The favorite gift I gave - finally pics!

Here is the first pic of the wall hanging I did for my sister's Xmas gift. It is all hand-stitched of felt in the colors of Mexican folk art. The white flowers did not show up that well in the photo, but in real life they show up nicely. I am quite proud of this, and am glad she liked it!

I seem to be running out of projects... I finished the Quilt of Many Colors - pics to come tomorrow - and am stalled on the doll I am making until I get a little more fabric. The phoenix coat seems to be all I have left, so I guess it's back to work on that!

Cat Hat update...

And this morning, I have 5 more orders for hats. :)

That amuses me. And pleases me.

I Almost Forgot

My second-favorite gift-to-give for this year: the felt silhouette. In practice, it is much like a paper silhouette, but tougher to get the persnickety details just right. I hope my great-aunt likes it!

Cat Hats

So... the other day I was trying to make a simple fleece hat. My first attempt was the world's dorkiest looking fleece hat. Simply awful. So, after a little regrouping, I tried again. And wound up with a strangely cute fleece hat: the cat hat. I've now made two different versions - long and short. The long covers the ears, the short does not. The one at right is the short, and is the replacement. The original was bought off my friend's head - literally - while she was at work. Another woman wanted one for her grandchild for XMas.

Wore the samples to Joann's and wound up with an order for 4 more. Please ignore the stoned look - I am trying not to look at the camera, and I am just not terribly photogenic. I am wearing the long hat - the absolute original.

They are cuter in person than in pics, and they look none too bad here.

Rats!

The rat crew and a few of its members. Their numbers have actually increased since this picture was taken, and both striped rats have new homes. They are simple to make, and once I start, I have a hard time stopping. They are somehow like potato chips - you can't stop with just one. If I can scan the pattern, I may well do a tutorial on them, because they can be cute as all get out, or fairly decent looking, depending on the material. I have two styles, but the Baby Rats (no legs and nice and round) are easier to make. Less detailing.
Went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and saw a microwave kiln for glass fusing. Have decided that at some point in the future I would like to have one - I am already chock full of ideas on what to make. (as usual, because I need another project).
Still waiting on approval for character change, so I haven't started my garb for next year. I am getting impatient. Sure, I have to make only a bodice and a skirt, and a hat, but still....

QoMC top finished

Here, finally, is the Quilt of Many Colors top. I am still working on cutting out the squares for the bottom. This is not a very clear pic, but it DOES show how bright it's going to be. It's also of a decent size - each square is 8" when finished, and it's 12 squares by 12 squares. Should work out to 96" on each side when all is said and done. That is definitely big enough for my bed, and will keep me nice and warm.

Forgot to take a pic of the completed second-most-favorite gift-to-give. Will do that tonight.

Barring that, my XMas gifts are done/made/purchased. (For family, at least). I have MOST of my friends' XMas stuff done as well, but there are still some people I am having difficulties with.

Here's one of our XMas ornament/sachets. We put about a score on the tree this year (it's a big tree, goes to the ceiling) and the cats don't mess with the branches. An added benefit - it's pretty, smells nice, and the cats leave it alone!

It's funny how easy these are to make - a little ribbon, something that smells good, and beads. I'm tempted to put up a tutorial, if anyone is interested.

And of course, nothing says they HAVE to be solely for holiday decorating. Some are not terribly XMassy, and would make good sachets in the closet - hang it on the wall. We have a few that are strung together that make good garland, or would be nice in the kitchen. Maybe I'll hang one in the kitchen here and see how well it works. Spice, I think.....

Wrote a little yesterday - not as much as I wanted. But I am going to try to keep going. I've managed to advance the plot some, which makes me feel much better! The flow is working, the structure I've set for it is working... it's all working.

QoMC, XMas

So the Quilt of Many Colors is half-done - at least, the top is. The bottom hasn't even been cut yet. Perhaps tonight I can finish the top, take pics, and start on the bottom. We shall see. I have enough squares left over from my hyperactive square cutting to make a throw as well. I would normally call it a matching throw, but... in this case I don't think that fits.

Finished my favorite gift-to-give last night. It is fabulous, if I do say so myself. But... can't post it, in case the person who it's for wanders by. So, after XMas. Tonight I should also be able to make the other - next most popular - gift-to-give I am making. For that one, I will be able to post pics.

In the meantime, I am writing today.

And we are still up to our eyeballs in jewelry, so if anyone wants something, let me know! I probably have it somewhere in the piles of boxes!

Finally the coat pics... this one is obviously the back of the pirate art coat. You can also see part of one sleeve. The front and back are equally skulled-out. I am pleased with it, and it gets lots of attention. I will see about getting more pics up soon. I have so many ideas - I wish I could just visualize something and have it BE. Although that would take a lot of the fun out of the crafting....

And maybe later I'll get pics up of the test bodice of many colors. It didn't come out exactly like I wanted, but it's certainly bright and colorful!

After the Sale

Did all right at the sale - not fabulous, but not terrible. Sold several bookmarks and a fleece throw - the lion, which was cute - and several people asked about other types of throws. We'll see if they get in touch. Finished MY throw - the pink pirate flower. It's now sitting in my bedroom. The cat likes it. Big surprise there!

Gearing up for the XMas thing now. Today we are going to get the tree out of storage and corral the ornaments. After that, it will be get presents completed, wrapped, and so forth. THINK I can finish my favorite gift-to-give tonight. Maybe. I hope so!

Made a fleece hat last night - silliest looking thing. I looked like Gomer Pyle or an extra from Buck Rogers wearing it. My friend looked like Jinpei from the OAV version of Gatchaman. Not a good hat on either of us. Will look for another pattern tonight when we go for last minute fabrics.

Haven't worked on the QoMC yet - that's on the list for tomorrow, since tonight is gift-making. Donna is working on a project for herself - a coat. It will be a nice coat - faux leather of a reddish brown color. Very nice. But the pattern - not so easy to interpret. I'm helping a lot.

As far as writing goes, I haven't managed much recently. I really need to, though! I am so close on DoP, and want to finish it so I can get it edited and maybe actually DO something with it. And work on the next one in the line-up, of course.

Quilt of Many Colors and Fleece Throwing

Well, fleece throws, anyway... we've made the throws for the sale tomorrow. Seven total - eight counting my last minute pirate flower, which is black and white with a pink pirate print center. Cute, but don't think anyone but me will want it! (So I decorate my bedroom with it - no big deal). Here's the sunflower - it's far far brighter in real life. A little plain looking here, but not too bad. We've also got an owl, a panda, a cat, a lion, and several other flowers.

The quilt of many colors is pieced in strips and arranged to my satisfaction. I will work on sewing them together this week. Then... I can start working on the back, which will be the same style, but in muted colors (mostly brown, black, gray and white). A quilt for every mood. And warm, which I need.

Still working on XMas gifts - added another one to the list - think it will be a hit. Hope it will be, anyway.... I am particularly proud of one, but I don't want to post any info or pics just yet. After XMas I will, after the recipient has opened it.

So, the craft sale is tomorrow, and I should be in bed. The car is packed, we know how we're arranging things, and I should be asleep. Wish us luck!

Craft Show Prep

The next craft sale is on Monday. Therefore, we must spend all time getting ready.

Or something like that.

I have two blankets to make by Sunday evening. Donna has three, so I don't feel quite so rushed. Still have more XMas prezzies to make, so we'll see how much gets crammed into the weekend. There is also Fight Club to contend with on Sunday - hopefully we will start co-ordinating the big fight, and can start on the pub brawl and such. Need to run through the lane fights, too. (Sheesh, sounds like I will be doing lots of fighting next year!) Fortunately, one of the lane fights is already very well known, and I expect it won't take long to whip back into shape. Should be interesting.

Find myself looking forward to next year's faire, even with a slightly altered character. Will be interesting to see if we can pull it off.

As far as projects to come: blanket of many colors - top part is cut out and about 1/6th pieced together. The bottom has not even been started yet, it may have to wait for the days around XMas. Doll #1 - almost done except for the face. That will have to be after this weekend. Then I can stuff it and start on the clothing. Phoenix coat - the base coat is done, and I have the materials for the rest. Just need to start placing motifs and such. Waiting for approval on character before going forward with garb for the season. And may need to find something to make a dark gray cloak out of, if we get what we're looking at now.

Anyway, off to housework and fleecework.

Skull Coat and XMas Gifts

The skull coat is done and looks better than I anticipated. I have another one in the works already - a phoenix coat. The base is red, and the motifs will be, obviously enough, phoenixes, flames, and feathers. But I am also working on a new quilted coat - as soon as I figure out the motif, I will post more. Suffice to say that the test piece will be something different.

Some friends are preggers, and will be decorating the kid-to-be's room in sealife, a sea mural, and shades of blue. So they will be getting (at some point) a blue octopus. Matt dared me to make a blue-ringed octopus (the color changing kind). I think I can manage with taffeta... I will have to see. (After XMas gifts are done!)

I am also working on a brightly colored fleece blanket - just because. I want something simple and not terribly detailed for a change. The squares will be nice and large, but I still need something like 144 for a single-thickness, and obviously double that for the double thickness. I will bind it will scraps of quilt binding, so even the edges will be different colors.

Other than that, it's prep time for XMas... I've completed two Christmas presents for family already. Only... errr... more to go. Lots of work left to do.