Swan a-Swimming sneak peek

UPDATE: This pattern is now available!

First look at a completed wool felt Swan a-Swimming ornament, no. 7 in my Twelve Days series. I'm still working on the digital pattern and life is a bit hectic at the moment with Stuff That Is Not Crafting. I have to get through the STINC and then back to the pattern. But am hoping to release it soon! Thanks for being patient!

swan sewing sailing along swimmingly

Hard at work on the Swan a-Swimming pattern for you! For those of you who like to buy the Twelve Days felt and floss bundles from Benzie Design, starting with this pattern (no. seven) I will be repeating the bundle colors. So these samples will be done in the same bundle colors as the the first pattern, Partridge & Pear.

Which leads me to my apology. I kind of dropped the ball for Goose a-Laying with the bundle colors. My samples ended up in a lot of the same colors as Partridge & Pear also because I failed to think that through. Soooo I think I will do a unique bundle for the Goose a-Laying in some different colors in the coming weeks. I'm sorry about that! I had color bundle apathy at the time. Do you ever get that?

Crow softie by Thing 2

You've already seen her softie version of Tom Servo. In the afterglow of that success she informed me she was going to make Crow next. I have to admit I secretly thought she was fighting a losing battle because Crow just seemed really awkward to duplicate as a softie. (For those of you who may be wondering, Crow and Tom Servo are robot characters on a show from the 90s called Mystery Science Theater 3000.)

Well, shut my mouth. She whipped this out from scratch from fleece, felt, and pipe cleaners. I think it's fantastic! So proud.

hand stitched flora card

Card for my momma. It probably looks familiar because it's basically my Flora Needle Book cover pattern that I enlarged to 4 x 4.75 inches. It's made from wool felt and embroidery floss on card stock, with a flower in the place of the button that's usually on the needle book.

Closeup of the stitching. I pre-punched my holes with the needle. You kind of have to do that with paper. I punched them through the felt and paper from the top, then proceeded to embroider with a back stitch like usual. The key is to use BIG stitches.

In progress shot of the other card I made for my MIL. I didn't get a final photo of that one! Too last minute. That one had a few beads and sequins too. The process is pretty time consuming for a card, but it turns your card into a little work of art that is pretty gift on its own.

birthday card for Lita

Simple card made from card stock, wool felt, and gel pen. Happy birthday to my sweet May-born sister!

Tom Servo softie by Thing 2

When my 11 yr old told me she was working on a secret softie design, I assumed it would be a puppy or a unikitty or something like that. Nope. It was Tom Servo. Because she is retro cool that way.

Well, Tom Servo after a crash diet. He's pretty skinny. I love it. She's been watching some MST3K with her Dad and has really been digging it. She says she wants to buy some gold fleece to make Crow next. I'm not sure how she's going to pull that off, but I have every confidence.

My favorite part is his mouth. So proud.

Mistleholly stockings for National Nonwovens

I dug out my Mistleholly stocking pattern to whip up these two samples for National Nonwovens' Spring Quilt Market booth. National Nonwovens is responsible for much wool felt happiness in the world, so I am glad they are around! These stockings are made entirely of wool felt, ribbon and sequins.

In progress shot. I forgot what an easy make these are. They come together really quickly. I may have to sew myself a set in new colors...

To me, these are the perfect sized stocking to hang from the mantel (15 inches long). I don't love huge, shapeless stockings. I like them to have a nice foot shape and to look pretty! They are usually hanging up at my house for about a month before they are ever stuffed with goodies. They need to function as Christmas eye candy.

The pattern has a template so you can easily get the leaf and stem placement just right. Just one sewn line down the center of each leaf and you are done. I like them to be unsewn at the edges so there's a bit of 3D action going on. The sequins and glass beads add a bit of holiday sparkle. You have to have some sparkle at Christmas!

fun with letter boards

If you see me staring into space I'm probably trying to think of a quote to put on my new letter board. Have you guys seen these things around Instagram? Old fashioned felt groove letter boards with plastic letters made hip and new by LetterFolk. I kept eyeing their feed and finally had to cave and get one for myself. I can't stop playing with it.

This board is 16 x 20 inches and I got the one inch letters. The board is nice and weighty. The frame is classic aluminum on mine but they also have wood frames available. The plastic letters need to be snipped apart with scissors and they send a handy drawstring bag to keep them in.

I think a bead organizer from the craft store would be a great idea for the letters, so I can find them more quickly when inspiration strikes.

From the top: 1) unflappable Kaylee from Serenity 2) ELO, misheard lyrics. 3) See that's funny because it's an app request from a low tech letter board. 4) Might be original to me. Not sure because I need a second cup.