knitimal in the celluloid (sorta)

somethings - test reel from Datamouth on Vimeo.

don't you just love happy, inspiring, gleeful things? with good music? and soft, sweet plush?

yeah, me too.

i like it even more when people i knew a million years ago, send me emails with amazing collaborations of goodness in them.
my good buddy, Christian (who was one of only a very small handful of people i actually LIKED in high school), adopted a Knitimal from me some time back. The knitimal's name is Okechobee.... this is what Christian did with him.

ok, now the challenge is out there--- what have YOU done with YOUR knitimals?

And just what makes YOU so special?

... Besides how painfully cute they are? These little knitimals are working for change; a cleaner, greener world, just in time for earth day. Stay tuned for the big reveal!
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May Charity of the Month: Relay for Life

are you feeling generous?


i am.



i don't know exactly when it happened, but i can't recall a time in my life when my art and my personal beliefs have not been intrinsically connected.




i've always wanted (and still have every intention of doing so) to run my own non-profit; a special place for creative people to give back and get a little acknowledgment and success of their own, in return. i love teaching. i love watching kids get involved, get motivated and "get it" (and adults too, for that matter).


any opportunity i have to GIVE always feels right to me.


i can't help but acknowledge how fortunate i am, how much i have and how much i've been able to make of what i have...



... and i've reached a point where it feels right to actively contribute to meaningful causes as often as possible.






last month, i made a wonderful decision to donate a percentage of my etsy profits to the maryland society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, and in that month, with the help of some very generous and aware patrons, i was able to raise $100 for the cause!

giving feels good.


and the better i feel, the more productive i am.

the more productive i am, the more i have to give...

...infinity.


SO, i've decided that greenstarstudio is OFFICIALLY sponsoring a different charity each month and donating 5% of the profits from all etsy sales to said cause. The charities will be listed along the side bar, with opportunities for people to donate anytime they want, directly to the cause, long after the designated month ends.


and its with that, that i introduce the May cause of the month: the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. i'm not sure i know ANYONE who hasn't lost a loved one to cancer; who hasn't helped a friend with their own battle; who hasn't been affected, in some way, by this disease. I am choosing to support this cause, and this relay team in particular, because my brother-in-law lost his mother, Connie, to ovarian cancer when he was in high school. and because the first funeral i ever attended was during my 7th grade year; my best friend called my house in tears in the middle of the night because her mother had lost her battle with breast cancer. and because, however small it may seem in the grand scheme of things, i still can't believe that earlier this year, i had to say goodbye to my best four-legged friend, who's body had turned against her. and because it's the only way i know how to help the survivors and those struggling and fighting their own battle--- i can't cure it, but i can sure as heck help raise money for the those who might and those who need them to.

from now until June 1st, 5% of ALL etsy sales etsy will donated to Carrie & Bob's team.

I've just completely re-vamped and stocked the etsy shop... so go ahead and UN-STOCK it!

If you'd like to skip the purchasing part and just make a donation directly, please go here: make a donation

thank you so much.
peace, health and lots of love.
xoxo, danamarie

how we embroider

I'm juggling quite a few projects these days (which, in order to maintain sanity, I am only discussing one or two at a time... Conversely, I am working on them all at once. And I wonder why I had a migraine last night?). Anyway, todays highlighted project is rebuilding the sadly diminished knitimal collection. For months the pieces have been knit but balled up into little "pre kinitimal" packets... Like knitimal sushi rolls, waiting to be sewn. Yesterday I managed to sew up 2 dolls (have I mentioned before that sewing all those seams by hand takes HOURS? And why did I have that migraine last night?). Today, however, I'm embroidering. Yet another entry for the softies, this little guy is (as the category requires) "embroidered to death!).

Little mason has taken up residency on my lap (he's not feeling well and was up all night crying. And WHY did I have that migraine last night?!?), SO this is how we embroider today.



Stay tuned for new project updates like: painting the butterfly, mocking up the mural color and new coloring books.



Oh, also, if you're local... You can pick up a drawing of mine, entitled "at the door" at the MAP (Maryland art place) "out of order" silent auction this evening. Tickets are $40 and serve not only as donations to this wonderfully necessary organization, but also get you music, food and open bar! Plus a chance to bid on and take home some local art!



Xo, danamarie

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The verdict!

Well, she watched me sewing this little guy together for hours, and as soon as he was all stitched up she said "I can see it you made it, please?"... And has been drawing while holding him ever since.

This is Quaid the plaid quail, and he's going to be entered in the "pink or plaid" category of the 2nd annual softie awards (which I will keep you posted on, of course... I can't figure out how to include links when I'm doing posts from the mobile... I'll just owe it to you, or you can follow the link to the left, in the side bar.

Alright, more new knitimals to sew up!
Xoxo, danamarie
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