Vintage by Crystal: March 2011

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Phew!

What a fabulous update yesterday! Thank you so much to everyone who managed to snag one or a few. :) As you can see, they are all tucked safely inside their boxes, waiting for the mailman to ring the bell. I guess I'm getting a little lazy these days....the nice ladies down at the post office haven't seen me in a while!

There are a few more characters that are hoping for new homes, so if you didn't get a chance to stop by yesterday, just take a peek at yesterday's post. :)

Thank you again!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Easter Update!

Egg Hunt Bunny - SOLD
Egg Juggler - 28
Polka Dot Bunny - SOLD

Easter is just around the corner of all these new old fashioned characters can hardly wait! They've been collecting eggs, gathering baby chicks and smelling the freshly blossomed blooms. It's still a bit nippy here in Boston, but the pastel colors and smiling faces are keeping me warm!

As usual, blog readers get first dibs on my new spun cotton one of kind figures. Click on photos to enlarge. If you see something(s) you love, just email me at vintagebycrystal@yahoo.com and I'll let you know if they're still available. First come first served! I'll update item statuses in this post as often as I can to make it easier for you to know what's available. Items often get scooped up quickly, so make your selection as swiftly as you can, you can always add available pieces to your order later. Also feel free to include second choices if your first choice is unavailable, but make sure you label them "second choice".

Shipping is $3.50 for one item and $1 per additional item up to $6.50, then additional pieces are free. Choose between check or paypal for payment. And of course email me if you have any questions! Happy Shopping!

Miss Spot - SOLD
Hoppy Easter Bunny - SOLD

Chocolate Bunny Boy - SOLD
Cadbury Egg Bunny - SOLD
Chocolate Butterfly Girl - SOLD

Miss. Sun and Rain - SOLD
Basket of Eggs Bunny - SOLD
Miss. April Showers - SOLD

Easter in the Woods Girl - SOLD
Pink Rooster Girl - SOLD
Butter Bunny Girl - SOLD

Miss. Rabbit - SOLD
Flora the "Real" Bunny - SOLD
Petunia - SOLD

Easter Party Girl - SOLD
Miss. Hershey Bunny - SOLD
Pixie Bunny - SOLD

The Prince of Easter - 28
Sweet Pea - SOLD
Miss. Marshmallow - SOLD

Bunny has a Kitty - SOLD
Miss Glitter - SOLD
Sunny Longstockings - SOLD

Miss Happy in Easterland - SOLD
In Your Easter Basket Bunny - SOLD

Stan - SOLD
Elma - SOLD

Miss Peep - SOLD
Mr. Jelly Bean - SOLD
Miss. Garden Sue - SOLD

Rock a Bye Baby Chicks - SOLD
Miss. Top-o-the-Egg - SOLD
Miss. Sprout - SOLD

Sara Rabbit - SOLD
Mama Rabbit - SOLD
Daniel Rabbit - SOLD

Hans Chick - SOLD
Henrietta Chick - SOLD

Mars - SOLD
Marcia - SOLD

Monday, March 28, 2011

Late Night Sneak Peek

Mrs. Rabbit and her children

My mother, Sharon Hanehan, is an amazing crafter and I just love collaborating with her. She does the hard work and I get to do the fun part.

All of these characters will be available during my update tomorrow, but I thought they deserved some extra attention since so much extra love and care was put into making them. My sweet mother and I bat ideas back and forth until finally I tell her what to make (I'm very bossy I've heard, hehe), then she does her magic and takes fluffy wool and needle felts it into the shape of bunnies and chicks. She sends me the naked bodies and then I cut, glue, sew, dress and accessorize each one so they look dapper and charming and well...civilized. I use some of my favorite and coveted materials when dressing them up and take a lot of time on each one to make sure they're perfect and unique (all the felt is real wool, not the plastic stuff you find at the craft store). And we're both always so thrilled with the results and we hope you are too!

Hans and Henrietta Chick

Mars and Marcia are a little less refined, but instead prefer the natural, just out of the nest look

Mrs. Rabbit is the perfect mother and carries her newborn with ease.

She wears a felt and cotton outfit carefully sewn (even the vintage ric rac is carefully stitched on) and carries a wicker basket on her back. Pink chicks and eggs are essential for any outing you know.

Daniel and Sara Rabbit are named after my siblings. They are quite proper in nature and each wear specially tailored clothing

Daniel has an adorable pot belly and big bushy tail

Sara enjoys catching springtime crepe butterflies and is perfectly equipped with a butterfly net

Henrietta is an old new chick and prefers to spend her time milling about the garden collecting eggs. Her straw hat keeps the sun out of her eyes and her wicker basket keeps the eggs neat and tidy. And how strange...notice that she's a chick carrying a chick?

Hans is proud of his German heritage and proves it by sporting a German hat and vest. Catch him on a good day and you'll see him wearing his lederhosen

And these guys are the real stars of the show. They are German felted toys that my mother had when she was a kid. They were used as the inspiration for our collaboration.

Thanks Mom! You know I'll partner up with you any time! :)

Saturday, March 26, 2011

All Grown Up!

I can't believe they're almost a year old! Sophie and Paige came into our lives right after our beloved kitty, Magic, left us for good. They've been wonderful and funny companions and they've gotten so big! Although Sophie, seen here lounging on the couch (I didn't put her there like that, I swear), is huge compared to her tiny sister, Paige. Sophie is certainly the playful one...the clown who talks in trills and purrs and loves paying fetch while I'm trying to work. Paige, below, is the quiet one. Reserved and very regal. She cuddles with me in my studio when no one else is looking. And they both sit on command! Maybe next year I'll teach them to roll over.

We love them both so much and this is our declaration! :)

Friday, March 25, 2011

Easter Update Announcement!

Peek-a-BOO!

Another Easter Update is just around the corner! Chicks and ducks and sweet faced children are still making their way into my studio and I'm pretty sure are having a big party at night when I'm asleep. I hope you'll stop by to scoop up a few of your own party-goers! :)

Blog readers get first dibs as usual and if you'd like to be notified about upcoming blog updates and special events, just sign up for my mailing list on the right side of my blog, or leave a comment with your email address.

New one-of-a-kind pieces will be available for purchase on:

Tuesday, March 29th. Here, the blog. 11:00 am EST.

See you here on Tuesday! :)

Bonus! This update will contain a few select collaborative pieces. Needle felted animals made by Mom (Sharon Hanehan) and dressed up by me. :)

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Going Away Party

In this photo clockwise from left: Me; Laura Collins of Pansy Maiden and ceramic artist Arthur
Halvorsen; Diane Ivey of Lady Dye Fiber Arts; Jessica Burko stitching a garland piece as a paper quilt; fiber artist Sharon Fischer

Last week Boston Handmade threw a going away party for me at Jessica Burko 's South End studio. I was honored and moved by the super sweet send off and it was great seeing everyone all together. Boston Handmade has been an amazing part of my creative life for the past....I don't even know how many years. I've made some wonderful friends and was able to gain lots of experience through all the different shows that were put on and got lots of amazing advice and hopefully gave some too. I'll miss everyone, but I can't leave Boston without leaving with permanent ties and will be back often to enough to check in. :)

Jessica, who is a paper quilt artist, organized everyone into making a paper quilt garland for me as a super special and super sweet going away gift. I really really love it and can't wait to put it up in my new studio!!

Awesome party! Thank you so much Boston Handmade!!

Photos by Jessica Burko and Kerry Hawkins

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

It's official! We're Moving!

Ben and I are moving and I couldn't be more excited!! We're moving from Boston, MA to Saratoga, NY in only a month from now! The idea of moving isn't anything new...we've been planning it for years now. In fact, we bought our house back in 2008 in anticipation of our move. Ben and I moved to Boston 6 years ago after college. I was a farm girl who wanted a little taste of city life and Ben had family here. We planned to stay only 2 or 3 years, but Ben started a post grad program three years ago and since then I've been patiently waiting to get back to my country life, which Ben is very excited about as well.

Our historical house (built by the town doctor in the late 1800's), sits on 2.5 acres just outside of town across from the Hudson River and next door to a quaint apple orchard. I've got visions of chickens, and vegetable and flower gardens. Summer nights spent sipping tea and lemonade on the porch. Winters watching children sled down the hill. Sigh. I can't believe it's starting!

The old Cape Cod style shingles are prevalent here in Boston. The two family Victorian we live in now has the same siding.

This is me back in 2008 when I first walked in. If you were able to zoom in...into my brain...you'd see the elation I felt. :) Although that gold chandelier is going to need some work...

Ben thinks living room. I'm thinking dining room. Decisions decisions. Either way, the windows are huge!

Can you believe it? Two fireplaces?? Well...there's actually a third fireplace on the other side!

This is the inside of the turret on the third floor, where my new studio will be. I'm thinking blue sky, clouds and birds painted on the ceiling...

A view out the screened window is pristine. Sigh...can't wait to move!!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Happy Saint Patty's Day!

May the luck of the Irish be with you today! Be on the look out for four leaf clovers, horseshoes, green hats and all of those other lucky doodads! Happy Saint Patty's Day!

And I also wanted to thank everyone who stopped by for my last Easter update. All but four of my little "children" found new homes and I am so grateful and blessed. Thank you so much!!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Huge Easter Update!

Too Many Chicks! - SOLD
Little Miss Rain or Shine - SOLD
Miss Big Bunny - SOLD

I've been super busy in the studio and have quite a number of goodies to share with you as a result! The biggest Easter update of the season to be exact. And the Easter bunny definitely stopped by to drop off a few pastel spring materials for me to use in these creations...including tiny handmade spun cotton bunnies...can you find them?

As usual, blog readers get first dibs on my new spun cotton one of kind figures. If you see something(s) you love, just email me at vintagebycrystal@yahoo.com and I'll let you know if they're still available. First come first served! I'll update item statuses in this post as often as I can to make it easier for you to know what's available. Items often get scooped up quickly, so make your selection as swiftly as you can, you can always add available pieces to your order later. Also feel free to include second choices if your first choice is unavailable, but make sure you label them "second choice".

Shipping is $3.50 for one item and $1 per additional item up to $6.50, then additional pieces are free. Choose between check or paypal for payment. And of course email me if you have any questions! Happy Shopping!