You Go Girl!

Pretty Bird Peacock...

Yes. Yes I do.  I judge books by the cover.  Literally.  When I was invited to review PRETTY BIRDS and join the blog tour, I clicked the link to see the book. Look at it!   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How could I say no? I wanted to take a peek inside the minute I saw the cover. PRETTY BIRDS by Virginia Lindsay of Gingercake blog did not disappoint.  

I received my book in the mail and promptly set out to try one of the projects. This grand little peacock went together easily. The pattern templates were accurate and the instructions were clear and easy to follow. Some knowledge of softie sewing is helpful but not mandatory.

As stated in the introduction to the books:  The projects in this book range from quick and easy to moderately challenging but all are created to be fun and satisfying.  From cute and trendy to classic and elegant, the 18 projects in this book should satisfy every crafty mood you are feeling.  If you are an avid bird lover or simply someone looking to make some sweet sewing projects, this is the sewing book for you. True. True. And true.

I like projects that have room to add your own stamp and style.  As you can see, my peacock doesn't look exactly like the one in the book.  I opted for a different hair style, some wire legs and feet, and I used some embellishments I had in  my stash of good things. It was certainly a treat to have a well thought out pattern to follow to create this indie fellow.

Up next for me will be the seagull.  I love the sea and sea birds.  The seagull's antics never disappoint. It would be fun to have a little gull sitting on my desk reminding me of the sound of the beach and the feel of sand between my toes. Can't wait to give it a try.

PRETTY BIRDS should be on the shelves of your favorite book store March 2015.  

This is the first stop in the PRETTY BIRDS blog tour.  Other tour stops and dates are listed below:

PRETTY BIRDS 

By Virginia Lindsay 

Blog Tour Schedule 

 2/25 You Go Girl!

2/26 Erica B. DIY Style

2/27 CraftSanity

2/28 Recycled Crafts

3/1 Sew Mama Sew

3/2 Lorelei’s Blog

3/3 FaveCrafts

3/4 S is for Sewing

3/5 Lori Greenberg

3/6 Killing It As A Grown Up

3/10 Sweet KM

3/11 Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy Crafts

3/12 Buzzmills

3/13 Girl Like the Sea 

3/15 Cut Out + Keep

ENJOY!!!

 

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Hello friends. Look at these birds. Are they not the cutest things ever??? I haven't been this in love with a project since my apple fix a few years back. I found the pattern at The Paper Shed. 

Birdie Bleu was stitched for my mama. I LOVE my mama. As soon as Birdie Bleu was complete, I knew that my friend, Beth, needed a little sparrow. Beth's journey to motherhood has been punctuated by sorrow. As I stitched Birdie Bleu together, I remembered this blog post she wrote. 

I hope Lady Lavendre reminds Beth of her sweet Eve and the lovely seven months they got to spend together. Hoping for blessing upon blessing in the days to come, Beth.

Felt Ornament Tutorial...Finally!

Remember the tutorial I hinted at here?

Well....

I'd like you to meet the Nuts...

Hazel...(And the crowd goes wild. Okay. Not really. But that would be cool.)

and Filbert...(More raucous cheers...in my own mind, anyway.)

And now for your warm, fuzzy enjoyment...A tutorial.

Collect your supplies:

• Squirrel-colored felt
• White Felt
• A puff of fluff for stuffing
• A pen for tracing
• Embroidery floss
• Embroidery needle
• Scissors
• 2 black beads or small buttons for eyes
• 10" hanging string (Divine Twine, Ribbon, Emboridery Floss, Yarn, etc.)
• Powder Blush (optional)

Download the pattern here (Squirrel Ornament Pattern). Warning: Pattern is not fancy. If only Heather Bailey was my neighbor (sigh). Pretend my pattern looks like one of her faboo masterpieces. Okay?

Cut pattern pieces out and trace them on to the felt. (Tip: I use a Uniball Roller pen to trace my pieces.)

 

Cut pieces out of felt. (Tip: I like to cut just inside the pen line.)

 

Stitch belly to body. Then stitch on ear piece. Use any kind of stitch you like. (See picture below for placement.)

Embroider nose and mouth. 

Add black bead eyes.

Hazel has a little powder blush on her cheeks. Apply with a q-tip.

Embroider a design on the tummy if you want. Here are some ideas.

I like to embroider a date on the back. (Tip: Make sure you are stitching on the correct side of the back. Not fun to find out you've done it wrong after you've put in all that work. Yes. I am speaking from experience.)

Match body front to body back and blanket stitch around the edges of the ornament. Before you sew the ornament completely shut, you can add a fluff of stuffing if you want your squirrel to be plump.

Add a string for hanging. I used Divine Twine. Other ideas...yarn, ribbon, embroidery floss, etc.

Say hello to your new squirrel friend. Perhaps you will name her Chessie. Get it? Chessie Nut. Chestnut. I think that's funny. Are you feeling warm and fuzzy yet? I hope so.

Happy stitching, friends.

***Ornament pattern not intended for resale. Ornaments made from this pattern are for home use or gift-giving. Please do not sell them. If you share your ornament(s) made from my pattern on your blog or facebook page, I would surely appreciate a link to the tutorial. Thanks much. ~Cassie

I Feel Like a Heel

 

No, it's not a huffalump or a woozle. It's a zebra. I was goofing off with the picture tools at Big Huge Labs and this is what I got.  It tickles my fancy for some reason.

 

And speaking of zebras...Remember that knock-knock association I have with orange.  Well, the same darn thing happens to me when I see a zebra.  I have a knock-knock moment.  I'll spare you the joke.  It's a throw-back from about fourth grade and it is  REALLY lame-o. If you must hear it, leave me a comment and I'll share.  But don't say I didn't warn you.

This little zebra friend was a special order.  I had a blonde moment and almost forgot to make it.  I didn't write the order in my book, nor did I file it in my brain. I was cleaning out my inbox the other day and came across the original request that was many weeks old.  I gasped and quickly sent apologies which were graciously accepted.  But I still felt like a total heel.  Get it?  Heel...This zebra is made out of a sock. Heel...That cracks me up.  

And that's all I have to say today.

XOXO~

Cassie

Pearl the Rock Star

 

This is Pearl.  Deep down in her little sock tummy, she wants to be a rock star.  Her mom forbids her to get her tongue pierced or her back tattooed, so Pearl has to settle for purple rock star hair.  Someday, though,  Pearl's going to make it big. 

Actually, I don't really know what's in store for Pearl.  She was definitely a rock star at my house.  Even my fifteen-year-old daughter thought Pearl was the bomb.  Pearl is going to live in Ohio with Rachael.  Rachael's grandpa ordered Pearl for her for her birthday.  I think Rachael is going to think her grandpa ROCKS.

That's all for now.

Rock on, girlfriends~

Cassie

News Flash--I just saw a picture of Pearl at her new home.  Turns out that Pearl's real name is Zinny.  You can see the "rock star" and her new manager on Julie's blog, Firefly Lane.

Polly the Sock Zebra

Polly the Sock Zebra:  (Sigh) Maybe today will be the day.

Ruby the Sock Dog:  I don't know.  I've been sitting around here with this deep gash in my leg forever, girlfriend. 

Polly the Sock Zebra:  I'm really tired of being naked.  It's chilly and, well, embarrassing.

Ruby the Sock Dog:  Well, if you want to know the truth, I think...

Polly the Sock Zebra:  Shhhh! Shhhh! Shhhh!  Here she comes.  Here she comes. Look cute.   She can't resist cute.

That is the conversation I heard coming out of my craft room yesterday.  Ok. Not really.  But those little black button eyes did follow me where ever I went.  I finally said, "Enough already!" 

The sock dog and the sock zebra have been lounging about my craft room for weeks.  Ruby (remember her?) was there because she had a big hole loved into her leg. Polly was waiting on some clothes so that she could make her big debut.  Not any more.  A few quick stitches and Ruby was as good as new.  As for Polly...Here she is. Clothes and all.

 

Before I tell you how Polly came to be, I want to ask you a question.  Is it wrong to bribe your children?  I don't think Mother-Of-The-Year does it.  Dang!  Two thousand nine is so new and I'm already out of the running because Polly is payment for a bribe.  Our Christmas pageant at church was short a major player, namely Joseph.  What's a nativity scene without Joseph?  I told Becca that if she would be Joseph, complete with with a braid beard, I would make her whatever her heart desired.  Becca went up in front of a church full of people looking like this, so I made Polly. 

 

The whole time I was making Polly, all I could think about was Neapolitan ice cream.  The yarn I used for her mane is the exact color of chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla stacked side by side in a frozen carton of yum.   Her name is a derivative of Neapolitan...Nea-polly-ton.  Get it? 

My favorite part of Polly is her tail.  I don't know why, but it tickles my fancy.

 

Now that Polly is finished, I've created a bit of a problem.  Ruby belongs to Libbie.  Polly is Becca's sock zebra.  Now my third triplet, Emily, is plotting and scheming to get a sock creature of her own. A few days ago she sent me an email pretending to be Linda Boargin.  Linda Boargin???  Where do they come up with this stuff?  Linda Boargin ordered a sock elephant.  She wanted it sent to our address.  Too funny, Emily.  I'm on to you, though.  I guess I'm going to have to think up another really good bribe.  Hm-mm...Thinking. Thinking. Thinking.

Meet Ruby...

The dog days of summer are certainly upon me (tee-hee!). Remember this little sock dog?  She has been sitting ever so patiently on my table waiting for arms and a skirt.

 

Tada! She is finally finished.  Woohoo!!  Let me introduce you.  Here she is...Miss Ruby!

Ruby was a hoot to make.  The best part, though, is that she is the fulfillment of a long-awaited I.O.U. She belongs to my little triplet girl, Libbie. 

When I gave Ruby to Libbie, she greeted the little sock canine with an enthusiastic hug and exclamations of love.

After the love fest, Libbie asked, "What should I name her?" 

I said, "If she belonged to me, I would call her Ruby."  I was thinking of her color.

"Ruby it is, then," Libbie said with a nod. Then she followed up by saying, "Hey, just like Ruby Redfort in Clarice Bean."

That was a connection I hadn't made, but it works for me.  I think I got extra "super-mom" points for that one since Libbie loves Clarice Bean books.

Just in case you are wondering, the pattern for Ruby came out of this book. 

 

 

Of course, I couldn't stick with the pattern.  I modified a few things, but it is very close to the dog in the book.  This was a super fun project. I think I will do it again.  With so many fun socks out in the stores, the creative possibilities are endless.  I have an orange sock with purple flowers on it. How cool would that be made into a dog? It probably won't be the next project I do, but it is certainly an idea in my head (along with about a billion others...).

 

That is all for now.

 

Wishing you happy dog days of summer,

 

Cassie