Maribel is 30!!!

Today is my good friend's, Maribel, 30th birthday!! Tomorrow we are going out to celebrate as she has informed me that Thursday is the new Friday. So we are off to the International District for some food and then delicious cake. Happy Birthday!

Best cookies!

Some people like Martha Stewart, and some hate her. I just like her website for good recipes and sometimes she has other good ideas for the crafty lady in you. Seattle has been feeling like fall these last few days so on monday I decided to make soup and one of my favorite cookies a la Martha (or most likely her staff).
I decided to share the recipe because it seriously makes any cookie lover happy. I could eat these for days and luckily you can because they taste just as good days later. So enjoy!

Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies

Makes 2 dozen


7 ounces best-quality semisweet chocolate

1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger

1/2 cup dark-brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup unsulfured molasses

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Chop chocolate into 1/4-inch chunks; set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and cocoa.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer,fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and grated ginger until whitened, about 4 minutes. Add brown sugar; beat until combined. Add molasses; beat until combined.

3. In a small bowl, dissolve baking soda in 1 1/2 teaspoons boiling water. Beat half of flour mixture into butter mixture. Beat in baking-soda mixture, then remaining half of flour mixture. Mix in chocolate; turn out onto a piece of plastic wrap. Pat dough out to about 1 inch thick; seal with wrap; refrigerate until firm, 2 hours or more.

4. Heat oven to 325°. Roll dough into 1 1/2- inch balls; place 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Refrigerate 20 minutes. Roll in granulated sugar. Bake until the surfaces crack slightly, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.





Photograph by: Christopher Baker

Trish and Kathie

I love looking at art, talking to the nice humble artists, and I hope one day I can also say I love to buy some art once in awhile. I mean I do but I don't have much money for all the art I would love to put in my house. I do have a few now from my friend
Trish Grantham. I love her stuff! Half the time I look at her stuff I want to cry at how cute it is. The colors are great, the things she sometimes writes on them are fantastic, and I love the different characters such as Carl the squirrel. Who wouldn't love a squirrel named Carl???
The other artist I can't seem to stop checking out is Kathie Olivas. Her work is just amazing! I love love love them and wish I had a whole wall full of her work. So if anyone wants to be my best friend, check out her site, and buy me one! or just check it out and love it too.

plush you hanging

Here are a few pictures of the Plush You! hanging. The eve before the show. It was a lot of fun and went by really quickly! Thanks again to all the lovely people who really helped out a lot!

cute necklace

I never really get myself jewelry because I make some and I don't wear much but I really like this necklace from
Luckylooloo. Isn't it cute? It comes in silver and brass.

I am also finishing up the plush book send off for those of you wondering.
Lastly I wanted to put out this announcement for anyone who may be reading this....
FANCY SCARF SHOW!!!

FANCY would like to invite you to participate in our 1st Scarf Show!
Fancy will showcase various scarf creations from artists around the world. Our opening reception will be held on November 11th at Fancy in Seattle, WA. For one month we will have your creations on display and will sell them either at the store or on our online website.

To join in the festivities contact curator, Kristen Rask, at kristen.rask@gmail.com with your name, website info (if any), and a few images of the kinds of work you do. Kristen will then contact you more about the show if you are selected. Please allow for a few weeks for her to do so.
This is a great way for you to get your name and work out to the public! And in perfect time for everyone to find their new perfect scarf!

We Love You and Scarves!!
Fancy
1932 2nd ave
Seattle, WA 98101
Fancyjewels.com

Kozik!

I really really try not to be star struck. As it seems obnoxious and rude. I played it cool (sort of) when
Frank Kozik walked through my door today. I wanted to grab half my stock and ask him to sign it all but that's where the obnoxious and rude part would comes in. Instead I said hi and acted sort of like a big dork. Anyways I am telling you this in a way to brag and in another way to tell you that he will be at
Roq La Rue this Saturday for a signing between 3:00 and 5:00. come by, buy some toys, and go get 'em signed!
Off to see a Seattle Storm game!!!
I will try to be better about writing in this. My internet has been messed up for weeks. Hopefully it's good now.
xo

Whewwwwww. We made it!! My internet was down on saturday so I was unable to do anything on the computer. My sister needs to still send me pics from the show which she promises she will do today!! I took some from Mia Hansen. Thanks Mia!!! She came down from Vancouver to see the show on Saturday. It was so nice to meet some of you and it was nice to see those of you I don't normally see. People seemed to LOVE the show and it was packed in here from about 4-8. After that there was a steady flow of people until I closed the doors. I decided to do another one next year and make it an annual thing here. After all the work, it was great to work with all those involved in the show and it really has never looked so good in here. This was a great experience and I hope all those that can stop by to say hello do so. Continue to check the blog..i will post more pics, etc.
xo, schmancy

mark and flying fish

Here are some more photos for the show. First up is Mark Hundley. His work is amazing! He contacted me some months back and we decided to do consignment for his work. They have been selling in here for sometime now and are just amazing to look at. Most of them are a lot larger than they look in photos which makes it even more fun to see them in person!
The other picture is from Flying Fish Gallery. It's funny because my friends, Kristen and Melissa got one of her owls for their wedding. It was one of the first items I noticed the first time I went to their house and now I will have three of them in my store! Yippy
Got to go now. bye

Schmancy won!

Thanks to everyone who voted on Northwest Source. Here is the write up!
Favorite:
Toy store
Schmancy
Unless you've got some seriously hip kids, you may want to keep Schmancy's toys to yourself. Here you'll find action figures of heavy metal fans and militant teddy bears, stuffed toys shaped like albino squids and doughnuts, and keychain figurines with tofu-shaped heads. None of Schmancy's toys seem native to this universe, yet every one of them is loveable, in an alien-baby kind of way. These truly are the perfect gifts for the person who has everything.

Corinne and Heidi

Hi Again. SO if it were up to me, I would be at a beach and not at work. It is way too hot today and I feel miserable. My allergies are acting up and I don't like hot hot heat (i do not mean the band). To try and keep my mind off the fact that I am slowly melting away, I thought I would post some more plush wonders.
First up is work by Heidi Estey. She is a local Seattle resident and a former coworker of mine. She has no website but she really should. Her stuff has been selling all over town and even though you are against the internet, Heidi...it gets you work!
Second up are these deliciously lookin' apples which pay homage to three different stories, Snow White, Story of Creation, and from Greek Mythology. They are created by Corinne Dean. Check out her site to see all the other work she does.
Now what shall I get for lunch?

Breathe

On a totally different subject.....I went to see a new movie by Miranda July called Me and You and Everyone We Know. I Loved it! I think it is such a good story that makes you feel less weird for being weird. The children are all so good in it that you want to go steal them all. I don't buy movies too often anymore but this one is sure to be in my movie collection (which is the strangest collection which may be why I stopped) I watched an interview with Miranda on IFC the other day when I was laid out on my sisters couch thanks to a little percocet. It's just a great movie so go out and see it now.
I also just got done reading Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. I love David Sedaris. I wish I was his sister so I could have hands on knowledge of how funny his sister Amy is and how hilarious his brother Paul is and then he would send me to Paris once in awhile for a visit. Oh and come visit me on big occassions such as the Plush You! show. We would be eachothers favorite siblings. i just know it

Some Seattle peeps

I am trying to make up for lost time.
The art is from Robert Hardgrave. I decided to put a piece of his art work in to switch it up a bit. He had a show at Schmancy a few months back. Robert survived cancer and most of his work seems to be based on his experience with it. His plushies are called Transplants and are all constructed with old hospital gowns which I am sure were cleaned.
The cubies are from Erin Shafkind. They can sit next to one another or you can stack them up. Erin has been super nice and helpful with all of this...always willing to lend a hand. Check out her website full of art and other hidden goodies.

artists with no websites

I thought I would mention a few participants that do not have websites right now. These two really need to get something going on soon because their work is amazing. I think I almost screamed when I got Ariana Marinelli's work. They are beautiful and you can see how much work she has put into them. I could stare at them for hours. I love the trees, the fabic, the creatures. I could go on and on. I love them.
Jeremy Read's work also is amazing. Lots of detail and care. You can tell he spent many hours working on these guys and surely will be getting carpal tunnel in the near future. Please be careful because we still want to see all the other wonderful creatures you will surely create!
More still to come
xo, schmancy

I'm back!

Hey!! So I was out of the game for awhile there. Sorry about that. Had an elbow injury that made me one armed for a little while there and also I have just been way too busy. But I really want to get more plushie goodness out there to you all.
The donut is from the wonderful Sewdorkycreator, Stuart Bloomfield. I have actually sold these felted donuts since Schmancy opened. IN FACT, the first item I sold was a donut, September 2nd.... it was a very exciting day for me. I love Sewdorky, his website, and the maker...he is a great guy. It has been great fun to see all the great things that have happened to him and his donuts! So there is a new item he has made that is undisclosed right now that will be at the show. I now know what it is, he's gonna be famous soon.
The other item is from Jane Michna. They just arrived the other day and every time I eat them i want to run down to the market and get something creamy and delicious.
I feel like this is the final countdown. More soon.