Brrr....

it's cold out there... Here is a little something to keep out the draft. 

Raggedy Ann

I've been really wanting to learn how to sew for a long time. Not just being able to go in a straight line, but to really make something. I wanted to make was a Raggedy Ann doll... I started with a online search to see if I could find the perfect pattern. I wanted it to be like the doll I had as a girl, which was not an easy search.  After many attempts google sent me to  Etsy and I ended making my first purchase in January of 2009. I had the pattern... I just needed the motivation to get to stitching! 

Fast forward a couple of years....  Inspiration!

In November I got to work cutting out the pattern, embroidering that face, assembling the dolly, making the dress, apron, and pantaloons, and making hair.  It wasn't easy. There were times I was ready to throw pieces and parts, but determination and goals really do make all the difference. 

While I didn't get the same reaction I hoped for... I know in my heart that one day Carlene will appreciate my effort. And for now it's enough to know that it was a labor of love and I am proud of myself for actually doing it! 

Special Thanks: 

to Jess for helping me get started and teaching me how to cut out a pattern...

to Aunt Nancy for talking me through some rough patches in dress making...

and to Mum for answering my many sewing questions...

New Year... New Post...

It only feels appropriate to start the year off right. I've been quietly crafting prepping for the Christmas season. Now that Christmas has come and gone I can share all the handcrafted goodies....

Gingerbread Houses: My NH friends shared this great idea of making gingerbread houses and sharing the fun experience of building and decorating houses together. So fun!

Baby Doll: My dear friends LadyLee&Mr. Jones are having a new little and of course she needs to have a baby of her own... 

Peppermint Lip Balm: During the summer I helped whip up this batch, courtesy of SouleMama's recipe. 

Embroidered Tea Towels

2012 Ornaments: Here is the newest ornament for the collections. I made14 ornaments this year.

There is more to come... but some crafts need their own post!

Birthday Baby

Nieces turning 2 need to have a baby doll....

My summer crafting buddy, Erika, found this blog post showing how to make a "Garden Doll".  She informed me that we would be making them. I agreed.

We followed the tutorial up until needle felting got involved... not ready for that (yet!?!)... Instead we made flowers out of felt and used the blanket stitch to attach them.  We also headed over to a blog called Shiny Happy World to get some tips on how to make the face.  When I need help, and I often do in the sewing department, this is my go-to site.

It was a simple doll to make... We each made two to give away to some special little girls.

Hoot... Hoot...

I am a softie for softies, especially if an OWL is involved. 

I got the idea and the pattern from Ellie, my little sewing buddy... 

She made this owl shuffled animal  during a class at Sew to Speak.  Here is her softie! 

Ellie's Owl

I travel home to MA for a few many weeks every summer. Usually I don't pack too many crafting supplies. This year I packed my felt and planned to make time to sew a few small projects. This owl was one of them. I cut, sewed, and stuffed this little guy in a matter of a couple of hours. 

My Owl

The new owner of this little guy has been happily hooting ever since!

"Auntie" Sleepover... No. 2

Ellie had a plan from the moment she knew she was having a sleepover all by herself. She hoped for.... but didn't expect, a trip to her (and now my) favorite sewing shop in Clintonville: Sew to Speak.  We needed to pick out fabric for a project. My that store is hard to leave without leaving half your paycheck behind! So many fun things...

We got started right away and worked all night and into the next day. We had fun and in the end we made two cute snail softies.

Looking for the perfect eyes.

Ellie picked it out! 

Cutting the felt

Sewing... Sewing... and more Sewing! 

Braided fabric for the shell

Finished product! 

Happy Girl! 

"Auntie" Sleepover.... No. 1

June has come and gone and so have the "Auntie" sleepovers, but it sure was fun to have the girls come and stay. They wanted to sew.... so that is what we did.

We made pillows and sleeping bags for Barbies/dolls!

I'm back....

Blogging and crafting is put on hold during the spring/ end of the school year. There is too much testing teaching  going on to spare moments to create. I do come across tons of things I want to make, which helps me push though to summer!

It's August... and I have had a pretty crafty summer and ready to share now that I am home and I am no longer distracted by....

Hiking in NH

Lovin' on the Niecphews! 

Life on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

Oh... and moving to a new place!

Love...

Gotta Love Pinterest! 

I sent this to my sister in the midst of her final semester as a college student... I added glitter to the letters... So fun!

Sister Inspired

My sweet sister, Rebecca, was inspired to handcraft her own Christmas ornaments. Her inspiration came from Pinterest. 

Rebecca's Ornament

My Ornament

I love Pinterest! I find it to be very addicting, all the crafting ideas you can ever imagine all in one place!!! Yet, one of my biggest Pinterest complaints is not being able to easily find the original post when you click on the image. I want that click to take me to the exact post, without me having to navigate through 3 years worth of blog entries.... Oh well... you win some, and you lose some!  After some deep searching I finally found the original source of this cute idea... I like to give credit...

Christmas Elving... Part 4

Saving the best for last... as least I think so!

Last summer I was in an unfinished wood store shopping for crates to use in my classroom and I stumbled upon a little doll cradle. I knew right then and there what my niece would be getting for Christmas. I could easily envision myself sanding and staining the cradle, but the part I really wanted to tackle was the bedding. I took it upon myself to take the challenge: Make a mattress, blanket, and a few pillows.

I DID IT... and for those of you who know me and my past experiences with a sewing machine this IS a big deal.

I tackled this project a little bit differently. I took it slowly. I actually read the owners manual for the machine. This helped tremendously, I feel like I know the Olde Singer just a little bit better. I also spent some time practicing before I started.  I spent some time watching tutorials on YouTube.

Now, I didn't have a pattern... I wouldn't even begin to know what to do with one of those. So, I just winged it. I measured, cut, pinned, and sewed. It isn't perfect, but I am proud of what I accomplished and hope it is the first of many more attempts.

Oh... and if you are wondering if Carlene liked it... You'll have to take a peak at the little video I made.

Christmas Elving.... Part 3

One of my favorite projects is the annual Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments.  Here is a link to last years.... and the year before. I keep an eye out for a cookie cutter all year long looking for the perfect ornament shape. This year I found a cookie cutter to share with all the little ones to show where "Auntie" lives. I believe some of them even think my last name is "FromOhio".  This year I made 12 ornaments to share... I just love being "Auntie". 

Here is the Salt Dough recipe I use... I love it, because it is super easy.

½ cup salt

1 cup flour

½ cup hot water

Preheat oven to 250°. Mix together salt, flour, and hot water until dough is formed. Knead dough on a floured surface until mixture is elastic and smooth. If dough is too sticky add a small amount of flour. Careful not to add to much or dough will crack. Roll out dough to ¼” thick. Use cookie cutters to form shapes. Use a straw to make a hole near the top. Place on un-greased cookie sheet and bake 2 hours. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Paint with acrylic paint… Use ribbon to make ornament.

and here is where I got the twine to string them.

Christmas Elving... Part 2

Delivery #2...

Remember back when I was working on making Penny Rugs and felted wool phone pouches... well, I've decided that I truly enjoy working with these materials. I began doing on research online looking for a place to buy wool felt and the needed supplies. I found a neat site called Prairie Point Junction where you can buy felt, embroidery floss, and patterns for all sorts of different projects.

Around the time I found this site my family pulled names for our annual Christmas exchange... I picked out my Aunt Nancy's name and knew immediately that I wanted to make her something. I looked around  the website for an idea and found a pattern that didn't look too complicated, but was still cute and fun. I am not quite sure what you call it... it's not a table runner, but something to put in the center of a table. It took me about a week to follow all the steps. Soaking and drying the wool, ironing, copying the pattern onto freezer paper, cutting, assembling, and finally sewing. It is a nice project
for the evenings, especially when it is cold outside.

I am excited about how it turned out. I learned a bunch of new techniques for how to make certain kinds of stitches. I found many helpful tutorials on "You Tube" when I got stuck and needed some help. I have already returned to the site looking for a new projects. You'll have to check back for future reveals.

Here it is...

Christmas Elving... part 1

This Elf has made delivery #1...  

I baked a couple of different cookies to share with my coworkers this year.  I made "Spice Cookies" and "M&M... the BEST ever" cookies. The recipe says they are the best ever... and they truly are... if you want the recipe I will share. 

The "Spice Cookies" are for rolling out and shaping with cookie cutters. I decided to use a gingerbread man... I was able to get 4 dozen cookies without throwing the rolling pin out the window.  I haven't had the best track record in the past... but I am realizing the more I practice the better I get... hmmm? Something I tell my students all the time, I guess some lessons take a little longer to learn. 

Delicious! Crispy and just the right amount of spice! 

Small plastic bags, cute paper and a little snowflake bling! 

I also made Christmas cards to share. Here they are... This might be the only chance to see handcrafted cards of the season. I just ran out of time. 

Maybe I'll be green and go digital!

May your Christmas be filled with Joy. 

I can't show you....

but this elf is very busy. 

I am trying a few new things this year and keeping on top of some Auntie traditions.

I am even attempting a sewing project.... and it is going okay!  The sewing machine hasn't been thrown out the window... yet. 

Look for updates after Christmas! 

Happy Holiday Crafting!