Tweet Tweet - Beautiful Bird Thermies

Who doesn't love birds? Well, actually my sister doesn't. I think it's weird since they are so pretty and sing such nice songs and can FLY! My sister would say that they make loud noises when she is trying to sleep and they are dirty! She should really change her viewpoint and opinion of birds because it ultimately lands her a really nice bird calendar every year!!! Ha ha, Sister!!

Okay, enough of that. The etsy shop is almost open (waiting on one last piece of info) so I wanted to post some of the bird sketches that inspired the bird Thermies. Not only are these bird Thermies going to keep your cold feet warm, they are going to be super cute sitting next to your pillow every day waiting to be warmed up when you go to bed!

Are you ready for color yet? I bet you are getting sick of looking at sketches. Here are a few examples of the bird Thermies that were ultimately created from the sketches. Aren't they adorable?!

I will let you know when the shop is officially open for business so you can rush out and get a few Thermies for you or as a gift! Thanks for stopping by!

Ninja & Lucha Libre Thermie Sketches

Does anyone else have a little piece of paper taped to the side of their computer with the millions of user names and passwords necessary to function in everyday life? And if that little piece of paper ever got lost would you curl up and cry for three weeks? I think I would rather have my identity stolen than lose that little piece of paper! Okay, maybe not, but still I would be a complete disaster if that thing got lost!! I use extra sticky tape for insurance!! Ha!

On that note, completely unrelated, why not combine ninja and lucha libre to make fun mask Thermies? Here are a few sketches:

I mention the user names and passwords because little did I know the amount of detail that goes into an Etsy shop. I've mentioned this before but for all you out there who want to post a few items 'quick' and make a few bucks, be warned that there is definitely more than meets the eye. I'm certainly not trying to discourage anyone but please do your homework. It's a lot of work! And a lot of accounts to set up with, yes, more user names and passwords.

Since we have two little kickin' ninja at our house Eric thought it was fitting to make some ninja/lucha libre inspired thermies. Ninja are everywhere and if you have any small-ish boys in your life you have certainly heard of TMNT (Teenage Muntant Ninja Turtles for those of you who live in a cave) and Lego Ninjago!

I will be posting finished Thermies soon! Also, the Etsy shop should be opening in the next week and a half!

Cats! Meow!

This category is ironic to me simply because Eric (thermies designer) is highly allergic to cats. Eek! However, he said they were very entertaining to make even though he can never officially be around them. Here are a few sketches. Meow!

My favorite thing about cats is that everyone has a cat story. Even if it isn't their own cat they have a story to tell about a naughty cat that did something funny, strange or mean! I know you are thinking of it right now! Share your story in our comments, we would love to hear it!

A bit mischievous I do think!

I was just talking to a friend the other day who is ordering our set of four cats for her boss as a personalized gift who has 'cat' everything! It's not officially a personalized gift in the way that it has her name on it but it is a personalized gift in that she loves cats. A great gift idea in that sense!

Thermies (our Etsy shop) is getting closer and closer to opening! We have heard for a long time....oh, you should just open an Etsy shop. There are many more steps involved then I expected but we're getting there!

Thermies Inspiration

I can do a lot of crafty things well, but I can't draw. It's as simple as that. I simply can't translate what's in my head to what I want on paper so I'm always amazed and extremely impressed when I ask my husband, Eric, to draw something specific and...BOOM!...it's on the paper in a matter of seconds! Just from memory. 

Here is a sampling of some of the sketches Eric has done from the Woodland Creature category. Keep reading to find out a brief history of Eric!

Eric started drawing when he was very small and from many stories I've heard found himself frequently lost in his sketchbook for hours on end. He knew early on that he wanted to be an artist (of some kind) and gained more interest and technique from his grandmother who loved to paint with him. In my opinion it's a gift to be talented like this but Eric would probably say that he has been moved by comics, graphic novels and art historical movements that inspires his creative output.

Eric did eventually become an 'artist'. He majored in painting and minored in graphic design at the University of Arizona (Go Wildcats!), quickly started a career as a graphic designer and ended up owning his own business for many years. Later he decided to go back for his MFA in graphic design at the UW Madison (Go Badgers! He doesn't know which side he's on anymore!) to become a professor of graphic design which he is today. This is in fact his 'dream job'.

The photos you see are a sampling of some of the pages in Eric's sketchbook for thermies! We are starting with fun categories including: woodland creatures, bugs & insects, mischievous cats, ninja & lucha libre, beautiful birds and personalized gift thermies. We will be adding more creatures in the near future when I get the Etsy shop open.

These sketches are just a starting point for the final designs of thermies. Drawings are scanned and drawn over in Illustrator, made into layers and pieces and eventually filled with color. That makes it sound fast and easy, doesn't it? From watching, I can tell you that Eric makes it look easy but the process certainly isn't fast. There is much care and consideration that goes into each thermie design. We want to put only a unique and thoughtful handcrafted item in a customer's hands that will use and love their thermie on a regular basis!

We are very much enjoying the process and fabrication of thermies and hope you enjoy hearing and learning about it too!