Paige, Phebes, and Pansie

These little custom made sweeties are currently on their long journey across the seas to Australia where they will find their new home. Read more about them at my blog!

And.... We're back! Meet Mitsie.

After more than a year away, I have finally picked up the needle and thread again. I decided to commemorate The Whimsy Patch comeback with a new dollie style, the Modder Dollie--a sort of update on my Mod Dollie. I will still be making both dollie styles, but the Modder Dollie will start to take front and center in the coming months. I'm also working on patterns for a Whimsy Patch Geeradragon and Whimsy Prince ensemble, Letter Fairies, and Birthday Whimsies. The holiday season might see some new cuties emerge from the Patch. We'll have to see....

So meet Mitsie. Her favorite colors are baby blue and candy apple red and she loves to cuddle. She has a penchant for shoe shopping and adores baking in her spare time–when she’s not shopping that is. She recently created a Apple French Toast and Custard Tart that is to die for and she decided she would celebrate by inviting all of her friends over for tea and treats. Mitsie is known for extravagance so she pulled out all the stops and featured three different local honeys with her freshly brewed tea and whipped up some homemade whipped fresh cream. Yum! Mitsie plans to introduce some new friends in the near future but they are all out shopping for their debutante ensembles as we speak. (They planned the debutante and the Teas and Tarts party.) They’ll be sure to stop for afternoon tea and scones once their shopping trip is complete.

Craftastic Tia

Tia, the Craftastic Mod Lovey Doll from the Whimsy Patch, decided to invade my sewing space this week. When she found the new fabrics that arrived in the mail, she insisted on sitting down at the sewing table to plan new projects. She also wanted to have her hand in helping with the new 2-tiered cake pincushion/accessory that I am designing. By the time she completed her visit, she had sewn a tea cozy, three aprons, a plush monster, and an nursery rhyme applique wall hanging. Little Miss Tia is busy, busy, busy!

Check out more about Tia and the Whismy Patch at The Whismy Patch blog!

A Handful of Sweeties from the Patch

I have a couple of new plush obsessions as of late--sewing mini felt foods and illustrated plush alphabets:) My creative tank is full and I'm excited to be making new patterns and coming up with new lines.
I've long been obsessed with illustrated alphabets and picture dictionaries. I've been thinking for a while about how I might incorporate an illustrated plush alphabet into one of my lines. With my newest fairy line--which you will see below as well--I decided to indulge my obsession and begin me endeavor to illustrate A to Z. I decided to begin with K since my name, Kimmie, begins with K. Meet Kitty. She enjoys hanging with her pet kitten, Katrina, and bakes kuchens compulsively.

My goal is to create a new Alphabet Fairy every week or so and line my studio walls with the little lovelies.

The Sweet Dreams Fairies are my other new line. They have the same form but their wings are made of wool felt and are entirely hand stitched. (With the Alphabet Fairies, the hand stitching is in the illustrated letter.) They also love shoes while Alphabet Fairies find shoes cumbersome.

Sweet Dreams Fairies have the job of weaving sweet notions into the dreams of children and adults who maintain an imaginative, childlike spirit. They won't waste their time placing sweet nothings into the dreams of adults who won't remember them the next day. Sweets are for savoring after all. Each fairy has her own treat: Tilly is a Lollipop Princess and handcrafts all of her lollipops, ensuring that they are as visually appealing as they are tasty. Sherry, Princess of Upside Down Cakes, specializes in the topsy turvy version of cakes--though never Pineapple Upside Down Cake, too conventional. Gigi, Princess of Ice Cream Sundaes argues for classics like Hot Fudge Sundaes, noting that classics evoke "nostalgia in a good way. That leads to the sweetest of dreams, " she says offering me a bite of her Vanilla Bean Hot Fudge Sundae with Extra Sweet Cherries. Mmmm....

Check out my blog at www.thewhimsypatch.com to find out about more Whimsy Patch goodness!

A Gaggle of Whimsy Patch Plushies

It seems that every time I post here, I am making up for lost time. I really do need to keep this blog at the top of my "To Do" list (that list that I never thought I would have to keep but find myself completely dependent upon these days...) The work here is truly fabulous and I always find myself inspired when I visit. I'm honored to be among such great plush artists! So the holidays found the Patch very busy this year. I have an entire gaggle of plushies to introduce you to and you can read more about their holiday adventures on The Whimsy Patch blog.

Meet Sally, party planner extraordinaire:

Fifi, the Whismy Fairie who spends all of her time in the trees with birds.

Lincoln, Fifi's best friends and master tree climber:

Crystal, the shy yet charming owner of Patch Ribbons, a fab ribbon boutique in the Patch:

Maude and Grumpy Snail, crafters of fine handmade wooden instruments:

Summer, the thoughtful and stylish professional shopper:

The Five Cousins, Country Cookin' restaurant chain owners in the Patch

Prisca the Ice Princess, Handmade Animal Handbag maker in the Patch:

Prince Drake the Dragon Slayer (as in "slayer" of the not-so-friendly traits of dragons. He doesn't kill them, just tames them a bit....)

Judy Lynn, Whimsy Fairie and "Bird Whisperer"

So hop on over to http://www.thewhimsypatch.com/ and say hello to these new friends as well as many others!

Whimsy Patch Class of '08

I have been so busy these days! I think of posting here often but never seem to get around to it until after I've thought about it for about a month.... So, I decided I would post pics of my Whimsy Patch '08 graduates. These little plush creations all come from Whimsy Patch patterns created or radically updated this year. So, I will allow you to see their class pic first:

From left to right:Willow and Buttercup Deer, Funky Lola, Josefine Fairyfly, Little Bear, and Celia and Viv Owlie They are really quite proud of their accomplishments.

Viv and Buttercup Deer

opened their newest apothecary shop in the Whimsy Patch.

Celia and Viv prepared their last batch of Whimsy Patch mushroom soup and headed out to explore the various varieties of mushrooms and toadstools available elsewhere.

Josephine Fairyfly retired her hat as Whimsy Patch mentor to Dollies and Chaps and decided to set out on a new adventure in Earth Proper.

And Funky Lola and Little Bear, the one sugar and spice to the other's snakes, snails and puppy dog tails, quit spending all of their time cooking up antics in the Patch and decided to take their games to the new world.

Check out all of their stories--and many more--on my blog at http://www.thewhimsypatch.com/!

Ginger, The Whimsy Mermaid

Mermaids? In the Whimsy Patch? Evidently so! As I was taking a walk through the Whimsy Patch the other day, I found this precious darling sunning herself on a rock on the Whimsy Shores. For a moment, I just rubbed my eyes in disbelief. I knew there were Whimsy Fairies, Tooth Fairies and Sprites, Wood Nymphs and many other fantastical creatures, but I really had no idea that Whimsy Mermaids existed! I was very excited and sat down to have a chat with this lovely mermaid whose name turned out to be Ginger. She was resting after her afternoon seashell hunt. She had managed to find two lovely shells, an old starfish and a clamshell that had washed up on the rock. She told me that she collects them and sells them to boutiques like the one that Ruby and Posey own in the bohemian coastal villages. Because mermaids cannot live in the Whimsy villages, they find their living doing activities like seashell collecting and treasure hunting--which I hear is fascinating in the Patch. Whimsy Pirates? Yes, indeed, says Ginger. She had quite a few pirate stories for me that we enjoyed over a lunch of oysters and clams.

Check out Ginger and my other creations at my blog http://www.thewhimsypatch.com/!

Bears in Boots from the new Whimsimals Line

Meet Pansy Bear in Boots and Bobby Bear in Boots, both little darlings from my new Whimsimals line of plush that is making its way here from the Whimsy Patch. (In the future you can expect to see Mod Mice, Bunnies in Golashes, among others!)

The Whimsimals come to us from Whimsing Hill. Until now, I was not aware that the Whimsy Patch boasted of such a region, a land filled with chubby little animals who dress like, behave like, and live like Whimsy Chaps and Whimsy Dollies but are actually neither. The Bears in Boots are the first species I happened upon and they are a lively bunch. They kind of remind me of hobbits with all their love for dancing, eating and drinking, with their little homes built into the Whimsing Hillside, and their love for great craftmanship. You cannot find homes in the Whimsy Patch that can even compare when it comes to the woodwork and detail involved in making their homes. Just remember to duck your head upon entry or you might just wind up with a bumpknot! Oh, and don't forget to try their ice cold Whimsy apple cider. So refreshing!

Pansy would like for you to know that aside from dancing, eating and drinking she absolutely loves to write poetry and illustrate Whimsy books.

Bobby says if you come to visit he would love to perform some magic tricks for you. He is a wonderful magician! On his not-in-the-mood-for-magic-tricks-days, he's a bit of a homebody and he likes to snuggle up with a good book and a cup of tea.

Keep your eyes open for more Whimsimals sure to arrive any day at www.thewhimsypatch.com!

Raspberry Sorbet the Whimsy Fairie

You might guess that Raspberry Sorbet, Whimsy Fairie, would be an expert in the making of fine sorbets, but she is not. She actually specializes in the making of gelatos and custard tarts. She has the best little dessert shop in the Whimsy Woods, Absolutely Decadent, where she does not carry one single sorbet--much to the dismay of the lactose and ovo intolerant. She declares that rich and creamy is best and encourages you to step into here friend Lydia's sorbet shop, The Little Fruitery, if you prefer lighter desserts. While at Absolutely Decadent, you might find little trinkets to pick up along the way. She's into making Clothespin Dolls with the most wonderful fabrics and the sweetest faces.

Check her out along with her Whimsy Patch friends at my blog, http://www.thewhimsypatch.com/!

The Giraffes Are Coming!

The Whimsy Patch opened up the other day and a stampede of Whimsy Giraffes and their dollie and chap friends came rushing out. They were coming to visit their friends Gigi and Dottie and were ready for a night out on the town. They hit Maido, the best sake and sushi pub in town, then made a run for the dance clubs and danced, danced, danced the night away.

Check out my blog at www.thewhimsypatch.com to read all of their stories:)

Dance Troop Monsters

These little fellows are some of my most recent Whimsy Patch additions. They are actually Friendly Letter Monsters who travel in packs and spell children's names. This troop spells the name of a wee chap named Sawyer and they also have the fine distinction of being a dance troop. They love popping, Michael Jackson's style (though not his reputation...) and flashing their new styling moves. Imagine these little fellows taking the dance floor:) They are also big fans of playing Settlers of Catan when they are not dancing and they always eat cupcakes--preferably with sprinkles--when playing. Check out my blog at www.thewhimsypatch.com to read each monster's story:0)

Zoe and Francie Her Very Best Whimsy Kittie Friend

Zoe and Francie are our newest friends from the Whimsy Patch and they sure are glad to meet you. Zoe wants to show off her lovely new Geisha-esque hairstyle (done out of necessity when I ran out of fabric for the usual quick and easy fabric buns. I actually decided I like this better and might just do yarn and fabric combos more often!) and bow. She's also happy that spring is on the way because she can't wait to take long walks in the park with her best Whimsy Kittie friendy, Francie. In fact, they just went to this fabulous Whimsy boutique and purchased a new polka dot collar and leash for Francie. She must look smashing when she strolls amongst the cherry blossoms and dogwood trees.Zoe, in particular, wants you to know that she also weaves a beautiful basket and knows how to arrange freshly picked spring flowers with much elegance and grace. She even has her own basket shop where she sells her works of art. I've heard that she's so talented she can weave baskets in the shape of just about anything you can dream up. If you want to stop in and watch her work, she'll brew up a pot of jasmine tea and let you sip that while she goes about her work.

Francie wants to show you her aforementioned polka dot bow collar and leash! She's quite proud of her new purchase and cannot want to promenade through the parks--if only the sun would stay out more and the winter chill would finally retire itself until next year!Aside from taking walks, Francie has to find something to do while Zoe's busy at work in the basket weaving shop. She discovered a couple years back that she has an excellent eye for landscaping work and she does this in the Toadstool Forest of the Whimsy Patch. You cannot pass by some dollie or chap's toadstool without spotting some of Francie's fine work. Not only does she tend to the trees, bushes and blooms, but she also designs cobblestone paths, designs herb gardens, and constructs very elaborate hanging flower arrangements. I would quite love to have Francie come to work in my yard, but her waiting list is too long! I guess I will have to settle for the occasional hanging arrangement.

Oliver and His Whimsy Bunny Friends, Bubbles and Sprinkles

Well, Easter IS on its way. I look back and see Christmas, Valentine's Day and St. Patty's just over my shoulder! With the coming of this blessed holiday, Oliver has arrived to make his introductions, to take a bow and meet some new friends. Oliver is a lovely chap--outgoing, kind, charming indeed. He'll always hold the door for you, will never fail to offer you tea, and always calls the ladies "Mam" and the gents "Sir." Oh, they do not make them that way much anymore.... With him, he brings his two Whimsy Bunny friends, Bubbles and Sprinkles. (We'll get to them later.) Along with his two best bunny friends, he spends his time dying Easter eggs, throwing Easter Egg Hunt parties, and collecting chocolates, jelly beans, and marshmallow candies from those regions of the Patch where candy grows on trees.

Now that Oliver has been made his proper introduction, Bubbles and Sprinkles want their turns. Bubbles (the small bunny in cherry and lime) and Sprinkles (the bunny in chocolate and canary) carry the very important Easter responsibility of dying and decorating Easter eggs. Many assume that all bunnies that appear around Easter are Easter bunnies that spend their time delivering goody baskets to children. Not so! Bubbles and Sprinkles are expert egg dyers and have the most exquisite pigment collections. Anyone who receives a basket of their eggs is amazed at the quality of the egg decoration. They, however, never have the responsibility of delivering a basket. Their job is preparation, preparation.

Lou Lou and Her Singing Bird, Lolli

Lou Lou and Lolli's first day here from the Whimsy Patch was a rainy one, but they were at least able to enjoy a little bit of the sunset as the rain cleared for just enough time.The Whimsy Patch is just bubbling over these days with new residents who are ready for new homes. Lou Lou and Lolli, like their good friends Josette and Speckles, grew up together in the Aviary Farms. They enjoy country life, slow walks through pastures of grazing Whimsy animals, baking breads of various sorts, and singing wake up songs in the morning. Lou Lou and Lolli dream of living in a quiet small town someday, though they can certainly handle city life when that is required of them. It's just that they prefer the view of trees and rolling hills to sidewalks and traffic lights. Nevertheless, they will make the best of any setting with mornings and afternoons spent mixing, kneading and baking breads. Oh, you should smell the aroma of Lou Lou's sourdough bread and taste it with just a pat of butter. Divine! Lolli's favorite bread to bake is a banana-strawberry bread. Spread that darling with just a bit of strawberry preserves and you will melt! I can smell it and taste it as I write:)

Alain with Alfred, His Very Best Monster Friend

Alfred, Alain's very best monster friend, says that he will make their introduction. Alain is a little bit shy and could only blush when he was told that he would be front page on my blog today and on The Needle! So, I will step aside for Alfred to make their introduction. Alfred, with a big smile, boasts about his friend: "Alain has been my best friend for years now. He's shy, but the most loyal fellow a monster could ever ask for. We love to go skateboarding together at Whimsy Parks and on days when we aren't skating you might find us picking apples in the Whimsy Orchards. I climb the trees and pick the best apples and Alain holds the basket. We also like holding "Friendly Monster Awareness" seminars. So many people think monsters are just mean and scarey, but Alain has been the best advocate. You would never know he's shy when he's at the podium speaking about the friendliness of Whimsy Monsters. We have been working with FMA to start a Friendly Monsters Under Your Bed network to help with the placing of Whimsy Monsters in children's bedrooms. Alain is a little too shy to say so, but he is very excited that we get to hang out at Commotion! and tell everyone there just how much monsters rule."

Josette and Her Little Birdie, Speckles

Oh, my goodness! Josette and Speckles are just the sweetest little pair. They come from the Whimsy Aviary Farms and want to mention that they have more friends on the way. In the Whimsy Aviary Farms, Whimsy Dollies and Birdies are raised together. At the birth of a Whimsy Dollie, her personality is assessed and a perfect Whimsy Birdie is selected and paired with her. The two, always an ideal match, are together from their on out. The Whismy Dollie then spends her days be trained in song by the Whimsy Birdie. From what Speckles says, Josette has an angelic voice and sings the most enchanting lullabies. On nights when a baby is having trouble falling to sleep, Josette and Speckles just might be there singing the little one to sleep.

Fannie Says, "Thanks for the Invite!"

Fannie is so excited to be able to show her face here on The Needle! She can't wait to make new friends and learn more about other members of the world of plush. Fannie wants to invite you to come and see more of her and to meet her friends from the Whimsy Patch at http://www.thewhimsypatch.com/. She looks forward to seeing you there!