A plush giveaway!

I'm giving away a Chickenpants plush art toy on my Instagram feed! I'm actually super nervous to do this, but here goes.
I will be giving Luann Chickenpants away to one winner, picked at random.

To win her, just
1. Repost this photo on Instagram*
2. Tag said photo #chickenpants
3. And follow me on Instagram, @chickenpants


That's it! I'll pick a winner next Wednesday, the 4th. (Feel free to tag anyone you think might be into this, too. I didn't want to make that a requirement, but I sure would appreciate it!)

And here is Luann's story. (Every Chickenpants has a little backstory.)
Luann Chickenpants - CP. No. 608
Luann Chickenpants is a thrifter extraordinaire. She takes great pride that nothing that she owns has been bought at retail cost. She has an eye for great finds and a beak for bargains.

If you'd like to see more chickeny goodness, you can check out the Chickenpants blog!

*There's a copy of this photo on my instagram feed, naturally, to make this easier for you!

Cupcake Nubbin! (Vote for Me Please!)

I haven't posted here in awhile.  Sorry, life has been a bit crazy with the holidays coming up and craft shows and custom orders and whatnot.  But even with how busy I've been, I scratched out a few moments to whip up this little "Cupcake Nubbin" as my entry for the Rochester NY Etsy Street Team's Monthly Challenge for December.  The theme for this month was "Culinary Trends & Sweet Treats".  I've noticed that cupcakes, play food, and anthropomorphic food (ie: food with faces) have been trending lately. ;)

If you like it, please take a minute to  go over to the RNEST blog and cast your vote in the poll in the upper-right hand corner.  (you don't have to register for anything, just click your choice!) I'm the last entry listed.

I'd also like to share the "Moustache Nubbin" that I made for last month's challenge. (the theme was "Movember/No-Shave-November". ) I didn't win though.  I only lost by about one or two votes.

Cool-Colored Sweater Monster Siblings

Sorry I haven't been around lately (craft shows, summer, life...blah, blah, blah). Here are some new sweater monsters! (they're from the same sweater...so they're siblings!)

Ingrid the Sweater Monster

"Ingrid is a huggable monster made out of the arm of a striped sweater with a scheme of cool colors. Despite her one-eyed, monster-like appearance, Ingrid likes to think of herself as a prim and proper lady. One of her favorite pastimes is attending tea parties and practicing her British accent."

Iggy the Sweater Monster

"While his sister Ingrid is a prim and proper lady, Iggy is a little troublemaker and loves making mischief. His favorite pastimes are sabotaging his sister's tea parties and hiding people's socks. That favorite pair of socks you can't find?...Iggy probably hid them! Just look at that smile! You KNOW he did it!"

Iggy is actually my entry in my local Etsy team's Monthly Challenge. Pop over and vote in the poll on the upper-right corner of the page if you can spare a moment! (You don't have to register or anything! Just go and click!)

As always, there are more pictures at my blog.

Barnum the Stripey Sweater Monster

This month's theme for my local street team's Monthly Challenge was Carnivals and State Fairs. (the theme was chosen at my suggestion after spotting it on the list of trending topics on Etsy's Merchendising Desk post for June). This is my entry, Barnum the Stripey Sweater Monster. (you can see more pics of him at my blog)

I originally didn't start making Barnum with this month's challenge in mind. I had the body made with the limbs and ears attached, and had him set aside for hand-sewing the eye and heart on, and stitching up the stuffing opening. It wasn't until after I knew about the challenge that I decided he was a good candidate for a Carnival-themed monster, and I added the hat, moustache, and bow tie (because...you know... bow ties are cool!).

*Voting for the challenge ends on Tuesday, July 5th, so please take a minute to check out all the entries on the RNEST (Rochester NY Etsy Street Team) Blog and vote for your favorite! (there will be a poll in the top-right corner of the blog.) I won't guilt you into voting for me if you like something else!...but it would be nice if you liked mine best! ;)

The Needle Giveaway Contest

*** Giveaway Deadline Extended to Monday, October 18th ***

This week's giveaway is for the very fab book The Crafter's Companion: Tips, Tales and Patterns from a Community of Creative Minds edited by Anna Torborg (a $17 value).

Enter the giveaway by answering this question in the comments of this post:

Where do you get your inspiration?

Please let others know about this fab online plush community by taking a moment or two this week to promote The Needle on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, and anywhere else. Thanks!

What plush have you been working on recently? Show us here on The Needle!

Want to joint The Needle? Have exciting plush news? Email me at: TheNeedle.org@gmail.com


Thanks to everyone who entered The Needle's giveaway contest! All of your comments were very helpful.

The winner selected at random is:

Congratulations Dani!

Click here to read the groovy photography tips that Dani and others gave.

hello, hi there, salutations......

i still visit here quite often to catch up with everyone...
but i've not posted in forever...
these are my newest FrAnKeNBuNnYz...

and wanted to let y'all know about the contest/giveaway going on over at my blog...
the prize being this handsome fellow here...

























complete details on the BuNnY MoNsTeRz blog


have a stellar day!

The Needle Giveaway Contest

Thanks to everyone who entered The Needle's giveaway contest! All of your comments were very inspirational.

The winner selected at random is:

Congratulations Ellen Ault!

Click here to read what Ellen and everyone else said about what they love most about making plush.

This week's giveaway is for the very fab book Photographing Arts, Crafts & Collectibles: Take Great Digital Photos for Portfolios, Documentation, or Selling on the Web by Steve Meltzer (a $25 value).

Enter the giveaway by answering this question in the comments of this post:

What is your best plush Photography tip?

The contest will be open for a week and the winner will be drawn at random on Monday, October 4th. And be sure to check back next week because I've got even more goodies in the prize bag so they'll be another awesome contest.

Please let others know about this fab online plush community by taking a moment or two this week to promote The Needle on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, and anywhere else. Thanks!

What plush have you been working on recently? Show us here on The Needle!

Want to joint The Needle? Have exciting plush news? Email me at: TheNeedle.org@gmail.com

The Needle Giveaway Contest

Thank you everyone for entering The Needle's giveaway contest! I enjoyed reading each and every comment about what you love most about plush. It was groovy to read each response and see how different they were from each other. Plush making really does satisfying so many creative needs!

Without further adieu, the winner selected at random is:


Congratulations maureencracknell!

Click here to read what Maureen and everyone else said about what they love most about making plush.

This week's giveaway is for the totally awesome book Softies by Therese Laskey (a $20 value).


Enter the giveaway by answering this question in the comments of this post:

What is your best plush making tip?

The contest will be open for a week and the winner will be drawn at random on Monday, September 27th. And be sure to check back next week because I've got even more goodies in the prize bag so they'll be another awesome contest.

Please let others know about this fab online plush community by taking a moment or two this week to promote The Needle on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, and anywhere else. Thanks!

What plush have you been working on recently? Show us here on The Needle!

Want to joint The Needle? Have exciting plush news? Email me at: TheNeedle.org@gmail.com

The Needle Giveaway Contest

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome, I appreciate it! I'm looking forward to re-energizing The Needle and making it the ultimate resource for handmade art plush.

I thought it would be fun to start out my leadership here at The Needle with a giveaway contest. The groovy prize is a set of three issues of Stuffed Magazine (a $45 value).

Enter the giveaway by answering this question in the comments of this post:

What do you love most about making plush?

The contest will be open for a week and the winner will be drawn at random on Monday, September 20th. And hey, since I'll be giving away these awesome mags next week, I'll slap another giveaway contest up there too so be sure to stop by next Monday for the winner and another prize giveaway.

Want to joint The Needle? Have exciting plush news? Email me at: TheNeedle.org@gmail.com

Vote for your favorite Las Vegas Plush!

Everyone is invited to vote for their favorite plush in the Etsy Plush Street Team's latest team challenge: PLUSH VEGAS baby!

Vote in all three categories:
* Show biz
* Gaming
* Neon

Hurry! Voting takes place on the Plush Team's blog August 23-29 and winners will be announced on August 31.

The Etsy Plush Street Team is a group of artists supporting and furthering ideas behind plush dolls, toys and all the soft areas in between.

Team challenges are meant to stimulate the creativity of our members. Each challenge follows a specific theme that acts as a springboard for new plush ideas.

Craft Leftovers Zine Giveaway!

What's this? A giveaway? On The Needle? Why yes! I have an interview in this month's Craft Leftovers, and the lovely Ms. Craft Leftovers herself has given me a few copies to give away.
Let me tell you: you need this zine.
Blythers will love the mini knit sweater tutorial.
My fellow artists will adore the Zen Habits- Get Off Your Butt article.
Everyone will love the spa goodies tutorial by artvscraft.net.

That's just a tiny bit of what this issue is packed with. Check out the full description on the official Craft Leftovers site.
(and psst! she also has an awesome blog full of great things to make!

Interested? All you have to do is comment below. (Make sure I have your email addy so I can contact you if you win! Don't worry, I won't add you to any mailing lists. That's not how I roll.)
A winner will be chosen with Random.org next Thursday, Dec. 10th.

Want to earn extra entries?
Tweet about the contest! (mention @absolutelysmall & the blog addy and you are golden!)
or
Blog about it!
Then come back here and comment AGAIN for each time you did this.

OH AND I DID MENTION I HAD MORE THAN ONE TO GIVE AWAY. Yes. The other one is being given away over on http://chickenpants.net. Same sort of contest! Feel free to enter both.

Love,
Your moderatrix, Claire

Momiji Couture Contest

Momiji is having a contest, and it's right up your alley! (Well, probably.)
From their site:
"Momiji are message dolls, each doll has a space in its base for a secret message. Our Couture Contest is a playful new direction; we’re looking for one-off, fabric dolls. You can create your doll using a combination of any textile methods you like; weaving, printing, knitting, embroidery....the list goes on."
Check out all the details at http://lovemomiji.com/couture/.
But hurry, because the deadline is October 30th!

Valentine Give-Away Winner...

Find out who won the Valentine's Day Give-Away! I announced the winner on my blog today!

Thanks to everyone who entered. I kind of like the best-captcha-turned-monster-name terms of entering the give-away...it's at random, but still has an element of fun and creativity to it...better than a random number generator or picking names out of a hat. I'm definitely going to do this again, so if you didn't win, you'll have another chance another time!

Pink Puddle Jumper

Hello! I'm the Pink Puddle Jumper.

I have no arms! Enter to win me here. It's as easy as writing a haiku - so fun!

Win a plush skull over on ToyCyte

ToyCyte's having a giveaway featuring the work of Lana Crooks. There's also a great interview with examples of her work...amazing stuff!
You can check it out here.

PLSUHTEAM CONTEST

THIS COULD BE YOURS!

The Plushteam is celebrating our one year anniversary! As a thank you to all our customers and Etsy we are having a BIG team contest.

Visit our team blog for details

happy unbirthday!

I'm having a give-away contest on my Fuzzy Thoughts blog! You could win one of the twelve toys in this photo. Come and join the birthday fun!

happy monday contest

I'm having a contest/give-away over at my Fuzzy Thoughts blog. You could win the lovely tote-bag in the photo, plus a copy of the Pirate Hippopotamus knitting pattern! Hop over there for all the details. Arrr, matey!

Valentines Day Contest

We at the PlushTeam are asking all plush fans to cast their vote for the favorite plush creation out of three categories:

PLUSHLOVE

SWEETHEART TREATS

BITTER VALENTINE

your vote also enters you into a random drawing to win a $20 gift certificate into a participating plushteam shop. Simply leave a comment with your favorite pick on the teams blog.

Voting last until tomorrow night with the team winner and gift certificate winner announced on Valentines Day.

Show your plush love and vote now!