Wishing On Clovers

Hot Chocolate Ornaments

In my mind, almost everyone loves a nice hot cup of hot chocolate! Ever since the wind picked up and the weather took a plunge, I am thinking daily about hot chocolate.  Unfortunately I haven’t had my cup yet, my cravings always come too late in the night and I have to stop myself from heating up milk and chocolate at 2am.  It only came natural to make my ornament this year for the “2^nd Annual Holiday Ornament Swap” something sweet (like last years cupcakes), and a nice little mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream did the trick! After sewing all these little chocolate pots, I think I satisfied my craving for hot chocolate…!

…..And you had to have guessed that my Holiday Card this year would be a cupcake in some way!  I caught the glitter bug this year!

St. Lucia Day

Yesterday I spent the evening making Lussekattor/Lussekatt (saffron buns) for Saint Lucia Day. It is a very interesting thing to bake something that you really know nothing about. I learned about St. Lucia’s Day via trading postcards, from a pal in Sweden. I eagerly waited for the 13^th so I could start my own St. Lucia Day tradition in my home. I found several different recipes for the buns, and found one that best suited my skills. I will admit I’m not the world’s best baker.  I never measure correctly, over mix, and bake for too long. But, there’s only one way to learn!  In between letting the dough rise, kneading, and rising some more, I made a small felt Lucia to watch over my buns! ^_^ The end result was, interesting to say the least. 

About 5 minutes into baking, I went to check on them and noticed billows of smoke coming from my oven. Upon opening, the fire alarms went off and for some reason the bottom pan of the buns were burning! I quickly removed them, and the remaining ones were fine.  I’m not sure what happened, maybe something on the pan was burning? I have never eaten the ‘real thing’ before; I actually haven’t even seen one outside of the internet. Luckily I had nothing to compare it to (neither did my Love, and hopefully my co-workers!), so no one can say “Oh, THAT’S what these are supposed to be!?”  I am quite content with my overly saffron spiced buns!

Swirling Onions

Lately my head has been filled with sugar sweet frostings and onion domes (via Pokrovskiy Cathedral).  Seeing that it is the start of the Holiday Season and I am participating in cake+pie’s Ornament Swap, now was as good a time as any to start my ornaments. I knew I wanted to make cupcakes, which was a no brainer on my part.  The problem was how I wanted them to look.  At first I wanted them to be circular cakes topped with some ridiculously impossible topping.  Needless to say that didn’t happen.  I stirred the idea for awhile until I finally decided on a look that was right in front of my face.  I am in an ‘onion dome’ mood.  I bought a small ornament of a Russian tower with an onion dome top that was white with blue swirls.  I had it sitting next to me the whole time (time meaning hours of coffee and chocolate, staring at the plain pieces of felt in the sort of way that could make you go crazy) and only picked it up to really admire it a few days ago, when, POW, the idea finally hit me.  7 days later here is the finished product, ‘Holiday Swirl Cupcake Ornaments’ made from felt and sewn by my (shaky, caffeine induced) hand.  I made a few extras, so if you feel your tree needs one, let me know!

Galo de Barcelos

I have loved the Galo de Barcelos since I first saw it.  The brightly colored rooster with designs all over it was something so different to me, I wanted to learn all about it!  After some time (And some swaps, thank you!) I got some inspiration to make one for myself!  This is made from felt and what I thought was black felt! ^_^  I was going to make a pair with the second with a red body and black highlights, but my hand hurt from trying over and over again to get the designs even.

The polls are closing, did you vote?!

My Favorite Odd November Holiday Is...Deviled Egg Day

I’m just going to take a guess that you didn’t know today was National Deviled Egg Day. I was not acquainted with this Holiday, but, thanks to Amy's imaginative mind with Month of Softies themes, now I know.  So, to honor this curious Holiday, I made a devil egg.  I might whip up the real thing later tonight (I have never made nor eaten deviled eggs! shock!) if the mood strikes me.

Jack O Lantern Hot Air Balloon

I finished my Halloween craft today! It’s a ‘Jack o Lantern Pumpkin Hot Air Balloon’! It’s made from fleece and felt.  He will hang from our outside light tomorrow for the trick or treaters when they visit.  He looked bare so I added a small black cat for a rider!

Kitten Cat

You didn't think you'd come here and see a new craft or WIP did you?  Well, if you did, you can look at my ever cute (but slightly crazy) cat until that time.

My Back Tack III "Mama Matryoshka" Wee Bunny

Now that my partner has recieved the plush that I sent to her, I can show you! Here is the Back-tack III project that I created! I used Wee Wonderfuls Wee Bunny pattern, and designed her after Russian Nesting Dolls! This has a home at Puanani now!

I've gone bag crazy!

I seem to have bags and purses on my mind these days! I recieved my BackTack the other day and it is amazing, I love it, I will post pictures soon!

This bag has a little fleece kitty on it, and is lined with the same material as the handles (cats!)

The black as white bag I like alot, I hope the person I sent it to likes it as well!   Also shown is a wall pocket with matryoshka style people on it, and at the bottom is a calico cat that when you press his tummy, he sings "Its a small world". ^_^ So that's what I've been doing these past few days! ^_^

Month of Softies: April Showers

My Month of Softies: April Showers project is completed!  I made a felt girl in a raincoat, holding up an umbrella.  Right when I went outside to snap some pictures, it started to rain (I made an effort to get 'in the rain shots' but, well, no) so I took some inside in front of my window! I really like how the raindrops are in the back.