Category: Crafts

The Coolest Coloring Books
Crafts · Dogs · Jewelry · Obsessions · teddy bears

The Coolest Coloring Books

ElissaLeave a comment

The coloring book craze has swept the nation…finally and there are so many fabulous coloring books to choose from.  Mama Sassafrass was saw they are even selling these books next to our favorite mags (US Weekly of course is our top pick) in the grocery stores. Wow..everyone is coloring. People of all ages!

Of course the creative critters and minds on Team Sassafrass took the craze up a few sassy notches to make our very own special coloring books.

Sassafrass creative artist Jason Bunin worked hand-in-hand with the woman behind the entire brand who happens to be my fabulous mom, Cathleen Smith,  the most creative and talented person I know) to create our first coloring book last year: Haute Dog LA.  This was for a Canine Companions for Independence charity event in Los Angeles and boy it is so cool! Think doggies in Beverly Hills dazzled in jewels.

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Next was a special limited edition one just for the Vedura holiday soiree. The coloring book, called Rhinos and Tigers and Jewels, Oh My took all of the animals from the Sassafrass ABC book and decked them out with Verdura jewelry.

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But here is the best!  It’s brand new and it is going to knock the teddy bear socks off of you!

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Introducing Teddy Bears Grand Tour: a coloring book journey of the United States for all ages.

Just wait till you see the amazing Bears taking  over the country.
Here are just a couple of sneak peeks. If you are coming to the Tea Party on May 14th the books will be available to buy. Otherwise we will let you know as soon as they are on sale on the website and on Amazon. If you must have one now just send us a note and we will get it to you as soon as possible. You don’t want to miss this one.

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Sassy ‘Sessions: Miniature Maddness
Company Profile · Crafts · Dogs · Holidays · Obsessions · Sassafrass Jones · shopping · Uncategorized

Sassy ‘Sessions: Miniature Maddness

ElissaLeave a comment

Last weekend, Mama Sassafrass took me along with her to the annual miniature doll house  show.  It was so much fun! You would not believe how many fabulous miniatures there are out there. Of course, Mama was on a mission, picking this and that for her next book, but I still had a few hours to peek around the show. Here all the best tiny miniaturist and artisans sell their pieces to a group of doll house enthusiasts among other types. I just like how everything is so bite-sized. I mean, some of the things I saw were even too small for me. But I had a blast and got to see the talent of so many fabulous designers and sellers who must have the best eyes and tiniest little fingers to make the things they do.

***SassyFact:  The two books by Cathleen Smith Bresciani (AKA Mama Sassafrass) are filled with colorful and real life vignettes made with Steiff animals and miniature pieces. With the talent of mini architect Chris and the other talented minds in the Habersham Forest, Mama Sassafrass creates magical displays for everything. The ABC book, Sassafrass Jones’ ABCs pictures each Steiff with a little poem. The pictures are photographs of the real animal in its own little miniature set.  You may already know that, but if you didn’t, it’s something that is too good not to check out.

But back to the show…

Mind if I join you two?
Mind if I join you two?
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These books are all handmade by this cute girl who we buy from on Etsy. She even has kits that show you how to make your own miniature books.

 

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Look at these fabulous sterling silver minis. I will eat my kibble out of one of these stunning pieces for sure.
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                                     Perfect for a Sassy Picnic!
Miniatures Galore!!!!
Think I would look good in this necklace?

 

Perfect vanity table filled with gorgeous jewels and trinkets. Don’t mind if I do…
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Let’s play some pool.

 

Wow! These miniaturists really love to “pickle”
The perfect totes and hat boxes for all of our goodies

So it was a fun-filled day as you can see, and we went home with bags and bags of new things. I think Mama Sassafrass even bought me a few gifts, because she would not show me everything.  I can’t wait until next year’s show. Until then, of course, we can always go to our favorite playland of miniatures, Miniature Designs.  This store always has the best of the best and we can spend hours in there drooling over their latest finds.

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Sassy ‘Sessions: Fuzzberta
Crafts · Dogs · Obsessions · Sassafrass Jones · Stuffed Animals · Uncategorized

Sassy ‘Sessions: Fuzzberta

ElissaLeave a comment

Fuzzberta

The Coolest Guinea Pig on the Web.

Sassy Sessions: Fuzzberta

Mama Sassafrass (known to the world as Cathleen Smith) found the coolest thing the other day- and all of us in the Habersham Forest are obsessed. As I am writing this out, I can’t keep a smile off my face or stop my tail from wagging. It is a real-live guinea pig who dresses up and role plays and uses props.  At just two years old Fuzzberta is already an online star thanks to her creative and talented human Monica Wu who makes all the décor and outfits by hand. Let me just say, whether or not you like these little critters, there is no way not to become entertained by this special one.

Monica Wu, the human, chronicles the outfits and setups in photographs across various social media outlets. And people are just eating them up.  Including myself and all my Steiff buddies in that I hang with in the forest. And believe me, we are no strangers to the dress up game. In fact, most of live for the next hand-sewn outfit, or the custom tiara’s that fit just right…oh and when we get our chance to pose in one of the Habersham Forest sets, we could not be happier. But to see a real live guinea pig dressing up in the tiny custom creations is just too cool!  Check out her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fuzzberta/ .  This furry cutie pie has over 66k followers.  Wow!

Here are a few of our favorite  photos of Fuzzberta.  Does anyone else feel a little “Vogue” coming on?

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Another cool thing about Fuzzberta’s outfits is that they are all hand made by her human. Even the tiny little hats and the tiny little Mac computers. Reminds me of mama Sass and the workers in the style studio at Habersham who can make just about anything, well, bite-sized for us little rascals.  So, we can totally relate to Fuzzberta and her human. Yes, I know, I know, we are merely stuffed animals (who happen to be made by hand using the finest mohair) but who cares..we dress up all the same. And most importantly, we all know how to STRIKE A POSE.

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If Fuzzberta’s human Monica Wu happens to see this post, we think that Fuzzberta may be in need of some Sassafrass Jones couture. We would love to make a custom outfit for her…and trust me, once she puts on one of our special tiara’s, she won’t want to take it off.

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Holidays in the Habersham Forest
Crafts · Dogs · Holidays · Sassafrass Jones · Steiff · Uncategorized

Holidays in the Habersham Forest

ElissaLeave a comment

As the days go by, I am getting more and more excited for my favorite day of the year: Christmas. All my family and friends of the forest are going to be there to celebrate, eat, drink and be merry. I simply can’t wait. Check out the decorations we already have set up….and the presents are starting to pile up.

I am getting tired from wagging my tail all day long!  But this…is…just…so…exciting!

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These guys are the coolest. They are so much bigger than me but I just can’t get enough of them. The coolest part is that they stay in the dining room and around the house all year long, keeping the festive vibe alive.

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Here is the tree: the main attraction of the year! Minus the gifts that will be piling up any minute now. 

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Even my friends in the forest are getting ready for the big day. Miss Lynn in the Habersham Style Studio has been hard at work outfitting us in festive reds, greens and all sorts of other patterns that are perfect for Christmas. The mice, since they are the milliner mice and they have their own style studio got to go first with the outfit fittings.

Here is one of my friends.  And of course, here I am in one of my many Holiday Ruffles. 20151112_165157
20151202_132601-2Just another day in the Habersham Forest with my forever friends and forever family. See you soon!

Love,
Sassafrass Jones

#sjforeverhome

Wrap it Up with Laura Lasorda: Cookie Style
Crafts · Sassafrass Jones · Uncategorized

Wrap it Up with Laura Lasorda: Cookie Style

ElissaLeave a comment

As you may recall, our forever friend of the Habersham Forest Laura Lasorda is a pro when it comes to wrapping gifts. She has a special and creative touch, using embellishments and other items that jazz up any gift. In fact, we love her wrapping so much that it pains us to open them up (although, of course we do).

For the holidays Laura shared a little something different with us….and although I am not supposed to eat chocolate  (because I am a pekingese and mom says chocolate is bad for dogs), I can’t help but crave a cookie out her delightful and beautiful basket.

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What a great idea for the holidays. Whether you need a gift for your neighbor or are simply hosting a party at your home, wrap it up: Cookie Style.

Love,

SASSAFRASS Jones

 

 

 

Holiday Decor: Wrap It Up with Laura LaSorda
Crafts · Sassafrass Jones · Uncategorized

Holiday Decor: Wrap It Up with Laura LaSorda

ElissaLeave a comment

20151129_154818_001Welcome to a new a series we are going to start called Wrap it Up with Laura Lasorda.

For those of you who do not know me, I am Sassafrass Jones, a perky Pekingese with “Cateye” glasses who finally found her “Forever home” in Habersham Forest. In other words I am a dog and now, thanks to my mom Cathleen Smith, I have my very own Steiff dog with my name on the tags. 20151019-03

I blog about all things, but especially all of the exciting things that happen in our home, The Habersham Forest. Currently, my mom has just released her second book of the Sassafrass Jones series called Sassafrass Jones & Her Forever Friends ABCs. She wrote it with the ultimate Steiff authority, Rebekah Kaufman. But the book is just the beginning. There are  jewels and crowns and dresses for all of us animals in the forest.

This post focuses on one of my favorite things: gifts!  Laura Lasorda, my mom’s “forever friend” is a pro when it comes to giving gifts and especially the wrapping of the gifts. Sometimes the wrapping is so cool, that we don’t even want to unwrap the package (but of course, we always do).

My forever friends and I can always spot a Laura Lasorda gift a mile away. From the adornments and color to the themes and shapes, Aunt Laura is  the “wrapping queen”.   Her gifts (aka works of art) are magical, and the latest batch that arrived for us just the other day was no exception.

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This is just the beginning……stay tuned for more Wrap It Up with Laura Lasorda for the holidays. And if you have any great ideas for gift wrapping, we would love for you to share them with us.Enjoy the photos and stay tuned for her holiday-themed series.

xoxo  Sassafrass Jones

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