Exciting Day for Sugar

Yes, my day off today was an exciting day for Sugar. First, I drove up the street to Tony's Auto Service to drop my car off for an oil change, so he was excited to see his buddies at the garage. Then we stopped at the Post Office during our walk home - one of his favorite spots to visit! He got treats from his buddy Jim, and then we continued our walk, so he was enjoying that long series of sniffs all the way home. Then we walked back when my car was ready (and stopped in the fabulous Antique Shop to poke around!) then I had to drive over to the RTN Credit Union, so sugar was thrilled. He got a lot of pats last time he was there, and this time was no different. Then my next errand was to bring my Oreck vacuum cleaner to Mr Sew & Vac on Moody Street.... Sugar is like a celebrity in there! Everyone loves him and talks to him and they wanted me to leave him there. A great group of people - so friendly. Wow, sugar, what a day of adventures for you. So, now I'm headed home to relax.... but wait... let's go the Sister Thrift and see what they have there today. That's another of sugar's fave spots - he gets lots of attention in there.

Now, finally, I'm home and feeling tired (my cold is still hanging on!) and would love to just relax a while..... but, I gotta run - it's time to take sugar to the dog park!!!! What a life my lil' guy has going on! I guess I can relax later...... :-)

Spring

Hello all - I have not posted a blog in over a month! Bad blogger. Time sure flies when you are busy, and fighting a determined cold, and trying to get everything done that needs doin'! Like you all, I'm psyched about the nice weather we've been having - what a pleasure to sit in the sun! I'm psyched for another reason as well.... I hired a web designer to put my cathyandsugar website together for me - I'll be doing the design work, but she will do all the development and all the code and html and the stuff I don't know. I think she will do a great job for me... :-) I'll keep you posted and I cannot wait to have it up and running! Wooo hooo! Happy Spring everyone!

A Couple Favorites

Christmas seems so long ago now.... but I have some fun goodies I got as christmas gifts that I use every day and they are favorites of mine. Here's a photo of 2 gifts that I love... the little blue green pottery piece my dear friend Liz made for me... isn't it great? I love how she stamped designs into the clay! I use that to hold my favorite decaf tea bags, of which I drink a lot! So, I get to enjoy it every day.

The really cool "YES" vase behind it is from my sister Maryellen. She got it at the annual holiday fair at Gateway Arts in Brookline Village - it's just the coolest place with the most fantastic art. And affordable! Here's a blurb from their website: Gateway Arts is a magical place filled with colorful crafts, contemplative and whimsical paintings and over 95 talented artists with disabilities learning a vocation while realizing their dreams. This unique, non-profit service includes the Studio Program, The Gateway Crafts Store, and The Gateway Gallery.

Check out their website (www.gatewayarts.org) and visit their gallery and store. It's a really wonderful place that my sister and I frequent... I also got her an awesome christmas present there! But this "YES" vase is just such a treasure. It was made by Yasmin Arshad, one of the talented gateway artists. She uses the word YES a lot in her art and I like the positive feel and fun of the piece. I use to hold my kitchen utensils, so I enjoy that every day as I stir or cook or scoop or whisk... you get the idea. Yep... a couple of favorites alright. :-)

How about some Lovebugs?

Hi there... I finally created something to go in these cool little white boxes I bought a year ago.... I made little cute "lovebugs" that fit right into the "matchbox" style box and designed a logo and label for the box. Here's a few photos of the lovebugs. The box measures roughly 3.5" x 2.5" x 1.5" deep, so the Lovebugs are small. Very fun - especially with Valentine's Day coming up.... I'll get them finished and listed on my etsy site soon. (www.sewcuties.etsy.com)

My graphic design background is package design and product logo/branding design, so this project was fun for me. I don't do as many package and product logo designs as I used to, and I miss it! I especially like working on the craft/toy packaging for kids - I did a ton of it in my previous design life. See samples of my design work at creativeshake.com/cathycahill.

Cutie Doodles

So I found a few of my "cutie doodles"; just a few of the drawings that made it to the sewing machine! Here's my long cat, elephant and seahorse as doodles and as final handmade Sew Cuties. Pretty simple drawings - more like little cartoons really - but they do transform into some fun cuteness when they are sewn and stuffed - and I'm a huge fan of cuteness! I usually make a couple prototype cuties until I have it the way I want, then I can use that latest shape as my pattern. Overall, VERY good therapy for me... so I can forget my fall from fame... oh wait, I was never famous! I must be thinking of someone else. Oh well, on with it.... Hope you enjoy this cutie doodle post. At the very least, say "cutie doodle" a few times out loud and fast... it's kinda fun, and surprisingly difficult. Maybe it's because I should be in bed... :-)

Cuties in Progress

Everything is a work in progress, you know? I have so many sketches, some near finished, some just kernels of ideas.... My cuties are always in some state of working progress.... I thought I'd share a photo of some "Spankies" in progress. I refer to most of my cuties with pretty simple names - Big Kittys (I spell it that way on purpose - I like the y) or Weiner dogs... but these lil' guys are kind of half human, half creature type of critter, so that's why I made up the name Spankies for them.... anyhoo, here they are.... And also a start on some of my Elephants...... I just love the fabrics. I'm a huge fan of Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler fabrics - but who isn't, right? They are so gorgeous! The fabrics are a blast to work with, and inspire me to make more!

My cuties usually start out with a doodle, or small sketch.... I'll tell you more about that later.

Good Morning

Time to get back to work after all the holidays and parties and food.... Thought I'd start off the week with my "Me & My Sew Cuties" photo. A very talented friend named Emily did a photo shoot with me and this is one of the bunch! ha ha Have a great day!