look drunk to you? Next time, less booze for the ipod cozies.

You can find this drunken cozy here.

The Rat in the Hat

Just added to the shop!

Rattus Petasatus is a one-of-a-kind softie who likes eating cheese, visiting the NYC subway system, and participating in science lab focus groups.

Timmie 252

Timmie 252, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

This Timmie will come with a double pocket cotton messenger bag. I am going to make more of these bags to sell separately this week. This first one took me a full day to make, but hopefully the next ones will be quicker!

april 2011 timmies

april 2011 timmies, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

A bit of a motley crew this month :D

kb koala bunny and timmie

kb koala bunny and timmie, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

some new friends I will be adding to the shop tonight

Update on the update!

Instead of updating the shop all at once I will be spreading it out starting Tuesday the 26th at 7pm eastern time and continuing to the 29th. If any items sell during that period I will be shipping them out on Saturday the 30th.

April shop update

next Tuesday the 26th at 7 pm eastern standard time. I will be adding to the shop 3-4 woven hats, a couple of leather bags, a couple of "naked" Timmies, a couple of other softies, and an iphone/ipod touch cosy. About 11 items total...if you are waiting for a specific item, feel free to mention it.

Crafty Dad

My dad made these wood bird cut outs for his latest project ~ a flower box. I think they came out good. I will post a photo of his project when it is all done.

Bottled Anger Management

I think the caffeine is to blame.

This is for Illustration Friday's theme "bottled".

what I'm working on this week...

crochet jute doormat

came out a little wonky, but I like that I got to use up a jumbo roll of jute that I had for 10 years and that it is natural.

leather case for tablets

Inspired by a string closure envelope I received. I should have rounded the corners just like the envelope, next time...

Brown Pear Coat

Untitled, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

One of my favs from the March update.

Ninja Pear

Untitled, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

Shop updated!

March 2011 Timmettes, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

I just finished adding 20 new items to the shop. Now it is time for a nap, nap, nap. After I wake up I will post some photos of the new items. zzzzzzzz

optimism

optimism, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

Meet Stareycakes

He is there for you when you need to stare and just can't because it is rude, you're busy, or you don't want people to think you're a creep. Just place Stareycakes in your pocket, stand on your desk, or place in the seat beside you on public transportation and he will report back to you everything you've missed from not staring- fashion trends, gossip, a suspicious passenger on the train, etc.

March 2011 update scheduled

march 2011 update, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

I will be updating my shop next Saturday the 26th at 2pm. I will be donating 20% of all the sales from my shop from now to the end of the month to Give2Asia/ Artists Help Japan.

Shop Update + Disaster Response

I am going to have a shop update by the end of the month with 15+ items and will donate 20% of the proceeds to give2asia.org. My friend set up a fund on their site called Artists Help Japan.
When I have everything ready I will post the specific date and time.

OH.MY.GOURD. So Softies cookies!!

Look at this amazing surprise gift from the super talented Miss Lizzy Cakes! This is art in sugar form! Thank you so much Liz!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!, originally uploaded by m patrizio.

Pictured are the Timmies going for my valentine's day loot. Nice try fellas!

cake war

You can cut the tension with a knife.

*barumpshoo*

Good news, I was able to end the war by eating them both.

This was an Entenmann's black and white cake. I suggest they stripe the cake, so the consumer can have a little chocolate and vanilla frosting in every portion. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with ... cake.

How to shorten shoelaces or replace broken aglets

If you stay up all night tossing and turning with racing thoughts of the disarrayed state of your shoelaces this post is for you.

The tips of shoelaces are called aglets. If you crack your plastic aglets or need to shorten your shoelaces there are a few ways to fix them.

Here's one:

Materials:

-shoelaces that need to be altered

-pliers

-paperclip

-small metal tubing , easily available in brass, aluminum, and copper at craft-hobby-art supply stores. Make sure to get tubing that is smaller than your eyelet size. I used 1/8" brass from K & S Engineering for this project. I found it at a local Dick Blick but it is really easy to find online.

-scissors

-fire ~ lighter and/or glue

-wire nipper

-sandpaper

Instructions:

1. Unfurl the paper clip and turn it into a hook. Push the hook through the shoelace tip and use the pliers to squeeze the hook end for a good grip.

2a. If your shoelaces are made from a synthetic material you can use a lighter to heat up the tip of the shoelace and then use your fingers to taper the ends. Proceed to scream, "ouchy!" cause you just melted off your fingerprints. Don't worry, they will heal. ;)

2b. If you don't feel like burning off your fingerprints or are using a natural material, you can use a scissor to taper the end and add a dab of glue to smooth it tightly together.

3. Pull the hooked shoelace through the tube using pliers. A rotating motion works best.

4. Remove the hook after the lace is completely pulled through. You may need to use the wire nippers to cut it off. Cut or burn off any extra shoelace that is sticking out and crimp the ends with the pliers to secure.

Use sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges.

I used my pliers and wire nippers to cut down the tube, but there are better options. If you want a nice smooth cut, you can use a tube cutter designed for small tubing like this one , a saw, or rotary cutter.

Today I came across two neater ways to secure metal aglets, 1. by crimping it lengthwise or 2. driving a couple of small nails through it to make indentations. I found some photos of that process and other techniques, like heat shrink tubing, on Ian's Shoelace Site.

Antiquing the aglet

I wanted the aglet color to coordinate with the color of the eyelets (antique brass) so I attempted to age it with what I had on hand. I ended up using blue drawing ink and black and dark brown leather dye. I roughed up the tubing with sandpaper before rubbing on the antiquing concoction. My fingers are now a lovely shade of orangey-brown from not using any gloves (not recommended) but I'm pleasantly surprised with the results.

Let me know if you have any questions about this post!

life is too short to wear itchy sweaters

I converted the sleeves of an old itchy wool sweater to over the knee socks. I've been wearing these all week under my pants and they've been keeping my legs nice and toasty.

To make:

1. Cut off sleeves on the shoulder seam line.
2. Crochet around the entire top edge.
3. Put them on and measure around thigh to see how long you have to make each strap.
4. Add fasteners, I used snap fasteners but I think it would look cute with wooden buttons as well. You can make one long strap instead of two and have it button on the side instead of the back.

With the rest of the material I am going to try to make house slippers, maybe felted?

clothes hanger ribbon holder

Instant recycling satisfaction! I finally tamed an unwieldy spool of ribbon with a wire clothes hanger I was about to throw out.

Here's how it looks on the wall.

Timmie #246

Timmette #5