11.03.2010

A Critter Giveaway!


My friend Paden has been making 'Critters' for a few years now. He's a machine when it comes to putting the little guys together and he's got a knack for making each character seem very unique and one of a kind by giving each Critter their own personal story!
Meet Francine!

I'm so happy to announce that Paden has finally added more Critters to his etsy shop, along with the option to custom design your very own critter too and he wants to do a giveaway!! This is probably the most fun giveaway for me, simply because I got to design Francine myself. I couldn't resist using that green velvet and giving her a very girlie lace collar! I thought it would be cute to shoot her outfit photos just like we shoot mine too.
If you'd like to get to know Francine a little better –her story is hilarious– you can read about her at the bottom of the post! If you'd like to enter for a chance to win Francine, all you have to do is leave a comment mentioning your favorite item from Paden's Critter shop!

Paden and I talked about it, and we sure are going to miss Francine when she's gone!
All about Francine. . .

“Hi there, sugar – my name's Francine. Well, at least that's the name I go by around here. You remember the Roswell landing in '49? That wasn't me. I landed the same day, way out in rural Indiana, and hiked my way to the suburbs. Now, the wreckage they found at Roswell was just a diversion: I jettisoned my ex-husband's body and a weather balloon to distract the US military from what was really going on. I don't think they ever found the ex-husband.

“Well, it was hard going for a while, I'm not gonna lie – I've eaten my share of lard sandwiches and potted meat – but eventually, I got a break. See, I came here to be a star. The concept of a celebrity doesn't exist on my planet. We are what we are. But you folks know how to admire talent. I took up with a down-on-her luck dancer, gal named Tammy Gillespie, and together, we were a ventriloquist act that couldn't be beat. She wasn't a very bright bulb, Tammy, but with me writing all the material, she didn't have to be. We were like George and Gracie, the two of us, every night bringing down whatever that week's house happened to be. We toured with Milton Berle for a few years, before he really started doing television. I was the one, by the way, that told him he could get a lot of laughs in a dress. And whataya know, he did. Even if 'Aunt Mildred' did have skinny legs.

“After a while, though, the FBI caught on to us, and they tapped me for a job I just couldn't pass up: Special Secretary of Internal/external Xenobiological Affairs. It sounds impressive, but the really important part of that title is 'secretary'. That's right: they hired an alien to work in a department on extra-terrestrial affairs, and they made her type. And that's where I've been for forty years. Directors come and go, but there's Francine, little green old lady, working away at her computer.

“So whataya say we go out and have a drink or two? If you're lucky, I'll sing you a couple of old Betelgeusian battle hymns – get your blood going. Come on, I'm buyin'.”

46 comments:

Arianne said...

Cutest thing I've seen in months, Starr (though the funniest was the vampire duck story)! I like how Francine has a knitted sweater that would've been popular at the time she landed in Indiana. :))

Arianne from A + B in the Sea

Boheme.Fille said...

Francine is the sweetest thing ever! me wants her!:D
My favorite item from Paden's Critter shop is Clifford, Wearer of Unregarded Hats.

Mona- http://boheme-fille.blogspot.com/

Em said...

They are all pretty great--Delores is my fave because of the eyes...

KristiMcMurry said...

Zeke is my favorite!!!

and Betelgeusian battle hymns? HAHAHA!!!! That cracks me up. Great story and super cute little critter!

Ottavia said...

I really adore the expression of Clifford ahaha it's so cute*

really want one of this (not so)ugly monsters*

http://eightbiscuits.blogspot.com/

Ady Grafovna said...

These are adorable. I like leonard best. he has horns... like me. :)

meeyeehere said...

I am in love with these little creatures!! They make feel happy! Too CUTE!!
Zeke, Eater of Pocky is super awesome!! I love these. I want one!!
Thanks,I love these pictures so much!
jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

oh my!! so freakin adorable!! My favorite one is Leonard ^.^

Kitty said...

Zeke is super cute but I am in love with Francine's eyelashes. So prescious.

Fritzi Marie

Stacey said...

Clifford, oh dude, I love you.

SillyLittleLady said...

I think Delores is so cute! Her face just has so much personality :D

sillylittlelady(at)gmail(dot)com

Amanda said...

What a great giveaway, Starr! I love Zeke, but Francine is definitely the cutest!

Amanda
isanotherstreasure.blogspot.com

Chelsea Van Tol said...

i love clifford!

Vicki said...

Awww, they're all so sweet! :D I think my favorite is Rufus.

vshuler@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

So Freakin' Cute. I love Clifford... they're all adorable. FINGERS CROSSED.... palomavintage@gmail.com

x
nancy
Paloma Vintage Giveaway!

Myriam said...

Oh YAY! This is such a fun giveaway. Nice collaboration, do I hear a collection in the future? Whaaaat?

And Delores is wonderful, because she's abnormally albino which is absolutely lovely. But, all of his critters are just so kooky and heart-warming. LOVE.

Victoria / Justice Pirate said...

This is so so adorable!!!
I loved the story that goes along!! oh wow!

Anonymous said...

cutee

purple-elephantss.blogspot.com
purple_elephantss @ yahoo.com

Elanor said...

ohgosh! they are so cute and weird!
my favorites are Rufus and Zeke!

Great giveaway!

xx Elanor

A said...

Francine is so cute! my favourite would have to be...hmmm...tough... but Rufus i think!

kortnee b. said...

Francine's the sweetest but Rufus, the four armed hug machine is a close 2nd! Love these little critters so much it hurts!

heart,
kortnee b.

Kyra said...

Oh my gosh, best giveaway ever! I gotta say that I love Rufus because who doesnt love a hug machine? Especially with 4 arms? I love Francine too :)

kyrakat227@gmail.com

Christy said...

Possibly the most adorable giveaway ever! Zeke is a cutie, but I think Francine may have my heart. :)

wingstofly87 at yahoo dot com

SolDucky said...

Oh my word, how adorable!! I absolutely love Francine and her story. Zeke, eater of Pocky, is pretty darn cute too though.

Joanna said...

They're so quirky! I love it!
my favorite is clifford, the wearer of unregarded hats

Nicole said...

I am in love. I think this is the item out of all the giveaways EVER that I have wanted to win the most.

My fav is Rufus, the four armed hug machine because:
1) he's got awesome teeth
2) he's all pink and fluffy
3) I love hugs more than anything!

http://bellsonherwrist.wordpress.com

Deborah said...

Zeke. I'm in love.

He completely suits my nerdy side.

And Francine and I could do harmonies. I'm up for some Betelgeusian battle hymns on my first EP.

deborahjwu{at}gmail{dot}com

PS: This giveaway had better be for international readers as well!

Bethany Kellen of bunnypicnic said...

aw her story is so cute! i love critters!
i really like delores! so cute!

Anonymous said...

I love Francine's story! And I love your design for her too, her sweater is adorable and I have a thing for green velvet as it happens..
Clifford's quote made me laugh the most and I too am an avid hat-wearer so he's definitely my favourite.

Ellen at The Raven and the Cellar Door

Jen Hsieh said...

i think i've fallen in love with francine and her sassy attitude. i can see her snapping her fingers in the z-formation anyday, haha. loving her outfit shots as well, what a looker :P

my favorite from his shop has got to be rufus. how can you resist a man with so many arms?

Sarah with an "h" said...

Haha! Francine's story is awesome. What a girl--er, alien? And so stylish. :P

Well, I really love Francine, but in the shop, my favorite has got to be Rufus, the four armed hug machine. So funny. :)

:o)Sarah
www.restlessromantic.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Leonard is my favorite, next to francine that is....

Brenna_Kathleen said...

What a spunky little critter Francine is! I adore her.
In the shop, I'd have to say that my favorite is Clifford. Not because I relate to him in the flipping of light switches. But He is right about that shifting light pattern you know....

azwethinkweiz said...

Rufus, the Four Armed Hug Machine is to die for! He reminds me of my unhuggable cat...

Raquel

ziewknihtewza(at)gmail(dot)com

Molly said...

Mel, he's totally the best. Plus, we both love ice cream!

Abbey and Chloe said...

This is too adorable. I love Mel and Zeke. :)

-Abbey F.
luvinorange@yahoo.ca

thedemuremuse.com said...

these critters are all too cute! I really like Delores too: http://www.etsy.com/listing/59475635/delores-lurker-in-the-shadows

xo,
katrina
thedemuremuse(at)gmail.com

Laura Gerencser said...

I love them all! they are so darn cute!!

Vickie Laliotis said...

Cute!! Francine is adorable! My all-time fave though is a toss up between Delores and Zeke... It's pretty impossible to choose between those two!

xx

Vickie
www.adventuresinfashion.ca
adventuresinfashion@yahoo.ca

mommaruthsays said...

Rufus, the Four Armed Hug Machine is too too cute!!! I love him :)


xoxo

Hannah Keen said...

i love zeke!

hannahsheakeen@gmail.com

JULIA GENEVIEVE said...

Zeke, Eater of Pocky is definitely my favorite critter...mainly because we both share the love of Pocky! Well, I'm assuming we're talking about the same Pocky (the little cracker sticks) so we'll go with that! :)

And Francine is so adorable. We're both in the FBI! Just kidding. I wish I was , though. That's definitely my dream job, haha.

Daph said...

I love critters!!
Zeke is amazing:)
earthdancedaph@yahoo.com
earthdancedaph.blogspot.com

michi said...

Hahahaha, I love Francine's bio. I think I like Leonard the best from the shop. Mostly because of his colors and the gaps in his teeth. =D

Thanks for the cool giveaway!!

Mich
chu(dot)michelle(at)gmail(dot)com
www.mychu.etsy.com

Haven said...

adorable!!

i love this one

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59475635/delores-lurker-in-the-shadows

TheOptimist said...

I love Rufus, the Four Armed Hug Machine.


kalliste_alpha94@yahoo.com