Kimmer's a Winner!

I think I may have forgotten to say that I have a little project in this book--an embroidered-birdy hoop--pretty exciting! Also exciting is the fact that a copy will shortly be on its way to Kimmer. Send me your address, my dear (to the email on the right sidebar), and I'll get the book in the mail!

Kids' Crafternoon/Creature Cosy--Miss A. Reviews (and a giveaway--again!)

Hello, all! Annabelle here.
First let me just say that I normally am not a fan of making things from patterns. The idea of spending my time making something somebody else already thought up and created does not appeal to me. However, these little monster iPod cosies from Kids' Crafternoon Sewing looked so cute and fuzzy that I gave in.It was delightful from the start. I love the idea of recycling old felted wool sweaters! The project itself was pretty simple, and I say this as a not-too-brilliant sewer. The patterns had to be resized some (they were a little big for my iPod nano) but after that I was able to manage with very little help.
Meet Moby.
I found this whole project very inspiring. I mean, it simply begs to be personalized! One eye, two eyes, THREE eyes, even an eye patch! It could have fangs, buckteeth, snaggleteeth, ears, horns, spikes... The possibilities are endless! Do you get that I'm excited about this? Also, as a nice bonus, many of my Xmas-gift-giving worries are over.
...nom nom nom...
Right now I'm heading off to make one for my BFF Grace, as a friendaversary gift. So long, and tip your waiters! (But not too much.)

(Melissa here--if you'd like to win a copy of Kids' Crafternoon Sewing, leave a comment on this post, and I'll select a winner via random number on Friday at midnight. Thanks, y'all!)

Pink House Hoop Winner!

Karri (who said, "Lovely! The vegan felt looks beautiful!"), this hoop's for you! If you'll send your mailing address to me at the email address on the right sidebar, I'll get your little prize in the mail.

Many of you asked how I like working with the new felt, and I can say it's great--it's a thinner felt, so it's easy to cut and easy to layer. The texture is creamy and wooly and not at all shiny (making it unlike acrylic craft felt), and both Mark and Miss A said they couldn't tell the difference when I showed them the finished hoop. I think the stuff is perfect for applique, though it will pill if roughly handled, and it's just generally not as sturdy as 100% wool, so I don't think it's right for softies or anything that might be "loved" by small children. For felt picture making, though? I'm giving it the thumbs up!

Unwool: a Vegan Giveaway!

In the process of test-driving my latest find, a decidedly-wooly, vegan alternative to wool felt, I made up a little-pink-house hoop. Right now, I have only a limited palette, having ordered just six colors, so the piece is a bit one-note (well, six-note!).
All that being said, I'd be glad to send it out into the world. If you're interested in getting a spot o' pinkhousiness in the mail, leave a comment on this post, and I'll close 'em up on Tuesday at midnight and select a winner all random-like.

(Please excuse the white fuzzy nonsense that's hitchhiking on the bottom left leaf in the photo. I will de-string the thing before shipping. ;-))

May I Present...

Mr. and Mrs. Tiny Dancer!

Tiny Dancers, On the Loose

Look who's dancing on my dining room table! These lovebirds will soon be waltzing below a flowering dogwood, but for now, I love how it looks like they escaped the frame. They'll go where they like, gosh darn it.
I'm guessing their getaway would be easier if I gave them feet.

My Friend's Friend

One of my favorite things about a life-long friendship is the reciprocity, the--dare I say--complimentarity--of the thing. My best friend Jen drives me places (since, yes, I lack that skill) and can always be counted on to find a good deal on a great hotel. She reads everything, including YA lit, so she consistently suggests excellent books for A., and, in general, she's the cleverest person I know--makes me laugh like a crazy person.

I think I offer some good stuff in return--one thing I do bring to the table is creativity; I've been drawing everything she needs drawn since we met (more years ago than I care to publicly tally), and these days when she needs a special, personal gift, I'm her man--er, woman. In this case, I've stitched up a little head-and-shoulders portrait of her excellent neighbor, Valerie, and Valerie's two children, and I'm of the mind felt suits them!

(If Jen tells you I've been promising her a felt portrait of her own family for a year and a half, don't believe her. She fibs.)

Back to Craft

With summer-semester grades submitted, the Beloit issue chosen, the camp costume made and worn (and thanks for all the flapper love, btw!), I find myself periodically and so-so-blissfully at my leisure. The suddenly-hot weather makes me feel a little wool-averse, so embroider-doodling it is, folks, and this time, I'm doodling directly onto inexpensive, pre-stretched white canvas. It's super fun!

Full-Effect Fabulous

Before:

After:
More after:
May the gods of parental-sanity-during-adolescence please give me the strength to endure the moment when she wants to go out with lipstick on for real. The five minutes between full-costume and for-camp departure were enough to make her father and me feel faint.

But it's a cool costume, right? :-)

Unflappable

Annabelle told me on Tuesday evening that she'd need me to please make her a Revolutionary-War-Era costume for "Decades Day" at camp, which would be on--get this--Friday. Since I had to turn in grades for two online classes less than 24 hours later and since I'm currently reading manuscripts for my Beloit editorial weekend, which also begins on, you guessed it, Friday, I chose my response carefully. "You know," I said, "I bet they mean decades from the 20th Century." She thought that an unnecessarily limited interpretation, so I found a slew of very cool-but-tame google images of flappers, read her a little description of those bold--even a little brazen--trailblazing proto-feminists, and--thank goodness--she was in. One old skirt and half a yard of gray quilting cotton later, I just have to tack on the sash, and she's good to go. (I think we'll leave off the cigarette holder and the hip flask, but we're still negotiating about the t-strap heels. ;-))

Crowe News

For those with a burning need to know (or with the patience to listen to me anyway!), here are your top stories, Crowe-wise, today:

1. I'm working on a craft-fair-table sign-hoop-type deal for a client who makes beaded jewelry; the project involves feltifying her adorable brand art. Fun!

2. Sophie (the cute mug of whom you see below) turns four years old today.
3. There's a wild turkey chilling in our backyard. We want to be friends with her more than she wants to be friends with us, sadly. Happily, she's a slow runner (and her style of running--like mine--seems to mostly involve the neck), so we can almost cuddle with her before she decides to blow our pop stand.
4. I found what I think is a viable, non-wool felt alternative; the palette is perfect (and varied), which means no dyeing (a process it turned out I didn't much enjoy after the first blush of new-craft love) and the texture is rich and creamy but still somehow wooly. I'm ordering yardage now, in order to make sure my initial assessment is correct, and then I'm going to have some kind of party to celebrate the discovery of high-quality vegan craft felt. No joke, folks--I'm psyched!