Times are a changin': New Studio Tantrum Shop

Well, it's high time I got a groovier online shop going. And so, slated for November 4th, I will move my ZenCart online shop over to a SquareSpace site. Since switching servers can take up to 72 hours, the shop may closed for moving. We will also be having a moving sale, which I don't think you will want to miss.

But more than a new site, I am bringing in a lot more energy to the shop. That energy, renewable and sustainable, is none other than our dear friend, Jen Coe. You may know Jen from her days operating Fabric Bliss, one of the best online fabric shops of the time. One of Jen's daughter's developed an extremely rare and very debilitating condition, which, among other things, made the Phoenix, Arizona gal allergic to sunshine.  Of all things to be allergic to in Phoenix, it had to be sunshine, am I right? At any rate, Jen closed the Fabric Bliss shop to devote herself to healing dear Kennedy.

Fast forward to a coupla months ago, when Jen emails me and says she wants to help me. "Fine," I say, "I've lost the wind in my sails, but she's not sunk yet, so climb aboard!"

The reason my online shop has lost steam is all because of me. The Internet has grown and changed since the days when I could post a single photo of a sewing pattern and the orders would come streaming in. Now, it's all about Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and elite tiers of the bloggosphere, with which I have not kept pace. A good idea is not good enough anymore. I need to change with the times. I, frankly, am not a very enthusiastic self-promoter. In addition, there have been times in recent years when I have become so frustrated with my designs being mass manufactured, that I really lost heart. And this business is all heart, let me tell you. And if my heart isn't in it, I am de facto out.  I would spend more time and money with lawyers than with designing. And who wants to do that?

But, thanks to Jen's indefatigable enthusiasm, good humor and belief in this work, we're patching up the leaks in this sinking ship, sometimes with chewing gum, and keeping her afloat. It helps that Jen is a bit crazy: I mean, she made Minecraft quilts for her kids. I hope you will sign up for her newsletter: It promises to be at times irreverent, at times informative, and always full of surprises.

The hope is to make the new shop true to my mission statement, which is basically these three interdependent principles:

Have fun.
Make money.
Do good.

As for No. 3, we will be making ePatterns available for download, most or all of the proceeds of which will benefit charity. I have two in the works right now, which I hope to have ready for purchase in plenty of time for holiday sewing.

For my wholesale customers, I hope you will like the new shop and level of customer service. For the rest, we will be rolling out retail purchasing soon.

Stay tuned.

90

We love you, Dad.

Scardey Kittyboo! Miese Miezekatzen!

Remember these little guys? The Bad Mummies?

You can see how I made them here.

Erinnert ihr euch noch an diesen Jungs vom letzen Jahr? Hier die Anleitung die für die Bad Mummies.

You have a cat, right? So you've told me and every last other non-cat owner how amazing cats are. They are so amazing, that even the Ancient Egyptians revered the cat and went so far as to have a cat goddess named Bastet. Some Egyptians chose to take Kitty along with them into the afterlife by mummifying him. So that your little Bad Mummies from last year have a feline afterlife friend as well, this year I have made Scardey Kittyboo™. Scaredy Kittyboo is a bendable, poseable Halloween decoration* treat that contains a glow-in-the-dark trick.

British Museum, Cat Mummy

Aber eine Katze haste, nicht wahr? Und jedem Nicht-Katzenfräuchen (wie ich) erzählste ja, wie toll Katzen sind, nicht? Wie sogar die alten Ägypter die Katze verehrt hatten, gar eine Katze zur Göttin, Bastet, anbeteten. Ja, es haben so mache Ägypter ihre Katzen wohl auch in das Jenseits mitgenommen, in dem sie diese mumifizierten. So das deine Bad Mummies vom letzen Jahr auch ein Schmuzetierchen haben können, dieses Jahr sind es die Miesen Miezekatzen.

Miese Miezekatzen sind biegsame, posierbare Dekostücke*, die unter Umständen recht mies erschrecken können, denn diese sind auch Nachleuchtend!

*Not intended as toys for small children; Für Kleinkinder nicht geeignet.






The materials/Werkstoffe:

• 12-gague aluminum floral wire
• Poly fiber fill or cotton batting
• Cloth-based glow-in-the-dark utility tape (Duck brand works well)
• Wiggle eyes
• Super glue

• Dicker, doch schön biegsamer Alu-Blumendraht : US = 12 Gauge --> laut Wikipedia sei das auf DIN Durchmesser 2,05 mm; Querschnitt 6,53 kcmil 3,31 mm2
• Glubschaugen 
• Nachleuchtende Panzerband. Bei uns gibt's die Marke "Duck Tape" und hat alle mögliche Farben und Muster, auch nachleuchtend. Vielleicht gibt's das inzwischen bei euch auch. Sollte dies nicht bei euch geben, geht auch natürlich weiße Panzerband. Die Katze könnte frau dann wiederum mit Nachleuchtende Farbe mahlen. Dies gibt's z. B. in der Spraydose.
• Sekundenkleber

Step 1/Schritt 1:

For a Kittyboo that stands approximately ear-to-foot 7 inches tall,

• Cut one piece of floral wire approximately 50 inches long
• Cut a second piece of floral wire approximately 6 inches long

Für eine miese Miezekatze, die vom Ohr zum Fuß ca. 18 cm hoch steht,

• Schneide ein Stück Alu-Blumendraht ca. 125 cm lang 
• Schneide ein zweites Stück ca. 15 cm lang

Step 2/Schritt 2:

• Bend the long piece of wire into a big loop.
• Twist one end of the wire loop to the other approximately 5 inches down from the end. You will have a big loop with a tail hanging off. This bit tail bit will be your kitty's tail.

• Biege den langen Draht zu einer großen Schlaufe
• Verwinde das eine Drahtende zum anderen, doch ca. 12 cm vom Ende. So hast Du eine große Schlaufe mit einem kleinen Schwanz. Dieser Schwanz wird zum Katzenschwanz.

Step 3/Schritt 3:

• Beginning at the tail, bend loops for the two hind legs, approximately 4 inches long each.
• Leave straight part for the torso.
• Bend two loops for the front legs, again, both approximately 4 inches long.
• You should have a good-sized loop for the neck/head.

• Fange am Schwanzende an und biege zwei schmale Schlaufen für die Hinterbeine je ca. 10 cm lang zurecht.
• Ein Stück für den Mittelkörper gerade lassen.
• Zwie schmale Schlaufen für die Vorderbeine beigen, wiederum auch ca. 10 cm lang.
• Dann hast du noch angemessen Draht für den Hals und den Kopf übrig.

Step 4/Schritt 4:

Bend the neck and head as depicted here. Make the nose end a bit pointy.

Den Kopfteil wie abgebildet zurechtbiegen. Die Nase spitz drücken.

Step 5/Schritt 5:

• Bend the second piece of wire as depicted here. The two little loops are for the ears.

• Das zweite, kürze Stück draht wie abgebildet zurecht biegen. Die kleinen Schläufchen sind die Katzenöhrchen.

Step 6/Schritt 6:

• Tear two thin strips of cloth utility tape approximately 6 inches long and 1/4 inch wide. Tape the head/ear piece in place to the main body piece.

• Vom Panzerband zwei ganz schmale Streifen ca 15 lang und 5 mm breit reißen. Der Stoffband läßt sich sehr einfach reißen. Das Kopf/Ohren-Teil an den Katzenkörper binden.

Step 7/Schritt 7:

Roll small pieces of poly fiber fill between your hands into "snakes".

Kleine Stückchen Watte zwischen den Handflächen zu "Schlangen" rollen.

Step 8/Schritt 8:

Twist the poly fiber fill "snakes" around the fire body frame. It helps to turn the frame in your closed hand. The motion is sort of like sharpening a pencil in a hand-held pencil sharpener: Hold one hand around, for example, one front leg with the poly fiber fill snake twisted around it. Now, with the other hand, turn, turn, turn the body of the cat while the other hand holds the fiber fill "still". The fiber fill will form around the frame like cotton candy around a stick.

Die Watte-"Schlangen" um den Katzenkörper verwinden. Es hilft, den Körper in deine geballte Faust zu drehen, so das die Watte sich um den Draht herum anformt. Stell' dir vor, du spitzt einen Bleistift: Du hältst beispielsweise das eine mit Watte herumgewickelte vordere Katzenbeinchen lose in der linken Hand. Mit der rechten Hand, du drehst, drehst, drehst die Katze in der Linken Hand, so daß die Watte wie Zuckerwatte um den Draht herum formt.  

Step 9/Schritt 9:

Cut pieces of the glow-in-the-dark utility tape into 12-18 inch long pieces. Tear these pieces into thin lenth-wise strips, approx. 1/8 - 1/4 inch wide.

Stücke vom Panzerband ca 30-45 cm lang abschneiden. Diese Stücke wiederung längst in ganz schmale Steifen reißen, ca. 5-7 mm breit. 

Step 10/Schritt 10:

Wrap, wrap, wrap those thin strips of utility tape all around the frame.

Die schmalen Panzerbandstreifen um die Watte 'rum herum, 'rum herum, 'rum herum wickeln wickeln wickeln, bis die Watte nicht mehr zu sehen ist. 

Step 11/Schritt11:

Wrap around the ears. Mould and shape the head and ears as you wrap.

Steifen um die Öhrchen wickeln. Dabei die Ohrenspitzen formen.

Step 12/Schirtt 12:

Glue wiggle eyes onto the face with super glue.

Glubschaugen mit Sekundenkleber ankleben.

Step 13/Schritt 13:

Lay one strip of utility tape around the eyes and give your Boo Kitty a bit of facial expression that way.

Noch ein Streifchen Panzerband über/um die Augen ankleben, um die Katze etwas Gesichtsausdruck zu verleihen.

Step 14/Schritt 14:

If you have a bit of tape left over, make a little ball for Kittyboo to play with.

Solltest du noch etwas Panzerband übrig haben, kannst du daraus einen Bandball als sein Spielzeig wickeln.

And why is Scaredy Kittyboo a bad Kittyboo? Because Kittyboo is a scaredy cat. But he doesn't get scared, no: He scares YOU! BOO!

Just right before your little one snuggles down to sleep, be sure to leave your Scaredy Kittyboo under a light for several minutes to "charge" the phosphorescence. Then hide Scardey Kittyboo somewhere, where your little one might see him once the lights are turned off ("Night, night sleep tight."). ...Now, wait... wait for it ... wait ...

"AAAAAHHH!"

(Hee hee!)

Happy Halloween!

Und warum ist Miezekatze eine miese Miezekatze? Weil Miese Miezekatze gerne Streiche spielt, vor allem dich erschrecken. BUH!

Kurz vor du deinen Kleinen ins Bettlein zudeckst, die Miese Miezekatze unter einer Lampe für einige Minuten stellen, um das Phosphor "aufzuladen". Miese Miezekatze ja dann irgendwo im Kinds Schlafzimmerlein verstecken, wo Kind sie vielleicht vom Bettlein erblicken könnte ... dann "Gute Nacht. Schlaf gut. Licht aus." ... warte ... es kommt ... warte ....

"AAAAAHHH!"

(Hi hi!)

Happy Halloween!



© 2013 Mother of Invention Inc. • All Copyright and Utility Design Rights Reserved • "Scardey Kittyboo" ™2013 • For private use only. The above instructions and/or the intellectual property contained therein for the cat and mummy decorations or their like may not be reproduced in whole or part without express written consent.

Carpe'd the heck out of that diem

Recently spent a day on the Channel Islands!







This day happened, by coincidence, be the day the Chumash people, the original inhabitants of the islands, were celebrating their heritage by welcoming a tomol, a traditional wooden plank canoe paddled by a team of about ten men and boys from the mainland. This canoe is heavy and rather difficult to maneuver in the very choppy waters. The trip from the mainland can take 12 to twenty hours.













Finished the day with the best fish tacos, evah, in Ventura.

Stuff I saw yesterday

Walls, mostly.













Just trying to stretch my photographic wings. Practice, practice, practice.