Island Waves Beach Bag - SMALL

I don't know about you, but my little sister told me our dad opened the pool already. I'm sure it must have been coooold since she lives in MA but that didn't stop her excitement at all. She sent me a picture of her birthday present...it's a little fuzzy since she took it with her camera phone or something-she's so cute though! 

I listed another beach bag today. This one is small, can only fit one beach towel plus accessories like lotion and some swimmie toys. It's perfect if you like to hit the beach or pool by yourself and enjoy the sun. It's also 100% cotton and eco-friendly if you, like so many others, are going green and want to have a reusable market bag to take shopping.  You might have seen these colors in a previous post when I listed the Island Waves large version that I did as a custom order. Special thanks for the great feedback I received from them :) 

If you'd like to see this bag on Etsy please click >here<. 

Bye for now!

A Family Trip to the Zoo

My Mom is in town to visit! :D She's never been to Madison before so I thought it would be a great idea to visit our Zoo. My boyfriend and his family joined us on Sunday and I think everyone had a good time together.
Thought I'd share some favorite pictures of the day with you all!

This is the Polar Bear, he was actually up and wandering around - no swimming though but it was still fun to watch him. I was sad though because they are remodeling parts of the Zoo to make an Arctic area and the Penguins weren't out :( I love the Penguins! 

My Mom and I standing in front of the Polar Bear exhibit! You are probably thinking I look like her, I actually am more built like my dad's side of the family (except for the height-that's thanks to my mom :P) The picture to the right is my mom being a polar bear hehe.

Teehee!!! They recently added a Prairie Dog area and this guy was so cute! Don't know how he fit in the holes for the tunnels they have lol.  There was also a little baby that wouldn't venture too far out of the safety of the tunnel but look how bitty and cute it is (had to zoom up on him pretty close)! There was a little girl with her family looking at the prairie dogs and when she saw the baby she said "It must've just hatched." Kids are hilarious aren't they?

Another stand out for me was the Tortoise, this big guy was sloooowly making his way to the water area, he had to stop half way there and rest...course if I weighed up to 500lbs carrying that hard shell around I'd be exhausted too! I remember thinking while reading that they can live up to 200 years old 'They have to live long because it takes them so long just to get anywhere.' The picture to the right is my boyfriend's sister-in-law and I standing with the giant tortoise statue :D

Nick (my bf), my mom and I just monkeying around...

Last but not least, a group shot of us 'kids' together on a zoo bench. :) Was a good day!
I hope you had a great weekend too!

Blue Lagoon Beach Bag - Large and some Squishyness

Woo hoo! On a roll with custom orders this month. I have been working on summer stuff for the store too. I just listed my first beach bag for the store today after one of my custom orders got great feedback. This one is called Blue Lagoon, the blues are very bright and eye catching, so hopefully you won't be able to miss it on a beach :P

Click >here< if you'd like to see more on Etsy.

This is the only thing I'll be listing this week. My mom is coming to visit! We haven't seen each other in a long time so we are both excited. Also this week my boyfriend is graduating college and he's totally stoked about that. When everything settles down next week I'll share some pictures. :)  I think we are all going to the Zoo while she's here-oh and did I mention this is the first time she'll be meeting my bf? That's always fun right? The first time parental meeting -chews off nails- :P I'm kidding I think everyone will get along fine.

So yesterday I woke up ready to pick up some clutter around my room (c'mon all crafters know extra material ends up floating around the place right?) But I also had to clean my fish tank. Over the weekend I moved my goldfish, Yugameru and Shimi (yes I name my fish o.o) to their new home in an orb tank. I took a picture of it :D My cat wants to eat them lol. They used to be in a tank in my bedroom but were waaay to noisy when they picked through the gravel at the bottom...and I like my sleep hehe. So here is their new home. After the tank in my room was all cleaned out I got some new fish last night...3 little guppies!  They are much quieter :P I also took a picture of my lil sucker fish (algae eater) Frey. He's in the tank with the 3 guppies :D

I'll be back next week with some zoo pictures hopefully and maybe some of me and my mommy! :D
Have a great week everyone!!

Busy Busy Week!

TGIF!!! Finally made it to 10 sales!! :D -happy dance-

I had a custom order from my grandparents for a beach bag they wanted to give to an old friend :)
I call it Island Waves Beach Bag - Large. I will have some available in my store soon. (Glasses and towels not included :P)

That's not the only thing I had to work on this week. I finished my little sister's birthday present finally. She turned 13 in April and on her birthday I told her she could pick out anything she wanted and what colors she'd like. She is very excited that it's pool/swimming season again (aren't we all) so after putting it all together and brainstorming a name with here we got Tropical Medley Beach Bag - Large. Here is the picture I took for her to see before I shipped it off.

Let's see...it's friday and I currently now have...(counts on fingers) 3 in-progress projects (I rotate, but really wish I could use my toes sometimes :P) and one I finished last night so I feel this week has been a productive one ^_^

I don't usually do this but I also listed an item today.

Sandalwood Basket Beanie - it's the last of the hats I made and will be making for awhile (unless I get a custom order of course). I wanted to get it on Etsy before I started bringing the beach bags and totes in. This hat is like Sand Basket Beanie, has the side box holes with a crab stitch finish that will grip around your head more. If you like the style you can see it on Etsy >here<





Well that's all for now, next time I'm on it'll be with some beach bags! Or you know...random life happenings I have to blog about.
Have a great weekend everyone! ^_^

What You Feel

I am totally into Smallville...started collecting the DVDs since Christmas and am all caught up. One of the episodes in season 8 called 'The Beast' starts with this hauntingly beautiful song that is definitely on my favorites list right now. Thought I'd share :) Unfortunately, I couldn't get any good music videos showing the characters Chloe and Davis but you can close your eyes and just let the words carry you away....

La Rouge Slouchy Hat

Bon Jour tout le monde ! La nouvelle liste pour mardi. La Slouchy de Rouge est le dernier des chapeaux de slouchy pour le moment. Comme le Slouchy de Sauge c'est une couleur solide, un vibrant rouge et oeil même prenant. J'éspère que vous l'appréciez!

For those who don't understand French....

Good Day everyone! New listing for Tuesday. La Rouge Slouchy is the last of the slouchy hats for now. Like the Sage Slouchy it is a solid color, a vibrant red and very eye catching. I hope you enjoy!

To see this item on Etsy click >here<

Sage Slouchy Hat

Starting out the week with some clear skies but kind of windy. Better than it was on Friday that's for sure. We had thunder so close the apartment shook!

Listed a new slouchy hat today. This one is the first sold colored item in my whole store I believe. I'm a fan of mixing colors together to create something unique but that doesn't go with what everyone wears. So I made a couple solid color hats. This one was made in a sage color. If you remember my earlier post ranting about my old camera I used this slouchy as the example. Looks much better now using the new camera that actually captures the right color shade. 

To see Sage Slouchy on Etsy click >here<




If you are a fan on Facebook this might interest you. I've decided when I reach 300 fans I'm going to have my first give away. So tell all your friends and when that number hits 300 I will post on here how to enter to win!
Have a great week!

Country Meadow Twist Bucket Hat

Added to the Twist Bucket Hat line today. Just a little quick link and picture before I hop back on over to the forums of Etsy. Buyer or seller - it is great there, the people are friendly and so funny! If you ever have questions about how Etsy works or if something isn't working for you the forums is the place to go. 

Today I was nicknamed 'Squisherdoodle' by Emma who owns Sovereign Sea Designs. Her shop is lovely and if you have the time you should definitely check it out :) That nickname is so perfect for me :P 

This hat is the first to have a picture with a close up-not just of my eye, but the colors in the hat. To see this hat on Etsy just click >here<

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Lime and Coconut Bucket Hat

♫Put the lime in the coconut, drink them both together,
Put the lime in the coconut, then you feel better,
Put the lime in the coconut, drink them both up,
Put the lime in the coconut, and call me in the morning♫

Can you tell what inspired me with this hat? :P  It's a stripey bucket hat that I find pretty funky :D 

This hat has a matching scrunchie that you can get half off if you buy it together. :) 

Soooo...that's it for what's new on Monday this week! 

If you'd like to see the Hat click >here<

To view the Scrunchie click >here<

SQUEEEE!

That's right folks, the title says it all. I woke up this morning to the ring of UPS calling up to my apartment. My new camera and tripod had arrived. A few hours later after happy dancing and reading the manual the camera was up and ready to go. I decided to go out and familiarize myself with it. It's a beast! I LOVE it! Kicks my old camera's rear end right out of the park. Well I'll hush and let the pictures I took do the talking...worth a thousand words right?

Here is our dog Seuss. Shot taken using black and white mode. (I took one using the Kids and Pets mode which also came out looking amazing)

This is the gazebo at the end of our apartments. Shot was taking using the oh-so-fabulous Color Accent which is exclusive to certain Canon cameras. As you can see this shot accented blue.

Earth meets Water. Such lush colors, this was taken using Landscape mode.

Old broken down fence that nature has taken over. Photo shot in Nostalgia mode to give it an older worn look. I also took one in wide screen which came out beautifully but don't think it would fit on here.

A Dog's Best Friend. Man has dog, dog has hydrant! I couldn't pass up this shot, it made me giggle. Taken using Color Accent again with Red as the main color point.

I love photos like this. Taken using nostalgia with a higher grade of aging.















I have many more but these stand out as favorites of the day. I can't wait to take more pictures! Next will be learning to shoot using the tripod! :)
Bye for now!

My Doodlings

Having a conversation on Etsy about works in photoshop and Corel Paint Shop Pro. Was told to put some of my doodlings on here (Hi Gleeza!!! :D) So here we go. Time to dive into my external hard drive and go fishing...

This one was the first one I made using brushes on Ps CS3. I call it Stormy City.

Another brush work picture. I was trying to see what I could do with depth...there are a few things I could've done better but over all I like how it came out. The only thing I wanted in color was the rust spread over the old chain link fence.

There are others in there but these two are the most finished projects. Of course I use these programs for any new squishy item that goes up and for each new seasonal logo and for my business logo below :) 

That work is easier of course but it still takes patience and lots of tweaking to get it to where you are happy.

Blue Topaz Twist Bucket Hat

A little creative challenge for me today. I've been wanting to list this Twist Bucket hat but just couldn't put my finger on the right name for it. I didn't want another 'Sky' name added to the mix yet every other shade of blue just didn't fit right. Oddly enough a Mystic Fire Topaz ring on Google put me on track to looking up Blue Topaz. Good ol' Google wanderings right?

If you'd like to check it out on Etsy click >here<

Just a little P.S. I ordered my new camera yesterday -happy dance- I can't wait!!!

Fresh Spring Slouchy Hat

It's Monday and you know what that means! New item has just been listed!!! New slouchy hat (yes I've sooo been on a kick with making these). Took me awhile to think of the name. When I first started I thought 'Grass Stain Slouchy' which upon further thought didn't seem all that appealing :P So Fresh Spring it is! As always it's 100 % cotton which means it's sturdy and machine washable! Also stretches a little so you can get it for your teen or wear it yourself. 

Wow I'm pretty hyper...not sure if you can tell by my typing but I am. Probably because I had two pop tarts and a Pepsi as my breakfast. Bad I know but end of the week with no food does that. I really have to go shopping later :P

Anyway, random side-tracking there...if you'd like to see this new hat click on this link >here< aaand I'll be back with something new tomorrow! 

(I feel like cartwheeling away but I'd probably hurt myself)

Is it Lightning, a search light, no it's a....Fireball?

Just thought I'd share the morning headline from Madison, WI with you...

'Brilliant fireball' lit up sky and 911 phone lines across Midwest

That's the image over Madison last night around 10pm. My boyfriend and I were watching tv when suddenly he exlaimed "Omg is that lightning?! I JUST washed my car!" 

When I looked over the light had already passed but we went to check the radar away. Not a cloud near us. So we shrugged it off after I suggested maybe a bright search light. This morning-much to my surprise that was the headline... 

If you'd like to read the whole article I read here is the link ->http://host.madison.com/news/local/article_e9bce742-4847-11df-8158-001cc4c03286.html 

It's never dull here :P 

 

Weird Ways of my Camera

Hi Everyone! Another very spring day making me oh - so - happyyyyy! I woke up this morning and thought 'Hey! I feel like taking some pictures.' I've been on a crafty roll this week, I made three things on Monday alone :3 I didn't take all the shots needed to be able to list online because my boyfriend is usually the one that helps out with that (despite his grumblings about having to do so :P). Doing any of the pictures alone requires me to get a little creative because there isn't many places in my current apartment to shoot in. Two TV trays, a bed sheet and me standing on a tall chair hovering over it later...I was again reminded why I'm saving to get a new camera.

I currently own a Nikon Coolpix S560. It's cute, compact, works fine outside but trying to get consistent low-light/detailed shots is like trying to chew off your own toe. Just in case you are also a crafter and was thinking about getting a camera from that line...:P

Ok check this out. This is a picture of the upcoming Sage Slouchy Hat-same shot, different modes.


























The actual color of the hat is the picture on the bottom. It took changing the settings several times until I found a mode that I don't think I've ever used before because it takes several steps just to get to it just to get the hat's actual color to show through. Waaaah!
There is almost enough saved up for me to get my new camera and a tripod (no more having to balance on chairs lol) I'm so excited I can't wait!!! Took about a month to decide on one (since there are actually two I really really want since they do different things but both equally usable for things I'd use them for but I was told it'd be silly to have two cameras :P)
So the day I put up a new post that starts with a 'Squeeeee!' <-my happy noise. You'll know I've finally gotten it :D
I have to run out and get some lunch. I have another project in works for later (seriously I have a stack of new items on my bookcase lol)
Bye for now!
Squishy

Sky Slouchy Hat

Ahhh back to having a warm sunny day. I read that it's supposed to reach around 77 tomorrow! -happy dance- AND I now have 50 items in my shop...with a lot more coming since I've been crafting non-stop :P

I listed a new hat on Etsy today :) This one is a stripped hat (as you can see) with different shades of blue to go with any outfit you'd like to accessorize it with. 

Now going waaaay back to last year when I first opened the store I made a scrunchie called Sky Scrunchie with the same colors as the hat. So, like I've done with the Daisy Hat and Daisy Loops, if you buy this slouchy hat you can get Sky Scrunchie Half off! :)

For Sky Slouchy Hat on Etsy click >here<

For Sky Scrunchie on Etsy click >here<

Summer Slouchy Hat

As I sit at my desk staring at a cloudy day while slightly shivering I posted a new slouchy hat. Summer Slouchy Hat makes me want that nice warm weather back. The colors are so cheerful and bright. I was even able to take this picture outside because it was wonderful out. I hope that weather comes back soon-I hate typing with cold hands :P

Well I have a lot of things to work on, hit a huge yarn sale and stocked up so now I have things in progress already and even more ideas swirling in my head. Expect to see more new things popping up! Haha, my desk is a mess from my doodlings and brainstorms on scrap paper. Gotta love being a crafter :D 

If you'd like to see this item on Etsy click >here< Have a great week everyone!

Seashore Slouchy Hat

First new item of April is now listed in my shop! 
The Seashore Slouchy Hat! I'm growing rather fond of creating this style of hat, I even made an Irish Moss Slouchy Hat for myself since it looks super cute with any greens and brown outfits I wear. Seashore is another favorite, but for a different reason. Most of my items tend to be more on the perky side, nothing wrong with that I love fun colors! But these colors reminded me of sitting on Long Beach back where I grew up in CT. Blue and Brown have been in for awhile now-seems any store I go into you see either brown and blue or brown and pink :P 
Click >here< if you like this hat and would like to see it on Etsy :)

Squishy Logo

Eek, no post for April yet?! Well it's only the 5th and last week was spring break. WONDERFUL weather in Wisconsin...those two things usually don't go together in March/April. Decided to get down to business this weekend though, I had a whole pile of new items that needed finishing touches and pictures taken. Ended up with 6 new items ready for listings. Not finished editing all the photos but I will be soon.

Today I realized with Easter over and no other holidays coming up I had to face the fact that I really needed to work on a non-seasonal logo. Luckily, I woke up with my brain on overdrive and I came up with several good ones pretty quickly. It's now on this blog and on Etsy. Simple, but I think it pops and suits the personality of myself and the store. :) The biggest excitement though was creating a business card and getting an order in. Can't tell you how many times I've ended up mentioning my shop or Etsy and wishing I had something to show people. They should arrive next week, so I'll be doing a happy dance then :P

Oh right! All items have been renewed in the store, but I renewed by section so if you look around you might see some things you didn't before because they were in the back (so to speak). Other than that I'll be getting those new items up this month so don't miss out!

That's all for now, I have a great new summer item in the works right now which I'll be getting to after dinner.

Toodles for now!
~Squishy

Faded Denim Bucket Hat

 Just a quick new post for today :)

Faded Denim is back in the Squishy Shop! Same size and style as last time so if you liked it and didn't get a chance to snatch it up before now is your chance! 

If you'd like to visit it on Etsy click >here<

Irish Moss Slouchy Hat

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!!! Remember the FREE SHIPPING sale lasts until Midnight tonight so if any of my green items that are part of the sale has caught your eye snap it up while the offer lasts! 

Speaking of green items, I added one more yesterday! Another slouchy hat that screams spring is here (bout time). It also has brown, yellow and white in the mix (as you can see). The cool thing about the design is that it actually works as a beret too, so mix it up with your own personal style and have fun!

To see it on Etsy click >here<

Greenland Slouchy Hat

Happy Monday everyone! It is GORGEOUS here in Wisconsin today, not a cloud in sight, sunny and pretty warm for Wisconsin in March. I actually put my winter jacket away!

Great day to introduce a new style of hat to the Squishy Shop, the Greenland Slouchy Hat. Took quite a while to find the right name for this hat but I stumbled across a really pretty and unique tulip with green and pink stripes in it.

This hat can be worn in the regular slouchy style, but I also discovered after making it that it looks pretty cool as a beret style hat too.

Once again my bombay mix, Hexadecimal, wanted to help me model this hat so we are the cover picture for this hat on Etsy. She's so cute, but not for sale with the hat :P I try to keep her away from all items but she is a very clean cat so unless you have SUPER strong allergies to cats there should be no worries! If you'd like to see this hat on Etsy click >here<

Here is the flower this hat is named after, it's so pretty I had to save a picture.

Mint Twist Bucket Hat

It's another Monday and that means something new at Squishy Products! Today I've listed Mint Twist Bucket Hat. The name speaks for the color twist combo of greens crafted into a spring/summer fashionable hat.

Why is there a cat in the picture you ask? Well that is Hex, my 3 year old Bombay mix. She always tries to help with everything I do. Recently she's been trying to get into all of my shots for each item but since she isn't allowed to touch any of the items (for those who have strong allergies) I never let her. 

Well, that hasn't stopped her from trying. Here is a picture of my last listed hat-the Unisex Verdant Hat. She kept trying to find ways to get on camera. So this week I thought I'd include her. 

She's been included in one other item as well so look for her cute face again in the future! 

If you'd like to see more of Mint Twist just click >here< to see it on Etsy!

Unisex Verdant Hat

Another Unisex Hat! This one is the Verdant hat with some fun colors mixed in. 

It's nice and soft with a brim around the edge for extra warmth around the ears. 

In other news, with this new hat being part of it, Squishy Products is having a sale on all green items (which have been moved to the top of the store on Etsy) until Midnight, March 17th. Free Shipping on each item! So if there is something you want grab it before it's gone!

To see this item on Etsy click >here<