New Shop!

I am going to officially announce that I am opening a second shop that will focus on fiber goods of all kinds: Fuzzy Hearts Yarn! It will (eventually) have all my knitted and crocheted goods, handmade needles, hand spun yarns, stitch markers, destashes... and what ever else I think might fit. I hope I can keep two shops straight... because that is my biggest fear that kept me from opening two shops for a long time. I felt that my first shop was just too cluttered and it was time. I will slowly be adding stuff from my current shop into my new one as they expire and list new stuff directly to my new shop. My first item is a lovely hat, if anyone is interested!

I am a writer!!!

I wrote a little article about future fashion in Viva La Mode magazine! And it is now out on the web for everyone to look at! The whole magazine is a great read... so check it out! I hope to have time to write an article or two for the next issue too!

I have been featured!

It doesnt happen very often, but I have been featured on another etsy sellers blog! Check it out!

And while you are at it, check out Shine Your Hiney's awesome shop!

Dread Tutorial

I finally got off my bum and worked up a video tutorial on making wool double ended dreads. I just posted it on youtube. I hope it gets a lot of views, not only because wool dreads are fun to make, but also because I am trying to win a great contest on DIYscene.com! So come and check it out, and help me along in the process!

The Monkey of the Month Club

OrnaMonkeys are monkey ornaments made from felt to resemble real species of monkeys. One monkey is released each month. Each species is chosen for its charismatic face, interesting social habits or other oddities which make the species unique among primates. Each monkey is collectible and comes with a dated bio-blurb about the species and its conservation status. The felt is eco-spun felt that is 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.



The Monkey of the Month Club gives people a different OrnaMonkey each month for a year. Membership spaces become available in November and are offered at a discount. Each member who signs up before December 31 will receive twelve 2009 OrnaMonkeys for only $99 plus S&H ($168 if purchased individually), a savings of more than 40%. Species to be included are: lemurs, macaques, marmosets, langurs, tamarins, titi monkeys and more. The shipping and handling fee covers the cost of shipping all 12 monkeys ($2 per monkey).

The OrnaMonkeys are a fun way to learn more about the beautiful diversity of primates from a real primatologist!

Enjoy!

Fuzzy Izmit's First Ever Scavenger Hunt Begins!

Well, just like I promised, I am now releasing the scavenger hunt list today! If you havent read the rules, please do so here! (If you do not follow the rules, you will be disqualified.) Everything in this list has to deal with me in some way. Lets get this party started! Good Luck to everyone!

Find:
1. Something with a popsickle stick
2. Something creepy crawly
3. Something thats just creepy
4. a Snail
5. a Betta fish
6. Bacon
7. Something chemistry related
8. Chocolate
9. a Skull and cross bones
10. Something Hannibal Lector/Silence of the Lambs related
11. Something Sweeny Todd related
12. a Black Cat
13. Something made from a recycled drink container
14. Something black and red
15. Meat
16. a classy kitty
17. Frog
18. Something spiky
19. a Snake
20. Something goth
21. Something steampunk
22. Dice
23. Something Aquarius related
24. Something you would find in a mad scientists lab
25. Something made in Michigan

Thank you!

Fuzzy Izmit’s First Ever Etsy Scavenger Hunt! The Rules!

Welcome to Fuzzy Izmit’s First Ever Etsy Scavenger Hunt!

This idea for a contest actually came to me in the shower, but I hope it isn’t a wash… yeah, I know, that was horrible! But I assure you this contest will be fun! I want to release the rules first so that everyone is on the same page and can ask questions if they need too before I release the clue list. Feel free to ask your questions in the comment section of this blog entry. I am also going to give you an example. I hope to have the list created and published on my blog by next Saturday.

Rules:

This is a scavenger hunt for items on Etsy.com. Only items for sale on Etsy are valid to use. You cannot use items from your own shop if you have a shop. When the list is released, your entry needs to be posted as a comment on that blog entry with contact information (i.e. email address). Each item can only be used once. The first person to give a complete list will win $10.00 off any item(s) from my etsy shop (coupon does not cover shipping charges).

Example List (This is much simpler than the actual list will be):

1. Something Purple
2. Something Green

Example Entry

exampleentry@exampleemail.com

1. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_8&listing_id=12368718

The color of the fabric is purple

2. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_9&listing_id=12388206

A photograph of a green statue

Here are some things to avoid (i.e. they will get you disqualified).

1. Bad or no contact information
2. Links that do not work
3. Incomplete list
4. Missing/Incomplete/Shaky/Offensive/Adult descriptions. Adult themed items are okay to link, but make sure the descriptions are family friendly
5. Using items from your own shop or items that are not on Etsy.com
6. An item can only used once
7. The clue must relate to the item in the listing, not the background, seller etc.

I cant wait to think up the list! Happy hunting!

Product Review: William Blake Red Dragon Business Card Holder from Sweetheart Sinner

The environment in my book bag and/or purse can be very dangerous for small paper items like business cards. My pocket book is also so crammed with cards and IDs that I can only put maybe 3-5 business cards at a time, which can leave me without any easy to grab information about my business quick! In steps Sweetheart Sinners and her great metal business card holders! She has over 1000 to choose from, and that is about the only hard thing about picking out a holder. Picking out just one that would be me but still business appropriate was a bit hard. I decided on the one featuring William Blake's Red Dragon because I love anything Hannibal Lector related. The case itself is metal, which I hope will stand up well in the black hole which is my backpack. Both sides can be used for cards etc. which means I can fit about 15-20 cards on each side. I haven't tried it, but the listings also say you can fit an iPod Nano and earbuds in the case instead. The opening mechanism is easy to use and the tabs that keep the cars etc. in place are spring loaded. The image is nice and clear, but I have only been using it for the past couple of days, so I have no idea how it will hold up in the long term... but so far so good!

Overall Impression: I like the price and room in this holder, but I have yet to really put it through it's paces.

Treasury Spot!

orangetreasury
Originally uploaded by fuzzy_izmit

I found out today, after listing a new key chain featuring my photography on both sides last night, that I am in an orange themed treasury today! I am so excited! The treasury can be found HERE but since it wont last forever, I have also included a picture of it! Thank you so much galla15!

Product Review: Car Sticker from ceejay77

Look at my new car sticker!
Originally uploaded by fuzzy_izmit

I just have to show off my newest advertisement adventure! This wonderful decal provided by ceejay77, who can be found on etsy! I ordered a two lined vinyl decal with my etsy website and "Unique Accessories". The dimensions for the piece are 24 inches long and 5 inches high. ceejay77 has a wide range of fonts to choose from, but I chose the one I thought would be the easiest to read, which was "Elephant". I absolutely love the way it turned out. ceejay77 includes instructions for applying the decal in the listing, which makes it easy to find and print out. The decal also came really quickly and packaged securely.

Overall Impression: I love my decal and if I ever need another one, I will defiantly use ceejay77 again! Great value, great customer service!

Happy Fourth of July!

Fireworks #47
Originally uploaded by fuzzy_izmit

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I keep finding wonderful opportunities to go photographing, including the Meridian Township fireworks display. I am working on beefing up on of my flickr set that I want to use as stock photos for some greeting and post cards. I hope to have them up in my shop soon. Take a look if you wish, and if you see something you like, feel free to convo me through etsy, on my weebly site etc. and (if you want) I can set up a custom order of any of the photographs in that set! Feel free to browse my flickr. I love getting comments! BTW, the firework picture I linked up there is my favorite of my whole bunch!

Product Review: Ad Campaign Designed by Fauxtograph

I have come to the terrible realization that I have 0 talent or patience when it comes to creating graphics. When I needed help in redesigning my banner, Fauxtograph was kind enough to help me out with a fair trade. Now you can see that beautiful piece of work all over all my various websites. I recently discovered Project Wonderful (as you can see from the new ad spots on my blog!). I tried again to make some small ads to start advertising all over the web, and I got the same horrible results I normally get. I caught Fauxtograph in the Red Chat room on etsy and asked if she could help me out. Fauxtograph then created the beautiful ads that you see before you! That isnt all of them, but you get the idea of the great quality. I love them, and I hope that you see them around the web!

Overall Impression: Fast, beautiful and affordable ads with wonderful customer service. I would recommend Faux's services to anyone looking for some design work!

Congrats fauxtograph!

Well, my "Name the Hat" Contest is over... and the winner is Fauxtograph with "The Amazing Technicolored Dream Hat"! Fauxtographs entry garnered 37% of the total vote. It was a close race and I want to thank everyone that entered. I hope you all had fun. Fauxtograph has won a $5 gift code to my etsy shop and free shipping on their order! Look for The Amazing Technicolored Dream Hat in my shop soon!

Name the Hat Contest Part 2

First off, thank you to everyone that entered my contest! It was a great showing with nearly 40 comments, many of which had multiple names! It was hard to narrow it down to just five, but we did it. Drum roll please....

The five finalists are:
fauxtograph with "The Amazing Technicolored Dream Hat"
heatherfuture with "Grannystafarian"
gypsycaster with "Reclaimed Rainbow-licious!!"
quietsleeper with "Dandy Candy Tam"
tjmetz with "Fantasta Rasta"

The voting will go on for one week, at the end of which, the winner will be notified and told how to claim their prize. Good luck to all of the finalists!

Brand New Blog Contest!!!

This is the official announcement of:

Fuzzy Izmit’s Homemade Tomfoolery’s Name the Hat Contest!

I need your help! I am having trouble coming up with a name for the latest hat I created. This hat is created from granny squares from an old forgotten ugly afghan. As you can see, the hat is quite colorful and it is not my normal style… which is why I am having trouble naming it. All I can come up with are names like “Rainbow Puke” or “Ugly Hat” which probably doesn’t make this hat as appealing as it could be. That is where you guys come in. I want you everyone out there in internet land to help me come up a name! Your job is to come up with as many (family appropriate) names as you can and leave them as comments here on this blog. You can enter as many times as you want, just make sure that your comment has some way for me to contact you (like you sn and site you found this from etc.) if you name is picked. Any names deemed offensive or inappropriate will be deleted. Please do not list names more than once, only the first person to list a name will be counted. This "brain storming" phase of the contest will run until April 26^th. At that point, the five best will be placed in a poll (also on this blog) and after a week, the name with the most votes wins!! The inventor of the winning name will receive a $5 gift code they can use in my shop and free shipping on anything they order at that time. I will also give you credit (if you wish) when I list this hat!

On to the hat! Like stated before, this is made from granny squares and is (to the best of my knowledge) make from 100% acrylic yarn. I have a few squares left, so I may make a few more similar, but each one will be unique because no two granny squares are the same! There is elastic cording that helps to keep it on your head and it is made to keep a bushel of dreads under (colorful) wraps. Hopefully with a great name this special hat will find a good home!

Good luck!

Premium Personal Bacon

Bacon1
Originally uploaded by fuzzy_izmit

I am now the proud seller of a line of felted bacon products! As of right now I have 6 pieces of felted Peruvian wool bacon and I am slowly posting them on my etsy shop. I love contributing to the bacon frenzy that is blazing across etsy! I know I personally have bought bacon fudge, bacon lip balm and a bacon scented candle from etsy (a few of which I also blogged about!). There is also an "I [heart] BACON" necklace made by Lady Spleen I am coveting too...

I hope to photograph and list more bacon and head bands soon, but with my brand new camera I need work out the bugs with it.

Enjoy the joy of bacon!

I've been featured!

I have been featured on Nurses Naturally's blog! Come check it out!

Nurses' Blog.

Thanks Nurse!

More Photo Questions!

I am working the bugs out of my new light tent and props, and I thought I would get a critique of how it is going. I just listed an item using my new set up... and I will show you a similar item from before with my old set up. Please tell me what you like/dislike about both. I want to make my photos as good as they can be!

New: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9974021

Old: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8979853


If you want, take a look at my flickr for more examples of the shots I am taking with this new set up!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fuzzyizmit/

Photo Test Shots

I am trying to figure out what looks best for my photos. I got a new photo tent for my birthday and I am trying out all the backgrounds that come with it. I know what ones I tend to like, but I thought I would open it up to more people. All of these photos were taken under the exact same lighting conditions and camera settings. Which looks the best to you?

Giving Mood...

I got a call from my mom the other day and it started me down this road to create this necklace. My mom is on the board for my old middle school, Stepping Stone. Every year they hold a auction to raise money for stuff the school needs. She asked me if I wouldnt mind donating some of my jewelry to the cause. I figure it will be really nice to not only give back to a school that has given me so much, plus I could get some exposure. I figured I could make some stuff easy enough, plus it will be tax deductible! I sat down the other night to create. The last piece I figured I would make a big and bold necklace. I had it finished when things started to go wrong...I wont name them all but lets just say that at about 12 midnight I ended up with a broken necklace, a work table full of beads and my crimp beads were knocked over. I was so frustrated! I decided to take some time off, just leave it all there and come back later. After an hour on tooling around Etsy, I found some sterling silver medallions that I use for my rosaries and decided to put them away. As I sat down I to put them away and started to clean up the crimp beads. Then I saw the messy pile of beads that used to be a beautiful necklace. I just couldnt let that sit over night. Must be bad mojo or something. So I went through and restrung the whole thing and made everything stronger. I want to make a few pairs of earrings to or something, but that will be another day! Let me know what you think of the necklace! That cross is 2 1/3 inches long, just to give you an idea of scale!