Grumblegarth Hodgewicket

Remember this guy? Well, let me tell ya....

Grumplegarth Hodgewicket is the first of many Gnomebears that I have found and become friends with. He appeared one day in my garden, quite enchanted by my dog Sadie, he stepped out into the open and politely asked her name. She stopped playing frisbee for a moment and said, "Sadie Mae, what's yours?" Well I tried not to show my excitement, and frighten him off, so I casually offered some honey tea and cupcakes and now Grumplegarth is a constant visitor here at the cottage. After many long conversations he has agreed to travel to someones' home, should they be so in love with him and bring good cheer and tell tall tales all the day long for a wee bit of honey tea and cupcakes in return. He stands 18" tall and is made from cream colored fur. His eyes are black glass from Germany. He is dressed in wool felt boots, a blue embossed ultra suede shirt and quilted green velvet pants with wide ribbon trim.

His shirt is embellished with silk flower blooms (sewn on with green beaded centers) to help camoflauge him in the garden. He is also wearing a purple ultra suede belt and pouch with a few of his most prized treasures inside. Please email any questions you might have and I will ask Grumplegarth if I don't know myself. He is listed on Etsy and I must say it's a small price to pay for this fellows wonderful companionship. His cap is Rachel Ashwell Crimson Velvet. I am working on a logo design too....

I have started the Marie bear and am also using some Rachel Ashwell velvet for her...she is going to knock you guys out!!!!!

Anyway, yesterday I rambled around and found another book- I am pretty sure this is the one that Amanda has been telling me about..

but I'll have to ask... I like the idea of wearing some Calamity Kim designed clothes so I am going to try one of these patterns...I'll let ya know how it goes...I also picked up a copy of Cottage Style Magazine which has several nicely done stories by FiFi...one feature is about Karen Jasterminsky who owns a shop called Gathered Treasures in Burns Ct here in Sarasota. I will have to stop by and check it out...maybe in one of my new skirts and cow girl boots...I can braid my hair and put some makeup on and clean up real nice! I would love to have some products in a shop or two and am trying (not really, but I am going to) get some stock up so that I can approach some shops here. I would love to have my stuff at Garden Argosy on St Armands Circle...

but I feel a bit intimidated by the owner( she wasn't too pleased with me taking pictures in there one day, even though I asked permission from one of the sales staff) she arched a brow at me when I explained that it was for my Blog...oh, poor unfortunate name that became...web-log I know, why couldn't a chick have named it? we would have called it something like web-musings..then it would be a bemuse. Doesn't that sound nicer- i was bemusing today when I realised I had bemused about my whole life...no? how about web-rambles....'brambles'.. i was brambling about my dolls....OK, sorry I got off track there for a moment....speaking of bemusing Blogs did you know that Jen O'Conner has a Blog? Yes, the coolest chick who gave us Earth Angels has a new Blog and so does Nicol Sayre...

I will be leaving adoring stalker psycho fan comments on their Blogs about how much I love their stuff...geez, can it get any better? Can Mary Engelbreit please start a Blog? I love her website but am not sure how much time she really has between the drawing, the designing and the decorating and book writing she does that she would have time to Blog. I do know that it is amazing how small it makes this big old world seem and we are all just kids at a party!!

Making crafts and hanging banners and blowing up ballons and baking cakes and cupcakes and decorating and celebrating our love of everything together! I don't care if anyone comments anymore- I see the traffic running through my blog- those of you that stop and say howdy are graciously thanked, those of you who hit and run, I understand that too- there are millions of Blogs to be read....get going!!! Have a Blast!!! I do want you to look at some pictures before you skeedaddle though....have a gander at some cute stuff I just put out for Easter...

Love me some paper mache!!! I have some nice Dept 56 pieces and some lovely Nicol Sayre...each year I try to get one or two new pieces...anyway....gotta get busy! I have some BIG plans.... and they may or may not include gnomes, dolls, felt, banners, doll houses and paper mache....ya never know what you'll find here at Calamity Kim's Craft Cottage...the ideas are like my bundt cakes- spilling over everywhere! Have a happy day and I'll be bemusing again tomorrow.....