Lipstick Kitty

     

I had an empty lipstick tube and got the idea of a little kitty tucked inside who would twirl up and pop out when the tube is twisted!

I totally removed the lipstick, and cleaned out the tube, inside and out with alcohol. I then made a skinny cat body out of rolled up and glued felt, measuring first to make sure it would fit inside the tube when twisted down, and cut ear shapes on top. "Rhinestone"eyes were glued on with jewelry glue and a little nose embroidered. Finally, a tiny seed bead necklace was securely stitched on. I used hot glue to secure the bottom of the cat body inside the tube, and added some stick-on ribbon to the outside.

Making this little whimsy was so fun, and the recipient got a big kick out of it!!

Have a Heart

I think having Valentines Day in the middle of February is a brilliant idea. This is the month when I tend to drag - the snow and ice are getting to me, it's cold, and I'm feeling pretty sluggish. Therefore, having a holiday that's all about love, with hearts and flowers and lace and poems is a nice lift, especially when I can ignore all the commercialism that seems to attach itself to every holiday and make something decorative!!

I was inspired to make puffy hearts by my friend Andrea, who made a beautiful collection which now enhances a local gift shop. I decided to make my hearts into a wreath for my front door.

 I cut out a ring from mat board, then covered it with purple fabric. I took the puffy hearts I had made, with pinking sheared edges, and hot glue gunned them to the wreath. Amazingly, I had the perfect purple ribbon in my stash, as well as the mat board and fabric, so it was a thrifty project and took only one day.

There's something so satisfying about finishing a project.... now to wrap up that landscape I've been working on!  

Seven Projects in Seven Days - Day Seven

Here is a little window bird which I completed this morning. The day is so rainy it's just about impossible to get a good photo.  
 I had made a prototype of this bird a few years ago, and it sits in front of my kitchen window. Just seeing the silhouette against the window view makes me happy. 

I'd like to make this bird in many different ways, with different materials and colors, and that opens a window to another possible challenge for me.

So this ends my "Seven Projects in Seven Days" challenge. Later I will write my observations about it, but right now I am happy to be finished!!

Flowers for Mom

My mother was a wonderful woman and a dear friend. This will be a sad first Mother's Day without her. After she died last summer, while we were cleaning out her home, I came across a box of cards I had made for her for various occasions over the years. This Mother's Day card was among them.

My mom never wanted a fuss made over her, and on this particular year she insisted that we should not send flowers. So, instead, I made this card for her with this verse inside:

You said, "Don't send me flowers!"

So what were we to do?

We couldn't picture Mother's Day

Without blossoms for you.

So here's a little bouquet

With flowers that won't grow old,

Sent with all the loving thoughts

A little card can hold.

She loved it, and every year after that, we insisted upon a real bouquet for her.

Miss you, Mom.

Felt Applique Cat

Here's my craft project for the week - a little applique picture of my cat Kristy, the way she looks up at me when I'm busy doing anything that makes my lap disappear!!! If I'm at the computer, standing at my work table or have anything like a book or laptop on my lap, preventing her from climbing up, I see those desperate eyes looking up at me!!! And the little open mouth should have a balloon coming out of it with "meow" written over and over!!

I love the combination of felt and embroidery and plan to do more pictures with this method!

Techno-Craft

Yes, I know that Christmas is over, but I wanted to share this Santa ornament I made in California three weeks ago. My daughter Kate had come to our family vacation with a Rudolph ornament kit which included a red LED bulb for his nose. You can see the felt reindeer shape on the placemat in the photo on the left. Following directions, we did simple stitching with conductive thread along the reindeer's body, connecting one end to one side of the LED bulb, and the other end to where the round 3 volt lithium battery rubbed against the felt of his body. The same thing was done on the other side of his body and, when the thread touched both sides of the battery, Rudolph's nose lit up!!
I decided to take it one step further and designed a Santa with a green LED light on top of his hat! On this ornament, the battery is hidden behind Santa's glove. When I want to turn it off, I slide a little piece of cardboard behind the battery, which breaks the circuit.
Now, let it be known that I barely understand all of this, but it works, and it was great fun doing these projects with my techie daughter Kate!!!

Christmas Blessings

My husband and I arrived in beautiful Santa Barbara last night to spend Christmas with my husband's family. Tonight our daughter Kate joined us. We will be celebrating Christmas with three other families and the holiday promises to be filled with conversation, children's laughter and the warmth of companionship. This is truly a blessing and we are so glad to be here.
Another little angel, this time a fabric and felt ornament, came out of a box of my Mom's things. She had it hanging up all year long, as she did many of my fabric creations.
I think of her and my Dad often during this season, but know that they are sending down their love and blessings especially during this festive time.

Holly Angel

Here's the little paper angel from two entries back, this time done in fabric over felt with a painted face. Over the years I've made angels in many forms and always enjoy designing and embellishing them.
Lately I've been preparing for Christmas, decorating and buying gifts. Can't wait to spend time with family and especially my daughter. I'm hoping to have some good "hanging out" time with her and my husband. We'll be visiting some very dear relatives and I know we'll have a great time.
Knowing how antsy I get if I'm not working with my hands, I'm preparing some hand quilting to bring with me. We'll have plenty to do, but I'll bring some sewing and the old sketch pad for whatever ideas that happen along!

Oak Leaf Table Runner

I made this table runner in a class given by my friend, Carol MacDougall. It involved a lot of cutting, fusing and machine applique, but I just love the colors and patterns of the fabrics which were picked out by Carol and assembled into kits. It was fun to let someone else make the choices and to simply follow directions! I usually design most of what I make, but the class was relaxing and enjoyable, and it's always great to pull this piece out in the Fall.
Time to start some holiday crafts for gifts and for sale! I'm way behind!

Flower Magnets

Here are some samples of the magnets I made for the Fair this weekend. I think the many years I spent working in framing galleries make me feel like I need to frame everything!!!
Anyway, these are made from fabric and stiffened felt, and the little flowers are cut directly from lace trims. I really love to cut little tiny things and have to force myself to work larger! Now, what does that say about me? Hmmm....

Back to Blogging!

After over a month's absence, I'm back to blogging again! I've spent a lot of time reading other blogs and trying to decide in which direction I want to go - more fabric art and less craft, or vice versa? I finally came to the conclusion that I don't have enough fun with crafts. I made a list of things I want to make and discovered that most of them are crafts. My arts and crafts society has two sales coming up and that is a great incentive to get going!

Here's a kitty I made a while back, and on which I recently embroidered a little face. I did make the pattern myself and would be happy to share it, if anyone would like it. Next on my list are some fabric and felt magnets. The weather is (for now, anyway) turning cooler here in New England and it's a great time to sit out on my little screened-in porch and do some stitching!

Home Sweet Home!

One of my favorite themes in fabric pictures or crafts is the home. For years I did commisioned fabric house portraits and I was always moved by the strong feelings my clients had for their homes. Several years ago my husband and I visited England and when we returned I made this little three dimensional cottage. It was constructed with matboard covered with appliqued fabric. Around the base I embroidered silk flowers. It is very simple, but looks sweet in a nook on my bookcase.