12.28.11

Here are some of my Christmas goodies. A kit to make make my own ornaments. Anyone who knows me, knows this is something I really enjoy. I especially like beads and snowflakes.  What could be better than to have them both at once--AND I get to MAKE them!

You are not going to believe this, but this little felt bird has a hidden tape measure! There is a little leaf at his behind. If you pull it, you can measure things! 

I happen to love purple. I have since the 1970s. But not just any purple, this specific grapey lavender. I was pretty excited to open this hand knit neck gaiter made by Mom. There is a lovely green one, too, but you will have to wait to see that.

Someone made me a pincushion! It came with the cutest little pins. I especially like the pink/coral petals on this flowery pinwheel. One of my quilty friends made it and I love it.

12.27.11

What a wonderful holiday we had here in the mountains. Last year we were snowed in and had not heat or electric for Christmas Day. This year it was a little drippy but not much below 45F. We spent a quiet day in front of the fire place, missing absent family members and enjoying the dog with her presents. This year, for the first time in a long time, we had stockings to open. I even had one and I have not had one since my own parents stopped the tradition. Mine was made by a new friend in Canada whom I met through the stocking exchange. It was filled with exciting little surprises and sweet treats.

Canadian Maria made me a wonderful primitive/whimsical Stocking out of a a pretty brown wool tweed.

She hand appliqued a Santa and made a cute cotton fringe for the top.
 

And, look! He not only IS a stocking, he CARRIES one, too!

That sure is a lot of hand stitching. Don't you love those candy canes?

There were lots of goodies inside but you will not see any pictures of the sweet treats, they are gone!  She also made a cute Santa ornament for the tree--one inch squares and HSTs! (half-square triangles) I wish you could see the real thing. The face and beard are all different white on white and cream on white fabrics and the tan in the hat band has little tiny gold stars. I will probably not put this away with the Christmas things but keep it up here in my studio.

More tomorrow and maybe an update about our flying squirrels. The wildlife eradication team is scheduled for today. I promise not to photograph anything you would not want to see.

12.25.11

CHRISTMAS 2011 STOCKING, part 9

 

Here she is with hair and make-up. I hand quilted and beaded her hair. She still looks wise and content.

Finished but not filled.

 

  

 

 

12.24.11

 CHRISTMAS 2011 STOCKING, part 8

Here are some pictures of Canadian Maria's stocking. I sure hope it got there by today. I had so much fun constructing it.

I assemble the tree separately and carry it around beading it for a couple of days.

Then I put it on the stocking fabric, sew the stocking and turn it, then fill in with beads the parts I left unbeaded near the seams.

After that, I re-interview fabrics. I had pulled a pile to consider but it is important to get an idea of scale as well as contrast.  For instance, I didn't want the hair color to overwhelm the skin or have the boots the first thing you noticed.  

 I choose a duo of pretty coral/red coordinates. For wings and star, I find a white that is spattered with silver. You can't really see that silver, can you?

I trace the parts on the wrong sides of the fabrics, stitch, turn and stuff. I sure love my hemostats.  I rely on them for turning and also for stuffing. I have several pair and I would be lost without them.

Remember the pattern I am using? Julie McCullough's ANGEL HAIR design. If you click the link you will see her version of it. In my earlier posts, I explained my modifications. PART ONE, PART TWO, PART THREE, PART FOUR, PART FIVE, PART SIX,  AND PART SEVEN.

Now you see the face turned, stuffed, and sculpted. She looks wise, doesn't she? If you have artistic experience, you know at a certain point in the creation, it starts to take on its own life and guides your hand. Decisions are made by you but the piece itself has the final word on the outcome. I found that to be true with basketry, doll making, bear making, quilting, spinning, knitting (unfortunately), and jewelry making. I tried pottery briefly but I fought the clay so much we never really got along. Anyway, she needs some make-up at this point but I wait a day or two until we are both ready.

The wings are fun. Instead of modifying the pattern and making voluptuous wings as I had intended, I went with the ones from the pattern. I enjoyed beading on the little star-shaped sequins and I was able to stay in the silver theme. I have a few multicolored star sequins and they looked wonderful on the fabric but the silver is more subtle and does not overpower.

You can not possibly imagine the trouble I had drafting the right sized star. That is all I will say about that.

11.27.11

CHRISTMAS  2011  STOCKING, part 7

I like it. It seems a little large. It will only be showing half at a time but it still needs something.

 

BEADS!!!!!

11.26.11

CHRISTMAS  2011 STOCKING, part 6

 I sketched the left half of the tree, then placed the templates on the fold of the packing scrap paper and cut out the full tree. Then I traced them onto freezer paper, ironed them to the wrong side of tree fabric, doubled. Now to stitch, clip, turn,  and press.

11.25.11

CHRISTMAS  2011  STOCKING, part 5

 

How to quilt? I pin my fabric to the batting. I decide to quilt the top to the batting with nothing behind. I try it out. It works fine. I will choose a lining later and put it in last. I am a novice at machine quilting. Should I try random circles?

Interesting effect but it does not really become a background. You can see the plaid really is not plaid. Maybe straight lines will will disappear yet bring a little dimension to the stocking.

Not bad. I will try just vertical lines and look at the effect before I cross-hatch them.

11.24.11

CHRISTMAS  2011  STOCKING, part 4

In my mind, I picture my angel in the dark blue of the night. I go to my Christmas fabrics and pull a very nice blue. Then I stack some greens on it to get the effect.

The poinsettia print on the blue will be lost. The blue kills the greens. Pull more fabric from the drawer.

Red with a funny almost plaid in silver. Very festive. It loves the greens! It will not dominate because the angel will cover most of it.

11.23.11

CHRISTMAS  2011  STOCKING, part 3 

Sketching again. I need to give the doll a shape that will fit the task better. In the Julie McCullough pattern, Angel Hair, the doll is in a straight diagonal line. In fact, the front of the gown is placed on the fold. The doll for my stocking needs to reach up. Julie's original has her arms genteelly carrying a basket.                                                                      

This is a step in the right direction. If I do not mind a seam or dart in the bodice, I can increase the gown and give it a little bend. I can reposition the arms.

Just what I want!

11.22.11

CHRISTMAS  2011  STOCKING, part 2

First, I found  a pattern in my pattern library that was simple enough to suit the project. I needed a figure about 13 inches tall and that would look good in profile. This pattern by Julie McCullough would be great.  Oops. Can you read the size of the doll just below the pattern name? It is a 23" doll. 

I took out the pattern and went to the computer. I am so proud of myself, I scanned it, took the auto-page fill default off, and asked it to please print it at 85% of the original size.  I have no math that told me that was the size I needed, it just "felt"right.                               

It took 4 scans and then I layered the papers so I could get whole pieces. Then I transferred them to template material. Next, I need to audition fabric.

11.21.11

CHRISTMAS  2011  STOCKING, part 1

It is time for Christmas Stockings.

I drew a shape on some brown paper that apparently comes in rolls perforated like paper towels.  It is used to wad up and protect items in shipping.  I rescued mine from the household recycling box. I have tons of it.  I drew several stocking shapes and then I began planning some things to put on them. I have an idea on hold that just will not make it this time because I am captivated by the idea of an angel putting a star on top of a Christmas tree.