New plush Pattern Results!

So last week I shared my thrift shop score of cashmere sweaters, and the new patterns for soft toys that I'm working on....you saw the sad little "skins" laying on my worktable, ready to be stuffed and embellished!

Here they are! a lovely argyle Owl.....




a sweet little pale blue Lamb!! (I like his little gray face, don't ewe?)







and HERE is what happens when you use a ribbed sweater to try and make a lamb...the stretch is out of balance! I was so disappointed, and also it cracked me up, but I think it looks like a pink hammerhead shark! I debated just pulling the stuffing out and tossing the thing, but it's grown on me...I'm going to make a little shark face!

Working and loving it!

Busy working in the gorgeous studio.....I have a pile of cashmere sweaters from the thrift shop all washed and ready!

See the pile? so pretty!

I'm scheduled to do some arts & crafts type festivals this May & July, so I'm concentrating right now on increasing my inventory of super-soft and cuddly Kashmere Kitties....not only are they cute, but they're environmentally-friendly!


See the cut & sewn up "skins" that I made next?? They look a little creepy and forlorn like that, I know.


I've also drafted NEW patterns for cashmere plushness! I've got a pattern that doubles as either a lamb or a puppy (see the pink & blue skins lower left) and I re-patterned an Owl, mostly for Dear Daughter. That will be the argyle "skin" on the bottom right!

Stay tuned, I'll post pics as I get them all stuffed and pretty!

What?? Ghost Kitties & Devils in a movie??

Yep! That's taken up a good portion of my time lately! Well, that and Dear Daughter's Graduation from College, yippee!

alright, movie talk: I sell my Ghost Kitties on Etsy (love etsy!) and on the evening we got back from DD's graduation, had a message asking if I could make a quantity of L'il Devils and Ghost Kitties to decorate a set for a movie being filmed in Louisiana. My response: uh, YEAH! So, after a day or two working out the details, got the order for 2 dozen assorted!

Of course that meant I had to quickly make 10 Black kitties and 10 L'il Devils. Devils made of fabric that's out of print. So I dyed some, and finished them this morning. UPS'd them to Louisiana, and am hoping I will be told the name of the movie eventually, cause I certainly want to see these guys on the big screen!

Pattern Play

Trying something new; I really like the Ghost Kitties that I offer in my etsy shop, but right now, my thumb is so hurtful it's difficult to do the handsewing.

SOOOooo, I've made a pattern to sell! Ghost Kitty can now go out and haunt the whole wide world! I've done a pdf file that I can email to a buyer, so they'll get it almost instantly depending on how close I am to my computer. It's hand drawn, with typed out instructions. Not as super fancy as a commercial pattern, but hey, I'm not commercial!

I also give permission for the buyer to make as many as they like, and sell them for cash money, as long as they don't sell them on line. Make them for craft bazaar, or whatever, just please don't compete with me online! I thought that was fair. And no copying the pattern and passing it out, either.

Really hoping to generate a bit more business, and trying to set Ghost Kitty loose!

In like a March Lion...

for Weeks now I've felt as though I didn't even have the will to live; bleak, grey days, dark so early, cold, snowy, wet....I was uninspired and disgusted at myself for not having an ounce of initiative!

But it's a new month, and while it's cold, the rains have finally stopped and the sun came out today. I have the day off, and have spent a bit of time in the art barn...yay!

This is what I've worked on today:

Cut out a black & white toile knit dress for myself, to coordinate with a cute linen jacket I got at the thrift-dress is 1/2 sewn together!

Cut out a black & white toile knit top to sell-finished it, too!

Used the scraps to cut circles for yo-yo's...I want to make a cute coordinating pin to wear, and it's just as easy to cut alot as it is to cut 1

Sewed up some new Ghost Bunnies and Ghost Kitties in white, since Easter is on its way

I did buy some good fiberfill yesterday; I had a nice bag of it, but unfortunately, it wouldn't stay in the little ears and arms! It was Soooo soft, Soooo un-clumpy. However, when you're stuffing creatures, you need a certain degree of "clump"!

Anyway, I intend to cuddle up on the couch this evening with my decidedly UN-ghost-like Snapple and stuff up some new stuffies!

BLOG GIVEAWAY!! One World One Heart Magic Carpet Ride

Monday, February 15th: And the winners are!

Ghost Kitty: Jules at mooncatfarms
Lil' Devil: Kells
Tan brooch: Jingle
Blue brooch:Tumble Weed Trails
Red Fabric: Lisa Swifka at whimsical Bohemian, who started it all!! Yay!











I had such a fabulous time last year that I wanted to do it again: the One World One Heart Blog Giveaway! It's very fun, and I discovered so many wonderful, creative people!

I have 5 (count 'em, FIVE!) items that I'll be giving away.

One White Ghost Kitty, complete with her little ghost Mouse

One Cheeky LiL' Devil, complete with pitchfork to prod with

One Red Panties Brooch, from recycled clothing, in neutral linen

One Red Panties Brooch, from recycled clothing, in navy and neutral


and a Stack of 7 cotton Fat Quarters in a brick red (RED of course!)

All you have to do is leave a comment on THIS post, and on February 15th, at NOON Eastern Standard Time, I will draw 5 lucky names!

Be sure to check out and click the One World One Heart badge in the upper right hand corner of my blog to discover a whole new world of blogs, thanks to Whimsical Bohemian! Let the commenting begin!

the Last of 2009!

Ack! a New Year! well, I need to finish off 2009 before I look ahead....


I knitted 2 owls for my daughter for Christmas, from a very cute pattern. The Brown Owl was 2 strands held together, one a heathery wool, and the other an orange-ish alpaca, and the white owl was Cascade 220, with white angora in the head, wings and tail (because there wasn't enough for the whole body) When I felted them in the washer, the brown owl got covered with the little white flecks, and the ladies I knit with thought that was part of his charm, like he'd been hiding in a barn somewhere, so I left them! His eyes are felt and buttons, and the white owl has plastic toy eyes. I love their feet; the little talons! The pattern was very easy!

then I decided to try a new owl mitten pattern, so I came up with this one. When I started knitting, though, I had to subtract some stitches since the variegated background is worsted weight rather than the DK I normally use. Almost done!

New Etsy store!

Hey, I finally did it, took the plunge and listed some items on Etsy!

I've had the shop profile for ages, I've bought things, but at last I got the time and courage to list things. I am: quilt7metal on Etsy!

I've got all my spooky goth stuff listed today; Ghost Kitty, Ghost Bunny, Li'l Devil and Skull Scarves!



Check it out, add me to your favorites! (even if you don't buy, add me!!)

Stuffed Toys!

I realize Halloween is over, but this year I added to my Ghost Kitty and Ghost Rabbit family, with a Lil' Devil! Last year I sewed up some scarey Ghost Kitties & Rabbits to sell. The Kitty has a "ghost mouse" in its hand, and the Rabbits just hold a carrot, because I couldn't do a ghost carrot, they're already dead!

I used the same basic pattern as the kitty and rabbit, and cut it from flame patterned fleece. Then I created a new face, and added a little pitchfork!

Knitting kodama dolls

I've been knitting adorable little kodama dolls over the weekend. I found the pattern ages ago, and was afraid to attempt the double-knitting tubular technique, but the pattern was VERY good at explaining it, and it was a breeze! The pattern was here: http://smartygirl-gets-crafty.blog.ca/2006/12/

They are quick, easy, and use up little bits of yarn. They felt really quickly in the kitchen sink, just like she says! They are about 4" tall.

Smartygirl has a cool pic of the anime they come from; I guess they're little ghosties!