Thank you.

Winka, Anika, Rane.

Spools dolls a la silver, buns and pigtails.

eureka.

bvI have not been able to stop making these apples. I kept adjusting the pattern for a curvier, tapered body but I think I've finally come up with the perfect shape. This green apple has the narrower bottom I'm looking for.


More importantly, I have more exciting news. Tonight, as I was getting ready to secure the leaf and stem to this gorgeous fruit, I saw something else. A pear!!! Yup, a pear and the pear below is actually the apple, upside down, sans puckers! It's a simpler task since it won't require the tricky thread tugging necessary for an apple's puckers. With a pear, attaching stem and leaf finishes the job. One pattern for 2 different fruits - that is brilliant! (There's a very impressive lady who sells these patterns in a kit and I bet she offers a single pattern for both fruits.) Hmmm....


I certainly look forward to making lots of pears this weekend, but for now I desperately need to do some snoring ^_-. I do hope these tutorial and tips have been encouraging. Perhaps you too will discover something new - happy crafting!

apple pincushion tutorial.

I have been wanting to make my very own brightly colored fruity pincushions for some time but haven't because I didn't have a pattern. Although there are certainly enough patterns online and in stores available for these, I prefer developing my own patterns so I don't have to worry about being bound to certain limitations. It's far more rewarding and comforting knowing I'm working with templates of my own. In the end, I control the fates of my creations - keep, gift and yes even sell them.

The pictorial tutorial shows a quick way of creating your own pattern. You can also apply this method to other bulbous articles; yes, a pear, an egg (use a styrofoam/cardboard egg please and perhaps 4 parts, instead of 6, is best), a tomato. Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll find this exercise quite encouraging and liberating. Have fun!!!

Add an additional 1/8" seam allowance to your fabrics when cutting. For the stem, cut 2 pieces of felt in 2 colors, 1" x 1.5", with the inner felt just slightly narrower and roll them, stitch closed. The leaf also uses 2 shades of felt, the underside being darker. Sew leaf to one end of rolled stem. Secure stem and leaf with fabric glue to apple; also attach a button on apple's bottom with fabric glue. With perle cotton and doll making needle, (or the longest needle you have) go through stem, apple and button at least 3 times. Pull taut to create puckers and knot.

Couple.

Crayola.

Hawk and Dove.

Hawk - the Owl Rooster.

Winged.

Reidun, Winka, Nissa.

Sealed with a kiss - mwah!

plus 1.

Started the sealing process today. Applied wipe-on polyurethane instead. It's nearly impossible to avoid dust, lint, tiny hairs but ignoring these only ruins good work. Back to sanding...

Girls.

It's truly best to wait a few days for the paint to cure as most of the brush streaks flatten with time. It also helps to sand each doll entirely with a clean brown paper bag. As far as the sealer, I'm still doing tests to find the best way to apply varnish.

something old, something new, something borrowed...

Needs adjustments - a bit grainy with spray varnish.

Help the needy by adopting an owl companion today.

Beatrice, Charlotte and Viviane. These ladies recently lost their jobs and had to give up their cozy nests. They're eager to find new homes with you and are more than willing to work. They're quite desperate really; they'll even bear pins and needles on their backs. They only ask that you once in a while share your afternoon tea with them. By the way, their madeleine cookies with lavender are delicious with any tea!

mod owls.

Help the needy by adopting a pet owl today!