Halloween 1977

In 1977, Star Wars changed everything. It feels ironic that 32 years after my brothers and I dressed as the Star Wars trio you see above, my own sons are poised to be Anakin Skywaker and Jango Fett this Halloween.

My brothers made their costumes themselves. Back then, most people did. Or at least we always did. Middle brother (14) made his own paper maché Darth Vader mask and a chest plate with electronic parts and switches. Oldest brother (16) made his R2D2 costume out of a cardboard drum and weather balloon, also paper machéd. He had a little tinted panel to see out and rigged a light that he could light up by pushing a button from the inside! Very high-tech. And then there's me (12), Princess Leia in a sheet and a tin foil belt. I had a brown wig that my mom twisted up into the iconic cinnabon hair-do. :)

Every year we impress upon our boys how important it is to make your Halloween costume. We allow them $15 a piece for materials or any accessories they might need to complete their looks. Um...that may have back-fired a little this year! Their costumes are pretty complicated and took a LOT of time to make. In fact, I think my husband started the Jango Fett costume in July!

I will try to update this post later when I get a photo of them together. In the meantime, watch their favorite video if you like Star Wars and John Willians music!

Have a great Halloween and may the force be with you!

Post Halloween Update: The Star Wars saga continues...

...with a blurry lightsaber action shot!

sneezin's greetings

I'd like you to meet a few friends of mine...

Hiya!
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Oh, Hello!
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Mind if we join you?
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The gang's all here!
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Last spring I was hired to design this lively group of Kleenex boxes for the Kimberly-Clark Corporation. You might remember that I did a box for them last year. This group is being sold exclusively at Target! (Oh, like I need another reason to go to Target! I have to go stalk my Kleenex boxes now! lol!)

With their style direction, I drew and cut and stitched and appliqued these pieces in felt. They photographed my finished artwork and had it reproduced on the cartons. It was a lot of work on a short short deadline, but I loved doing it! This is the kind of project I never turn down. In fact, I'd love to illustrate a kids book someday with felt applique. It's been on my *someday* to do list!

I love the new wedge shaped packaging, don't you? So fun to arrange. And how do they get all that Kleenex in there?

I don't know the official in-store date on these. (This set came straight from the company) But if I know Target, they'll have their Christmas stuff out in full force November 1st! :) Please alert me of any sightings!

You Asked For It!

Due to your requests, I’ve decided to squeeze in an encore session of my Felt and Stitch Holiday Workshop!

Announcing my Online Workshop: Felt + Stitch Holiday II
November 9 - December 4

Join me for a second session* of my first-ever online workshop! No matter where you live we can gather together online to make wonderful felted wool projects for your holiday décor and gift giving. I’ll be teaching and working with you along the way through a combination of blog posts, downloadable PDF’s, and videos posted weekly, where participants can communicate with each other and with me. Projects will include ornaments, home décor and small gifts, designed especially for this workshop and are not available in my books or anywhere else!

just a peek of a few projects: top right and bottom left made by workshop participants!

Felt & Stitch Holiday II is jam-packed with ideas, techniques and projects you can start making right away. Inspired my book, Warm Fuzzies, this workshop will focus on small projects made with felted wool sweaters and/or craft felt. You will learn the basics of working with felt, a variety of applique and embellishment techniques, experiment with needle felting methods and more. Each week I will post wonderful holiday projects for you to make applying these techniques. I will share with you tricks of the trade. Even if you have never worked with felted wool before, you'll complete this workshop feeling like a pro! You might also feel a bit like Santa with all of the gifts and décor you’ll create.

The 4-week workshop begins November 9 and runs through December 4. The cost of the workshop is $40. Once registered, participants will receive a password (via email) granting access to a special blog page created just for the workshop. Each Monday I will demonstrate a technique. On Wednesdays I will post a project for you to make using that technique. In addition to the workshop blog, there will be a private Flickr group where you can share your photos each week, ask questions and take part in discussions. Feel free to take the course at your own pace on your own time! All workshop content will be available to participants through January 15th.

Registration opens today! Visit my shop for more details and to sign up now!
*Please note, this is a repeat of my first Felt & Stitch Holiday Workshop that ran in October*

I'm really excited to be able to offer this to those of you that missed out the first time. (The first session gathered participants from 11 different countries! How cool is that?) If you have questions you'll most likely find the answers in the workshop listing info. If you think of something else, please feel free to ask!

***Now sold out, thank you!***

me and the boys

Lately I've been feeling very sentimental about my boys. They are biggering and bettering every day. While I am loving each and every stage of their lives, I find myself replaying my baby and toddler memories of them. Oh those days! They were so challenging yet so so sweet. Which isn't to say that these school-age days aren't challenging and sweet...just in a different way.

Like most moms, I tend to focus on the kids more than I do myself. But one thing I've always wanted since I became a mom, was to have some kind of mommy necklace. I've never quite found any that suited me. Until now.

That's why I was thrilled when jewelry designer Lisa of Lisa Leonard Designs contacted me. We arranged a trade and now I have the perfect mom necklace, customized just for me.

Lisa's handmade jewelry is unique and perfect for everyday. Each piece is hand-cut, hammered, antiqued and polished sterling silver. The design I chose is called Open Circle. It has a nice weight to it without being too bold. I've been wearing it nearly every day and I am so happy with it! You can see more of Lisa's design at Lisa Leonard Designs.

It's not easy being a mom, but I can't imagine my life any other way. Best. Job. Ever.

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Oh, and I just wanted to add a little bloggy shout out to Amy at Progressive Pioneer. She's interviewed me this week as a part of her "Mama Views" series. Thanks, Amy!

Indian Summer

Autumn. The sky shifts, the air becomes crisp, the leaves burst with color. Familiar landscapes are cast in new light. Everything feels refreshed.

Inspired by the season, I've recast the colors of my organic print line in a rich palette of Indian Summer. Brilliant Goldenrod, Bittersweet, Orchid and Moss are grounded by Mulberry, Peacock and Chocolate Brown.

I've printed my line on a new base fabric that I know you're going to love: 100% Organic Cotton Sateen. It's got a smooth hand, a lovely drape and a luxurious sheen to it! It's 4.5 oz and is ideal for apparel, home decor, craft projects and personal accessories. The line is available now in my shop!

The deets: All of my original fabric designs are professionally printed in the US using digital printing. The process utilizes water-based, non-toxic pigment dyes and minimizes waste and water consumption. Heat and pressure are used to finish the fabric instead of harsh chemicals. In addition, I have my fabrics printed on demand in an effort to eliminate fabric waste.

Seen here: Peacock Sprig, Indian Summer Floral and Stripe

The flowers really pop off of this chocolate brown background! I'm planning to make a skirt...

Sweet Mulberry Sprig, I see a blouse out of this. (also available in Peacock)

Deep Bright Stripes...so lively and mixable.

Oh, and Wood Pile revisited! Did you see the scarf made with it?

I'm thrilled with the new color range and this gorgeous sateen! Please visit my shop for more details. I've also got new designs in the pipeline, but I was too excited to hold onto these any longer. I will release the new prints as they come!

*yum*

Spot-on Reversible Scarf

Fall has arrived and I have just the scarf for cool autumn weather: the Spot-on Reversible Scarf. It's got yummy repurposed cashmere with reverse applique on one side. The other: Luxurious organic cotton sateen...in one of my new print colorations for fall!

You can find the instructions for making this scarf in the Fall 2009 issue of Stitch Magazine, on newsstands now. This is a great issue, packed with sewing projects featuring sheer fabrics, Japanaese crafts, accessories and my favorite, delicious wool.

It's such a kick to have a project featured in a magazine, but this time it's extra special for me. It's the first time one of my organic fabrics has made it into a magazine! This print, along with others, will be available in my shop later this week! Stay tuned for the full reveal...

Yay! and Boo!

Thanks to all who entered the give-away for a spot in my online workshop. Let's hear a big YAY! for Christine who was randomly chosen as the lucky winner! I will be emailing her details asap as the workshop begins Monday October 12th.

Now let's hear a big BOO! for the rest of us...a nice Halloween *BOO* that is. I've had this pumpkin idea in my head for a bit and finally had a moment to whip one together. It's time for Halloween decor, Stat!

Do you remember Hoopie the Snowman that I made last year? Well Jack the Hoop-o-lantern is the new guy in town! He's made from a scrap of felted wool sweater placed in an embroidery hoop that I spray painted black. Then I pinned yellow felt to the back and reverse appliqued the features with black embroidery floss using a backstitch. After stitching, I cut away the orange to expose the yellow. The stem is a rolled piece of felted sweater ribbing, fringed, and glued on top of the hoop where the screw was. (see last year's snowman post for more details)


Wouldn't a whole row of these look adorable? That's my intention...to use different size and shaped hoops with a variety of "carved" faces. For now, though, he'll have to hang amongst the florals on my studio wall. He's a easy going guy, I don't think he'll mind.


Want more embroidery hoop ideas? My pal Maya recently posted her beautiful hoop dreams. She thought her doilies looked sweet and nostalgic. I thought they'd look great with a big black spider lurking on one of them. But that's just me. :)

Hope you have a chance to make a few of these this weekend. Oh boy next week is going to be a doozy. My online workshop begins Monday. (If you're a participant, look for your log-in email later today!) Also next week: my new organic fabrics for fall!

Give-away: Felt & Stitch Holiday Workshop

As promised, this week I am giving away one free spot in my online workshop! (Please check my earlier post about the workshop details) I've had such an overwhelming response that I needed to close registration to keep it manageable. In appreciation of your enthusiasm, I thought the least I could do was to offer a give-away, yay!

To answer one of your questions: Yes, I will do more workshops in the future. Please sign up for my email newsletter in the little white box on my website homepage to stay informed. (I promise to send out the newsletter well in advance of registration!)

To enter the Give-away:
1) Comment on this post

2) Tell me what you'd be looking for in an upcoming online workshop. I want your ideas! More recycled felting? Easter projects for next spring? Repurposing projects? Needle felting? One specific type of project? Do tell...

3) Be sure to leave your email address or make sure your comment links back to your blog, etc. If you win I need to be able to contact you!

4) Give-away will close midnight EST October 8, 2009. One winner will be randomly selected and announced here on the blog Friday, October 9th.

Good luck!

**Contest and comments now closed, thank you!**

Happy Friday, Happy October!

Quickly I want to mention that my workshop is now SOLD OUT! Wow, I am touched an honored by your response. Seriously, you guys, you knocked my socks clean off into the laundry hamper. If you signed up, thank you! If you missed out, stayed tuned...I will be giving away one free spot in the workshop next week!

OK, I have to tell you about this new knitting book! My sweet friend Susan B Anderson has done it again. (do you remember her booties?) Itty Bitty Toys is her 3rd book and I was lucky enough to get an advance copy. It's release date is not until November, but she is having a give-away right now! She's giving away 3 copies and the deadline is Oct 5th, so visit her blog for details!

Ok, on to the book...I fell in love when I opened it to this page. Susan is that master of kid knitting, I tell ya. Look at these Christmas characters. Oh, I am having a cute-fest over here. Roly poly Santa!

All of the Itty Bitty books have a hard cover with a spiral binding so they open up flat. The babies are adorable and photography is top notch. These knit nesting boxes look like a great project for beginning knitters.

Susan is one inventive knitter. Itty Bitty Toys has 5 different reversible toys! This one is Cat to Mouse and it couldn't be more fun. There's also a nice boyish Bear to Elephant. I love the novelty of 2 toys in one.

Who wouldn't love a bowl full of felty bouncy balls? I can't wait to make some of these. They'll have to sit in my knitting queue for just a bit, though. I'm about a third of the way finished with my new Shalom Cardi. If I could just sit still long enough to knit! :)

Have a great weekend!