wise little owls

I made some more little owls for a commission (actually for an old school friend of mine).

These are made from ecospun felt.  I found that wool felt is too thick and it made them a funny shape – it’s probably just me, but it does feel good to make something nice from all those nasty plastic bottles.

Anyway, these are destined for a group of nursery children and I really do hope that they enjoy playing with them as much as I enjoyed seeing their little characters emerging.  Looks like the start of a beautiful owl relationship to me.

I am more than happy to make more of these to order…you can buy them through the shop.

a new bird design

I made a new bird.

The process has been somewhat arduous and there have been many poor deformed creatures along the way.  It’s taken me such a long time of thinking before I finally plucked up the courage to create a new design.  It seems so silly now but I was so pleased with the original bird design (for the fabric finches) that I was scared I wouldn’t be able to produce anything even approaching the quality and that would be a waste of my limited time and materials.

I finally arrived at a flying bird that I am reasonably happy with.  It’s supposed to be a goose but the kids think it looks like a seagull.  I’m pleased that it even looks like a bird at all!

I’m thinking about making a mobile with a whole flock of them.  I think that would be cool.  I say thinking but there’s always a huge gap between thinking and doing so please don’t hold your breath.

Meanwhile, Alasdair has been busy and has been making some very funky paper and wire birds; more on those when they’re finished but in the meantime a picture of them drying following the first coat of paper.

wedding cake toppers

A few weeks ago I posted about my Music Print Bird that was an idea for wedding cake topper “love birds”.  It was ok as far as ideas go but not quite lush enough.  I set off in search of something a little bit special and came across some dupioni silk from India.  I couldn’t resist using it to make a set of love birds.

The groom is entirely made of the silk.  The  bride is silk with a lace and seed bead detail.  I’m really please with this pair and I’m sure they’re all set for many years of wedded bliss.

She’s thinking about the pimms!

Valentine Fabric Finch

Hmm…wonder what these are

If I turn my back will they move?

Nope…but they did get shinier…you saw that, right?

Oh well, best be on my way now.

In the shop now

Tartan Owl Ornament

This tartan chap was created as a commission this weekend.  In keeping with our attempts to reduce waste, he’s made from a piece of tartan that would have otherwise been binned and some ecospun felt.  Stuffed, as usual, with reclaimed polyester stuffing.

He’s got a bit of a problem though.  Whilst out for his morning walk, he came across a very strange object.  It looked like a grassy mound but he couldn’t be sure.

At first he stood next to the mound, he thought it enhanced his green wings and the green stripes in his tartan, but after a while he became suspicious that the object wasn’t a grassy mound at all but an owl eating alien so he made a hasty retreat to his new home.

Music Print Bird and Bird House

I was messing around at the weekend and decided to try out something new with the bird pattern.  It’s the same pattern but made with printed cotton rather than felt.  I quite like the finish.

This is very much a prototype.  I’m working on a series of love birds for wedding cake toppers and this little lady was born out of an idea of using wedding march music on some part of it.  I’m waiting for some satin and lace, hence why she’s entirely made out of cotton.  I like it though and think with a few tweaks she could become a new offering in the shop.  In the meantime I finally get to have a fabric finch of my very own.  Some might say I deliberately made this one less than perfect  just so I could keep it and maybe they’d be right!

I also decided to make her a little papier mache house to keep her warm and dry on these cold winter nights.  That didn’t go so well but I think the idea is sound so I will persevere.  Perhaps I’ll enlist Alasdair’s help to make a little wooden hut.

handmade felt christmas tree decorations

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later … that’s right the spirit of Christmas has finally caught up with me, almost.  Anyway, in preparation for it’s imminent arrival I felt compelled to make some decorations, contrary to my usual ‘bah humbug!’ approach to Christmas!!

Actually, it wasn’t just me, Jolene started it with these rather pretty little crocheted stars …

… it’s while she was making these that she tossed a bag of felt offcuts in my general direction and told me to stop being ‘lazy’ and to ‘get on with something’ …

… I was …

… I was drinking tea …

… it’s important!

I spent a few minutes rummaging, looking at the various shapes available, before coming across some bendy triangles.  It wasn’t a huge leap to come up with the trees above.

I’m hoping to get some pine cones done up in time for Christmas, maybe as a table decoration or maybe as a few more hangers for the tree, whatever I do I’ll be sure to share them here.

Make Your Own Scandinavian Style Hanging Bird Ornament

You’ll need:

printer
paper
sharp needle
sharp scissors
6″ x 4″ piece of felt
36″ of 6 stranded embroidery thread
stuffing

Stitches used:

Blanket
Lazy Daisy

Instructions:

1. Click on the pattern below and print and cut it out.  It’s sized to A4 so you’ll need to make sure your page size is set to 210mm x 297mm so that the picture doesn’t distort.
2. Pin the template to your felt and cut two bird shapes.  You may find it easier to do this one shape at a time.
3. Separate two strands of thread by holding one end of the strand and gently pulling it from the group.
4. Using lazy daisy stitch, Sew three small flowers on each bird shape around about the belly of the bird.  Pay close attention to make sure you stitch on the right side of the bird shapes.
5. Separate another two strands of thread.  Using blanket stitch sew the two bird shapes together starting at the mid back and leaving about an inch of a gap for stuffing.
6. Stuff the bird quite tightly and sew the gap closed (with blanket stitch).  You might find at this stage a pencil or chopstick is useful for getting the stuffing into the corners but be careful you don’t poke it all the way through!  Secure your thread with a few small stitches.
7. Thread the last two strands through your needle and double them up to give you four strands.  Starting on the back of the bird, roughly where you started the blanket stitch, sew a few small stitches to secure your thread and then create a loop.  Sew some more small stitches to secure the loop.
8. If you wish you can sew a few loops onto the tail end of the bird to resemble feathers.
9. Hang from your tree/door handle/peg and marvel at the cuteness.

 Pattern:

The copyright of this work belongs to MadeStuff.  You may use this pattern to create as many ornaments as you wish for your own personal use and to give as gifts.   You may not use this pattern in any shape or form for commercial gain.

If you can’t be bothered going out to buy the materials you’ll need to make this lovely bird ornament, I have some kits for sale in the shop.  The kits contain the pattern, including instructions for the stitches, thread, felt and stuffing…enough for one ornament.

Sock creatures

Jolene’s been busy with her needle and thread, pulling up her socks, and putting together some more of her cute and cuddly creatures.  Stripes seem to be a recurring theme, but the first cuddly creature featured here is a luxurious little soul made out of angora …

As much as I love the soft autumnal colours in the angora creature above, the vibrant summery colours of the creature below are also rather fab.  We had pretty much decided that this one had something a pig-tailed school girl about it, but now I look at the pictures here I can’t help thinking it looks more like the irritated mother of a naughty school girl, hands on hips!

Meanwhile, I’ve also been finishing off my second and, I promise you, final sock creature … it’s no great work of art, but it’s definitely got character!

Fabric Finches ~ an alternative to the felt bird

Jolene has been experimenting with some different fabric for her felt finches and come up with these wee charmers.  On the one hand we have a wee tartan or light tweed fellow and on the other we have an adorable little fluff ball, incredibly soft to the touch made out of a deep polar fleece.

Very cute I’m sure you’ll agree!