Finish # 18: Nellie The Elephant

This is another original felt animal pattern.

Designed By Me!!

Nellie the Elephant Jumped the Fence and said Goodbye to the Circus

Off she went with a rumpity -rump -rump -rump -rump.

Designed to do on the vintage drum ornament thrifted a year ago last November.

This pattern was just a sketch since December 2009 but I finished it yesterday.

The detail oriented amongst you may have notice I skipped Finish #17.

Okay, I bet no one would notice but just in case...

I will be posting it before the 31 days of Fun A Day/ Finish A Day are over.

I am having a blast with this but I have to admit, 

I am itching to jump on a bigger project or two.

A garment perhaps.

but This is pretty darn good for now.

Finish A Day!

Finish Numero 6

Okay.. I don't know how to say anything like "number"
in any kind of language a camel might speak,
or even overhear.

So Spanish is as exotic as I can get..

 This one is MY camel. 

I actually designed the pattern myself,

and as originally planned

perched it on the vintage drum ornament I thrifted over a year ago.

In fact, the camel, himself, was mostly done for 13 months. 

He merely lacked tail, eyes, and hump warmer.

But today he is Finished.

He's part of a series, but the rest of the critters don't even have their patterns drafted yet.

and I'm thinking about publishing them/him for download, 

so in a way, this project is far from over.

Is It Okay to celebrate the finishing of stages?

I Vote Yes !!!

(and this is my game and I'm still winning, if I play by my rules....

So, I will listen to your opinions but I am counting on you to agree with me.)

Okay, just look at his full profile.

Finishing this was FUN.

Now he needs a name.

Go on... Let's hear the suggestions!

Jawa Doll with Real Eye Light Action

Way,  way, back  I disclosed my love of Star Wars in a meme-ish 6 Things About Me post.

 

Then last year we had a runaway sleeper  holiday hit by making the very adorable Stuffed Bantha as age appropriate stocking stuffies for the two young men in my family.

 This year my sister and I decided that Jawa dolls with light up led eyes would be a nice  way to revisit our  former glory.

And we are happy to share our pattern with you.

Click here to Download PDF pattern and instructions.
Click here to order super cool LED light sewing kit from SternLabs.
and click here to see that adorable Bantha pattern.

Many thanks to George Lucas and many hopes that he won't make me take this pattern down since Jawas are truly his creation and this is just a humble fans homage.

Stay tuned tomorrow for another tutorial!

WIP Wednesday: Make Fake Cake

Advent day 11, I am chipping away at the gifts to make list.
And because life is uncertain, I am making dessert first.

I wrapped my first gift today. I am looking so forward to zero wrapping at the last minute.
I hope I can manage it!

Thrift Thursday: Kokeshi Rescue

This sweet little baby was face down in the November mud at a yard sale in Jamestown, CA.
She was even a little bit moldy. She'd been out there awhile.

I brought her home and have now, 5 months later, cleaned her up, repainted her original design, and given her a new hair stick.

I think she likes the way she looks.

Tutorial Tuesday: Modern Architecture Dollhouse

I love this pretty house- on- stilts.
It looks like it popped off the pages of Dwell Magazine.

(click on photo to enlarge)

Oh, will somebody build me this doll house?
And an extra room on my real house for all my toys?
I know this is a bit of a cheater tutorial. Offering only plans, and not even original plans at that... ( Sunset Books, 1973)

But if there is a chance that just one person might make this dollhouse, and might send me photos so I can live vicariously...it is worth my questionable blog habits.
Until that time, Please do forgive me.

Your Devoted Playmate,
Betty

Happy Holidays and all that Mush...

Well, since this year the lowest number of teams ever signed up for the Iditarod... (I blame global warming.)  I decided to help them out with a little bit of fuzzy P.R.  

I made my own dog sled team, complete with harnesses and sled. If I was 4 inches tall, I could go rocketing across the icy, white, quilt batting, the wind whipping through my yarn hair.

I love needle felting in the winter.

The sled is just cardboard, bent carefully and to match the dog sled illustrations I found on the net. Just simply glued together, it was surprisingly effective.

 I might make a sled bag too. But not before this Christmas. I am still just this side of all finished up... and I fully intend to actually relax before all the delights of  the big day are upon us.

The lead dog has different colored eyes, 

just like a husky I knew when I was a kid.

Thanks for all the great feedback on Jake's  project too. 

We'll definitely have a post here when he opens up shop!

Gourd Dollhouse Tutorial

Make a house that is just the perfect size and shape for your lovely little peg doll friends.

First: Select your gourd. I got mine from The Caning Shop in Berkeley. (By happy memory stirring coincedence, it was right behind (same building) The Gilman Street Project, which was where I first saw Nirvana, when we were all young enough that they should be playing in tiny all ages clubs.) These are Kettle and Bottle gourds. The bottle gourds were 14.00 and 9.00 being medium and small sized and the Kettle gourds were 5.50 each. They are very nice there and you can phone them so you can get help selecting the perfect gourd.

To cut the gourds you really do need a rotary tool (Dremel being the most widely owned).
You will want to select the rotary saw bit with the rough surface, the other spiral bit is much harder to control.

Draw on your door and window shapes in pencil (which will wipe off with a damp cloth if need be). I keep my shapes rounded and organic, being both easier to draw and to cut, and they work best with the gourd shape, as well.

To do the cutting I brace the gourd against my body as it does take a bit of pressure and a steady hand to do the cutting. Press straight down and the bit will drill right into the surface of the gourd. Once seated, press the bit forward to trace over your pencil lines. I like to make sure my hand will fit inside the door, as it makes cleaning out the gourd Much Easier. This is both Loud and Dusty. Eye and ear protection is recommended.

Once you have the holes cut, scrape out the seeds and dried gourd guts with a spoon.

Smoothing and getting out the flakey dry stuff is easier with this type of abrasive pad, cut small to fit inside your gourd.

Use a 450 grit sandpaper to round the edges of all the opening to make it safe for tiny, soft fingers.

I use inexpensive acrylic craft paint because it had great colors and covers very well. Also you can just squirt it right inside the gourd and spread it around.

Decorate your gourd with "curtains". I have used eyelet, fringe and pompoms for my curtains. All are cute. Hang with hot glue or other adhesive.

My rug is a felted weater scrap, trimmed with scallop shears, and also glued in place. The fluffy rug helps mitigate the uneven floor of the gourd.



Now make some tiny furnishings and move those sweetie peg dolls right in. Make a whole neighborhood.

Be sure to let me know if you make one! I will start a little flickr group, so everyone can show off their creations!

I will be putting these samples up in my Etsy shop, with their wee residents and some new furniture, hopefully next week.

Kitchen Pictures

Take a look at my new old play kitchen.

you know the drill, click on the picture to enlarge

One would wonder why a grown woman, who now has her own real life size kitchen to drudge around cooking and cleaning in, would possibly want another, smaller kitchen.



It isn't because I can clean this kitchen up and 5 minutes later it isn't trashed by all the various doll residents.

She's got Betty Davis Eyes.

Or because it makes my fridge and dishwasher seem positively up to the minute

The little burner colors change to red when you flip the switches

Well, I guess I needed a place to keep all my Re-Ment.

And I now have the perfect garment to wear when I am playing with toys!

I got this wonderful Apron from Dorie at Tumbling Blocks. Thanks Dorie! I Love it, even if Cooper does think I am a big Old Ham.

Stay Tuned for the Gourd Doll House Tutorial...
I have been working on it all week!

Made It Myself Monday: Another Pup and Pumpkin Pancakes

A new pup with stuff. Pedro Pup.
Actually Augie the Doggie found a new home.
And then he found 2 more new homes. So I am in the pup making business.
At least, for now.
And I am just thrilled about it.

KnitSonya was the first to ask about Augie but after there were other inquiries she said her lovely daughter would actually prefer a Chihuahua... so I made this little Pedro Pup.. But I then did more research and I think she meant a chihuahua that looks more like this.
Hmmm. That will be so Cute!

Anyway.. I am setting about making one that is more like that anyhow.
and I am listening to funny chihuahua songs, because it makes me laugh.

And if that isn't just nice enough,
this weekend my hub made these :
Pumpkin Pancakes
(swoon)


and I loved them,
so I am suggesting to anyone who wants a
cozy Autumnal breakfast experience
to get the recipe.. and eat some.

Yummy.

The Friday Finish Line (Saturday Edition)

I am back to my "School Week System" of making a list of what I managed to get done Friday to Friday.
What did I get done this week?

I canned tomatoes with my friend Meridith.
This is just batch number one. 17 Jars. 8 for me, 9 for her.

It is beyond addictive to set in stores for the winter.
It appeals to me on a
"wild frontierswoman/ Survivor of the Great Depression"
kind of level.

I sent StressBunny II: The Return of StressBunny
off to his new home in The British Isles.

I got my haircut. Only 12 weeks overdue.

Took Puppers to school.
He isn't the best puppy in class, but he's close.

Talked to the track coach about some nasty foul mouthed little creatures
who have NO Idea What Sportmanship Looks Like.

I made a new "pup with stuff" for a sweet friend

Finished His Dark Materials trilogy.

Bought "pricey" vintage toy kitchen. Photo Essay to follow.

Ordered more tomatoes to can.

Finished a crayon tinted vintage embroidery bit.

And went to watch track meet number one featuring "the reluctant runner: Jacob Mann".
He was not last.

Put off regular housekeeping chores with a level of procrastination that is difficult to explain,
let alone justify.

It was a pretty good week.

Made It Myself Monday: Dog's Got Stuff

Okay... We are back in school. They just left.
I am alone with the pets and the housework and the internets for 7 straight hours.
I feel like the world is my playpen.

So on that note: Let's talk toys. This is a little fellow I started on our summer excursion and finished after we got home.

Meet Augie the Doggie, Boston Terrier.

Augie has a leather collar and personalized dog tag, a leash, bowl, bone, tufted bed, and a sweater. Not bad for a guy with is only 4 inches tall.



I really love making toys. And more than making toys, I love a play set. I want everything to have all it's accessories. I don't even have a really plan for Augie. I just made him because I really wanted to. Sometimes I just spoil myself that way.

Made It Myself Monday: birdie girl

For Michelle... for her Birthday.

Just what a grown woman who has no space for tchotchkes needs...

Oh well, maybe she can go on the Christmas tree.

Happy Birthday Michelle. So glad we are friends.

why the basket shop will be open later tonight... instead of today.

I started playing with the toys too much.
I am a very bad shopkeeper when it comes to update deadlines. Surprise Surprise.

( The bunny will be in the shop...)