Merry Christmas!

Here are some pics from the Gobbledygook Creature Decor Employee Christmas Party.

Brett cooking up some goodies for the party.

Tamera making festive party hats 'cause it ain't a real party unless you are sporting a crazy hat.

Brett scarfing down the munchies and Tamera partying a little too hard. If only it wasn't just sparkling pear juice... and notice the lovely hats?

Merry Christmas and Happy Decorating!

Christmas Carrots

The Murray family is at it again! They sent me some photos of their carrots arranged in their Christmas tree. How cute is that?!? I tell you, that family is creative. Enjoy!

One more post for the road

Today is the last day of National Blog Posting Month and since we started a few days late, we felt we should try to post 30 times anyway.

Running a small business and trying to manage post office runs, creating inventory, listing on Etsy and checking our website sales, plus trying to be creative and write a worthwhile post everyday is tough!

It will be nice for our customers to look at this past month to know a little bit more about the people who make Gobbledygook Creature Decor happen. We try to give you the best quality products at a fair price. We also try to have fun during the process. Getting to make connections through craft fairs, websites, and friends has been lovely and we hope that this continues. And perhaps more people will stumble upon this blog and be inspired to get a little more daring when it comes to dressing things up for the holidays/seasons.

Thanks, and please continue to check the blog for decorating ideas and behind-the-scene tidbits. Not having to post everyday will allow more time to be dedicated towards the how-tos, which should be fun.

Happy decorating,
Brett and Tamera

Bonus gifties

Another holiday treat to our customers... random packages shipped through Etsy.com during the month of December will contain a special gifty from Gobbledygook Creature Decor. Might be one of our items, might be an item from another Etsy shop - whatever you get will be handmade, so the possibilities are endless!

Yet another reason to buy handmade this holiday season!

Get 'em while they last!

For a very limited time, a few discounted sets of Veggie Folk will be available at our Etsy
shop: www.gobbledygookdecor.etsy.com. There is nothing wrong with the trio you will receive, they just cost a little less as a holiday gift to you! Each set contains a Veggie Folk carrot, red onion, and potato.

Once they are gone, we will not be listing another discounted set for awhile. So if you are waiting for a good time to grab some vegetables, do it now :)

Progression in Pictures

Some the earlier goblin designs. Enjoy!

Need opinions, people!

Okay, blog readers - how many of you would want to have your own specially designed Veggie Folk? Do you think this would be a good offering? How you get one free entry and then more bonus entries if you buy a Veggie Folk during a certain time period?

Need some thoughts. Also, Gift Gobbler reveal will be delayed a bit longer due to Tamera being rather ill. Sorry, folks, but she'll get right to it once she is back to normal.

Remember, the custom Veggie Folk giveaway is just an idea right now and we'll be more likely to go forward with it if we get some positive feedback :)

We've gone international!

Do you see this cute photo? Do you know where it was taken? No, well let me tell you - Israel! That's right, someone from Israel found our goodies on Etsy and purchased a Veggie Folk Carrot. That cute little thing next to the carrot can be found for sale at http://www.raisinlike.etsy.com/. Take a peek at her hamsters, they are furry and too adorable :)

Okaaaaaaaaaay, the picture will have to wait. Got some technical issues going on, but give us a day or two. While you are waiting, please feel free to send us some of your own images of Gobbledygook products.

How it all started

When we first began Gobbledygook Creature Decor all we made were goblins. The little monsters have evolved over the years with the very first set created by Brett for a Halloween display. After some encouragement from Tamera and his family to make more, a new body was created and molds for heads, hands, and feet were formed.

We decided to start Gobbledygook and try to sell goblins online after many people complimented our creations. About 1 year after we unveiled our original website we decided that we wanted to expand our product line.

We spent many hours studying business plans, discussing product lines, and creating prototypes. Add in some more hours learning about web designs, taking photos, and creating dozens of creatures for craft shows, our website, and Etsy.com.

Someday, we hope Gobbledygook will become our full-time job. In the meantime, we just need to keep plugging away to make that happen.

Doodle Expansion

Winter Doodles will also be offered at Etsy.com by the beginning of next week! Yea, Etsy!

Goblins a plenty

The Blessed Bee Boutique in Kenosha currently has 4 - that's right - 4 goblins in stock. 2 forest (one is on hold), a village, and a cave. If you live in the area and are interested in seeing one of the buggers close up, now is the time. You can also avoid costly shipping fees:)

Eat your veggies

The wonderful Murray family of Pleasant Prairie kindly took photos of their carrots for me. I occasionally babysit for them and was delighted to find their carrots were regular members of the kitchen table setting.

Tamera

Happy Thanksgiving!

Taking a quick break from all the festivities to wish everyone Happy Thanksgiving. Brett is currently waiting for his turkey to cook - his first! Business as usual shall resume tomorrow and I will hopefully have some pictures to include with the post.
Tamera

A rose by any other name...

Fabulous Valency has been checking out our blog and leaving comments lately. You should take a peek at her blog - www.fabulousvalency.blogspot.com. She found us by using the randomizer at the NaBloPoMo website and is one of the only reasons I keep trying to post daily because I know she is reading this blog, bless her heart.

Anyway, she wanted to know where we got the name Gobbledygook. Honestly, I just liked the word while Brett and I were brainstorming for a business name and he thought it suited us, too. It is just a fun, seldom-used word that I have always been fond of. Yeah, I know it means nonsense, but it is a solid word that makes me think of medieval villages and a time where people thought creatures that are similar to what we create truly existed.

Brett thinks I have a knack for names due to my constant reading and love of language. True, I am addicted to the printed word and dig trying out new lingo, but I don't fancy myself as having a talent. I do have a sister who occasionally tells me that I don't talk like a normal person, I use too many "fancy" words. Frankly, I don't see it, or rather hear it. Though I aware of it in my writing, usually when I concentrate on creating a passage that needs to have a certain tone.

When we are naming products we like to think of words that are associated with an aspect of the item. Winter Doodles looked liked something that kids would draw, kids doodle, and there you go. And Candy Keepers just sounds cooler than trick-or-treat bag, right? We try to each contribute to naming products, though I am rather particular. If a name doesn't sound right, I get a bit fussy and won't allow us to use it until all possible options have been evaluated. Then Brett gets irritated with me for being so picky, but what usually happens is that he likes the new name better, too. Though, I like it best when we both automatically agree on a name, like Brett's pick of Hasp for one of our Candy Keepers. It was pretty much a done deal when he suggested it.

Brett also wanted me to explain how my parents' dog got his name because he thinks it is a prime example of my name-giving talent. We were eating a family meal about 7 or 8 years ago, I think Thanksgiving dinner, when my younger sister and I started pestering our parents about getting another dog. I think I just wanted to play with a puppy because I didn't even live at home anymore. I told them to get the puppy and name him Artichoke, but we can call him Artie for short. They come home a day or two later with the tiniest chocolate lab pup I have ever seen. And what did they name him? Artichoke Jones (Jones is the nickname of a nickname that was given to me by one of my friends - long story). I think the name totally sold them and people always compliment on how original it is.

In closing, thanks Valency for giving me a post idea!
Tamera

Not much new...

Well, no new info to post tonight, but I must post as I've signed up for NaBloPoMo.

Wait, we got our mini Moo cards today! Super wonderful little cards - see Moo post - that are very reasonably priced. Love the fact you can see a product on one side and have the business info on the reverse. And it is officially Brett's birthday.

Happy Birthday, ya old fart!

Brett's birthday is tomorrow and I am posting birthday wishes tonight because I am feeling nasty sick and may not crawl out of bed in the morning. Please feel free to leave him a little b-day shout out in the comments section.

So Brett, have a super duper birthday of sleeping in, eating whatever you want, and picking some killer songs with the iTunes gift card. Oh, and make sure you work on Gobbledygook business too :)

Happy Birthday!
Tamera

Fun with mannequins

We do not have a fancy, high tech set-up here at Gobbledygook. Most our things are created in Brett's basement, with the exception of sewn stuff which is done in Tamera's apartment. Our families are supportive and lend us items when we need them : cash boxes, collapsible chairs, bushel baskets, mannequins. I know, how many families have mannequins lying around?

Well, if you can think of an item, chances are Tamera's family has it. Might take a phone call or two, but they got a lot of odd things. Anyway, Tamera hated the Winter Doodle shirt pictures that were put on Etsy, so she called a sister and borrowed the top half of her mannequin. We set it up in Brett's yard and the new shirt pictures are way better than the original ones.

In preparation for the photos, Tamera had to comb out "Trixie's" black bob wig. She put it over Brett's hoodie covered head and started combing away. Brett thought it would be funny to pretend the combing hurt because Tamera mentioned she didn't have to be gentle since the hair wasn't attached to a real head. Needless to say, Tamera fell for the "ows" and mild whimpering Brett produced as she combed the wig each and every time because she is a huge dork and forgot it was a only a wig.

Did you know - part two

Brett is allergic to avocados?
Tamera loves "Ugly Betty?"
Brett gets up somewhat early on Saturdays to watch "Batman" the cartoon?
Tamera regularly takes her dogs out wearing her pajamas and slippers?
Brett can design and build furniture?
Tamera worked as a reporter for a newspaper when she was in high school?

In the works

Keep checking the Gobbledygook Creature Decor website for Gift Gobblers! They should be up soon :)

Tees are up

Long sleeve Winter Doodle shirts are up over at Etsy! Two for right now with a few more coming this weekend. We will have adult and kid sizes. Working on a fairy design as well, so be on the lookout for those within the next few weeks.

The direct link to our Etsy shop is: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5124102.
Happy decorating!

Super Maggie

Yes, another post about another business that is super cool. I promise we will be posting another how-too soon, plus Brett will have pics of me messing around with screenprinting, so you'll get a behind the scenes look. You should see our set-up for screenprinting. It is all very state-of-the-art with me slopping screens around on top of his washer and dryer in the basement.

Anyway, if you like wicked cool screen printed shirts, you MUST go to www.supermaggie.com. I would buy one of everything if I could afford it. Her shirts have versatile designs. Great with jeans or wear them to work. All my shirts get tons of compliments and I am eyeing up one of her hand-felted wraps. They have designs for men, too. Brett happens to have an octopus shirt... I wonder who bought that for him?

Maggie makes the goods and Michael answers the phones, emails, helps with orders, and is just an all-around nice guy. They are another business that I approached for advice and Michael bowled me over with his kind words and offer to be of more assistance if needed. It must have something to do with screen printers because Hannah and the folks at Super Maggie have been super nice. Now go buy an awesome hoodie from supermaggie.com and wear it with a cute skirt from madewithlovebyhannah.com! Why are you still reading? Go shop, people!
Tamera

Moo

Let's talk about another fun little site - Moo.com. They specialize in printing personalized greeting cards, notecards, stickers, and little moo cards. The little moo cards are about half the size of business cards and have text on one size with the image of your choice on the other.

We ordered some of the little moo cards last week and they should be arriving at the end of this week. The coolest thing about these cards is that you get 100 cards in a pack and each one can have a different image. Tamera wanted to go crazy and do 100 different images for Gobbledygook, but she didn't have time. We can't wait for the cards to arrive from London, where Moo is based out of. Go check their site and buy a set of Christmas cards with one of Brett's designs on it while you are looking around.

Hannah Rocks!

Normally we post about Gobbledygook Creature Decor business, but today I must give a shout out to Hannah at http://www.madewithlovebyhannah.com/. She makes super cute clothes - skirts, jackets, and shirts. Her products are well-made and have lovely designs. I own an Apple Pickin' skirt and another limited edition skirt that always get compliments.

The reason we are posting about Hannah is because she is one of those great people you meet on the web. She has purchased all three of our Veggie Folks plus a pond dweller and has been a source for business information. In the main stream business world it can be very "every man for themselves", but Hannah has been so helpful and friendly. Actually, a lot of people in the crafty world are willing to lend a hand, which is so refreshing, but she has been especially kind.

So, go to her website, buy her stuff, and support handmade! Yea, Hannah!
Tamera

Officially up

Winter Doodles are now up on the www.gcdecor.com site. They look adorable grouped together in a little scene. Winter Doodles can be purchased in a set or individually.

We can't believe Christmas is just around the corner! Moo.com is having a holiday card design contest and you can check out some of Brett's designs on the Flickr link. He is listed as brettcmich. He has a wide variety of designs and maybe you'll discover the perfect one for your family card :)

Harder then it looks

Writing a new post everyday is turning into quite a challenge. Winter Doodles will be up on www.gcdecor.com tomorrow and the screen for our shirt came out beautifully! The shirts look lovely so far and we are looking forward to sending them off to new homes.

Retailers, here we come!

We are very pleased to announce that Gobbledygook Creature Decor products are now being sold at the Blessed Bee Boutique in Kenosha, Wisconsin! Go visit the wonderful Lucy and check out Veggie Folk, Pond Dwellers, and some of our goblins.

Lucy also has a great variety of other products including kilts, mead making supplies, incense, Native American jewelry, clothing, accessories and more! Stop in and get a tarot card reading, take a belly dancing class, or just hang by the cozy fireplace.

Friendly Reminder

Gobbledygook still needs ideas for a 2 person company holiday party. Come on, people! Don't make us actually think and plan it ourselves!

Winter Product

I am very excited that we will be posting one of new winter products on the website soon. They are a bit hard to describe; basically, they are little sculptures you can place around the house for the holidays. We are calling them Winter Doodles, as they resemble doodles someone made in a notebook. There will be 4 doodles this year - a polar bear, penguin, reindeer, and pine tree.

Pictures will be up within the next couple of days. Brett is working on getting a few more photos and we still need to get the boxes for shipping them.

As for the shirts, burning the screen is proving to be a huge PAIN, however, we will probably be able to list them on Etsy.com next week. Remember, Veggie Folk Red Onions were just listed on our Etsy store and while you are there, have a look around the other cool stores.
Tamera

Overheard at Craft Fairs

• Are these carrots dehydrated?
• Did you just glue eyeballs on these vegetables?
• I could totally make something better than this.
• Dude, it that thing really moving by itself?
• Are those real?

A little help?

Gobbledygook Creature Decor would like to have a Christmas party for our staff this year, but we need some help on what to plan. Granted, there are only two employees, but we would like to do a little something for the holidays. Any and all ideas are welcome, but let's keep them on the cheaper side.

And if you are wondering why we are posting blogs so much lately, Tamera signed us up for National Blog Posting Month. Basically you try to post once a day, every day, for the month of November. Makes us more aware of the blog so we don't neglect it. Remember, Christmas party ideas wanted, folks!

Big Bully

Our newest Veggie Folk will be for sale soon on Etsy.com. He is a cranky red onion and is the bully of the garden. The red onion is always ticked off because he is so stinky. He tends to take his frustration out on the more timid vegetables, so make sure he isn't allowed to push your tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, or lettuce around.

Did you know?

Did you know...

• that Brett is color blind?
• that Tamera has double-jointed thumbs?
• that Brett likes Indiana Jones and Star Wars movies?
• that Tamera is afraid of cats?
• that Brett thinks Batman is way cooler than Superman? Tamera wholeheartedly agrees!
• that Gobbledygook Creature Decor is going to be posting hand screen-printed shirts on Etsy.com within the next two weeks?

HOW TO - Make a creepy corn field

This simple display is especially eerie at night!

Supplies Needed:
Scarecrow (see scarecrow kit at www.gobbledygookdecor.com), 4 or more bundles of dried corn stalks, hammer, wooden stake with flat top
Optional:
Carved pumpkins, outdoor floodlights, extension cord, fog machine


Step 1: Pick a nice spot in your yard for your corn field. We recommend an area that is somewhat sheltered from the wind. Grab your trusty hammer and wooden stake and begin pounding holes into the grass. The amount of rows and space between holes depends on how thick you'd like your corn field to appear.
Step 2: After you have made all of your holes, start firmly inserting the bottom of each corn stalk into a hole. Make sure you shove the stalk deep enough into the ground so the corn stalk does not topple over.
Step 3: Set up your scarecrow in front of or in the middle of your new corn field.
Step 4: For an extra spooky effect, set up outdoor floodlights to shine on your scarecrow at night. Place the lights at the base of the scarecrow and have them shine upwards. You can also add lighted jack-o-lanterns around the base of the corn field and hide a fog machine towards the back of the display to simulate a foggy night.