Pardon the dust...

...and enjoy these humble pink poms I set out for my mom's visit this week :O) (deep inhale) ahhhhhhhh... Fresh flowers are such a simple delight.

In case you've noticed, the past day I've been experimenting and tweaking my new *3 column* blog format! For some weird reason my cute "ellie n' bear" logo isn't appearing, so while i figure out how to override the coding, please ignore that boring 'default' text which so prominently graces the top of the page.

Will be showing you the big stash of crafting goodies and tidbits my mom brought for me from Pennsylvania, maybe part of Studio Tour II (?). All I can say is I'm now officially overloaded with vintage buttons and embroidery floss, but oh all the delightful things I can make with them!

Stay tuned :)

Lonely Little Ellie looking for a home

*Happy Father's Day*


Oh my...another lost little ellie! This sweet gal is from the April herd, and wonders if she will soon find a loving home, like her herd mates have. Luckily this tiny deer came along to keep her company and now they are inseparable friends :)



"Peachi Paki" is her name and the tiny deer comes with her, of course! A chunky cutie, just 4 1/2" tall, hand dyed bristle mohair, handpainted glass eyes, hand dyed pale minty green wool felt pads, jointed limbs, excelsior/ polyfil, wearing a handmade primitive yet charming dress of vintage feedsack cottons. One of a kind. $175 SOLD




"may i join your herd?"

"Seriesously" Obsessed!

Reflecting on my work to date, what I collect, things i'm drawn to, and even my CD collection and what DVD's I watch - one thing is clear as a bell: I'm a nut about things in 'series'. Maybe it's power in numbers, things en masse, repetition, pattern, themes, abundance, to see an idea come to fruition. Series allows one to organize thoughts and process, to play with boundaries verses be caught in them. What I find most interesting and profound about series, is that a small universe is created within itself. And those are places I like to explore :)

Even as a child I collected series; Avon decanters, plush animals, Sanrio, were the big ones... and oh how I took pride in them! In my twenties I was a raging collectaholic (fueled by my thrift store addiction, Philly had some of the BEST thrifts ever!). Over time, moving homes, purges (yes, I did let go of a massive Norfin Troll collection, but will admit to have saved just ONE), and perhaps discovering a bit more about myself, I've fine tuned my life to being "a minimalist who collects things"... a favorite phrase I once read somewhere. Creating is a fascinating journey, and I hope you enjoy the places we go together :)



1. Dumplings, the miniature bears (circa 2003~ retired breed)



2. Grinning Round Headed bears (circa 2004 ~ retired breed)


3. Buddha Bears



4. Pointed nose squat bears (essentially 'retired' breed, stuffing them with excelsior proved too hard on my paws, and takes a looong time to stuff just right. But i do love them so!)


5. Antiqued Mini Bears



6. Sock Monkeys & Ellies (2005-present)


7. Anime Sweeties



8. "Wee Bears" (can't get enough of these!)



9. Mohair Elephants (wide squat-shaped and upright 'traditional')


10. What's next?? It will be exciting to see!


As for DVD's i'm currently crazed about: My husband and i just devoured the 1940's Sherlock Holmes series starring Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce. Now we've moved on to the 1980's Granada TV series Sherlock Holmes starring Jeremy Brett (who many claim to be the ultimate Holmes) and I must agree!

~ a flower for Petal ~

Perhaps the universe was trying to tell me something, when I posted 'one little lost ellie' yesterday. I had not yet heard the news 'til today...

On June 9th, Petal, the oldest African elephant in U.S., died at Philadelphia Zoo at age 52. May she find freedom and her herd in the heavens :)

Here is Petal in her bleak zoo surroundings, in what was to be her final months of life. Photo taken February 2008, by Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants.

And by contrast, an elephant herd in the wild (they walk in formation to protect the little ones in the center :O)


For more info about Petal & the Philly Zoo elephants:

Save Wild Elephants
The Elephant Sanctuary who took in Dulary, a former Philly Zoo ellie.
Friends of Philly Zoo Elephants
Philly Daily News

One Little Lost Ellie...

oh my! This lonely little ellie has lost her herd! She is looking for a loving home, and promises to hold on to your finger tightly with her trunk so she won't get lost again :)



"Marmella" is a new creation, just 4" seated (but very wide!), hand-dyed long n' shaggy mohair, hand-dyed pink wool felt pads, jointed limbs, hand painted glass eyes, polyfil/ encased steel BB's, vintage feedsack tie. One of a kind. $235 SOLD


xo (^____^)

the Mohair Furnace...

...one could say my studio is exactly that. 77% humidity and holding steady at 90 degrees, what happened to spring? As the saying goes & Chicagoans know, there are 2 seasons here; winter and summer!

Last night we watched Billy Wilder's 1951 classic "Ace in the Hole", the film is set in sweltering hot New Mexico, you feel thirsty just watching it. Thank god this vintage Windsor metal fan was in the basement, it came in quite handy during the heat wave! The previous owner had carefully wrapped it in plastic and safely stored it away, so it's in beautiful condition. I'd love it's periwinkle blue color... wonder if they ever made one in pale pink? :)



Today we are enjoying welcomed relief with the new AC window unit we put in my studio (phew!), and now i can resume concentrating on new projects (instead of survival things, like dehydration, lol).

Nearly completed my group for Abracadabra Teddies and working on some new items for my Etsy shop that I'm really enjoying making and can't wait to show you ;o) will keep you posted about all of that soon.

And last, but certainly not least...*Big HUGZ* to everyone who adopted the *June Sweeties* i posted here last Tuesday, they are all so happy to have found new homes (preferably with central air?) :O)

~Stay cool and have a great rest of weekend, pp