Saturday, December 29, 2007

Vermont

Chris and I decided to spend part of our rare simultaneous time off together driving up to Burlington, Vermont. We arrived late afternoon and took a walk into town for Thai food and a couple of local microbrews:
The next day we went to meet this little dude at the Science Center...
And then we took a drive to... can you guess?
I have a strange fascination with factory tours and will never turn down the chance to take one.
Now we're back home in snowless New York, getting ready to ring in 2008, a year sure to be full of new surprises, adventures, and exactly one new nephew. Hope your New Year is safe, peaceful and prosperous!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Checking in...


Well, that sore throat turned out to be a full-on bronchial flu type of thing. I'm sure a doctor would have given some sort of diagnosis, had I made an appointment. And I had the most unforgiving schedule this past week, filled with the types of obligations that would not wait. Now both Chris and I begin a week off, and this weekend has been deliciously lazy, with just enough orders to make me feel occupied, but still plenty of time to putter around and make a ginger-spiced pumpkin pie for my mom, who arrives tomorrow. After that, we're heading to Vermont!
Above is the photo I took for the cd tray of Chris's album. I posted it here because I decided to add the album to my shop. It's a collaborative project that I feel really proud to have been a part of, and it's really a symbol of the wonderful artistic camaraderie I feel lucky to have in my marriage.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Sunday Morning

This morning as my husband was flipping pancakes, and he asked if I would ever eat a mouse, this is what he meant:

(Also, that plate? About 4 inches wide)
Today I'm addressing holiday cards while I try to heal my incredibly sore throat so I can work tomorrow. Outside the river is choppy and a rainy/snowy mix is falling.
Last night we saw No Country For Old Men. When am I going to start listening to the part of me that warns, "You don't enjoy violent movies. This looks like it's probably violent. Yes, it got rave reviews. So did The Departed and you squirmed through that." So yeah, a bit too bloody. If that doesn't deter you, have at it.
My long-sleeved toddler tees finally arrived and are up in the shop. I'm really happy with how they turned out. I'd love to make some more, once I recoup some of my expenses from this batch. Any designs y'all would like to see on your toddler's tummy?

Friday, December 14, 2007

Friday


My first week back in the trenches was a good one. (The "trenches" being my endearing term for freelance animation work) And, because we all know this is how life works, now that I've spent a week focused on something entirely new, my 100th order rolled in. How appropriate that this was sale number 100.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Whew! And thank you!


Whew, I'm tired. But not too tired to thank everyone who came out this weekend to buy handmade goods, specifically mine.
I was not looking forward to working two craft fairs back-to-back, one of them 8 hours long and by myself, and both right before I start on a brand-new in-studio freelance job. But you all made it soooo worth it. I love it when my suitcase, the one that normally literally bursts at the seams with all of my wares, zips shut with ease at the end of the day and actually feels lighter on the trek home.
Due to the aforementioned freelance job, I won't be doing any more craft fairs until the spring. It sure was nice to end the year on a high note.
p.s. The pic is of Mrs. Washington the bunny. She's tired too!

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Upcycled Bunnies


Melissa from Hobocamp gave me a great idea a few weeks ago when I met her at Artists and Fleas: Her business card was printed on the back of a pizza box. And even before that, Christine Renee, who makes all of my buttons, sent me some buttons pinned to the back of a veggie burger box. I am in love with these sorts of ideas, so when I reached the end of a box of ice cream cones, I saved the box. Today I used it to make these bunny ornaments! I used two layers (so the image would show on both sides), and they're super strong, almost like wood. They're in the shop now, and they'll be at my table at 3rd Ward this Saturday, so come on by.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Snowy Sunday



Today the first snow fell, and Cinder pawed at the door to the balcony until I let her check it out.
Big thanks to everyone who came to visit the MamaRobot table at yesterday's fair in Park Slope. A bit of everything found new homes, from toddler tees, to onesies, to holiday cards and prints.
Today I'm re-stocking my suitcase for next weekend's fairs and listening to my husband's pretty guitar music. Which reminds me! If you need a gift for an indie music lover, Chris's CD, Sangamon, is only 10 bucks for the rest of 2007. You can listen, read the glowing reviews, and buy at ChrisFullerMusic. I play accordion on one of the songs, but don't let that discourage you :)

Thursday, November 29, 2007

I wasn't kiddin'!


There really IS a new product every day at the shop. Today it's navy robots on a grass green toddler tee. OK, so I don't have much up my sleeve for the rest of the week. Until the long-sleeved toddler tees arrive!
If you're in the Minnesota area, you need to check out the No Coast Craft-O-Rama! It's happening this Friday and Saturday. My crafty friends Charlie and Sarah will be there with their preppy-cool clothes, along with talented bag-maker Jenna Lou. It's like a Renegade Chicago reunion! Without me, *sigh*.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Another day, another product


Just in time for the holidays, the Robot Toddler Tees have finally arrived! I've already listed the grey design here and will list the green ones later today.
This weekend I'll have plenty on hand at the Winterful Holiday Craft Fair in Park Slope, Brooklyn. (It's at the old John Jay HS, 7th ave between 4th and 5th streets.) Come on by from 11 to 4 for food, music, face painting, and shopping! Lots of shopping!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Ooh Buttons!


Look what arrived in the mail yesterday! I'm expecting more goodies to arrive today, hopefully I'll list them by the end of the week. It's busy but calm here today.
In just a week and a half I start a 3 month full time job and life will change considerably. I'll definitely keep the shop open, but I won't have as much time for making new products or selling at craft fairs. I'm sure I'll miss making my own hours, but it will be a welcome change to step away from the 24/7 nature of running a business full-time. I'm glad it's just for 3 months.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Quirky Crafters


That's what my table looked like at yesterday's Quirky Crafters Holiday Bazaar. Notice, on the right, the muffin tin with the heart-shaped molds, perfect for a button display! I have to thank my mom, the ace scavenger, for that gift. I always leave her house with one more bag than I came with. We left her house the day after Thankgiving with several sweaters, some cleaning supplies (she is my mom, after all) and a bird feeder! I just filled it with "songbird mix" and hung it off our balcony railing. I can't wait to see my first little birdie customers. The cats will be muttering and grunting like crazy.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Bunny Bucks!


Check out what the first 75 attendees at this weekend's Quirky Crafters Holiday Bazaar will find in their goody bags: MamaRobot coupons! (The post title was my cute husband's idea.)
I'm glad I was able to crank these out today, because tomorrow I'm back in the dentist chair for a bone graft. I'm guessing there won't be much work going on at MamaRobot headquarters for the rest of the day. (Although I will be shipping orders. Lucky for me the Post Office is across the street!)
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Artists and Fleas



I really like Artists and Fleas, the Williamsburg weekend market I sold at today. I chatted with a cool guy who makes these, his talented glass blowing girlfriend, another girl who runs a vintage clothing company with her dad, and the nice people who run Hobocamp Crafts. If I could've made a teeny bit more money, I'd be doing Artists and Fleas every weekend.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Small Update


I just ordered a new batch of buttons, and the design above was inspired by the baby bulldog a friend of mine is hopefully adopting! They should be up in the shop in a week or so.
It's been a good day. Took a long walk in the sun while listening to music, shipped out order number EIGHTY (!), and tonight, I'm going on my very first trip to...Chuck E. Cheese. That's right. Happy weekend!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Hello from HQ


For the past month or so I've been meeting weekly with a crafty friend to set goals and talk shop. It's been very helpful and eye-opening, as I often know what I need to do in my heart of hearts, I just need a small kick in the pants to get my brain to catch on.
As a result of these meetings, I present to you my Holiday Schedule:

11/17: Artists and Fleas, 129 N. 6th Street, between Bedford and Berry, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (noon-7pm)
11/24: Quirky Crafters Holiday Bazaar - 6436 Montgomery Street, Rhinebeck, NY
12/1: Winterful Holiday Craft Fair, Park Slope, Brooklyn (held at the old John Jay HS, 7th ave between 4th and 5th sts.)
12/8: 3rd Ward - 195 Morgan Ave., East Williamsburg, Brooklyn

...and I still have 2 more fairs to possibly add! Do you know why you need to go to at least one craft fair this holiday season? Because I was reading Real Simple's gift guide, and for fathers/brothers/husbands, it suggested the following gifts:
1. A cell phone charger
2. Desktop shuffleboard
3. House of Jerky Variety Pack

I kid you not.

p.s. The pic above is of the trees outside my building. And I was starting to worry they'd go straight from green to brown!

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Teatime in the woods


I finished this little painting yesterday afternoon. As soon as I tweak the color a bit, I'll have it up as a print in the shop. I will most likely list the original painting, too, although I'm tempted to keep it, to fill the empty space on the wall where the original of this print used to hang. There's also tons of tempting art on Etsy, but we're on a bit of a budget at the moment. I'm having a bone graft at the dentist next week. Dental insurance does not cover it. It costs.....more than anything I currently own.

Friday, November 2, 2007

Cat ACEO


I was going to list this in the shop, but then I decided to slip it in my friend Sarah's birthday card instead. The Robot ACEO got snatched up (and is on its way to Australia!), but I'll be making a few more. And now I'm off to the dentist. The last dentist visit for a few months, I hope. I hope.
Oh, and the Square Foot Show was a lot of fun! I am soooo glad I hung my painting up very high, and that the curators left it where I hung it, because it was absolutely packed! And a lot of people were wearing big backpacks. And that just makes me nervous.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Another ACEO


Last night I dashed off another ACEO for the shop. This bird is called the White Throated Bee Eater! I've found I enjoy making ACEOs. They're so quick, and there's less pressure than designing cards, when I'm anticipating hundreds of them being made.
Speaking of pressure, tomorrow night is the opening of the Square Foot Show at Art Gotham here in NYC. There'll be a few hundred pieces, including one of mine, all one foot by one foot. I checked out a few of the pieces when I was dropping mine off, and there's quite a range of talent, prices, ideas, techniques, and colors. Art Gotham is located at 547 W 27th Street, 5th floor between 10th and 11th Avenue. The show is up until the 17th, I believe.
Happy Halloween! Which reminds me, I have to buy candy. Chris wants Mr. Goodbars. Be safe, everyone!

Monday, October 29, 2007

The very first MamaRobot ACEO


I made this while listening to the PBS documentary about Charles Schulz, who has inspired and influenced me since I could pick up a pencil.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Crocodile Prints


Made some prints of my crocodile painting yesterday. And now I'm off to the post office to send out my 70th order!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

New 'bots in the shop...


Just finished this little watercolor and ink painting and thought it would make a nice card. Check it out.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Crocodile Tears


I finished this painting yesterday for Art Gotham's Square Foot show. It was a challenge to compose something for a square canvas, and it was incredibly difficult to figure out how to lay down the gouache so that it didn't crack as it dried. I never had that problem using gouache on paper, so I think it has something to do with the Gesso-ed surface of the canvas. It took many tries, but I finally achieved this nice, smooth surface:

If it doesn't sell at the show, you'll eventually see it in the shop, and either way I'll be offering up a few prints of it.
Enjoy the weekend!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Pumpkin Festival!

On Sunday we took a break from art selling and music making to enjoy a day in the country.

And Merlin the parrot was kind enough to give us a ride home.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Cuddling and Painting


It's finally down in the 50's here in New York, and I've spent a mellow day inside painting while listening to This American Life. It's been a week of good news. New wholesale orders have come in, friends are coming to town, Chris's piles of CD's are slowly dwindling (*cough* get yours here).

If you're in the New York area this Saturday the 13th, come get your MamaRobot goodies at PS 154's Art/Craft/Flea Market. It's happening at PS 154's school yard, 11th Avenue between Sherman Street and Windsor Place (F train to 15th street/Prospect Park).

p.s. That's the rarely photographed and very shy Jetta above on the right. See she *does* exist!

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Fall for Arts, and The Encampment


If only all craft fairs could be like Roosevelt Island's Fall for Arts. What other fair provides a free tent, table and chair, free food, volunteers offering to give vendors bathroom breaks, and tons of visitors ready to shop? They even hung back walls for our displays! After we closed up shop at 5, I headed home to fetch my accordion for my performance at the Encampment.
Thanks to everyone who came out to check out my tent at the fair, my tent at the encampment, or both! I'm not sure where the mobile MamaRobot shop will pop up next, could be Brooklyn, could be Manhattan. Until then, the goods are always here.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Roosevelt Island


If you've never been to Roosevelt Island this weekend is a good time to visit. The MamaRobot shop will be open for business at the Fall for Arts festival. Then, after the sun goes down, the Encampment begins. I've been working as a creative collaborator on this project and I can't wait to see it come to fruition! Don't miss your only chance to see 100 illuminated tents light up the southern tip of Roosevelt Island. It's going to be spooky and amazing.

Friday, September 28, 2007

New in the 'bot shop today...


People who know me know I love old telephones. Not that this style is that old, it's just that telephones have undergone a lot of changes in a short amount of time. The background on this design is watercolor, simply because I am all out of yellow and white gouache. I like how it came out looking tea-stained. Here's the listing. Off to buy some gouache!

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Printing and Painting


After going to 7 different stores here in NYC, I finally found my favorite discontinued print paper online. It arrived last night, and so I've spent the morning re-stocking my prints. I hope the Atlantic Antic crowd likes them, because I'll be bringing plenty with me on Sunday!
Once I've signed and sprayed these with UV protectant, I'm going to work on a new painting, featuring this little guy:

I'm surprised it took me this long to work a raccoon into a painting. (Although, there is this).

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Soooo hungry!


Cinder's got the Bubbleguts. The vet says she'll be fine, but told us not to feed her till morning.
*sigh*

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Back from Chicago...


Chicago Renegade met all my expectations and then some. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the tent to pick up some goodies! As a result there's going to be a pretty fashionable crop of Chicagoan babies dressed in MamaRobot onesies. The last of the paintings I made for the Too Art for TV show here in New York was snatched up, but there are still prints to be had. The fantastic PickalaPoopa people were wonderful hosts, and the talented Jenna Lou was the perfect tent partner. The only downer was coming home to a flooded apartment. Thankfully, all pets and valuables were unharmed, and our building promises to replace our floor. Other than that, it's back to business here on the farm.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

New in the Shop...


Doggies walking in a wintry forest! It's very early (for me) Thursday morning and I'm nearly ready for Chicago. Cards have been printed, a wholesale order has been assembled, and detailed pet instructions have been written out. We leave tomorrow at dawn. My main chore for today? I have to go exchange my print paper because the paper I bought was cut crooked.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

SUNNYside


I think the hot sun fried some of my brain cells yesterday at the Sunnyside Craft Fair. But it was totally worth it. Thanks to everyone who came to say hello and bought so many MamaRobot goodies that my load was much lighter on the way home. Next stop, Chicago!

Friday, September 7, 2007

Happy Friday

Look what's brand new in the shop!
Also, thanks to Funky Finds for featuring the MamaRobot goodies. To quote Bill Murray in Ghostbusters: "I feel so funky."

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Cuteness

Thanks, Cuteable, for adding my Happy Birthday card to your cute finds! And speaking of cute, look what my mom helped me make:
I still have to sew the letters on, which should be interesting since I haven't sewed since 7th grade home ec class.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Welcome to September


September only just began, and I've already seen fields of pumpkins and bags of apples. Yum.
This Saturday I'll be at the First Annual Sunnyside Gardens Craft Fair. My computer tells me it will be sunny, so if you're in the NYC area, some to Sunnyside Gardens Park at 48–21 48th Street in Queens. The fair will be going from 11am to 4pm.
Oh, and this guy will be there:

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Yesterday.

Yesterday's Charlie Parker-themed street festival strangely had nothing to do with Charlie Parker. Nevertheless, I met some cute kids and sold my first onesie!

I also ran my first credit card. Fancy!

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

They're here!


The onesies finally arrived today! Just in time, too, because I'm doing an impromptu craft fair tomorrow in honor of Charlie Parker's birthday. I've already listed one in the shop, with more to follow.









See my cool labels?

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Portrait of the bun


I've been having fun playing with my cheapo set of watercolors lately. I don't even have proper watercolor paper, which of course means I have to work fast, unless I want a wrinkled, soggy mess. I have an idea in mind for this painting and I'm putting it into motion this week. Stay tuned!

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Floofy


She truly is.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

whee!


I picked up my onesie labels today! And not a moment too soon, because the list of babies is growing. I just found out I'm going to be an aunt! So, while I was in the fashion wholesale district today (where my labels are made), I stopped by a trimmings store and couldn't resist spending the last 16 dollars in my wallet on these...

If you come to one of the many craft shows I'll be selling at this fall, (see my shop announcement for specifics) your purchase might be tied up with one!