It’s a Bird, it’s a Plane…it’s Superbear!

Able to melt hearts in a single bound, this baby, nicknamed Superbear, required a cape to that end:

The  cape is made from blue-and-white cotton fabric, and the bear and lettering are from wool felt.

The lining is a silky synthetic material. The red ribbon is made of sturdy woven cotton.

This was designed in a harness style, so the red ribbons go around the arms and tie in back, rather than around the neck. Of course this is only to be used under adult supervision for safety reasons. (Oh, and infants aren’t able to dress themselves.)

I Loaf You

 

Here’s something new…a lovable loaf of bread. This pillow toy has wool-felt features including big eyes with thick lashes, a tiny mouth, and a small red heart.

 

It is 10″ long and 4″ tall.

 

It’s the perfect something for a loved one who loves carbs and baked-good puns as much as you.

Clothespin Dolls

My four-year-old daughter and I made some clothespin dolls together. I’ve had the supplies in my stash for years, surprising no one.

We used:

• Clothespins
• Fabric swatches
• Ribbon
• Sharpies
• White glue
• Glitter glue
• Scissors
• Pliers

The swatches were from an estate sale of a fabric designer. (I even found some painted swatches that were later printed into fabric. Very pre-computer.)

A fabric was selected, then a dress-sized swatch was cut.

A face was drawn in marker, a little glue was added to the body, then a dress was wrapped around the form. A ribbon sash to keep it in place was tied and trimmed.

Pipe-cleaner hair was formed, snipped, then glued in place.

A hair bow and glitter-glue embellishment finish the look.

So that’s the clothespin-ladies look for Spring 2013.

Ornaments Nestled all Snug in their Beds

 

My godmother gave me these five ornaments last year, and they were her mother’s mother’s. My calculations put them at…quite old.

Before I tucked them away in my stash, I wanted to make a log so I could keep track of them. I was going to take a photo, but instead I did this little sketch on the back of the card that came with them, explaining their provenance. I tucked it in with the ornaments for their long winter’s nap.

Xmas Redux

Not a lot of crafting proper went on at out house this Christmas, but I can’t complain because my four-year-old kids are in their Prime Christmas Magic years, so we let them inspire our activities.

This year I found some white LED lights with a decent glow, so decided it was time to replace the old lot. An added bonus, besides all that energy-savin’, is that I can slather my tree in lights and not worry about blowing a fuse nor circuit in my olde-tyme homestead.

We got around to making TWO types of cookies this year.
Here’s one tray of the Gingerbread cookies, decorated in mini M&Ms and red hots.

I made our traditional family spritz wreath cookies for a party at school. When asked to bring two dozen cookies to a function, I like to play it safe and make five times as many.

The holiday windows at Macy’s were good this year. Here’s one of my faves.

And another. Hey, people…you’re in my shot!

(Thank you.)

The windows at ABC Home included this:

And this:

In the store, they seemed to not care if you took pictures. This is a sharp departure from the attitude on the matter in previous years. (I hate getting disciplined while Christmas shopping.) Anyway, here are some sweet vintage ornaments. The pricetags made me throw up in my mouth a little.

Back at home, I had a little mother-daughter outing to buy Christmas lights. I chose those LED lights for the tree, and daughter chose some lighted candy canes and colored lights for the back yard.

The front yard still has the tasteful clear lights, so it’s “business in front, party in the back.”

 

Happy 2013!

Custom Train Stocking

I just completed a new Christmas stocking for a newborn named Lucas.

After a brief discussion with his mom about a train design, I came up with this rough sketch:

Next I cut out the felt, sewed on the front half of the cuff, and the heel/toe triangles. Then I added the train track with glitter glue, and cut out most of the train cars and the engine.

The mom sent photos of her son and two of his favorite toys (“dragon” and “puppy”), who are now on the train, as well as some pine trees.

Next I added the name and embellished it with an assortment of sequins and beads.

The reveal!

Detail of the finished stocking includes snowy pine trees with beads and star-shaped sequins, and train cars and caboose details including embroidery, sequins, beads, and glitter.

Here is Lucas the Elf driving the train with his friends. His hat is trimmed with a wee jingle bell, and the train wheels are vintage work clothes buttons.

I love to make stockings!

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