Giveaway Day Winner

Thanks to all who took the time and entered the giveaway! I never guessed there were so many book lovers out there! I loved all of your suggestions and plan on getting a few books to peruse through. Now, onto the winner....

Congrats to Reb Thack, who won the Little Antique Brass Bird Stud Earrings! 

And as for our Facebook winner, Lisa Cox, who won the $25 to the CrankHeartPony Shop!!

Many have entered, but don't despair - I have a special coupon code for you to use at the CrankHeartPony Shop! Just enter the code CHEERS to receive 15% off your order as a thank you!

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Giveaway Day! And a Treat for Lovers of Doctor Who!

I've decided to, once again, take part in Sew, Mama, Sew's Giveaway day! Not only will I be giving a physical item away, I've added a bonus giveaway on my facebook page to win a $25 gift card to my shop CrankHeartPony. All you have to do for that is simply share the photo. Easy. Get something nice for yourself or that person on your list who likes pretty things.

As for the giveaway, I was simply going to ask you all to name your favorite book and if you want to say why, go ahead! Any recommendations would be great as I like to read but its hard to know what's good out there! By doing so you'll have a chance to win these adorable .... Also seen here

Little Antique Brass Bird Stud Earrings

Details: I will close off comments on Saturday at midnight, chose a winner at random, then on the following Monday, the winner will be announced and notified via email. If you choose to also do the Facebook giveaway, I will announce it and tag your name on my facebook page. If you do not respond to it, I will send you a FB message so check your "other" folder! Open to residents of planet earth.

In other news, in honor of the Doctor Who 50th anniversary, I've created some ceramic Doctor Who Themed Ornaments! Which are now for sale in the shop! I have the TARDIS, Adipose, Cybermen, Weeping Angels, and Daleks (daleks are in several colors).

ALLONS-Y!

Update: I'm loving all the book suggestions! Keep it coming!

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Black Friday & Cyber Monday sale PLUS Dr. Who Fan Art Alert

Hey all, the time is now to visit CrankHeartPony for 30% off your entire purchase, PLUS receive a coupon code for your next shopping spree with us! So get all the pretty things you like before December 2nd ends using the code 30THANKS at checkout!

Also, if you are a Dr. Who fan, you're in for a real treat! I've been making some fun ceramic ornaments just in time for the 50th anniversary and Christmas. Stay tuned for the Angels, Adipose, TARDIS, Cybermen and, of course, Daleks!

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Handmade Holiday Idea: CrankHeartPony & Local Goods Chicago team up for jewelry making event!

If you've been wanting to get creative and make some handmade gifts this holiday season, then come on over to Local Goods Chicago on Saturday November 30th to make some wire wrapped nest pendants with me! These can be made into earrings, worn as a pendant on a necklace, as a brooch, a hair pin, add it to accent another piece of jewelry, and so on. Sign up here! It helps if you're in the Chicagoland area :)

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New Photo Props for Peanutenvy

After I've redesigned my dolls to be bigger and better with stronger stitching and overall stability, I've also found a fun new way to take pictures. I know this method has been around for a long while, but I never really wanted to use it until now: the chalkboard prop. For some reason the dark background helps showcase the dolls without washing them out with the overexposed look I'd get from a white background. Its also a great way to have your name in the picture without having to go through the trouble of a watermark! (A good way to cut THAT corner) Not to mention all the fun things you can include...quotes, name of the work, fun drawn designs...am I thinking too much into this??

Check out the shop!

Ella the Russian Doll

Rowan the Owl Pocket Plush

Bella the Russian Doll

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Plush Sale: $10 off at PeanutEnvy!

I don't often have sales at my sewn goods shop, PeanutEnvy, but it's October..its a new season, new (colder and sometimes wretched) weather, leaves are changing, and so on. Therefore, I'm feeling a bit generous.
So from this point until the witching hour of Halloween (midnight on 10/31, for the layperson), You can get $10 off any purchase of 2 or more items from the shop using the coupon code 10OCTOBER! Yes, that is the number 10 and the month October.
Stock up before the Holiday frenzy officially sets in. I know there are only 10 in the shop, but there are 24 waiting in the wings.

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Shows and Shops around Chicago...

As I try to branch out and sell my wares in places other than Etsy (which if you sell jewelry there, you know how it can be a pointless endeavor) I've found a few venues I rather like in the Chicagoland area. My first consignment operation was with the very unique, artisan based shop Blue Eyed Jack in LaGrange, IL. It's been a place I could sell my jewelry when Etsy has proven to be impossible...and lame. Its a great shop to check out...they even sell vintage if that's what you fancy.  And for my dolls, I've found that Local Goods Chicago is a nice fit so far AND I get to teach there too! If you're free November 30th and want to learn how to make bird nest pendants, by all means join us!

One more announcement: I'll be taking part of the Third Thursdays held by Beehive Chicago THIS Thursday so come out for vintage goods of all kinds with a bit of handmade thrown in. Maybe even get a bit of Holiday shopping done. Be there or be square ;)

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Sewing Studio Revamp, More Dolls, and it has been a while!

I have had such a full plate for the last year, so I have not been on here at all, really.  It has been just a pretty overwhelmed-with-life-in-general kind of thing. When you have 3 kids, homeschool them, own 2 shops, work a job, etc... the leisurely things get pushed to the back burner. And that's what happened. But I am back! Blogging seems strange and foreign to me now...but I'll be sure to be more diligent!

So - update!

I've recently redesigned my PeanutEnvy dolls and have added Owl pillows to the shop. The dolls are larger and (in my opinion) cuter. Since I've started using inks for the faces instead of embroidering them on, making them has been *slightly* easier..but overall they are still quite involved especially with all the appliqueing I have to do for the heads alone. But I'm not complaining...I enjoy sewing these lovelies, even if there are, like, 20 steps.

I have also revamped my sewing studio for the better. Now its a place I want to be at all times...and so do the children, but I can't blame them :) You can see the last revamp in this post here. I like this new set up MUCH better. And I have a new sewing machine to boot! The light in the room is perfect! I can even lock the door from the inside as to ward off unwanted intruders...or to hide while I eat something I certainly do not want to share. 

 Now that life is down to a simmer, I can finally get some sewing done. Fall has always been the perfect time for it anyway since all the summer fun comes to a close. And I hope it also means I'll be posting more as well!

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