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Wooo hoo!!

2010 Tree Skirt Tower - WIP

Here it is! The 2010 Tree Skirt Tower WIP!
I am missing two tree skirts that haven't been cut out yet, but this will be the vast majority of them unless something changes drastically. 19 of them.
They still need the critters cut out and sewn and the trims, but there they are in all of their glory.
Whew!

There are several new styles this year. A couple of repeaters from last year.
Notice the purple?! I am particularly excited about the purple. It is also a desire this year to have matching stockings for these skirts.
Everybody likes a matched set!

I'm hard at work in the studio so I am not scrambling this fall. I heard that Hobby Lobby and Michaels are already getting some of their Christmas Stuff out. Doesn't it seem earlier and earlier every year?
I suppose I am a bit convoluted with it as it is Holiday stuff year round in this studio.
I'm also working on new things to introduce in the shop. I am streamlining my stock so be sure to check out my Misfit Toys and Sale Section HERE A lot of things are 50% off and some are 30% off. Deeply discounted as they need good homes!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

It has been decided. Teal is the answer.

I just bought this fabric.
I love it.
Im not a "pink" person, but this combo just does it for me.

I purchased it on etsy from a lovely seller named SewMaterialistic
(Click on her name and it is like fabric porn. Fair warning)

I have been researching and doing some digging and finding out that TEAL is the up and coming color projected for this fall.
Last year it was deep rich purples. Purples will still be around, but its TEAL that is the hot new color.

I noticed that a lot of my fabrics last year had a white background and then lots of colorful dots or trees on them. Not many fabrics I used had a saturated full color background. This year I am changing that. I am working with things like the above mentioned Michael Miller fabric that will be a punch in the face of color.
I am combining lime greens and blues with teals. Working the whole cool color schemes.
I also will have purple tree skirts and stockings this year. They (the color-guru powers that be) also decided that the traditional christmas green is on its way out. Being replaced with an apple green or lime and red combination. Well pfft. I still like the traditional Christmas Green and you will still see some of that in my shop. I do also like the lime/apple green so I shall play both sides of the fence on that one and carry both combinations.

I do have a lot of things in the works starting in September that I will be announcing in about a month. So hold tight! This will be a busy year!

Personal Project - Halloween Tree Sculpture

For those of you that follow my blog on a regular basis you know I dabble in many different types of art. Sculpture is one of my favorite and also one I get to indulge in at my day job.

This photo was (as usual) taken with my phone in bad lighting while doing some painting work on my newest sculpture.
This little guy is inspired by old vintage halloween cards and posters. The color scheme is muted and aged. Obviously the owls arent finished and there are some highlight touches I need to finish on it but I am really pleased with how it is coming out. The large owl will have sleepy eyes and the little guy will look startled.
It is made out of sculpey clay and has a wire armature ( for those of you that dont know the armature is like the skeleton in the sculpture) in it all the way out to the tip of each and every branch.
Can you see the hidden face on the tree smiling back at you?

Muahahahaha! Pooty Monster is Alive!

Heee heee! The Pooty Monster Stocking is Alive!

If you arent sure what a pooty monster is.... In short - its the tiny gas bubbles that leak out when you're gassy. Making the squeaky little "poot" noise. Its nicer than saying Fart Monster...

This is just the felt laid out right now. I have to stitch him together for a prototype to make sure everything lays right.
He will also be made in a yellow body base as well!

This is a Stocking for the Holidays. Pooty Monster will keep your gifts in his tummy until you are ready to open them at Christmas.


I apologize for the icky photo quality as I am known to just snap prototype photos with my phone since it is handy instead of getting the camera. :)

Inventory has "esploded"

When we say "esploded" around this house it doesnt refer to "exploding" in the sense of the word which means (according to the dictionary) to expand with force and noise.
Esploded is the silent creeping up on you type that has strung out everywhere in no organized fashion. Using the word in a sentence would be: "My studio looks like a felt bomb esploded".

In this situation its my inventory system for Red Marionette on Etsy.
The items for sale used to nicely be placed in a tote designated for active listings.
Apparently... and I wont name names....someone....in charge of that tote noticed it filled up and now its helter skelter over the studio. Being that I am the only one listing things in this household, I am sure you can put two and two together on who to blame for this one.
Henceforth, I am off to organize my esploded inventory and hopefully come to the conclusion that nothing is "missing".

What are you working on today?

Its Here! The Red Marionette Website!

Take a gander at this!

Red Marionette


Ta da! The Red Marionette site has been officially launched!
Big thanks to everyone involved in making this happen!
I cannot wait to show this off to anyone and everyone!

I have been posting a lot of new stuff in the shop so be sure to swing by and check it out!
Have a wonderful evening!

Nearly obsessive...

Its nearly obsessive compulsive... I HAVE to make lists. 

It seems to organize my thoughts when I make lists. I can be in the middle of something and if I don't write out my lists I fear I wont organize my thoughts and see where I am at in progress.  Kind of the same thing with my doodles I post occasionally. I have to sketch it out before it goes away!

I love making check off lists for my inventory. There is something insanely satisfying about checking off a little box when finishing something. 

I snapped a photo with my phone yesterday when I was working on baby owls. I had to stop and make a list. 

It is several lists on one page. The top list is organizing what Monster stockings I need to cut out in which colors. The middle of the page was brainstorming new names for new critter designs. Then at the bottom of the page is a list of critters I still very badly need to cut out.... No, most of those critters are not included in the 7 bags of ornaments I already have cut out. 

When I cut out the ornaments they can be used for several Red Marionette products.  They can be put on tree skirts, wreaths, pouches, nestled in the pocket of the pocket peeper stocking or made in to Ornaments. So all of that cutting will not ALL end up as Ornaments.  Some of the baby ones are also made in to brooches or key rings. So you see they are the root of most of my products. So 7 bags really isn't that much, right? 

Back to the original point... I think lists are a very helpful tool for time management. However, you can also get overwhelmed. You need to learn to prioritize your lists. Make sure you only bite off little bits at a time. I have made massive lists before and then they go unused cause I had overwhelmed myself. Make little lists at a time to handle in the near future. You can always use a journal to write down long term goals. Those little pocket calendars help also. 

Find what works for you!

Workin' hard for the money!

Yes. Yes. I promised I would show you guys the stupid amount of critters I have cut out and I have yet to take a photo of the whole batch...

However, this one gallon freezer bag in the photo is one I am working on filling up today.

It happens to be next to me when I remembered the photo taking.

So ta da! A half fulfilled promise.

I am working on filling this one to the brim today and that is just one of the Five (Update: Just checked at home and its SEVEN bags plus two small quart ziplocs!!) more I have.

See? Its an insane amount. I can feel it in my wrists when I have been cutting out a lot like I have today. Each of those bodies in the bag have eyeballs, wings, beaks, pupils, tails, ears whatever belongs sandwiched between the two layers. So this bag like the five others will get the label "Ready for final Stitching"

Whew!

No more cutting out things today. My hand is ready to throw a fit.

For clarification: I didnt cut out the WHOLE bag today. Just about half of it. :)

The More the Merrier, right?

Tis the season at the Red Marionette household!

A renewed sense of urgency struck this weekend when my internal clock finally caught up with the real life clock.
Holiday season starts about mid-September on Etsy for me. I begin listing then for maximum exposure and sales.
It had come to my attention that Mid-September is only three months away!

So, with a slightly panic-ed look in my eye I dug in to the task of cutting out more stockings. I have the Pocket Peeper stockings down pat and introduced last year a few new designs to test the water in the Monster Stocking line. They sold quickly. So the goal this year is to maintain stock in the Pocket Peeper realm as well as make quite a few more Monster Stockings in varying colors. My previous post was showing some new designs I worked on this weekend. I only have patterns cut out for them so far. Spikey Monster is a new addition I havent posted photos of the sketch yet, but I can tell you he is pretty darn cute!
Prototypes will come soon, I promise.
I am looking forward to the Holidays this year as I think I am finally getting a grasp on the ebb and flow of Red Marionette sales. How it is more of a seasonal thing for me. This will be my third Holiday Season with Red Marionette and I am looking forward to it exponentially more than the last!

Monster Stocking Prototypes

Here are my latest doodles for the Monster Stockings that I will try to release later this year. The one on the right is called Kyle the flame monster. You can see his photo below: He has already been created as a Pocket Monster Stuffie, but I think he will be adorable as a Monster Stocking.

The one on the left is the Pooty Monster. He has little clouds of gas and bubbles around him. You guessed it... Farty Monster. I thought pooty was less offensive and cuter! I included a photo of Ruby the Monster Stocking that sold last year so you can see what they will end up looking like! I love the way she looks like her horns are made out of candy canes! For those of you not familiar with the monster stockings they keep your presents safe in their belly until you are ready to open them up! So in essence they eat your gifts... typical of Monsters, really.

Hopefully I will have time to start on a prototype for the above mentioned this weekend! If they work out, photos will surely follow!