a bit of looming...

Howdy! 

You're still coming back? thanks. Sorry it's only once a week and not much crafting going on. I'm still de-cluttering. Here a good tip: If you bring a box of donation to Goodwill, don't go in the store and bring more stuff home!!

But how could I pass up this baby!?

 A fashion weaving loom at that.

 Love the comb. I also made a shuttle you can see in the 1st picture. It came with a long plastic needle, but how do you have a ton of yarn behind that every time you pass it through without getting it all tangled? Neve is loving it. She may only do 2 lines at a time, but she goes to it a few times a day.

 Here's a question for you gardeners...
What are the spiderwebby things on these plants? Is it indeed some kind of web or egg covering thing? Sorry, my gardening language is not very elaborate. Your knowledge is most appreciated.

That's it for now.
Thanks for looking,
Amanda

flower puppet

After all the singing and performing for the last month, I'm finally getting my sewing brain back. Yeah!
How about this face?

Along with these petals..

And some leaves..

To make this little beauty..

Usually, I put my tag as the tail on the animal, but this one doesn't have a tail. It's just sewn on the back.


Another to go into my finger puppet collection


I used die cuts to make the flower petals and face. Gives it a nice even edge.

Have a good one,
Amanda

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

Blue alien in an orange spaceship

Last summer, I made a bunch of these little felties for wee friends.
One little boy has been patiently waiting for the spaceship to go with it. Last week, i got down to business and made one.

I left the opening at the top for the alien to get in. It has to be fairly wide to fit his head in.

Since I didn't have an alien to judge the size of spaceship, I had to make a new alien. Ol' bluey.

Now they will have to go in the mail. I forgot to bring the gift with me. Boo Hiss.


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

it's a cat

This belated birthday present for a 1 year old is from Betz White's Warm Fuzzies. Guess I'm really liking that book lately and the fact that I've been collecting 50-11 sweaters for the last month or so. It's just a little break from the mitten making.

It was easy to make, just a little confusion on the sewing the front to the back, but it won't be a bother next time. Kind of an
a-ha moment shall we say.

Here's another blurry picture. Of the mouth. I tell ya, this time of year, and maybe for the winter, my camera bites! I can't even get a decent picture unless the sun is shining. ugh. smile, breathe, think pretty, focused thoughts.

And the back of it. Yes, green is a strange colour for a cat, but it was workin' for me that day. All the colours and swatches came together. he's fancy.

And here is a request to be added to the post. Rafael is quite proud of his gnome friends and the big dipper in the sky. He wanted you to notice the big dipper. Do you notice?


thanks for stopping by
Amanda

ribbon hairbands

One of the local fabric stores (it's the only one that is less than a 10 minute drive, everything else is at least 30 minutes, dragola) has the most amazing ribbon section. Just beautiful designs.
I got inspired by a plain headband I bought at the dollar store and pumped it up a notch.

Aren't they just gorgeous?

Oh look, mini tutorial!
Adjust lengths to the size of head, but this works for me and for my 5 year old. Cut ribbon 13 inches. The elastic is 6.5. Again it depends on how much the elastic stretches. I cut the original the same as the dollar store one, but it was too tight as my elastic is a better quality and doesn't stretch so much. Please note: Elastic needs to be thinner than the ribbon.
With the elastic on the right side of ribbon, fold the ends of the ribbon around the elastic as below. Sew a little in from the end.

Turn it right side out. Do the same for the other side. There you go. Done!

And if you really want to get silly, try wearing them all at once!


Ciao,
Amanda

Weekend Happenings

G'Day!
it's another beauty here. Any warm days after the middle of October are a gift. It's supposed to get to 15 degrees celcius today. Awesome!
We had a a warmish weekend also. good thing, I was selling my wares at an outdoor venue!
Special hi to all who are visiting here from the Fair! Welcome.
Here is my table. i forgot to bring a few things to add various heights to the table. It's rather flat, but tons to look at.

I made a batch of mittens that went like hotcakes. it was just enough chill in the morning before the sun came around the building to want cosy mittens. This is my almost empty basket. I should have taken a picture before to keep the ideas for future mittens. I have since scored with some great sweaters and will be sewing up a mitten storm this week. Another craft fair this weekend.

Here are some clothes and doll slings on a line, with the happy teapot bunting.

Here are some money cuffs to be featured later. I adapted a lunch money cuff from A lemon Squeezy Home

And lastly, Halloween!
Neve decided on 2 costumes to play with. The first is super woman. She has red and gold hairspray in her hair. You could hardly see it, but she was excited just the same. This was for the school-indoors.

For outside, she was a wizard. A few layers went under this costume. And Rafael wanted to be Mario. Homemade is good enough for him. The mustache was attached with 2 sided carpet tape. Let's just say that we learned to make it a little less sticky before applying to the face. ouch. Last year, he was Alvin the chipmunk. Next year, he wants to be an Angry Bird. Lord help me!

And when the Mario is in the washroom, the wizard goes into disguise!


must make some mittens....
thanks for stopping by,
Amanda

ballerina clothes peg

Howdy!
Here's is the latest in my design of clothes peg people. You can see the others here
I present... the ballerina(s)!

Here she is with her hair in a bun...

in her hot pink tulle tutu

Her criss cross in the back leotard..

And her pointe shoes.

They come in brown hair

or blonde

Maybe they'll get invited to a dance!


I hope those pirates are light on their feet and have good manners!

Cheers,
Amanda