Last Sunset, First Sunrise

We have been talking about going to see the first sunrise of the year for ten years and we finally went to see it this year. It is a Japanese tradition to go see the first sunrise to welcome the new year and contemplate the coming year. In the last few years we’ve realized that life is short. We decided that we should be doing what we have been meaning to do and what we love to do. (Studio Lumio is one of these things.) We bundled up and packed some tea plus a little snack to take with us to a viewpoint in the Pittock Mansion’s grounds where you can see to the east and downtown Portland. When we arrived, there were mostly just photographers and people of Asian descent. The wind was bitterly cold but the beautiful sunrise kept our spirits up. Fortunately, it was a clear day and we were able to get some gorgeous sunrise photos! A lot of photographers were trying to get a clear view of the landscape but we decided to shift focus and incorporate beautiful tree branches as part of the composition. It reminded us of old Japanese woodblock prints. We definitely would like to do this again next year.

 

First Sunrise of 2015

(Bonus) We also were able to see the last sunset of 2014!

Last Sunset of 2014

Julie and Elsie’s Chrsitmas Gift Guide!

Christmas is coming and we thought that all the people could use some help with what kind of presents to get for their stuffed animal and anipal friends! We have put together this gift guide with some great ideas to help them out. Make sure to share it with your Person!

 

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I Am Otter by Sam Garton

 

Our friend I Am Otter has written a wonderful book that is great for bedtime stories or anytime really. It is about how Otter opens a toast restaurant and the exciting adventure they have while Otter Keeper is at work. It has beautiful picture so even if your Person isn’t home to read to you, it is still fun to look at.  Person already got us one so we won’t be getting one for Christmas which is a little bit sad but Person says we can still read our copy on Christmas. You can buy the book at  http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Otter-Sam-Garton/dp/0062247751
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Us reading Otter’s book!

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I Am Otter

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Mini Sleeping Bags

 

In our shop we have little sleeping bags for stuffed animals! The sleeping bags are very snugly and warm and perfect for a cold winter night. I help Person make them so if you want a specific size or color, I will make sure it’s just like you want! We have extra sleeping bags on hand for when our friends come to visit for a slumber party! You can purchase them in our shop at http://www.studio-lumio.com/product-tag/sleepover/

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Toy Sleeping Bag
We are feeling sleepy already….

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It’s a sleepover!

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Teeny Tiny Pets by SuAmi

 

Elsie and I are always wanting new toys and little pets. SuAmi has an Etsy shop with tiny animals that are a perfect size for stuffed animal toys or pets. Elsie wants us to get a bunny one but I like the kitty. I wish there were a zebra one. There are tons to choose from so you should ask your Person to look through them all so you can say which one is your favorite! I like these four best. You can purchase these in SuAmi’s Etsy shop at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SuAmi?ref=l2-shopheader-name

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Our Fastinators

 

Since we know many of us will be going to holiday tea parties, or maybe even Nutcracker or another show, these hats from our shop are perfect for dressing up. I like the red one best but Elsie thinks the pink one is better. The best part is that people can wear them too! Persons may be more inclined to get one for you if you tell them that you’ll share! You can purchase them  in our shop at https://www.studio-lumio.comproduct-tag/hat/

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Fantastic Red Fastinator
Fantastic Red Fastinator

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Fantastic Pink Fastinator
Fantastic Pink Fastinator

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Stuffed Animals by Handy Little Me

 

Perhaps your Person only has one stuffed animal; If that is the case, you may need another one to come live with you this Christmas for a friend. It’s good to have lots of fluffies at your house. It makes planning anipal friendly adventures easier and for convincing humans of things. Handy Little Me makes lots of knitted stuffed animals that your Person should look at. You can buy one on her Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/handylittleme?section_id=5487308&ref=shopsection_leftnav_2.

P.S – Person says you can’t buy friends so you’ll have to be nice to the new stuffed animal after it comes to live with you. I reccommend sharing your chocolate. That’s how I made friends with Elsie when she came to live here.

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Our Origami Paper Dolls

 

I like to play with the Japanese paper dolls that we make here. I usually supervise Person when we make them so they are all very pretty. Person says they are not toys but I think she’s wrong. They are just the right size for stuffed animals to play with and are obviously meant for fun. There are lots to choose from in our shop https://www.studio-lumio.comproduct-tag/japanese/.  The paper crane beads are fun to play with too!

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Japanese Paper Doll

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Scarf & Hat Set by Hats and Hyacinths

 

Since it is getting cold outside, we recommend that all fluffies have something to keep them warm when they go outside to travel for adventures in the winter. Hats and Hyacinths makes some cute hat and scarf sets that we really like. You can get them at her Etsy shop.

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Hats and Hyacinths
Hats and Hyacinths

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Christmas Stockings by Custom Crochet and Yarned Together

 

Every stuffed animal needs a Christmas stocking to hang up for when Santa comes! Custom Crochet makes a little tiny red one that you can get in her shop at customcrochet.   If you’re a little bit bigger than Elsie and I and therefore need a larger one, Yarned Together makes a blue one that you can get at her shop. Christmas stockings are super important!

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Christmas Cooking with Emily Baum and Cooking With Rabbits

 

I like to help Person cook over the holidays but she doesn’t like me getting cookie dough all over. I think this little apron, made by Emily Baum, would be very useful for any anipals that like to cook. It’s pretty too! You can get it at her shop at https://www.etsy.com/listing/172167859/doll-apron?ref=related-1. If you’re a fan of cooking, you should also check out Cooking With Rabbits; Rabbits are the chef, not the meal. They have lots of useful cooking tutorials. They have a fun mug that I like. It’s too big for me but it would remind your Person to go to their website and read the blog to you. You can buy it here http://www.zazzle.com/cooking_with_rabbits_mug-168183174723158503

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Stylish Travel Totes

 

Elsie and I really like to travel and I know many of you do too! It is important that your Person has a handy way of bringing you along on trips. Our Person takes us places in her purse. Sometimes she knows we are coming but other times we just sneak in there when she’s not looking. Anyway, purses can be a great means of travel for anipals so you want to make sure your Person has a stylish purse that is big enough for you to come along! We have some purses in our shop that are very nice for travel. I have sat in each one personally and think they are very cozy for a small animal like me. You can see what we have here https://www.studio-lumio.comproduct-tag/purse/. The best part about this gift is that you can tell your Person that it is a present that you want to get for them! I think this will make most People happy.

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Pink Sunflower
Pink Sunflower

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Pink and Gold Sunset
Pink and Gold Sunset

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If you have questions about any of these gifts or need other ideas, please let me know. You could ask Elsie too but she’s kind of unreliable right now because she’s so excited about Christmas!

 

 

Fall at the Studio

[quote author=”Jill Scott-Hinkle”]Autumn is the root for spring when seeds for life are gathered in and golden, glorious colors spread the future cherry blossoms on the wind.[/quote]

We love fall; Picking pumpkins at the pumpkin patch; Hiking on forest trail’s ablaze with fall colors; PA122940Baking with apples and other fall fruits; Being inspired to create and envision from all the bounty and beauty around us.  We decorated our studio and home with tinny pumpkins as soon as they were available. I look forward to this every year. Heading out to the pumpkin patch and picking just the right ones. I like to bring as much nature indoors as possible because nature is important for our creative process.

Fall is a great time to gather ideas and make plans for artistic endeavors to keep us busy through the winter. This year, we are working on fall inspired paper flowers, Japanese fabric pillows and photographing the autumn colors.

The paper flowers are a new endeavor for us and so much fun. The ones pictured bellow are inspired by black eyed Suzannes. We experimented with several types of stems and finally decided on the pipe cleaners as they capture the fuzzy look of real flowers. Paper is a great medium because it transforms something flat and one dimensional into beautiful art that reflects something real or imagined.

Is fall an inspiring season for you? Tell us what you are creating from the beauty and bounty that surrounds you in the comments section.

(Click on any of the images below for a larger view! Hit Esc key or “X” at the left top when you are done)