12.10.2010

Boy, do I wish I had something more. . .

I'm preparing to host a baby shower at my house tomorrow. Which means, I've been doing little projects all week long. Today's project: Clean and hide all the clutter I normally have everywhere in a box in the storage room. . .

But a few days ago, the project included separating red from green M&M's. Green is the main decorating color, so I needed the green only. But it was way cheaper to buy the Christmas M&M's and have red left over than to buy what I needed in green only. Plus, there are different shades of green in this mix. How awesome is that?


I share some more of the things I've got going on after the shower. Happy pre-baby party!!

12.06.2010

Sock Cow Tutorial

Back when I posted my sock monkey tutorial, I was asked if I knew how to make a sock cow.

I didn't, so I made it up!

Look how cute this little guy is.




 Supplies:

  • pair of womens socks with contrasting toe/heel and (hopefully) cuff.
  • small amount of yarn
  • stuffing
  • buttons for eyes
  • sewing supplies
*I strongly suggest you read the whole tutorial first to get a feel for it, especially before cutting up the socks. You can also use felt for the "hoofs" or the nose circles if you want. Also, you can eliminate the horns, but I sure think they are cute!*



For sock 1: 

Fold leg portion in half to tip of heal and cut.



Cut off cuff


Lay sock flat with heel facing up, cut down center about 1" from heel.


Cut cuff in half and lay on top of each leg, matching the edge.


Sew along inside edge.


Trim off sock behind the cuff.


Flip inside out, sew along bottom and inner seam to create hind legs. Leave an opening for turning and stuffing.


If you don't have enough room, clip up the center a bit more (like I had to do. . .).


Sock 2:


Fold both top and foot portion in half and cut. Cut out heel and cut top and foot portion apart.


Take the inner pieces, fold in half lengthwise and create ears in the foot portion and horns in the top part. Here are the dimensions for them. Ear on the LEFT, horn on the RIGHT. The horn is slightly curved.


Open back up the pieces. Cut a tail and nose circles from the rest of the top part.

This is what you should have. The red Xs are throw away.


Next is to sew pieces:

Sew legs across the cuff and long seam. Sew close to edge (1/8" or so).


Sew horns. I suggest starting at bottom, sew along one side; then start at bottom on the other side and sew up to cross the first seam at the tip.


Since the ears were cut on a fold, cut half the folded edge for a place to turn.


Sew the same way as the horns, up one side and then up the other, making sure to meet/cross the first seam.


To make the tail, wrap some yarn 4 times loosely around 2 fingers. Pull your fingers out, leaving yarn looped. Fold into the center of the tail. Sew along yarn end and long side, being careful not to catch the yarn in the long side seam.


Turn all pieces right side out. Here is what you should have:


 Time to assemble!!

Stuff and sew opening closed of sock 1.


Use 6 strands of embroidery floss to tie a neck about 3 1/2 in from the tip.




Stuff front legs to match up with the hind legs.



Use a running stitch to pull the top of the leg closed.


Sew the legs into place, lining them up with the hind legs.



Stuff the toe portion from sock 2 and pin onto the top of the head. Line up the edge with the side of the toe on sock 1 (body sock). The front will overlap the pink some.



Stitch on. Don't worry about the raw edge, it will look great to do a simple loop stitch.





Fold ears in half, match corners and stitch them together.


Attach at the corner of the toe.




Stuff the horns, stitch just inside the ears. Be aware of which way the horn curves. It's subtle, but will look odd if sew on the wrong way.


Sew on the button eyes and the nose circles.


Lay the tail flat with the seam in the center on the underside. Sew the tail on flat in the center of the contrasting heel of the body sock (sock 1).


And you're done!!

Make a herd!!




The contrasting cuff makes better hoofs:



And my shameless exploit of my adorable baby with the cute cows.


Moo.

12.01.2010

Let the Countdown Begin!!

Well, they are done! I finished the last two today, but they are ready! Here are the last 9 ornaments for my advent calender:



Peppermint candy, a star for the top, bell, and ball ornament.

Santa Claus and a snowman.


A snowflake.




And what kind of Christmas would it be without pumpkin pie? In my house, growing up, we never left cookies for Santa. It was always a piece of pumpkin pie.



 And I'm sure you were thinking, "What's up with the crazy heart?" Maybe this will help:



All done! It was fun to put them all up for this picture.


And also very sad to put them back in the pockets. Anyone else have trouble deciding which pocket to put each one in? I want them all up for the whole month!! Merry Christmas Season!!

11.29.2010

Lazy Thanksgiving Weekend

While I wish that I had something new to share, I did what should be done over a holiday weekend. Nothing.

Well, I can't say nothing. I cleaned some, cooked more, and spent a great deal of time with family. Oh, and EATING. Lots and lots of eating. Like, an-extra-5-pounds-worth of eating. So sad, but my bro-in-law makes the best mashed potatoes. . . you can't help but eat a ton of them, especially with awesome gravy.

Happy (late) Thanksgiving to you all!

Bring on winter and the Christmas season so we can listen to a lot of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and do a lot more sledding!

11.24.2010

the first wave of advent ornaments

Since I had already made the first part, I wasn't paying too close attention to the assignments. 2 weeks ago, when I read, "cut out your tree shape" I moved on and thought I had done that so I was still good. Then this last week the assignment was, "Make another 8 ornaments." 

Um. Another 8?

And then, of course, I was making baby shoes, so here is what I was able to accomplish since I started on Saturday night. 15 of the 16 isn't bad!


Holly Berry, Drum, Mitten, and Candy cane

Gifts 1, 2, and 3

Dove, Buddy the Elf, and Stockings for each kid

Baby Jesus, Angel, 3 Wise Men, The Shepherd's Sheep

There are several I used the template provided at Homemade by Jill, but the ones I made up are by far my favorites. Even the stockings that I used the template, I added little stitched names and it makes it that much more personal. I learned new tricks making these. I've never known how to do the edging called a blanket stitch. And I learned how to do a French knot, which is what I used for all the eyes and for the hair on Buddy the Elf.

Anyway, these are the ones I'm really proud of:

Baby Jesus in a Manger  

The 3 Wise Men
(This is the one that kept me up until 1am last night)

The Angel
(with an Asian husband, my red-headed self will always be outnumbered, 
so I had to do the red hair. . . not to say I think I'm an angel...)

True Candy Cane
(maybe you've heard this story, but supposedly it's only a true candy cane if it has one large stripe for the Atonement, and 3 little stripes for the Godhead, so I added in the little ones)

The Shepherd's Sheep
(I didn't want to make yet another tiny person, so I decided the sheep could represent for the Shepherd in the Christmas story)


Buddy the Elf
(if you haven't seen the movie ELF, you are missing out!!)


This is so much fun! And after pushing through 15 ornaments in 3 days, I think finishing the last 9 in a week is going to be a sinch!