holiday

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It was really interesting going to a big NY fair like this year’s BUST Craftacular Holiday. For one it was pouring like crazy and when I got there the line was wrapped around the building to the other side of the block! Of course I slept in, but the line moved fast and it was fun chatting it up Girl in Gotham Designs. :)

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There was a ton to see! Two levels of wonderful, crafty goodness including Amy Sedaris doing a book signing on the 2nd floor. Her book Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People looked pretty hilarious.

Here’s a list of my handpicked artists from the New York 2010 event. Enjoy because there’s a ton of cool stuff in there! :)

kg + ab - Ceramics handmade in Brooklyn

Corky Mansfield - Good clean humor to the world through tees and funky characters

Brooklyn Brine Co - Hand packed organic produce paired with simple ingredients and “damn fine pickles” in Brooklyn, NY

Twig. - Moss terrarium and other small wolds

Gramkin Paper Studio - Personalized stationery, invitations, announcements and other paper goods and gifts

Return to Me - Customizable necklaces, wristcuffs and t-shirts

Maybe You Should Die - Sweet declarations of hatred and ill will in the form of paper goods, apparel, plushes and Mean Bags™

Dea + Bean - Unique wedding invitations and paper goods the old-fashioned way

Made With Awesome - Original, off-the-wall slogans and cool tee designs

Beacon Bookmarks - Handcrafted Wooden Bookmarks from the Hudson Valley

McBitterson’s Tasteless Wares - Dedicated to spreading peace and joy to all the peoples of the world through adorable, affordable, hand-crafted goods

Grovius - Cute animal illustrations on wood

Twinko - Infant and toddler line of  organic tees, onesies, and accessories with cute graphics

Gnome Enterprises - Mens + Womens + Kids Tees | Handprinted in BKLYN NYC

My Secret Music Box - Musical jewellery and pocket-sized enchantment

Shara Porter - Hand printed fine found objects

Las Delicias Patisserie - Boutique Gourmet Bakery

Herban Lifestyle - Hand crafted natural and organic bath and body products

webbedware - Textile jewelry and accessories handmade by Courtney Webb

Tharp - Illustrator and obsessive dreamer

Mochimochi Land - Original knitting and cross-stitch patterns

Not Just Tea - Boutique specialty tea company specializing  in new tea blends

Amigurumi Kingdom - a place where cupcake bears rule and little creatures are glued to their ipods (literally)…

Caseybot - Plush, hats and friends

My Zoetrope - Painting, patterns, doodles and more

Rag Trader - Vintage  jewelery reborn

Bubbledog - a cute-opia of t-shirts, accessories, & stationery

De*Nada - Accessories line, specializing in handmade knits for women and men

Dirty Ass Soaps - Almost edible vegan food and video game soaps

SPIRITelemental - Live in joy and be free terrariums and illustrations

Isabel Roxas - Books, tees, paper goods and art prints with very nice illustrations

Ashley Buchanan - Jewelry and metals

Fernworks - Jewelry encasing a real found object or painted scene in resin

Bacon Neckwear - Handmade, Custom and Wedding Neckties Bowties Necklaces

Torch Song Metal - Metal adornments by Emily Postula and Ashley Harris

Brooklyn Charm - Custom designed jewelry and supplies in Williamsburg, NY

Erica Weiner - locally made, affordable vintage-inspired jewelry, designed with a sense of humor

Les Enfants Sauvages - It is is all about texture, shapes and colours

Grand Marie - Fine silver earrings molded from antique buttons

Yummy & Company - Handmade jewelry and wedding gifts

Smoke & Daggers.com - Weapon inspired jewelry

Max Steiner Design - Original and unique jewelry designs

Glittery Blue - Vintage made new jewelry

Rock Love Jewelry - Handmade sterling silver jewelry with the alternative edge

By Natalia - Geometric inspired jewelry pieces with an architectural aesthetic

AMH Design - Contemporary needlepoint

Molting Yeti - Super fun knits

New York Couture - One of a kind clothing straight from New York

Im Your Present - Handmade clothing & accessories


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These new Holiday inspired Mars Hoodies are rocking! They come in red, green, yellow and a brand new color, royal purple. Some of the hoodies incorporate the “Power Paisley” and “Piggy” print fabric on the sleeves and each comes with a hand-sewn felt applique. There’s a pom-pom, red nose reindeer and the signature stars and hearts everyone loves. I hope you enjoy them! :)

Mars Hoodies are made from soft, knit fabric using a pattern I created to fit Mars Sock Monkeys. They’re sewn right in my apartment now based in NYC.

Reindeer Mars Hoodie

Star Mars Hoodie

Star Mars Hoodie

Heart Mars Hoodie

Heart Mars Hoodie


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Happy New Year! I had a great holiday relaxing at home, playing games and watching videos. Now that I’m feeling refreshed and I’m back to work I should tell you about one of the the last custom sock monkeys I made in 2009.

Sparkle Mars Sock Monkey was made for a friend to give to her daughter as a Christmas present. Her little girl liked one of my previous sock monkeys named Shayla so I created one almost exactly like her. The only difference is that Sparkle’s hoodie is blue with brown and green striped sleeves while Shayla’s is green with brown and blue striped sleeves (the reversed combination). A couple of days after Christmas I received an email from my friend’s daughter. She loved her sock monkey! :)

Amigurumi cupcake pictured below is available at Stitches fabric store in Capitol Hill in Seattle.

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My newest Mars Sock Monkeys come with a bit of a Holiday flair and animal cuteness! There’s a sock monkey with a bear, bunny, piggy and a panda. I’ve done some of these cute animal designs on hoodies for my custom sock monkeys so I wanted to bring this nice detail to the sweatshirt hoodie. Included are some new colors: red and a Japanese piggy print fabric.

I used a technique called needle felting to add the small detail like the eyes and nose to the animal faces. I then embroidered their little mouths and attached the final pieces to the hoodies. I also tried something different by switching the heel part of the sock on some of the sock monkeys, which gave them different colored mouths.

This group of sock monkeys was fun to make. There were so many ideas that didn’t make it, but I’m sure I can incorporate them into next year’s sock monkeys! This Winter 09 batch of Mars Sock Monkeys are for sale on Etsy. As always, each of my Mars Sock Monkeys are one of a kind and handmade. Have a look. :)

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With Easter coming up, I decided to make a drawing of a Mars Sock Monkey on an egg hunt. I even put a peep in his little basket! I’m really looking forward to making more holiday themed drawings starring the sock monkeys. Let’s see, next holiday is Cinco de Mayo. Woohoo! Maybe there’ll be a charro monkey or a monkey wearing a sarape!

Easter Bunkey prints, t-shirts, postcards and more available at deviantART, CafePress and Zazzle.

I encourage you to download as well under Creative Commons License. :)

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I’ve been feeling quite jolly with Christmas upon us and since I’m now in America for the holidays, I’m offering $1 US and $2 international shipping on ANY item purchased through Maribel Made until Jan 2nd!

Choose from Knit Rings, the Brisa Cap, Easton Trilby, Jebby the Whale soft toy and silver earrings.

You’ll also receive a FREE $6 value Knit Ring with your purchase. Feliz Navidad!

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Receive a FREE Flower Knit Ring with toy or hat any purchase from Maribel Made. Promotion runs through January 2nd. Happy shopping this holiday! :)

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So many folk tales to tell, but they are best told by my relatives in Mexico so I’ll leave the storytelling to them! It doesn’t even have to be on a Halloween night…camping out in the middle of the night any day in the rolling hills of Xochitlan could bring anyone fright!

On this day though I have no better way to pay homage to my relatives who have passed than with a tattooed mendhi and a short message…Que en paz descanse, which means “That in peace you rest”, my short but sweet ofrenda to the dead.

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