I've gone from one dismal project (the failed ornament attempt) to another. Here is my latest softie sans head. Yep, there is no head on this poor horse because I just didn't like how the head turned out. Therefore, I refuse to photograph it with a head... yet. This weekend I will be going back to the drawing board and designing a nice new head for him (or her) that I do like. Then maybe I'll have something less gruesome to show you. :D
Our dining table has become my assembly line for puppies. I don't have time for a proper post, but I can give you a peek into the process that has become my life for the past week.
Bodies
Ears & Tails
Pincushion (This is a new design, you can see the old pincushion on the bottom right.)
I'm really looking forward to the craft market, but I must confess that my fingers still hurt from sewing on puppy tails, ears, eyes and noses last night. I've also recruited family members for help. My loving husband took pity on me and stuffed all of the puppies a couple of nights ago. It was a tad difficult for him to get the stuffing into the tiny legs but he did a great job! Yesterday my sister-in-law Michelle (Emmy's mom) got a lesson in making puppies and knocked out two for me while she was here. And my sister-in-law ♥Natalie♥ (Isaiah's mom) has been here many, many times to help me with cutting, ironing, errands and what ever else my nervous mind could imagine for her to do. Thank you all so much! ♥
If anyone is in the Houston area and would like to stop by on Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm, you’re looking for the Mistletoe Market at 6312 Westchester in West U. I'll have Teensy Pins for sale as well as puppies and more... I’d love to meet you!
I needed to unwind after a very busy week and making this little guy seemed to do the trick:
It's just so satisfying to make these puppies. A few months ago I cut out about a dozen patterns of them and whenever I get the chance I make one. I sure hope I still feel that way after making about a dozen more of them. "Why so many?" Oh, I'm glad you asked. Next weekend I'm taking part in a craft market (my very first) and along with a few other items I'm going to sell my puppies. Hopefully I'll make enough so that any extras can go into the shop. I'm planning an update (and hopefullly a new shop design/layout) that'll be just in time for Christmas!
Arrgh. That makes me think of the Christmas gifts that I want to make for my own family and friends. Hmm... I think it's time to make another puppy. ♥
I did it! I finished this month's Month of Softies contribution - a Tumbling Tumbleweed! August’s theme was The Wild West. You can view all of the August MOS images here on flickr.)
The Tumbleweed is made from an old faded velvet curtain. I made up the pattern myself (if there is a place that sells them I surely wasn't going to try and hunt them down.) I actually drew the pattern directly onto the fabric.
I knew from the start that I wanted to add a little bird perched on the top.
The bird here is a smaller version of this pattern, which I adjusted to make a new, smaller bird. The pompom is from a piece of vintage trim I found at the same thrift store where I bought the fabric.
After missing the deadline for the last two months I really wanted to complete something for August, but I had a hard time deciding what to do for the theme The Wild West. Once I had my idea, I drew a very quick and sloppy sketch - it helped me to visualize how all the weedy parts would fit together. I put a little less stuffing in the center bottom of the top piece so that it fits better over the other two. The pieces are sewn together a little bit at the bottom - but it really does stand all by itself. My husband was skeptical of my idea from the beginning, so seeing it come together was totally sweet. Of course, he says that he was purposefully challenging me to help build my determination. Hmm… would that line work on you? Me neither, but it made me laugh.
I can't seem to stop making puppies. I perceive that this could come in handy because I have ten nieces and nephews who might need a puppy.
All three are made of felt with button noses and glass beads for eyes. Their scarves are all from vintage fabric swatches.
It irritates me that I didn't line them up in the proper order to match the Penguin 70s. Plus, the whole thing is upside down. The little penguins on the spines shouldn't be at the top. Drat!
Here is the link if you'd like to buy the craft book to make them from YesAsia.com.
Umberto is a little shy...
However, I did convince him to turn around for this next shot. (Is it me or does he look a little shocked? Oh well, he'll get over it.)
I used the same pattern for him as I did for Trixie. I also used the sewing machine for the body instead of hand sewing everything. Let's just say that the machine was a gazillion times faster and leave it at that.
Here are some images for the pets + softies flickr group. The softie here is one of the first things I ever made – a little orange and yellow fish pincushion. The way that each cat interacts with the fish tells you a bit about their personality. (I included an image of the two cats together so you’ll believe me that they are not the same even though they look identical – almost.)
Update: They look a lot like Siamese but are actually Tonkinese. Their coloring is Platinum Mink which makes them white w/ grey points and their fur is really, really soft to the touch. They are also know as jumpers because... well... they jump a lot. Yep.
hugo + softie
He is my friendly cat, he is always there to greet every single repairman and follow him around the house. That includes jumping up onto the counter to put his head under said repairman’s hand. (The hand that is trying to write out my receipt.)
clive + softie
Clive’s look says: “Don’t even think about taking this fish away from me.” He might look tough, but he is a total scaredy cat (anything that bounces = disappearing cat) and he runs away whenever anyone comes over. However, as soon as they leave he is trying to tag along with me wherever I go in the house and yelling at me. If I knew how to do an audio clip I would so that you could hear how insistent he is. He is the most talkative cat ever.
hugo + clive + softie
And here they both are together. Note that Clive still hasn’t let go of the fish.
Ta-da! My first submission for A Month of Softies is finished:
She's made of felt with a button eye and stuffed -- but not too much lest she appear bloated! This was a good reason to make a larger version of my small fish pincushion and it was easy to enlarge the simple pattern. She is 7" long x 5"high. Oh, and of course the flowery felt is what helped her to fit in perfectly with MoS's May theme of "Flowers".
