Curly Birds

How to Make a Needle-Felted Mushroom

 

A couple of years ago around this time of year, a friend of mine taught me how to make a needle-felted mushroom. It was red and white and had little spots on the top. I've been hooked on needle-felting ever since.

  

Needle-felted mushrooms are a beautiful autumn craft. Creating something organic brings an earthy and simple elegance to the day. And the roving (wool fleece) feels and smells so good.

  

These mushrooms would make a really pretty centerpiece for an autumn meal and I'm about to create a fairy tea party for Nola and Kira using them as decorations. 

Lunch Made Fun: Placemat

I've been wanting to do this project for a while, so when Jessica of The Sewing Rabbit asked me to join her in Kid's Inspiration and Design Series, I knew exactly what to make... a placemat and lunch based on my daughters' drawings. 

Crafts for Back-to-School

I’m feeling a little emotional today as the thought of the girls going off to school all day becomes real.

You see, last year Nola and Kira were in a half-day kindergarten class. We have spent the afternoon together playing, making, reading, swinging, being... And now my sweet Curly Birds will be at school until 3.

While I convince myself that I’m looking forward to more ‘me’ time. Here are a few back-to-school crafts my Curly Birds love:

1. Pencil Holders | 2. Hand-Stitched Mummy Hugs | 3. Pocket Hearts | 4. Felt Holder | 5. Lunch Fun | 6. Art Tube | 7. Pocket Hearts for Mum and Dad

How to Make a Wet-Felted Twirly Pencil Cozy

Twirly Pencil Covers are a fun back to school craft to make and use. Give all of your friends matching ones and begin a trend!

Where Wool Comes From

A few weeks ago we headed west to Three Creeks Farm for shearing day. It was a beautiful yet chilly spring day on the small farm.

While it was a busy day, I felt relaxed being in the countryside and I loved the sense of community with the other folks who came to help.

We all brought food to share and the girls ran free as we watched the sheep being sheared and then picked the fleece. 

Action Pack

The latest edition of Action Pack is available for download today and it is filled with crafts, experiments, recipes and adventures all relating to WATER.

I created a wet-felting tutorial for the issue. Other projects that the girls and I want to try include experiments with water tension, ice lanterns, salt from sea water, and making natural water colors.

Image: Helen Bird shows us a fun wet felted project

Image: Joanie Gorman‘s cork sailors and pirates

Image: Gina Vida‘s ice lantern

Action Pack is an e-magazine aimed at kids 7+ to do with minimal parental supervision, although younger kids are able to do most of the projects with a little help. It is written for kids, free of advertisements, and packed full of really neat projects.

My sister and I have both used enjoyed the crafts in Action Pack, and I hope you do to!

A Spoonful of Love

Well this is exciting - Disney asked me to be a contributing blogger to their site, Spoonful. From now on you can find me 3 days a week at Spoonful. I hope to add lots of crafts and fun projects for kids to make and do.

My first craft is up on Spoonful - it is a fairy tea set. I'm all about tea parties this week. I made Nola and Kira each an acorn tea set and gave it to them for Valentine's (the one pictured is Nola's.) The girls, of course, loved their tea sets and immediately started pouring their little jars of love into the acorn tea cups.

 

I hope you're feeling very loved today. Yesterday, Eric and I had a date morning at our art museum - it was perfect.

Happy Valentine’s to you!

 

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I *heart* felt

Today I am playing with felt. Beautiful 100% wool felt in gorgous vibrant colors. I'm making a dozen little hearts for a customer and some for the girls.

Now these hearts are sewed with pretty embroidery silk and lightly stuffed.

On Valentine's morning, I like to hide little hearts in unexpected places and left the girls find little lovin's as they get ready for school.

Wild Flower Fairy Crown

A little sneak peak at my new crown design...

I needle-felted the flower in a beautiful bright pink roving that made Nola twirl around the house. 

 

And the strap is made of the most luxurious mossy green velvet ribbon that I could find.

I am auctioning it off and all the proceeds will benefit the families in Newtown, CT. More details next week...

Crafts of Christmas Past: Fairy Walnut Presents

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I made these fairy walnut presents last year for my girls and their cousins. Needless to say, they were a big hit!

 

To make some yourself: place walnuts on a cookie sheet and bake at 200 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes. Let them cool down slightly and pry open with a butter knife.

 

Add some glitter for a festive feel.

 

Cut an oval shaped piece of felt and fill with the loveliest tiny thing you can find. To help keep the walnut closed, I put a very little blob of beeswax between the walnut halves.

 

A little magical and ever so special.

 

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