New Website!

I am very excited to finally be using my brain this winter for something besides baby stuff and crafty stuff ( breaks are good for the flow, I am hoping) - so I decided to take a Fabulous class on building a Wordpress Website. The class is on online course taught by Tara Gentile of Scoutie Girl .com and so far it has been outstanding. The class is broken down into easy to understand lessons with videos and written instructions and access to forums. Now, I say easy, in the sense that you can comprehend the information - but you may have to really dissect and figure out the "how" part of the lesson. In the end, if you follow along, you will have some very nice basic HTML knowledge and a sweet,simple site that you can update yourself. I am happy with this project so far, and hope to really make it more exciting in the future!

I have spent some time playing with this Blogger site for some time now, but never really used it
to any great potential. Soon I will decide if I am keeping this space, or moving the blog entirely onto the website, under Wordpress. My big long term goal in blogging, would be to actually share my projects as I work on them and post tutorials - as I would love to give back to the crafting community online, as it has given to me.

When the site is published, it will be simply : www.fruitcakedesigns.com - but not just yet!

I welcome myself back.

I know that I have abandoned this Blog, but, I had a baby and did not do much else. Fiona Rose
is the new light and joy in which adds to my inspiration. I am sure she will make a guest appearance or two...( todddlers are pretty funny and I make her funny dresses, you'll want to see that...)
All is well here and with the new year, comes a new Fruitcake Designs. ( yay!)

There will be more Domino cuffs, and surprises this year in the Soft goods category! I can't wait to start bringing my sketches to life and share them with everyone. I also hope to give back to the amazing crafting online community and create my first tutorials this year.

Even though I am writing this post to myself, my goal is to not be alone here by the end of this year. I have missed being online, but really, my journey here is just beginning.

Time to sew, time to work harder and smarter, and now, its time for bed.

Ciao Bella's , I hope to meet new friends soon.


♥ Fruitcake ( jennifer )

2009 - The Year of the Waffle

Okay, so I did not come back after New Years, or even Valentines..but with good reason.
I have been quite sick, and tired, and then sick some more. But, again with that good reason!

After 10 or so years I have finally decided to make an addition to the family and give Finn the sibling he has always wanted! Yep, that's right, Fruitcake is going to have a Fruitcup! The big day for finding out what flavor is tomorrow, so I thought it was a good time to get back to my Blog, my Flickr, My Studio, my Crafty world over here that I have been missing.

Its a total family inside joke, but the operating name for the mini belly creature has been Waffle.
I am not sure we can stop calling he/she that now! Naming is quite a crazy discussion around here!

I have an almost non existent inventory after the holidays and I just took all my newest stuff plus what I had left to a wonderful new Gallery/Studio in CT called The Silver Circle Studio , its a beautiful combo of art gallery and handmade retail space. The owner is adorable and really building a great business there in Putnam, amongst all the antique shops and delish restaurants.

So, as I save up for a fresh batch of supplies, small selections of new pendants, and projects like Spring Fat Birdies will be popping up very soon! Please feel free to email me anytime, It's been a long cold, tiring winter and I could use the hello's!

Where oh where did Fruitcake go?

Hello, If you have checked in with me in the past month and I have been MIA, I am sorry! This past month has been crazy and full of SURPRISES! I cannot share with you all the news just yet,but check back in around Valentines day or so for an exciting Fruitcake Announcement.
(I will be around between now and then, mind you...)

Now, in the last month, I have been to Handmade Arcade In PA and had a total blast and sold lots of cuffs, which made me feel very yummy inside. Then I had a show in Worcester, which was nice,but did not sell much of anything, which made me feel burnt inside. Then I had one last big show in Boston at the SOWA Holiday show and again sold lots of cuffs - ending on yummy good feelings!

I have of course, like everyone else been Christmas shopping, sending cards, baking, and sending out my surprise best seller this year - Fat Birdie Ornaments! Yay!!!!!
Thank you all who scooped some up, I really loved making those. In fact, I was so into them, that I think you will see more block printed original and vintage images in 09. I am working on details and colors in my handy dandy - sketchbook.

Hmm, what else?
- I have some of ware now available in Magpie, if you ever in Somerville, Ma and soon to be other New England locations.
- I stated making Domino pendant necklaces after many requests!
- and lastly, the ETSY shop is CLOSED for the holidays, due to open back sometime in Januaryish.

Right now, I am taking care of the Hermit Crabs I have hiding for Finn in my bedroom, making some last minute felty gifts, and looking forward to going to indulge in a bunch of movies at the theater. ahhhh, vacation.....

I will leave you with a nifty site to go check.. and see you all directly after New Years! Peace, Love and Handmade Goodness to you all!!!


One of the ones I am partcularly looking forward to, comes out in February - Coraline! Its a stop motion animation, directed by the director of Nightmare Before Christmas. It's about a little girl who wishes her parents were differnt, and well, she gets her wish. It took them 3 years to complete this project and the site is worth taking a peek - checkout the trailer and then use the Map and go to The Other Mother's Workshop - you can play with a fun "button eyes tool". You can upload pictures, change the frames, the buttons and thier sizes. Too cute not to go waste 15 minutes. www.Coraline.com

What a nice surprise.

A very wonderful and sweet other Jennifer of Jennifer Ladd on Etsy(www.jenniferladd.etsy.com)
nominated me ( somehow?) for an Etsy gift Guide spot today. Its under stocking stuffers, its the little birdie buds I love so much! Please visit her shop, she makes adorable baby slippers, and adult accessories with simply gorgeous fabric choices. Bold, colorful and sure to make any taste happy.

Are not these so cute you want to wear them yourself?

***Be on the look out for more block print designs from Fruitcake soon! Happy Friday.
Don't Forget Flea Market Friday below! I was in a goofy double post mood today!

FLEA MARKET FRIDAY!!!

Okay Fruit Pals, Today is Flea Friday. First you head over to my special Friday Blog: Fruitcake Fleamarket, then you head over to the official Flea Market Friday site ( its all new and updated!) and check out the sweet linky list for another coffee's worth of clicking around. ( pssst, there is an Etsy shop discount for my shop on my blog if you can find it!)

Its ridiculously freezing here in New England,so I am going to go hide under the covers some more! Have a Fabulous weekend!

Custom Nishi from Wunderkind!

Custom Nishi
Originally uploaded by Wunderkind Inc.

This is my new fave seller on Etsy, I am ( nicely) ordering you to go see the most adorable Spool Dolls and other sweet things from Alex of Wunderkind Inc.

You might have to poke through her sold items and definitely her Flickr for a super cute and happy few moments of doll love. I never would have thought of doing this, and I agree with her - they are fun to look at and useful.

This one is for me and it's going in my red living room. I am pretty sure I am going to have to buy her some friends to tell secrets to and gossip about what goes on around the house. We have a vinyl toy collection, but they might snub her at first. She will charm them over...
I just know it.

Just when you think you have seen it all on Etsy, you get pleasantly surprised with a not only a wonderful item, but a Fabulous seller. Alex and I emailed a bunch of times, and it was fun meeting her.

So, enough about me and new Spool Doll, go check her out and get one for yourself, they are all pretty different! ( she post new ones to Flickr before she updates the shop!)

Happy Christmas Shopping - Handmade for the Holidays!

Superior Scribblers Abound!

I've been given a blog award that I'd like to pass along. First, I must thank the Crafty and Talented Linda at A La Mode for this honor. There are a few rules to the award that are listed here:
*Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass the award on to 5 most deserving Bloggy friends.

*Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author and the name of the blog from whom he/she has received the award.

*Each Superior Scribbler must display the award on his/her blog, and link to this post, http://scholastic-scribe.blogspot.com/2008/10/200-this-blings-for-you.html, which explains the award.

*Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. ( using link above!) That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!

*Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

And now...my choices to receive the Superior Scribbler Award are...

http://ursula-and-olive.blogspot.com/
http://www.lovefrommystudio.typepad.com/
http://strawberryluna.wordpress.com/
http://crystalstailsmeowww.blogspot.com/

Mondays aren't always a bummer, right? Blog on Fair Maidens, Blog on!

Saturday Surprise

I have a friend who wisely told me that if you get yourself out there on the internet, and participate with comments and posts, it will help get you noticed. While it is fun, and I have been greatly inspired and found new stuff to love ( and buy!) - it is nice when your surprised with a bit of the crafty bloggy love for yourself.

One of the more detailed craft blogs out there ( by detailed I mean lots of categories, authors and stuff to keep you busy for more than one cup of coffee) is Craft Gossip. They post tutorials, new finds and you could be spotted by one of the editors if you post in thier Flickr Pool - which I did. This is a site you will visit often, so make sure to bookmark it to your Craft Blog Folder, I know you have one. ( mine is outta control! But, I like it better then television)


Today they did a nifty Look What I Found on needlework projects and my Fat Birdie Block Printed Ornaments were in the delightful mix. Yay! I needed that little pick me up, Thanks You guys!