Fish-n-Shrooms

The CraftMobb fell off there for a few weeks! I been busy though... Check out the funky plush fish. The little mirror on each scale was attached with hand embroidery. This baby took some time and loving attention. It is 14" long, and about 12" wide...

I have also been obsessed with making these groovy little mushrooms out of fabric scraps. They are wieghted with poly-pellets, and so they have a crooked mushroomy stance.

peace and love!~xoxi

Hand/ Arm Warmers - Fingerless Gloves

I have a bunch of wool sweaters that I have been chopping up and making groovy stuff with. I really dig fingerless gloves, and this is my first pair. I used 2 merino sweaters, (one light blue, the other peacock blue) that I felted by washing them in hot, and then dried in the dyer.

The darker sweater had these funky cuffs with covered buttons. I chopped about 8" off of the light sweater, and chopped the whole cuff, about 9" off the other. Then removed the buttons.

I turned the light blue sweater inside out and then machine sewed a line from the top down about 3" in, and about an inch from the edge, for the thumb. I hand embroidered these pieces before wrapping the cuff around them, and hand stitching with a cross stitch. I then added 3 of the buttons.

This instruction idea can be used with many sweater pieces. For sizing wrap a rectangular piece of sweater around your arm to see how wide and long it needs to be. Try several types of textures, and more than one or two colors. This is freestyle sewing, there really isn't a pattern, you gotta just go with it!

These are in my store.

Felting is JUICY!

Felting is such a wonderful craft. I remember when I first discovered it. I was soo excited! Watching those wool fibers mesh into one another was amazing. I have since taught myself to "wet" felt flowers as well.

This is an orchid that I needle felted with white and fuschia wool roving, it has some embroidery and bead detail. This lotus is needle felted as well, I added a chunky turquoise bead to the center, and added a pin to the back.

AVAOriginal has this gorgeous poppy neck piece on her etsy page. It looks like it is wet felted.

At TianaCHE's etsy page you will find amazing wet felted scarves

Check out this basic needle felting tutorial over at the craftlog.

Organic Smarts !?!

What is your Organic IQ?

Owl Softie Tutorial

I make these little plush owlies everytime I do a craft show. They are super simple to make, and I always sell bunches of them. They are hard to resist! These owlies can be filled with lavender or another dried flower/ herb and used as a sachet. They make great gifts for owl lovers, or without the buttons, for babies and toddlers. They make funky, fun pincushins.

Begin by cutting out 2 matching owlish shaped pieces. Mine is about 6" at the widest point, and 6" from the tip of the ear to the bottom. Cut several templates of paper until you are happy with the shape.

Choose a contrasting fabric, cut and iron a piece of fusible/iron-on web to it. Then cut the contrasting fabric into a shape similar to the one below. (I always skip this step, and sew directly)

Remove the paper backing and iron on to one of the main body pieces.

Stitch around the edge of the smaller front piece using a decorative embroidery stitch. I used the banket stitch for this one.

At this point I sew the main front and back pieces together (right sides facing each other) by hand or by machine, leaving the bottom open for stuffing. Clip the v point between the ears, and where the ears meet the body. Also make a few clips around the round part of the body. This will help the body lay right when you turn it. Be careful not to clip the seam. Turn inside out.

Once the owl is stuffed, turn in about 1/2 inch and sew closed.

This is where I add the beak and eyes. I like having the body done when I add details, though this step can be done befor the body is constructed.

I added these buttons, then removed them, they were too stark. I replaced them with the felt circles and buttons in the first picture. For other examples of my owls and thier eyes visit this earlier post .
The DIY Owl Plush kit for this very owl is available at my store.

sweater maddness! Felting!

Inspired by the book Sweater Chop Shop, by Crispina French, and buy all the wool recycling goings on on Etsy these days, I went out and bought 8 wool sweaters of varying thicknesses. Some were merino, others lambs wool, some blends, others 100% percent. I began by felting them, washing them in hot water, and then drying on medium. This is what they looked like felted and ready.

I spent hours imagining the possibilities, and finally dove in with a pair of scissors. I decided to begin with a wrap sweater, so far I am using three different sweaters, and will likely pull in another one or maybe two before its over.

It was kinda scary, cutting them up. The peacock blue one was a delicious Banana Republic merino. But it is an adventure! I will post the finished product when through.

Kitschy Cool

I had to share these wonderful OWL potholders with ya'll. I bought them at an estate sale this weekend. The woman who owned the house looked like she was about 80, she said they were made by her aunt. Old School for real!

~xoxi