so small

it's been slow, but it's happening...

I'll be updating the shop on Monday the 16th. Today as I'm working on a number of new things, I'm so excited to be making these bears again... it's been a while and it's a welcomed homecoming to be working this way again.

growing...

Things are ever changing around here. I feel like I went to bed a woman with a business, a dog, and a wonderful boyfriend and I woke up (groggy and too tried) with two kids, two businesses, and still (luckily) a wonderful partner.  It took 4 years to get here and while I feel like this is what I've always been doing- what I've always hoped for- sometimes I look up and wonder how I got here and why it's so hard. These two brilliant and amazing little people inspire and exhaust me in nearly equal parts.

Yesterday, in middle of a photo shoot for the POLKA DOT CLUB as often happens around here, work and life mixed together and both kids ended up in my studio, on my lap, in front of the camera.  Having children brought my dream of making toys for kids into perfect focus. I've always wanted to make beautiful things for little people- to make them smile, to bring comfort, to inspire play. All the struggle and long hours are worth it when I hand over a little-hand-made-play-thing and they don't want to let go. They're my ever inspiring test subjects, that and so so so much more.

new mailing list! and a plea

The studio is a busy place these days as I ramp up for the holiday season... I'm trying to juggle a few too many things lately, and staying in touch here and via email seems to continue to fall through the cracks. So- in an attempt to remedy this situation I've created a new mailing list. Now if I want to send out a note about a new pattern, a few new pieces in the shop, or if I'll be attending a workshop or event- it will be quick and much more beautiful than my previous mailings.

All this said, I've been trying to hand type in every one's contact info into the new service but it's making me a crazy woman, so I thought I'd just ask for some help! If you'd like to be continue to on my mailing list, Please Sign Up Here! A million thanks! ~ Jennifer

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A FANTASTIC HALLOWEEN!

((C. and I in the corn maze last week--- loving this time of year))

to ward off all things that go bump in the night...

3 new bears. 

 just right for any age.

now in the shop.

Hello out there...

Yes! Contrary to the activity on this blog-I'm still around and still making things. The POLKA DOT CLUB has been keeping me very busy as any new business does. But in the evenings, after the kids are tucked in bed, the dishes are done, and the house quiets down- I've been cutting, sewing, and working a little here and there on new one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces for the shop. Maybe I'll get them done before Halloween but maybe I should just shoot for before Fall has made its last stand. Progress is slow but my heart is in it. Making all the PDC bears is so much fun- thinking if the children who will play with and love them- but I miss the creativity and process of making each bear new. They're little experiments and I love to see how each one becomes a unique and therefore perfectly- imperfect object in my hands...

 

News from the PDC: I've been keeping things interesting over at the clubhouse too, making one of a kind and small special editions too... These little Halloween Bears will make it into the shop next week!

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after all this time: the POLKA DOT CLUB website and shop!

I'm so pleased to announce the POLKA DOT CLUB website is finally up. There are still a few bugs here and there, but we just couldn't wait a minute longer to get it up and out into the world. Hope you enjoy all the photos and content. We'll be adding more bits and pieces in the coming weeks so be sure to check back. While you're there, please sign up for the mailing list to receive all the news, fun activities and membership bits, and check out the every changing blog: FROM THE CLUBSHOUSE.

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PDC SHOP GRAND OPENING:

TUESDAY JULY 23rd at 12noon CST
(that's 1pm eastern, 11am mountain, and 10am pacific)

The POLKA DOT CLUB shop will open it's doors tomorrow for the first time. It's full of mohair bears, rattle balls, little quilts, and clothes for the bears and all pieces will be shipping out on Friday July 26th unless noted. PLEASE COME BY!

POLKA DOT CLUB quilts

I've been an occasionally obsessive quilt maker for a while now. My grandma Delores, taught me how to sew when I was 7 and she was a prolific quilter. Each Christmas she would unveil some amazingly beautiful handmade quilt for one member of the family- she crafted each carefully and with the recipient in mind. What could be better? I feel like in someways she handed the quilting torch on to me, and while I don't have the time right now to make full sized quilts for all my loved ones, I do have little bits of time to may tiny quilts for the POLKA DOT CLUB... here are a few, all washed and perfectly imperfect drying on the line. All soon to be up in the Shop.

((((and one in action!))))

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POLKA DOT CLUB (sneak preview!)

As many of you know I've been concentrating all my time and energy on a new project for the last 6 + months... the POLKA DOT CLUB. Taking all that I've learned from making mohair teddy bears and animals for collectors over the last 15+ years, and I've created a line of children's toys. Using all the materials like mohair, cotton, and wool, these toys are made the way teddy bears were over 100 years ago, but with little safety upgrades like 100% cotton stuffing and safety eyes, not to mention a healthy does of contemporary design... Things are moving along here and the website and shop are almost up and ready for the world! Check back for here for more info or check out the PDC website- the new one should post early next week.

random images from this week...

It's been a good week: busy, working, trying to work... I've been sporadically in the studio, but spending most of my time with my kids. Spring is slow to arrive and it seems to be raining most of the days making all the joy of springtime outdoor living feel a bit lost. How is it already June? Right now, in my studio I have the window open. It feels good to finally let the fresh air in and hear the birds just outside. There are lots of small and big projects on the table. The POLKA DOT CLUB has been taking up most of my time and creative energy and I really can't wait to launch the full site and shop later in the month (fingers crossed). This is what I've been wanting to do for the last 5 years and finally I'm close. I'm excited. I'm overwhelmed, but I'm trying to take it all in stride. Getting what we want in life is hard work.

I was meeting with a group of group of women this morning who are all small business owners, who all happen to all be my friends. We were having a mini meeting with someone and each of us went around the table telling our stories as creative people trying to make what we love a business. We each had our uphill battles and many of the challenges we shared, but I was so overwhelmed to hear each woman with children talk about how that changed her life path, priorities, and ultimately the direction of her business. Here I am today, writing on one of my few "studio days" away from my children. I feel lucky to have this time, lucky to have them in my life, happy to have had my priorities shift because of them, and awed by the task of redefining my work-life in this new phase of my life. I know, I'm not alone, but this is hard. Hard and the Best.

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