Ellie's Critters has an Etsy shop!

Wow, all this social media stuff is pretty overwhelming for aging minds and animal dolls! But we've figured some of it out with the help of some younger minds and some beautiful graphics from Dancing Design - Leslie, you're awesome!

As for the critters, they are looking for new homes and meanwhile I'm creating more. Some will be saved for next year's Christmas fair and maybe even some will be going to Season 4 of Abracadabra - haven't heard yet.

I'll be gathering old clothes and buttons and sorting through Goodwill for unusual fabrics and inspiration. I'm always looking for animal ideas too. I haven't forgotten my moose request. I've got him drawn, just need to figure out his antlers.

It will be a busy year of creating, promoting and all of the other things I've added to my life over the years. Happy New Year to my few readers. May all of your dreams come true.

Check out the Etsy store at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ElliesCritters

ellie

Post Christmas Glow

Well, some of the major holidays are behind us and we await the new year and whatever celebration we plan for that evening. It's a good time to bask in the glow of our seasonal holidays from Thanksgiving and acknowledging our blessings to the spiritual holidays that we each honor.
We celebrate Christmas, but not with family and kids opening presents anymore. Since we've been in Florida, we celebrate more with friends, enjoying the music and lights and the many church rituals such as Reconciliation and Christmas Eve Mass with the choir at its best and the beautiful energy of the parishioners, guests and our fabulous new church building at St. Thomas More. This year we were joined by some friends who are of different faiths, but enjoyed our celebration anyway. So, I hope everyone, in their own ways had a wonderful season.

As for the Critters, Bulldog has found a new home. Harriet is waiting for her adoption and the others are waiting to be claimed. I will be adding more soon - the next one coming is a yoga student.....

Happy New Year everyone.

We're back from Abracadabra!

Here they are - All back from Season 2 and 3 taping of Abracadabra. They've met with the First Lady of West Virginia, Joanne Tomblin and met all of the wonderful people both behind the scenes and on stage of the show. Mike is becoming famous and is now being recognized all over town (Lewisburg, WV) and is hiding out here in Sarasota for a while.

The Critters had a blast and are now back and looking for homes. What I've found with the Critters, is that they speak to people. I hear story after story about how they seemed to reach out and call to their new owner.

The Critters that didn't go up to the show, went to the Christmas Fair in Kittery, ME where they were part of a benefit for charity. All that went up were placed in good homes and money donated. The fair raised over $17,000 in just 5 hours that the fair runs. We are honored to be part of this fair - the craftspeople are amazing which is why there is a line waiting for the fair to open.

As for AlleyKatZam and the pink "giraffe", they were placed with the stars of Abracadabra - Mike and Daisy.

For information on how to adopt one of the Critters, message me on FB or check out my website for a direct link to my email. www.elliescritters.com.

Introducing Albert and Kitty

                     

 

Meet Albert. He's a low maintenance kind of guy who takes his cat, Kitty, out for a morning walk. He stops at the local coffee shop and chats with his mates then shuffles back home where Kitty curls up in Albert's lap to read the morning paper. Except for walking a cat, does he remind you of anyone you know?

On another note, my runner has been adopted and named Joe. It's always a joy when my critters find homes and family.

I'm waiting for the arrival of the Season 2 and 3 Abracadabra stars coming on Saturday from West Virginia. Watch for pictures next week. I may have to tame the egos.

All critters are available for adoption. Just send me an email or FB message and I can send details.

Tribute to runners.

I am definitely not a runner. I have always enjoyed a good walk more and I think it suits my body better. I walk the bridge twice a week with a wonderful friend who recently completed the New York Marathon. She describes it as an experience of a lifetime - the crowds of runners (over 40,000!) and the New York fans cheering on every runner, fast or slow. She ran in support of "Shoes for Africa" a charity raising money for African children.

My runner critter is not a marathoner - he's just a local runner, but the inspiration was from all of those dedicated runners who push themselves and sometimes run for a charity.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. May you all experience blessings and feel gratitude.

Another critter placed in a good home!

I love creating the critters, and I even enjoy the actual making them, although it can get tedious at times; but the very best part is when they find the right home. This guy, I'm calling him a giraffe, went to live with a very nice mom of one of my Kai dance friends. He made her smile and that's the bonus of what I do.

Yesterday I received an email from Martha, my friend in Maine who I send my critters to for the Christmas fair. Every year when I send up my critters, she has a small gathering of women who come to see the critters and the doll clothes that I make for the Fair. In the email, Martha recorded many of the comments from the ladies gathered. Every critter strikes someone in a different way. It's almost as if they are drawn to a certain critter - even those that are imperfect.

The imperfection is what makes them. After all, we aren't perfect either, right? The imperfections of our physical being are what sets us apart and adds to the personality of our exterior self. Each of the critters are unique in their expression too. The buttons chosen for the eyes, or the clothes they wear, or even how they hold their head makes them exude a specialness. That's what people love, and what I love is seeing the smile that happens when that meeting takes place.

We have a Facebook Page!

Here it is! Business cards are ordered, FB page is started and we're almost off and running. I love the whimsey that came through on the card and the logo. My incredibly talented friend, Leslie, is working on a label to be added to all of the critters as I make them. This will set them apart and with the copyright protection, help to keep them unique.

I have just begun creating again. Finished the cowboy rock star which I posted on FB a couple of days ago. I have a few more ideas percolating.

My TV stars from Season 3 should be coming home soon and will be for sale. I have special little tags that say "I'm one of Ellie's Critters created by Ellie Gibeau. I appeared on Abracadabra which airs on WV PBS." This will make them even more unique.

I'm just letting all of this unfold - letting it take me and the Critters wherever........

We're off to Maine!

That look of apprehension on their faces is real. They were shoved into a box and shipped to Maine last week and arrived on Saturday. I always get a little anxious as I ship them - I choose the cheap way, parcel post with no insurance because it's about one third the cost ($17.00 versus $40.00!) They always make it and since they have to be hand delivered to Martha's house, I am pretty sure they will arrive safely.

Martha and the Fair committee were delighted. I send, not only the critters, but also about 30 American Girl doll outfits that I also make. That's another story.

The Tooth Fairy featured in a previous blog was given to Marsha, one of the biggest contributors to the Fair - not only in time given, but in her own incredible crafts. Marsha is one of those people who can do everything - artist, seamstress, designer - and she's an all around beautiful person. We all wish her a speedy recovery from surgery. Anyway, she was delighted with the Fairy and I hope it brings her joy.
After all, that is what the critters do -

This Fair, held in Kittery Maine on December 6 at 3:00PM will also celebrate the 300th anniversary of the church. I'm told that there will be long lines waiting for the opening. There are some incredibly talented artisans in this area. All proceeds go to local charities often to support single parents that are transitioning and need some help. Wishing the Fair much success.

How are the critters made?

This is Danny. I made him for my grandson Alex. That's a lego in his pocket because Alex is into legos. Alex also loves camo. 

Almost all of the critters are made from recycled something.  I use old clothes, buttons, socks, sleeves and pieces of ribbon. I love going to Goodwill where I can get old and very ugly clothes by the pound. That's where I find sports clothes and can find material for football shirts and camo pants. Friends send me old clothes that are beyond wearing.

The ideas just come to me - sometimes from seeing a piece of fabric, or a photo in a magazine. Sometimes it's just an inspiration that comes - poof!

The critter that I'm working on now is a cowboy singer. I found a guitar iron-on in the sale bin at Joann Fabrics and that inspired my vision. Maybe he will be my next blog entry.??

Tooth Fairy

When I was on vacation with my grammar school friends (my yaya's) in San Antonio this year, my friend Karen from California told me about how her granddaughter calls the tooth fairy Brucie and actually got into an argument on the playground about how a tooth fairy could not be named Brucie. Well, I got to thinking about what Brucie would look like and somehow purple came to mind. However when I finished my tooth fairy, I couldn't see "her" as a "Brucie". Maybe Tabitha?? or Fiona?? But not Brucie.

I'm thinking that Brucie is a bit overweight and "manly" with a frilly dress. I'll have to keep thinking....

Abracadabra WVPBS Season 2 stars

When I finished my 2012 season critters, Mike and Cheryl came to visit and Mike looked through all of the critters to decide which ones he wanted for the set of Abracadabra. This is a children's show that airs on PBS in West Virginia and teaches children about healthy eating, how to make the most healthy food choices and how to make snacks, as well as magic acts, exercise, and music. There are several regular characters on the show including Mike as the magician and Joey his puppet pal and they all interact with children who visit the set.

Daisy is the "head" of the kitchen and the critters can be found on the shelves of the kitchen set. In season 2 they peek out from behind the cabinet doors or out of containers. It was very cool to see them and I'm a bit overwhelmed that they such a place of honor.  So, whether they are on TV or in someone's home, what's important is that they are enjoyed.

Watch for Season 2 on www.abracadabra.org and follow on facebook.com/abracadabrapbs

Little fox lost

At one of the Christmas fairs a young boy named Matt was with his grandmother and he spotted the fox with the flower pants and, being the good grandmother, she bought the fox for Matt. Well, somehow - somewhere - Matt lost his fox and was very sad. One day I received a call from Martha (who is my friend in Maine who is the reason I donate my critters to the fair) and she told me the story and asked if I had any critters laying around that I could send to Matt. I did not.

I was not really making critters at that time. I usually put my sewing away in the early part of the year and devote my time to writing or other seasonal things - plus my volunteer stuff. But I couldn't let this poor little boy be sad so I whipped up another fox (the one on the right) and sent it up to Martha. About two weeks later I receive a hand made thank you card from Matt! His mom wanted to pay me, but I said no. The joy for me is always the making of the critters. And if they find a happy home, that's all I can ask.

More opportunities??

One day we had some friends visiting from West Virginia. Mike is a doctor and is the president of a college and he's also a magician and ventriloquist. His wife, Cheryl is also a doctor and when they saw my little hand sewn friends, they immediately saw potential. The first thing Mike said was that he wanted to use them on a PBS show that he was getting ready to do. And Cheryl said "this would be a real hit in West Virginia". The question is, do I want to sell them? Since I enjoyed making them, and mostly creating new personalities, what would I do with them?

The first Christmas Fair

After the Christmas fair in 2010 I got phone calls and emails about how well the critters did. People were putting them in their bags and walking around meeting each other's critters. Friends were buying them for other friends and many bought for children. But the best part, they all said, was how happy the critters made everyone. They made people laugh!

So the second year I made more and then I started making them for friends and family. People were asking if I'd sell them and I have always said no. I didn't (and still don't) want to make custom critters. If the idea doesn't come from my creative side, then I don't think they will be authentic. Someone would always have an idea in mind that may or may not be similar to my vision.

So, for now they are for donation, gifts and ............

stay tuned.....

Welcome to Ellie's Critters!

Welcome to Ellie's Critters!

The idea of the critters began back in 2009 when I found a book called "Sew Me, Love Me" by Hsiu-Lan Kuei. The author called her little hand made animals "friends" and encouraged both using her designs and venturing off on our own. Her animals were made from old clothes and socks and I loved the idea of reuse. Many of my initial designs came from the basic designs from this book, but as I've progressed, more and more are my own designs.

The first group of critters sat on my desk for a while and as friends came to visit, I asked their opinion. My friend Leah was most honest - she thought they were silly but that I should consult with some kids in the neighborhood. But, I really didn't see (or make) the critters for children. I see them more as an adult thing, but honestly I had no idea.

What I decided to do was to send them up north to my friend Martha who's church has a craft fair just before Christmas every year. I had been sewing and sending American Girl doll clothes up there for a few years and thought I'd see how the critters did. The church sells the crafts and then all proceeds go to charity so it was a win/win. I got to create and whatever sold made money for good causes.

Find out more about the critters journey next time......