Amber Dusick

well that was easy

The robots for Japan sold within minutes of posting them, thank you!  When I find the time I will be doing more charity creations in the future, never has creating felt so rewarding.  Seriously.  Money in my bank account is cool and all but creating to raise money for a cause?  I'm totally inspired.  :)  

My son did his own donating today too, we did in online on my laptop, right after eating dinner of local, grass-fed beef and organic broccoli.  Good grief we are so fortunate over here.  

In other news, we seem to have adopted a stray cat.  He is a big orange and white guy, all beat to heck (scars on his ears and face) but friendly as they come.  We fed him so I think it is official.  He hangs out on our back patio to get shelter from the rain.  Our indoors cats, Roman & Beez, are pretty peeved but I'm hoping they'll get used to him, just as they have gotten used to our squirrel.  The best part of this?  I get to name him!!!  Suggestions are always welcome, photo coming soon.  

a spot of sun, just in time for a woodmouse spring update

 
The sun peeped out for just 15 minutes today and I literally ran to get my camera to photograph my batch of spring goodies for the shop.  Just enough time.  Not my best photography, couldn't even find my normal backdrop but with cloudy skies and rain coming over the next several days I'll take what I can get.

 
Children of Nature included just ONE of pink tulip, yellow tulip, rainbow, purple flower, daisy and black eyed susan.  Plus two bluebell flowers.  Why did I make so few?  Design mode, not production mode is what is making me tick right now.  This was the first time in a long time that I enjoyed every step of the process.  Okay, maybe not the part when I was waiting for the sun to shine.  

Tulips are the essence of spring for me.  I love this pair.  

But rainbow child is my favorite.  Especially since we've seen so many rainbows this month.  I made two, but I'm keeping one, can't help it.  

My usual bunnies and eggs for Easter?  I didn't make any.  Honestly, they are a dime a dozen on Etsyland now and I'm just not inspired by the same old same old.  Instead I came up with three new designs.  Only one of each though.

Last, but not least...three robots for Japan, ready to give a bit of light in these heavy times.  ALL proceeds will go to Japan for these three one of a kind robots.  I've shipped to Japan a few times, amazing how the art community makes us a touch closer.  My thoughts are there often as I'm sure yours are too.      

This was the little window in the clouds that I took advantage of today.  Just after I finished shooting the sun tucked behind again.  Perfect timing, it absolutely made my day.

Everything I have for spring is loaded in the shop!   

 

 

 

 

Crafting for a Cause: Amazima Dolls for Ugandan Orphans

The lovely Shannon has coordinated a crafting for a cause project with Amazima Ministries (which was started by a very inspiring 20 year old woman named Katie, by the way) where she is rounding up the crafters to make dolls for the 350+ orphans cared for by Amazima in Uganda.

I got up early this morning and made these two to send, again using scraps from my stash!  A great way to use up that tidbit of special fabric you've been holding onto but is never big enough to use.  The pattern as well as full details (including the volunteer form to fill out so Shannon can keep track of how many dolls are coming) are here on Shannon's Amazima Dolls Project blog.  You have until October 1st, 2009 to send off a doll, but I guarantee you'll feel better about it if you do it right away.  Don't put this off until fall or it will interfere with your holiday crafting and then you'll wimp out.  Just do it now.

So why dolls to Ugandan orphans?  Shannon gives the background to her inspiration in the interview I did with her over here.  For a bit of Uganda current events in a snapshot...in addition to poverty, disease (AIDS especially) and starvation that afflicts the area, the rebel Lord's Resistance Army kidnaps thousands of children to be forced to kill or be wife/slaves.  Uganda is not a happy place to grow up right now. 

By creating a simple doll that will go directly to an orphan cared for by Amazima, you are giving them a special something they can call their own, that they can love and cuddle and care for. 

PS - if you feel like crying today...this story about Sarah is great, this one about Rita and this one about Sumini.  These are just a couple stories of the children cared for by Katie & Amazima.