Moose Trophy

One day, once I've collected enough cardboard boxes, I will use my projector to make a life sized one (which means it's going to be HUGE). In the mean time I've assembled this prototype. I glued the print outs on to poster board, but I got a blister. I would suggest cereal or chip box type cardboard instead- you may just need some glue to keep it in place with thinner cardboard. Click on the images below to enlarge/ save. If I did it right the pattern should fit nicely on to two 8.5" x 11" sized paper.

Handwarmer

...as beautifully modeled by my husband. Recipes vary (some use corn because the rice can get humid), but be sure to use %100 wool or cashmere (natural fire retardants) and don't microwave for more than one minute at a time.

• 2 pieces of 100% wool or cashmere scraps, sewn together, leaving a small opening to fill


• a mixture of 1/3 cup of rice, the contents of 2 peppermint tea bags, 1 tsp salt

Actually most smelly teas will work fine, I just like peppermint. Pour mixture into the wool/cashmere pouch, sew the pouch shut, and you are ready to microwave.

Igel the Pincushion

Not terribly original, but still makes a great gift- to yourself! This little guy, who is made of felt, has proven very handy indeed- and he took no time to make. Click the image to enlarge/ save. This is just my take on a hedgehog pincushion, google the term, and a few can be found on the web. One thing I forgot to add was, before you close him shut with your running stitch, you will have to stuff him a little with some fiber fill/ stuffing.

The snow and cold are now here to stay

You'd think with all this free time I would be blogging like crazy. The reality is I've been rather depressed. No work = no identity. No worries, things are turning around slowly, we have meetings with people and potential clients. And carefully we are wading through business plans and lawyers. Slowly but surely.

Slowly but surely the brother in law is getting better- the recent tracheotomy has seem to have done wonders, maybe with a bit of luck he'll be out of the hospital by Xmas. Fingers crossed.

A special thanks to Heather of dollarstorecrafts.com for posting my feather tree. Also a thank you to Irene who posted some comments here, reminding me to keep my chin up (and that every where people are feeling the recession).

Best Regards.

Fliegenpilz

Part of my reuse what I have, and not spend any more money, getting ready for Xmas decor. The sizes are approximate since I never used a pattern. These remind my husband of something from a Mario game- I will make him green and orange one next ;)

Click on the image to enlarge the tutorial (or save to your computer and reopen if the text is hard to read). Takes about one hour each if sewing by hand. You will need:

• red felt
• enough canvas (or any light coloured material)
• scissors
• thread
• beads
• stuffing/fiber fill
  
  

Feather Tree

I love feather trees but not the prices. Shopping in the dollar store, I came across this fuzzy yarn and got excited- I love it when a plan comes together. For this craft you will need:

• one spool 14GA wire


• 1 ball of "furry" yarn


• small wire pliers with wire cutters


• tall can around 5 1/2"


• enough rice to fill the can


• scissors


• optional is one spool ribbon and glue gun


• 2hrs

click on the images to enlarge for tutorial

Things can only get better from here

It's been a bad month- my husband and I were both laid off from work, and my husband's brother was flown into the city in critical condition the last day of work. Good news is that the brother in law is slowly getting better (he's on and off oxygen and antibiotics). Work wise, me and the hubby are joining forces with the other work orphans to start our own company! What is a girl to do going from 13 to zero hours of work a day? Well how about bake 2 pumpkin pies made from the same pumpkin that she grabbed from the kitchen counter at work, as she was heading out the door (even better was that I got to share it with the other ex-employees at our first company meeting!) - it's true what they say- it's best served cold!