The Mother Bear Project - My New Bear

I am so excited about my new bear that I just finished for The Mother Bear Project.

I used a new varigated yarn for the bear and created a new outfit for him with a white collar and bow tie instead of the scarf. I think the new design may withstand more hugs over the years and not fray on the ends.

I like the expression this one has too.

Emmitt was a good sport this morning letting me take more pictures of him with the new bear. I think by the look on his face, it is time for me to make one for him.

What do you think? :)

Happy New Year's Eve everyone!

12 Mini Journals for 2009

I had the best time making these mini journals from cards I have collected over the years but have never used. I buy cards because I like the art, not because I need cards, so as you can imagine, I have a ton of them. :)

I was reading the last few chapters of The Creative Entrepreneur this weekend and she had a fabulous idea to make mini journals with your favorite cards as covers for a place to record your daily thoughts, plans, and dreams. The exercise keeps you connected to your ideas and also creates a wonderful record of your year all packaged in your favorite art!

I used white and yellow construction paper for the pages, folded them in half into a booklet and stapled them into the cards.

Then I made a calendar page for each month and glued it into the inside cover of each card.

I have already started planning for new product ideas, trips and classes for 2009.

I have two months in a card box I redecorated sitting on my desk for everyday use and the other 10 in a little bookcase for storage and inspiration.

I love making spaces to allow myself to create new ideas. I am so excited for 2009!

What fun things do you have planned for 2009? I would love to hear all about it!

Melanie's New Fabric Journals...

Melanie has been busy making more fabric journals from our online class taught by Sue Bleiweiss.

She made a Moe Calendar book with the fabric I made her with my corgi design.
Look at the corgi feet pockets! I love it!

and she also made a list journal with pendelton wool fabric . Isn't it wonderful!

Melanie is busy working on more wool and cashmere bears and things for her etsy shop. I will have more to show you soon!

Happy Monday Everyone!

Meet Emmitt's Cousins ~ Ben & Isaac

Emmitt and I could not wait to give Isaac and Benjamin their new bears!

They came over for a visit and Emmitt was a very good host!

Emmitt was so excited that the boys loved their bears that during story time he brought us his little teddy bear.

He listened to all of the stories during story time.

He even sang during the exciting parts!

Ben and Isaac are the best cousins Emmitt could ever ask for!

The boys brought Cheerios for snack time and shared the O's with their favorite pug!

Emmitt is patiently waiting in the food line...

"Yippee I think I am next!"

"Yummy! Isaac is sharing his cheerios with me!"


The boys love Emmitt and Gilbert and are very gentle with them.

Here is Isaac waving hello to Gilbert.

We all had a very fun day!

Both Ben and Isaac hugged their new bears all the way home!

Please share with us how you spent your holiday! We would love to hear!

xoxoxoxox

Melissa and Emmitt

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Have a wonderful day filled with JOY!

Love,

Melissa and Emmitt

Fiber Art Sale 2008!

Melanie, Linda and I went to the Boulder Handweaver's Guild Fiber Art Show and had so much fun!

I found lots of great things this year!

The first photo is a wonderful knitted creature. I just love the crazy knitted dolls this artist makes. I unfortunately do not know her name, but I buy one every year.

The second item I found was this woven scarf that I put on the back of my office chair. I got one in blues tones from this artist last year and put that one on the top of my bedroom dresser. I just love the colors and textures and woven art always reminds me of my Grandma.

The final 3 pieces are wool ornaments that just make me smile. Yes, this year was a fun and wonderful show!

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

xoxoxoxox

Melissa and Emmitt

My New Art Fire Shop

I just opened a free shop on ArtFire.com. It is a new marketplace for artists that is very similar to Etsy.

Check out my new Art Fire shop for Pug Notes. I think it is so fun to find new ways to connect to people all over the world.

It is exciting that companies like Etsy and Art Fire are breaking new ground for artists and shoppers.

If you decide to open a shop too, please follow this link, and the nice people at Art Fire will give me a referral credit. :)

I am excited to see how this site grows in 2009!

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

More Pug Art from Etsy!

Top 2 photos courtesy of Sycamore Street Press

I purchased these wonderful letterpress bookplates from Sycamore Street Press and I just love them!

The set comes with a pug, owl cat and frenchie. I framed the pug and owl as they look like Emmitt and Gilbert to me.

I will have more new pug and frenchie art to show you this week as they are in the mail from my friends Liz and Henri from San Diego.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone!

A Wonderful Surprise!

It is amazing how the kindness of others can really make a persons heart soar.

I received a package in the mail from my friend, Michelle French, who has been a loyal Pug Notes customer since 2002.

The joy and surprise that that wonderful package brought is not able to be fully expressed with words. She included a sweet note that said I hope you do not yet have one of these...

She bought me this amazing pug ornament!

I hung it in my family room so I can see it all of the time. Everytime I see it that same feeling of happiness and surprise just washes over me. Thank you so much Michelle!

Michelle has been a loyal supporter of my artwork and new product ideas often giving more ideas for me to think about and develop.

It is the wonderful people that I meet on this journey that really make my life truly wonderful and meaningful to me.

Here are pictures of her two beautiful puggies that she generously shared with me so that I may publish them in my Meet the Pugs section of my Pug Notes Quarterly Newsletter.

Augie

Pee-Nut

Pee-Nut just turned 13 on December 1st. Help me wish her a Happy Birthday by leaving a comment and saying hello. :)

Roxy's mom just wrote a wonderful post about how just being yourself can touch people in ways that you never know. She is so right. Thank you so much Michelle. You really made my day!

Happy Friday Everyone!