Have I said lately...

I ♥ My Job stitch art by Story Book Retro

because I do. I really, really love what I do! :)

Today, I thought about closing up shop. Not thinking about actually doing it, but what life would be like without Lu & Ed to occupy my time. And you know what? I can't even imagine it. Not even a little bit. Lu & Ed fills my life with so much joy. I love all the people it has brought me in contact with, I love creating these wild and colorful eco monsters for people to use and love, I love the smiles on people's faces when displaying my work at fairs.

October marks four years since I started making Mon-stors. And you know what? I think Lu & Ed will be around for a long, long time, because life without this creative, colorful, exciting outlet is completely unimaginable. I feel as if I have barely scraped the surface of my creativity and that Lu & Ed is just starting to thrive and grow in ways I never imagined it would. I am able to monetize in more ways that helps other artists grow, with blog sponsorships and the swag bag program, so that I can keep the prices of Mon-stors affordable for people from all walks of life and take true joy in the creation process. I never went into this business to make money - I do this because I love it!

Each new Mon-stor I create, I fall a little bit more in love with than the last one. If you see me say "My new favorite Mon-stor!" often, it's because they really are! I get so excited by the creation process, get so attached to each one as I make it, that it's kind of hard to say good bye to them when they are adopted. I put a lot of heart and positive energy into each of my creations and hope that as I send them away to their new homes, they carry some of that love and positive energy with them to their new owners and bring them just as much joy as they bring me!

It's so great to have a job I love so much, and to watch it deliver positivity & happiness into the lives of others! ♥

Lu & Ed's got swag!

Have you heard the latest news? Now every order from luanded.com comes with a free swag bag to reward my monstrously awesome customers! Each bag is filled with samples, coupons and goodies from handmade businesses I believe in, so you get to experience their epic customer service first hand and discover amazing new crafty businesses to support!

I think it's going to be a really fun way to connect people + handmade businesses. I'm excited to see what people think of the swag bags! The first couple of swag bags are on their way to the first recipients and I just can't wait to hear what they have to say!

If you order + receive a swag bag from me, please send me some feedback about the products in the bags and let me know what type of shops you would like to see participating, also I'd love to know if you ordered anything from any of the participating shops that contributed to the swag bags, which item in the swag bag was your favorite, etc - this is all very important for me to know as this is a new program and I am doing it for YOU - my loyal, loving, epic monster adopting friends! :) All of the information you provide will be used to improve this swag program! :) 

And if you have a handmade shop and would like to get in on the fun, apply here! The Swag Bags will go in with orders from my monster shop. They will have very concentrated swag that jives with the products my customers love – cute, whimsy, handmade, eco, colorful and fun products for kids and parents! If you think your shop fits the bill, please apply! The second wave of swag bags will be going out soon! :) It is only $5 to participate, and you get to send twenty-five (25!!!) swag goodies (coupons, samples or promo materials like stickers, pin back buttons, mini art prints, etc paired with a coupon) - that means for just $5, you get direct-marketed to 25 people who love products just like yours. Unlike an online ad, it's a guaranteed eyes-on-you experience for your shop, marketed directly to your target audience.*

* Due to the highly targeted audience, I am only accepting shops that I know my customers will love based on years of market research. As is such, there is an application process and I will only select the most fitting applicants to participate!

Get schooled on saving the world!

Well, not really! Kinda. Sorta. But I was just browsing Lil Alice Sews shop and I kept coming back to these.

If you are already making your back to school supply lists, add some of these reusable snack bags to your list. You will keep plastic bags out of landfills, reduce pollution from the creation of new plastic bags in high energy plants, and teach your kids it's better to reduce, reuse and recycle than to be wasteful. I have a few handmade reusable snack bags like these we have been using since February of last year and they are holding up great! :)

Do you use reusable bags and containers in your kid(s) lunch boxes?

Spooky cute.

Personally I think this 7x2" Spooky decorative block from Bubblewrappd is way cuter than it is spooky, but that's just me! :D I have one of these on my very own mantel, and love it! It's such a cute little accessory to your holiday decor!

Bubblewrappd is owned and operated by Amanda from Tulsa, OK. She is a total sweetie who I met via Twitter! If you are on there, be sure to give her a follow, she is such a fun person to get to know! :)

I am going to showcase a few of my favorite products from Amanda's Etsy shop. Everything she makes is seriously so adorable! Be sure to follow her on Instagram - sometimes she has flash sales on there for her followers! That's how I scored my Spooky block. :)

 Buy Here

 Buy Here

 Buy Here

 Buy Here

 Buy Here

Aren't these all super cute?! I love them!

Question for you - how do you decorate for the holidays?

What a purrfect prize.

You gotta be kitten me right meow - how cute is Vlad the Campire?! He has a bit of an overbite, but don't worry - he doesn't bite... Usuaully.

Vlad was created just for our Spooktacular giveaway by Squshies! (remember meeting Danielle on my blog last month?) He is a hand sewn cat felt ornament ready to help you get your spook on! If you haven't checked out the official Squshies site, dooooo eeet! Danielle makes all kinds of fun felt animals and creatures! Monsters, aliens, dogs, cats, ant eaters and more! Danielle also has a blog that is a blast to read - she is such a fun person! Definitely pop over there and give her a few comments. :)

And I have to do a little sales blurb here - Squshies make GREAT little gifts for friends and family members for the holidays - you can custom order a Squshie ornament specifically for anyone on your list to look like a family pet or favorite animal that they can put on their tree for years to come that can be passed down through the family. How sweet is that!? Each Squshie comes with it's own personality and story. I love it, and am ordering a few this holiday season myself! If you are interested in purchasing, visit Danielle's Etsy or Storenvy shop!

Now, let's hear what Danielle's favorite parts of Autumn is! 

Buy Here

Do you have any special seasonal items in your shop?

There is a small selection of D&D monsters that are available year round in the shop. Monsters are Halloween festive!

Sadly there are no plans for specific Autumn and Halloween items this year. I've got all kinds of fun ideas for Squshies in costumes, but unfortunately never had a chance to get it past the idea stage this year. Next year I'm thinking about fall and Halloween way earlier. No more holidays sneaking up on me!

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What is your favorite thing about Autumn?

It is hard to choose. I really love the colors. All the orange and yellow everywhere. It reminds me of living back in New England and all the trees changing colors. So pretty!

I also think it is awesome because of all the things you can find with birds like crows and turkey vultures and all the black cat items because of Halloween. And of course pumpkin flavored everything.

 

What are you dressing up as for Halloween? How about your kids (if you have them)?

Not sure yet what I'll be dressing up as this year. Been thinking of things but nothing has really seemed the answer quite yet. No kids to dress up. Just my cat and she rather I didn't put her in a costume. Too bad because she'd be adorable!

 

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Do you decorate for Autumn/Halloween? How?

 

Not really. I'm terrible at decorating. I never think to decorate for a season until it is almost over and then I can't be bothered. Always think next year I'll do better but I always forget.

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What was your most epic Halloween costume?

I'm often a pirate because I have a pretty good pirate costume from going to Renaissance Faires. My most epic Halloween costume was definitely last year's though. I was Darth Vader dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood. Or Little Red Riding Hood dressed up as Darth Vader. Depending on how you want to look at it =) To add to the epic, my husband's costume was Obi-Wan Kenobi dressed up as the Big Bad Wolf.

What is your favorite thing about Halloween?

Having an excuse to dress up in a costume! I love getting to wear a costume. Any excuse to break out my pirate hat!

What is your favorite Halloween candy?

Anything I can get discounted the day after Halloween! I can't think of a Halloween candy I get super excited about in particular. I love candy, but I don't buy it very often. After Halloween though is always an exception.

What about Autumn/Halloween inspires you in your crafty business?

The colors again. I love the orange and the yellow. Also the purple and black you see for so many Halloween things. The crows and the black cats. The costumes. Halloween is such a fun holiday! Also the cooler weather is a bit inspiring. I just recently moved to Southern California after spending my whole life in New Hampshire. I'm still adjusting to the temperature difference. The constant heat in the summer made it really hard to craft at times so I'm really I'm looking forward to the cooler temperatures.

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Danielle is a chatty gal and loves to talk to her fans, so hit her up on Twitter, Facebook, G+, or Deviant Art and get to know the girl behind the critters!

What was YOUR most epic Halloween costume ever?

Talk About a Harry Situation.

Heart Felt Designs is donating this hugely cute wizard pillow for our Spooktacular Giveaway! Look like someone you know? ;) 

If you haven't checked out Telah's Facebook page, you should! She makes amazing quality plush toys and home decor for kids (and adults who are kids at heart!) and can custom make pretty much anything you can think up! In this shop of Telah's, you will find adorable owls and woodland creature plushes! And in this one, cute stuffed monsters, Halloween themed plushes, and more!

Let's dive into a virtual pile of leaves and chat about fall with Telah!

What is your favorite thing about Autumn?

I love taking walks in the mountains with my family.  Its so beautiful with the trees changing colors and a cool breeze blowing. 

Buy Here!

What are you dressing up as for Halloween? How about your kids (if you have them)?

We try to pick a theme every year and dress up to match it.  Last year we were all characters from the Wizzard of Oz, this year I think we are all dressing up as Lord of the Rings characters.  Our kids will be hobbits, my hubby gandalf, and I think they want me to be a troll. :P  

Buy Here!

Do you decorate for Autumn/Halloween? How? 

We love decorating for fall with pumpkins, pine cones, leaves, acorns etc.  Basically everything we find on our nature walks ends up on display in out house.  I love it.  We also burn lots of fall scented candles and scentsy. 

 Buy here!

What was your most epic Halloween costume?

Oh gosh.  Um, I never really dressed up as a kid although I did have a pair of wonder woman underoos that I insisted wearing as a Halloween costume one year.  

What is your favorite thing about Halloween?

That's an easy one, it's my first little spook's birthday.  He will be 13 this year and he gives us many reasons to celebrate. 

 Buy Here!

What is your favorite Halloween candy?

Anything chocolate that I can sneak out of the kiddo's bag without them noticing. :)  

 Buy Here

What about Autumn/Halloween inspires you in your crafty business?

I love this time of year, from the cooler weather, fall colors, yummy cinnamon scent candles and pumpkin cookies to the shorter days and wood burning fireplaces.  It gives me an overall sense of comfort and well being.  I am less stressed and spend a lot more time out doors.  I think just feeling alive and seeing all the beauty around me inspires me to translate those good feelings into my craft.  I'm not sure that even makes sense. 

 {it totally makes sense}

Nifty Picks - Rainbow Edition!

I don't have a whole lot to blog about right now, because this whole car mess has my mind in a not so cheerful place! Bah! We did finally get the car back today. We just dropped it off at the Honda place to let certified mechanics evaluate the repairs done by the shady company that held our car hostage for over a week. We had to get the Better Business Bureau involved and are having to take them to small claims court. This whole process has been a complete nightmare. :\

To keep my mind off of it, I have been sewing production line style to get monster trick or treat totes completed to list in my online shop this September! So far, I have 11 cut out, handles and linings sewn, just waiting on faces, which I started cutting out yesterday! I hope to have around 20 completed and listed in my shop by September.. I am so excited to release them!

My friends have been making tons of amazing stuff this week, with lots of rainbow goodies, which always makes me happy! I wanted to share some of those incredible handmade goodies with you with another installment of Nifty Picks - Rainbow Edition! :D

First up, my dear sweet friend Cari released a new line for her shop Mollie Moe Bows - chunky necklaces for toddlers and tweens called Mollipops! She can also do adult sizes. I cannot wait to order mine! This is the style I want!

Available here

Also from Mollie Moe Bow's this week, a rainbow cupcake bow! I actually ordered one just like this, it should be here any day! :D

Available here!

 Kitty Pink Star's released rainbow pocket Wookies this week! How can you look at these guys and not smile?!

Available here

 Melli of Melli's Trinkets posted this rainbow shell bracelet this week - and I fell in love!

Available here!

And when Brieshon posted this new Rainbow Spiral hat to her Facebook page I squealed. I am SO ordering one of these this winter! I am linking to her pattern, but if you want to buy the completed hat, convo her or hit her up on her Facebook page! :)

Available here!

 And thanks to a link party, I recently met Kristina of Streeter Ultd and fell in love with her ribbon ladder necklaces - especially her rainbow one!

Available here!

I almost forgot to add this awesome quilted pillow cover by Fabrications. I would love a whole queen sized rainbow and black quilted bedding set like this!

Available here!

 I hope you all enjoyed the rainbow awesomeness this week as much as I have! :)  I love rainbows and it has definitely helped me stay positive this week seeing all these lovely rainbow handmade goodies! I even bought a rainbow pillow this week at a thrift store! Rainbows have been everywhere I looked lately. I definitely think that's a happy sign, don't you?

which was your favorite featured rainbow item?

Nifty Picks for Summer!

Here are a few sweet handmade goodies, created by artists I love!

Seer-sucker swimsuits - available as a bikini also! From Southern Style Stitches

Bloom Where You're Planted print (or have any quote you like added to it) by Monique Caraballo

LOVE this blue haired Mollie Dollie by Mollie Moe Bows!

9x12 Aluminum wall art clock by Eighty Acres Art

Ruffled Clutch by Sew Beastly

Purple and blue long necklace or wrap around bracelet by Melli's Trinkets

 Hope you enjoyed these Nifty Picks! Which item was your favorite? :) Leave me a comment and let me know!

Ruggles!

I can't remember how I tripped over Kenzie's blog Bewhiskered, but I did, and a few hours later I had read 18 months worth of blog posts and I was in love with her unique creations, Ruggles!

Ruggles are plush blanket 'rugs' in the form of dragons, animals and (my personal favorite) monsters with colorful claws. They are a fun multi-texturural toy for small children, and honestly, way more cool than Taggies. Plus they make a really awesome photo prop for baby photo shoots!

 


 Kenzie got her start when she had her first son in the summer of 2008. Kids, always the greatest inspirations. ♥ She now has a blog, webstore and free standing site and sells Ruggles to all corners of the world!

When I asked her how she came up with the idea for Ruggles, she said when she was a child, she had a tiger rug her mother latch hooked for her (remember latch hook kits? Am I a dork for still loving those things?!). One of her favorite photos from childhood is of her on the latch hooked tiger rug as a baby. Kenzie wanted to recreate a tiger rug for her son, but after searching for a while couldn't find a latch hook tiger rug kit. So... She decided to create her own version of a tiger rug for her little guy, using fabric instead of yarn bits.

Her first first Ruggle!

Her son loved it, and it soon became his security item! And that was the birth of Ruggles! From there, she has been making baby and toddler-hood a lot more whimsical with her wonderful creature blankets!

Close up of the claws

Kenzie designed Ruggles so they can be used from birth (as wonderful photo props) all through childhood. She says her four year old still plays with his and sometimes uses it to check for and roust monsters from beneath the bed at night. :)

If I ever have another kidlet, this it the style of Ruggle I am ordering. I love it's swirly horns!

Visit Kenzie's shop and tell me which is your favorite! I look forward to see which ones everyone picks!

Bewhiskered

Mark Your Calendars!

I am now officially sold out of all the big Mon-stors in my shop (!!!) and I won't be restocking until after June 2nd because ---

I was accepted as a vendor in the Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Festival!!!! 

Formerly known as Indie Swing, this is a huge craft show that is sponsored in part by Etsy and held in Prairie Village, KS. It is a two day event, June 1st from 4-8, and Saturday 10-5. I will be there both days so be sure to come see me!  They have free swag bags filled with handmade goodies for the first 150 people, live music, Lindy Swing dancers, raffles, free crafts and demos, great food, and over 50 amazing art and crafts vendors!

I am so excited to be a part of this show! I tried to get in last year but missed the cut-off date for applications. Which, well, I missed them this year, too. But I begged Heather, the event coordinator, to pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease let me participate and, much to my surprise, she was actually able to squeeze me in both days!!! There was a bit of jumping, squealing and happy dancing all over my kitchen when I found out I could participate in the Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Festival this year!:)

Since I wasn't really planning on her actually letting me participate (who wants to accomodate that idiot that's always late to sign up, right?), I only had a total of four monsters made up - so I been sewing like crazy in every spare moment every day to get enough inventory built for the show. I started on May 7th when I found out for sure she could squeeze me in, and my tally so far is three big Mon-stors, seven small Mon-stors, and eleven plushies! I have seven more plushies cut out that need faces, and fabric ironed and ready to be cut for two big Mon-stors this afternoon, and piles of materials waiting to monster-fied. :) I am hoping to have at least fifty (50!!!!) monsters for the show. And while I would love to show off the completed ones, unforunately my camera has decided to no longer work in conjunction with my computer. *sadface* I did post some webcam images of plushies to my Facebook page yesterday if you wanna go scope those out. They definitely aren't blog worthy photos, Haha!

So, ladies and gents - if you are in KS or Western MO, come out to Prairie Village June 1st or 2nd (or both days!) and visit me at the Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair! :) I will have tons of great monsters, there will be lots of fun things to do, and it's a great chance to support local artists and crafters! Please spread the word! Here is the Facebook event page as well - you can RVSP and it will pop up a reminder in your newsfeed as the date gets closer under the events page! Send me lots of energetic vibes! I'll be needing all the energy I can get to make it to my 50 monster goal! :)

Nifty Picks

Here are a few more nifty picks from some of my favorite artists!

Twirl Skirts by Mindy's In-Stitches

Tooth Fairy Pillows by Frankenstitch Productions

Mohawk Hat by Breezybot

Orange/White Flower Clock by Eighty Acres Art

Powerpuff Girls bow by Mollie Moe Bows

Screen Printed Tea Towel by Beagletique

Rainbow of Knit Coffee Sleeves by KaramCrochet

And there ya have it! This week's installment of my nifty picks. :) Which one is your fave?

A Few Favorites

Here are a few of my favorite handmade products out there right now by some of my favorite artists. ♥

Fabric Bow by Mollie Moe's Bows

Cone Incense Burner by Almond Eye Creations

Leave me a comment, and let me know which was your favorite!