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

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

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

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

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you've had enough Turkey! I had 2 lots and looking forward to my hot turkey sandwich with gravy and fries tonight!


Gobble, gobble,
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

lego pouch

Happy Saturday! I just spent the morning, cleaning my kitchen/living room after hosting 4 extra sailors for the past week! let me say, it feels good to have a moment to do such.
Anyhow,
here's a quick pouch for a bday present. The kids like to take their lego mini figurines around with them. this way, they can hook it to their pants and off they go....

And in other good news....
I won the monthly blog giveaway at Soft Earth Art last month.

What a treasure to own something that was created lovingly by Marie. All of her work exudes magic.

And I just LOVE the acorns. Our acorns don't look like this.

That brings me to an idea or wish I've had for sometime now.... An acorn trade. Wouldn't it be cool to have some acorn tops from a different tree than grows in your neighbourhood? I've only found the one kind around here.
Anyhow, This wreath hangs inside where I can see it everyday. it makes me smile and warms my heart to think of it being created all the way from the other side of the world and traveling here.


Thanks Marie!

Amanda

wool felted acorns

When I put the acorn tops on the felted balls, it made me...
HAPPY!!!

And then to put them in tiny dishes...

HAPPIER!!!!

Does it make you happy!??!?!?!?!!


Have a good one.
Amanda

Felted soap

I've been looking for a nice soap to make felted soap with. And at a reasonable price. I finally found some made of goat's milk and oatmeal. I love. it. i originally bought a bunch, tried one out and used them all up in the shower without felting them.

I found a supply again and set about to try it out.

After felting with brightly coloured wool and the dye coming out when used, I decided to go with the undyed grey wool and used a few accent colours.

To me, it looks so earthy.


To see my other ventures in wet felting soap go here

Have a good one,
Amanda

more pouches and garden bounty

How cute is this guy?

Liking his flower too!
And another one for this theme.

All together now. Not for long.

We went to our veggie garden at an aunt's house today to dig up the rest of our veggies. Quite a haul!

We had fun going, picking and eating the fruits of our planting and tending. Rafael would spend most of his time in the middle of the peas or tomatoes, eating his way though the plant! And what a great pot o soup will come out of this one! I hope it lasts to the cold weather.


Have a good one,
Amanda