Here be monsters

I've been a little obsessed with making these be-hoodied monsters lately. Heck, I've been more than a little obsessed with hoodies in general lately. Maybe it's because I only have the one at home, and it's software swag, and my bunny chewed a hole in the arm, and I wear it all the time, and it is ugly, and I want a new, cute hoodie.
*ahem*
Here's a monster in chick's clothing:

What? I'm a chicken. See the fluffy yellow all over me? Check out these wings. I'm a chicken! Behold my beak, the better to peck you with.

Little *red* riding chick?
This girl, Josephine, looks like she needs a hug:



And of course, the South Bay guy:

Aw, yeah. South bay, baby. San Jose? Sunnyvale? Santa Clara? Campbell Cupertino Gilroy - holla! Los Altos Milpitas Los Gatos - high five! This monster is for you.

I really love how he looks from the back:


That's it for today. Go hug a hoodie, everyone. Or a monster. :)

Fruit, loops

Just a quick little post to share with you these little pompom fruits that I made.

Taste the rainbow?

I'm not quite as far a long today as I wish I was. I totally planned on having to wait and wait and wait at the Doctor's. I brought along my sketchbook thinking I could finally have some time to start storyboarding the next Chickenpants adventure. But instead, they whisked me in and got everything over with in record time. I've never been disappointed at not having to wait before. This is new.

This dog would like you to eat some soup.

Here's my latest. This dog's name is Wanda.

Wanda wants to know what you are up to. She also wants to know things like: "What is that thing you are holding? Is it edible? Can we go on a walk now? Will you scratch my belly? Hey, is that a squirrel?"
Anyway, on to the soup! The husband and I have been pretty much living off of this and a few other soups this winter. This one in particular is a winner because it is fast. Oh, and it's good, too. I started this current obsession with a recipe from Lauren's blog. Here's my particular take on it.

Tortilla Soup (Absolutely Small style!)

• 2 Tab. olive oil
  
• 3 cloves garlic
  
• 2 jalapeños, seeded and minced
  
• 6 c veg. broth (I've tried a bunch of different ones, and the Swanson Organic Veg. broth seems to turn out the best.)
  
• 2 or so tsp. cumin
  
• A few solid shakes of that chile-lime seasoning stuff that is supposed to go on fruit (my bottle says "Tajin fruit seasoning") {Trust me on this one, it makes the soup}
  
• 1/2 small bag frozen corn
  
• 1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
  
• 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
  
• Cilantro, chopped
  

In a large soup pot heat the olive oil. Add garlic and jalapeños, cook for 5 min. Add everything but the corn and cilantro, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add corn, cook for an additional 3-5 minutes or so. Add cilantro right before you eat.

That's it. If you can't find the chile-lime seasoning (sometimes the "ethnic" foods aisle isn't as complete as one may wish it), the label says it's just red chile flakes, dehydrated lime, and salt. You could probably make do with just squirting in half a lime, some salt, and a little bit of the chile flakes.

Keep warm and soup filled, everybody!

Working, working, working

It seems like I've been working more or less nonstop since I stopped working the day job. Which isn't really shocking. And it isn't really a bad thing, either. For example, I created a bunch of new fellows last week. Here are a few of them:

Chickenpants Grande: Rico!

Sumomo, the extremely bright dog type creature.

Finster the linen owl. Smug is his middle name.
The first two are already in the shop. More will be popping up all the time!
I like the pink one so much, I even made a little button out of him:

That's all for today!

Whiny haiku & plushies, too

Yeah, the power's still out. And it will likely continue on this way until late Wednesday...unless we're deemed to be difficult to get to (quite possible), in which case the power will remain out until Friday.
Excuse me while I go cry under my desk.
Anyway! When the going gets tough, the tough write whiny haiku:

We are cold and damp.
PG & E: I Hate You
Bring power back now!

Bring the power back.
Hey! Power to the people!
People meaning: me.

Hey! PG & E!
What’s wrong with a little rain?
Apparently, much.

Hey! It is so cold.
My pug dog is shivering.
Power outages suck.

It's fun, see? Ha. Ha. Ha...

As promised, I do have something nice to share: a new plush bird named Gladys!

Gladys is a no-nonsense kind of creature. She does her part to keep the others in check, reminding them to keep on getting up and working. (Of course, "working" in this case means "being cute and cuddly". It is tremendously hard work, after all!)
Sounds like I need her around my house!
Anyway, she's in the shop now.

Wips and Finks

Daily Photo 11.28.07
Originally uploaded by absolutely small

I have so many half finished projects on my desk right now. Which is actually how I like it. I like being able to dive in and start working without having to think something up first. I always think up more to work on once I get started working, so you see how this works.
The Wips above are a couple of Aranzai Aronzo softies for my nieces. They saw them on the cover of CRAFT last time they visited and seemed to like them very much. I highly doubt they'll remember them, but hopefully they'll like them. Underneath is a pile of Poppets, yet to be popped full of polyfill.
Those are the Wips, now on to the Finks:

Finks is the sort of creature who inhabits a woodland glade populated by talking squirrels and unicorns. You'd catch just a glimpse of her, peeking around the trunk of a cotton candy tree, and then she'd steal your backpack.


But it's ok, because you would find your backpack later. Except all the candy bars would be eaten. And she would laugh at you. And you'd be peeved, and throw a stick, but you'd miss. Then you might feel a little bad about throwing a stick at a creature. She'd still be laughing at you, though.


Catch her if you can!

Bringing small things to life

Notable events of the past weekend:
1. Wake up at 5 am to stand in line to *possibly* get a Wii.
2. Get Wii. Hurt shoulder "bowling".
3. Receive 2nd hand amazing espresso machine from Mom. Find out that three shots and two Americanos can produce eye twitching in Husband.
4. Go to cousin's wedding. Dance like a toddler with an ear infection. Also, laugh at dancing people.
5. Let friend's mom sneak up behind you and give you a "shoulder massage". Experience amazing pain from tiny woman. Make new rule: no more letting people sneak up behind you.
6. Oh, yeah, and create small things:

7. How small? 2.5" tall!

8. Realize that the guy is not singing "Comes connect the dots with me, poppet", but "Disconnect the dots with me, poppet". Feel a little let down.

Chickenpants Adventures!

Seydare!
Originally uploaded by objetsmart

This is amazing. The fabulous Objetsmart on Flickr has posted a string of very cool narrated photos starring her very own pair of Chickenpants, Seymore and Lola.
If you'd like to see what kind of mischeif Chickenpants can get into, I can't reccomend clicking this link enough.

Oh, autumn! Er, winter! And a Shop Newlset!

It is coooold. Really cold, by California standards, anyway. Frost on roofs cold! Little brothers unable to finish painting porches cold!

I think all the general wintryness is rubbing off onto my work. See? This one wears a hoodie, for the warmth! Not the cuteness.

I've used a bit more of the precious vintage plaid to make this new pup. I'm really pleased with how this one turned out. There was something about her that just demanded a necklace.

Oh! Right! And in other news, any orders placed in my shop by 3 pm Pacific, Friday the 23rd will be shipped out the very same day. Hooray for fast shipping! I know that's the thing that is semi-awful for me when I order things online- THE WAIT. So I'm doing my part to reduce that.

The New Brood

I've been keeping very busy these days, chickening up a storm. The last few creating days were entirely filled up with Chickenpants.

There are so many of them! They're all over the house. It should be illegal to have this much chickenage all to oneself.

Seriously- they're everywhere.

How many chickens does it take to drink a cup of coffee? Now you know.

Eli the Bulldog & The Absolutely Small List

How great are dogs?

Topanga demonstrates the awesomeness of dogs

---

So great! I've taken the slightest of breaks (a brakelet) from Chickenpants to create some more.

Introducing Eli the Bulldog.He's a sturdy chap with a noggin full of knowledge. Well, ok, a noggin full of fluff. He may look a little fierce, but that's just his under bite talking. I think you'll find him a most agreeable companion.
He's out in the yard until someone decides to adopt him.

And on to the Absolutely Small list! It's a new thing I'm going to try out. Basically, it's a once monthly (or so...maybe longer)short little email note mentioning the upcoming shows where you can see the art in person, new plushies & the like, and oh yeah...coupons! Something short & sweet. If you'd like to sign up for it, just enter your email in the little box in the upper right hand corner of the page and hit "Yes, please!". Or shoot an email to chickenwidget{at}gmail.com.

More Chickenpants are planned to be created next week. But, you know how it goes. It might just be another dog day.

Can you hear the distant rumbling?

Something big this way waddles...like a chicken...in PANTS. Big ones.

Something PLUSH and GIANT enough for a FULL GROWN BOY to hide BEHIND!
Stay tuned for details...

Chickenpants in Space- Chickenpants 2001

The discovery of some awesome robot-skin looking material has spawned the Chickenpants in Space! In space, no one can hear your pants.

Today's Chickenpants is Chickenpants 2001.



Long ago (1977) in a galaxy far, far away, there was this chicken. He dreamed of getting off the family farm and touring the stars, living the laid back life of a space cowboy. Being a real farmhand was hard work! Maybe if he could ditch all these cows, life would be easier.


He's made from robot skin (er, pleather), vintage plaid stretchy fabric, a few beads for eyes, a bit of felt here, a bit of ribbon there, and one silvery shell button belt buckle. It's the low slung belt that gives him that 70's air, don't you think?


Until the day that he can escape this rock, he's roosting in the shop. Would you mind letting a little chicken tag along with you?

Big Tex Chickenpants

Big Tex works on a ranch. He'd like for you to belive that he's a cowboy, but really, he's mostly just a consultant. He's working on a new pattern for chickenwire. He's really smart- and rugged, don't forget rugged!

He's made from soft fleece, vintage plaid stretchy fabric, a few beads for eyes, a bit of felt here, a bit of ribbon there, and one button belt buckle that reads "Western".

p.s: If he looks a little familiar, that's probably becuase he's Big Jim's cousin!
p.p.s:Anyway, here he roosts.

Sunny Chickenpants

Sunny Chickenpants is a proud little chicken who's not afraid to strut her stuff. She's proud of her bright yellow complexion, darn it! Sunny Chickenpants is certainly not afraid to be different. Strut, strut, strut. Chest out, leg cocked to one side - if you've got it, flaunt it, after all!



She's made from soft fleece, vintage pink stretchy fabric, a few beads for eyes, a bit of felt here, a bit of ribbon there, and one button made from a shell.

She's hanging out in the shop with the rest of her peeps.

Chickenpants the Argyle

Chickenpants the Argyle hails from the place where everything is argyle. He's moved away from his hometown since then (all the argyle- it was just TOO MUCH!), but he likes to remember his roots. Hence the argyle belt. He's keeping it real, yo. For-shizzle?

His belt buckle button, by the way reads: "CHOO CHOO". I don't know why. It's not like he has more than a passing interest in trains...Maybe he just thought it looked cool.
Chickenpants the Argyle is made from vintage stretchy plaid material which I am very quickly running out of. His chickenpart (er...) is made from very soft & fuzzy fleece. He's stuffed with non-allergenic polyfill, and he's got beads for eyes. Add a ribbon and button belt ("CHOO CHOO") and you're all set to rock the chickenworld.
Needless to say, he is in the shop, spreading his argyle goodness around.
Up next: Sunny Chickenpants

Miss Dot Chickenpants

Today's Chickenpants: Miss Dot

Miss Dot Chickenpants likes being the center of attention. Her choice of loud fabric may have something to do with this. She worked really hard to be able to fit into these pants. Now she looks fantastic and she's searching for some pie. Boy, has she ever earned it.

She's made from fuzzy fleece, non allergenic polyfill, vintage stretchy geometric patterned fabric, little beads for eyes, little bit of ribbon, and one button for a belt buckle.


See how swelte she is? She's roosting in the shop for now.
Tommorow's Chickenpants will be: Argyle Chickenpants.

Chickenpants Hot Wheels

Today's Chickenpants has a penchant for speed. Vrrooooommm! Who's that skidding round the track? Vrrooooom! It's Chickenpants Hot Wheels, and he's pushing his chickenfoot to the metal! Vroooooomm!

Hot Wheels has earned his name, yes, for driving fast, but also for wearing a small toy tire as a belt buckle.
He's made from fuzzy fleece, non allergenic polyfill, vintage stretchy plaid fabric, little beads for eyes, little bit of ribbon, and one Hot Wheels wheel for a belt buckle.

He's roosting in the shop for now.
Up next: Miss Dot Chickenpants.

Onward came the Chickenpants!

Marching forward in semi-orderly lines...

I created one Chickenpants (and a painting to match!) a little bit ago. But my brain never quite let me stop at that...and the vintage fabric, it beckons, you know.


First up is Big Jim Chickenpants A rootin, tootin, barrel chested chicken.

6.5" high,
4" wide
Broad at the shoulders and narrow at the hips.
And everybody knows you don't give no lip
to Big Jim Chickenpants.

He sports a paw print ribbon belt with a "Western" button belt buckle.
He's made from fuzzy fleece, non allergenic polyfill, vintage stretchy plaid fabric, a couplea beads, little bit of ribbon, and a button.

All the Chickenpants plushies are my original creations. Although they follow a basic pattern, each one is unique and has different embellishments. Each one has a bit of a different personality, too.
If you'd like to see more, as always, Flickr delivers.
I'll be adding them to the shop as well.
Up next...Chickenpants Hot Wheels!

Bluebones and...

Bluebones - handmade winged creature
Originally uploaded by chicken widget

nothing else to share this morning. Why not? Lack of time? Well, not really, no.
It *may* have something to do with the Game Cube finally being fixed and a rediscovered joy in playing the new Legend of Zelda game.
It *may* also have something to do with reading this old post on Seth Godin's blog. That had a way of clamping down on my ability to write anything.(Wait...you're not supposed to write about your cat on a blog? Huh. All these rules! {*5 year old self* "I'm breaking the rules! Noooooo!"})
But, anyway: Bluebones!
Why the name Bluebones? Because the armature of the wings was made with blue pipe cleaners (the better to slightly be able to see them with). I then detailed the wings in a little bit of blue for some detail.
Bluebones is sporting a little blue button collar. It's kind of tricky to photograph, on account of his super fluffy head. The collar is made from two different colors of baker's twine.
The wings were sewn on machine freehand, so they're each unique. I left the edges of the wings and tail exposed and untreated, so they'll have a nice soft frayed look to them.
More photos start here.
Also, he happens to be in the shop.