February 3rd // 2009

Brand new Fleurette Cloche Hats are in the Giant Dwarf Etsy shop. Go take a peek and pick out your favorite one!

January 24th // 2009

I discovered Daily Candy in Pittsburgh a few years ago when a dear friend, and my boss at the time, and I were scouting up-and-coming designers for her darling + fabulous indie boutique. At that time, the online showcase delivered daily inbox treats in only a few select cities, but, as always, displayed the finest makers and their wonderful handmade treasures. It dawned on me one day, whilst feverishly hunting for the next big thing, that I was a maker and I made wonderful handmade treasures, too. I was hooked and I wanted in!

After years of wishing and hoping that one day my little company, Giant Dwarf, would be a part of this sweet society, I uncrossed my fingers and gave myself a pat on the back when Daily Candy recently contacted me. They were directed to me by the lovely ladies at Art Star and I was soon checking my own facts. In no time at all, I was featured in the Philadelphia Edition, cleverly titled Dwarfing The Competition, featuring the Rosette Fascinator Headband.

Indeed a sugar-coated moment that will stay sweetly preserved forever!

December 5th // 2008

I'm super excited to be a part of this year's Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale! The event will take place this Saturday from 11 - 7. I'll be on the 2nd floor of the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse located at 1419 W. Blackhawk St. in Chicago. I'll have Giant Dwarf goods there, as well as some Secret Lovers t-shirts. I hope to see you there!

November 28th // 2008

If you happen to find yourself in the city of Milwaukee, or thereabouts this Saturday, you should join in the the craft fair fun at Art vs. Craft this Saturday. The event will take place at the Humphrey Masonic Center, which is located at 790 N. Van Buren St. in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Here's a map to guide you there. Oh, and they will have the finest beer on tap, just in case you get a hankering to have one while you are in the Beer Capital of the World.

I'll be there selling tons of Giant Dwarf eco-friendly goods such as Cloche Hats, Glovettes, and Rosette Fascinator Headbands. I'll be sharing a table with my pal Jami from Built In Pittsburgh. She'll have lots cycling accessories, such as caps + winter hats. We will have lots of mirrors, so we'd love it if you stopped by to try on our stuff that we flew so far to show you!

November 15th // 2008

A few weeks ago Erin + Megan, the lovely ladies of Art Star, and I decided to throw together a little trunk show featuring my work. The event will take place today and I couldn't be more excited! I will have materials on hand, like recycled sweaters, wool felt, and vintage buttons, to custom make cloche hats to your heart's content. I will also have other goods from my Autumn 2008 collection for sale as well. Here's a little more info:

The Giant Dwarf Make + Take Trunk Show
Saturday • November 15th • 11 - 8

Art Star Gallery + Boutique
623 N. 2nd St. Philadelphia, PA 19123

Artist + Crafter Sue Eggen, of Giant Dwarf, will be making her signature cloche hats from recycled materials. Choose from a collection of luxurious sweaters, colorful wool felt, and beautiful vintage buttons to customize your very own one-of-a-kind creation. These gorgeous cloche hats will keep your crown warm and fancy as the leaves begin to change and the snow suddenly starts to fall.

The trunk show will take place in the annex of Art Star Gallery + Boutique. During the event save 10% off all Art Star Boutique purchases. Students save 15% with student ID. Also enjoy live music + tasty snacks from Swallow Bistro while you shop handmade for the holidays!

I also wanted to mention some really nice folks that have graciously written about the event:

• Philadelphia City Paper
• Lucky Magazine
• Indie Fixx
• Crafting a Green World
• The Small Object

For more information about the trunk show, please visit the Art Star event page. I hope to see all of you there!

October 30th // 2008

I met Amy Sedaris last year at the BUST Craftacular in Manhattan. I was there selling Giant Dwarf goods with my friend Mary, who was slinging her most delicious sea salted + lavender infused caramels. The queen of kitsch was selling + signing her wonderful book, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. She was also selling some handmade crafts like frilly embroidered pot holders and anthropomorphic hamburger I Like You calendars.

Mary + I skipped on over to her table, which was only a few spots down from us, before the crowd usurped our only chance to spend a few moments with our crafty idol. As we were deciding on what to buy, and remain calm while doing so, Amy complimented me on the hat I was wearing. One of my hats that I made! I couldn't believe it!

As the craft fair dwindled, Amy dashed over to our table, but stopped short before she could take a peek at what we had to offer. She was super busy and had to get back to her fans, and at that moment I realized I should have given her the hat right of my crown.

So, when I found out that she would be in town promoting her new shiny paperback version of I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence, I decided to make a hat for her that would replace the one I should've given her in the first place.

•••

The event was held at Foster's, which sells delightful urban homeware + gourmet cookware. They offer cooking classes + demonstrations in the back room of their enormous shop. Tickets went on sale for 50 bucks a pop, which quickly sold out, but fortunately, they offered standing room only free of charge.

I got there early, all by my lonesome, and scored the perfect seat on the floor. As the room began to fill with fans alike, we all decided to stand as the clock struck 5. Amy was introduced by a lovely employee and graced us in a black velvet dress and an adorable homemade owl apron studded with, you guessed it, googly eyes!

She began cooking a few recipes from her book with Michael O’Holloran, Chef + Owner of Bistro 7, a frenchy restaurant here in Philly. The cozy space smelled delicious and was sparking with Amy's hilarious energy. After the duo finished their Chicken of the Taverns dish + poppped the brownies in the oven, Amy began taking questions from the audience.

She got a mouthful from her spectators, including questions about her family, her appearances on talk shows, and a shy + quivery question from me about her rabbit Dusty and her cameo in the terrific Rabbit Rescue, an endearing Microsoft Commercial.

After a lengthy Q + A, Amy said a polite thank you + goodbye and began setting up for her book signing, where I would finally get my chance to give her one of my cloche hats.

I held lucky number 67 and waited patiently in line to meet the lovely + talented glue gun guru. After waiting for what seemed like forever, all of a sudden I was next in line. I froze. A handsome man spotted my nervousness while I was fumbling to get my book, camera, and gift ready with the only 2 hands I was given. He graciously held my things and arranged the recycled pattern paper wrapper for the most perfect presentation. His generosity saved me and he couldn't have been more excited that I made something for her. I thanked him and crossed my tangled fingers as my brain told my feet exactly what to do.

I walked over to her table and introduced myself. She said she remembered me and my hat from the Craftacular, which prompted the perfect moment to introduce her to Giant Dwarf. I gave her the hat I made and she was so appreciative. She tried it on and said how good everything smelled and how soft everything felt. I blushed and then our picture was taken together. I could've stood there the entire night. She made me feel so comfortable + confident, but I decided to mind my manners and let her sign my book and I would be on my way.



The inscription read,

Sue
Thank you for the adorable hat - I love it!
Good times!
Amy Sedaris

I thanked her again and she thanked me back. As I gathered my things, she gave me something that she made - a tissue paper ghost, just in time for Halloween.

October 20th // 2008

The Duncette Cap is a brand new design that is now a part of the Giant Dwarf 2008 Autumn Collection. The fabulous one-of-a-kind dunce cap will keep your crown warm + fancy as the leaves begin to change and the snow suddenly starts to fall.



Duncette Caps, with built in ear flaps, are made from super soft + warm recycled Cashmere sweaters and are embellished with a wool felt scalloped brim. The cap is lined with cozy cotton flannel and elastic has been added to the back for a perfect fit.

The Duncette Cap, seen above in Hazelnut Oatmeal, is available in my Etsy shop. There will be more to choose from, in vibrant + subdued hues, in the very near future.