Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Mr. Scrooge: detailed Benzie color guides – kits available!


Mr. Scrooge is the first pattern in my Ebenezer Ornament Series. Here are the detailed felt/floss/sequin/bead color guides for you below, so that you can easily make Mr. Scrooges that look like my Benzie felt samples!

Benzie Design has long been one of my favorite places to purchase wool-blend felts. They have stellar customer service, quick shipping, and their felt, floss, sequins and beads are an absolute joy to work with! They will be very happy to help you with what you need.

First, some handy links to get you started:
To buy the Mr. Scrooge pattern: mmmcrafts.etsy.com
To buy the Victorian or Modern Pastel felt palettes shown here:
To shop their beautiful sequins and beads:

OK! Here are the color guides:

Victorian Burgundy Scrooge

BENZIE FELT COLORS*:
Burgundy: Dressing gown
Copper: Dressing gown collar and trim
Swan: Night shirt
White: Candle
Peacock: Night cap and leaves
Graphite: Slippers
Peach: Body
*Note: You will need matching floss or thread colors

FLOSS/SEQUIN/BEAD COLORS*:
Night cap: DMC E301, DMC 814 
Dressing Gown Trim: DMC 154, Benzie Gold glass beads
Dressing Gown: DMC BLANC, DMC E301, 5 mm iridescent cupped sequins, Benzie 4 mm Copper Metallic sequins, Benzie Gold glass beads, Benzie Foxglove glass beads
Night Shirt: DMC E301, DMC 814, DMC BLANC, Benzie White glass beads
Year on back: DMC 598
*All sequins/beads sewn with gold sewing thread

OTHER NOTIONS:
Candle: Benzie black stiffened felt, black mini chenille stem, gold tinsel mini chenille stem
Head: White mini chenille stem, wood colored card stock, Benzie white stiffened felt
Slippers: Benzie black stiffened felt
Hanging Loop: DMC 5282 Metallic Pearl


Victorian Bronze Scrooge

BENZIE FELT COLORS*:
Bronze: Dressing gown
Turquoise: Dressing gown collar and trim
Blush: Night shirt
White: Candle
Copper: Night cap
Midnight: Leaves and slippers
Peach: Body
*Note: You will need matching floss or thread colors

FLOSS/SEQUIN/BEAD COLORS*:
Night cap: DMC E3852, DMC 3750 
Dressing Gown Trim: DMC 823, Benzie White glass beads
Dressing Gown: DMC BLANC, DMC E301, 5 mm iridescent cupped sequins, Benzie 4 mm Teal Metallic sequins, Benzie Teal glass beads, Benzie Strawberry glass beads
Night Shirt: DMC E3852, DMC 919, DMC BLANC, Benzie Turquoise glass beads
Year on back: DMC 3750
*All sequins/beads sewn with gold sewing thread

OTHER NOTIONS:
Candle: Benzie black stiffened felt, black mini chenille stem, gold tinsel mini chenille stem
Head: White mini chenille stem, wood colored card stock, Benzie white stiffened felt
Slippers: Benzie black stiffened felt
Hanging Loop: DMC 5282 Metallic Pearl


Modern Pastel Ivory Scrooge

BENZIE FELT COLORS*:
Ecru: Dressing gown, candle
Silver: Dressing gown collar and trim
Julep: Night shirt
Fern: Night cap
Moss: Leaves
Turquoise: Slippers
Peach: Body
*Note: You will need matching floss or thread colors

FLOSS/SEQUIN/BEAD COLORS*:
Night cap: DMC E3852, DMC 959 
Dressing Gown Trim: DMC 351, Benzie White glass beads
Dressing Gown: DMC 414, DMC E3852, 5 mm gold cupped sequins, Benzie 4 mm Rose Quartz sequins, Benzie Strawberry glass beads, Benzie Gold glass beads
Night Shirt: DMC E3852, DMC 935, DMC BLANC, Benzie Strawberry glass beads
Year on back: DMC 935
*All sequins/beads sewn with gold sewing thread

OTHER NOTIONS:
Candle: Benzie black stiffened felt, black mini chenille stem, gold tinsel mini chenille stem
Head: White mini chenille stem, wood colored card stock, Benzie white stiffened felt
Slippers: Benzie black stiffened felt
Hanging Loop: DMC 5282 Metallic Pearl


Modern Pastel Pink Scrooge

BENZIE FELT COLORS*:
Pink: Dressing gown
Coral: Dressing gown collar and trim
Ecru: Night shirt and candle
Ochre: Night cap
Turquoise: Leaves
Mustard: Slippers
Peach: Body
*Note: You will need matching floss or thread colors

FLOSS/SEQUIN/BEAD COLORS*:
Night cap: DMC E301, DMC 501 
Dressing Gown Trim: DMC BLANC, Benzie Gold glass beads
Dressing Gown: DMC E3852, DMC 783, 5 mm iridescent cupped sequins, Benzie 4 mm Copper Metallic sequins, Benzie Gold glass beads, Benzie Strawberry glass beads
Night Shirt: DMC E3852, DMC 351, DMC 3326, Benzie Strawberry glass beads
Year on back: DMC 351
*All sequins/beads sewn with gold sewing thread

OTHER NOTIONS:
Candle: Benzie black stiffened felt, black mini chenille stem, gold tinsel mini chenille stem
Head: White mini chenille stem, wood colored card stock, Benzie white stiffened felt
Slippers: Benzie black stiffened felt
Hanging Loop: DMC 5282 Metallic Pearl

These color guides can be followed exactly, but feel free to vary the choices to match your tastes and make your own unique combos. The way I've combined the Benzie Victorian and Modern Pastel felt colors are just a few of the possibilities! I'd love to see what you make. :-) #ebenezerornamentseries

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Mr. Scrooge pattern is now available!


Mr. Scrooge, the first release in my new Ebenezer Ornament Series, is now available! This series is inspired by the beloved Victorian era novella, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. The series is going to be ornate, sparkly and a wee bit spooky. I'm excited about it.


The scowling Mr. Scrooge ornament features an ornate Victorian tasseled night cap, night shirt, dressing gown, slippers, and candlestick. This is a detailed project with lots of tiny pieces, so it's not a beginner's pattern, mind. However, if you've successfully completed the people ornaments in the Twelve Days series or 'Twas the Night series, you will feel right at home with Ebenezer. 



One of the ways to make these ornaments look really special is to use metallic embroidery flosses (DMC Light Effects), but those can be a bit more challenging to work with than the cotton flosses. You have to be patient, use short lengths, thread them in parts, and be conscious of pulling each of the strands snug as you go. But! Used as accents in the embroidery, metallic flosses really take the look of the ornament up a notch. 


Similar to my other heirloom ornament patterns, it takes about two crafternoons to make a Mr. Scrooge. It's constructed using very similar methods to my other series, including Sulky Stick 'n Stitch (a magical wash away adhesive stabilizer that makes construction fast, easy, and accurate). If you already have the materials needed to make my other people ornaments, you probably have most of what you need to make a Mr. Scrooge. 


The 19 page PDF pattern comes with 26 years worth of years to trace on the back of his dressing gown, if you are like me and like having the year written on the back of your special ornaments.

You can buy the pattern here! Check this Ebenezer resource page for even more information on this pattern series. 

KITS COMING: All the samples you see in this post were made with lovely Benzie Design wool-blend felts, sequins, and beads. They will be graciously supplying lovely kits for this pattern if you'd also like to make them in the same colors you see here. There are two different color palettes: Victorian and Modern Pastel. More details on that are coming soon. Benzie have been standing at the ready for weeks to compile the kits, but it is me that's been tortured with indecision and slow to provide them the details! (Sorry, Crystal! You guys are awesome.)