Felted Bowl

I finished knitting a Felted Bowl last night, the pattern is from One Skein (which I borrowed from the library). I used Cascade Yarn's Ecological 100% Peruvian Highland Wool undyed & 10 mm double pointed needles. 

Above is the knitted bowl before felting, Madison thought it made a pretty good hat and even agreed to model it for me. You can see how loosely knit it is.
And this is the bowl after felting it in the washing machine with hot water, a tiny bit of soap and about 15-20 minutes of agitation. I dried it over a bowl so that it would take the shape I wanted.
And here it is still wet but I couldn't wait to take the picture. Its a bit more "hairy" that I wanted it to be but overall I'm happy with it.
However, I do have all this fabulous wool roving that I could use to needle felt some kind of design or picture onto the bowl. And before I knit another one I want to dye the wool some different colours using this . . . I guess I'm not done yet after all!

She's Back, Feel'in Good & Ready to Go

This is the crown I made for Madison last night and this morning, for "hat day" at school. The pattern is from Amanda Blake Soule's book The Creative Family. Its actually her Birthday crown which is why it has 5 stars. Although she doesn't look happy and refused to pose for the picture she did really love it. I made one for Gabe's 1st Birthday and now Carter needs to pick the colours of felt he wants for his.

Okay, seriously I love felt, I love all the colours it comes in, I love how it cuts, I love sewing it by hand and especially how forgiving it is. I have accumulated quite a pile but the thing is I can justify it because I use it all the time. Its got endless possibilities and not just for kid stuff. 

Just one of my craft obsessions but, now on to the next . . .

She's back from the Sewing Machine Hospital (seriously that's what its called), she's feel'in good and she's ready to go, my sewing machine that is. I've cleared off my craft table entirely (that's a feat in itself) and I've got my cutting mat and rotary cutter all ready to go for . . .

These thrifted pillow cases and soft flannel blanket to make a Cuddle Blanket for Gabriel. Did I mention that I also acquired a walking foot while at the sewing machine repair shop? 

And there are many, many other sewing projects in the works, I hope she had a good rest cause I'm gonna give'er a good go!

Look What I Made

I finally got around to making myself a needle book to house my scissors and favourite sewing needles and pins. I got really tired of not having everything all together. And I finally bought one of the small tape measures where you push the button and it winds itself up, since the kids love to play with my other one and I never know where it is (dangerous, I know).

The Owl Scissor pocket pattern is from Betz White's Warm Fuzzies book, its meant for the "who-has-my-scissors craft apron" but I thought it would be perfect for my "who-has-my-scissors-needles and measuring tape needle book".

Rainbow Brooch

I surprised Madison with a Rainbow Broach today, she was so happy to have something handmade by Mommy. I love it when I find someone to wear my creations (thank you Madi & Nannie). She wore it to school and was prouder than a peacock.

Needle Felted Wizard

Over the last 2 weeks a good friend and I took a needle felting class and had a lot of laughs making our "Wooly Wizards".

Basically needle felting is sculpting wool by poking it repeatedly with a special felting needle.

Wool fiber + mechanical agitation (with the felting needle) = felt

This is a picture of the wool roving I used to sculpt. One is dyed blue and the other in its natural colour. Sorry I don't have any pictures of the actual process but its actually really easy.


This is my 'Wooly Wizard' I tried to make him look more like a Father Winter but I think I will have to give it another try. I prefer the waldorf faceless needle felted figures. Here is a great post about this. I have more wool roving and needles to make some figures for our nature table.

My favourite needle felt artist is Beneath the Rowan Tree. She is unbelievably talented and Canadian too. Have a look at some of her amazing work and you will see why I was inspired to learn.

My Little Valiant Knight

Here is my little Valiant Knight's costume, complete with armour, helmet and shield.  All made out of felt (of course) and the pattern was made from my imagination. The shield has cardboard inside and is re-inforced with paint stir sticks for stability, with a handle on the back.
And here he is Sir Carter riding his horse named Snowflake, with his "sword of truth and shield of virtue", oh the dragon slaying that is going on in this house now!

Gabe's 1st Birthday!

Gabriel a.k.a. Gabe, Baby Gabie, Gigi, Googoo, Mr. McGeeMcGoo turned one on the weekend! We can't believe that it has been a year since he literally dropped into this world and was caught by Daddy.  He truly is an angel, he is the sweetest, happy, easy going, most cuddly baby. He fills this family with much love and we adore him.

Madison made his Birthday poster for him with a castle and fireworks, she's so sweet. Carter would have helped but he fell asleep.
The whole family helped to make his birthday banana chocolate chip cake which Madison & Carter picked for him because apparently he likes bananas so much and they like the chocolate. We don't have a picture of the finished cake because Daddy cut into it before the party.
Here he is, the birthday boy, wearing his birthday crown, eating his birthday cake with his new birthday train in front of him to distract him from taking off his crown for the picture.
We got him a Heros Birthday train, so that every year he gets a new wagon to add to the train with birthday candles to blow out. How cool is that for a little boy to have?
I did manage to make him a felt birthday crown, which he will only get to wear on his birthday and every year he will get a new embroidered star.

Happy 1st Birthday Gabriel! We love you.

P.S. Carter just said the cutest thing, he pointed up to the sky and said very excitedly "Look Madi that cloud looks like you in your ballet suit!" He loves his big sister.

The Case of the Recorder

This is the case I made for Madison's recorder, its made out of pink felt, with blanket stitching along the edges and a "M" sewn with ric rack. The embroidered flowers are my first attempt at embroidery which I taught myself from a book. Of course when I gave it to her she was upset because she wanted both flowers to be pink and she wanted a handle on it but she seems pretty happy with it. I have to admit I'm pretty impressed with myself at the embroidery and that the recorder actually fits inside!

Breakfast in Bed and a Dragon

The last two mornings I have awoken to a lovingly prepared breakfast tray in bed. Yes I can hear them quietly getting things ready in the kitchen and Madison ever so gracefully carrying the tray down the hall, I pretend to be asleep and pretend to be surprised. The first day Madi drank my juice box and the second day Carter ate my bagel. Oh how they spoil Mommy. I asked them why they didn't bring Daddy a tray and Madi replied, "We tried Mommy but he was too grumpy"! If only I could teach them how to make a pot of coffee.

I finished Carter's felt dragon for his castle. Oh how the battles ensue. You should hear the brave knights fighting the fierce dragon. He yells "I slain you dragon, I slain you".

World's loneliest felt doll

Here is one of the many felt Christmas tree ornament peace doves I sewed from Living Crafts

I really enjoyed making them and love gifting them.

And here is the world's loneliest felt doll made with the pattern from Too Cute

Madison couldn't wait for me to finish her and now she won't give her the time of day.

Carter won't play with her either, I tried that, he asked if I could make him a boy doll instead.

So now she sits on my craft table watching me. 

(PS - sorry the photo is so blurry, guess I'll have to work on my photo skills, if only I could find that silly little instruction book that came with the camera)

For the love of Felt

What started out as a small "sample" pack of wool felt from 

Bugs & Fishes by Lupin

quickly turned into  . . .

This, a slightly larger pile of felt sheets in every colour I could find.  

Which of course still wasn't enough . . .

 I then purchased felt by the meter, some of which is thrifted I might add!

What exactly have I been making with all this felt? 

Lots, I will share some pictures in some later posts. 

But I do promise the felt buying has stopped (at least until next year anyway)!