wool puppet friends

Part of my sewing these past few days is the cat and dog puppet from Betz White's Warm Fuzzies.

The first one took me over 1 hour and 30 minutes. 

 The 2nd and thereafter only took 30-40 minutes. 

 Let's just say that there were a lot of snacks, cups of tea and distractions on the first one. Dontcha just love the jaguar print cat? I was so excited when I spied it in my wool stash.

 And I sewed the noses on the dogs upside down.

Just a few more of these to make for some little ones' birthdays.

Cheers,

Amanda

another doll coat

Remember this coat?

Well, I made one in red. For a birthday present.

This one is for a smaller doll. All i did was cut some length off the bottom and the sleeves.

And a purse of course! The fancy stitch is something from my machine. I think it's a stretch stitch for stretchy fabrics.


Made from a repurposed wool coat. The pretty blue and red coat fabrics are practically all gone. I just bought a camel coloured one to make a few more coats.
Have a good one.
Amanda

Little blue pea coat

I bought Neve a long, black pea coat of sorts after Christmas. She loves it because it is what fashion girls wear.
Then I bought one, a red one, because, you know, I wanted to be cool too.
And then, the Neve doll needed one. Of course. In blue.

Now they can go out in style.

I think it's a simplicity pattern. The fabric came from a 2nd hand wool coat.

The buttons came from a wool sweater that has found a new life as a pair of mittens.

Much fun, easy to do, and I can't wait to make another, in red. Collar will be better next time.

I think she likes it.

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

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

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

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

Purple flower pouch

In addition to these...


I have a series in my head. Here is one of them come to life:

Beautiful purple boiled wool or wool suiting. It's hard to find this stuff. I wish I had bought more.

And the hair tie flower. A few pieces of felted wool sweater and half a wool bead with french knots to keep it on.

Now, if I could only find the little piece of paper with my sketches for the rest of them... hmmmmm
Have a good one,
Amanda

Heart swap

I signed up for the heart swap this summer. I changed my mind a million times and finally came up with this.

Embroidery on linen. Just what I had envisioned. I had trouble finding a design though. When I finally returned home to my books, I found this one in the pile from a previous Goodwill Trip. Love vintage books.

It is very thorough, showing the patterns for each project made.

And then a treasury of designs in the back as well as the stitch guide.

I took the pattern for these slippers and adjusted it for the heart shape. It actually is heart shaped! I just need to outline it and decide whether to make it a sachet or put it on a 4 inch make your own button. Oh yes, that baby is big!

I think I'll ask my swap mate. Yes, it is late, but we have a mutual agreement. I was a busy summer you know! :}
Thanks for stopping by,
Amanda