Art Star Recap

Well we are just about recovered from the events of the past few weeks (the prepartions, the traveling, the show). Aside from the insane wind on the first day, the weather was amazing last weekend. I was really happy with my booth by about 4:30 on Sunday when I finally had everything set up the way I wanted it. You'd have to ask my SIL to be sure but I think I was asleep for the entire first day. I sort of let her communicate with the customers as well as recieve any complements that rolled in. Sometimes it's hard for me to do that stuff especially if I haven't slept well in a week. Mostly a lot of sloppy silly sentences would have spewed out of me if I had opened my mouth on that first day.

After the show was over we had tons of great food on both days. Saturday we stopped for chinese food- which is something we have given up on lately because Lancaster/Pittsburgh have really bad vegetarian options. But China town is awesome. We ate at Singapore Vegetarian and I can't wait to go back there again when we are in Philly this July. Yum! I got the Pepper "Steak" and it was so good. On Sunday we stopped at Govinda's on our way out of town for the "Chicken Cheese Steak". Also very tasty, although I probably could have eaten five of them-
I was hungry Ok? Long weekend.

The biggest let down of the weekend was not being able to put up the whole display the way I had imagined it. It was just too windy to have the wall of my tent up, so i couldn't put up my cute little sweater gallery display that I was planning. Someday

I'll have that all up and running to show you.
The best part of the weekend was meandering around the bazaar with my little M2. She was having a meltdown extraordinaire so I took her for a little walk. We got to see all the other vendors and pick out all of our favorite treasures. She was so nice to spend time with once she calmed down a little from all the excitement of the trip.

For most of the time Whatshisface took the kids around to see all the sights of the city like the Liberty Bell, Old City, Museums. He even got C3 a little Betsy Ross hat so she wouldn't burn in the bright sunlight.

C3 Snuggling with her new Tigerflight squirrel "Sophie"

We made some purchases. M1 and C3 got some sweet new plushies from Tigerflight.
M1 with her new owl.

M2 got a little Timmy the tadpole from So Softies complete with his own sweater. Of course M2 then proceeded to ransack my inventory and dress Timmy up in one of my Dolly Seamonster Hoods. Evidently I now make Timmy the Tadpole gear knockoffs?

Timmy the Tadpole in his octopus costume.
And of course the weekend wouldn't be complete without a surprise visit from my parents. M2 was especially happy for some quality Popop time.

M2 with Popop behind the booth overlooking the Delaware River

Many thanks to all our friends and family who came to support us this weekend. And of course thanks to all the wonderful Philly customers. We had a really great time.

ART STAR

Tomorrow morning I will awake at 3am and depart on a 5 hour drive to Philadelphia with three little girls, my SIL and WhatsHisFace. Not to mention a Caravan loaded with Lumpkins!

If you're in Philly this weekend come see Lumpkin at the

ART STAR Craft Bazaar

Saturday and Sunday from 11am-6pm

at Penn's Landing Great Plaza

ASCB 2008 from the Art Star flickr page
There will be 100+ of the best artists and crafters around,
tons of live music,
and best of all- BEAUTIFUL weather all weekend!

I'll be at booth #23... See you there!

tiny apple tutorial

So, I ordered some mini wooden apples (1/2") recently from American Woodcrafters Supply Co. These will be used in my little Lumpkin hobo bags. In the past I've bought them already finished from the craft store and they were rather expensive. I opted to buy the unfinished apples from AWS and saved a whopping $2.55! Amazing. Well just imagine if you were making a million of these!
Then you could save... $25,000!

And when the time comes that you need to finish 1 million tiny apples you know where to turn for a tiny apple finishing tutorial that actually provides very, very little information at all.

{Feel free to send that check for 25K on over to Lumpkin... your welcome.}

the end

New Old Fabrics

This weekend was all about the fabric. I spent most of last week designing and tweaking some fabrics to print with Spoonflower. I wanted to design my own hankies to use for these fun Lumpkin hobo sacks I've been selling for awhile.

I designed this hanky in four colors and it is right at this minute being printed on 100% organic cotton sateen over at Spoonflower...

I have a bunch of new little treats to fill in the sacks too. I'm really pleased with how these little bindles have evolved. They are very popular at craft shows since they are so inexpensive and sweet. So I'll be making LOTS of these for Art Star.

.............................

In other fabric news- My SIL and I went to the Salvation Army Fabric Fair on Saturday and let me just tell you I got a crazy amount of fabric for the amazing price of $35.00! Crrrrazy!

There are at least 40 yards of fabric here. It was AMAZING! I can't wait for next year. They are so efficient there with the tables and the check out. They had tons of notions, patterns and yarn that I didn't even bother looking at due to my already overstimulated head. Plus they had huge bolts of fabrics for sale too. I'm just so happy to have such a great source of good vintage/ second hand fabrics to use for Lumpkin so close by.
Some of the fabric contents are a little suspect. They had them on the tables marked COTTONS, but I may have to put them under the microscope and see for sure.
...........................

I also sent this design over to Spoonflower. I might not have time to make much with this print for Art Star but I will surely be offering these as fat quarters there. It's a very cute watercolor Lumpy combined with my new Lumpkin colors.


Everything is coming along nicely. Now I just have to figure a way to keep up with this Lumpkin work and clean up my house for an upcoming visit from family in a couple weeks. Ha! somethings gotta give soon. I have a feeling I'll have to lay off Lumpkin for a couple days in favor of some clean toilets and fur-free floors.
I'll be back later this week!

Easter and such

We had a nice Easter week off of school. The gals and I went back to Lancaster for the week and M1 got to visit her old school for a day. She loves those people so much and they love her too.

old friends in tiny chairs

We had our Easter/Spring fun on Saturday instead of Sunday since we were coming back to Pittsburgh on Sunday. It was a really nice holiday. Lots of family and fun. The girls hunted for eggs at the Liederkranz and then we had a huge dinner at Grandma and Pop pop's complete with 3 birthday cakes for all of the March/April birthdays. It was hilarious singing HaPpY BiRtHdAy so many times.

hunting with the birthday boy- Papa Louis

Nobody parked in the driveway so the kids hat lots of space for bikes, boards and a little chalking.

daddy terrifies my just a little

We had a lots of fun but it's good to be home. I'll be sewing/knitting/drawing up a storm for the next month in preparation for this year's Art Star Craft Bazaar held May 15-16 at Penn's Landing in Philly. That's right- you heard me- Art Star.
I FINALLY got in after applying for a million years. Therefore I feel especially obliged to make it worth their while. I'll be making a bunch of new items and updated a few old ones. I'm also working on revamping my tags and packaging and snazzing up the display a bit. Cohesive lumpkin branding- let's say it together now- Co-he-sive. Pretty exciting! I'll post on my progress later on this week.
Until then it's back to the lumpkin factory... Suh!

newly updated

I added a couple of items to the shop today including this magnetic paper doll.

It's printed on 85% pre-consumer recycled magnet and laminated on top for durability. The whole sheet is uncut and approximately 5x8".


This is my first paper doll colored digitally (usually I go with water colors). This little lady originally debuted back in December for a swap I did. I updated her (mostly because I failed to save the original- DOH!). On the up side
I WAS able to cram a couple more little items into her sweet Lumpkin wardrobe/ accessory stash (seamonster!).

I haven't yet named her. I think I'll wait until she has a couple of friends.
Oh yes- there will be more.
There always are.

Luxe Lumpy Pod

I just listed three of these in the shop this weekend. I've been working on these little Lumpkin playsets for awhile. In 2008 they were in their own little tote with all of their accessories- they were a big hit. I sold out at craft shows before I ever had a chance to list them in the online shop. This past Christmas 2009 I debuted the pod style of the less "Luxe" version made of recycled cottons and wools and again they sold out immediately in one day! I sold this "Luxe" version in an unfinished form at last Summer's Crafty Bastards but they were missing the pod (I hadn't invented that yet) and they had no pillows either. So I finally finished them and here they are...

Hand-batiked Organic Cotton Lumpkin
Wool stuffing
Hand-embroidered...

Hand made mini quilt reverses to an embroidered place setting.
Pink/Burgundy pillow.
Recycled wool Pod dwelling.

Mind you, this is not the traditional habitat for Lumpkins (they usually live in hollowed out gourds) I think of this as more of a Lumpkin camp out.

It really is a wonderful little mini playset to keep in a child's pocket or a mama's bag in case an emergency play session is in order.
Have I mentioned that I LOVE these?

Think Local First

It's sure taken me long enough to announce my news but you know what- this time of year is CRAZY, am I right? So here it is-

THINK LOCAL FIRST!!!

(the Lumpys got a redesign just in time for the event-
They are now made completely from reused cottons and wools.
and I made cute little LOCAL banners just for SSBN event)

This year I'm proud to announce that my Lumpkins have again been chosen as the mascot for the SSBN's Think Local First campaign in Lancaster and York, PA. This year the event is HUGE! I made 80 Lumpys (that was insane) for the SSBN, which are now hiding in stores all around Lancaster and York. From November 27th- December 18th shoppers can buy a passport and button for the event.

(I got my passport at Dogstar Books on Chestnut St. in Lancaster and I saved $ on my book purchase!)

The passport gives people discounts at all of the participating businesses. When you find 25 Lumpkins hidden in the stores you are entered in an amazing raffle just in time for the Holidays. I'm really proud of this event and I love the passports so much. I had an opportunity to visit some of the stores and hunt for my Lumpkins over Thanksgiving and I'm looking forward to heading back out this weekend while I'm in town for winter fair at SWS. Think Local First is so important for the holidays. I mean come on--don't you just find the mall so unappealing these days? So head Downtown or to your local Mainstreet this Holiday season and keep your money in your community!

OOooh Look here are the Lumpkins on TV!!

I MADE IT Jr. Market Sunday!!!

I've been super busy working on a gi-normous Lumpkin event starting next weekend (more on that tomorrow I hope) But right now I have a different announcement...

If your in Pittsburgh this weekend come out to the

I MADE IT Market at the
Children's Museum from 12-4pm 11/22/09

I will be there with all my Lumpkin goodies just in time for your little lumpkins this Holiday season. There will be tons of great stuff on sale for the kiddos and isn't it about time you treated them to a visit to the museum anyway?

(here's a clue for the next event!)

See you there!

Mention you read about this on my blog and get 10% off your entire purchase at the event.

Seamonster Collar Giveaway!!!

I almost forgot. Kathy (one of my favorite woolie, beautiful baby-makers) over at While Tangerine Dreams interviewed me for the Etsy Fridays feature over on her blog. AND she's hosting a giveaway for one of my child-sized seamonster collars! Get over there quick I think the contest ends on Wednesday...

What are you waiting for? Go!!!!

Let's do the time warp again.

It's been more than 2 months since my last post so I feel like I have a ton of stuff to share. Let's go in order of relevance for now and then maybe in another post we'll have time to reminisce about the Summer months that just flew past, am I right?

First of all, we moved to Pittsburgh two months ago as you know. This is what my street looked like yesterday afternoon, what's going on in your neighborhood these days? Pretty much constant sirens and helicopters yesterday and today. Yesterday saw 5 unmarked vans loaded with police in riot gear drive past my house. That doesn't happen everyday does it? So far the actually impact on us is a day off of school today.

Next on the list: Crafty Bastards. I can't believe I haven't gotten to share my excitement about being accepted this year. I'm very excited and somewhat terrified to be part of my first big outdoor craft show- and in D.C no less! I've sort of put cleaning and unpacking this house aside while I prepare for the show. I've been a knitting machine lately. I have a bunch of new sweaters, hoods, hats, and hopefully I'll get some sewing done this weekend too. I've spent a ton of time thinking about my booth layout so hopefully it won't disappoint the shoppers next weekend. By the way, go to their website and vote me Craftiest Bastard and I'll be eternally grateful to you.

I've set up my working area a little bit. Unfortunately it's in my bedroom temporarily as the girls bedroom is under construction so they are occupying my Lumpkin space for the time being. It's really not too bad- brightest room in the house that's for sure!

Well I'd better get back to work.
I'll try to post again next week and we can get all caught up.

SPOONFLOWER HAS ORGANIC!!!

Oh my goodness. My heart is actually racing I'm so excited. (Does that make me a weirdo fiber fiend?) SPOONFLOWER has finally included organic cotton as one of their options for custom fabric printing! Finally I will have the opportunity to use this incredible service! So what's been the hold up? Well, I've been on a self imposed hunger strike from buying new fabrics. Since September 12th 2007 (yes I know the date, it's been really hard OK?) Which means I haven't been able to partake in beautiful patterns like these from this gal, this guy, or this guy.

My fabric fast started out as a year long experiment but once my year was up I decided to make it a way of life. I now buy only vintage, re/upcycled, and if I buy any new fabric it must be organic or sustainable. Which basically means I've been scrounging around and living off my mountainous fabric stash that was accumulated in the pre-September 2007 days (also known as the Age of Decadence). Read this previous post to find out more about my decision to take a more sustainable route for my business and everyday life. And here's a good article about why fabric can be so damaging to the environment.

I really have no time to be doing any Lumpkin stuff right now ( shouldn't even be doing this, Shh!), but you can be sure I will be printing up a fabric design sometime this weekend. I can't put this on hold any longer whether my house is a wreck from the impending move or not. I've just been waiting too long for this! So look out for some new Lumpkin printed fabric to be incorporated into my Fall designs this year. And who knows, maybe I'll even start offering some Lumpkin supplies soon. I won't go over board though- I 'm still very committed to recycling fabric and keeping some of the worlds existing fabric out of the landfill. But there is something very appealing about creating the exact fabric you need for a project. Something with your name on it. And now their is an organic cotton option to do it. I love it! And FYI -all I want for Christmas, Mothers Day, birthdays, everyday is Spoonflower gift certificates. Consider it my permanent gift registry for life.
I'm really too excited about this huh?

Mama's Day Weekend

It was a pretty nice Mother's Day Weekend.

On Saturday I took the girls for a little Mama time at the Herb and Garden Fair at Landis Valley Farm. We bought some tomatoes to plant in our back yard here in Lancaster even though we probably won't be here to see them harvested. (My brother better do some canning for me when he moves into this place!)
The weather at the farm was perfect

Yesterday we went to my parents for a huge lunch cooked by my brother. I was pleased to see that everything was vegan except the meat. That was so nice of him.

For my mother's day gift M1 and M2 made beautiful cards and planted me a flower and uD bought me Indian take-out from Taj, mmmmm:) I also got some lovely plants from my mom and my father-in-law.

For my mom...
I made these dresses/shirt for my girls to wear on Mother's Day. I used an old skirt of my mom's from when she was at her biggest weight. She's has worked so hard this past year to get healthy and lost tons of weight. She is a crazy workout queen and I swear she eats more veggies than I do. She's dropped something like 6 sizes!?! It's been very inspirational for me to start exercising again so I can be as strong as her someday.

I also made a little souvenir for her to keep from the old skirt, complete with the old size label as a reminder of how far she's come. I used this bird pattern which was so easy it's ridiculous.


Getting the girls to pose for a nice picture for Grandma in their new dresses was the hard part...
Happy Mother's Day !

Newsflash!

OK, let's get right in to it...

M1 painted this while she visited the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh last month

We are OFFICIALLY moving to Pittsburgh!!!!

At this moment we are planning the move and busy organizing all of our masses of junk.
I really want to take some picture of each room here nice a clean before I pack them up, that's how I'd like to remember this house- yes, I'm rewriting history just a tad- so what?!
My plan is to only box up the things in each room that we need and love. Then we will load the boxes on the truck and everything that remains in the rooms will head down to the 1st floor to a massive moving sale. Look out for that sometime in late-June/earlyJuly. Everything that remains will head to the Salvation Army and then we're off. (And I'll be wearing a huge flower on the side of my head saying things like "Honey, STop the foolishness!" the whole time:)

Enough about cleaning house, there will be plenty of that to come. For now, let's think back on the fun month we had here in Lumpkin Land. And let's do it with a whirlwind of photographs because I'm too tired/lazy to write too much about it.

I knit...
One measly sweater for the month of April. "Mapping", features Cosy's yarn, fits size up to 7-8.

and
some doll sweaters for my imaginary dolls
Both feature Rachel-Marie's hand dyed yarns




The little one played peekaboo...

The bigger one splashed in the sun...

a heat wave always brings out the wading pool.

The biggest one got her hair chopped...

12" headed to Locks of Love

Most of us gardened...

things are sprouting up already!

and We ALL raced...

April was fun.

I'll try to break May into smaller chunks;)

See you sooner...

A Little Randomness

I was tagged a whiiiile ago by this lady and more recently by this lady and by a bunch of people on facebook. So here are 8 random things about me that I'll share with you. Since I fear I've worn out my tagging welcome with most of my blog buddies, I'll just leave it open.

If you want to play along, please do.

#1. I always start projects in the middle. And I usually have no exit strategy if it blows up in my face.

#2. I dream of one day entering a quilt into quilt exhibition. (And have it accepted.) I already have my designs in mind, I'm just not brave enough to start yet.

#3. My three daughters middle names (Mary, Celeste, Nancy) are after their great/grandmothers who died soon before each one was born. Sometimes I imagine my daughters are the reincarnated souls of those women. Especially when I get frustrated with them. You can't really be too harsh with Grammy Cook-Cook, now can you?

#4. I avoided coffee for years because I feared becoming hooked. It's the same reason I never tried a cigarette. I was right about getting hooked. Oh so right.

#5. The self-reflection required to think up random things about myself makes me queezy.

#6. I have 7 dead houseplants "living" in my house right now. I have a black thumb over the winter months.

#7. I used to be on the swim team in high school and sometimes I think I'd like to join an adult team.

#8. One of my first purchases on Etsy was this clutch. Look familiar? After I had bought the original, Flamestitch recreated it for use in the Pretty Little Patchwork book. I didn't realize it, and when I saw the book I thought, wait a minute that's my bag. And when I looked at mine it was slightly different. So I sort of have a famous bag. I've always kept it on a shelf in my dining room because it's so cute. It makes me feel like I have good taste. Ha. I guess lots of people will have them now that the pattern is published :)

Right now I'm working on packaging up the buttons I made last week and as soon as I do, they'll be in the shop along with this...
and this...
and maybe some more.