holiday contest entry #4!!

Okay folks....here it is--entry number four! A culinary tribute to my little bird on mushroom piece, also known as Fungi and Feathers Flock Together. Drum roll....and be sure to look at the rules again below. There's a little over 24 hours left to enter the contest!





***DEADLINE IS SATURDAY DECEMBER 12 AT 11:59PM PST!***

Here are the contest rules again just in case we've caught your attention!

This time it's a photo contest--take a gander at the items in my Etsy shop, blog archives, or Facebook fan page and pick one to emulate. It's up to you how elaborate you want to get, but take a picture of yourself acting like one of my figures in whatever way you see fit.

I'll post all entries here on the blog between now and December 12th at midnight. Then we'll have a two day voting period where you can all help decide the winner. Three $100 gift certificates will be awarded in the following categories:
1. most hilarious
2. most creative
3. people's choice

You can enter as many times as you want, but each person who enters can only win one of these gift certificates. The winners will be announced on December 14, 2009.

So get your thinking caps on and send photos to me at bunnywithatoolbelt@gmail.com If you're not in the mood to dress up and look like a fool in front of the whole world, you can always click here and buy a gift certificate for the Bunny with a Toolbelt afficionado in your world.

holiday contest entry #3!!

Okay, folks...we have three entries for three prizes! This one is for one of my favorite pieces, the Succuphant. Thanks for playing--keep those entries coming! Two days left to make it a real competition and win one of my three big prizes! (Rules below the pictures)

***DEADLINE IS SATURDAY DECEMBER 12 AT 11:59PM PST!***

Here are the contest rules again just in case we've caught your attention!

This time it's a photo contest--take a gander at the items in my Etsy shop, blog archives, or Facebook fan page and pick one to emulate. It's up to you how elaborate you want to get, but take a picture of yourself acting like one of my figures in whatever way you see fit.

I'll post all entries here on the blog between now and December 12th at midnight. Then we'll have a two day voting period where you can all help decide the winner. Three $100 gift certificates will be awarded in the following categories:
1. most hilarious
2. most creative
3. people's choice

You can enter as many times as you want, but each person who enters can only win one of these gift certificates. The winners will be announced on December 14, 2009.

So get your thinking caps on and send photos to me at bunnywithatoolbelt@gmail.com If you're not in the mood to dress up and look like a fool in front of the whole world, you can always click here and buy a gift certificate for the Bunny with a Toolbelt afficionado in your world.

holiday contest entry #2!!

A second entry has emerged for my gift certificate challenge! It's a rendition of my brand new Christmas Turtle!

***DEADLINE IS SATURDAY DECEMBER 12 AT 11:59PM PST!***

Here are the contest rules again just in case we've caught your attention!

This time it's a photo contest--take a gander at the items in my Etsy shop, blog archives, or Facebook fan page and pick one to emulate. It's up to you how elaborate you want to get, but take a picture of yourself acting like one of my figures in whatever way you see fit.

I'll post all entries here on the blog between now and December 12th at midnight. Then we'll have a two day voting period where you can all help decide the winner. Three $100 gift certificates will be awarded in the following categories:
1. most hilarious
2. most creative
3. people's choice

You can enter as many times as you want, but each person who enters can only win one of these gift certificates. The winners will be announced on December 14, 2009.

So get your thinking caps on and send photos to me at bunnywithatoolbelt@gmail.com If you're not in the mood to dress up and look like a fool in front of the whole world, you can always click here and buy a gift certificate for the Bunny with a Toolbelt afficionado in your world.

gotta love it!

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago (one of my favorite museums ever!) is selling these fantastic temporary hand tattoos designed by Héctor Serrano. Pick between monsters or animals and let the wild rumpus begin!

holiday contest entry #1!! (deadline extended)

Yippeeee! I just got my first entry to the Bunny with a Toolbelt contest--hard to believe that nobody wants to win one of three $100 gift certificates to my Etsy shop! This entry is an homage to my brand new Hanukkah penguin set, pictured below!


I decided to extend the deadline just a bit, in case you have just gotten motivated to participate. ***NEW DEADLINE IS SATURDAY DECEMBER 12 AT 11:59PM PST!***

Here are the contest rules again just in case we've caught your attention!

This time it's a photo contest--take a gander at the items in my Etsy shop, blog archives, or Facebook fan page and pick one to emulate. It's up to you how elaborate you want to get, but take a picture of yourself acting like one of my figures in whatever way you see fit.

I'll post all entries here on the blog between now and December 12th at midnight. Then we'll have a two day voting period where you can all help decide the winner. Three $100 gift certificates will be awarded in the following categories:
1. most hilarious
2. most creative
3. people's choice

You can enter as many times as you want, but each person who enters can only win one of these gift certificates. The winners will be announced on December 14, 2009.

So get your thinking caps on and send photos to me at bunnywithatoolbelt@gmail.com If you're not in the mood to dress up and look like a fool in front of the whole world, you can always click here and buy a gift certificate for the Bunny with a Toolbelt afficionado in your world.

a custom order for a respectful child

I had a really cool request recently, from a close friend whose daughter is nuts about Duplo blocks. (Think Legos on steroids) She has a lot of animals that were made to accompany the set, but the daughter was sad that there was no bird. Making sure that she knew that it wasn't as durable as the Duplo blocks, I agreed to make her wishes come true.

They gave me a block to use as a template--the hitch is that all the Duplo animals can snap onto the basic four bump unit. I made the base to fit that size and drilled the holes accordingly.

She loved it and played with it for at least six months before the dog got a hold of it. I recently fixed it so she's back in business. Here's a picture of her with bird v.2

And here she is with her entire Bunny with a Toolbelt menagerie! It's nice to know that some children are respectful of the handmade objects in their lives.

three more days to enter the contest!

I have three $100 gift certificates to give away--who wants 'em? Click here to read the details.....and here are a few images for inspiration:

big is beautiful.

don't forget...there's a new section in my Etsy store, especially for BIG pieces. Click here to take a peek!

Kenton Firehouse Sale

Once again I'll be participating in the Kenton Firehouse Sale. If you're in Portland, please stop by!

Participating artists:

Nora Brodnicki -ceramics

Clare Carpenter -paper art and prints

Nancy Cushwa -Jewelry

Robin Epstein- fidel Caps, vintage style aprons and jewelry

Al Flory -Photography

Margaret Gardner -ceramics

Amy Johnston- 50's inspired jewelry

Phebe Miller -ceramics

Sam Morgan-ceramics

Hilary Pfeifer (Bunny with a Toolbelt) -wood figures and cards

LeBrie Rich -felted fun

Suzy Root - fiber

Rebecca Scheer-hand made silver jewelry

Siri Schillios - matted prints & small wall ornaments


Historic Kenton Firehouse is located 6 blocks north of Lombard, make a left at Schofield, and travel 1 block west of Denver to Brandon. Take the Interstate Max to the show! We're only 3 blocks from the Kenton/N.Portland yellow line station.

another contest!

Hey Beautiful Person! Need a little spending cash in the Bunny with a Toolbelt store? I'm having another contest and this time the big prize is not one, not two, but three gift certificates worth $100 each!!

This time it's a photo contest--take a gander at the items in my Etsy shop, blog archives, or Facebook fan page and pick one to emulate. It's up to you how elaborate you want to get, but take a picture of yourself acting like one of my figures in whatever way you see fit.

I'll post all entries here on the blog between now and December 9th. Then we'll have a two day voting period where you can all help decide the winner. The three prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
1. most hilarious
2. most creative
3. people's choice

You can enter as many times as you want, but each person who enters can only win one of these gift certificates. The winners will be announced on December 12, 2009.

So get your thinking caps on and send photos to me at bunnywithatoolbelt@gmail.com If you're not in the mood to dress up and look like a fool in front of the whole world, you can always click here and buy a gift certificate for the Bunny with a Toolbelt afficionado in your world.

calling all cake toppers!

I get a lot of customers who see what I've already made and want it to be slightly altered to match their eye or wedding colors, etc. And then I get some customers who have a hunch I can make something they've never seen before but MUST have. This topper falls into that category.

The request came from a couple who are both police officers and really wanted a cake topper with the bride and groom's heads coming out of the car. I was sent a very detailed drawing and knew I could do it. I redrew it in my style, even though the picture was great--I think of my picture (as well as the Etsy listing) as my contract, so here's my version:


Here's the final result:

I added some tin cans on the back of the car--seemed like the right thing to do.

cute and colorful

Here's another custom order for wedding cake toppers....

gone fishin'

This was a commission from another one of my Florida Gators customers--I'm so pleased with it--I just hope it makes it across the country in one piece! It's for the Groom's Cake, actually, combining the groom's love of Florida Gator Timmy Tebow, and his fondness for fishing with his German Shorthair Pointer.

we interrupt this blog.....

....for a little video fun. enjoy!



(Hey Facebook fans, if you can't see this cool video, click the link that says "original post")

giraffe sighting!

A customer sent me this great picture of my giraffe wedding cake toppers at their appearance on the big day! Mmmmmm...that cake looks GOOD!



photo by Gary Mobbs

The Duck and the Kangaroo

I recently did a special commission for my friend, author Jane Wattenberg, to celebrate the publication of her latest book. Or, in her own words: At last, Edward Lear's fabulous love poem, THE DUCK AND THE KANGAROO, comes to life in a book of it's very own!
“My life is a bore in this nasty pond, and I long to go out in the world beyond. I wish I could hop like you,” said the Duck to the Kangaroo.

Jane Wattenberg weaves Edward Lear's very own paintings of animals (find a turtle, squirrel, parrot and owl), as well as bits of paintings from other naturalist artists 1550-1850, into the pages of her evocative photo-collage illustrations.

This is a beautiful, emotive and loving interspecies romance. Click here to order this book for your very own! And here's the commission I made for her:
Jane also asked me to make a kangaroo with a joey in her pouch. Sweet. I will have to make some more of these for my Etsy store eventually.

Sitka Art Invitational--this weekend!

I have two of my nativity sets in the Sitka Art Invitational this weekend. If you're in the Portland area and want one of these sets while supporting a fantastic organization, here are some of the highlights of this year's show:

Wednesday, November 11th, David Douglas Room, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Art & Text Workshop by Rebecca Wild Wednesday

Thursday, November 12th, David Douglas Room, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Watercolor Elements of Landscape by Molly Hashimoto

Friday, November 13th, Miller Hall, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Opening Night Party with the Artists

Saturday, November 14th, Miller Hall, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Panel Discussion - How do art and nature connect?

Saturday & Sunday, November 14-15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Public Exhibit and Sale

The Sitka Art Invitational is an important source of support for Sitka Center's Workshop and Residency Programs. The Workshop Program provides opportunities for artists to teach and study in workshops from late spring through early fall; the Residency Program offers opportunities for artists to pursue individual research projects from late fall through early spring. If you're moved to contribute to these programs and are not able to attend the Art Invitational, please feel free to donate online.

Vote for Me!!!

Hey Bunny with a Toolbelt fans! My Thanksgiving Set made the cut for Etsy's "Which Item Would Get you in the Kitchen" [to cook your Thanksgiving dinner] weekly vote. Click here and scroll down to the bottom of their page to see my set and cast your vote!

iPod Ghost!

I received this customer appreciation photo from one of the lucky few who bought my trick or treat ghosts--her daughter was inspired and made an iPod ghost buddy to hang out with their new acquisition.

monster wedding!

I got another lovely batch of photos of a wedding I made a custom cake topper for--the couple fell in love with my monster set, but wanted to have it attached to a base that matched the sweet polka dot fabric used for the table settings. To see more beautiful photos of this wedding taken by Dana Grant, click here.