one twelfth of the year... not too shabby

so, you know how you don't make new year's resolutions because the very idea of a "resolution" makes you start thinking about ways to back out of it? (oh, really? you don't? oh... well, neither do i then. er.) i have this thing about new year's resolutions... i think they're silly. i think that if you want to make change, you should make change...today. a number of years ago, this image served as my new year's mailer/ promo card and i've never gotten a reaction to a promo piece like the one i got from this one. i can't say for sure, but i'd feel pretty confident that i'm not the only one who can relate to this image; balancing responsibilities, trying to grow as a person, managing more than you think you can while attempting to be gentle & kind, creative & focused... well, it's not an easy thing to do all the time. we are quickly sewing up the seams on the first month of the new year and i am already reminding myself regularly that i can, in fact, "be better today". on one hand, i am working as hard as my little hands can work to restock the shop, keep on top of my website & etsy shop, and research new retail and exhibition opportunities... on the other hand, our vacuum cleaner is toast, i've re-read the same chapter of a book a started a year ago no less than 40 times, and i haven't slept more than 4 hours a night in months. what gives!? i'm willing to chalk it up to the delicate balance that is life. and perhaps, i need to focus on the positive...the knitimals were invited to be a part of a show at purdue university, called: "Plushed: Art Gone Soft". the show is up now through feb 1, 2008 and we are so excited (the other knitimals and myself). there are some very talented artists in the show, including my e-friend robyn fabsits whose sideshow plushies i saw at Plush You this past October and fell head over heels in love with. so far the show is getting some great reviews... i'm sad i can't be there, but liz erlewine, who's put the show together, sent this link today: Plushed: Art Gone Soft. ... not sleeping can have its perks... like, i sit on the floor in my studio moving balls of yarn around and coming up with color combinations that will inspire and jumpstart something in my brain parts. i'm pretty fond of what's happening here. i've been enjoying the (temporary but nice while it lasts) order and discipline of my new pretty studio. i feel good looking at a space that i know is functional and aesthetically pleasing. i'm also re-falling in love with some handmade goodies of old.like mr. beecat here... the original knitimal, slowly partying his way toward a decade old and hanging tough with one of my most prized possessions: my "walk the line" pillow by my good friend jennyjen. (isn't it the cutest thing ever?). and of course, now that i can SEE all my cherished possessions, i've been making tracks to procure MORE possessions. i'm on etsy now... or perhaps it's more accurate to say "etsy is on me". i may have a problem. i am slowly but surely building a collection of finely crafted hand made bird dolls from all over the world (for the children i don't have yet). don't worry though, i'm getting plenty of stuff for me. jewelry mostly... things i can't make. oh etsy.

Etsy Buy Handmade greenstarstudio

speaking of etsy, i'm a proud member of a group calledB.E.S.T (baltimore etsy street team), a collective of very talented women working & living in baltimore and selling on etsy. we're working together to better promote the handmade in this city and i for one and happy to be affiliated with such a unique group of artists. i managed to pull myself away from handmade cyber shopping long enough to compose and distribute my winter newsletter (almost as taxing as doing all the things IN the newsletter); if you aren't on the mailing list yet and would like to be added, so you can receive newsletters and other promo materials, please let me know! so, i guess opening a new web-shop, joining a club, prepping for an out of state exhibition, practicing ruthless self promotion and finally cleaning up my unrelentingly cluttered pack-rat of a studio isn't too shabby of start to the year now, is it?

the birth of Etsy

well boys and girls... the day has come. i am the proud owner of an ETSY shop! yay! now, i am still away for the holidays (and by the way, happy happy holidays to all of you). for those of you who haven't been exposed to it yet, etsy is an online marketplace for handmade goods from all over the world. its amazing. you could, and i say this to prepare, not frighten you, spend literally every waking moment on this site. people have been telling me for ages that i should be a member of this community and i kept putting it off for one reason or another, but as my business grows i realize i need a more direct outlet to offer online sales, and thus--- the etsy shop. i'm pleased with the way it looks and functions thus far... i'm sure i'll be tweaking it every now and again, and sources in the know say that the best move (business wise) is to fill the shop slowly (each time you post a new item your shop moves to the top of a very long "what's new on etsy" sort of list... listing often keeps you fresh), so be patient with me as i get the hang of the routine. over the next couple weeks i will be adding a little of everything--- illustrations, cards, excerpts, greenstarstuff etc.

now, don't all jump up from your figgy pudding and rush off to the computer just yet; i recognize that most of you are probably still enjoying the hibernation period that is mid december through early january, and believe me, i am too. i am just really excited that my shop is up and running and that it only took me, oh, all day to figure out. there's not much up there now, but for those of you who check the blog regularly, i just wanted to nudge you that-a-way. so, bookmark it! share it! spam your friends with it! and for goodness sakes, shop handmade. wishing you and yours a sweet and warm new year. xoxo danamarie

ps. this is a sweet new knitimal named "cereal" and she is unbelievably soft and unbelievably available, on...


greenstarstudio's etsy shop

merry mart at creative alliance!

holiday mart at centenniel high school!

sara & gunter hat and gunter

if you have a dog like this, you must also have a hat like this. here's sara wearing the custom gunter hat i made for her. and there's gunter. very nice.

the last of the 8th edition knitimals!

hello my hippity hoppity holiday shoppity friends! you may have noticed a snazy little badge up in the top left corner of my blog... the handmade pledge. i know you all know the value of buying (and selling) and supporting handmade, so i won't preach about it, but i will ask you, as you are finishing up the last of your holiday gift buying (or, if you're like me, um, not even thinking about it yet!), to keep the little guys in mind. handmade goods are made with love by people who are imbuing each item with love (you have to be making these things with love when you are bearly making a profit and running around like a crazy person trying to find organic wool stuffing... um, but i digress).

in a topsy turvy world where the big guys keep getting bigger and just keep getting richer, and yet, can't seem to "get it" that we don't want our kids chewing on lead based toys, or that we aren't thrilled about washing our hair with shampoo that blinded a bunny, or that we don't REALLY want to eat cookies (no matter how tasty) that may or may not have been made in a factory that may or may not have contained nuts... handmade equals "a real person", with whom you can communicate and custom order. handmade puts the consumer in charge and casts a vote for the little guy.

in this case, handmade casts a vote for the little wool knit guy.

that said, i am taking a very very very limited number of custom holiday orders so if you need something for someone, or if you remember a product from a show and want to know if i still have it, send me an email. Otherwise, there are only a handful of Knitimals remaining from the 8th edition (2006-07), and they'd like a new home.
the last available 8th edition knitimals™!

i'll complete the adoptions on a first come first serve basis, so speak up soon!
happy handmade holidays!
xoxo, danamarie

small stuff at Bear & Bird!

the small stuff show is up at Bear+Bird in florida (for you floridians). all the work in the show is 8x10 and smaller, and meant to be paid for and left with on the spot. a great idea for quick holiday shopping, no? there's tons of work... i submitted 5 drawings, at least one of which has already sold. if you're in the area, or want to shop online, please do! (my drawings are in the bottom right corner of the 2nd picture)
Bear and Bird Boutique + Gallery
inside/upstairs at
TATE'S Comics+Toys+Videos+More
4566 N. University Drive
Lauderhill, Florida 33351
Phone: 954-748-0181
www.bearandbird.com
www.tatescomics.com

bazaart at the visionary!

yay! another wonderfully successful Bazaart is behind us. (the "yay" refers to the fact that Bazaart exists and exists with me, not that it is behind us... its "over-ness" is actually super sad). I love bazaart for a number of reasons: 1.) you can set up all week long. 2.) you can come back the next day to break down. 3.) this year there was a preview night, wherein people paid money to come in and get first dibs, to drink and to buy stuff, 4.) everyone that comes to Bazaart is SO flippin cool. 5.) the knitimals are totally welcome and understood and appreciated, 5.) no one calls them "monsters" or says: "these are like the ugly dolls!" (not that there is anything wrong with ugly dolls... its just that, well, they're not like the ugly dolls at all), 6.) i always make great new friends here, 6.) they give us donuts and coffee, 7.) there's fun music, 8.) doesnt feel a thing like work, 9.) great lighting, 10.) clean floors!, 11.) blue felt to decorate instead of formal name tags, 12.) i wait all year for it.

i will happily drive 10 hours from portland to do this show in the future. thanks for inviting me, bazaart people!

ok. so these are pictures of my booth (enjoy it, because it might well be my last "booth" per se, for a while... the next two shows are table top only or 6x8 spaces marked by tape). i had a ton of fun getting set up... i've never had a corner booth before, so that was a fun challenge. i'm so glad i left the left side wall open. it took a little last minute ingenuity, but it was worth it. i loved the set up and how bright and cheery everything was. it's always my goal to envision my booth as a little store. i SO want a little (well, not so little) store, and for now, this is as close as i get.

the new work--- the ornaments (both knit and illustrated), the soap, the hats, the new zines... all the new stuff got such fabulous responses... the air in the booth was like cotton candy, only gas. wait. that was weird. i just meant that it smelled and felt good in there! please don't walk away... i didn't mean to use the "g" word.

that said, please come out to my last TWO shows of 2007! this coming saturday, Dec. 1 at Centenniel High School in Ellicott City, MD and then my birthday (yay) Sunday, Dec. 2 at the Creative Alliance in baltimore. If you didn't get me a gift, its ok. just buy something and i'll use the money to get myself something shiny. (or more likely, to get myself more yarn, so i can make something else for you).

after the shows, i will update the website with any little guys still looking for homes... and i will, knock wood, hopefully find the time to open my etsy shop, so you can shop with ease between now and whenever the next show is.
till then...xoxo danamarie

happy thanksgiving!

just a quick note from the road... happy thanksgiving every body! i spent the weeks leading up to our 12 hour drive knitting, packing, sewing, painting, stapling, glueing, baking, molding, matting, taping, wrapping, typing, organizing, and preparing for the upcoming shows. we'll get back in town just hours before set-up time for Bazaart. i'll be working off a highway buzz (driving in the dark, gas station coffee and a lot of candy), so expect a beautiful display and LOTS of new work for your enjoyment. so... enjoy! xoxo danamarie

ringo and holly

sweet little ringo, with his dangly long legs, went to live in minnesota with holly earlier this week. holly makes sweet little plush things which you can check out on her flickr page
ringo and friends on flickr, or on her etsy site:
beeperbebe, should you get tired of knit things or just want to add a little something different to your collection. i only know her in cyber space, but i feel confident saying she is quite sweet herself. xo danamarie, and yes, i'm sure ringo has "the accent" now, eh.