Turning this fabric into one of these.  (So luscious that I may have to make one for myself, too.)

I had planned to make Ella one of these dolls for her gift this year, but when I lost more than a week of crafting time due to illness, I let go of that goal.  It will be a birthday gift instead.  While we were  sick, Ella wanted me to sew something for her, and playing with some fabric seemed like something I could muster a bit of strength for.  She chose this bunny vintage fabric, a pink knit, and the flower print on the pocket (a fat quarter from my birthday -thank you Mom!), and we cut out fabric for a smock.  She desperately needed a full-coverage apron for the bakery (she likes to make “cupcakes” using a lot of baking soda, spices, and soy sauce.  Yum.), and all I have left is to sew some bias tape around the neck, plus buttons and buttonholes.  I’m using a pattern from one of the staff at the fabulous Textile Company in Greenfield, MA (also where I got the bunny fabric).

Using some felted sweaters from the thrift store, I’ve made some hot pads as simple but useful gifts.  Three layers of felt, stitched around the edge with a design in the center (which is so much fun!)  I’m going to try doing a blanket stitch around the edge to finish it a bit more nicely.  I know already that some presents won’t be finished, but I’m okay with that, and I hope the receivers will be, too.

Some of my favorite works in progress this week are these two: we planted our solstice bulbs again, and I’m hanging up some gratitude stars above our nature table, to mark the passing days and remind myself of the magic and our many blessings.

Best to you and all your works today.

This past week, when Ella wasn’t deep in some sort of developmental craziness, we talked about sheep and wool.  We made some felted rocks for our nephews’ first birthdays, and we did this sheep, which I’m totally in love with.  I just drew an outline on paper, gave her some fleece and glue, and she did the rest.

Sometimes, it seems that everyone in blogland has the same idea at the same time.  I’ve seen several posts about books lately, and I had been thinking of one for weeks myself.  So here we go!

Some for littles:

(Quick note – I am very picky about books for Ella at this age.  So many picture books are actually written for the adults, not the children, and are either too scary, or model totally inappropriate behavior.  Sarah just talked about this, too.)

Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep by Teri Sloat  (seriously, can you see the naked sheep tushie in this photo?  This book is hilarious and sweet.)

When the Sun Rose and Grandfather Twilight by Barbara Berger

The Apple Pip Princess by Jane Ray (love, love, love this story – an ordinary princess restores the gardens of her kingdom!)

Mouse Cleaning by Rose-Marie Provencher

Red Berry Wool by Robyn Eversole

Digby and Kate by Barbara Baker (yes, this is an “easy read” book, but no, I’m not teaching Ella to read with it, it’s just a very sweet simple set of stories)

And some for the big people:

Sink Reflections by Martha Cilley (yes, the Flylady - this book is amazing!!)

The Naturally Clean Home by  Karyn Siegel-Mayer (a really neat book for using essential oils and herbs for cleaning)

Kingdom of Childhood by Rudolf Steiner

Doodlestitching by Aimee Ray

The Petit Appetit Cookbook by Lisa Barnes

Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar

Have a great weekend, everyone.  I’m grateful for my sweet girl, great books, good work together, and good food, as always.  Plus, getting to share it with you.

With the help of my friend Jen and these two cutie pies, I entered the world of felting this week.  I’ve been gathering some wool sweaters at the thrift store with this purpose in mind, and I was finally ready to begin!  We took the sweaters, some dish soap, two sweet toddlers and put them all in a hot bath together.  Ella and Lily definately got a kick out of being in the bath with all the wool, and stomped and splashed away.  Afterwards, I put the sweaters into the dryer (I think I’ll just line-dry them next time, since this was the second time all year I’ve used the dryer and it felt weird, plus I don’t think it was necessary).

When I first heard about felt, I thought it was nuts.  Shrink wool?  On purpose?

Consider me converted.  With $1 sweaters from the thrift store, some of which had holes or stains and weren’t great for wearing anymore (and one of Ben’s which had already accidentally been partially felted -sorry sweetie!), I was able to get over my inherent reaction to “wasting” wool.  The felt is so soft, super warm, and really fun to work with.  One of the best parts is that you don’t have to enclose seams, since there’s no fear of it unraveling.  Woo hoo!  Felting, and then sewing with the felt, is sort of like instant knitting.  Ok, not that I’m going to stop knitting, but it’s fun to get the quickness of sewing and the yumminess of wool.

Since I can’t convince Ella to wear socks in our house, resulting in mighty icy toes, my first project was these slippers, from Betz White’s Sewing Green.  She chose the colors, and this project was super easy and fast.  It was done, start to finish, in under an hour.  Ella has worn them non-stop, and I love their elf-ness.  I want some!

I was thinking about making her some felt mittens, too, since I’m trying to capitalize on her sudden ease in the outdoor winter world, but cold hands and feet have been bringing us inside after half an hour.  Then today, I lost one of her mittens, so it was settled.  To the cutting table (yay for my new big table in my new room!), and these sweet little mittens were born.  I just traced her mitten, with about a 1/2 in seam allowance all around, sewed the outline, flipped them, and sewed on the cuff.  I did the cuff seam on the outside, since I thought a seam right on her wrist might be irritating.  For the cuff, I used some felt that was stretchy, from a ribbed part of the red sweater.

Next up . . . a heart garland, inspired by Kyrie.

Now that I’m addicted, can you recommend any good felting books or projects?