Feeling Foxie?

I have a new batch of Foxgloves, this time on black.  I have also fine tuned my design.  I really wanted the cute little foxy fella to be bigger.  I'm pleased with the turn out.  Almost like wearing a puppet instead of a design.  Happy Autumn! 

Autumn is all about the trees

 Every autumn for the past five years, I've been creating and selling woodland themed fingerless gloves (aka wrist warmers).  I never tire of finding interesting color combinations and debuting new designs. 

  Each tree is hand cut and prepared for applique.  I choose to use fleece to applique, rather than felt (which some people like because it's easier).  Sewing fleece over stretchy fleece, is tricky but ends in a more organic style AND is much softer and flexible to wear.

 When you put your hands together, the two gloves form a tree.

 Tweet!

One Leaf Tree is my signature design.  It represents the last leaf on the tree in the fall and the first leaf on the tree in the spring.  It symbolizes patience, optimism and our connection to nature.  

Happy Autumn all!

New Bliss Totes

New Bliss Totes in the house. Freshly hand painted canvas bags ready to tote your farmers market goods home, your knitting to the meet up, your drawing book and supplies to the park, your wallet and fav novel to the coffee shop, your lunch to work.... yep these totes can handle it all while being a walking piece of art.


Close up.... I'm having a blissful time making these.



"The Sky's the Limit" painting is dedicated to my dad, who's birthday is tomorrow. Fly high in life! See it all!


The Hummingbird bag. Layers of acrylic stamps, hand made stencils, rollers and secret writing later. One of a kind urban art bag- just for you.

See them all at Alythered.etsy.com

Urban Art Coffee Cozies- NEW product

Urban art for your coffee cuff.

My original miniature canvas paintings for your coffee cups. These perfectly fitting, reusable, insulated sleeves, will render your cup unmistakable for anyone else's drink at your table or meeting.

Painted and stitched canvas, paper cloth, and stamped images, sewn over an insulating layer. These coffee cozies fit regular sized coffee shop paper cups, ice coffee cups, ceramic "180 degrees" cups, and pint glasses, making them the perfect accompaniment to all of your outings.

Great gift for coffee and tea loving boys and girlz of all ages.

Designed, hand painted, stitched, and sold by me AlyTheRed.etsy.com at Bliss Monkey Studio- bringing you the most playful, original, and artsie coffee cozies since 2007.

From Etsy straight to Target

I was in Target two days ago, looking for jeans, and a present for my seven year old's friend. Our wander took us through purses on sale...... wow, those styling little bags with the applique cassette tapes look just like I might find on etsy. Looks handmade. Only it's factory "hand" made, in China. Purposely not-perfect applique, and cheap.

In the toy area, looking for lego, again I spotted something that looked straight off the handmade, OOAK, etsy shelves. I blinked. Was I dreaming of wandering through Etsyland? Could it be true? The Target shelf read, "Woodland" and there were giant stuffed owls, and hedgehogs. They were designed to look hand made, and used "funky" fabrics (faux, up-cycling) and even the etsy-popular, houndstooth print of last winter.

Yep, it's official. The big companies are stealing ideas from Etsy designers. They are at very least, reading the "Trends" articles in the etsy blog. Maybe this is not news to many of you. What do you think?

How many eggs are in your basket?

Happy Autumn. Two hens are doing their seasonal molt, and only one hen is laying her daily eggs. It's rather cold and embarrassing (literally) for the girls to molt, but they are so glossy and pretty when their new feathers grow back in. I can't even share a photo with you, it just wouldn't be nice.



Do you have any leaves left on your trees? We are having a gorgeous Fall here in Oregon. I love it when it's not TOO rainy because the colored leaves last longer. The kids pressed some leaves and I taped them across the door frame tops for decoration. Our pear tree finally made pears this summer. Gorgeous, juicy, heavenly pears for the first time in the three summers we've lived here. I credit the neighbors honey bees. All the leaves have fallen from the pear tree, but there's still some BIG pears at the top of the tree hanging on. Big birds like Jays and Oh, what are they called? The lovely big birds with a dark ring on their neck, and red under the wing? They hop into the tree and nibble the pears. Lovely bird feeder. We are happy to share.


















Did you ever have or see an Awake/Asleep doll when you were a kid? I always wanted one. I kept thinking about making some in Gnome style. Decided to combine that idea with the need to make organic gnome dolls. I made a batch of organic cotton stuffed, pre-washed cotton gnomes for babies to gnaw on and toddlers to play with. Stock got wiped out within 24 hours! I guess the world needs MORE organic awake/asleep rainbow baby gnomes...... (sew sew sew)



Did you ever consider using the search bar to search a shop for something specific? My Bliss Forest store has a few items and it's easy to see everything, but AlyTheRed and Charmish have pages and pages of items, so once you are IN the store, it's great to use the search bar to look for specific things like, "blue", or "frog", or "books".

Holiday Shows:
First Saturday in December: Winter Gift Faire

First Sunday in December: Fenario gallery hosts the "Meet Your Maker" handmade art/craft/design event.

If you are in Eugene Oregon, please come visit. I will be offering wrist warmers in KID and MAN sizes for these two events (by request), along with my ornaments, plush gnomes, ninja bunnies, bags, and many surprises.

Bliss Bags

Happy May Day!
Ppssssst! Whatcha workin on?



Bliss Bags are in the works for my Bliss Monkey Studio store. They aren't up yet. I want a nice selection up before I start selling them. Sneak peek just for you......

The zippered pouches are great for in-bag organizers. I put my checkbook in mine, along with all the punch cards, coupons, business cards, and gift certificates I need to carry. It lightens my wallet considerably!




Bliss Bags with designer Kaffe Fassett fabrics on the outside, and upcycled quilted fabric interior and lining. I love the quilted soft feel. The bags stand up on their own, but without that stiff, ironed-on lining feel and use of plastics.




Magnetic closures going in....one interior pocket, and pen holder, two large outside pockets, sturdy padded handles.

I love working with the fun colors and patterns.

Street Faires Comin Up!

"Interplanet Janet" get your wrist warmers here! Why am I getting Interplanet Janet and Lottie Lottie Lottie get your adverbs here, mixed up? What's the tune to Interplanet Janet? If you think I'm insane then you aren't old enough to have seen Schoolhouse Rock and have your brain permanently plagued like mine is. Saaaaaay...... let's YouTube Interplanet Janet and listen together! REady? Go here and check out the groovyness. We used to get these Schoolhouse Rock cartoons between our Sat morning favorites. Isn't that FUN?! She rocks!

Anyhoo, these wrist warmers are called "Interplanet Janet" and are fresh off the Bliss Monkey Presses available in my etsy store.

For you locals, here is Aly The Red's upcoming street faire schedule:

Meet Your Maker (exciting new location)
Oct 3
Kesey Plaza downtown -- as part of the First Friday Gallery Walk
evening

I love this monthly event: a gathering of quality, hip designers, selling our wares for one evening a month. Being right downtown as part of the First Friday Gallery walk will be lovely. Bring your friends and support your indie artists/crafters/hip mamas!


University of Oregon Fall STreet Faire Oct 8, 9, 10th Etsy team booth #116 13th Street
noon-5pm

Our Eugene Etsy Street Team did this group show last spring and had a blast. Not only did we have a GREAT looking booth, jam packed with variety and color, we also had a lot of fun, got to know eachother better, WHILE making money. I'm hoping Bullfight is gonna bust out her magnetic moustaches to drag the crowds over again! Bring your friends down and say hi!

ANd the Coffe Cozy Club Membership Give-Away Goes To.....

In celebration of my 200th sale on ETSY, I wanted to give away something special. Thank you to everyone who came to play, thank you to the sweet customers, and thanks for visiting my shop!

Here is my five year old, drawing names out of the bag of fabulous customers, and blog friends for the winner..... and when I uploaded it, the sound wouldn't work! How rude! We are chatting away about it and it was rather cute....




The winner is.........Tulips Talking Blog.... please go to my Etsy store to claim your prize membership to my Coffee Cozy Secret Club! Fill out the questionaire about your favorite things, and the secret coffee cozies will start arriving at your doorstep (one right away, then one a month for the following three months). Oooo, la, la. Congratulations!!!

Eugene Etsy Street Team Does Street FAIRE

Eugene Etsy Street Team's group booth for the University Spring Faire. For those in town: it's Wed-Friday, 10-5pm. We are three from the end, near the EMU.

We set it up like a boutique, so it's very full of lovely and interesting things from magnetic moustaches to purses made of recycled records.


Photos taken just after early morning set up. It's still cloudy and rather cold, but we are having a GREAT time talking shop (finally someone to talk to other than our families who may be 'sick' of hearing "ETSY this...." and "ETSY that...." !!).

We made a pretty nice banner with white pasely fabric and spray stencils. Clear from a distance and artsty/textural up close. I hope people can understand the difference between handmade and import shops. I'm glad to see other etsy sellers at this faire as well! Hi all!

Here's my mini coffee shop. The suitcase with the cups is full of fresh roasted coffee beans. Aromatherapy shopping! I feel so sad when I see the students walking along with their cups in cardboard sleeves, when they could be enjoying the tactile goodness of my fabric coffee cozies. Wish I could just give out samples. Coffee/tea drinking is such a lovely ritual. I'm willing to celebrate well and often.

Thursday update: day two: we got the set up down pat. It's nice to see everyone in the morning, as we work together to set the booth up. We were thrilled to sit in the sweet sunshine for several hours! Got my wish. The weather turned overcast and a bit blowy after I left and I hope our displays stand up to it. Weather is tricky in an open-sided booth!

Shoppers were fun, but sales were sluggish, this morning, but that's what we expect till the lunch crowd. I remember being a student. Waking up before 8am was "such a nightmare". :-) The magnetic moustaches are still the hottest ticket item-go Ashley! And folks seem to be shopping for a cute mother's day gift.

xo
Aly