Every superhero needs a cape, yes?
YES!
Matty loves the PBS program ‘Super Why’, so I thought I would make him a cape of his own.
I used a wool blend felt (SO much better than craft felt) and a printed cotton for the reverse side.
It was terrificly easy to make and he looks adorable with it on.
He’s flying!
I love making birthday presents for my two nieces. This year I wanted to make a slim, almost sleeve like bag for Ellie to hold some more adult type art supplies. Initially I was looking for an kit, but really couldn’t find anything that had a good variety and was of better quality. That’s when I thought to make a bag and stuff it with individual items for her to use and enjoy.
The outside is all canvas, while the interior is soft cotton flannel. I used fusible webbing to adhere the ELLIE letters and hand stitched “creates” with DMC.
There was plenty of room for everything: pastels, sculpty clay, brushes/watercolor, and two pads of paper:
Included in her gift box was a little softie I created from a drawing she had made for us. It’s the sweetest owl and he’s been residing on our fridge since he was drawn:
I scanned him onto my computer and printed him out onto a sheet of printable fabric. I then quilted the owl imaged fabric onto some solid cotton flannel. I finished it off by using some sweet Japanese owl fabric I had in my stash and stuffing him with polyfill and some dried lavender buds. He smelled good!
♥
I hand-sewed this little lady last year while I was tending my booth at the Arlington Fair. She was originally supposed to be a smidgen of a doll that would hang out in my workspace. But somehow, I cut the arms and legs really thin and weird and I couldn’t turn them right side out. So I chopped off the limbs, stuffed her with lavender buds and made her into a sweet sachet. I like her face. And she smells good.
I knew back in late August/early September that I was going to create gnome costumes for the boys.
I wanted something that was basically like regular clothes, but also warm, and non-cumbersome.
The only thing I thought they would have issue with was the hat and beard, but they both did super-great and didn’t try to take them off at all!
I was so proud.
In my head, I knew what gnomes looked like. Heck, I watch the Amazing Race which is sponsored by Travelocity, so without fail I see that little gnome mascot every Sunday night!
To get a specific idea though, I just googled my way through many, many images of gnomes on the web.
You would not believe how many variations!
So I kind of settled on doing a hybrid of these two guys:
I liked the colors of the second guy, but the vest type top of the first dude.
Since I was sewing everything, I knew a sleeveless tunic was way more desirable and much faster than trying to add sleeves.
With a belt, I thought it achieved exactly the look I was going for.
The hat was loosely based on the woodland elf hat in Bend The Rules Sewing. (I love that book!)
Once I had the hat down, I tackled the belt and then beard. The belt was easy, I was happy that I had picked up some goldtone buckles from the fabric store, it definitely added to the overall look.
The beard proved to be a bit more challenging, if only because I wanted something that wasn’t going to be too annoying to the boys (like cotton-y strands and threads in the mouth) but still have a look that was full and reminiscent of a fluffy beard.
I thought I was simply going to do graduating layers of white felt.
But as I was starting it, it seemed too flat and two-dimensional for facial hair.
I got inspired at the last moment. I started thinking, loops, loops, loops.
So I started cutting strips and sewing them on in lines and a bit of layering.
I LOVED the way it turned out.
It gave it this interesting, modern, clean look while still looking like a obvious representation of a beard.
The process was quite enjoyable to partake in.
I felt proud!
Trick-or-Treat!
materials used:
polar fleece for the tunic
wool blend felt
thread
buttons
brass buckles
store bought white turtlenecks and khaki pants from the boys’ own wardrobe
Has been a million years since I’ve posted something crafty?
Yes, yes!
But here we go, a project I started and COMPLETED in only about a week!
Unheard of!
Some of you crafty folks might know of a very sweet site Wee Wonderfuls.
I gather quite a nice bit of inspiration from Hillary and her work.
This was no exception.
I looked at this adorable photo of her daughter and just knew I wanted to make some fun banners for my sons’ room.
I don’t like to copy things exactly, so I thought for a while about how to make this project mine. And ultimately, my boys.
Here is what I came up with.
This one for my Matty:
The letters are felt, hand embroidered using DMC thread.
For the end flags, I wanted to pick images that represented Matty’s interests.
He’s a reader and loves music.
So…
He likes to bring his instruments onto his bed. To play and snuggle with them.
And yeah, he’s totally allowed to stand up and jump on his bed!
Now for my Noah.
His end flags couldn’t so much reflect his interests, ’cause well, he’s only months old and his interests right now are eating paper and pulling my hair. I didn’t really know how to indicate that in stitchery.
So I gave him a little red birdie:
And some sunshine:
I think he approves:
materials used:
scrap cotton fabric
flannel
linen
interfacing
dmc embroidery thread
poly thread
ribbon
Phew.
It’s all done.
It wasn’t THAT much, but you know, being that I had (and still have) like a billion things to do before the new babe gets here, it felt like my plate was extr-y full and all.
But now?
All done!
Well, the custom sewing projects are done.
And shipped!
That’s the best feeling.
And now all that’s left is for all the lovely ladies to enjoy their new items. Yeah, yeah, THAT is the best part.
So here is the work:
A ladybug hip-pack and hairband set.
Matty actually modeled it for me! (Being that in my current state, or you know, ever, do I have a 28-30 inch waist. Ahem.)
nylon quilted
wool felt
magnetic snaps
zipper
lightweight corduroy
cotton
thread
nickel swivel clip
d-rings
dmc thread
interfacing
cotton canvas
Yeah, I can’t get enough of the owls.
I just ADORE them.
I still had some of this very awesome Japanese owl print cotton and decided to make a few items . My favorite part is hand sewing the wool felt appliqués on the outsides.
Eyes open!
Eyes closed!
On that second pouch, you will notice some extra cuteness in the corner there. I added a pink owl button and a removable pinback button, which I got from the very cool Kung-Fu Cowgirl over on etsy. See the whole set that I got? Darling!
Both pencilcases are in the shop, along with a few other items that I was able to whip up while waiting for some fabric to come in for the custom jobs I’m in the middle of. (Poor sentence structure!)
wool felt
dmc thread
interfacing
cotton
twill
thread
zipper
button
…of the custom work I’m in the midst of.
I’m loving this black mini purse.
It was made at the request of a very lovely lady, Jeanie.
I met her at the Arlington Fair.
She was helping her friend Judy in the jewelry booth next to mine.
Both of those ladies definitely helped pass the minutes.
(And allowed me to take a loo break!)
Oh and Jeanie’s husband rocks. Did ya know?
Check it.
So this mini is for her friend Mandi.
Mandi is cool.
And she has an 80s tribute band, The Reflex.
I think she’ll dig this mini.
Who could resist a mini made exclusively for themselves?
ebony heavyweight twill
heart print cotton
magnetic snap
thread
wool felt
dmc thread
interfacing
Though given the chance, maybe I could be?
Allergies (both mine and Mike’s) have kept any and all felines out the house, so I tend to rely on the stuffed kitties and kitty fabric to get my kitteh fill.
I didn’t mean to make two cats right in a row.
But I had a wee bit more of that weiner doggie fabric and I just couldn’t get past the idea of stuffed softie kitty wearing a doggie print dress.
So I caved into it and whipped up this doll in the last few days.
I got to use the sewing machine this time, so with the exception of the felt and embroidery, which was still hand-stitched, production, as a whole, went much faster.
Her name is Jess.
And yup, she’s a rosy-cheeked dog lover.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Now, doesn’t that little doggie I stitched up look very reminiscent of Zero from The Nightmare Before Christmas?
I didn’t even do that on purpose!
(Can you believe that movie is from 1993? HOLY!)
And s’more Jess shots:
wool felt
buttons
polyfill
cotton
embroidery thread
ribbon
And of course, the ever-awesome wee wonderfuls pattern.
And just as unbelievably cute!
Here are better pics of me new gal-pal Roberta.
Kitty-cat gal-pal.
Does that even make sense?
Who cares!
Look how pretty!
And the obligatory close-up of her fashionable little red birdie accessories:
You know you want a bag just like hers!
materials used:
wool felt
craft felt
dmc thread
cotton
grosgrain ribbon
buttons
polyfill
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