Happy Monster Appreciation Day!

What do you mean it's not Monster Appreciation Day?  OK, OK: I confess, I made that one up.  But if there were such a thing as Monster Appreciation Day (M.A.D. - tee hee!), I think this little guy would make it a happy one!

I still have a bit of tweaking to do on the pattern, but I am really beginning to like him!  The main fabrics are from a line called "Power Pop" (thank you, Julie, for selling such great fabric!), and the stripey fabric was cut from an old stretchy t-shirt!  I decided to go with flappy arms instead of the button joints on this one.

I typically reserve my button joints for stuffed creatures that are not going to kids, like the Patchwork Horse.  On this one I am going to wait and see how Robo-Frills holds up to rough handling by my Spunky (who is ALL BOY - definitely NOT gentle with his toys), then I'll feel more comfortable with doing button joints on more toys.

Have a super happy Monster Appreciation Day, everyone!  If you'll excuse me, I have to go and appreciate the little monsters in my life!
:) Caren

Excellence in the Details

"Can we be friends?"

I'm drafting a pattern right now for a soft toy.  I am relatively new to making stuffed creatures, so every attempt at toymaking is a learning experience.  Right now I am finishing up my second prototype (the blue one).  This one actually has appendages (my first draft, the green one, didn't get that far).

I thought I'd share some of the things I have learned while doing this particular pattern.

Yep, I always spell gusset wrong.  Every time.

The first thing I learned is about all of those "rules" and "advice" about things like needle size, where to set your tension, what kind of thread to use, only using fabric scissors for fabric, etc.  I'm thinking that those rules were made by a general consensus of expert ladies from generations to generations - they figured out what works and what doesn't.  In my mind, they've been elevated to the status of grandmothers and great-grands who want us to learn "the right way" - not so that we could be like them, but so that we could sew with excellence.  I really like that.

Another thing - if you want to sew with excellence, your finished product should start with excellent materials.  My prototypes are junk.  There, I said it.  I know, they might be cute, and my kids certainly don't mind, but if you're stuffing a toy and you use cheap fabric, it will eventually (or immediately) show.  Do not use that thrift store thread for your toy, either.  I am all for using what you have, but cotton thread for the seams of a stuffed toy is a mistake (especially if it is a gazillion years old).  Polyester holds up much better.  So - if you want a toy to last, use the good stuff!!!

I'm the kind of person that likes to figure stuff out as I go.  I am intrigued with the details of construction.  Not of buildings and bridges, but of creatures from my imagination.  I love starting with an idea, figuring out how to construct it, selecting materials, and finally bringing it to life!

Then I learned that if my sewing space is a disaster (as it is at the moment), and it is nearing midnight, I should go to bed instead of trying to find my 3-inch doll needles.  Trust me, I'll be remembering that one!  (I work in a corner of my living room - having a dedicated studio is increasingly more appealing to me!!!)

The last thing I will share with you is: no matter what you call it (and I'm not sure what type of animal this one is, I just started out with "sea monster" in mind), its owner has the rights to rename it.  This little guy was originally named Hank (for lack of a better name).  But as soon as Spunky saw him, he called him "ROBO-FRILLS!!!".  He loves the button jointed arm-thingies; apparently they make him "more like a robot!!!"

Have a wonderful weekend, friends.
:) Caren

No Sleep for the Creative Mind

I am in a creative whirlwind.  The kind where I even think in my sleep (when I actually can sleep, that is).

Right now I am thinking non-stop about future potential projects.  Mind you, there is not much production going on, but I've got pages and pages of sketches in my sketch book.  I'd show you but I really stink at drawing.

I'm thinking of animal trends at the moment.  

Since when did owls get so popular? 

 And hedgehogs?

I've got an idea: how about if I start the next trend in animal loves?!!!  But what shall it be?  

The aardvark?  They are adorable, and think of how you could play up their features!

Or what about the sloth?  Sloths are kinda cute - if you don't look too hard.  Plus, if they're not real, you wouldn't have to smell them.

I could do some amazing things with sea slugs, though.  Hmmm.... 

Well, I might not be a trend-setter, but I am a creative person with a knack for constructing some really happy soft toys!  So for now, here's a sneak peek of a little creation I'm working on at the moment.  Any guesses as to what it might be? 

:) Caren

Miss Badger

Meet Miss Badger.  This little friend was made from a thrift store wool sweater that I washed in hot water to "felt" it.  I could not share this project with you all before now because she was a Christmas gift for my sister in law, whose maiden name is Badger (she was a teacher, hence "Miss Badger").

Miss Badger and Foxy were great friends.  (I introduced Foxy in this post).  They were both made using patterns from the book Countryside Softies, which I highly recommend to anyone interested in using felted wool for soft toys.

Look at this tail!  I love the button joint!

I love all the little stitching details.  The body was machine stitched, but everything else was done by hand.  I was going to add a little bow, but I kinda like her just as she is!

Now that Christmas is over, I am looking forward to the new year.  I look back at this year and am so surprised by all of the creations that have emerged from my hands.  To you, dear readers, I offer my wishes for a wonderfully creative, and peace-filled 2012.
Blessings,
:) Caren

Foxy!

I went on a Womens' Retreat this weekend.  I brought along some "stuff" to keep my hands busy (while I wasn't playing (piano), singing, eating, walking, or talking).

Countryside Softies

One of the things I brought was this great book I had just borrowed from the Library.  I tell you, the creatures in this book are so adorable I actually had looked at the thrift store for wool sweaters I could use.

Something so unique about using wool.

 I like the placement of all the buttons.

And I love all of the bits of hand-sewn goodness!

 The one thing I did change from the original design is the nose.  The instructions called for wrinkles (lines of hand-stitching along the snout).  I chose to omit them and add these quirky floss "whiskers" instead.

I like 'em!

Now that I have gone through the process, I feel a surge of little wool creatures coming soon!  

I already have patterns drafted for a raccoon, a puffin, an aardvark, and a three-toed sloth - these poor creatures are rarely in the limelight - I think it's about time for them to be seen!  Will they be made in time for Christmas?  Who knows.  But I love that making one little thing from someone else's design teaches me new things I can incorporate into my own!

Blessings and Button Joints (& a Patchwork Horse)

I received a great deal of gorgeous fabrics from my bloggy friend Brooke (Silly Mama Quilts) a few weeks ago and some of it was already pieced together.  I know Brooke makes some top knotch quilted items (mug rugs, table runners, quilts, etc.), but I decided to go altogether different with this material.  This Patchwork Horse seemed just the thing!

 

If you haven't been following my blog, I'll catch you up: I like making soft toys!  I ran across this Patchwork Horse pattern in a book entitled "More Softies Only a Mother Could Love", and knew it was time to try my hand at this thing called button jointing.

(Please excuse my off-kilter photography - my point and shoot skills are pretty basic.)  The buttons on this horse are not just for show.  I threaded my 3-inch doll needle with some extra strong thread and sewed them completely through the body, to the opposite leg.  When it's all said and done, the legs can move around!

See?!!

If you can't tell from the photos, the fabrics are all Christmas-y (Basic Grey's Fruitcake, Figgy Pudding, etc.).  The legs, mane and tail are all from a vintage pillowcase.

Look at that MANE!!!  It's spectacular.  I really like the raggedy, raw edges.  And the ears - I chose one red and one green.  Don't think anyone will notice, but since it's a Christmas horse I thought it fitting (maybe I should have made reindeer instead?!!!)

Patchwork Horse (pattern by Abby Glassenberg - http://www.whileshenaps.typepad.com)

I am really excited about button jointing now.  It won't happen with all of my soft toys, but I love having a new "tool" in my toolbox.  So thanks, Abby, for the instruction, and thanks, Brooke, for sending me such a wonderful assortment of fabrics, and for quilting with quality (I'd have been really bummed if the stitches didn't hold up to my stuffing - I really pack it in there!)