felt finger puppets - bat, owl, and cat

I know I'm a bit late posting these Halloween themed finger puppet ideas, but I chose these guys because they are really just animals so would probably transcend the holiday.

These are really easy to make. I used little mini pompoms and beats for the eyes, and other than that this was all just felt and running stitch.
I tried to keep the faces simple and silly.
I sewed the faces and other extra parts on before sewing the puppets together... I tried to sew the wings on when I sandwiched the fronts and backs together, though I did reinforce with some extra stitching there a bit.

Here are the pieces I cut out for the craft playgroup I was hosting. The puppets were a hit!

I'd love to see any similar puppets you guys make... I think I'm going to have to start a little collection!

Hallowee costumes - Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood

I've had a couple late nights sewing this past week! My 19 month old dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood, so I had to make that up, (super quick project!), and then my husband wanted to be the big bad wolf to go with it. Not so quick.

He had a vision of the Muppet version of Big Bad. So I designed a version of the puppet that would fit over my husband's head, and he would look out through the mouth.

Here's the start of it. In a different fabric this could be another super easy knight costume!

After a bit, there were ears to go on that! I put them on by hand... there was a lot of hand work attaching pieces since my sewing machine isn't all that big.
I'm especially proud of the nice doggie nose. I think it came out really well. They Eyes are stuffed balls made from white fleece, and felt pupils - I think the fur eyelids really make them work. The teeth and tongue are felt.
There's also some pieces of old milk bottles in the nose for structure.
Just before we went out for the day I sewed the ribbon on Little Red's hood,
And made the wolf some mits.
Here they are checking out the snow leopards at the zoo.
And doing some trick or treating at grandma's house.

felt carrot tutorial and a birthday felt food feast

My daughter's best friend celebrated her second birthday today. I made her some delicious felt food. All healthy, with a couple sugar cookies for dessert.

Here's the quick and dirty method I used to make the carrots!

First I cut some rounded out triangles. Two equal sides. About 7" X 5".

I also cut a few narrow green rectangles... about 1/2" X 2. I folded these in half longways and sewed them up with a running stitch.

I sewed some lines in the carrot felt with embroidery floss.

I'm sorry but I didn't take pictures of the next steps. Then I folded the carrots, right sides facing, and sewed up the long edge with my machine. You end up with a narrow funnel. Turn it right-side-out. Stuff the carrot, and then string all three green stems on a thread, and then used the same thread to sew a running stitch along the open end of the carrot. Tuck the sewn ends of the stems in the top of the carrot and cinch it closed. Then just sew it together at the top for a sturdy finish.

Here are some close ups of the other veggies. Strawberries follow the same principle with a stubbier triangle to start, and different greens.

my cousin's baby shower gift

My dear cousin's wife is pregnant, due in December. The first of all my cousins to have a baby. This little girl will be my niece, (my cousin and I are both only children), and I am very excited.

I made the new little girl an eye-spy play/stroller quilt. It is 44" X 44". I'm so glad I added the patchwork border... this really adds to it I think!

Here is my favorite square...
And here is my daughter's favorite one - Dora of course! She's going to get one of these quilts, only much larger, and with many more things to spy, for Christmas.
Here is the back! I loved this fabric. Got it for a great deal at a quilt shop that was closing. So soft and bright.
The binding.... Most of the fabric came out of my stash - except for the sashing and the back.
And what baby shower gift is complete without a hand-knit hat! I've been making this pattern a lot lately. It's from the 101 Designer One Skein Wonders book. Very easy and quick.

Quilted Baby Blanket - Finished!

Believe me, I'm really kicking myself for not getting a better picture of this one before I sent it off... I love the way this blanket came out:

And it arrived on the same day the baby did! I've been told it was very well received, so hopefully I'll get a picture of it in use soon.

I've also finished the yellow knitted blankie for Natalie. She's been using it to play hide and seek, and she seems to enjoy cuddling it as much as her old couch cuddly! so that's a success story for sure. Unfortunately, it's a success story with no good picture to go with it! I'll try to get the little mover to pose with it tomorrow, and we'll see how that goes. So stay tuned for a picture!!

And I'm still working on some of that art quilting for the show in Erie. I'm loving my color pallet, so hopefully it all come off okay. I've got to get cracking though... September's almost here!

Baby Blankets

I have been busy... just not blogging! But here are a couple of quick pics of my two biggest WIPs.

I'm working on a quilted baby blanket for Kathy, a family friend's first grandchild, a boy, who's coming soon. I'm loving the way this quilt top came out. Each square has a different animal in the center. Kathy said the mom really likes brown and natural colors. I picked all these fabrics, except the sashing, from my stash, and I think it really works. And at the same time is still very baby boy.

Sorry for the crumby picture! The backing will be that light blue with dots fabric... I had to go get more of that at Hobby Lobby, but the width ended up being perfect... I won't even have to piece it!

And then I'm also knitting a blanket for my little one. She's really become attached to the junky old couch throw we have. She feels its nubbles when she's going down for her naps. I'd like her to have something a bit more special, (and something smaller!) so I'm making this textured knit blanket out of soft cotton. Hopefully she'll take to it.

Even if she's not into it it will have been good practice for me. The texture seemed complex at first, but I've got it memorized now. Hopefully I'll make some good progress on it on the road trip I'm heading off on this afternoon!

I've also got a couple other things on different needles and hooks, and a few other sewing projects for the show I'm doing in the local Library in September. I'll post some pics of them when I figure out how to mount them!!

Squares Quilt

Well, I finished this one a couple of weeks ago, but have been having camera trouble, so haven't gotten around to posting it! I love this quilt. I've even been using it though it's been so hot! I can't wait to wash it and see how it comes out after that, but I haven't gotten around to that yet. I really loved working with this beautiful fabric! So fun.

The back is just as nice as the front.

Here are a couple close ups of the patterned squares.

Now I'm working on some quilted art pieces to go in a show at the local library. I'm not sure how I'm going to frame them yet, but we'll see. I'll post pictures of them when they're nicely mounted.

And then next up is a quilt for a baby on the way in the family! I've got lots of ideas for it, but am not positive yet. Can't wait to cut some fabric!

I Won Something!

Pretty neat huh? And not just anything, but some beautiful yarn, and enough of it to maybe even make something cool!

I won this from Christine at Pink Petunias during the Sew Mama Sew giveaway day. So, what should I make? I'm thinking some kind of short-sleeved cardigan... have you seen any nice patterns? The yarn is a mohair and silk blend. I have five skeins of it, totaling 500 meters.

Guest Room Wall Hanging

The wall hanging/headboard I'd made for the guest room before just wasn't cutting it for me... the colors seemed way too bright for the room, and didn't work above the quilt that my great-grandma made so many years ago.

So before our guests arrived this weekend, I felt I really needed to make something a little more appropriate for the room.

I love the way this turned out... it's colors are nice and bright, but the tan in between works much better than the pure white did.

And it matches the bedspread perfectly.

Now this room ties together three generations of women's (counting me) needlework.

The pillows on the bed were stitched by my mom's mom, (the quilt was my dad's dad's mom).

And that other wall hanging? I put that into my bedroom, and it works very well on the sage green walls.... when I get around to decorating that room it will be all blue greens to match the crocheted hexagon afghan I made a couple of years ago!! I guess I'll have to post that one when I break it out again for the winter.

Square-in-Square

This is what I'm working on putting together with my pretty Amy Butler squares... It's going to be a small throw blanket for our living room.

I'm still working on the squares... I think it's going to be 6X5... I'm debating the sashing... I think there will be sashing for sure... I'm not sure of the color (tan or navy).  

I'm very pleased with the way these are coming out... I love seeing all the scraps in the borders, and then the individual fabrics highlighted in the simple squares... I can't wait for it to come together!

Getting things done!

Phew... I'm finally getting a few things done around here... I've pretty much taken the week off from sewing... I did do a bit of cutting, but that's all... 

But now I can cross a couple more things off my to do list!  Woo hoo!  

First off is this little house doorstop... it's actually quite a bit bigger than I think it needs to be, but I think that's okay for now... maybe I'll make another doorstop or two for some of the other doors that keep slamming around here.

This wall hanging has been done for a while, but I didn't have a piece of foam board to mount it on... until yesterday!  So now it's up!  I'd show it over the bed, except for the bed is covered in crafting stuff... and I don't want you to get any bad (though totally true) ideas about my tidiness!  I'm going to have to do another one of these I think... I'm liking these colors for my bedroom and think that the guest room needs something a little less white to go over my great-grandma's feedsack quilt... this one is just a bit too bright.  But I'm happy with the way it turned out other than that!

And I also got caught up with my squares again... and a few ahead... I have forty now!  So as of today, I think that's two ahead... 

And I finally started sewing the blocks together using the beautiful Amy Butler Daisy Chain squares I won from the Fabric Square Shop.   I've had these squares for months now, all cut out, but I keep working on other projects... I'm really excited about this... the squares I've put together are looking so cool!  I'll post about them when I have a few more.  

And I'll also post a picture of what I won on Giveaway Day!  :)  I'm so excited to get the mail!

Giveaway Winner!

Wow!  I can't believe there were 100  comments!  Very exciting!  I loved hearing from everyone and getting to read more about you all on your blogs!  

The only really fair way to choose was a random number generator!! So, the number drawn was.. 

3

So congratulations to Amanda from My GigglyMonkey!  I'll send you an email soon, and if I don't hear from  you I'll pick another number!!  I hope your mom enjoys the needle holder!  Sounds like she'll put it to good use!  

Please check out the previous post and see if you're interested in playing the Pay It Forward game with me... I need a few more participants!  

And again, thanks for stopping by my blog!!  I promise, I'll post some new craft pictures soon, (hopefully some finished projects even!!)  

Paying it Forward

I found out about this while perusing all the wonderful Sew Mama Sew giveaways out there!   It seems like such a nice way to meet other bloggers, and to spread the handmade love a bit further!  

Here's the dealio:

I am entering into the following contract with the first 5 people who comment and then commit to do the same on their blog.  Just read below and if you feel up to the task copy the following into your blog and leave me a comment. I am willing to post overseas (I am in Colorado, but remember you must commit on your blog to do the same to others.

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.
2. What I create will be just for you, with love.
3. It’ll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. Heck, I might bake something for you and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something strange.
6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.

7. Send your mailing address - after I contact you.

Welcome to everyone. I will however, make an effort to do something that you like based on what I see on your blog, BUTthere is no guarantees.

So that's that!! 

Thanks Bec Clarke for bringing this to my attention!!  I'm looking forward to a little something from Australia!  (Isn't it amazing how the internet makes us all seem just a little closer!)  

Giveaway Day

Hi there and welcome to my crafting blog!  I'm so excited to be a part of giveaway day this time around, and am looking forward to checking out all the great blogs, sites and shops out there!  

  
Today, I'm giving away a small knitting needle/crochet hook holder!  I use the Beta version of this guy all the time for my own gear, and hope you will find it useful.  This one has 21 pockets for straight needles or hooks, and three wide pockets that can be used for circular needles or afghan hooks.  It also has a little Velcro-closure pocket that can be used for stitch markers or whatnot!  

The flap folds over and it ties closed.  

This baby measures in at about 10"X 15".  Folded, it's about 10" X 5.5".  

I'd be happy to ship internationally.  

To win this fine made-by-me prize, please comment below and let me know what's currently on your needles or hook, (or what's up next if you don't have anything going)!  

I'll keep the giveaway open through Sunday, May 31st.  

I'm looking forward to hearing from you!  Thanks for playing.