What Would You Make with This?

I purchased this sumptuous plant-dyed wool felt from A Child's Dream Come True a couple of months ago on a whim when I was reordering some their other more traditionally dyed wool felts.   The plant-dyed colors just caught my eye and when I slipped them out of their mailing envelope, I think my pulse quickened.  I really am at a loss to describe it, but there is something about the colors of these felts that is so much more extraordinarily gorgeous than other wool felts.  

So, they have been sitting right on top of my work table all this time, awaiting the right inspiration, the right project, the thing to evolve into...and I've got nothing.  Every time I look at them, I am still as in love with them as the day they arrived, but I just cannot work out what the right project is for this lovely felt, in all these rich, natural colors.    I know--this should not be hard.  And I really am eager to cut into the pieces and make something...but what?  

So I ask, what would you make with these pieces of felt if they were yours?

What I Bought in London: Tana Lawn

This is Liberty.  Much like Tiffany's, it feels like nothing bad could ever happen to you in place like this.  That is, until you rashly blow your son's college fund on Tana Lawn.  But have a look at this some of the fabric and you will understand how all common sense evaporates...

Tres joli, non?   There was a quilt there that was made from nothing but Tana Lawn and merely touching it I was immediately lost in a reverie of what it would be like to sleep under it, at once silky and crisp, pretty as spring, certain to keep nightmares at bay.  Even with your husband waiting patiently for time without end as you walk up and down the aisles, again, and again, and again, trying to decide which of these little pretties will come with you--even if it does mean a trade school education for your son-- am pretty sure at least some of you can understand why I could not leave London without several yards tucked safely in my suitcase. (and did I mention that you need not even visit London to buy your own?  Find their full selection of fabrics right here...)

Bird Sachets

So here is the other thing I made for mother's day gifts--they are little aromatic birds. I made them from this pattern from Spool (lovelovelove their shape--so simple, so sweet, and so utterly bird-esque)-but I stuffed their bodies with dried lavender and rose buds. I guess so they can be sachets or air freshener type things or just something pretty to look at that also happens to smell nice.

I made the birds from some of these reproduction fabrics I bought a while back at a quilt show my mother-in-law took me to. I know--they are lovely. Seriously, I never tire of vintage fabrics or fabrics that just look vintage--they always make my my palms sweat when I see them. My only problem is that other than ReproDepot, I can never seem to find really good reproduction fabrics like these--anyone else have a go-to source for these?

Anyway, I am really pleased with how the birds turned out and am even more resolved to make the full-on bird mobile now for my workshop.

And on a tangental note, when you hand-make stuff for gifts a lot or all the time pretty much, do you think the people who are the recipients get tired of it--like, Oh god, here comes another handmade gift from Holly...smile pretty now and act like it is extra special. I mean, I do buy gifts every now and then because there are only so many hours in a day, and I do find things at stores attractive once in a while, but I really do make a lot of gifts these days. What is your take on this? What do you feel about receiving handmade gifts?

New Crafty Links and Lots o' Easter-y Projects

I just updated the Projects Found Elsewhere You Should See button over there in the sidebar. Lots of lovely easter-y and spring-y projects over there for you to check out--projects for the kiddies, but also a couple of big people projects too. Go check them out and make something handmade (or 2 or 3...) this week to tuck into an Easter basket, or to give as a special spring-time gift. I will be back here tomorrow with another tutorial of my own for you...in the meantime, happy-crafty-link-surfing.

Quilt Anxiety

Look at this stack of fabrics. So lovely it almost hurts my heart. They are from the Good Folks collection from Anna Maria Horner. In a fit of ardor, I purchased fat quarters of the entire collection--all 24 heart-wrendingly beautiful fabrics. You see, I came across Anna Maria's blog (her home is too devastingly lovely) and then her fabrics and then I was in love and knew I had to have a quilt made from these fabrics for our bedroom. But, I don't quilt. Not that that deterred me, as you can see, from purchasing the fabrics.

As soon as the fabrics arrived, I tore into the box and laid them out across our bed, just to see how they would look if they were to be assembled in the aforementioned quilt--and , I think my heart sang when it saw all those fabrics together, against the backdrop of our dark gray walls. This is the quilt of my dreams--if only I can manage to make it a reality. And dear Chez Beeper Bebe readers, I am scared. I have never ever made a quilt, and what if I screw it up? Gods knows what sort of desperate state I would fall into if I ruined all that otherworldly fabric and worse yet, this quilt would never grace my bedroom.

So, I turn to all of you for your advice and assistance. Please tell me, where are the best resources for how to make a quilt? Books? Blogs? Other Resources? And if you are already quilters and know a thing or two about this elusive craft, what are your personal tips? What sort of batting is the best for this sort of project? What should I do for binding? What about backing it? I would be in a state of paralysis with all this lack of knowledge I posses on the subject, but dammit if I am not determined to make this quilt and have it in my bedroom.

So, let me tell what I am envisioning at this point: I want to make this quilt with big square blocks of the fabric (somewhat like pictured above)--because I think the fabric itself is the superstar of this quilt, and more importantly, I need to start simple or I will never have the gumption to make this. And I have this idea that I would quilt it by hand, quilting around varying bits of the patterns in the fabric--creating this sort of mosaic of quilted patterns. Is this a bad idea? Am I doomed for failure if I go down this path? What don't I know that I should? Please help me. I am so utterly clueless. I mean, I sew things all the time, but somehow this feels like I am about to attempt to build the the space shuttle in my bedroom--because it is that important to me.

Anything you can do to help will result in my eternal gratitude.

Belated Holiday Greetings & Letters to Santa

I really related to Brooke's recent blog post about holiday crafting procrastination--this is my holiday crafting style too.  A sort of pell-mell run to complete 6 projects you planned and 4 more you just found but have now decided you somehow have to fit in before Christmas D-day. And no, I would not say that I prefer this approach.  In fact, in my head the past few days I have been constructing a plan for how I will do it all differently next year, putting the tree up and decking the halls Thanksgiving weekend, and making gifts in batches over a series of weeks--with the final reward being nothing to do this final week leading up to Christmas other than maybe wrapping some gifts.  Is this even possible?  Do some of you manage to make this happen for yourselves?  And if you do, how do you do it? 

I am thinking it is possible because I see Amy's blog posts that have been showing off her lovely holiday decor for weeks on end now. I marvel at her--and covet this sort of decorating ease. 

But I am happy to say that I have finally helped Beeper to write his letter to Santa and to get that off in the mail--and then I used this little utility on Big Huge Labs to draft a letter from Santa in response to Beeper.  I mean, I could have designed the stationary myself, but well, you see, I am busy trying to do all of my holiday crafting and gift making this week.

I also got our holiday cards made this weekend and will send them off first thing tomorrow.  (How could I resist using these ridiculously cute and fabulous photos of Beeper in some way--I never have been one for a traditional holiday greeting).  And yes, I am sending them off with full knowledge that many will likely not reach their recipients until after Christmas--which is why I made these mailing labels..

You may not be able to read them from here but they say: Belated holiday greetings for...  Somehow owning up to that fact that I know they are late makes it okay that they are late--at least in my world.  Also, I actually sort of do believe that it might be nice to receive a holiday card a later--after all the others have already come in--just a little reminder that it is still the holidays afterall and someone is thinking about you even now in this week leading up to or after Christmas.

Anyone else out there needing to send some belated holiday cards this week?  If so, I have made a download for you of the mailing label--as well as another label that is for general (not belated, not holiday) mailing use.  You can download that right here:

DOWNLOAD MAILING LABEL

I simply printed the labels on some adhesive/sticker paper (I like the full page mailing labels at Office Max--they adhere to anything) and trim around the edges of the label.  

I will be back soon with photos of the new Christmas stockings that are on my work table as I write this...as well as lots more to come (sadly) before Dec 25th.

Tutorial: A Dozen Animal Sewing Cards Reprised

Last year I made a little sewing card tutorial, but I decided to create a reprisal of it--mainly so you could access some downloadable instuctions, as well as the graphics. And of course, in the process of creating the new instructions document, I decided to modify some of the original instructions to make it a bit simpler. Then, I also changed up some of the graphics I had in the original set--now there a dozen animal images with dotted cutting lines, as well as punch hole indicators.

And in case you are interested about some of the supplies I used in the photos above...here is what I used and where I purchased it:

• Red and white stripey cotton string from Carta Inc that I used for the sewing strings
• Card stock paper from Paper Source that I used for the sewing cards--I love their card stock because it has nice heft and there are so many vibrant colors to choose from.
• Black masking tape from Blick Art Materials that I used for the string ends
  

I made a set for us yesterday and it took me about an hour--so this is a simple, easy project you can make in an evening or do over the weekend and involve the kiddies. Here is your link to download the project: DOWNLOAD SEWING CARD TUTORIAL

Don't Read This Post Until Sunday, Mum!

Another book, another Blurb. This is the Mother's Day Gift en route, as we speak, to my mum and Mr Beeper's mom. It has sort of become a tradition to make one of these with the year's photos of Beeper. I love the square design, the tidy format, the very professional looking hard-cover with dust jacket finish.
Oh, the plans for future books I still have. The imagination reels with possibilities. And, I swear, I am not on Blurb's payroll. Really.

Homemade Easter Candy and Paper Craft Download Crazy

Yeah, I'm not sure what really possessed me. I mean, why did I feel suddenly compelled to attempt to make all of our easter candy this year? It seemed somehow healthier(?) because I could see the ingredients going into each item...and it seemed like it would be novel and something Beeper would like to help with. So, we did it (or at least this is what we managed to complete before I threw in the chocolate covered dish towel--the marshmallow eggs never did come to fruition)--and this is the result...Chocolate and white chocolate covered coconut birds nests, little chocolates made in molds from Bake It Pretty, more little easter animal shapes made from candy coating in ghastly unnatural colors (sure to delight small children), and those peanut butter eggs above. And really, it was not all that hard to make, but working with all that melted chocolate is messy. Probably would be better if I had spread this out over several days instead of gunning to do it all on the day before Easter. BUT, the peanut butter eggs were lovely, and the nests were a cinch--and Beeper really did like helping (sugar? melted chocolate? candy? From a child's persepctive, what's the problem?). So, that was craziness number one that seized me. Then there was this:You see, now that I had all this homemade candy, I decided that I also needed to make some little easter baskets to give to all the kiddies in our life...and then I really wanted to make some little something that was not sugar-based to include in their baskets--something that would be "simple" for me to make and include...so I was off on this quest for paper craft toys that I could find for download...and holy crap if there is not A LOT out there. So much, that I was up until 2am one night checking out site after site, paper craft project after paper craft project. And what I ended up with were these (free, all FREE!):

• paperdolls from Wee Wonderfuls
• animal stickers from Lotta Bruhn
• Cut and Fold Animals from Marilyn Scott Waters (loads more downloadables on her site too--you gotta check this one out):
• and these sweet little tags from Doe C Doe:
• And then I threw in these coloring cards from Little Brown Pen that were actually not free but that I had purchased earlier for Valentine's Day (read about that here) and thought I would re-purpose... And so, I assembled the little baskets (the strawberry crates from Bake It Pretty) in a flurry during Beeper's afternoon nap...and this was the end result...A fair bit of craziness did drive it...but it made some little people very happy, I think.

Baby Binky Bunny for Mimi

This is what I spent my weekend doing. Made this sickeningly adorable baby bunny and its even sicker patchwork binky. It was for Mimi. This is Mimi. Also adorable--about as adorable as the bunny and its sick binky. It was her 2nd birthday so I fixed her up (along with a little linen sack of wooden carrots, cukes, bell peppers and other assorted veggies from Haba--a bunny has to eat, you know). The pattern is from mmmcrafts (her shop here, where you can find the pattern). I saw it earlier this week and it really was instant love and there was no question or other option--I.had.to. make.it. The patchwork binky is really what put me over the edge--even though it is all in the hands of wee Mimi now, I still cannot stop thinking about the patchwork binky and how I want to design some of my own for use with some of my own plush designs. It was so freakin simple to make and it makes me feel all giddy just to look at it--weird, I know, but still. And, I plan to make one more of these Baby Binky Bunnies because this will be my next Toy Society drop--for April. But before that, I do have some original Beeper Bebe plushies I plan to make and get into the shop--a new doll design is in the works, as well as a wee chicken....

Fabrics for a Revoluzzza Monster

I purchased some new fabrics recently from Crafty Planet. I have not made anything with them yet, but have been quietly pondering their potential and what they might become. Of course, I do have some ideas (I am not known for any shortage of ideas--my husband likes to say I am "cursed with vision"--meaning, he is cursed with having a wife with vision that he is doubtlessly enlisted in the realization of...)...Like this fabric (above) from Alexander Henry called "SEW NOW! SEW WOW!". I was actually at the register purchasing all my yardage, when I suddenly noticed this at the front of the store--and I just walked away in mid-purchase, in a love-daze (red hearts popping out from my eyes, no doubt), reaching out tenderly for this fabric. I love the sewing theme, the colors, the psychedelic style. So, of course, I bought some. It is actually a nice hefty cotton canvas. I still get weak in the knees just looking at it all folded up in basket of fabric across the room. My plan is to sew up some sort of bag from it in which I can stash my in-progress sewing projects for when I want to take them with me to the coffee shop, a friend's house, airport, whathaveyou.And as further proof to my undying love and adoration of this particular fabric pattern--I actually bought another couple of yards in the black and white version (above)--with the plan to recover my current idea board with it (part of a larger re-organization and decor update to my workshop--more on that in a future post).But today my immediate purpose for some of this new fabric became clear to me--it is to make a couple of these freakin adorable monster dolls designed by Revoluzzza. She so kindly is sharing this FREE pattern and tutorial on her blog--you can download the pattern here. The very nicely laid out tutorial with step by step photos is on her blog here. And her work is so amazing--utterly modern and lovely. Everything is so beautifully constructed--and all those the colors make my heart sing an operetta.

Couldn't you just die from all the loveliness? You can also buy her plushies--get your very own Revoluzzza monster or doll--right here.

But, yes I plan to make a couple of her Monster Ninnis for my March Toy Society drop--and technically, they will not be dropped, but will be sent to the Toy Society as part of their handmade plush donations for the victims of the Australian bush fires. If you are interested in making something to donate--you can learn more about that here. And why wouldn't you, really--I mean, if you can operate a needle and thread? Something so seemingly small can make a big difference for a child who has lost so much.