Beetlegirl Design

the other side of xmas

I can still vividly recall how anticlimactic the days following Christmas were to me as a child.  I remember how my parents would settle back in to their quiet activities, and I was never quite sure, amidst the crashing sugar rush, what to do with myself and the realization that it would be an entire year before I would have that fantastic sense of anticipation once again.  Being a wee bit grown as I am, it is now the anticipation of being surrounded by family that defines the holidays for me, and it was the departure of my brother last evening that left me with that childlike sense of post-holiday loss.  But, upon waking this morning (with an aching back and a kicking wee one), I found myself thrilled at the prospect of my usual quiet morning routine.  The fuzzy bunny was equally pleased to wake up in her own cage, and have a kitchen to run to for her daily allotment of carrots.  And so, even though I will pack up the tinsel trees this morning, I am looking forward to a week off to explore the potential of the crafting supplies I received for Christmas, and to ponder what I envision for Beetlegirl Design in the new year.  This next year will be an adventurous one for us, and I continually surprise myself by my sense of calm, despite the number of unknowns.  I think this is due in great part, to my own reluctance to let go of that childlike zeal over anticipation.  Despite knowing that I may not get what I wished for, I am hopeful just the same.

And now, off to cart some boxes down from the closet, and engage in a cinnamon roll sugar rush fueled packing up of the tree.   

Merry Xmas

baby x...the mischievous

The plan was to keep our 20 week ultrasound appointment a secret and surprise our family and friends with the true identity of baby x on Christmas day...but, baby x has other plans.  Despite flitting from here to there during the ultrasound, baby x would not let us know if he was a he or if she was a she.  So, the mystery continues.  What I did discover though, is that baby x has long legs, which explains how I can feel a kick one second, and what I imagine is an elbow jab a second later on the complete opposite side of my stomach.  But, there still seems to be room for the both of us in here, and we are enjoying our Christmas cookies. 

I have posted a few more pictures to my other flickr. 

Twas Twelve Days Before Xmas

Although there are only a few days left during which you can purchase wee beasties from my Etsy shop (with shipping before Christmas), the above pictured wee snails in grass can be found at Monster Art & Clothing in Seattle...And my squirrel for Plush You is still available at Schmancy in Seattle as well.  For those on the other coast, Beetlegirl Design wee beasties are available (as are wee snail postcards) at Gallery Hanahou in New York.  

a little update from the land of b

It is raining outside...cookies are in the oven...the fuzziest and sleepiest of lops is nestled underneath the blanket draped over my lap...and baby x is gently kicking me in the guts.....all seems right with the world, at least my little world, for the moment.  Above is the first and only gift I have bought for baby x thus far.  I had to search a bit to find it, because Eight3One, who designed it, and BuyOlympia, who used to carry it, no longer had any in stock.  But, found it was, and girl or boy alike, this wee one will be outfitted in beetles.  Oh, and stripes; I love stripes.  The next gift...well, that will have to wait a few more weeks until this wee one tells us a bit more about him or herself, other than that the most comfortable positions for me, are the least comfortable for it.  Sorry about the "it;" we are really looking forward to a pronoun around here.  And that really is all there is mention.  As always, everything else in our lives involves far too much speculation and "what if's," and being one who often falls into the pattern of living for the future, I have been trying lately to be more present in the present.  We don't know where we will be this time next year, but I do hope that it will be somewhere where I can listen to the rain, have cookies in the oven, and a bunny at my feet (with the addition of a new wee one at my feet as well).  

Luv-able & Hug-able 2009

Luv-able & Hug-able opens tonight in NY! 

Appearing there will be a few of my wee snails in grass...

And wee snails on a branch...

Luv-able & Hug-able beasties are available for online purchase here. 

(Wee snails in grass are also available in my Etsy shop.)

For the first time, postcard images of my beasties will be available too.  For now, you can find these at Gallery Hanahou.  I hope to offer these through my Etsy shop in the new year.

december bps postcard

This is my December postcard for the Benevolent Postcard Society.  It has already gone the way of snail mail...all the way to England.  I hope its recipient is as fond of it as I am.  I have not made one of my faerie creatures in quite awhile, and once I had completed this wee fellow, I remembered that I, not so long ago, pondered making a three-dimensional version.  Perhaps once all my holiday projects are said and done I might venture on such an undertaking.  It seems as if it would be fairly complicated, which is just up my alley.