freakishly small feet?

That picture makes my feet look freakishly small and I think its funny.

Ahh. I actally got enough sleep for one night this week. And I still feel a little sleepy but what are you going to do. I will have to go get some coffee or something. I really wish I wasn't so dependent upon that yummy caffeine filled drink. I do love it so though.

So, for my haircut, I am thinking that i am going to do something a little like this next picture.



I think maybe a little longer but you get the idea. Just long enough to get it to do what I like with it but not as horribly long and out of control as it is now.

Ryan is going to Los Angeles this weekend with his friends. I hope this helps me get some stuff done. I am planning on putting Christmas music on(hey it will be December) and sewing my head off. Maybe I will even take the dog somewhere if it isn't too cold. It has been pretty chilly here lately like in the 60's. I know, I know it is way colder other places(I'm from Ohio, people) *and* it is that time of year, but it still makes me want to drink some cocoa or coffee and snuggle up under my quilt.

I did get a few things done last night. I finished my work in progress that I named Captain cause he is a pirate, like his collar.



and a new doll, I like her orange hair.



I could have finished more I think but I was so sleepy I just chose to go to bed instead of making a bunch of more stuff. That will be what this weekend is for. Hopefully. I need more polyfil.

Good luck to all you fancy pants people who are going to Bazaar Bizarre Cleveland tomorrow, I wish you bunches of luck and good sales. I always wondered if I was in Cleveland how the scene for craft shows would be. Are there bunches of peeps that love the craftiness? I didn't really get into serious(is that possible when you make toys?) crafting until I moved to California and that is all I know. Well regardless, I wish you luck, tell my mom I said hi :D

Cranberry Muffins and Coffee are gonna get me through my day...

argh. Staying up late and having to get up early to go to work do not mix. I am a zombie once again today. I am guilty of staying up late in order to get some stuff done for the shop after wasting most of my night watching Die Hard With A Vengence. I have never seen this movie before and it had me glued to my television for too long last night. I thought it was over like 3 times. And I missed Pushing Daisies because of some stupid Shrek movie. Bummer.

I did manage to finish this lovely lady, named Roberta:



I always wish I had a cherry dress, but I wouldn't wear it.

and I did get some done on this puppy:



I had to give up though, because my eyes were really struggling to stay open. Hey, kinda like they are doing now!

I didn't even have time for breakfast this morning, so a cranberry-apple muffin and a coffee from starbucks it is. I am ashamed of this fact, but the peeps at my starbucks are super nice to me and I like them. And due to huge amounts of caffeine, I should be good as new in just a few minutes! Can I just say too that I love cranberry muffins? Tart stuff is my favorite.

On another front, I am getting my hair cut on Saturday and I am SO excited. I drew a picture of how it is going to look. I will have to upload it tomorrow so you can see. I like to do that to stylists. I don't know how they feel about it. I guess it is strange that I think that I look like my drawings and I think that I can make up haircuts with my characters. But it usually works out for me so that is good.

I haven't been painting lately, I am not sure why, but I haven't. I have been drawing a lot lately though. I guess I am always drawing on every piece of paper I get my hands on. My notebooks at work are fun :D

Tonight my goal is to finish my WIP, work on some more toys and maybe a pouch or two. We will see what actually gets accomplished :D

Wednesday...I am running out of time!

Well not really running out of time but I sure feel like it! I had zero motivation last night to work, but I did manage to screw up one doll, forget white thread at the fabric store and so I ran out and had to use silver thread :D, and laze around on my couch watching the very endearing Charlie Brown's Christmas(yay!)

I got a couple things sewn up, like this custom elephant:



and a new doll that I did *not* have to cut up to steal the stuffing from her:



I ended up going to bed *way* later than I would have liked to, like 1:30am, but that is ok. I got up alright this morning. I will be tired later tonight though. I didn't get a chance to work on presents, it is hard to find the motivation sometimes. Yesterday I had so much motivation, it is crazy how being at work really sucks that out of you! And the fact that it is dark when I leave work it really makes me feel like taking a nap/going to bed at 6pm. I do have to work some more on presents, it might not be until this weekend though because I will have more time to focus on them. I am really trying to get stuff done for when I fly home, that way I won't have to pay bunches of money on shipping. I can't believe December is in 2 days! I get my hair cut Saturday and I am going to hit Haight Street and try and pick out some new clothes. I think I can find something there cause there is so much. I will probably just end up with Ben and Jerry's ice cream on Haight-Ashbury though. :D

Filled to the *brim* with ideas

This is my very favorite time in my life. High on ideas :D I love having so much to do that I can't sit still. I love having so many ideas that I don't know what to work on next :D My super fun ideas are going to have to wait until the new year with all the busy-ness that is my crazy life right now...I mean with presents and the shop and the upcoming show and such.

First of all, I am going to try my hand at writing a zine. It is *very* exciting for me because I have so many ideas. I am also hoping my best friend in the world will want to contribute/partner with me for this little endeavor. I have lots of ideas I can't wait to share with her and you guys!

Last night was late for me, I ended up finishing a couple of projects that I have been working on, a doll:



and a baby elephant(they are smaller than my regulars :D)



I like his pants, they are cowboys.

Tonight, it is a few more projects and Christmas presents, I can sometimes get a lot done on Tuesdays when Ryan is in class and I am left alone to my own devices and no distractions. I have been feeling extra productive and hard working lately so hopefully I can use that tonight.

Today is brought to you by the letter U...

What starts with the letter U?
Underpants, umbrella, uncle, ugly. Lots of other words I can't think of right now.

I made this for the project for the Plush Street Team :D I am the U in Plush. We made letters spelling out Etsy Plush Street Team. They are going to be sent to Etsy, Hopefully to be on display for all to see. :D

I had a *super* awesome 4 day break. I am amazed with how much I got accomplished. Too bad it was mostly presents and cannot be show until a later date. I got my entire best friend's family finished, my sister done, my mom at least the supplies are bought and some things are done for my boyfriend's family. Not much, but some. I am coming right along. I was disappointed because I did not get much done for my shop or Baz Biz, but I will work extra hard this week and the upcoming weekend to get on top of that. I need more robots and more dogs I think. And more bunnies and more elephants. And a couple more dolls.

Speaking of dolls, I did finish a new one for the shop...



and a new little elephant...



Tonight I have high hopes, but it is Monday/late night for me so we will see. I am going to try and have a coffee after work and maybe that will send me into a hardworking spiral. Does that even make sense?

I hope your weekend was great!

Today is a hot cocoa with Rediwhip day...

i needed this.
Originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys

Mmmmm. Perfect little snack.

I got soooo much done yesterday on the present front! I am pleased. Tonight will be more of the same. I am loving this break from the shop. I am going to be making some shop/Baz Biz stuff tomorrow and probably tonight if I get bored of presents...

I can't believe how fast time is *flying* I get to go home in less than 2 weeks! That weekend is going to be filled to the brim with love. :D That is how I like it.

Cheers!

Friday's off are my friend

Somebody got a bath!
Originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys

I am so happy to have this break today. :D I got some fabric shopping done and my dog got a bath. It has been a little lazy and perfect. I am super excited that tomorrow is only Saturday! Woo Hoo two whole more days until I have to go back to work!

So on my plate today is some basketball watching, some present sewing and maybe some drawing...

Hope you all are having fun too!!

Happy Turkey day!

self portrait thursday
Originally uploaded by laurensmashtoys

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Off to My friends for dinner!

Um, its Wednesday but kinda like Friday?

I really felt like it was Friday today. Weird. I could really use this weekend let me tell you...

I worked *so* hard last night and actually got a lot done. Too bad that most of it was Christmas presents and so cannot be revealed in this humble blog. :D
In time my friends.

I did get a couple of non-presenty things done. First this lovely little doll!



I really wanted her to match those stickers that I made a couple of weeks ago. I have to make some more of those too!

and I got a smaller elephant done. He is wearing pants as a response to the lovely lady that pointed out that Ramona Quimby, my very favorite pretend person tried to make pants for her elepant and it was hard. I found it to be not hard at all but I am a real person so that might be why it was easier for me :D



He is wearing squirrel pants :D



That is my fancy hand there in the picture for size purposes. Though my hands are little so I am not sure how helpful that really is :D

Tomorrow should be fun, I am bringing Apple Crisp over to my friend's house for some dinner. I am excited and hungry already :D Hope your Thanksgiving Feast is fun and you get to spend lots of time with your loved ones!

Tuesday but kinda like Thursday

Goodness, it is crazy how filled up my Monday nights get. I got off of work early, but still had to stay in San Francisco because Ryan had class and then a lecture. I ended up visiting the Macy's in Union Square, trying to find some new clothes(I really need some) I also went to the big mall and tried to find something there. I am just not into what is cool for the kids who shop at department stores. I found one thing at Nordstrom's it was a jumper. I might go back for it cause it was cute. I am really going to look some more for clothes when I get my hair cut next week. Cause my salon is on Haight St so it gives me some more hip-ish choices.

I get off work early tonight too, maybe I will get some more stuff done for my Christmas present side. I have a new idea for my best friend, I am hoping she likes it. I really love making my gifts. It is a better high when people like what you give them. I can't believe how many people don't like handmade things. It is weird, really. My family always was in to that stuff, my aunt makes lots of crafts and always gave extremely well received handmade gifts.

I definitely respond well to handmade things. Better than to storebought I think. I also respond fairly well to baked goods. and chocolate covered pretzel sticks with sprinkles on them. And candy. Missy are you reading this(just kidding :D)

Can you tell I miss the Marino Family Christmas get togethers?!?!?!? Cause I do.

hi there

I hope everyone's weekend was lovely. Mine was weird. I tried to shop for some new clothes cause I am down to a few shirts that I wear and I went to a department store and they had *nothing* I am going to be forced to go to Union Square tonight and look around for something. I could really use a new sweater or two. I get so cold at work.

The weekend was ok, I got a few more Christmas presents done, also I got to finish a package I had been working on for a swap that I already received. I am the worst. I am so super slow! I had to package up a bunch of orders(yay) and work on some new toys. I am in the elephant groove right now. I finished up Theodora:



and Geraldine:



Mondays are my late night to get home and there is an artist lecture tonight so that means I will not be home until almost 10pm. It is gonna be a *long* day. Hopefully it will go by fast. Thankfully I have Thursday and Friday off. Thank goodness.

Have a great day, I will be back tomorrow!

Yay For Friday!

I am so glad it is Friday today. I woke up at least 3 times this week thinking it was Saturday and I could sleep in. I guess that is what happens when you are sick and need your sleep. Last night I managed to use up some of my very low energy level and sew up a new elephant. I named her Gertrude.



My best friend Missy calls me Gertrude when I do something stupid. I don't know why I like that name so much. I do mindless things a lot. :D

I wish I got another elephant done but I just did not have it in me last night. Hopefully I will start to feel more than 83% healthy and I can sew up a bunch. I am hoping to get a lot done on my Thanksgiving break next week. I am excited for 4 days off in a row. I have to make pie cause we are going to dinner at our friends' house. It should be fun.

Ah Choo!

That has been almost the only thing I have been saying for a few days. Except Im siiiiiiiick! :D I feel a lot better today though, which might be because I fell asleep right after Pushing Daisies last night at 9pm. I couldn't believe it. I just felt so sleepy and sick. Hopefully tonight will be more productive for me.

I wanted to show you the little squirrel ornament I got in the mail from Tessa! It is so super cute and I forgot to take a pic of it because right when I got it, I immediately hung it up!



Please excuse the slight blurriness, I am too short to photograph it so I had to try and stay as still as possible. It almost worked. :D

I hope things are going well for you, I am anxiously awaiting the weekend and then the extra long weekend next week. I am hoping to get some gifts done as well as work some more stuff for my show. I can't believe how close we are getting to Bazaar Bizarre!

Ugh....

I don't feel good! I thought I could outmanuver this cold that has been going around, but alas, it looks like it caught me. Post nasal drip is not my friend. My throat feels awful and I am a sneeze machine. On a good note, I did get a bunch of work done last night! I hand sewed 3 gingerbread men...



Sewed up a little birdy...



and even sewed up an elephant from a drawing I made for my sister for her birthday. The elephant isn't for her, but the drawing was...



I really don't know what came over me! I can't believe the productivity. I am getting excited to go to Ohio to visit my family, it is really coming up fast. 3 more weeks! I really need to get started on my gifts!

Lately I've been dreaming of blue and empty skies...

but nothing like that ever crosses red and weary eyes...



We saw the Lawrence Arms and the Falcon last night. It was awesome. I danced my head off and sang at the top of my lungs. This morning I feel like I am hung over, but I didn't even drink. My ears are ringing, my throat is raw and I feel alive. There is nothing like a show to make you feel like you are living. Especially a show featuring one of your favorite bands that doubles as *two* bands. :D I love the Lawrence Arms. The only downer was The Falcon is basically the guys from the Lawrence Arms minus Chris and add Dan Andriano from Alkaline Trio. For whatever reason, Dan wasn't there so Chris filled in. So it was basically LA singing the Falcon songs and then their own songs later.



Whatever, it was still one of the best shows I have ever been to. If you have never checked out the Lawrence Arms but love sweet and gritty punk rock, I definitely recommend them. The other awesome thing about them is that they are from Chicago and they always talk about the midwest so when I see them(we have seen them 3 times in the past year) they always feel like a little piece of home :D

This weekend positively *flew* by. I can't belive how quick it went by! Friday Ryan and I ended up at a weird little art show in the Mission, and then at a friend's apartment hanging out almost all night! Saturday I had to shop and then I went with my friend Ert to Susie Ghahremani's show at Giant Robot. We didn't stay long but it was soo cute!! She seemed really nice but I was too shy to introduce myself. Then I had my first vegetarian sushi. I was really hesitant but just went for it and it was so good! MMMMMM I even had a mochi ball and that is my new favorite desert. :D

Sunday was spent sewing and doing chores. I made a few things for my sister, who's birthday it is today(Happy Birtday Cristen!!) and worked on a couple of other things including my new fancy pants pajama pants :D I wanted them to be capri length. They are so comfy and cute!



The fabric was too cute to pass up. It is squirrels and acorns and leaves :D



I didn't use a pattern, I just traced some old pajama pants. They came out really good and super comfy! I was impressed.

I also got some super awesome mail this weekend, a swap from my lovely friend Tessa at How to Use Art!

Here is the haul:



Can you believe that?! I am super spoiled! I can't wait to find the perfect shirt to put that queen of hearts patch on! and all that fabric?! No way. I love fabric if you have ever met me you would know, there is a towering bunch on my shelves :D And a super pretty print and that crazy fabulous sketchbook that Ryan *already* tried to steal. He is selfish like that sometimes. :D Oh and not to forget my favorite part, the best and coolest shirt that I own now.



And yes, I immediately put it on and wore it out that same day. It had the cutest screenprint on it, deer heads on plaques! I also just realized that I didn't put my *other* favorite part in there, which was the squirrel ornament that she actually has available in her shop...I am going to post a picture tomorrow. I didn't have it in my picture because it is already hanging up at my house, I love it so much. I can't wait to get a tree!!!

I can't believe how much I have written this morning, I am so tired! I can't wait to go home so I can sleeeeeeep. Please check out the Lawrence Arms and the Falcon. You will not be disappointed! Or maybe you will and that is what they want. :D

Lauren Does it...

Have you signed the Buy Handmade Pledge?

Buying handmade has become something that is very important to me and my little family. I try to buy or make what I can for gifts and myself. I think it is an awesome super satisfying thing to be able to know an actual person had a hand in making my stuff and I really think it means more. And honestly, since I started making things I think it is important to support other people trying to make their living off of their own two hands. I would be so happy if sometime in the future I could actually *live* off of my art. That would rock my world. I might have to live somewhere else than the Bay Area though, its crazy expensive here!

Last night was crazy, I fell asleep on the couch at like 9:30pm (from my late night the night before I would imagine) and was actually in bed by 11. I can't believe it. Hopefully I can stay up a little later tonight and get some stuff done. I have a birthday present that is due Monday but it looks like it is going to be a little late. Did I put it off because I can't believe my *baby* sister is going to be 22?! Goodness.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I am going to go to see the Lawrence Arms and the Falcon on Sunday, I am really excited. I love those guys.

Sigh...

Last night was late and weird. I didn't get breakfast this morning and I want to go home and snuggle under my covers. It is that kind of day. Already. I did sew a couple of birdys last night and get together a couple of packs of stickers. So that is nice.



and



and don't forget my little birdies!

I have this little sparrow:



and this little pigeon:



Tonight up on my plate is workout/sewing/doing whatever. Hopefully I stay off of the computer. The computer at home is not a good thing for me.

Do you ever feel like you are all alone?

Feel the burn...

Thank goodness for exercise trampolines and workout videos. Without them, my poor body would never get any movement. I think I am going to start walking on my lunch breaks too. Just for fun. Can you tell I have started my holiday festivities early and am trying to get myself in check?



I mean, look at this yummy dinner I had last night. Calzone rolls(a regular roll with ricotta cheese, mushrooms, green peppers, a tomato slice and fresh mozzerella cheese) and fried potatoes with mushrooms and green peppersm Yum. That is why I had to work out for 2 hours last night :D It was worth it.

Last night was also filled with sewing. For special projects and for the shop. I got this little birdy done



I like his spots.



Also I decided to list some of my stickers for stocking stuffer-esque purposes. I think that they would be a fun little addition to anyones life. :D They are fun because I cut each little part out and glued it all together. They are scrapped little ladies...

A lecture and a burrito!

I had the good fortune last night, after a very long day, to see a lecture on a really awesome artist, Amy Sillman, last night!

First of all, I had to go because we only have one car and we have to arrange our schedule around how we are getting from the city back to the east bay. And it was going to be tricky because we had to figure out a way to eat some dinner before the lecture so our tummys would be full, and we could focus. I had no idea who the artist was and was not looking forward to spending my evening in a lecture hall.

So we decided upon a burrito from the mexican place right by his work. But in order for us to eat before the lecture, I had to walk in the freezing cold 1.3 miles and pick up the food so he could meet me at the school and we could eat fast and go to the lecture.



When we finally got togther, we didn't really have time to eat in the car so we ran into the lecture hall and ate our burrito there. I drew up this sketch because we shared the burrito and I feel like sharing a burrito was very weird and silly. :D

After we ate we listened to Amy speak and she was awesome. Very funny and her art was lovely. She kept saying that you couldn't get the full effect unless you were actually looking at her paintings in person and I hope someday I get to. I really loved her talk, she focused on paintings being narratives and paintings and landscapes as language and it really spoke to me. I loved her work a lot. I wish you were there with me so you could have listened in. :D

Tonight will be a night, hopefully I can get some work done, who knows I might just feel like working on Christmas presents and other things just for me :D

I am excited too, because I am going to visit my family in Ohio for a weekend in early December, I am going by myself. I really need a visit with my momma and my best friend and the babies. I miss them terribly! I am going to make my mom buy her Christmas tree and make cookies with me.

I am also going to be off for a week at Christmas from work and I am hoping to visit Portland! I have never been there and I think it is going to be awesome!! I only hear great awesome things about it.

Happy Monday!

This weekend was one of relaxation and freedom. I allowed myself to work on projects that I wanted to and ignore things I didn't feel like doing. This was very important as I have been feeling a little stifled by all of the work I have been doing lately. It is like I do not get rest ever. I am changing the way I do things so that I have a little more balance in my life. It is going to be nice. :D

I made some super fun stuff, I worked on Christmas presents, I watched stupid t.v. and then the first disc of Weeds on DVD with Ryan. I had a lovely time!!

The fun project I worked on were these little girls I made out of scrapbook paper, construction paper, cardstock, glue, and ink and I made them into stickers with my super fun Xyron 510. I love that thing. It is so much fun.



Right now they resemble a small adorable swinging army on my desk. I like that. I want to make a million more :D



I like them so much because I didn't feel like I needed to make them, and I really have no plans for them. So they are my favorite thing right now. :D

I also made some awesome tortilla soup. Ryan even said "wow this is great" and that is a huge deal because ususally he just likes everything and when I ask how it is he says "its good" So I was pleased that he liked it so much. It was good though, *and* I half made it up. Meaning I looked at a recipe and wrote the ingredients down but when it came time to make dinner, Ryan had the computer so I couldn't look up the recipe again so I had to wing it so I am calling that 1/2 made up :D



Tortilla Soup(My friend Missy calls this Fiesta soup):

2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic
2 jalepenos seeded and minced
6 cups vegetable stock
3 medium tomatoes chopped
1 can corn
1 can black beans
1 can chopped tomatoes(I added this because I was afraid there wasn't enough)
also needed: avacado, tortilla chips, sour cream, cheese

In a pot heat olive oil, garlic and jalapenos for 5 minutes. Add vegetable stock and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add corn, beans and extra tomatoes. Heat on low until you eat!

Have a great Monday! :D

Happy November!

Hey guys! Just posting quick to say Happy November! I have been pretty lazy the past couple of days, my eyes closing well before midnight, sadly. I have done zero sewing and zero of anything fun. I needed the break though. This weekend will be all about some quality time with my sewing machine. I have some super fun Christmas presents to start on tonight.

Had a horrible dream last night that has left me in a terrible mood about it today. I was on a reality show competing with 2 other girls to keep my boyfriend. It was weird and it made me feel bad and I still feel bad about it. Is it wrong to be mad at someone about something you dreamt about? cause I sort of am mad...

I hope you have a lovely day and a great start to November!