How Cool...

Coolhunting.com wrote a piece on STORY's Pitch Night and included a photo of my needle felted animals. I pitched my creations back in October and I was one of a handful whose products were chosen to be sold in STORY.

You could say my pieces are kinda like "Cool Hunting"...just sayin'

What a Hoot!

So, my friend Phil Kessler (who happens to be a fantastic photographer...see his stuff HERE), needed an easy craft for his son Lucas to make for his classmates. Not only did it have to be inexpensive, but also not gender-specific. So, I suggested my Paper Tube Owls. Look what fun they had!

Paper Tube Owls How-To

These toilet paper roll owls are a hoot to make with the kids. You can use construction paper, feathers, wrapping paper, newspaper, felt, markers or fabric. The sky is the limit for these owls!

Click here for How-To video.

This is the Story...

Here's a little piece on me and my needle felted animals that are being sold at STORY in NYC

Paper Moon

With school projects upon us, here's a simple video tutorial on how to make a papier mache moon. Use these skills to make any of the planets!

Happy Halloween!

Oh, a good ole' Martha Stewart idea. Click here to do it yourself.!

For the BIrds - Bird Houses with Edible Glue

My husband and I love to feed the birds in the fall and winter months. We really enjoy watching all sorts of species gather at the feeder. One of the projects recently requested for an Ehow.com video was "How to make edible glue for birdhouses."  Click here to view.

These birdhouses are so much fun to do with the kids and they make the cutest housewarming gift!

Winner of Fab's Call for Designers Contest 2013

"More than 100 designers from around the globe descended on the Big Apple in May 2013 with the hopes of turning their big idea into the next big thing on FAB. We chose nine innovative designs to produce and sell to our millions of members."  My design was one of them!!!

I garden a decent amount and I somehow always misplace my little shovel to scoop out dirt from a bag or from a hole....well, if you had a pair of WEBBED GARDENING GLOVES, you might not need that little shovel. The webbing allows more dirt to be scooped out and less to fall through your fingers. I presented this to a panel of judges (along with 2 other ideas they almost went with) and my webbed gardening gloves will be produced and sold on FAB.com sometime next year. They have millions of members...ah, yeah!

I'm feeling the Glove

The Subway Hooker

I never considered myself a germaphobe, but perhaps I've become one. I try hard not to hold onto the subway poles, so I came up with The Subway Hooker.  I'm trying to have it produced by Quirky.com and I need your votes to make it happen. VOTE HERE!

The Subway Hooker is a device you hold and hook onto subway/bus poles to protect your hands from touching the germ-infested poles.

The Problem

These days consumers are very aware of keeping germs at bay and staying healthy. There is antiseptic gel everywhere!

Well, what to do when you ride the subway or bus and have to hold onto the poles that millions, ok, maybe thousands have held onto before you? Thousands that haven't washed their hands, thousands that went to the bathroom and didn't clean up, thousands that have the flu and just sneezed into their hands? You get The Subway Hooker.

The Solution

The Subway Hooker is a device you hold onto and hook onto the poles so you can protect your hands from those nasty germs. This device also allows a rider to stand steady while in transit.

It could be made of a molded plastic, with grips on the inside of the hook and on the handle. It could come in different colors or patterns. The handle may even screw off to hold loose change, a metro card, your favorite lipstick or pepper spray. Perhaps the hook pivots. It could fold into the handle making it more compact. Or maybe it’s a simple hook with a fabric strap. It would be a great souvenir with the city name right on the handle.

People will be saying “Hey, don’t leave home without your Subway Hooker!” “Where can I get a Subway Hooker?” or “How much did you pay for your Subway Hooker?"

Toys R Us Lunch Bag designed by Linda Facci

A couple of years ago I had a simple idea for a kids lunch bag. An insulated bag that you can write on and wipe off.


Parents could jot down what’s in their kid’s lunch bag, remind them of an upcoming test, or just write “I Love You”.
 
Kids could doodle, practice their spelling, play tic-tac-toe or insert their favorite photo or drawing in the clear pocket.

To make a long story short - I was very fortunate to partner with Toys R Us and I'm proud to announce my lunch bags are being sold in their stores this back-to-school season. They are insulated, have two writable surfaces, a clear pocket flap that protects your kids masterpiece, a marker and a detachable handy felt pouch that doubles as an eraser. They come in a purple/pink animal pattern for girls and a black and white graffiti design for boys.  

So, stop by your local Toys R Us and get your lunch bag now! While supplies last :)

Toys R Us Lunch bag by Facci Designs

Magnolia Bakery & Ice Cream Sandwiches! Photos by Linda Facci :)

Part of my job at Magnolia Bakery is to photograph our new products...and I get to eat them afterwards...well, someone has to do it. I had so much fun photographing our new gourmet ice cream sandwiches. Today, the Daily News highlighted them in their New York Eats section. Stop by our Rockefeller, Columbus and Bleecker locations to get your frozen treats... just in time for summer!

 

 

Logo Time - Domestic Dry Goods Company

I got the chance to work on a cool logo for a new store opening this August in Rye Brook, NY. It's called Domestic Dry Goods Company. All or their goods are of uncommon and superior quality, some even hand crafted, but all made in America. Be sure to visit their site and their store.

I love what Erin Hinchey is doing with my graphics. Here are a couple of images she recently sent me.

Jeff Probst Show

If you don't have any plans this Friday, June 28th at 2:00. Tune into the Jeff Probst show on NBC. Gene and I were interviewed about "happily married couples living apart".

Needle Felted Mounted Animals

 

 

Needle Felted Muskox

Needle felting has become an obsession with me lately. It's a combination of sculpting, needle work, sewing, hairstyling :)...all the things I love to do!

There are tons of needle felted dogs, mice, rabbits and such out on the world wide web, so I wanted to do something a little different. Here are two in a series of 5 that I've created. I put a little gold leaf on the horns and mounted them on a plaque. They measure about 4-5 inches in height. I make the horns out of sculpey clay.

Needle Felted Oryx/Jumping Antelope

Ehow.com Craft Videos

About 2 months ago I was approached by EHOW.com to create a series of craft videos. I'm happy to say they have gone live. You can now learn "how to poke a hole in an egg" to "how to tie a no-sew tutu" I know, exciting stuff.

You can view them here. 

No Sew Tutu

A Moose Spotted in Central Park

I needle felted this little guy last year and took some pix of him in the park. He stands about 4 inches tall and I sculpted his antlers out of clay.

I'm in the process of felting a custom bride & groom squirrel wedding topper. Will post when I complete it.

A needle felted moose enjoys his walk through Central Park.

Pipe and Rustic Wood Bookshelf

I wanted a unique shelving unit for my living room. Something rustic and industrial-like. But, I didn't want to spend the kind of money they were asking for. So Gene and I decided to design and build it ourselves. Below are some pix of the process

 

Laying out the pipe in Lowe's

Couldn't find these in black so we spray painted them

 

Gene happen to have 2 beautiful, long pieces of wood that we cut in half

4 pcs of wood ready to be sanded and sanded and sanded...

Staining the wood. In retrospect, we wish we used something ligher...oh well

Assembling the shelf

Switch-a-Roo

For years family and friends suggested I switch my living room with my bedroom. My bedroom was light & airy and larger than the dark, small living room I mostly hung out in. Well, I took their advice and did it.

I love the switch. Here are some before and after pictures of the new living room.

Before

After

I love this shelf unit my husband and I designed and built

I'm such a dumpster diver

Glittered Eggs

I attended a Design Sponge Easter egg decorating party last week.

Here are some of my creations. Tons of fun!

Brooklyn Craft Camp

Last Saturday I attended the Brooklyn Craft Camp. I had so much fun, met some great people and discovered some new crafting techniques.

I took a class in paper flowers.

I learned the techniques of print making.

 

Had a wonderful lunch.

And got to make my own terrarium.

A Rose is a Rose...

is a Rose.

These lovely paintings are painted by my husband's niece, Rose Gironda. I love her style and colors. They are all for sale!

Check them out.

 

 

There's a Mouse in the House...

and a rabbit, a cat, a bear...

Here are a couple of my felted projects. To see more, check out the Etsy link on the far right. And stay tuned for my felted African animals.

Over the Hill

Gene and I sledding on New Year's Day. Happy New Year everyone!