Improvements to Sleep out bags...

Hello everyone !
I've been working hard sewing over the last few weeks. Winter is fast approaching and our piggies are needing warmth during these cold nights. So, inspired by some wonderful new fabrics and recent customer feedback, I have endeavoured to improve the popular Sleep out bags !
These new ones work on the same bag like design only a few things are new. I have altered the size slightly, they are ever so slightly smaller (25cm x 25cm) (10 inches x 10 inches). They also have a half circumference of reinforcement in the top so that if you are not using them as cuddle bags, you can lay them flat in the cage and the opening will stay open just enough so that your piggy can find his/her way inside. They are still totally washable and just as durable as the other ones.
But I realise that some people still either have bigger piggies or just want bigger bags, so I will continue to make the older style. To set them apart I have named the new design 'sleep IN bags' and the old will remain 'sleep OUT bags'.
I hope that the improvements will give you all more choice and options. And please do continue any feed back because this is what helps me improve my products.
The new fabrics that will be rolling out in the next few weeks are soooo cute. Please keep an eye on the store at Etsy.

Preparing for Summer

Time to get busy ! The new fabrics for my store are upon me and I'm spending the next few weeks making up some goodies for summer piggy comfort.

Millie draping herself over an ice brick !

Snickers, Paris and Millie...attempting to share an ice brick !

Summer is well and truly about to hit us and everybody who knows Guinea pigs, knows that they really don't take the heat too well. Mine are often huddled around the cool bricks that I give them during the hot months.


So I've decided to remake a popular seller in my store and modify it for summer...The sleep out bags will soon also be available in cotton, inner and outer (with a plush soft core) so that our poor piggies do not roast when we cuddle them !




Here is the fabrics that are waiting ! Oh wow...so much to get done ! I'm hoping to have some in store in the next few weeks and I hope everyone out there who have tried my sleep out bags will love them.

Roll Ups keep rolling

When I first created the Roll Ups and posted them on Etsy I really never thought they would go as far as they would. It was an idea that I came up with, from observing my own guinea pigs and noticing what works and what doesn't, listening to the silent nose raisings, and trying different variations of a design until I got it just right.
It seems that they are now loved world wide, I have been making them constantly ever since the first posting here and they have been posted to the U.K, Canada, Italy, U.S and Australia. I am absolutely thrilled that something I love to create so much, has obviously touched so many hearts. It inspires me to create more.
The latest addition is my 'boys only' range - which spurred from a customer requesting some custom made items for her boy piggy. Having only girls myself, I realised I had unwittingly neglected the boys, and thanks to this lovely lady, I now shop for interesting fabrics for both boys and girls.

Space boy, is the theme of the pictured roll up. It just looks like so much fun doesn't it. I hope my customers and followers love it also.

The creativity is flowing over

In my recent absence from my beloved blog, I have been busy getting my New Craft Business and Etsy store up and running, as I'm sure you will have noticed the blog's name change. It's been a busy time for me, and a steep learning curve, but finally things are making sense.

I'm glad to say that both Studio 4 Paws and my ETsy store seem to be doing well, better than I originally thought acutally.
There have been many creations that have missed the posts on here, and I'll endeavour to recap in upcoming posts, but for now, I'll start right where I am.

I've been creating a line of guinea pig bedding, in the hope that there are others out there who adore thier pigs as much as I do...to my complete surprise, it seems there are many ! So this inspired me to keep going and creating cosy and comfortable bedding that would make people go 'wow'.
Millie, my white and youngest girl, has become the star model of the current range, and she is a natural model. I simply pop her into position and she holds a pose better than any professional vogue star. Of course the treats at the end of the session, DO seem to help. lol.
Anyway, I'm endeavouring to once again keep my blog up to date and will be highlighting some current projects I'm working on.

Below are some pictures of my Piggy Rolls, that are currently for sale in my Etsy shop..www.etsy.com/shop/studio4paws. I hope you love them....and would be more than please to hear your feedback?
I'm curretnly working on a new creation, yes, for the pigs again. It's something I think they would love and something I haven't seen in any shop yet, so keep your eyes on this spot for that one.

As well as that, I'm about to embark on some sewing for technology ! E-reader covers and other similar things, as I've had several friends comment to me how much they would love to see something unique out there to house their technology in.
Honestly I have so many ideas buzzing around in my head right now....I just can't wait to get them all happening in reality...

The Strawberry Fields Roll Up

The Green Veg Roll Up (sold out now, but more coming)

Spring is Here !

It's the first day of Spring 2011 and creativity is pumping through my brain. I have been busy over winter, designing some new creations and starting many new projects...but spring brings with it a new sense of adventure. I'm currently in the process of registering my business name, which will give me the freedom to create under my own label and hopefully finally get my Etsy shop up and running. I'm very excited about that.

I've been continuing to do various ATC swaps and this last month have participated in my first ever Post card swap with two lovely ladies overseas. Of course the theme was 'cats'. Would you think anything else from me? It was just the three of us in this grouping and below are pictures of the two fabric postcards that I sent out to them.

This picture (below) is of my last ATC Art History swap based on a Renaissance theme. A little out there, I know...but when i think Renaissance, I think of all those beautiful big dresses the ladies wore and the  cross threading they had to hold them together. So i decided to fashion a card on that...

This month will see me continue to research and build my art endeavours, as well as finish up some other projects (there's always plenty U.F.O's (quilters term for unfinished objects)).

I'm beginning work on my first commissioned piece and I'm super excited about that....



Some new additions

Hi all, again there has been a long break in my blogging, but I have been busy working on some recent craft projects and art quilts which I'm now proudly adding to my site to share.
The first one is a prototype I made of a 'inner beauty' series I'm hoping to make more of. It features the wonderful ladies of Loralie Harris which I absolutely adore. The background is created from a variety of materials sourced from a variety of places. Mostly upcycled clothing !

I plan to do a series of these, with different ladies, to eventually try to put on Etsy. I would love some feedback !
The second finished project is one that started with the purchase of a very interesting background fabric from ebay. I loved it so much and wanted to create a space village scene as inspired by Karen Eckmeier's 'Happy Villages'. I was very pleased with how it came out and also plan to do a follow up series of smaller ones, again for Etsy when I open later this year.
The finished quilt is approx 24"x24" and includes fused elements, including aluminium in some places, under tulle and is hand stitched throughout. Again I'd love to hear what you think !

detail

detail

So that is my most recent (and finished) quilts. I have a few others which are nearing completion and I'm hoping to get them done by the end of April !

I am including some links to some of the books and artists that have inspired me so much, in case anyone would like a reference.

As if only doing 50 things at once was no enough for me, I'm embarking on a few other ventures this year. Firstly I'm doing the Journal 365 workshop by Pam Carriker. Wow - what a lot of fun. I already art journal a LOT but it's so inspiring to be pushed outside your normal comfort zone. I'll be posting a few of my pages here from time to time.
As well as that, I am once again getting my ATC swaps up and going. Last year got a bit crazy toward the end and I had many months of no swaps. But I'm very excited to be in a small group of artists doing a regular monthly swap focusing on periods of time over the ages (ie, medieval, industrial etc) with an open theme.

That's it for now, stay tuned...

Soggy....oh so Soggy

The city of Brisbane is today starting to clean up the horrendous mess being revealed by yesterday's flooding. It has been a terrible few days. And even though the sun is shining today...the destruction is not over just yet. I have put some pictures up so that you can see, they are not my own pictures, but they give a good cross section of views across the city and inner city suburbs.

I was unable to get near any of the areas (except locally) to take any photos due to road closures and general chaos. Just way too dangerous to be out and about. The city centre has been without power for a few days now, bridges are closed, people are unable to get to work, supermarket shelves are empty and the list goes on.
Even for those of us who were lucky enough to be on relatively dry ground, the horror of seeing our beloved city go under has been an ordeal. I don't think there is a single person in Brisbane who has not been affected in some way.
But in typical Aussie style...people have maintained a great sense of humour. Perhaps one of the most popular photos on facebook right now is of 'king wally'.. his bronze statue stands outside Suncorp Stadium near the city heart. As the stadium (where all our footy games are held) slowly turned into a great big swimming pool of mud before our very eyes....someone adorned the statue with snorkeling gear and floaties !
There is also a photo of some very unique shoes spotted in a window somewhere in Brisbane. I think they really sum up how we are all feeling.
Me? I'm ok. I have about a foot of water under my house and mould growing on EVERY surface inside (due to the excessive dampness over the last few weeks)...but I'm safe and my family is ok.
It's just heartbreaking to see our city get trashed by mother nature in such a way. They think it will take years to fully recover.
But as I speak....power is slowly being restored to some areas and mass clean ups are starting as the Brisbane River slowly goes down, leaving behind a trail of the most putrid smelling sludge you can ever imagine.......oh it's so gross !

Photos were sourced from: http://www.triplem.com.au/ and www.facebook.com/9news

Also......please take a look at http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/floods/8196580/massive-clean-up-begins-in-brisbane

Near Coronation Drive - Inner city

Inner city..Milton suburb

New Farm on the River banks - inner city

Bulimba - inner city riverside suburb

Milton Road

Pedestrian bridge down to the bikeway that follows the river all the way into the city. Normal water edge is on the farrrr right of this picture.

Hanging on for dear life...

Shopping is a nightmare...even in the outer suburbs. There is literally nothing left.

Coles supermarkets after the water subsided..

Bikeway/walkway down the eagle street end of town.

Swollen waters were so FAST carrying with them boats, pontoons, gas tanks, fridges and more.

Western suburbs

Suncorp Stadium

Inside the stadium...they had just put down new turf/grass...which cost one million dollars !

King Wally

Queensland's newest fashion 'must have'

The river edge is usually in line with the letter T in the 'triple m' logo