Where does the name Crazy Fox come from????

There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid.    L. FRANK BAUM, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

People often ask where the name Crazy Fox Came from... In the spring of 2009 we noticed a fox cub in our area. The tiny fox was always by itself so we assumed it had been orphaned. This little fox was starving and searching for food. We would see him all over the village night and day which is unusual for foxes. We saw him running through hay fields, chasing bugs, sleeping on porches and even on the steps of our local general store. One day we went out our back door and he was in the garden, my husband held out his hand, the fox walked up, checked him out then leapt after a butterfly. He had no FEAR. We started calling him “Crazy Fox”. Every time I went out the house I would look for Crazy Fox, he stayed around all summer and into the fall. In January 2010, I opened an Etsy shop and wanted a unique name, a reflection of how I felt. Crazy Fox Studio was the obvious choice, to me it meant to move forward without fear, even if some people may think you are a little crazy!

Top Right: Boo and I on our daily walk. Bottom Right: Wally

Gypsy LOVE

"Those who dance are called insane by those who don't hear the music." Eddie Vedder

I love everything Gypsy! Gypsies draws inspiration from  nature, texture and color. Gypsies have had a glamorous image for writers and artists, evoking ideas of freedom, passion, mystery, and a life close to nature. I try create this imagery at Crazy Fox.  Bright colors, embroidery, textures, textiles and romance. I hope the Crazy Fox inspires other kindred wanderers to dance to their own beat, follow their own hearts and set their own trend lines to a place where fashion and passion unite.

Embroidered Cuff Bracelet - Boho Gypsy

Gypsy Love - Pinterest

This little Piggy went to the market....

I never post work from my full-time job as a designer/illustrator but I was out shopping and I spotted these puzzles I did in a store and forgot about how much I liked them. Often when I'm working on a freelance job there are tight deadlines and I end up rushing and when the job is done I never really give it much thought. Mostly because production is done overseas and it usually is 8-10 months before I see the end result and also because I'm working on the next RUSH. These puzzles were done for Pierre Belvédère a toy company based out of Montreal. I love working for them, they are the best clients in the world. I hand sketched these first then did the final illustrations in Illustrator.

Little Red Riding Hood

3 Little Piggies

Goldilocks and the 3 Bears

Pinterest - Dream Studio

Imagine flipping through a magazine and seeing a great picture of the perfect studio, the perfect shade of blue or the next craft you want to try! Pinterest lets you pin a picture of something you're interested in on a virtual wall and it is addicting!!!  Think of it as a digital scrapbook or bulletin board to post pictures of things you love. If you find something interesting on someone else's Pinterest page, you can "repin" it, which is the equivalent to Facebook's "likes" or Twitter's "retweets." You can also comment things others have pinned on their walls.

you can find these images here

This spring, I plan on redesigning my studio, I'll be posting images of the process on this blog. Here is the first step of my "Dream Studio"...

Don’t Lose your Marbles...

Kids have been playing marbles for thousands of years. It’s likely your parents and even your grandparents were playing marbles when they were young.

The first marbles, used for play, were just small pebbles or balls made from natural clay. The succeeding materials used for marbles were china, real marble, and glass. They were all handmade until the year 1848 brought the invention of the marble scissor by a German glass blower, which made production much easier.

The 1950’s saw the marble extravaganza. Also, the cat’s eye marble was created by injecting colored glass in a regular marble. Various effects were achieved with the use of different colored glass and different shapes or swirls.

These days, marbles have become such an important part of culture that they are not merely toys but also miniature art pieces. Regardless of where they began, marbles are a simple yet fascinating toy that brings out the child or collector in many of us.

All the marbles used in Crazy Fox necklaces are vintage, they may even be the same marbles your grandparents played with.

Vintage Marble Necklace - Skye - SOLD

Vintage Marble Necklace - Rain

Great Giveaway on Etsy Stalker!

Take a chance you never know what will happen!

Violet, from Etsy Stalker did a fantastic interview with me and is hosting a giveaway from Crazy Fox! and we all love giveaways! First prize will be below “Willow Sage” necklace that combines the green glass and rhinestone filigree setting of a 70 ear old broken bracelet with a vintage skeleton key. A second winner will receive 25% off any single item from my Crazy Fox shop! To enter, visit Etsy Stalker  and leave a comment with your favorite item. Two winners to be chosen at random next Sunday, January 29th.  Etsy Stalker has earned a reputation as a place to discover the best and brightest of handmade creations and vintage items. Their daily themed exhibits and Shadowboxes are a wonderful way for artists to get exposure. A Shadowbox serves as a mini store front. Listings in your Shadowbox link directly to your Etsy shop or to whichever site you prefer.  Check them out, great site and GREAT people!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, I'm back on track and will be having weekly (maybe even twice a week!) updates on Crazy Fox. We have some big things planned for this year, along with tons of new designs, that are just about ready to come out of hiding. This is the year for Dreaming Big! and taking that next step, so look out everyone! Also have really big news to share soon, that I'm so excited about. Thanks for everyone supporting Crazy Fox and lets make this next year a year where everyone Dreams Big.

Giveaway on Etsy Stalker - Willow Sage

Idle Hands 3rd Annual Holiday Edition

In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine. Ralph Waldo Emerson


Crazy Fox is excited to announce that they will be taking part in the Idle Hands show on Saturday, November 26, from 10am - 5:00pm. This will be our first show with Idle Hands and our first show in the big city of Ottawa. The location of the show is St Luke’s, 760 Somerset St. W, in the heart of funky Chinatown. We have made some new pieces just for this show, upcycled leather earrings, vintage marble necklaces and more. This show is a great place to find one of a kind, handmade holiday gifts. I am looking forward to selling and buying from all the talented vendors!

Idle Hands show is all about giving local artist and crafters an opportunity to sell things they love to make, to connect with other creative people and sell their wares at reasonable prices without a middle man. It is also a place for people to come see and meet some of the regions best independent talent and buy directly from them. Why would you go to the mall and buy factory made massed produced items that have been shipped here from half way around the world?

This year Idle Hands have included some local photographers, painters and print makers. They have some delicious vegan baking and chocolates. Preserves made using recipes that have been passed down generations. There will also be gorgeous knits and felted work made into clothing, hats and children’s toys. Jewelery made with silver, wood, upcycled vintage (Crazy Fox) and other mixed media pieces. Clocks, pillows and other home decor items. Screen printed shirts, scarves and upcycled clothing. Recycled leather wallets, purses and bags. Collage work, cards and stationary. Soaps, face and body care products made with natural essential oils. Beautiful ceramics and hand blown glass. New this year we’re featuring seasonal floral creations. The list is endless and all items are handmade.

Check out the Idle Hands website for a more info, directions and a list of vendors attending the show. And don’t forget to visit Crazy Fox!

Copper Cuff with a vintage escutcheon plate - Spellbound