My first Video Blog!

This is my first video blog or Vlog if you will. I do say Uhm a lot and for that I apologize. I hope over time I will get better at this. I do introduce you to my couch. :)

Fear of the Unknown

(Some of my packaging goodies)

A couple of friends of mine, including Lisa from Savor and Amy from GatorGrrl had told me over a year ago (*cough-nearly two years-cough*) about this printing out your postage online through paypal when you sell goodies online. Then, you can call the post office to come pick it up from your house.
wait... what?!
I was interested but made all kinds of excuses. I have mostly first class parcels, my printer isnt always working right, Its easier for me to hand write my labels and use stamps... yada yada yada.

I admit, I am sometimes slow on the uptake but since our move we are trying to greatly reduce the amount of gas used with our cars by combining errands and not as many trips out.
Not to mention the time it takes to stand in line at the post office. I have just had a couple of larger package orders come through and I sat there debating when to go to the post office to combine errands. Then it hit me. A gentle hit, not a ton of bricks realization, but I figured...well what the heck! I keep seeing the little option to print shipping label when I go to my paypal to check that the payment has cleared. I figured Id go ahead and give it a whirl today.
EASY!
I danced around the house waving my label around, nearly hitting it on the ceiling fan, narrowly avoiding a shredding by the fan blades (But it would have been okay cause you can reprint the label within 24 hours if you lose it, shred it or it prints out incorrectly!) entirely stupid excited that I didnt have to go to the post office. I then clicked on the option that I would like a carrier pick up - Why, yes. I would love someone to ring my doorbell and take my packages saving me time and money!
*The only little side note here is you have to have at least one priority mail package in the lot of goodies you are shipping for them to come and get it.

WHY didnt we do this last year during the Holidays? The M W F runs to the post office that my darling husband put up with so graciously! Not this year, baby!
Paypal shipping it is! I highly recommend getting over the newness and hurdle of trying something strange and scary. I love stamps and handwriting and all, but this is such a time saver, it comes with free delivery confirmation if its priority, which I might add is a smart idea so your customers can track their goodies.

No, I am not getting paid by anyone to write this, I just want you all to see how sometimes its not good to be stubborn and set in your ways! :)
PLEASE let me know if you all have any suggestions/questions or comments on this as I am still very new with this procedure. And, let me know if you try it out!

Awesome Boutiques

Know anyone out there with an awesome Home decor boutique that might be interested in carrying Red Marionette ornaments for this Holiday season?
We are now taking inquiries for a limited amount of wholesale accounts for this upcoming 2011 season. Feel free to have them contact us or we can contact them! red_marionette@yahoo.com

Brand New Art Wreath

If you follow my facebook you have seen the work in progress for these two guys. The Beachy Keen wreath (10" in diameter) and the Under the Sea wreath (12" in diameter). Like Purple Mountains Majesty these are the new style of wreath in my shop with Backgrounds. I have always wanted to put my critters in to a little scene. Kind of like a diorama that you made in 4th grade. :) So this is my newest passion.
Putting the critters into a scene not just a 'wreath'. I hope these become items people not just put on doors, but include in their home decor in living rooms, bedrooms, baby rooms and guest rooms. A lot....and I mean A LOT of hand cutting and sewing go in to these little guys. I am so pleased with how they came out and I hope you enjoy them too!
I am brainstorming some fall/halloween themed ones (think: sunset, bare creepy trees, pumpkins and leaves) and still really early on in the christmas wreath ideas (think: snowy forest) but I always love to hear your ideas too!
Have a wonderful weekend!

Purple Mountains Majesty Wreath

I have always loved the mountains, do you? They are beautiful, harsh and stunning all at once.

This is the felt layout of my newest 14" in diameter wreath called Purple Mountains Majesty. It has layers of felt hand stitched for a background on the wreath.
This family of three bears is backdropped by mountain ranges in varying purples that spread in to brown and olive rolling hills. No baubles or other adornments yet - it is just the felt and nothing is glued down so placement of the dots may change. I couldnt wait to show you all this one. I think it is my best one yet!
I will have several more like this coming soon with backgrounds included in the wreath decoration. I am working on a coral reef/Under the Sea one this week!

New Studio Space

I wanted to give you all a little peek at my new studio space. I share it with the computer desk in the corner (on the right side of the window) and Kyle was currently occupying it so I didnt snap a photo. I had just finished organizing the closet and my tubs to the best of my ability.

The closet is deep on either side and the left side has all of my bolts of felt stashed in it and the right side has my bolts of fabric. The shelves with the medium tubs are the fabric selection I have. And the worktable with the white board on it is where I sculpt, sew and do various other miscellany that is required by Red Marionette. The flowery chair pad is leaned up against the wall for now as it doesnt work so well under the wheels of the chair on this carpet. Under the printer are all of my sheets of felt.
No wall decoration or anything in here yet as we are still trying to get a feel for things. I have more workable space in this room than I did in the old sunroom studio and for that I am thankful. I promised myself we werent painting any walls until we owned something so these will stay the light beige they are for now, and I will decorate with bright pictures and artwork when the time comes.
I hope you all are having a wonderfully productive Saturday!

Stocking up

Sometimes I wish I had a soundtrack to my day.
As I poured out this pile on to the fleece to take a photo by the waning light, I wanted the Mortal Kombat (Happy Kyle? K for Kombat) music to cue up like when he says "It has begun!" and opens his hands wide and then some music cues up the serious scene....
Well.. thats what I wanted to have happen in my living room.
This is the first stack of the officially kicked in to the groove stocking up mode of Kelli.
57 little critters and I still have several more hours of work tonight to do.
I stopped to blog and treat myself to toenail painting (cookie monster blue, if you must know).
I digress, I wanted to show that my official stocking up for the Holiday season has begun. I am still working on organizing the tree skirts, wreath supplies and a couple of other mobiles and cupcake topper styles I would like to have. But this has been my focus this week. Chipmunks, Hedgehogs of varying colors, monsters, owls, sheep, bears, pandas, penguins, snowmen, moose and various other little guys.
I hope to have a 56 quart tub of these mooshed full within a couple of months. Right now I am brimming over a 6 quart tub. A girls gotta dream!

Have a wonderful Friday the 13th!

Surprise, Surprise! Free Shipping!

Surprise, Surprise! As of right now we have Free Shipping on Domestic purchases for ALL items in the shop! (Not just the sale goodies, anymore!)
Use the coupon code FREESHIPPINGMAY when you check out.
Just think, you could save anywhere from $1.25 to $8.00 or more when you dont have to pay shipping!
I feel like I need a waving crazy flapping inflatable arms tube man to show you all - cause I am excited about the new coupon code options on Etsy!
I dont know how long this sale will go, so take advantage of it while you can!

Batty Family Bat Mobile

This is the most recent addition to the Red Marionette shop. The Batty Family Bat Mobile! It can be seen in all of its glory HERE

I hope you all are aware by now of our first week of the ginormous sale is nearly over!
I have pouches, brooches, tree toppers, stuffed animals and pocket monsters all over 50% off and free shipping.
They are selling out fast and I want to make sure all of you out there who want to own some Red Marionette products get to look through the selection!
I dont have discounts or sales often and since we are discontinuing from our shop the above items they will disappear never to be seen again.
I hope this sale allows people to stock up early for Birthdays, gifts, Holidays or even personal uses!
I always feel personally responsible for my handmade goodies like they are little people I need to find homes for. They have hours of hand stitching time and effort put in to each piece. That makes them a part of me. Corny, I know. But very true.
Thank you all for taking a peek at my wares, have a wonderful Mothers day weekend!

How do you hang your wreaths?

This is a bit of a strange question as I dont have technical terms, so bear with me.
I am designing a few new wreaths for this year and I am trying to find out how you all hang your wreaths?
Do you like it with a ribbon included to hang on the over the door hangers? Would you prefer to have some kind of hanger on the back so it is easier to hang on a nail?

Also, how do you store your wreaths? Do you purchase boxes?
Would you be more inclined to purchase a wreath if it came with a cotton bag that ties shut for wreath storage?
Thanks for letting me pick your brains! :)

Have a wonderful week!

Funky Flock and Monster Mayhem

The mobiles are officially for sale in my SHOP

Today I have a busy day ahead of me but I do intend to have a couple of more designs up by the end of the week!
A Zoo themed mobile. A Mythological Creature Mobile and a Bat Mobile!
Keep checking the shop for new goodies this week. Also the sale items from Red Marionette are zooming out the door so be sure to take advantage while you still can!