Itty bitty. Eensy. Ickle. Tiny.

**Update: By nearly unanimous vote, we're going with hamster. Hamster. Best other idea: Cowardly Lion from Wizard of Oz as a fetus! Thank you, Cat!**


But what IS it?

A bear? A hamster? I can't decide. Good people of the internets, please help me name this tiny creature!

Here's the rundown: It's a creature of incredible cuteness, made from handmade pompoms. Those back paws? Needle felted, baby. And it's sleeping, not dead. Or, maybe dead works for him. Hmm.

He's small. Tiny enough to be a Blythe pet.
I seriously can't decide here. I'm leaning towards hamster, but I'd like to open it up to a vote. Leave your comments below to let me know what you think it is. Or, tweet them to me. (@absolutelysmall)
Thanks for your help!

Curiouser and Curiouser...

Charging Douge
Originally uploaded by chicken widget

I've been holed up with my sewing machine a lot lately. Which is great- I've been making lots of new guys! The only thing with that is, the more I fall into visual land, the more words fail me. But I am looking, always looking, filling up my eyes with new...stuff. So, in lieu of a lengthy post, I'll share some goodies:
Wow! Steampunk!
Disinterested Pug With Found Objects
The Rat Bat's new shop. I'm waiting for those pug tiles to come on sale...

Bits. Also, bobs.

Here's a little peek at what yesterday was like:

Daily Photo 8.22.07
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

(click to see a larger version)
I tried something new-ish: painting on little blocks chopped from 2 x 4s. Super cute robots seemed like the best subject matter.
Here's a close up on the Chick Bot block.

Chick Bot
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Manic/ Depressive bracelet set
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

And, here's something I made a few weeks ago but am only getting around to photographing now: Mental Disorder Bracelets. This is the only one I intended to sell as a 'set'. Other bracelets: OCD, Germaphobe, Paranoid, Procrastinator...Once you get started, it's quite difficult to stop making them. This is my last stab at making jewelry (at least for now).

Who is that masked chicken?

I had so much fun creating the Chickenpants painting that I just had to make one for another favorite softie:

Who is that masked chicken?
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Two chicken bandits? That's just asking for trouble. They'll egg each other on, and before you know it, you won't have any valuables left at all. They will have sold them all for grain based alcohol.
(sorry...that's the end of the bad puns for this post, I promise!)

Chicken Bandit painting
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Think you can handle them?

Hey good lookin'

Inspired by the lovely Curster, I made a painting of one of my softies.

Hey good lookin'
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Nice pants, buster!

Chickenpants!
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Here's the actual painting. It was so much fun doing this. I have been dwelling almost exclusively in Plush Land for a while now...it was great to break out the paints again. Thanks for the idea, Curster! More to come soon, no doubt!
p.s.: chickenpants- the set!

Plush who?

What's that in the bushes?
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Guess who's on Plush You today?

Wow...and Softies Central too! My plush cup runneth over.

The Wedding Guest- Project Plushway

I got involved in a teeny tiny project put on by Plush You with a brilliant premise. A random person sends you a photo, and you make a softie inspired by it.
Here's the photo I was sent:

The inspiration photo for Project Plushway
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

And here's what I came up with:

Daily Photo 7.30.07
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

The Wedding Guest- for Project Plushway
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

The photo was named "Wedding Hydrangea", hence the name of the softie- "The Wedding Guest". Somehow I got into my mind a squirrel lurking beneath the hydrangeas...and the plush just grew from there. I really got into making this little guy. The finishing touch was attaching a small bunch of flowers to his paw.
I just love him, and I hope you do too!

New Address!

Topanga seed bead 'painting'
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Same old content, but you can now type in
**** http://www.absolutelysmall.com ****
and it will take you to this page. All the old bookmarks should still work, too, though. If somehow they're not working, please let me know!
Anyway: The above is a 'painting' I created out of seedbeads and glue and a lot of time. It's even better viewed large. I recently got it out of the box it had been languishing in, and I'm more than a little in love with it again. I also find myself thinking of making more and wishing for more time to do so!

First Plush Team Group Project- Self Portrait

Another shot of the Plush Team group project
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Here's my effort for the very first Etsy Plush Team group project. This was something new for me- a self portrait in plush! I've done them before, in paint, pencil, photographs...but never fabric.
I'm pleased with the result, but also a little embarrassed...it feels like I'm exposed!

Plush Team group project: Self Portrait - back detail
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

This seems a lot more personal than any other self portrait I've ever done. Perhaps because it's not literal, but instead just random bits of the inside of my head. As a result, I've totally neglected putting any explanation into this. And I think it's going to stay that way. So, here it is.
Plush Team group project: Self Portrait- head detail #2
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

You can click on the photos above to see more, or visit it in the shop.
Oh yes, that was part of the assignment: list it in your shop. I think that has been the hardest part of this project: listing myself for sale. Eeep! I don't like the though of anyone owning something so personal to me...but on the other hand, if no one buys me, that's a little sad, too.

In the midst of the chaos...

A mission statement:
***
The purpose of Absolutely Small is to create and distribute approachable, enjoyable, and live-with-able art and art toys. I create in plush because you cannot hug a painting. I create in paint because it can take you places that nothing else can.
Every one should have the option to have original art in their homes- it shouldn't be the exclusive domain of the wealthy. If I can get people to smile or laugh at what I've created, then I've succeeded.
***
That's why I do what I do.

Finally- a new painting to share

Stummy
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Actually, the painting has been done for a few days now. The scanning, resizing, etc- that is what takes forever.
This little guy is on his way to the diy:mia show.

List

They sent her away
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Sewing machine needles broken in the last 24 hours: 3
Sewing machines needles still intact: 2
Creatures completed: 1
Creatures almost completed: 4
Creatures waiting for eyes, mouths: 4
Paintings waiting to be finished: 2

Playing catch up

(A photo recap of the past few days)


Jack Sparrow impersonator!!
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

We went to a party on Saturday. I detest parties, but Jack Sparrow was there, so that was nice.


The crane tree
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Then I finally put all those cranes I've been making to good use: I made a crane tree. It almost reaches the ceiling.


Hello.
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Then it was time to create some creatures. Here's a peek of one of them.


Embracing the blur, this time.
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Finally, here's Topanga's interpretation of the craziness that was this past week. And probably also the weeks to come.
Many, many more new photos on Flickr!

When life hands you injured dog paws...

Bulldouge
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Post a drawing of a dog?
Or just throw your hands up and say, "Eeeew! Gross!"

I happen to like nice men...

New painting for today: A red coated fox scoundrel:

Red riding fox portrait
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Scoundrel...I like the sound of that.

{Sorry...I watched Empire Strikes Back this weekend. Again.)

Watching the human world

Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Inspired by Topanga, who loves to sit outside and watch the world.

Suit- Illustration Friday for 6/8/07

Suit- Illustration Friday for 6/8/07
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Hooray! Finally had some time to paint.

What's for dinner?

The way of things
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Finally got this painting finished. It's best viewed large, so you can see what is on the table. I don't like leaving anything unfinished, especially paintings. It's good to have this done!

Aha!

Behold! Mishapen imperfection!
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Creating things really is therapy for me. This point was driven home once again as I created this little creature. I made so many mistakes. She was originally intended to be a gift, but that plan got scrapped, along with her legs. Even with all the mistakes, I felt I had to finish her.
When the last stitch was in place, I held this little creature in my hand. I liked her. All the lumpy unevenness, the strange stitching. The complete imperfection. Visually, it made her great. More than that, it gave her a certain feel...a personality, kind of.
Then I realized it. We're constantly fed a diet of perfectionist ideals- "Look like this, eat like this, live like this"- unrealistic ideals that no one can really live up to, so we're also constantly choking on perceived failure.
This creation was imperfect, yet fantastic. Interesting, with personality. Real. Just because she was imperfect, did that make her any less dear to me? Actually, the imperfections endeared her to me. That's what made this creature what it was.
"Perfect" isn't nearly as interesting, fun, or satisfying as imperfect. When you're creating things, it's how your hand casts those lines that makes it yours. "Perfect" isn't genuine.
The ideas for new creatures started crashing in, one right after another.

And we're back!

Pretty good looking for a note card, right? Handpainted cards, available right now in the shop.

Time to get back to work! I have a new project (actually, several) to begin, and I am dying to get to them. The studio is all reconfigured with a new table- ready for action!

But first, this bulletin:

* We got the final on our house. (We built it from the ground up- with tons of help from contractors and friends, of course) This is huge. Now the decorating can begin!*