Happy New Year and a Hampton Mobile

Happy 2013!  It's wild to say that.  I have been alive long enough to think Prince's "We're Gunna Party Like It's 1999" sounded really far off, and now being in the 2000's is old news.  Where are the hover cars?  Actually, I am over hover cars, just give me a car that runs on garbage for fuel and I'll be more than happy. 

The latter half of 2012 was great for me.  It marked my first real attempt at turning Pink Cheeks into a sustainable business and it worked, through the help of all of my supporters, including you!  Yes you there, reading this blog.  Thank you.  It's hard work, but it's my work, and I am using my hands and creativity to contribute to my family and that makes me proud and happy and very excited.  Thank you.

My last mobile I made in 2012 is very special to me.

I got an email from the most beautiful woman on the planet, asking me if I would make a mobile for her soon-to-be son's nursery.  She gave me a link to her blog to get to know her and had me start reading here, about the birth story of her second daughter, Nella, who was born with Down Syndrome.  About half way through, tears were streaming down my face and I was actually saying out loud, "Yes!  I'll make a mobile for you!"  Her writing is so honest and beautiful and raw.  Please read it for yourselves.  I get down on my knees and beg you. 

Kelle has a large family, so I used a massive hoop so as not to crowd anyone.  She wanted everyone included, even the little bean growing in her belly of course.  There he is above.  A tiny swaddled baby with a little pom-pom hat on.  Making that tiny thing gave me baby fever.  Walter is enormous now, literally he is in the very top percentile for his age group in height and weight.  In his day care he had to be put with the older group because he was towering over the other children his age.  I will love Walter at all of his ages, I know this, but my heart will always yearn for that tiny, swaddled infant.

 There is little Nella above.  I put her in the moccasins that she is wearing in nearly all of the photographs I looked at on Kelle's blog.  She is so stylish.  I keep researching moccasins for myself now.  I am a horribly frugal person (George Costanza style, though I am never stingy with tips!), but she looks so free-spirited in all her photos, and I want some of that energy.  Maybe wearing moccasins and being reminded of her will help.  I think it will.  Watch out 2013, I'll be wearing moccasins in you!  Thanks Nella for the inspiration!

Lainey, Kelle's first daughter is there in red and white (I used the picture above for inspiration).  She was fun to make because she is usually wearing big colorful rain boots which for some reason remind me of what a young super hero would wear, I am not sure the connection makes perfect sense, but that is where my brain goes.  She looks wise and contemplative and fun, and I think I captured real Lainey in plushie Lainey.  I hope so, at least. 

Here is the rest of the Hamptons, a beautiful family.  I tried to make this mobile full of details, because that's where the love is shown.  I hope they adore it, especially that lucky little bean still cookin' in the oven.  

ps Did you read the link yet to the birthing story?  Want to read more?  Good news for you!  She has a memoir out.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas friends!  I am headed on a little vacation and I'll see you in January!  I hope to have lots of new mini things and larger, squishy things available in my shop that month!

Much love to you, from me.

Custom Mobiles

I really love making these.  Once I fully recover from having all that fortunate good luck business (as a result of being Etsy featured seller) thrown in my face, I would like to get these posts more organized and share the mobile pictures side-by-side with the pictures that families and friends send me as inspiration to use when designing them.  There are so many interesting people in the world, and these mobiles offer me a nice way to get to know about different families and make them something beautiful and unique as a celebration of who they are. 

Super Family

I meet the most interesting people through my custom mobile requests.

 

This one goes to a lady with pink hair.  A writer, whose latest book series features my favorite city!

 

 The mobile is for her husband and features her family as super heroes!

But, judging from their pictures and creative lives, they don't need capes, they are already my super heroes.  

Surprise

I can't believe I was able to keep this a secret for an entire month.  That is a major accomplishment for me!  Here I am, an Etsy featured seller.  I feel so fortunate about this.  It is a great opportunity for me and my cheeks have been a very dark shade of pink all day.

And, for the non babies...

I am very excited to unveil some new products for my Etsy shop.  One of them, Franz is a runaway from my Strong Man Mobile.  I think Franz deserves to branch out from above the crib and make his way into kitchens and living rooms (or, maybe he can still stay in the nursery, but entertain the wee one from above the changing table?).  I've also been wanting to make some cloud friends for awhile, and I like them very much.  I especially like Mr. Mustache cloud in his party hat, ready for good times in the sky.  Last, I have a Mr. Mustache pillow.  I made these for my couch awhile back, and now I want them for your couch too.  These will all be in my Etsy shop momentarily.  Stay tuned because I am going to offer a few more new things before the month is up---just in time for the Holidays. 

Ready to be hung from the ceiling, these sweet clouds will take you to a happy place in your dreams.

Franz, super buff.  There will be three versions of Franz available, because no Strong Man has just one unitard!

"A little Chivalry for your couch"

Fire Truck Completion

 I think this was my favorite Halloween ever.  Walter was so excited the entire day.  He trick-or-treated at a slight run while "woo-ing" like a fire siren.   He fell twice (less than I thought), and was more concerned about the candy falling out of his pumpkin than he was about the scrapes on his hands.  The fire truck, while being the cause of the falls, also kept his head from too much damage---thanks fire truck!   It is so funny to imagine what Walter is thinking.  I love how children just accept these bizarre curves from the routine with little questioning.  "Okay, today we talk to all of our neighbors and they give us chocolates.  We do all of this while wearing cardboard fire trucks and lamp parts with paper wings on our head."  

"Okay!"

We also went to a costume contest at a Books-A-Million.  Book stores are frequent haunts for my family, so it seemed appropriate.  Walter was the only kid that showed up.  He won!  It was like the entire holiday was centered on him.  The staff still let him parade through the store to the different stations to "trick-or-treat" to the different employees.  Each employee secretly gave him their entire stash of candy (they had planned on a much bigger event).  They were all so sweet with him.  I also experienced a bit of motherly pride when Walter kept confusing how he was supposed to ask for candy.  

"What do you say?"

Answer:  Trick or Treat.

Walter's Answer:  "Please."

Awww.

In Pink Cheeks news, I am working on another large order for a toy shop.  I have 60 Strong Man arms to sew, always an obstacle for me.  I suppose it is why I am blogging right now----good procrastination productivity.  

I am going to be unveiling a few new products this month that I am just itching to show you.

I hope your Halloween was lovely and your bellies don't hurt too much!