Hansel and Grettle

I did lots of needle felting on Sunday and designed these two characters. They are sturdier than my other characters and quite a bit taller too. Accidentally taller, they stand about 4 1/2" but still fit in their house quite comfortably. I made the house today using a similar style to the 3 bears house, but rounded the roof and added some lovely pink frosting, and a red and white candy.

Hansel is sporting some green lederhosen

comfortably inside the house

This project was inspired by some lederhosen (leather breeches) I saw at MCC thrift store in the silent auction. They were made of REAL leather, a beautiful pale blue. The bid was only at $35! They were too big, so I didn't bid on them...

Valentine's Crafting

I'm getting a head start on Valentine's Day crafting. Here is a sneak peak...

felt heart confetti!


some Valentine's paper and ribbon
(Martha Stewart paper none the less)

Finds of the Week

Weird cake toppers? Not sure what these are used for. I bought a bag of new looking plastic decorations. I only wanted the mushrooms for cupcake toppers, but of course had to get everything in the bag.

the mushroom cupcake toppers, very little

velvet pigs

velvet rabbits

princess carriages and doves

shoes...I don't understand these...

another bunny

weirdest of all, TONS of these. Anyone need any of these
for your cake decorating projects!?

More Little

I made another little piece of clothing! I had some nice fabric left over from a happy birthday banner I made in the summer. I used another pattern out of the Handmade Beginnings book by Anna Maria Horner. The patterns are really easy to follow and I love the finished products.

Felt and Feathers

Felt is a fun and versatile medium; it comes in lots of great colours, when you cut it the edges don't fray, you can sew on it, embroider it, hot glue gun it, add buttons to it, add wire to it, basically whatever you can imagine with it is possible.

I started this felt feather project a very long time ago and haven't given it much thought until about a week ago. My sister is putting on an event centered around a Robin Hood theme. So I thought FEATHERS and FELT! Isn't that what his hat is made of? I got the half finished project out of the drawer it was living in and decided to take a stab at finishing it. With a couple of the ingredients listed above and some problem solving skills I managed to make a sturdy feather headband! I love it, I'm going to make some more in many different colours. Any requests?

Wear it up like Robin Hood

Or down to look like Peter Pan's Adventures!

Leather and Felt Roses

I put together some roses made out of felt and leather for a leather purse I made. It needed an extra somethings special. It made the not so feminine colour into a very feminine design.

I used this tutorial

I made it into a broach so I can take
it off if I get tired of it

Small finds of the week. A really cute cup on a stand, and some black and gold/silver buttons.

Tiny Trousers

Another snowed in day, and I made some tiny trousers. I got a few really good crafting /sewing books for Christmas. This trouser pattern is from Handmade Beginnings by Anna Maria Horner. I have heard about these trousers on other blogs so I thought I would see what all the hype was about. They are completely reversible, so its like two styles in one, it looks like they have lots of growing room too. I think I'll pass on the hype now!

front

back

random snow day picture

Snow+an Idea= Aviator Hat

Ever since I watched the Walton's TV series a couple years ago, I have wanted to make one of these aviator hats. Jim-Bob Walton would wear a hat like this as he dreamed about becoming a pilot. So today, while I was stuck in my house due to snow, I made this!

It went from a sketch on a piece of paper, to a paper pattern, to a couple of muslin drafts to cut up, to a finished product all in one day! I am happy with how it turned out, the shape is exactly what I had in mind. I was looking around on the internet for shapes similar to this, but couldn't find any, so it was trial and error for a while here.

Finds of the Week

I found a plaid box filled with these adorable vintage doll clothes. They needed lots of TLC, washing, mending and patching. But so many cute little outfits were inside it was worth it; 2 pairs of PJs, 2 skirts, 3 dresses, 1 shirt, 1 cape, 1 pink cardigan, 2 coats.

creative patches were required, an ivy leaf
on the middle coat and pink felt dots on the
pink cardigan

the coolest clothes trunk ever!

I found these 2 as well, though I am thinking of reselling them, as I have too many boxes like these now...
If your interested let me know, I've seen them on the internet for around $30, but $23 each is what I am asking.

flocked panda skipping on the front

silver stars on the inside

grey patterned inside

a cow boy and a cow girl on the front

Winner!

Rachel won the buttons! So I am shipping them to England this evening, a trip I wish I was taking. Enjoy!

Valentine's Mouse

I made another mouse! They are just so adorable I had to make another one. I changed the arms on this one, and I don't think I like them as much as the first mouse. I figured out how to do the chain stitch, so chain stitched the facial features which turned out really well. I wanted to try stripy legs, and I think I'm hooked. I like realistic stuffies to a certain extent, but enjoy colour too.

little mouse in her not so puffy dress

stuffing the legs using a technique found here,
best tutorials for making great stuffies. She has introduced
me to using smaller stitch length, and using forceps to
stuff and inside out stuffed animal parts, it really has made
things easier.

the shirt used for the mouse legs
(Thanks Holly!)

all mice need shoes

Buttons Galore!

I listed some buttons in my etsy store today! The button sets were fun to put together, finding colours and sizes that worked well together.

I made a mix match set to give away right here on my blog! This set sums up the coolest colours/designs that I came across. I am also giving away a plain red set to go with the mix matched ones. If you would like to win this set of 12 buttons, just leave a comment on this post and on Wednesday Jan 11 I will announce a winner (chosen by random number). One comment per person please! comments closed.

Mousie Mousie

My Mum had a Mouse stuffed animal that she played with when she was a child. When my sisters and I were kids we were allowed to play with it too. This Mouse was in the middle of hours of fun and entertaining ourselves making up stories while playing.

Because it was such a loved toy and a really cute design I wanted to try to replicate it, putting my own spin on it.

Here is New Mouse!

I added some shoes!

same cute face

New Mouse Old Mouse

Old Mouse

New Mouse!

City Mouse, Country Mouse to come!