Christmas Past

I thought I would start off the Christmas season with photos of past creations. Some are still here and come out of the critter room to help with decorations. Some have traveled to other locations and are hopefully happily on display. The first are Merry and Chris Meese. They are from the 2007 Christmas season and still reside here. Rudy the Reindog brings goodies to all good little doggies. He was also from 2007 and now resides in New Mexico.

Bubba is having a little trouble decorating the tree. He keeps trying though, right here with me.

Peppermint Patti is one of my favorites. She was creating in 2008 and now lives in California.

The Carolers were in a feature in Teddy Bear and Friends magazine in 2008.

Christy is asking "Has Santa come yet?". Created in 2008, she is still waiting at my home. Noelle, created in 2009, is ready for shopping. She is in Connecticut, where the shopping is good. Then there is Randy, Rudolph's cousin, made for a Teddy Talk ornament swap. He is staying cool in Canada.

Then last year it was Chilly and Willy riding their toboggan. They are now playing in Pennsylvania.

The only Christmas creation for this year is the Fairy Gift Bear. I posted about her back in September but I will post a photo again next time.

Being frugal

I remember a time when I would decide I needed something and just run out and purchase it. These days I think at least twice before trying to buy it. I have worn a wristwatch since I was a little girl. I don't need a fancy one but, these days, one with big enough numbers that I can read the time without my glasses. Last week my watchband wore out. It was a cheap one that came with the watch. Since I just purchased a two pack of batteries for my watch I didn't want to buy another inexpensive watch. Well the watchbands at Walmart were more than twice as much as the cost of my watch! Not much of a selection either.
My best ideas always seem to come at night just before I fall to sleep. So, night before last, it came to me....why don't I just make myself a watchband. In my stash of ultrasuede there is a nice big piece of black I had purchased as a remnent. A nice 1 1/2 inch wide strip was all I needed. Fold the long edges in, stitch along each folded edge, and sew on 2 snaps. I love it! It actually looks better than any I could have purchased.
I suppose I'm not the only one trying to make do, or make new, with what we already have. Maybe something good has come of hard economic times.

Lil Ellies

Although our business had us on the road several times this week I did manage to get some sewing done. The house still needs vacuuming very badly. Bill works in his garden everyday so between him and the dogs I have almost as much sand as the beach.
These little elephants didn't all get done this week but after dying some fur the last one was completed and little flowers sewn by their ears. The "herd" is made from 4 different lengths of mohair. Two of fur that has been hand dyed. They all have glass google eyes but 2 have 11mm eyes and 2 have 10mm. Each measures 5 1/2 inches tall except the dusty pink one in the front. She only measure 5 inches and I'm not sure why. I was thinking of saving them for the Tampa show in February but I might list a couple on etsy and see what happens. I'll have time to make more before February...right?

Mad Scientist

That's what I feel like when experimenting with dying. After purchasing a bottle of liquid Rit in a new color "Violet" from Hobby Lobby a couple of weeks ago, I wanted to see what shades I got from several different furs and also strength of the dye. A couple of small scraps in a weak dye bath(about 10 drops in about a quart of water) for 2 minutes, achieved a kind of light rose pink. Then a tablespoon of dye was added to the bath. It looks like a bright fuschia to me. I like the color of the Golden Tan with a dark bath after dying - both with the weak and the strong dye bath. Maybe a little ellie? Hmmm....maybe next ....something in between.

More fur dying

Since there were only 2 small pieces left of 2 different lengths of cream colored fur(one is 1/2 inch and the other is 5/8 inch)



I used one piece for the arms, legs, and ears and the other for the body and head. Using one packet of Berry Blue Kool Aid I got this really nice turquoise color.

The result is Thea. Just 9 inches tall, she has ultrasuede paws and a cute print dress.