Fat Panda

The Summer Olympics in Beijing starts in August, and this panda is ready! He's been eating lots and lots of bamboo. I think he over-did it a little (look how chubby he is!), but he insists it's all part of his "training."

Fat Bears - new design

Fat bears are soft, round and cuddly! Shown here in the eco-friendly version (100% cotton towel, stuffed with fiberfill that is corn-based), and the regular version (faux fur and stuffed with polyester fiberfill).

My first big plush commission!

NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) asked me to create 8 plush versions of their new characters, the Uh-Ohs, for an upcoming trade show. The Uh-Ohs are little block characters that are cute, curious and careless. They always get into trouble and kids have to make sure to keep them safe. Check out the web site for more info about the Uh-Ohs: http://theuhohs.org

This job was a big undertaking, but I had a lot of fun creating them. They're just so adorable. I kept the original for my collection (I made some slight modifications to the design before I completed the entire order of 8) and I currently have him riding in the passenger seat of my car. He's not wearing his seat belt, of course, in true Uh-Oh fashion. :)

South End Open Market - May 17 & 18

It's that time again - The South End Open Market kicks off its new season this weekend. Come on by and see me and Gubicza. We'll be selling Zooguu animals, Dr. Perfect's plush (designed by Gubicza and sewn by me), Illustration prints, and Gubicza's paper puppets! It should be a great event with a ton of super cool vendors.

More info can be found here.

Hope to see you there - stop by and say hi!

Fat Octopus

I'm finally offering a "choose your color" octopus in the shop.

It's been almost 3 years since I've made an octopus. Oddly enough, Gubicza and I were surprised how much it looks like Dr. Perfect. It's the same design, but for some reason we weren't expecting it to look so similar.

One of my favorite things about this design is the footy-pajama bottom. It really completes the octopus look and is also lots of fun to hold.

NEW! Fat Fugu (Pufferfish)

My newest item is Fat Fugu. I've wanted to make a pufferfish for a long time, and finally got my chance with a recent custom order! I like this guy so much I want to keep him for myself. He makes me smile every time I look over at him.

I'm thrilled that Etsy brought back its Alchemy feature (you can request custom items from sellers who opt-in to receive requests). It makes it so much easier to manage my shop and the ongoing requests.

Sweetestpea, Etsy & Martha Stewart

Tune into Martha Stewart Living this Friday, February 29 to see a feature on Etsy.com.

I'm told that my animals will be shown during this feature, so keep your eyes peeled!

Read more about this and check for local station times in the Etsy News.

Softies Kit by Therese Laskey

My penguin made it to the cover! The book isn't out yet, but it looks like you can pre-order it from Amazon.

Recent Press - U.S. News & World Report

In the current issue of U.S. News & World Report, you will see me mentioned in the article titled, "Avoid Recalls: Make Your Own Toys." It's a small paragraph, but my tricky last name is spelled correctly, and my Etsy username is also mentioned. It's part of the larger issue that features 50 ways to improve your life. This article talks about how you can make your own toys. You never know how much of your interview will make it in the press, and I was hoping to encourage others to try toy making. Here's the text about me:

{Cuddlier creations are also in the realm of possibility, says Jen Gubicza, 28, another Etsy.com seller whose specialty as "sweetestpea" is chubby animals. Making toys such as her signature penguins and hedgehogs involves some effort, and the finished product probably won't look as polished as toy store stuff—even graphic designer Gubicza describes her first attempt as "lumpy." But the toy is bound to be more memorable. "No one else has this. It's one of a kind," she says.}

Read The Entire Article
Illustration by Travis Foster for USN&WR

A very Dr. Perfect Christmas to you!

It was a great Christmas for Dr. Perfect. He got many wonderful, handmade gifts this year. Here's a sampling of the great presents.

In the lower left hand corner, you might be able to spot his tentacle stocking. Yes, I made him a stocking this year with footy-pajama material on the back. It was filled with yummy treats.

The pajamas were by far the biggest hit. Mimi Kirchner graciously donated the fabric. Dr. Perfect has been asking for "foreclosed property" pajamas for months. Long story. Basically, he likes watching infomercials late at night. ;)

I hope you all had a wonderful day!