partridges and pears

**This design is now available as a PDF pattern!**

Hey, a photo, look at that. These are some wool felt ornaments I've been making. The design is a reprise of the Partridge & Pear ornaments I made for gifts a while back. I'm pretty happy with this new pattern (unfortunately I lost the original pattern and had to guess based on photos). It's fairly close to the original.

I had pie-in-the-sky hopes to get a PDF pattern out for this before Christmas but that is not to be, thanks to an upgrade to Mavericks which did not go well (slight understatement there) and a hard drive crash. My apologies to those who were waiting! This will be definitely be released next year. And now I've GOT to focus on the stuff I need to make for Christmas ACK ACK ACK!

Tucker's mouse in Homespun magazine, followed by a PSA

Hey Tucker, look, your wee mouse with his little book was featured in the December issue of Australian Homespun Magazine! And what a pretty cover! Thank you, Homespun.

I still can't upload new photos, so recently made crafty stuff will have to wait a bit. My Mac Mini had to have a hard drive transplant and an OS upgrade, and I'm still moving in. It's a good thing my nerd husband can replace computer parts (that's right, he is not just eye candy). Hard drives fail, folks. We've had to replace mine several times over the years. They are a moving part, so they will eventually break.

While I'm on the subject, may I suggest that you have at least one backup? Learn from my mistakes. I've lost data and precious photos in years past, and that is why I now have a remote backup running all the time (remote means to a distant server that is not located in my house), as well as a local backup to an external drive. I have 15 years of freelance work, photos, and music on my tiny Mac. You probably have pure gold sitting on yours too in the form of photos, purchases, music, etc. It's way too vulnerable to roof leaks, house fires, burglars, peanut butter and lightning strikes.

And if you are a blogger like me, consider backing up your blog too. Blogger offers a way to export your blog to an XML file, which I do periodically. Because you just never know when a server is going to throw a rod. Back up, y'all! PSA over.

I am the Frost Queen

...and I decree it shall snow!

This Frost Queen ornament was crafted recently just for Juliette. It was nice to sit down for some quiet time with just me and craft supplies and Vampire Dia--I mean Ken Burns' Civil War.

Juju's been a longtime cyber friend, and I admire (covet) everything that girl makes. She can make anything. She has a loom in her living room! Whatever she tackles, she masters. When she generously carved this feather stamp for me, I wanted to return the kindness. Juju is outnumbered by boys in her house, so I thought she needed a really girly girl ornament all her own. 

It was made using my Wee Princess Pea pattern with no mods except for the addition of the snowball scepter and hanging loop. Just thread a hanging loop through the bead before you attach the head and the glue holds it in place.

My favorite part is her icy blue hair! 

Hugs to you, Juju.

{My favorite holiday has arrived. Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans! Especially to Robyn, who is wizarding up an American feast for her small outpost in Rio de Janeiro. Love you, Robyn, and I'm so thankful for best friends today!

I can't express how blessed I feel to be gathered up in the controlled chaos and surrounded by the love of family today. And the food is pretty awesome too. I wish everyone the warmest (and tastiest) day today, chock full of love and the things that truly matter.}

Snow Bird ornament pattern available!

Time to sit down with a Christmas movie and get your hand sewing on! The Snow Bird ornament is now available in both shops for instant download:
Etsy
Craftsy

I've made so many of these birds over the years, and I never get tired of it. They make special additions to your tree or lovely handmade gifts. The wool felt means they will last for years and years, if stored properly. I love to get out my felt ornaments each year. They are my favorites!

You know I like playing around with different color combos. I think it is so awesome to be able to make one to match whatever your favorite Christmas colors are, no matter how uncommon:

 I just made this retro pink one. I think pink looks so great on white Christmas trees. Some fine day I'm going to have one.

  I love gold tones too. This would be great on a woodsy foresty tree.

 Can't beat traditional red!

I always love turquoise and red together. A lot of my decorations are in this combo.

Happy hand sewing! 'Tis the season. I might be able to squeeze in a Partridge & Pear ornament pattern this holiday season too. It's my goal. I sort of lost my original patterns somewhere in the studio. I've ransacked the place and they are nowhere to be found. It's making me crazy.

snowbird ornament

*Late note: this is now available as the Snow Bird pattern in my shop.*

More fun with felt, floss and sequins. You might remember another version of this from way back when. Which was also the basis for the colly bird ornament. And the Blue Bird of Happiness.

I'm working on a hand sewing pattern for this bird. It will be coming soon! Hopefully in plenty of time for some cozy holiday hand stitching.

as seen in: Homespun Magazine

If you are a Homespun magazine reader you will see a nice mention of my Flora Needle Book pattern right there on page 20 of the October issue! Thanks very much, Janai! That's awesome!
(I should clarify that Homespun is an Australian publication, so you won't find it on the shelf in America. My apologies!)

I loved browsing through my copy. Homespun is substantially thick and chock-full of colorful photos and well-done DIY projects. I love the matte finish of the pages. Here's a random sampling:

Beautiful quilt!

Craft studio envy!

One of the features I really appreciate is this handy at-a-glance spread with photos of all of the included projects and their page numbers. Well done, Homespun! (Hey, look, I actually have on nail polish in these photos. Are you impressed? It isn't Pinterest-worthy striped or polka dotted or spangled or the ubiquitous ombre - but it is nail polish.)

pattern testers extraordinaire, part 4

This brunette Wee Princess Pea, by wonderful pattern tester Kate of Popsicle Toes, is destined for her Future Grandchild Box. Look at the awesome castle backdrop and the Persian carpet she made for it. Kate, I love her sweet face and the rosy cheeks you added!

pattern testers extraordinaire, part 3

This blonde Wee Princess Pea was crafted by the talented Stephanie of Peas In a Pod, whose daughter is just the right age to enjoy this set. I love those millefiori buttons she used for the closet legs up there in the first photo.

I think a lot of the fun of making this pattern is in choosing the fabrics and colors. If you are a scrap hoarder like me you will have almost too many possibilities! Small prints look best for the mattresses and pillow because of the diminutive scale. I really love the idea of making a set that matches your daughter's hair and favorite colors.

Up next, pattern tester Kate!