Advent Calendar Pieces

We finally got the ornaments sewn up for our handmade Advent Calendar.  Here are the felt ornaments to hang on our Advent Calendar next year!  Brace yourself for the picture overload. They are so cute, only 2.5 inches big, and hand and machine-sewn.  They are made with felt and embroidery thread- that's it!

 We created each one of these without a pattern. They are freehand cut,hand and  machine stitched together. Details are hand-embroidered.

 We had so many great ideas for ornaments that we just couldn't stop at 25.

 They are all so adorable.  The children are going to love finding them in our calendar pockets next December!

 Kenna and Quinn's stocking.   I wonder if we'll need more stockings in the future? :)

 Closeup of the Pointsetta, the Star for the top of the tree, some holly, and a mitten.

 Amazing little drum!

 My favorites are the soldier and the fireplace. Look at his tiny belt, and his chin strap!! Also in this picture is a cup of cooca and an ice skate.

 The fireplace has a ton of tiny details. Look at the tiny fire!

 Frosty, reindeer, a "jingle bell" and the drum.

Candle, gingerbread man, cardinal, sugar cookie

With these ornaments finally finished, I feel like our advent calendar has transformed into an instant family heirloom.  Might be planning on making three more- for our cousins, and possibly a few to sell for 2012!

Advent Calendar

After a bit of a scramble, I finished our family's Advent Calendar late on November 30th! I decided to hand-cut and hand-sew everything, which definately slowed me down! Add to that Thanksgiving craziness, two sick kids, and "finals week" for my husband, and we can officially declare the completion of this project a MIRACLE!

It's completely made out of felt, plus 25 small white buttons. Each pocket will soon contain a small felt ornament- one to hang on each button (thanks, Grammie!)!  In the meantime, I cut up some felt circles and we are buttoning those to the tree each day, and they sorta look like Christmas lights. (that's how I'm selling it to my kids, and they LOVE it!)

The calendar is suspended with a tree branch, and some ribbon. I love it so much! I handcut each number, handsewed everything down, and came up with the tree design on my own.

Kenna is so thrilled with it. Each morning, we button on a "christmas light", read the note telling us about our craft for the day and any special activities we will be doing (Christmas parade, visit Santa, go to train show, take holiday pictures, etc), and I have also put in some stickers, a couple m&ms, and tomorrow there will be a mini candycane.

  Here it is with all of the simple little "lights" I hastily made once I realized making tiny felt ornaments in time was not gonna happen. Wait until you see the ornaments we are sewing up for next year!

On the sewing table 11.20.11

I've finally caught up on all the custom orders I had, so I am taking some time to make some gifts for my own family and friends for Christmas. (36ish days left???? ACK!)

This little gnome is part of a set of four. He's Fall. There is also Summer, Spring and Winter. I just need to take pictures. I love how he turned out, so much so that I decided to keep him and put him on our Nature Table. So much for gifting!

Soo stinking cute!  Our Waldorf style nature table makes me feel calm and peaceful. I can't wait to get some playsilks to add to the scene.

Rainbow Beanbags. Each bag is made with a different textured fabric. They are small for little hands. They have black and white backs.  I really like them. I made 5 sets. I'm kinda in love. Watch out, everyone on my list- every kid I know is getting a set this year!

Awesome! More sewing projects coming soon! I gotta get on the ball.

Felt Microphone

 After watching several episodes of Little Einstein, Kenna declared she wanted a microphone like Annie.  Watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade sealed the deal, since she saw lots of performers singing into microphones.  Since we are vegetarian, our Thanksgiving turkey was actually a "ToFurkey" and did not require a whole lot of prep work. (it was yummy, thanks for asking!) The lack of prep is why on Thanksgiving morning I sewed up a microphone for Kenna, instead of slaving over the stove (*not that I was the one cooking anyhow, since I DON'T cook.)

It came out adorable, with some felt, polyfil, and a little hand-stitching.  Kenna LOVES it and has been singing into it constantly (even at the dinner table.) She also experimented with holding it up to her ear, "So you can hear me better."  She melts my heart!

Pretend Kitchen, Organized

 I don't have a "before" picture, but picture in your mind a wicker basket overflowing with pots, pans, and play food, crammed into the little playhouse.  No room to add more, no easy way to find things, and no room to play! Kenna is totally into her kitchen/house things right now, so I decided it would be better if I organized her things for her.  I stole a four cubby shelf from my hubby's closet (heh heh...wonder when he'll notice!) and set it next to the playhouse in our playroom/schoolroom. 

 Bottom shelf- wicker basket for all of our mommy-made felt food.  (want some? Check out my etsy!) I put her pots and pans on the second shelf. She also has a couple empty spice jars, and I set those there as well.

 Third shelf from the bottom has her "Green Toys" plates, bowls and cups.  She's getting the Tea Pot for Christmas! I am so excited! (Generally, we don't buy a lot of plastic, but this recycled plastic seemed a nice alternative. I'd love to be able to afford wood. Maybe I'll get some little ceramic pieces when she's old enough...)
The top shelf has a can of utensils (Decorated with scrapbook paper), and as of this picture-taking, a fake cell phone one of her friends gave her.

I'm really pleased with this set-up, and it seems to be encouraging "high play".  I also provided a cloth grocery bag and a rag for washing her dishes in her play sink.  So much fun! I feel calmer about this area, and can't wait to do more organizing!

Halloween Felt Candy Corn Cookies

 As I was bathing the kids last night, my mind wandered (shocking, I know) to my favorite things about Halloween. Besides the spookiness, the adorable pumpkins, and the fun of dressing up, I truly love Candy Corn.

It's a disgusting cross between waxy texture, tons of sugar and waay too much food coloring, and I LOVE it.  :) I decided in that moment to make up a couple little cookies decorated like candy corn.  They could be considered "stuffies" at this point, but I'm sticking to my sugar cookie theme...
These little guys would be fun treats for your kids or cute table decor.
 Check 'em out in my Etsy store!

Halloween Felt Cookies

***First a little PSA:  Halloween is my favorite holiday. Brace yourself for the onslaught. ***

Okay, so I am finally back from maternity leave, and so happy to be sewing again for my Etsy shop, Kenna's Felt Forest. I don't have a lot of free time to sew, so I am going to try to keep my store instock and not get backed up with a lot of customs.
That said, if you REAAAAALLY want something, just ask.  :)

I decided that the best way to get back in the saddle was to make some fun Halloween themed sugar cookies. These felt cuties are completely hand-sewn and I accomplished it today while all three- ALL THREE- kids napped at the same time. The same time. Are you listening closely?
I just experienced a miracle!! :)

Anyhow, I finished up the purple and orange ones cookies and was going to add one more orange cookie to the pile when Kenna woke up and demanded a pumpkin cookie. Okay, sure. 

So, for your purchasing pleasure, I offer up a set of three felt sugar cookies- one orange, one purple, and one with a pumpkin! They can be found here.
I am going to make a huge batch of these tonight with different designs. Any suggestions? I am thinking bat, cat and a witch's hat!

Front Page of Etsy!

Getting a spot on the front page of Etsy is a coveted and very special event. Last night, from 9-10pm, my felt sandwich set was featured in a treasury, right on the www.Etsy.com homepage!

I almost missed seeing it, as the baby was being fussy and I was trying to enjoy an episode of DesignStar... but my husband was surfing the web with his new Ipad, and found himself staring at my sandwich! At first he was confused and thought it was just his "handpicked items" list... then it dawned on him that this was the homepage and was being seen by EVERYONE!!!

I want to give a big Thank You to the curator of this beautiful treasury, Meliza. What an exciting day!

Willa-Eve Photography

I am delighted to have been offered the chance for Willa-Eve Photography to take pictures of a few of my products. She did a fantastic job- much better than I have done to date. (Felt food is wily! HOLD STILL, Carrot!) Here' s her blog- click here

Here are a few of my favorite shots. You'll find her work all over my Etsy site now http://www.kennasfeltforest.etsy.com/, and I have plans to mail her more items to photograph (Because of course all her great photos are making my lousy ones look even worse!)

quiet book page, picking flowers

Quiet Book page- Matching Shapes

Yummy Felt Sandwich Set

Fresh Garden Veggies Set

I'm trying to find a link to WillaEve- as soon as I do, I'll edit this post! :) She's awesome to work with and will make your products look great!

First time Featured!

Kenna's Felt Forest was featured in an Etsy Treasury!! You can see the treasury here.

Treasuries are created by other Etsy sellers, and can include any items they find unique, beautiful or inspiring. In this case, the "Curator" went with an Eggplant theme, and chose my adorable felt eggplant for the treasury!! I am so excited. I've had my items featured before, but this is my first time as Kenna's Felt Forest!

I "paid it forward" by creating a treasury of my own, and featured one of the "curator's" listed items. I call my treasury Acorns on the Ground. You can view it here. It was inspired by the acorn adventure Kenna and I had last week.

Getting things up and ready!

I'm finally ready to start loading products up to Etsy. Check out the site at www.kennasfeltforest.etsy.com I'm still waiting on my custom banner and logo, but for now, I can at least get my items in the shop!

I'm all caught up with customs, and debating whether to take some September orders... it makes it so hard for me to keep things in stock when I do customs, but I love the chance to make exactly what a customer wants, soo... I guess it's more long hours at the sewing machine!

First Entry!

Finally took the time to set up a separate blog just for all my crafty thoughts and ideas. Can't wait to get blogging! Check me out on Etsy for all of the little handmade things I'm creating. :)

I have a sweet little girl, a handy husband, and a lot of DIY plans. I am planning to homeschool, and start Tot School (montessori style) soon. I can't wait!