Pittsburgh Day Trip

Mattress Factory (love that Yayoi Kusama room!)

Randyland is a short walk from the Mattress Factory.  Explore the garden of odds and ends from years of garbage picking and say hello to Randy!

Goldifox and turtlechicks are a couple of the silly things you will find at Trundle Manor

Wild Card Boutique

I took a little day trip a few weeks ago with my friend (and paper collage extraordinaire) Adrienne to Pittsburgh.  We had fun visiting some familiar museums such as the Mattress Factory (a unique museum filled with installation art... not mattresses) and also exploring hidden gems!  Trundle Manor, a private collection of oddities, strange taxidermy and home to a dapper fellow who stays in character as he gives you a tour, is one of these gems.  One of my favorite visits of the day was the shop Wild Card.  It's a huge indie craft boutique packed to the brim with prints, jewelry, home goods and clothing.  Stop in and check out the charming Laura George mural!  Maybe this would be a good shop to sell Horrible Adorables??  

I apologize for neglecting my blog lately.  I have been in the hectic process of moving and fixing up my new house!  Everything about the house has been happening so fast and I have barely any time to focus on anything else!  I am so excited to share pictures of it and Horrible Adorables' new headquarters here on my blog.  I chose a swoon worthy mint color for my studio walls ;)

Art Star Craft Bazaar 2013

My new display board filled with critters.  I had over 70 for this show!

Horrible Adorables littlest fan

Mini sloths made their debut at the fair

The view from my tent.. overcast, but just a small shower during tear-down

I was in booth #100

The Maple Ridge.  Just look at those guys with the bedazzled eyes!!!

Meerwiibli's cat dress that I have been coveting

Tadpole Creation's pirates.  Ahoy mateys!

Tadpole Creations... again!  I'm obsessed!

The Wind and the Sail.  Animals + fun patterns = a whole lotta cute

The Art Star Craft Bazaar took place over Mother's Day weekend and we at Horrible Adorables had a blast!  Despite a forecast predicting a 60% chance of thunderstorms all Saturday, the craft gods pulled through for us and it turned out to be gorgeous weather on both days! The gals at Art Star do such a great job organizing the show and it's fun to catch up with my crafty friends as well as meet some new folks.  My family always travels out to Philly to go to the show and turns it into a mini vacation.  This year was my niece's first time to Art Star and my sis dressed her up like a Horrible Adorable!  

My favorite vendors this year are shown in the photos above.  I always enjoy seeing what The Maple Ridge has to offer; Andrew has such a great sense of humor in his artwork!  I am also the proud new owner of the werewolf pawed couple (shown in the 6th image).  They are going to be on Chris' and my wedding cake!  Having our special day so close to Halloween, I think it will be very appropriate.  

It was also nice to catch up with Sarah-Maria from Meerwiibli.  Rumor has it that she is going to be opening up a shop in Beacon, NY called The Tailored Mermaid!  I was loving her cat printed dresses this year.  I bought a creature patterned dress from her last spring and it is not only beautiful but super comfy!  

I'm always drawn to the plush makers at any craft fair.  I loved the work of Tadpole Creations (I don't need to have a kid to buy some of these for myself... right?) and The Wind and the Sail.  So much color, pattern and cuteness going on, and hey, those are my favorite things!  This is the second year I have bought a plush animal from Laura at Wind and the Sail as a baby shower gift, but I'm thinking that the next one I purchase will be for myself!

For those of you that missed the show, keep an eye on the Art Star website or visit their boutique in person.  I dropped off about 20 new creatures, including lots of mini critters and some other cuties.  

Studio Invasion

My studio has been taken over by the 70 creatures that I will be bringing with me to the Art Star Craft Bazaar this weekend!  It's fun to lay them out in a grouping and to watch the collection grow, but at some point my studio is no longer mine to work in, but a zoo of sorts!

Spruce Spricket and the Curious Critters

I am pleased to announce that my first children's book "Spruce Spricket and the Curious Critters" will be making it's debut at Art Star Craft Bazaar this weekend (May 11-12)!  This project has been a dream of mine for the past couple years and I am glad that I finally found some time to sit down and make it happen.  The book is self published and will be sold through my Etsy shop as well as various craft fairs throughout the year.  An ipad story app is in the works too!

 The story is about Spruce, and adventurous creature, and his discovery of children!  He must convince his disbelieving friends of the existence of these curious critters with collected evidence.  Can he?  Well, you will have to take a read to find out!  There are lots of silly puns about the world of mysterious creatures added in for good measure, making this an enjoyable book for all ages!  

Stitched: A Soft Sculpture and Plush Exhibition

Photo by Lana Crooks

Photo by Lana Crooks

Photo by Lana Crooks
(That's my critter on the left)

Blue Deer by Jezabel Nekranea

Help Friends Make Things:  I'll Hold, You Wind by Hiné Mizushima

Race for the Prize by Cat Rabbit

Stitched at Clutter Gallery will be closing May 4th.  This is one show not to be missed.  Even if you cannot make it in person, check out the Clutter website for images of all the pieces in the show and to see what is still available for purchase!  I've posted some pictures of some of my favorites... there are so many incredible works though that I think they are ALL my favorites!

Horrible Adorable Press

When I registered my book, I had to come up with a name for my publishing house.. so here it is!  The logo I created is a variation on my normal 'Horrible Adorables' branding.  Having the special logo just makes it feel so much more official!  Maybe someday the book will be picked up by a REAL publisher ;)

Horrible Adorables Book

I've been working on writing and illustrating a Horrible Adorables picture book for the past couple months.  It has been hard work perfecting the story line and finding the right 'flow,' but now I am just enjoying breaking out my set of gouache and working on the illustrations.  I have focused so much of my time on creature making for the past few years, that I almost forgot how to paint!  I think I got the hang of it again though.  Hopefully I can finish everything up and get it sent to the printers sometime next week!