Swish Rules!!

I received a phone call this afternoon from the owner of Swish.  I gave her a half dozen bears or so about a month ago and she was almost out of stock!!  What a fantastic problem to have :-)  I dug into my bear stash and took more down to her today.  What a treat to see my Bobos in-store and take a look at her other product!  I left with a beautiful set of coasters by "Oh How Cute!".

If you are in the Warren, RI area I strongly suggest checking out this wonderful store :-)

For those not local here is a link to her blog:

http://swish-boutique.blogspot.com/

Have a wonderful evening :-)

Millie & Hazel Headquarters Has Moved!!

OK...I moved and so came along Millie & Hazel but it sounds so much better when you put it that way!!  Over the last two weeks I have been packing, moving, hefting, falling, crying, sweating and a whole list more!  I'm sure I'm not alone when I loudly proclaim "I HATE MOVING!!!".

Whew! Sorry, I had to get that out.  So...now...

I have been busy today sewing up a batch of baby-friendlies while home all day waiting/getting internet and cable hooked up.  I am a happy clam back on the World Wide Web :-)  Below are some of my new Bobo's ready for lovely homes:

Indie Art By The Sea - Newport Fun :-)

I had such a fun day out at Fort Adams in Newport for the 1st annual Indie Art By The Sea.  It was an insanely beautiful day doubled by the water view.  Many bears began their journeys toward their new homes.  I have a goal of taking a photo with each new "parent", as the photo with the two pretty girls above.  I always remember on the first customer of the day and then totally forget.

A big thank you to Colleen for getting up very early and heading down with me to set up and help run the booth for much of the day.  Also a big thank you to Hilary and Rudy for coming at the end of the day for Team Dismantle.  Much love to you all :-)

Works in Progress

Works in progress...lots of noses and appendages...which sounds a little wrong but somehow still looks cute :-)

With the hot sticky weather last night I had a chilled wine in hand and Twilight - New Moon in the DVD player.  Today I am home with a splitting migraine. Even though I prefer fresh air I'd give my left arm right now for an air conditioner.

With the Newport Indie Art Festival this weekend and a few custom orders I have to keep working even though my head is two sizes bigger.

5th Retail Location - Swish!

Millie & Hazel Designs is now in their 5th retail location!!  I'm happy to now have a collection of bobos in a cute boutique in Warren, RI called Swish:

http://www.swish-boutique.com/index.html

Check in out or stop by!

Providence Art Festival Was A Blast...Even With The Rain!

Martha's Vineyard and Baby Bobo's

A nice loonnnngggg Memorial Day weekend!  I took off with my friend Colleen for a day on Martha's Vineyard.  I've been wanting to get out there since moving to the Northeast.  The weather was perfect and the island as beautiful as I hoped! 

Not to waste the day I brought along my latest project - creating "baby friendly" bears.  Felt and embroidery thread replaced the buttons.  I happily spent my time to and from on the ferry sewing eyes and noeses :-)  I'm very happy with the results and plan to have a good supply for the show June 12th.

Two Bobo's...ah ah ahhhh

My friend Colleen fell in love with two Bobo's and gave them good homes :)  I hear she is fighting over the final resting place for the striped one...he keeps mysteriously showing up in her husband's study!

Providence Open Market - Opening Day

I set up shop at the opening day of the Providence Open Market in Lippitt Park.  This was the first time I set up a 10x10 space with a tent.  After a bit of head scratching and help from the next-door vendor I got the tent up!  The weather was beautiful and I couldn't have asked for more...sunny, breezy and cool.  Big thank you to Ben for helping me haul stuff there, drag it across the lawn, set up and tear down!  Also thank you to Hilary and Rudy for sitting with me on and off and watching the booth :)

I sold one Bobo to a very nice lady who I believe plans to give him as a gift to her college roommate.  I know he will have a good home :)

Next up, Providence Art Festival - Westminster (DownCity) on June 12th.

Disco Bears :-)

Got 6 new bears done in my "Brown Disco" theme :)

I'm not sure you can tell from this photo but all the bears in the photo, except for the brown striped ones, have glitter in them.  They were pretty horrible 70's disco sweaters.  I sometimes feel I'm doing the world a favor by taking bad sweaters out of the clothing circulation and repurposing them :)

Craftopia Rocked!!

I had such a fun day yesterday meeting new people and selling my bears.  Thank you to everyone that stopped by and said hi! :)

My First Paying Customer!!!

My first paying customer EVER!!!  A big thank you to Mandy and Eric for buying this squishy boucle bear at Craftopia on Sunday!!  :)

Providence Art Festival - June 12th!!!

Just heard from the last art show I applied for, Providence Art Festival, and I'm in!!  Come by June 12th on Westminster "Downcity" and say hi!!

I've been back and forth about trying to get into a Boston festival but I'm now in 7 throughout the summer/fall and I think that will be plenty for this year.  If I end up loving the outdoor festivals I'll pick up more next summer :)

Bear Parade :)

12 bears completed and off to my 2nd & 3rd retail location...OOP!!  I'm so excited to be in their two incredible locations:

- Downtown Providence flagship store on Westminster
- Legacy Place Mall in Dedham MA

Check them out!
http://www.oopstuff.com/about.php

I dropped them off on Saturday and I hear from friends they are already on the floor!  :)

Providence Open Market here I come!!!

I made it into the Providence Open Market!!  Come out to Lippitt Park on the East Side of Providence and say hi!  I'll be there on the following dates:
May 22nd
September 11
October 2nd
October 16th

http://www.providenceopenmarket.com/

Productive Weekend At Home

I was very busy sewing this weekend ...got 11 bears done!  A BIG thank you to my friend Colleen who spent her weekend morning with me sewing bear faces and eyes and watching the Harry Potter marathon :)

Newport Art Festival...I'm in baby!!!

Just got the email last night...I made it into the one day juried art, music and design festival - July 3rd in Newport RI!!  It will be so fun selling my bears next to the Atlantic coast :) 

http://indieartbythesea.com/index.html

1st Set Of Hangtags and Business Cards Proofs Are In!

My first set of artwork proofs came in today from the printer!  I need to work on the color a bit but it is still exciting to see it from artwork to actual form! :)

A busy weekend full of not sewing...

I took a break from sewing buddies and got out into the beautiful weather we had this weekend!  Saturday I hung out with a friend and knitted :)  Sunday afternoon Ben and I took a walk at Colt State Park with Loki and enjoyed the kites and water views.  Sunday night a friend of Ben's called to say they had extra tickets to the Providence Oscar Show...so on went the cocktail dress and off we went!  I will be better this week,  have to start stocking up bears for Craftopia!!

OH MY...but wait...there's more!

I just got an email from the juried show I applied for a few weeks ago, Craftopia, that will be at the Hope Artiste Village on April 11th...and I'm in!!!  Whoop Whoop!!!

Exciting News!!

Hello all!  I had many exciting things happen this weekend surrounding Millie and Hazel:

1. One of my bears was chosen by the Etsy staff to be part of a feature on the front page of the website!!  This is HUGE and I feel so lucky that I was noticed after such a short time on the site!!  It was up from 8pm to 10pm last night (2/28).  Unfortunatley, I didn't hear about it till it was gone but you can still see it on the Etsy sister site "Craft Cult":  http://www.craftcult.com/vault_list.php?list=9358&userid=9081027&fm=&esn=&m=3&d=1&st=1&pagenum=2&ls=9363
2. Thanks to a friend's recommendation I have my first retail location to sell my bears!!  A super cute flower shop, Rivers Edge Flowers in Pawtuxet Village, that also sells locally made artist goods, has agreed to carry 5-6 bears to see how it goes!!  : http://www.riversedgeflowers.com/main.html
3. Today I was contacted by the person that is coordinating the Providence Art Festival which will take place this June on Wickenden Street - Downcity.  She saw my stuff on Etsy, loves it and wants me to apply for the juried show!!  http://www.indowncity.com/news

My head is swimming!!  The response  has been fantastic :)  Sorry if I'm gushing...I'm basically in shock right now.

Craftland Rocks!!

Last night I took an evening class at Craftland in downtown Providence focusing on how to sell on Etsy. It was a very informative class and gave me many good tips and ideas. The teacher has been selling on Etsy for more than two years, selling 150+ paintings. She is proof that it can be done!

I also loved walking around the store after class. Craftland only sells handmade items made in Rhode Island. Very cool stuff! Maybe I'll be in there one day! You never know...it could happen :)

Works In Progress :)...

Lovelies waiting to be stuffed :)

It's An Invasion Of Bears...Oh My!

I have spent my lunch hour uploading more bears to my Etsy shop! Eight up so far...I will get more on after work...this lady's got to eat something!

www.etsy.com/shop/millieandhazel

Tra la la... :)