Fall Wreath and Garland

Last year I got back on my kick of making decorations for all the holidays (which had totally gone to pot since moving again and not decorating for a single holiday yet this year... must get out halloween decorations.... ) We don't  really celebrate all the holidays because I just never seem to find the time for that. BUT decorating for them and adding fun bright temporary decorations to the house is totally something I can get behind. 

My fall section is severely lacking (as in I have NONE) so I finally came across this idea for a wreath and liked it enough to run with it with a bunch of changes. LIKE for one I am not going to knit a bunch of yarn into sheets and then felt them as the instructions said (I am all for crazy but what is Lion Brand smoking?!?) Instead I spent a ridiculous amount of time cutting out leaves from wool felt and then I washed them all to get the texture. Then I wrapped metal wire in yarn (see that is stupid crazy) and sewed the metal on to each individual leaf. Then I also made felt pinecones and berries... because it seemed reasonable (ahem) - there's more pictures below with progress shots

I also finally got around to making an acorn garland. I gathered the large acorns caps on the trip we took to Tennessee 3 years ago. I used Dad's drill press to put 2 holes in the top of each cap and then strung them on copper colored leather. It was a super fun project except that I really never want to felt tiny balls again... and I currently have a project in mind that would require me doing more of that.... 

Just so you know there are in fact a bazillion leaves on this wreath. And it definitely falls into the things I am so glad I made and never want to make again category!

Safari Mobile

Baby gifts have got to be my all time favorite thing to make. There is just nothing as fun as creating things for new little people. I might go a bit overboard. But I was so excited about Parker I couldn't help myself...  

Parkers room is safari themed - I will have to find out if I can show you pictures of his room- its adorable!

These were supposed to be about 1/2 the size they ended up being.... that's what happened when you make the smallest animal first and want them all to be to scale. 

and by scale I mean the giraffe and elephant are babies and the rest are adults...

They are each needle felted from wool roving. The giraffe was around maybe 7 inches.  

I kind of want to keep every mobile I make. But I am pretty sure matt would put his foot down... and it would be sad if Parker didn't have a mobile! 

1,2,3 strikes we're out....

Baby showers are so fun (so much better then wedding showers... gift giving wise of course). All of the little baby items are just too cute. Our most recent shower was baseball themed so I went back and forth on making  verse buying and if making what to make... so it finally occurred to me that a mobile would be really fun. 

I have a lot of anxiety giving people made items. Because I don't mind if they don't want it I just want them to give it back if they don't want it... please don't humor me if you don't like something I will get you something that you do like. SO anyway that has nothing to do with this that is just a public service announcement... 

I looked around and took several ideas and then added my own touches 

 It turned out very well. And just so you know mobiles are frustrating to photograph... it might have something to do with the fact that they are mobile... possibly

 The couple this is for are very big into baseball. Or at least he is and she humors him... not 100% on that one but she doesn't dislike it. They even had a baseball themed wedding. This maybe too much information I don't know I haven't blogged in so long that I am not sure what is worth saying. 

 The scoreboard is from a game that had meaning to him... I think the 2nd game of the 88 world series... I can't remember for sure I am trying to block out all memories having to stitching that board twice... 

 Really other then the scoreboard this was blast to make and came together fairly quickly. 

 I might even be willing to make one again but I will never make another scoreboard... 

 And of course not a complicated logo either... 

It was hard not to keep it. I have no personal use for it but I just loved the way it came together. 

No moose were harmed in the making of this post....

Mum bought this moose for my little brother sometime 7-10 years ago. I stole it 4-6 years ago and it has been hanging in my guest room. It's awesome. For some reason I was thinking I would probably get rid of it.... I am very confused by this train of thought...what's wrong with me? Thank goodness Micah took notice of it a few weeks ago and  he LOVES it! He likes to talk to it and give it hugs and kisses. 

 So I decided he needed some garland- I've been looking for an excuse to make some felted ball garland for ages. I'm still not sure how I want to drape it over his horns. But I guess I have time to figure that out.  

I can't wait to start setting up the new rooms... unfortunately since I am not ready for Micah to sleep in the twin bed it will probably be another two months... I would feel bad decorating the nursery in pink and making him sleep it it- he already has enough issues- haha. It will be here soon enough though so I don't feel the need to rush it!

Birdie Mobile

I am so excited to show you Isabella's mobile! I had planned regardless of the sex that the next baby's mobile would be birds. I started this two days before we found out for sure it would be a girl and was happy to get to come home and make crab apple blossoms for my tree branch!

 I seriously love felt - it's so much fun to work with because you can make anything out of it! 

A barred owl. I really think owls are some of the prettiest birds... of course they can also be pretty scary so I decided he should be sitting instead of flying!

 Hummingbirds are Uber's Mom's favorite bird so I knew one had to be included. 

 A blue bird - my grandmother is always taking pictures of these in her backyard... among other things but these are the cutest! 

 Cardinals are my Mum's favorite bird. 

 This is the only one that I didn't choose for a specific reason I just wanted another color of bird and a yellow warbler was the first yellow bird that popped up on my google search... 

 I went back and forth on how to do the branch in the end I used my only crochet skills to make a branch out of roving yarn and then felted it. I am really happy with it and so happy that the felting process made my ridiculously imperfect job almost invisible or possibly intentional!

Micah is absolutely infatuated with it. He wants so badly to play with it and will go into the guestroom where it's hanging and point and babble about it. I am pretty sure he is plotting ways to get to it... since I've caught him on his way into the room with things like a hanger! Hopefully the baby will enjoy it half as much!

And a big fat P.S. I finally got my act together and started selling on Spoonflower -- I still haven't finished the Color Book (soon hopefully) but my Zoo fabric and Number Book are up. Thanks!

Horsing Around

When we got home on New Years Eve Uber informed me we were staying up until midnight... not my initial plan (what?! 10pm is a completely acceptable time for bed on New Years!) and not only that, I had left all of my WIPs at Mum's house.... because I was going to bed! 

So after a brief glance over my project inspiration file I decided Micah needed a stick something. I had saved this picture... I think 4 or so years ago. And after some digging I finally found that these were sold at Wisteria at some point- sorry not anymore. 

So I went through my felt supply (I am trying really hard to use up as much of my supplies as I can over the next few months... since I will soon be giving up the closet space in the guest room), and decided it would have to be a plain old horse since I only seem to have large quantities of brown! 

The project ended up taking the 2 hours until Uber finally let me sleep and then another hour or so the next day. 

 It was actually a lot of fun. I had no plan and no brain. So I just cut out the general shapes I thought should work and then sewed them and then flipped it inside out and looked at it again before making more adjustments. 

 Once the general shape was together I stuffed him and hand stitched on his white spot and eyes. 

 It did end up requiring a quick stop by Joanns for the dowel, a wood plaque to keep his neck nice, and the red strapping. I think the project ran under $6

 And Micah finds it very funny. Although he prefers it if you (read Grandma) ride it around the house and chase him. 

 He does drag it around the house and I am sure when he gets a little bit bigger he will figure out the whole ridding it thing.

 Meanwhile it's still getting plenty of love! 

I also made a carrot... unfortunately I forgot to bring it for the pictures... oh well!

Toadstool Terrarium part 2

I made my first one back in January... who knew it would take this long to make another! This could seriously be addictive if only I had the time to be addicted! 

 The photo above was taken with a light box- which mum and I finally ordered and is really awesome (though this is my first time using it and I only had one light ... and really no idea what I was doing)

 This one is not in a light box... because I was to lazy to get it out at this point... and below on the shelf above our dinning room table where it will live. It still need to do something with the three jars on the bottom shelf ... it will probably include felt but I don't think it will be a terrarium...

 And here's a shot of Micah (totally unedited as far as I know) a friend took this picture at the wedding. Look at those eyes! This little booger is almost 6 months old and he is all sort of mischievous already!

I have something fun to show you tomorrow... though I will probably post a little later in the day then normal...

Leather Fun Part 2

The Spotted Pillow - because who wouldn't want one?!? This was my second idea for the leather.

I cut circles out of the leather and then decided to add a punch of color in as well so I used 100% wool felt in 3 shades of blue. I didn't plan the layout as well as I probably should have but I think it turned out ok. The leather spots are smooth and rough side out to give the brown spots texture.

I then hand stitched all of the dots on with pearl cotton.

It was a really fun project. Though not baby friendly since leather probably wont go through the wash that well. But that's ok because it was made with someone in mind who may or may not have a problem with circles.... that person may want to locate a 14x26 pillow insert... if that person is reading this and wants it!

And here is a Micah shot for you- he's playing with a gift from his Aunt Sherie sent him and he LOVES it! Its a maple wood teether. I just put it on his play mat the day we got it in the mail and he found it all on his own and started chewing

It's now one of his favorite toys. He loves that his Happy Apple and his pirate bear- golden beard who I need to get a picture so you all can see him!