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Raining and Cats and Dogs

April 30, 2012 By Susie 5 Comments

First I’m tired of rain. I know it has a job to do, but it also brings headaches and too much time indoors. However, I have managed to make a couple of things, so maybe being confined inside has an upside.

The tutorial is about a sweater cat but I also made her a little friend because there was so much fabric left over. I seem to be obsessed with these little creatures. The funny thing is, I get an idea in my head and I just have to get it out, and the only way to do it is to make it.

I’m a little late getting this posted. I actually have a good excuse, as we went down to get dinner out and the car battery was dead when we were ready to leave. So, we went and had a coffee while we waited for AAA and by the time we got home it was too late to get started. The truth is, it was fun sitting outside (under cover of course) watching the rain, playing on our IPads, drinking coffee. We don’t do that very often, and it felt very, oh, I don’t know, vacationish or something. But, that’s my excuse.

Anyway, also don’t forget it’s Handmade Monday and you know good and well they have very cool and interesting things to check out, so please go there and see what’s going on. But before you do that, click on the Sweater Cat and Template and see how you can make one of your own. And if you do, send me a photo. I’ll even post it if you give me permission. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a whole page of them? 🙂

Filed Under: Crafts, Handmade Monday Tagged With: buttons, cat, dog, fabric, gift, handmade monday, old clothes, recycle, reuse, sewing, stuffed animal, sweater, sweater animal, toy, upcycle, whiskers

A Horse of a Different Fabric

April 23, 2012 By Susie 13 Comments

Another stuffed critter. I made this little horse for my oldest friend. We met the first day of 7th grade and have been friends since. She always was better at any sort of artistic stuff than I, and in fact I made her this horse because I remembered one she made when we were probably in Junior High School. It also had a yarn tail. I also made it for her because we used to go ride my horse together, so she can look at this silly little creation and it will remind her of all of those wonderful times we had together. 🙂

Anyway, it’s Handmade Monday and I’ve really been remiss (sick is more like it) but I’m back! So, after you check out the little Sweater Pony, go on over to Handmade Monday and see what everyone else is doing. I know they are doing wonderful things!

Filed Under: Crafts, Handmade Monday Tagged With: buttons, craft, easy, fabric, gift, handmade monday, horse, quick, recycle, reuse, sewing, simple, stuffed animal, stuffed toy, sweater, toy, upcycle, yarn

Quick Like a Bunny Rabbit

April 3, 2012 By Susie Leave a Comment

Well, maybe not exactly quick. But I made them in a few hours. If you still want to make something to put into an Easter Basket, or just want to make something for someone special, you can whip one or more of these up. And I don’t think they are just for Easter. Everyone likes bunnies all the time.

I actually made some of these for Easter at least 30 years ago because I have a picture of my youngest as an infant and there is one in the photo. And, here is one that survived all those years, although it’s not one of the Easter Basket Bunnies (those were white). This one was stuffed with Kleenex, of all things. I guess I didn’t have any batting and just wanted to make one that day. I don’t really remember making it. His arms need to be mended but you have to admit, he’s sturdy!

I actually changed things a little bit on the updated version, but the idea is the same. I have no idea where the original pattern/idea came from, and I know there are versions all over the place, so this is not very original. But, it’s good fun, easy to adapt to your own creative notions and you can probably make it with things you have right there in your own house.

So, if you need a quick basket goodie, give the Sock Bunnies a try. And have a Happy Easter!

Filed Under: Crafts, Holidays Tagged With: bunny, craft, Easter, easy, holiday, quick, rabbit, recycle, reuse, sewing, simple, sock, stuffed animal, stuffed animals, stuffed toys, toy

Silly Sweater Snake

November 14, 2011 By Susie 10 Comments

I have been really busy organizing my craft room after the roof leak and still cleaning out the stuff from the attic and garage. BUT I did think that a sleeve from one of my old sweaters looked a little like a snake, so I wanted to try making it into one. It is quite silly looking.

Because everything is still in disarray I didn’t take photos of the process, but I learned a few more things during the task, so hopefully when things are back together here and I have time to really get back to it I will sort of know what I’m doing.

This little fellow is made completely from recycled items. The sleeve from an old sweater, the stuffing from an old throw pillow and some buttons from my button jar. Does everyone save buttons that come with blouses and things they buy (or ones that come off or they find etc?) I sure do and have for years. Oh, I guess the thread I used to stitch him up was new. Otherwise, he’s really something old!

I admit, he’s pretty silly looking ,but I think my grandson will get a kick out of him. Oh, his tongue is part of the sweater. I took one of the red stripes, rolled it, zig zag stitched it and sewed it in! 🙂

Now onto Handmade Monday. I’m very very late! 🙂 Please go check them out. It’s always great fun!