the next holiday on the list...

Ok. I don't mean to annoy everyone, but I'm a "so now what?" type of girl. It's what keeps me going, it's what keeps me excited about something, anything! And yes. Valentines is next. {unless you celebrate President's Day. and frankly if you do, you're weird.}

and these? are adorable. My talented brother - in - law Sam, has just put a few goodies in his brand new etsy shop. Check it out here. These little heart stands will make a delightful teacher gift (or anybody gift) for the lovely holiday.

coming out of hiding

Ok. I think I'm recovering from the after Christmas blues. I was composing a running poem in my head yesterday as I ran my errands about the very emotion. I do that. monologue in my head. is it still a monologue if it's never spoken aloud? Anyway - I even considered posting it on my personal blog, but it was a little gray as far as poetry goes, and someone might think I'm serious.

But the sun came out today, and I decided to check my email for the first time in a long time. My good friend Candis, who is a talented photographer among other things, sent these beautiful pics of her boys wearing the Tom scarf.

I guess I should have asked permission before posting these. Oh well. It's ok right Candis? I mean, these kids do often play my muse. And Tom of the tom scarf is their baby brother.

Thanks for the boost guys.

And I'll have a nice wintertime project coming soon. Something to do inside while the weather outside is frightful.

A bad example

I'm very aware that I need pictures of human beings wearing my hats in the store. Although I have no problem seeing how a hat would look on a child when it's being modeled by a crystal candle stand... (That's right. It's a pillar candle stand and I got it at Ross for $6. Did I just ruin some of the magic? Like finding out Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disneyland doesn't actually have any rooms in it. Besides the gift shop.) But it's so hard to get your hands on a calm kid, arrange a photo shoot, etc. whine, whine, complain.

In the meantime, I'll post these pictures of my boy wearing a girls hat. And I'll be sure to get my slide show up and running of all the little darlings who have been so good to share pictures with me. I'm not going to lie - there are some pretty cute kids in there.

By the way, taking a picture of this kid is like trying to take a picture of a streak of lightning. And I'm no professional! I'll try and get some amateur pics of my new fleece hats too. And then some day... real pictures. pretty pictures. If I can dream....

Love at third sight.

To mark the end of fleece month, (even though I did have more projects planned. oh well, next year.) here is the debut of my new fleece hats.

TA DA!

and can I just say, without sounding too biased, that I just love them?! Yes, I think I can because it's always a surprise to me how things turn out. So I happen upon my creations not unlike someone who might happen upon them online. I'll make something 3 - 4 times before I hear deb's words running through my head:

"that's the one. I think it's going to turn out real nice."

this is the 3rd revision of my fleece hats. The first two were so-so but this one had me instantly dreaming of snow capped mountains and wooden shoes. That's what I love about it - it's so folksy. Can't you just picture this on a little blond girl clad in a bright felt poncho, maybe embroidered with penny rugs, toting a little goat behind her on some grassy hillside?
Well I can.

There are more girl colors and definitely some boy varieties too. I'll hopefully get them all posted tomorrow. that is if my trip to the dentist goes quick. I hate the dentist. And the condescending way he asks if I've been flossing when he knows perfectly well the answer to that question!

BLACK FRIDAY

Friday November 27, 2009 only
Here are the dealios:

Changing Pads: $20

Burp Cloth 3 Packs: $5

Everything Else: 10% off !
(excluding reserved listings)

Now lets see who's paying attention. My little niece Chloe will also be one month old on November 27. Anyone who mentions the sweetie by name in the 'notes to seller' section, will get an extra 5% off. (That's a total of 15% off folks!) Friday only!

Need something extra cute and comfy to wear on the black event? Check out the free download for a New Moon iron on t-shirt transfer at my good pal's Heirloom Paperie blog. (You may have noticed her artwork all over my blog/shop/labels.) She has one, I have one, all the cool people have this t-shirt. And yes, I said 'free.'

easy squeezey boa constrictor scarf

A little more advanced than the last project,

but don't worry beginners, it's still a cinch.

You will need:

• 1/4 yard each of two different colors anti-pill fleece
• 2 green buttons (I used 5/8")
• scrap of 5/8" wide red ribbon (I used a felt ribbon so it won't fray)
• basic sewing supplies
• sewing machine
  

Trim fleece to a 6" strip with both colors.

Cut 6" strip into 9" pieces.
(some of you may be thinking, "why didn't we just leave the strip at it's original 9" width and cut 6" strips instead?" Well you're sharp, but here's why:

this keeps the stretch of the fabric going around the neck, where it can useful.)

Continue cutting with both colors until you have 5 pieces of white
and 4 pieces of black. You will start and end with white.
This will make an approx. 50" scarf, a good size for a younger child.
Add more pieces for an older child.




Copy this template. This will be the snake's head.

Enlarge or reduce the image so the bottom edge measure 4 1/2",

And the top to bottom edge measures 6".

Fold one of the white pieces in half so it measures 4 1/2" x 6".
Place template on piece and cut around. Do NOT cut the fold.

It should look like a mutant two-headed snake.

Center your ribbon scrap on one head's "mouth" and stitch.

Starting with the bottom edge of the head, sew the strips together along the 9" edge alternating colors.

Be sure to sew right sides together

(remember anti-pill fleece has kind of a fur on the right side?)

Use up all your strips. Does it look like this?

Now fold it in half with the stitching and wrong sides of fabric facing out. Pin the edges.

At the bottom of the scarf, cut the last strip to a point.

Starting with the head, sew along the raw edge. You should be starting on the fold side of the scarf and wrapping around to the raw edge side. Sew all the way down the to tail.

Leave the short cut edge of the point open for turning.

Turn the scarf right side out through the opening in the tail.

Press it flat and hand stitch the opening shut.

Sew on the eyes and fork the tongue. I turned my buttons sideways so the holes would look like snake pupils. (If you're using a ribbon that will fray, you may want to fray check the cut edge.)

Well that should take care of the adventurous little boy on your list.
Just don't get too carried away when you're wrapping this around his neck.

He's not actually supposed to suffocate.

Although if you make this for someone a lot older, say your brother, or your husband,

I guess there will be times when there's no such thing as too tight...

But good luck getting a grown man to wear a scarf that looks like a snake.

curly girly boa scarf

Three cheers for our first fleece project! I know, I'm late. But it was too dark yesterday to take decent pictures. So without further ado... THE BOA SCARF

This is so easy to make! You'll need:

• about a yard of anti-pill fleece
  (more or less depending on who you're making it for)
• basic sewing supplies
• a sewing machine
• a comfy couch + good movie

* Start by cutting three - 4" strips along the length of your fleece. These cuts should run PARALLEL to the selvedge edge. This means that however long you want the scarf, that's how much fabric you'll buy. (for example: If you buy one yard of fabric, your scarf will be 36" long) 40" is a good starting point for a child's scarf. Add more inches for an older child, subtract for younger, etc. You'll want this to be a generous scarf so they can wrap and wrap and wrap.

* Stack the three strips on top of each other and pin.


* With a fabric pen, mark a line down the center of the scarf.
This is line will be your stitching line. Sew the three layers together.
Make sure you adjust your stitch length on your machine to be longer, since fleece is so thick. You may also want to lessen the pressure on your pressure foot, if you know how.


* Now you'll want to cozy up on the couch with your redbox copy of The Proposal and a decent amount of chocolate. (Didn't I mention that in the supplies list?)
If you are doing multiple scarves, sew them all first, then do this next part all at once.

Cut all the layers into about 1/2" strips. Cut up to the stitching but be careful NOT to cut through it.

(You're scarf will be very short.)

Now it looks good but we can make it even cuter.

One by one, grasp each strand at the base. Applying just a hint of pressure, let the strip run through your fingers and snap back into place. You can do this rapid fire, it doesn't have to be perfect or methodical. And you will get a good amount of fluffy lint up your nose.

VOILA!

A beautiful, luxurious scarf in no time. Wrap this up, put it under the tree of a special little girl, and I guarantee she will put it on immediately, and leave it on until May.

The big girls on your list might like this scarf also.

Play around with different colors of fleece to make something truly one-of-a-kind.

More fleece projects to come! I'll be checking in later.

And please don't hesitate to email me pictures of your creation.