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Miss Dot Chickenpants
2007-10-25 17:37:00
Today's Chickenpants: Miss DotMiss Dot Chickenpants likes being the center of attention. Her choice of loud fabric may have something to do with this. She worked really hard to be able to fit into these pants. Now she looks fantastic and she's searching for some pie. Boy, has she ever earned it.She's made from fuzzy fleece, non allergenic polyfill, vintage stretchy geometric patterned fabric, little beads for eyes, little bit of ribbon, and one button for a belt buckle.See how swelte she is? She's roosting in the shop for now.Tommorow's Chickenpants will be: Argyle Chickenpants.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com

Chickenpants Hot Wheels
2007-10-24 22:19:00
Today's Chickenpants has a penchant for speed. Vrrooooommm! Who's that skidding round the track? Vrrooooom! It's Chickenpants Hot Wheels , and he's pushing his chickenfoot to the metal! Vroooooomm!Hot Wheels has earned his name, yes, for driving fast, but also for wearing a small toy tire as a belt buckle.He's made from fuzzy fleece, non allergenic polyfill, vintage stretchy plaid fabric, little beads for eyes, little bit of ribbon, and one Hot Wheels wheel for a belt buckle.He's roosting in the shop for now.Up next: Miss Dot Chickenpants.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Eels

Onward came the Chickenpants!
2007-10-23 23:34:00
Marching forward in semi-orderly lines...I created one Chickenpants (and a painting to match!) a little bit ago. But my brain never quite let me stop at that...and the vintage fabric, it beckons, you know.First up is Big Jim Chickenpants A rootin, tootin, barrel chested chicken. 6.5" high,4" wideBroad at the shoulders and narrow at the hips.And everybody knows you don't give no lipto Big Jim Chickenpants.He sports a paw print ribbon belt with a "Western" button belt buckle. He's made from fuzzy fleece, non allergenic polyfill, vintage stretchy plaid fabric, a couplea beads, little bit of ribbon, and a button. All the Chickenpants plushies are my original creations. Although they follow a basic pattern, each one is unique and has different embellishments. Each one has a bit of a different personality, too.If you'd like to see more, as always, Flickr delivers. I'll be adding them to the shop as well.Up next...Chickenpants Hot Wheels!absolutelysmall.blogspot.com

Curiouser and Curiouser...
2007-10-18 22:32:00
Charging Douge Originally uploaded by chicken widgetI've been holed up with my sewing machine a lot lately. Which is great- I've been making lots of new guys! The only thing with that is, the more I fall into visual land, the more words fail me. But I am looking, always looking, filling up my eyes with new...stuff. So, in lieu of a lengthy post, I'll share some goodies:Wow! Steampunk!Disinterested Pug With Found ObjectsThe Rat Bat's new shop. I'm waiting for those pug tiles to come on sale...absolutelysmall.blogspot.com

Handmade Parade Recap
2007-10-17 19:12:00
Here it is in a nutshell: Handmade Parade was fun. And if you happen to be in the Sacramento area in May, when the next one is, you should go. And here's the more lengthy (fun) version:One side of my table... Originally uploaded by chicken widgetPictures of my table...And the other side of the table Originally uploaded by chicken widgetLaurenSmash's table!Lauren's Table Originally uploaded by chicken widgetIt was really neat to meet another Plush Team member in the flesh. I wish I had snuck out from behind the table to take more photos- there were a lot of really wonderful displays. And now I don't have a photo to commemorate meeting the founder of ZNE! She was really sweet. I also met the founder of Mission Indie Mart. All sorts of movers and shakers were there. Jen from Rosebud Designs gave a demonstration on how to spin wool. Katie Jean gave a demo on making your own tags. Kelly of Sweet Addie brought some very awesome jewelry.Daily Photo 10.14.07 Originally uploaded by chick...
More About: Recap

Coming soon...
2007-10-15 19:26:00
Daily Photo 10.13.07 Originally uploaded by chicken widgetA recap of Handmade Parade, complete with photos and links galore!In the meantime, I'm off to get an order packaged and get my 50 samples for the Sampler done.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com

March of the business cards
2007-10-12 21:57:00
March of the business cards Originally uploaded by chicken widgetThings have been nuts. It's always this way before a show, so it's really no big deal. However! I seem to have misplaced my stack of business cards somewhere in all the chaos. They're just gone.With no time to get an order placed, let alone received, I did the next best thing. I made my own. I printed the bases out on the computer, and then hand painted a little chick on each one. While painting on beaks, I realized that this is actually the third time I've hand painted a run of business cards. Also, it's kind of fun to do this. So then I decided to number the backs as well. Might as well keep track. We'll see how we do at the show...but if any are left over, I'll be putting them into the packages of Etsy purchases.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Business , March , Cards , Sine

Mystifying...
2007-10-11 23:40:00
Poking through the analytics software for this site, I discovered some of the keywords that are bringing people to this site:(Idea for this post stolen mercilessly from Minor Tweaks)The number one search that people find this site from:"chicken tattoo". Other tattoo related queries: "tattoo of chicken", "small and cute tattoo", "tattoo chicken"Not that odd, right? I posted a piece of mine called "Chicken Tattoo" not that long ago. Also, there are plenty of "small" phrased key words:"small bobs" (Um? My...hair? Or did you forget a vowel? Also: AHEM.)"small chicken project""small dogs from the dubois petshop""small pictures of a cat, rat, bat""small poem +shoe""smallest art work in the world" (probably something by this guy)Now here is where it gets a little weird:"I feel statements" (I feel...itchy. I feel...a little peckish.)"+cow+blank book" (have we ever had a cow on this site? We totally should. Did you notice how now we are freely using the editorial "we"?)"baking assignments""C...
More About: Myst

Letting the pictures speak for themselves...mostly.
2007-10-09 18:43:00
This is what my painting desk looks like right now:Daily Photo 10.08.07 Originally uploaded by chicken widgetThis is the painting I rushed to finish for SFG: Autumn Fox Originally uploaded by chicken widgetMy eye's been twitching, and I've got that perpetual motion, jumping from one half finished project to another, gasping for air feeling. Must be pre-show time!absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Pictures , Letting , Speak

Handmade Parade - and another contest!
2007-10-05 19:36:00
The very next show that Absolutely Small will have a table at is: Handmade Parade !If you're in the Sacramento area on October 13th, you could be there too! Like the postcard says: live music, free demos, diy kits, 30+ vendors. It's going to be really fun. As far as the contest goes: Little Lovelies (one of the excellent vendors) is trying to stir up some promotion for this event. If you post the Handmade Parade flier picture and a wee post about the event on your blog, (and then come back to her site and leave a comment about doing said thing) you'll be entered into a contest to win some neat handmade goodies. Visit her site for all the details.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Contest

Bluebones and...
2007-10-04 21:27:00
Bluebones - handmade winged creature Originally uploaded by chicken widgetnothing else to share this morning. Why not? Lack of time? Well, not really, no.It *may* have something to do with the Game Cube finally being fixed and a rediscovered joy in playing the new Legend of Zelda game. It *may* also have something to do with reading this old post on Seth Godin's blog. That had a way of clamping down on my ability to write anything.(Wait...you're not supposed to write about your cat on a blog? Huh. All these rules! {*5 year old self* "I'm breaking the rules! Noooooo!"})But, anyway: Bluebones!Why the name Bluebones? Because the armature of the wings was made with blue pipe cleaners (the better to slightly be able to see them with). I then detailed the wings in a little bit of blue for some detail. Bluebones is sporting a little blue button collar. It's kind of tricky to photograph, on account of his super fluffy head. The collar is made from two different colors of baker's twine....

Reluctant to knock the Plush Team contest post off the top...
2007-10-02 18:36:00
but the blog must move on. Oh, but first: update on the contest! It was featured on the Etsy Storque today! Thanks Etsy!Snow Bunny face Originally uploaded by chicken widgetRight, well, anyway. The reason I knocked the contest off the top was to introduce this little cutie. I'm calling her "The Snow Bunny", and she's the first, and probably only, Snow Bunny that I will ever make. I've been trying to make more than one of each of the softies, but that's not really me. I get terribly bored doing the same thing over and over again...I like to create new things from scratch all the time. This of course means I will have basically no profit margins at all, but who cares? I'd rather create what I want to create. (Not that I'm saying I'll never create another rabbit, or that there will always be only one of a given softie pattern- but the details will always be different, you can count on that!)Anyway: Details that make me happy with this creature include: *The extensive use of fanc...
More About: Contest , Post , Team , Knock , Plush

Announcing: The First Plush Team Contest Ever!
2007-10-01 17:49:00
How would you like to win these amazing goodies? I happen to have them here at my house, and let me tell you- parting with them will be tricky. They're all sorts of cute and awesome.How do you win these cuties? Simple- visit the Plush Team Blog where all the details are spelled out for you. I'd respell them, but I'm lousy at spelling. I will say that the contest is a combination treasure hunt and word scramble, and a lot of fun. Also, it begins TODAY, October 1st, and it ends October 8th at midnight. So what are you waiting for?The official Plush Team Blog has all the information you need, including the treasure hunt list of which shops to hit to find the letters. Right here!(Hint: one of the letters is in my shop, making friends with a chick. That narrows it down, doesn't it?)absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Contest , Anno

Komaneko
2007-09-28 17:20:00
These little shorts combine two amazingly cute things: stop motion animation and softies. All wrapped up in a neat Japanese package. Koma neko sews her own softies to make films. (See short #1) This is my kind of cat.Also: anyone know where I can find a stop motion animation camera? I've been wanting to make stop motion films ever since I saw it on the Muppet Babies a million years ago.A million thanks to My Little Mochi for bringing this to my attention! Go there- she has links to more of the Komaneko shorts. Highly reccomended viewing.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com

Hoping for snow this year
2007-09-27 20:33:00
Closeup of the Snow monster Originally uploaded by chicken widget...and taking it out on the softies!This little fellow (actually, pretty large fellow) is called Snow Monster. He's not abominable...but he's up to something. Hopefuly it's making me some snow. I think snow is the only reason for winter.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Year

Illustration Friday- Juggling
2007-09-25 17:09:00
Here's an illustration of me, as a chicken.I should have added more balls. Nine just isn't enough.Best viewed large.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Friday , Illustration , Juggling , Stration

Random statements I feel compelled to make
2007-09-21 20:29:00
Again with the baby softies! Originally uploaded by chicken widgetI can only smell out of one nostril and it’s driving me nuts. I sprayed a sample of ‘Usher’ Cologne onto Topanga, just to see what it would smell like. Now she smells like an over cologned teenage boy.No one at work understands my Tokidoki bag. I am so pleased!I am freaking out over my lack of artistic abilities. I am flailing and directionless!I am not ready for summer to end. I have squandered the summer! Woe!Going without coffee midweek is going really well. Wait...why did I decide I wanted to go without coffee midweek again?absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Random , Make , Feel , Statement , Temen

Part of The Absolutely Small Winter '07 Line
2007-09-21 00:04:00
Part of the Absolute ly Small Winter 07 line Originally uploaded by chicken widgetIntroducing: some new softies! In wintry colors! The big tan fella in the back is a Snow Monster. (Abominable? Nah.)The large grey cutie is a Koala Tracksuit. (Koala in a Tracksuit...with ears on the hood. I have a jacket with ears on the hood too, and it is wonderful. Everyone should have one.)Ahem. The two twins there are designed with babies in mind.One piece! Legs to chew on! No chokeable parts! And they are in cashmere and super poodley fleece. And last but not least, the tiny pink kitty. Bright green eyes, bright flannel body. Ready to rock!As always, many more photos avaliable on Flickr! (To go straight to the softies, click here.)absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Part , Line

Chicken Tattoo
2007-09-17 20:01:00
Chicken Tattoo Originally uploaded by chicken widgetOver on Sugar Frosted Goodness, the weekly challenge was "Tattoo" (a few weeks ago). But, what with the vacationing and the coughing and the congestion and whatnot, I've only got it all together now. Too late for SFG, but still totally worth creating (and hopefully, viewing!). I colored this in with watercolor pencils. I've had them for years, but never really used them much. I must admit, I enjoyed using them and the finished effect very much!absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Chicken

Working on it...
2007-09-14 22:32:00
If you've visited AbsolutelySmall.com in the last 24 hours, you've no doubt noticed some changes. (Also a couple of broken links!) (Also: that font is TEMPORARY! I'm working on it!) Normally I wouldn't let something so deeply in process go live, but...this has a lot to do with taking advantage of the limited time my techno-savvy collegiate behbeh brother has to offer and a lot more to do with cold medicine induced bad judgement. Anyway, it's up. Ish. Do bear with me.This is just the latest in my ongoing scheme to keep life as crazy as possible. It's also a lot like the way cats puff themselves up to look bigger to their enemies.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Working , Workin

And we're back!
2007-09-13 20:04:00
Wait...you're going to Monterey? And you're leaving me?? Daily Photo 9.8.07, originally uploaded by chicken widget. These little guys are THREATENED! By something. Threatened!, originally uploaded by chicken widget. The ocean contains a bunch more pinkness than I imagined. Neat! Pinkness, originally uploaded by chicken widget. When not looking at natural things, we ate. And ate and ate and ate. Intermission, originally uploaded by chicken widget. There are a few more photos (Ha! A few.) here.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Back

Absolutely Small featured on the Plush Team Blog!
2007-09-07 17:26:00
Goodness!MooganCreations interviewed me for the Plush Team Blog . You can read it here.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Small , Featured

Getting quiet
2007-09-06 20:03:00
closeup of Bulldouge, originally uploaded by chicken widget. Well, the blog will be quiet. The life will be busier than ever.I'll be going on vacation for the first time in...I'm really not sure how long. A very, very long time. So, as a preventative measure to not have my head blow up, I am writing myself a permission slip to not be around the blog so much for the next week or so. (Plus, it's a super good coverup for my current creative dry spell. Whoops. No it's not.)absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Quiet

Photos. Shopping. Links. (Groggy. No Title.)
2007-09-04 17:48:00
Two things to mention this morning:My brother has a thing for taking photos while he's driving. Dangerous, dangerous, dangerous...but the results are very cool. (See above) And now he's finally starting to post some of them to the internets! No Flickr for him- he codes it all himself. Visit him at www.amdubois.comAlso, as many of you probably already know, the Hipp Benefit Shop is now open! Help out a fellow crafty lady in need, get cool stuff. It's a beautiful arrangement. And the shop is only open until September 30th, so be sure to check it out soon!absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Shopping , Photos , Links , Title , Grog

What Do You Need?
2007-08-31 23:17:00
What do you need? Originally uploaded by chicken widgetNot to be confused with it's sister painting, "What do you want?"absolutelysmall.blogspot.com

Good to be a bee
2007-08-30 20:41:00
Good to be a bee, originally uploaded by chicken widget. Or so I imagine it would be. Zooming around, rolling around on flowers, getting all pollen-y. Good stuff.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Good

The Daily Photo Project Marches On! Celebrating 100 photos!!
2007-08-28 20:26:00
Last night, I posted what turned out to be the 100th Daily Photo ! Hooray! That's almost a THIRD of a year. Sort of a big deal for me. It has been very tricky...sticking with a daily type project, remembering to actually do the daily type project... It's getting done, but very imperfectly. The part of that last sentance I am focusing on is the "it's getting done" part. There are ups and downs- parts where it ceases being fun, and other parts where it suddenly is fun again. It's good to know that it can swing back around like that! Here are a few picks from the last week:Daily photo 8.27.07 Originally uploaded by chicken widget This one's from yesterday. A brand new softie in a koala track suit perches on my ancient sewing machine.Daily Photo? 8.26.07 A Originally uploaded by chicken widget I couldn't choose which one of these would be the Daily Photo, so I just had A and B parts. (It's not her dinner- it's her treat jar. And yes, she got a treat immediatley after I shot the p...
More About: Photos , Project , Marches

Illustration Friday- Visitors
2007-08-25 00:23:00
Opening the Gate, originally uploaded by chicken widget. An example of the kind of visitor you don't want.The fox in a lamb suit strikes again! Another painting with my new favorite fox.absolutelysmall.blogspot.com
More About: Friday , Illustration , Visitors , Stration