Betz's bunny

A few years back, I made some bunnies a la Betz White.
here
and here
Yesterday, I made another with some experimentation in the tail department.


I was going to place a wooden button for the eye, but I lost it here. boo hiss.

So here is the bunny with the looooong tail and no eye. yet.

It was different to work with a sweater compared to the fleece. I'm glad my sewing machine can get through the wool smoothly. like cutting butter.

It's a lovely spring day here today. There are children on my deck soaking the sun, a girlie happily painting a picture with watercolours and a mama who is turning the other direction from the mess. I may have to vacuum though before I go out. I do like to come home to a clean floor.!
have a good one.
Amanda

dog puppet

Here's the dog puppet from Warm Fuzzies (see details in post below)

Bit pink isn't it!

Love that little fuzzy, bent ear.

Here it is hangin' with the cat. They won't be together for long. They're jammin' it up as much as they can.


I went and got myself into a musical production of Hello Dolly. I used to do musical theatre when I first moved here, but haven't done it since I met my husband 12 years ago. It seems kind of strange to go back into this. the last time, I was single, young, childless. Basically, just me, to do whatever I wanted, where ever. Now, 12 years later, I'm married, got kids and am just that much more grown up. Oh, and I'm over 40. Anyone else over 40 have that "I don't give a crap" thing goin' on? You know, your filter is not always on and you just don't care (within reason) what other people think. I heard it happened at 40. now I'm living it. Kind of liberating somehow. My husband got it too last year. He didn't understand what I was talking about. Now he does.
Anyhow, I digress. Point is, it should be interesting to be involved in something that will take up my time and take me away from my family on a regular basis. Show's in late March. i'll tell you more as we get closer.

Ciao,
Amanda

cat puppet

Last fall, I made this

for a birthday present for a 1 year old. (Pattern from Betz White's Warm Fuzzies)
I've decided that it will be THE gift for 1 year olds. I seem to have a few of them in my life these days.
This one's for Caleb...A cool cat who started walking at 9 months! 9 Months! The third child. This little bitty thing, walking/teetering/falling/getting back up and going on again, 9 months. Too little to see if you weren't looking down! Bless his mama. My nerves would be shot! :}

Ahhh, look at that stitching and the fibres of the wool. Isn't it bea.u.ti.ful? It makes me feel calm. You too? Or am I just weird? ( please don't answer if you're one of my non-crafting friends who's eyes glaze over when asked about my new sewing machine! lol)

I made the tongue from 2 pieces of 100% wool felt. I sewed them together in a tongue shape, then cut it out from the rectangle.

He's a happenin' dude doncha think?


Next time, I'll show you the cool pink doggie from the same book.
Ciao,
Amanda

mini cupcakes

Cupcakes anyone? Partially done cupcakes? they contain less calories!

These come from Betz White's book Warm Fuzzies. I made them tree ornament size and put a little needlefelted ball on top. The others will have beads instead.

I took all kinds of artsy fartsy pictures to show you, but my camera didn't cooperate. fuzzy..... grrr. I makes me crazy that camera.
Anyhow, it's that time of year, time to bury the fig tree. Fig trees cannot survive the Canadian Winter (as mild as it is in Toronto) so it is the custom to bury it. The root ball is small, so you dig it up and bury it a few feet in the soil. Then a layer of leaves to help insulate. Oh, the fig tree is in the burlap. And, I don't know what we'll do when it gets to big to bury in our little garden. Figure that out when we get there I suppose.

Have a good one,
Amanda

Ogee ornament in many styles

Hello folks!
It's been a while. I've been in a little creative funk. Well, i've been trying some things, but not so successful yet. I think instead of a funk, it's a process of trying and experimenting. So, not much to show.
Anyhow, a few weeks ago, I made these ogee ornaments from felt and heat embossed overhead projector paper. (what's that called again?)

I first got the idea from Betz White a few years ago. Check out her post. It is a most excellent tutorial.

But it was before I delved into the world of good felt. Here's my original post here

This time, I also used Stampin' Up! stamps and heat embossed on the transparency. (there, I remembered). Here's the music one.

And here is the french script one.

I originally wanted to used eyelets to join them together, but I couldn't fit my crop-a-dile in the littlest spot, so I used brads instead.

I experimented with the stitching on the felt ones to make it decorative.

A few french knots. Love french knots.

These beads came from my uncle's stash. He used to make very ornate jester stockings for Christmas with silks and velvet and these beads on the tips. Gorgeous. I claimed the beads from his stash. Looking forward to using these up.

And here they are, swaying in the breeze.


thanks for looking!
Amanda

mittens mittens!

On Saturday, I kept sneaking to my very messy sewing room and happily made mittens. Yes, mittens. out of wool sweaters. On a most Awesome warm day of Autumn.

The pattern is from Warm Fuzzies from Betz White. I made a batch last year here I moved the thumb over a little towards the outside of the hand. It just sits a little better.

After a few scores of wool sweaters this summer, I just had to make something out of them.

I look forward to many more combinations of sweaters.

But not the cold days of winter!

Cheers,
Amanda

3 little kittens have found their mittens

Here's another thing to cross of the list. Mittens!

I mean, there's only a few months left of winter right? right?

This mitten pattern comes from Betz White's book Warm Fuzzies
And a hat to go with the mittens,. The jury is still out on this hat. it makes me laugh because it is so quirky. And yes, it does look like an upside down sweater. I think I'll take the side points off and make it a straight line.

I had fun trying different sizes, materials ( felted sweaters, cotton sweaters, and fleece) and edging. I serged a pair with right sides out so I wouldn't have to turn them. It's the orange blue yellow pair. Kinda cute. Kinda looks like an oven mitt.

I do want to adjust the thumb pieces though. The placement of the thumb is a little off side so the mitten twists. Hopefully I can figure it out. If I do, I'll be serious about buying wool sweaters and everyone is getting mittens for Christmas next year. And I have to do them now, while the joy of mittens is still in me!

thanks for looking,
Amanda

easter friends

My 1st project of needle felting with the wool is the bunnies.

It took a few attempts for the body as I wasn't rolling it tight enough. one of the bodies felt hollow inside. Now I know.

I made the egg by wrapping roving around an egg shaped styrofoam form. then added some dots. The egg kind of lost it's shape.


And I also made a few more bunnies from Betz . Rafael stuffed his with the wool and it is firmer than the eco-stuffing made from pop bottles. yes, I'm glad to have this wool gift.


I'm finished 4 days of singing in church. I love the High holy days and the place that the music has in it. But I have to confess, by the last hymn today, I was ready to call it over! Hope to get to bed early tonight. And the kids don't have school tomorrow. A lazy start and maybe a trip to the gym. T-shirt season if here. yippee!!

Hope you had a good one.
Amanda

Betz's bunny and some gnomes

I couldn't resist making this quick sew bunny that Betz White has on her site
here

I used some fleece I had on hand. Easy sew up and well loved. Now I have to make a turquoise one for son.

And I made 2 more gnomes today. I love the hair on the red one. Just looped some thread and tied a knot in the middle before gluing to the head. These wooden doll shapes are a little tapered. I don't like the shape as well as the straight ones. I need to work on the pattern a little.

have a great weekend.
Amanda

ogee ornament

Here is the full ornament that I made from the info on Betz White's blog.


I didn't have the proper felt, but I did have some stiff felt from Michael's. I did it in white 1st, but the felt was too stiff, it didn't flow, just bent in the wrong places. The blue was a little better, but still not right. Anyhow, I figure with a few shiny, spiny things, it would distract. haha


I knew that buying those little filigree beads 2 years ago would come in handy.


Can't wait to finish the car holders i started today... stay tuned.
thanks for looking,
Amanda