Hoboville

Top Secret!

2011-09-12T16:40:00.007-10:00

Hobocat trying out the latest in feline stealth technology.
Perfect for launching attacks on the ankles of unsuspecting victims.

Evolution of an Etsy Shop: Part II

2011-08-15T00:59:00.012-10:00

I joined Etsy on September 30, 2005, just a few months after the site first launched. I had been searching desperately for an alternative to eBay, which had always felt like such a vast and impersonal place to sell my artwork. I remember how excited I was when I came across a website specifically focused on handmade arts and crafts, because it felt like for the first time, I finally had a warm and cozy spot on the internet to call home. I had no expectations and no business plans, but I knew that this was the place I wanted to be . . . but what was I going to sell? I ended up going through several phases before landing on the whole "rubber stamp" idea, and waaaay back in the beginning I actually had a shop full of paintings and prints.

This was my very first sale on Etsy. A print of my "Secret Garden" painting.

A "Little Deer" painting on wood. Look familiar?

Unfortunately, I draw and paint very, very slowly. Actually, I seem to do everything very slowly . . . from walking to eating and even brushing my teeth. Anyway, this also makes me too slow to make a living coming up with new artwork every week, so I was forced to think of a better way . . .

Stamp Storage System

2011-07-22T04:24:00.002-10:00

My current stamp storage system situation is in need of some upgrading. I have too many stamps made and not enough drawers to hold them all. I'd really like to improve my efficiency through better organization in some way. I just have no idea how!

Interspecies Friendship II

2011-07-18T04:28:00.000-10:00

Interspecies Friendship

2011-07-08T21:48:00.008-10:00

Hoborooster + Hobocat

Crazy Llama

2011-06-07T15:03:00.003-10:00

A Love Story

2011-05-26T15:33:00.008-10:00

This is a video I made many, many years ago, back when I was still in art school and had an obsessive fascination with stop motion animation. I totally thought it was the bee's knees, and I just had to try it out for myself. I must warn you that I am in no way an expert in film or animation so I admit that the result is a bit rough/clumsy (example: the scene with the macaroni pieces is supposed to say "NO", but from the audience p.o.v. it looks like "ON"! bahaha!), but I still remember having so much fun making it. I am currently going back to school to become an RN, and I really miss those days when I had the free time to experiment and do things, you know, just because! :-)

It was inspired by/an homage to one of my childhood favorites . . . Johnny Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet. The Andrews Sisters! Hats with eyelashes! How could anyone resist?

xoxo,
Nicole

For all the book lovers out there . . .

2011-04-16T13:36:00.005-10:00

Now in my etsy shop. :-)

Pleistocene Megafauna

2011-04-02T04:16:00.007-10:00

Giant Sloth, Wooly Mammoth, Sabre-Toothed Tiger

Mega and mini sized things are cool. Regular sized...not so much.

(p.s. please disregard the awful handwriting)

:-)

Happy Day :-)

2011-03-28T20:19:00.004-10:00

F.B.I. (From Big Island)

2011-02-16T23:05:00.006-10:00

'Straight From the 8-0-8, Big Island Style' by littlemaikoboutique

A collection of items created by talented artisans from the place I call home - the Big Island of Hawaii <3

CARLY Triple Knobby... smittenforyou $22.00	Repurposed Kau Coff... ManilaExtract $45.00	Hawaiian Petroglyph... doublebrush $5.20	MALAMA KE KAI ON ET... sistercreation $49.00
PRIMO blue Stroller... BeloBe $40.00	Girls A Line Peasan... HotLavaClothin... $38.00	Hapuna Beach in Win... bytheseasoaps $5.50	Natural Coral, Aqua... adornedbythese... $36.00
Indigo Bell Flower ... MEtoYOUbyRache... $12.00	Baby Wild Boar Rubb... nikoart $5.00	Czech Ornela seed b... hilobeads $7.50	A Hawaiian wind chi... HangLooseHange... $60.00
Mgambo /Mgambo Seed... mgambo $47.00	Green Sea Turtle 5X... Maddenphotogra... $15.00	BLUE LAGOON stebbinsglassw... $25.00	Eco Friendly Coffee... originalsbyhit... $6.75

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

A treasury featuring fellow etsy artisans from the Big Island! Mahalo littlemaikoboutique! :-)

Our First Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T23:30:00.006-10:00

(circa 2006)

My human partner does not appreciate having his picture posted on my blog,

so here's a photo of me and . . . my fuzzy valentine. ;-)

Here's wishing you a happy Valentine's Day!

Lions and Tigers and . . . Bison?

2011-02-11T02:25:00.006-10:00

Oh, My! ;-)

Goats

2011-02-02T00:44:00.010-10:00

Goats are not minions of the devil. I like goats, and I like drawing goats. Maybe it's because of their cephalopod-like pupils (which I have chosen not to depict in this instance), because as I mentioned earlier, I also like cephalopods. :)

My Betta Died :(

2011-01-19T13:08:00.004-10:00

Good-bye Fishmunga! You were a great fish. :(

(2008-2011)

2010-12-18T16:06:00.004-10:00

Just Wanted To Wish You A . . .

2010-11-25T17:21:00.002-10:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

xoxo, The Residents of Hoboville

Bunnies & Bows

2010-11-23T19:48:00.004-10:00

Just posted two more stamps in the shop today!

New Stamp Preview! Shop Update!

2010-11-22T19:14:00.002-10:00

Shop Update...Finally! :)

2010-11-21T18:37:00.005-10:00

Yes. I know it's been a while, ages in fact, since I last updated my etsy shop. But it's finally here! I have a few new designs to add to the shop and will be posting them throughout the week. I just posted my first new stamp. It's a Koala.

You can find it here. :)

Mahi Mahi for Dinner

2010-11-20T01:38:00.005-10:00

No, it's not the Loch Ness Monster!

Shana Logic

2010-10-23T22:02:00.004-10:00

I was so excited when Shana of ShanaLogic.com contacted me about carrying some of my rubber stamps in her online store. She sells like only the cutest stuff...ever! ;)

Whoa! So Craft-tastic!

2010-10-22T02:03:00.005-10:00

I saw this woman on Yo Gabba Gabba and I just had to look for the rest of her stuff on you tube! Check out this gem. It's like the unofficial etsy theme song! P.S. I wanted to add that I don't usually sit at home watching children's programming, haha. I was just doing a bit of research to help a friend plan her son's Yo Gabba Gabba themed b-day party! :)

Evolution

2010-10-15T15:11:00.007-10:00

The evolution of an Etsy shop . . .

2007

2008

2009

2010

Hobo Boat

2010-10-06T04:36:00.002-10:00

It's been raining for 3 days straight now and I have a lot of homework to do. . . goodbye summer.

Tubby Kitty

2010-08-25T13:02:00.004-10:00

The vet told us that hobocat needs to lose a few pounds. She is on a diet now. Hobocat is not amused.

A Little More Than A Coincidence?

2010-08-21T11:59:00.029-10:00

I've received more than a few requests from customers who want me to send stamps out as a gift to a friend or relative. Unfortunately for them, all I have are the plain plastic baggies that I send my regular orders in. So boring! :P I was thinking it would be nice if I could find a way to spruce up gift packages for my customers so I turned to the supply section of etsy to do a little browsing. I did a search for "cute gift bags" and was surprised to come across this:

The dark owl and doppel "gäng"

I love to see customers selling beautiful and creative items using my stamps. My policy regarding the use of these stamps is simply that any item to be sold must be hand stamped (no mechanical reproductions). That's it! I don't even ask to be credited, although it is always nice when someone feels kind enough to do so. :)

So anyway, you may be wondering why I was so caught off guard when I came across this cute little zippy bag with what looked like the "dark owl" design stamped all over it? Well, that dark owl was not hand-stamped by an indie/crafty customer, but instead it has been mechanically copied and mass produced by some Korean company called Rollercoaster. (Btw, I have no problem with the etsy shop I spotted this in. The vendor simply sells cute stationery supplies from Korea.)

Crazy huh?

From Rollercoaster's catalog . . .

The page from my sketchbook where I was trying to figure out my final owl design. Even though I love Bubo, I'm so glad I didn't choose to give the owl a clockwork eye! Ugh! What was I thinking?

I've decided to shorten this post because I feel really bad for ranting on and on earlier! I've even decided that I'm semi-flattered that a big company actually liked my design enough to copy me. :) I'm just a little bummed that someone might come to the conclusion that I was the copycat in this situation, and not the other way around. I found a video on TED related to this whole issue. It's about copycats in creative industries and the lessons we can learn. Okay then. Sorry about all that. Done ranting now. Cheers! :)

Lucille

2010-08-18T17:26:00.007-10:00

Rebecca (a.k.a. SquirrelJunkie on etsy) wrote to me last month to let me know that she was going to incorporate some of my stamp designs into what will eventually become a 3/4 sleeve tattoo on her arm. She sent me a link to her flickr page where you can see the beginning of her journey. I've been so busy moving into my new apartment that I was unable to post a pic of the tattoo until today. It's my narwhal design. . . and she's named it Lucille! Tee hee. . . so adorable! Don't forget to check out her etsy shop too!

In Keeping With the Baby Theme. . .

2010-07-20T11:23:00.007-10:00

Customer Sari just shared with me some pics of these cute onesies she made using the light owl and tabby cat stamps. You can find these and other altered/upcycled clothing for sale in her etsy shop!

Blue Water Baby

2010-07-15T00:38:00.007-10:00

We're having a surprise baby shower for a friend tomorrow! She and her husband own a speargun company and they love diving and blue water hunting. Their son will probably be swimming in the ocean before he even learns how to walk! I drew this little guy and framed it for them. : )

Show & Tell

2010-07-06T14:38:00.015-10:00

Just wanted to share some pictures customers have sent me of the creative ways they've been using their stamps. You guys are the best!

Steph made a colorful "twinchie" collage and a card too! She even has a great tutorial for the rainbow twinchie collage on her blog.

A fine silver pendant of the arctic fox.

by Westbyron. Check out her etsy shop!

Jessica loves her shibas!

Soooo Excited! ...or why I have a pet turtle named Eggs.

2010-06-13T13:46:00.019-10:00

Vampires like girls who wear Nike Cortez.

I haven't been this excited about television since. . . umm. . . like two weeks ago. . . for the Lost finale. Ha. Ha. No, but I swear I'm not glued to the t.v. screen all the time. Like really. I promise. I don't watch Grey's Anatomy or Desperate Housewives or Glee or the hundreds of other shows all my other friends are watching. It's kind of awkward sometimes in conversation when everyone is talking about some show I've never seen. Then I'll say something like "Oh, I named my turtle Eggs after Tara's boyfriend in True Blood 'cause the squares on her plastron make her look like she has abs and Eggs on the show had some major abs! Am I right? Hahaha. . .". . . and then things get even more awkward because no one knows what I'm talking about. They don't watch True Blood. : (

Eggs and those abs. See what I mean?

I'm supposed to have a day out with the girls soon and they want to watch the new Sex In The City movie. Unfortunately, I've never seen a single episode. Oh well. . . : ) Anyway it's a big night for the only two shows I'm watching right now. The season finale of Breaking Bad and the new season of True Blood starts tonight. Hooray! I even have my very own pair of Sookie shoes.

Hobocat checking out my "Sookie Shoes"

I am such a nerd.

Split Personality

2010-06-07T12:09:00.005-10:00

Tiger...Uppercut! ;-)

2010-05-30T17:54:00.001-10:00

Stamps on the ground...

2010-05-28T21:51:00.003-10:00

Stamps on the ground, stamps on the ground, workin' really hard on my stamps on the ground!

The River Child

2010-05-24T14:24:00.003-10:00

My kappa painting has finally found a home...it's off to Florida! =)

Mother's Day

2010-05-12T12:04:00.005-10:00

Hope all the mommies out there had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Hobo Rainbow

2010-05-02T16:24:00.005-10:00

Sunfish Synchronicity?

2010-04-26T17:34:00.006-10:00

Look what I came across while stocking up on some paint at the local craft store. It was in a bin near the check out counter. A mola mola eraser?! No Way! =)

Mola Mola

2010-04-14T13:40:00.004-10:00

The Mola Mola a.k.a. giant ocean sunfish. They can weigh over a ton! I love these guys. They look like cartoon characters even in real life. =)

Sugar Glider

2010-04-05T01:17:00.004-10:00

sugar glider gal.

Easter Bunny

2010-04-04T01:35:00.003-10:00

Happy Easter!

Rainforest Zoo

2010-04-02T12:32:00.007-10:00

Every now and then my boyfriend and I visit our local zoo to check out the animals and get some much needed exercise in too. (I hate going to the gym!). Hilo's zoo is the only tropical rainforest zoo in the United States and admission is free, although I'm sure they'd really appreciate a small donation. :0) Here's a sketch of a sloth and a tapir, two of the animals that can be found in the rainforest and at our zoo. (Well maybe not the tapir anymore but I'm pretty sure they did have one once).

Biffalo

2010-04-01T12:15:00.005-10:00

Bison or Buffalo? Maybe Biffalo? But not Beefalo. :o)

Frog Prince?

2010-03-31T14:01:00.006-10:00

Sorry I haven't come out with any new stamps lately! :o( I promise I've been doing a lot of drawing and I should be having a shop update...sometime soon? I must admit that I've been a bit distracted by school lately. I'm going back to school for nursing! Wish me luck. :o) Anyway, here's one of the random animals hanging out in my sketchbook. Wondering if he should be a stamp...

Paper*Cakes Finds

2010-03-31T13:52:00.005-10:00

My unicorn stamp was featured on Paper*Cakes Finds today along with a bunch of other cute unicorn themed items. Yay! :o)

Cuddlefish

2010-02-11T23:54:00.014-10:00

I was thinking of making one of these guys into a stamp but I'm not sure if everyone is as in love with cuttlefish/cuddlefish as I am! haha. :o) I saw some in person at Disneyworld once and I've been obsessed with them ever since. I couldn't believe how intelligent they were!

P.S. I just found this video on youtube that someone took of the baby cuttles at The Living Seas at Epcot (where I saw them too). Who knew cephalopods could be so cute?

Baaaaa!

2010-01-19T14:38:00.000-10:00

Happy New Year & Kitty Surprise!

2010-01-06T21:12:00.005-10:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year and share this super cute kitty video with all the other crazy cat ladies (and gentlemen) out there. Too funny!!

2009-11-29T13:59:00.001-10:00

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend! :o)

Hoboville Gardens

2009-11-08T18:30:00.005-10:00

Another beautiful day in Hoboville!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month + Blog Giveaway

2009-10-25T08:36:00.004-10:00

Did you know that October is breast cancer awareness month? Fellow etsy member Tina recently brought this to my attention and she also let me know that for the entire month she has been "blogging for boobs" and trying to generate a bit of attention to the cause. At the end of the month the money from the traffic generated to her blog will be donated to the Susan G. Komen and Keep-A-Breast charities. Please check out her site, "Talkin' with Teenie", for more info and to view personal stories contributed by those whose lives have been affected by breast cancer. She's also having a bunch of giveaways for a lot of great stuff! I donated two of my halloween themed rubber stamps so stop by her blog for a chance to win! :o)

Hapa Hale shout out!

2009-10-23T12:05:00.011-10:00

Oooh, my spooky stamps got a mention in Hapa Hale! I love Hapa Hale! Leigh's design conscious website is devoted to showcasing "everything modern and fresh" from Hawaii's local artists, designers and businesses. She lives on the mainland now but she keeps up with the latest local trends better than most of us still living in the islands! Cheers Leigh!

It's An Invasion!!

2009-10-19T21:31:00.009-10:00

My brother just told me about another UFO seen recently in Hawaii. This time it's in Ewa Beach. I was all like, "Oh noes! It's an invasion!" I think I'll just stick to the idea that the strange light being filmed is actually a remote control toy of some sort or a kite with a light stuck to it...not a craft from another planet. Otherwise, how will I sleep at night?

:o)

Christopher Walken and A UFO On Saddle Road?

2009-10-17T15:58:00.009-10:00

I know it sounds ridiculous but my number one phobia is . . .aliens. I think it all started after I watched the movie "Communion" when I was a kid. To this day I'm still a little afraid of Christopher Walken (he's the main character) because of it. I was going to post a picture of the movie poster but I decided not to because then I'd be too afraid to look at my own blog!

Even though I'm afraid of aliens, I got so excited when a friend from class told me she knew someone who saw a ufo and that she even had a picture of it (don't ask me how we even got into a conversation about ufos...haha). I couldn't believe it but she forwarded this photo to me. They were even thinking of sending it to a news station here. She said her brother's friend saw a ufo while driving on Saddle Road right here on the Big Island and snapped this picture. Maybe it has something to do with the military because they have a huge training base up there. I know it's just a FOAF (friend-of-a-friend) story and maybe the picture does look a little fishy...but I guess anything is possible!

I Have Taken Over One Hundred Photos of My Cat...

2009-10-04T04:37:00.013-10:00

So, I guess I'll admit it. I am now an official member of the "crazy cat lady" club.

So Many Prizes It's SCARY!

2009-10-01T00:27:00.014-10:00

This adorable couple, Leo and Mary, manage their very own store filled with super cute paper goods and scrapbooking products and they also run a popular magazine based blog called SVGcuts that educates Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot users on various topics. This month they're having a raffle for a bunch of Halloween themed grab bags filled with awesome Etsy finds. Watch the video for a breakdown of the insane amount of prizes they're giving away! I admit I'm a little jealous of whoever gets to take home all that loot. P.S. Keep an eye out for a mention of my black cat rubber stamp! Heehee. ;o)
http://svgcuts.com/

Hoboville Randomness

2009-09-28T21:17:00.005-10:00

Meet Christopher Johnson

2009-09-24T21:25:00.013-10:00

It's been almost a year since I found Hobocrayfish almost completely dried out on the sidewalk outside of my house. There is a nearby streambed that flows occasionaly during heavy rains. I'm pretty sure Hobocrayfish must have left its quickly evaporating waters in search of a more permanent place to live. When I found him, the poor little guy was bravely trying to fend off an attack from my brother's cat. Once I rescued Hobocrayfish I realized that I had no idea what I was going to do with him! I couldn't put him back into the stream because I knew that it would be completely bone dry again within a day or two and that would mean certain death for him. The local humane society didn't want him, I had no idea where he came from originally and I couldn't find anyone who would take him for a pet. In the end I decided that since I was the one who found him, I would have to be the one to take responsibility for him. What else could I do? I couldn't just abandon him and leave him to die! I ended up buying him an aquarium, a filter, plants, gravel, food and a ton of other fun stuff and he's been living happily with us ever since. His favorite pastimes include rearranging the driftwood in his tank and eating all my attempts at aquascaping!

However, poor Hobocrayfish was the only one of our Hobo family who had never been given a "formal" name...until recently! I just went to the movies the other weekend to see District 9. I really, reeaaally enjoyed it! I liked it so much that I decided to name Hobocrayfish after everyone's favorite "prawn", Christopher Johnson! :o)

Hobo Cat Picnic

2009-09-23T22:25:00.008-10:00

Random drawing of my buddy Hobocat.

Introducing the Grab Bag Surprise!

2009-09-22T14:04:00.005-10:00

I just added a Mystery Box/Grab Bag style listing to the shop due to special request. For those who would like to buy a few stamps (but not enough for wholesale) here's your chance to get a bit of a price break. You get 10 randomly chosen stamps for $35 (worth $50). This is $15 less than if you purchased them individually! I think that's a pretty nice deal. :o) And don't worry, these are exactly the same quality as all the stamps I sell in my shop. No reject stamps here. The only catch is that I will not take special requests, they will just be randomly chosen from the stock I already have made. That way I don't have to spend extra time cutting out and assembling ones I don't have around at the moment. In the end that makes things easier for me and that's why it will be cheaper for you. Yay!

Blue Skies

2009-09-17T15:31:00.005-10:00

It was a beautiful day. . .

Mojitos!

2009-09-14T19:35:00.004-10:00

I've been trying to grow some mint for mojito nites with my gal pals (despite my certified "black thumb"). If you have any good recipes please share! Yumm! :o)

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

2009-09-12T14:58:00.003-10:00

A former customer contacted me to let me know that my raven stamp was featured on September 8th's Halloween themed Etsy Finds. Thanks so much! Halloween is my favorite holiday after all. :o)

Tickling Slow Loris

2009-09-11T00:33:00.003-10:00

Be amazed by the cuteness that is --- "Tickling Slow Loris"!

Buteo solitarius

2009-09-09T13:02:00.010-10:00

A Hawaiian Hawk hanging out in our backyard.

Mini Magnets

2009-09-04T16:33:00.006-10:00

Maybe something new for the shop? I don't know yet, but it was fun designing the magnets and getting to add some color to my drawings. I only got a few of these made but I have been sneaking them in RANDOMLY with some of the orders that have gone out, as freebies! I hope they like the surprise. :o)

The Volcano

2009-08-29T20:01:00.010-10:00

We decided to be tourists and check out the vent at Kilauea volcano where lava has been flowing into the ocean ...

The view at night is pretty spectacular!

So I was feeling a bit under the weather . . .

2009-08-03T15:51:00.005-10:00

. . . for the entire month of July and I'd like to apologize to anyone who received their packages a little later than usual. However, I think it is safe to say that I'm finally 100% recovered from my horrible flu! *crossing my fingers* Also, no need to be alarmed as it wasn't the swine flu and my wonderful boyfriend handled all of my shop business including the shipping and handling while I was sick. . . so no stamps have been contaminated by me. :o) Please take care everyone and be sure to use a lot of hand sanitizer!

Craft Addict

2009-06-18T19:46:00.009-10:00

The wonderful Mendy from Craft Addict was nice enough to feature me on her blog. I was so honored to be chosen because she tends to find the most incredible things on etsy, plus she hosts a giveaway every single week!

http://rainbowswirlz.blogspot.com/2009/06/nikoart-giveaway-june-4th-10th.html

She also has her own etsy shop where she sells tons of screenprinted items. Her giraffe tote bag is the cutest. See her shop here ---->

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=9941

Fabric Design?

2009-05-27T12:11:00.002-10:00

I sent this fabric design over to Spoonflower to get printed. I can't wait to see how it comes out!!

New Stamp Preview! Shop Update!

2009-05-25T20:14:00.004-10:00

Good News, Everyone!

2009-05-23T00:27:00.007-10:00

I will be having a little shop update very soon with brand new stamp designs. Plus, I just made my 1,000th etsy sale today (w00t!!!!) so to celebrate, i'm also having my very first giveaway! The winner will receive the very first nikoart sterling silver sleeping bunny pendant ever produced (but hopefully more will be hopping into the shop soon after). Starting Monday 5/25/09, every person who makes a purchase from my etsy shop will be entered in a random drawing to win! The contest will run for one month and end on Monday 6/22/09. I will announce the winner on Tuesday 6/23/09. Good luck everyone and hope you have a fun weekend!

Sleeping Bunnies

2009-05-20T17:16:00.006-10:00

About a month ago I mentioned a possible new product for the shop. Here is a little preview. My very first jewelry design! I've been "test driving" the new necklace and wearing my sleeping bunny around town this past week. I'm really loving her. :o) It came out even better than I had expected! The pendant and chain are .925 sterling silver. I just have to decide on what type of finish I like best and then hopefully a few sleeping bunny necklaces may be hopping on over into my next shop update!

Otters in Love?

2009-05-15T01:42:00.011-10:00

I recently received a few requests for an otter rubber stamp so I decided to google around to find out more about what makes this little creature so wonderful. I came across this video on youtube and I can honestly say that this could quite possibly be the cutest thing I've ever seen! They're holding hands (paws)! I don't care that scientists say it's just something they do as a survival instinct in the wild...these two otters just look too adorable next to each other. Too adorable for their own good!! How can I not make an otter stamp now?? So here's a preview of my new design...a little something for all the otter lovers out there.

Stamp Giveaway!!!

2009-05-12T14:20:00.002-10:00

Fellow crafter Amy has a wonderful blog called "Amy's Stocking Stuffers" where she highlights fun and inexpensive items that are perfect little gifts for giving anytime of the year, not just Christmas! This week she is holding her very first blog giveaway. . . for one of my 2x2 inch rubber stamps! Please visit her blog for more information on how to enter. The contest will run from Sunday, May 10 until Saturday, May 16 at midnight CST. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing and announced on Sunday, May 17. Good luck!!

Hello out there!

2009-04-23T01:53:00.013-10:00

I know it has been very quiet around here and in my etsy shop lately . . . but I promise I have been working very hard behind the scenes on new stamp designs, a web page and a few other surprises. I've even been collaborating with a small metal casting foundry and if all goes well I may have a possible new product for the store! :o)

Hopefully I will be done preparing for an etsy shop update soon. . . in the meantime I've decided to share some of my own favorite etsy stores! My pick for today is etsy seller Joanna Rutter. She handcrafts amazingly delicate and illustrative sterling silver jewelry. It was love at first sight for me!

Hoborooster + Hobocat 4eva

2009-03-07T04:50:00.005-10:00

...like Abbott and Costello, like Sonny and Cher, like Martin and Lewis, they’re a perfect pair!

I <3 The Radical Rodents

2009-03-04T11:07:00.005-10:00

These guys are soooo awesome!! :o)

Ono Artshow

2009-02-01T15:25:00.006-10:00

Come check it out! I have a few paintings and handmade dolls in the show. Fun artwork and fun people. :o)

Le Tarte Swim

2008-12-18T16:48:00.009-10:00

When Lisa, of Letarte Swimwear contacted me a few months ago about possibly creating some custom dolls for their new flagship store I was really excited! Letarte sells the cutest swimsuits, so of course the dolls would be wearing nothing less (or maybe nothing more would be a better way to put it). After a lot of fiddling around and experimenting, I came up with these two gals! They are now making their way to a new home on Maui. :o)

Just wanted to wish everyone...

2008-12-15T19:27:00.003-10:00

xoxo,

the residents of hoboville

How Time Flies!

2008-11-19T22:27:00.010-10:00

I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving and I haven't even been able to get half of the things done that I'd like to have finished by now. I've been keeping myself busy and that's why it's been a bit quiet around here lately. I did ask Hoborooster if he could keep an eye on things and maybe post an update or two for me...but it seems he couldn't quite figure out this whole blogging thing. (Notice his look of intense concentration!) Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know that I'll be posting updates to the shop all week long so don't forget to stop by and have a look around!

Shop Update 2008

2008-11-13T19:27:00.002-10:00

My Little Pumpkin

2008-11-08T09:32:00.008-10:00

Hobocat is not amused.

Just Wanted to Wish You A...

2008-10-31T13:04:00.004-10:00

I'm not sure how many people actually noticed but I've been away from this blog for a while. Not to worry though, it was for a good reason! Things have really picked up for my little etsy shop and it's been keeping me so busy these past few weeks! Etsy is not my full time job (not yet anway!) and I'm still learning how to juggle all of my responsibilites without dropping the ball in any one area. I'm finding out what a challenge it is... and of course, I'd like to apologize to anyone who received a late email or convo from me recently. I really admire those mommys out there with children and a career, who somehow manage to get everything done and maintain their sanity. I don't have any little ones myself (unless a hobocat and hoborooster count) so I can never figure out how they do it!!

So...while hiding out in my little 'craft cave' this month I finished putting together stamps for a bunch of new wholesale orders, I created some new doll patterns for a little project i'm working on with a local business....and I finished a whole batch of brand new stamp designs! They will be done in just a week or two and I'm so excited to finally have some fresh faces to go in the shop! :o) Check back later for a little preview...

Have a safe and happy halloween!!

I Love My Cat

2008-10-10T16:31:00.002-10:00

Mini Mushrooms!

2008-10-02T17:31:00.007-10:00

I'm always trying to come up with a cute little something to send with orders. A few months ago I whipped up a batch of mini ornaments with stamped images to give away, but I'm not the most skilled at sewing so it took me forever to finish just a few. And now they've all gone!! So I've been working hard at coming up with a new little present to say thank you to my customers and here is the result. These mushroom stamps are sooo teeny-tiny they fit onto a piece of wood only 1/2" inch in diameter! It was with a bit of luck that I stumbled upon some little wood plugs at our local hardware store and I knew instantly that they were a perfect fit for my mini mushrooms!!

The Hoboville Files

2008-10-01T11:04:00.005-10:00

It's the first of October and that makes me really excited. It means that Halloween is not very far away...and Halloween is one of my all time favorite holidays!! :o) Of course I love the candy and the dressing up part, but I think I just like the sort of 'spooky' atmosphere that goes with it all. :o)

I've mentioned before that I love anything strange and unusual and I'm always up for a good ghost story. I really like when I learn little historical details and folklore in the process and I enjoy the way that many of these stories actually connect the past with the present...in an entertaining way! Umm...and I also just like getting creeped out!!

I'm most interested in these paranormal sorts of things because I can honestly say that about 80% of the people I've come across in my life have told me first hand that they have experienced or seen something 'strange'. And most of these people (to the best of my knowledge ;o) are completely normal and sane. I've heard stories from teachers, supervisors, co-workers, family & friends. It's hard to understand when I've never had an experience like that myself.

So, I keep my own little 'X-Files' sort of journal. Whenever I hear a first hand account from someone, I like to write down their name and experience so I don't get it all muddled in my head later. So...if you know me and you've ever told me a story...you can bet your name is in there!! hehe.

P.S.
I don't just make rubber stamps. My favorite medium is actually charcoal and pencil. :o)

nikoart at Cute Stuff

2008-09-30T11:16:00.003-10:00

A few of my stamp designs can now be found at Cute Stuff on Oahu! They carry everything a rubber stamper could ever want. :o) Here's the address:

(808) 944-2097
2600 S King St, #204
Honolulu, HI 96826

So if you ever happen to be in the University area, please stop by and check them out!!

♥nicole

Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

2008-09-27T18:03:00.004-10:00

A friend forwarded this video to me and I thought it was something everyone should see. It is Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch's last lecture. A very moving and inspirational video. Please watch!

Mini Shop Update

2008-09-23T22:42:00.004-10:00

The forest friends sets, hedgehogs, squirrels and owls are all back in stock! Plus, I now have larger 2x2 inch versions of several of my most popular stamps for sale in the shop.

How I Met Hobocat

2008-09-17T17:12:00.003-10:00

Did I mention that I also have a cat named Hobocat? My boyfriend and I were down at the local strip mall (yes, we have those even here in Hawaii) near Wal-Mart (yes, we have those too) when we heard a teeny-tiny, barely audible, little kitty meow...coming from above our heads!! I looked up just in time to see a very scared and very scruffy looking kitten drop down from...who knows where!! The poor thing must have been so frightened that she had managed to scale a near vertical wall and just clung on to the side until she couldn't hold on any longer.

Well, of course I had to stop to check on this sad looking kitten who looked even sadder because she now had a bloody gash on her chin from the big fall and she was making the most pitiful sounding cries I'd ever heard! We asked a nearby business for a cardboard box and as soon as I picked her up and put her in the box, she stopped crying and started purring...loudly. It was as if she knew she was finally safe. We had actually planned on dropping her off at the local animal shelter but since it was a Sunday they were closed and we ended up having to take her home with us. It was supposed to be just a temporary situation, but somehow it turned out to be for forever!

This little kitten was covered in dirt, fleas, ticks, and (we didn't know it at the time) a really bad case of ringworm that made all her fur fall out...but she was the sweetest little thing I had ever seen. Her tail was hairless except for this small pouf left at the very tip. My boyfriend commented that it looked like one of those sticks with a bag at the end that hoboes in cartoons carry...and we started referring to her as the hobocat! Anway, from the time that Hobocat arrived at our home she continued purring non-stop for literally three days straight! Actually, she hasn't stopped since. Don't you just love happy endings? :o)

(Oh, except for the fact that about a week later my entire family and I started noticing these extremely itchy, little red dots all over our bodies. It turns out that ringworm is very contagious and we all contracted it from cute little Hobocat. That was over two years ago and I am still battling that fungus till this day. Gross!!)

Well other than that it's a happy ending!!

Six Six Six

2008-09-13T13:48:00.002-10:00

I'm always interested in hearing strange and unusual stories...so here's a small contribution of my own. I had a freaky little incident concerning my etsy shop last week. I woke up one morning to check my page and found that I had 666 favorites, 66 items left in the shop, and three $6.00 sales in a row (666) making my paypal account add up to exactly...$666.99! I'm not very superstitious but I thought that was just a really strange coincidence!! My boyfriend was like "Hey, 666 is the devil's number! Maybe he visited your shop!" Well, maybe even the devil likes to shop handmade! ;o)

Chicken Diapers

2008-09-09T17:01:00.003-10:00

Hoborooster loves to spend time with us in the house. Unfortunately, I think it has been proven impossible to toilet train chickens. Luckily, I have come across a solution. Chicken diapers to the rescue! Yes, it's true! Diapers made for chickens really do exist! I've been thinking about purchasing a few for Hoborooster from the good people at ChickenDiapers.com. Maybe one with a fetching floral print... :o)

Funny + Cute

2008-09-02T02:34:00.002-10:00

Just wanted to share these two clips from a Japanese t.v. show. I have no idea what is being said, but I love anything funny and cute, and these videos are both!

Check out this adorable cat. I looove his tummy.

...and of course a cute owl! This guy transforms himself when he is startled. Quite amazing.

♥nicole

Lemon Tree Studio

2008-08-28T21:48:00.003-10:00

Today my owl stamp is being featured on fellow crafter Shelly's Freebie Friday!! Shelly runs a wonderful etsy store called Lemon Tree Studio full of lots of sweet little paper and scrapbooking goodies. The theme of this week's Freebie Friday is . . .owls!!! You can enter to win an array of owl themed items from her etsy shop + one nikoart owl stamp!!! For more info on how to enter please stop by at her blog : http://mylilyeden.blogspot.com/.
You have all weekend to enter and the winner will be chosen on Tuesday (Sept. 2) by her adorable little daughter, Lilyana. Sooo cute!!!

Saddle Road

2008-08-27T10:29:00.002-10:00

nikoart at Island Scrapbooking

2008-08-23T15:41:00.000-10:00

A few of my new stamp designs can now be found at Island Scrapbooking in downtown Hilo!! They sell rubber stamps and inks and and are known especially for their large selection of Hawaiian themed scrapbooking products. If you're ever in town, check them out at:

Island Scrapbooking
223-A Kilauea Ave
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
808-933-9390

They also have a website ------> http://islandscrapbook.com/

♥nicole

We found this little guy...

2008-08-22T21:37:00.001-10:00

hanging out at the bottom of a wheelbarrow in the backyard. I think he was trying his best to look inconspicuous and avoid the unwanted attention of Hoborooster (who just happens to think that little frogs make great snacks) so I picked him up and let him go in the bushes. Not many people here in Hawaii would do that. . . because it was not just any frog. . . it was a coqui! The coqui are actually very much loved in their homeland of Puerto Rico but a lot of people here despise them because they say the coqui's chirping keeps them awake at night. There was a massive erradication effort going on but I think the county has since given up because the coqui population is so firmly established in the environment that they've become practically impossible to get rid of. I know that coqui are not native to Hawaii but I just feel really bad for them because the methods of extermination that people are using to kill these little frogs are not exactly humane. . .
to learn more about coqui in hawaii ------> http://www.hawaiiancoqui.org/

♥nicole