Snow! Snowing! Snowed!

That's right: last night it snowed!
***click on the photos to see them larger- i know they're tiny beyond reason! ok, back to the post and normal capitalisation***

Pug in the Snow
Originally uploaded by absolutely small

Oh, my gosh, I love snow. It fills me with some kind of fantastic energy. Even though it was just a little snow, I could barely sleep last night on account of all the SNOW!
I may hate winter, but I do love snow. Yes, it is all so very complicated in this head of mine.

Chickenpants in the Snow
Originally uploaded by absolutely small

Even Chickenpants like snow! I love having Pauline around as a narrator for my photos. Dan even picked out a Chickenpants of his very own:

Yay!
Snow!

snow update: In the morning, it was almost all gone. Oh, the sadness. But! More is scheduled to fall tonight/tommorow. Joy!

This post brought to you by a very giant latte

I really want to open the can of worms that is: Art vs. Craft. The knock down, drag out, nobody wins contest of definitions that alienates everyone!
No, wait, I don't think I want to go there after all. Oh well, here goes:
I've just been doing a lot of thinking lately about the nature of art and the nature of craft, and I really would love to hear all of your opinions.
Dictionary.com lists the first definition of art as: "The quality, expression, production, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance."
For Craft: "An art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill, esp. manual skill."
So in other words: Craft is just the skill(s) with which we create Art.
But in the common vernacular, we accept Art as certain things: Painting, sculpting, drawing, etc., and Craft as a different set of things: Doll making, woodworking, embroidery.
They're all creating, they all require particular skills which have to be learned. So what differentiates Art from Craft?
I think it really boils down to the intent you have when creating something. Art seems to satisfy that spot in your brain that needs to shout and rifle through ideas. But any medium at all can satisfy this- I simply couldn't rule out any form completely: "This is an art, this is a craft". It depends on who's using it and for what.
James Kochalka wrote a very thought provoking book called "The Cute Manifesto". While he speaks mainly about comics, a lot of what he says relates directly to all arts. (His opening essay: "Craft is the Enemy".)He makes a point that art is primarily about expression and play, creating an alternate universe within your work. It's not about communicating something you already know, but about exploring.
Interesting concept.
In the end, these labels really are meaningless. They're just another way to bring your ego into it and possibly keep you from creating stuff. Oh, but isn't it fun to dither on about it!
Well, that's what I have to say on this incredibly slippery topic. Let's move on to something with pictures:

Aaaahh, that's better. These brand new birds are heading to the Bird Show at the Cool Cat Gallery. (That's a pretty volatile combination.)

About Absolutely Small

Hi there.

Absolutely Small is devoted to making truly odd, yet approachable plush creatures and art. We abhor straight lines.
Viva Chickenpants!

Absolutely Small is Claire Chambers. Claire Chambers is a crazy-pants artist/crafter who spends most of her time indoors in Northern California. She likes making people laugh, chickens and pugs, and writing about herself in the third person.
All art, softies, and other creations in the Absolutely Small shop are her original designs.

I'm a member of the Etsy Plush Team, just so you know. You can check out our fabulous plush adventures at http://www.plushteam.com.

Also, I run the collaborative plush blog The Needle. Check us out at http://theneedle.org.

For more background info than you ever cared to know, check out the Absolutely Small FAQ page.

My internets: let me show you them:
Etsy
Twitter
Flickr
Stop Motion videos
Artfire
Facebook
Chickenpants Fan Page
Main site

Highlights from the Absolutely Small "Business Plan"

My chosen way of working on any writing project is to just get the ideas out there, stream of consciousness-like, and ask questions later. As you'll be able to see, that is working REALLY well for the ol' business plan.

Drafting up a business plan is like digging my way out of prison with a spoon. A plastic spoon. A flimsy plastic spoon. And not a spork, either. It’s a tremendous amount of effort with very little in the way of results. But it must be done.
I used to be really, really good at this sort of thing: drafting up plans, searching my navel for the answers to everything, fixing everything with well drafted words. And then, of course, I would forget all that work and all that I had discovered and I would have to write it all up again.
Maybe I’m just not into that any more. Maybe it hurts my brain. Words and I don’t really speak any more.
But! It! Must! Be! Done!
I have this great idea that if I could put a little fence around the business, I could live my life more. If it had it’s own little area to live in, I would be happier and more productive. It’s certainly worth a shot. But drafting this up is dredging up so many issues. And I get so easily distracted.
It goes like this: “Hey, I should really work on that business plan.” 5 minutes of absolute dead brain air. “I’d really like to live in Wes Anderson movie. I wonder how that could work. Can that be part of my business plan?”
Because I can’t just write a “business plan”. Some part of me feels I have to write a WHOLE LIFE PLAN. And that, of course, is a monumental task, not to be entered into lightly.
Oh, the things I worry about. I won’t bore you with all of them, but here’s one:
“Business plans have nothing to do with art! You just live your life according to your inner ethics, and the art comes out. I wonder if James Kochalka (or current artist of my obsession) has a business plan. I wonder what it looks like.”
Oh, right. So: The Absolutely Small Business Plan!
…….
Because there is a difference between having a business and randomly selling things. Yes. So…what’s it going to be? Well…I like to sell the things I create. I like it when people like what I make, and it brightens them up. That is awesome.
I just need a goal. Or two. What do I really want to get from this thing? This Absolutely Small thing.
I want…to not work a day job any more. (I write this, by the way, at said day job. Thanks guys!) I like…to share my art with people. Or crafts. Arts. Crafts. Hm. Arts or crafts. Arts and crafts? No, I don’t like the sound of that. Huh.
…….
Right……..
Those period I just typed are little squares. How stylish!
…….
Nice.
Oh, right! Business plan. I should make one! It is important!
I don’t need to be a captain of industry or anything. Hey, that makes me think of that Shins song, “Girl Sailor”. I so relate to that song. I am a Girl Sailor. The little pirate girl on my purse says so.
I don’t want my business to take over my life. I read interviews with very successful people and they say, “My business IS my life. There is no separation. That is how it must be, if you want to run your own business. And be successful. Work hard!”
I don’t think that’s a good way to live. I don’t want to live like that. I want the business to be a part of my life, but not all of it. There’s just so much more to life. Besides, how would I get ideas to create new things if I never experienced life?
Riiiiiggghhhhhttttt…..
So I want: to keep it small? To keep it in the periphery? Er. No- to keep it a part, but not the only part. Just a part. The engine is a part of the car, it’s not the only part. Just an integral part.
I like to share my work with people. I love it when someone buys my work or comments on my photos or blog or whatever. Genuine comments are exciting. So the more the merrier, right? I’m sure there’s a point where I won’t feel that kick any more, but we’re not there yet.
My dream is to not have to wake up early. To create things all the time and have people dig them and tell me they are neat. To travel around. To not work a day job. And the sun would always be shining. To be all like, “I am an artist. It is what I do. And why yes, I do get paid. TO CREATE THINGS. People like them! Won’t you come to my next show?” And to live a colorful exciting life.

It goes on, actually. But we'll stop here! Becuase I have to go and....work on the business plan! Ha! Yes, it is still not done. But I've decided on the not waking up early thing, so that's progress.
Absolutely Small: It's a sugar-cube empire built one spoonful of dirt at a time!

What's more fun than working on a business plan?

Making Etsy treasuries, that's what.
Ta-da!
Have a peek- it's titled "Ugly Babies".
Yes.
It's really neat.
How are you? How's the weather over there? Really.
Ok, fine, I'll get back to work now.
Oh, but first: in other news, you can see my incredibly messy studio and my attempts at organizing it on my flickr stream right now.
Also, a custom "Absolutely Small" stamp that Terbear Collectables made for me is shown in one of her listings as an example. It's pretty nifty! Anything made by someone who makes a "We need more cowbell!" stamp is good by me.
Ok, fine, fine, I'm getting back to work now. Or at least getting back to trying to balance a pencil between my upper lip and nose while staring at a blank page.

Um...a list! For you!

I am having a horrible time writing today’s blog post. Not because of a lack of ideas, but instead, too many ideas. I am very panicked about not having enough time, and the panic leads me to running around like a headless chicken, leaving a trail of unfinished projects in my wake.
Here are some things I would like to write about (but for various reasons, won’t go into any of them):
1. The new Maira Kalman book.
2. Trouble. Verbalizing. Stuff.
3. Art and Craft and the gulf between? Or maybe there is no gulf? They’re different, though. Those two.
4. Goats!
5. Black. Yellow. White. Together! Wow!
6. Winter. Bleaghss.
7. New buttons.
8. The Cute Manifesto by James Kochalka
9. I think I forgot how to paint.
10. Mystery lumps on the dog, keep on a’lumpin.
11. Trying to sign up for Japanese classes online.
12. Fast soups.
13. Chickenpants photo shoot!
14. Play, importance of.
15. Shall I go on?
16. No, really. Time panicking!
17. More fun than writing actual content, this.
18. Yoda, speak like, you will
19. Now it’s just getting silly.
20.Here is a photo:

Daily Photo 12.17.07
Originally uploaded by absolutely small

Ok, that’s enough. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I do believe I have some aimless running around to do.

The Dark Side

Introducing the darker side of Chickenpants- Chickenpants Noir! Enhanced mystery and coolness, by way of darkness.


Anyway, this particular Chickenpants is named J.J. Bighead Chickenpants. The "Bighead" middle name is obvious, but the J & J stand for Joaquin Jumprope. He is currently employed at the CIA (Chickenpants Intelligence Agency)- he just handles the paperwork in the back office.

He's currently using the shop as his breakroom.

And the winner is...

Picked out by random number generator/little brother Alex (who had no idea he was being used as a random number generator- that's how random it was!).
Commenter #8, SimplyStrands, you are the winner! Congratulations to you! Expect an email from me later on for the details.
I wish you all could have won. No, really- I hate letting people down. But the random number generator hath text messaged me- it's number 8. How can I argue with that?
Thank you everyone for commenting! What a great way to fluff up an ego. I highly recommend it.
***
So, in other news: Both Cranky Yellow and Plush You have very recently blogged about Absolutely Small plush. Joy!
Also, I was super super busy all last weekend making more Chickenpants- new ones are popping up in the shop almost daily right now.
These three got the very very last of this special vintage fabric.
That's all for now! Thank you everyone, for your support!

There's still time...

Best part of this house is the great views of the batteries.
Originally uploaded by absolutely small

to comment and then possibly win your very own Chickenpants Baby!
Remember to comment on the 250th blog post- commenting will be officially closed on Thursday.
Then, after you win, you can have all sorts of fun posing your very own Chickenpants and then sending the photos to the Chickenpants Playground.
The photo above was taken at Costco this weekend. They happen to have a giant, but perfectly CP proportioned doll house. It was way more than Pauline here could afford, but it was still nice to check out.
*ahem*
Er, what I mean to say is: It is really fun bringing a Chickenpants with you everywhere. Photo ops just leap out at you! Plus, you'll probably get more than a few strange looks- quite invigorating.

We interupt this 250th post with a special report:

Absolutely Small is on the Etsy Front Page. Right Now.
And we're a featured item in this a-maze-ing interview with Amy Sedaris!
So are a bunch of other cool crafty types!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I think my head just exploded from the amazingness of being included in an article with Amy Sedaris.

250th Post!

I always forget about these things, or they manage to zip right past me. In any case, this here post is the 250th one! So you know what this means: Wee Bitty Contest!
Leave a comment below, and I will randomly pick someone to win this nifty Chickenpants Baby. His name is "Rolf", and he's ready for adventure. It's not much, but I think they're awfully fun. Let me know if you'd like me to add a keychain loop thing or a pin to make him even more useful.

Someone will be picked at random from the comments next Thursday.
So, in other news: Dog is still lumpy. Mergh. Also, I finally got to paint yesterday! I've been whining about wanting to paint for weeks now. It was really good to get some painting done. I didn't actually finish anything, but it didn't matter. It was just good to smoosh paint around.

Also, inspired by the very nifty photos taken by Objetsmart on Flickr, I've started a new group: Chickenpants Playground. The general portability of the Chickenpants makes them excellent companions for photographic expeditions. Have a look, and please join! It'll be fun, really.

Lumps of Mystery

Time for another freak-out visit to the vet! Topanga has developed some sort of hard lump in her right hip. It's utterly confounded the vet. "It's not like a regular tumor- those don't usually hurt." Ergh. I'm trying to not freak out too much, but that is hard. "IT IS PROBABLY NOTHING." That is what the rational part of my brain is saying, very loudly. Loudly doesn't mean authoritatively, though.
Some thrilling life I lead, huh?
Er, what I meant to say was: after my day job of super top secret espionage, writing, painting, and sewing, I went hunting for some elves. I caught a pixie instead, and what a headache that was! Then I ate an entire pie, and saved an entire burrow of bunnies from ravenous wolves.
Well, at least the pie part is accurate. Sort of.