Finally I have thrown myself into a print gocco frenzy and it is possibly the easiest most enjoyable thing I have done in ages. I have covered every surface in the house with drying envelopes ready to stuff orders into next week when my Christmas cards go on sale.

The cards came back from the printers this morning (I am cutting it a bit fine this year) and they are totally fine. I was in a little panic about them not appearing/not working/not happening generally but finally all my envelopes, cards and print gocco-ed postage envelopes are all ready to go… now we just need to finish the web page.

Did I mention that this year 10% of the proceeds of the card sales will be donated to Oxfam Community Aid Abroad?

I have had a few more thoughts – or re-thoughts – about the soft toy / craft project I mentioned on Monday. I would love to start in November (despite a dramatic clash with Nanowrimo! Go you Nano writers!) so come November 1, get your machines whirring and your scissors snipping.

I had a thought in the middle of the night on Wednesday that although it would be great to auction the results of our crafting for charity, it might add a kind of weird competitive nature to the project. I wouldn’t want people to feel intimidated by this at all… I want to create a kind of atmosphere that is supportive so that even the least experienced crafter will feel compelled to get involved and not have to worry that it might not break the $2 mark (or whatever) on ebay. I might still auction my item at the end of the month and donate the money to charity and would encourage anyone else to do the same but I think it would be better to keep it out of the official “game”.

Secondly, it would be great if people who don’t have blogs or websites could also take part so I will try and work out some kind of gallery thing where I can host pictures here on loobylu.

Does anyone strongly object to the first theme being “Elephant on Roller skates”? I know it’s pretty specific, but I thought it might make a good start and then next month make them more open ended for wider interpretation.. please email me any theme ideas you may have.

I have an idea for a meme — it’s not terribly original as it’s based on the idea of Photo Friday and Penelope’s Illustration Friday (which I am definitely entering this week!) but it could be kind of fun.

The idea is that every month (giving us plenty of time) a theme is suggested and participants then construct a doll – toy – monster creation along the lines of the theme. For instance I was thinking the first theme could be “Elephant on roller skates” which is pretty specific but the interpretations could be very diverse and cool – obviously it could be a soft toy but could be interpreted as something like an applique on a dolls dress or whatever. I was then thinking it would be fun to extend the invitation to all sorts of different craft folks so that the elephant on roller skates could be embroidered on a bag or painted onto a box or whatever, but the themes would be based on most participants constructing a textile object or 3D toy like object.

My next thought is at the end of the month, if people choose, the items could be auctioned by the individuals on ebay and the proceeds could be donated to the participants chosen charity.

I could set up a page that has thumbnails of all the works with links to the blogs / sites of the crafts folk and a link to the charity and a link to the auction.

Would this be fun?

We are back out house hunting again tomorrow. Special-k is coming over to baby sit Amelia which will make it so much easier as most of the open inspections seem to be right smack-bang during her lunch and sleep time. Special-K is planning a patty cake baking session while we are gone. I look forward to eating odd tasting toddler-made goodies and cleaning up a flour covered kitchen upon our return.

While I am procrastinating and knitting and not launching into making doll prototype #2 I am admiring some beautiful things around the place including Hilary’s fabulous Gertie and Minza’s seriously cute and spooky dolls (via Christina) in her newest gallery. I am inspired and struck still with envy all at the same time.