Happy New Year!

Here's to a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!

 

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas this year.

Santa 2013

This year's Santa(s) were made using a pattern by "On the Edge Designs," copyright 1996. I'm not sure if it's still in print. Kriss Kringle is 19 - 19 1/2 inches tall.

 

This guy was auctioned off at our ER Christmas Party.

 

This one was made for friends. 

 

Whoo Hoo!

A couple months ago, artist Tamara Laporte asked for Life Book love stories, so I submitted one. There was a chance it would be published on her website. Tam wrote today that my submission is currently featured! The exposure is great, of course, but I'm really happy to be able to write about my first art journaling experience. 
http://www.willowing.org/2013/12/17/life-book-love-stories-deanna-hogan-an-interview-with-jane-davenport/

Life Book 2014 is almost here. I'm still finishing up some of the most recent lessons, while binding my big book as well.

But for now I'm adding some finishing touches to my annual Santa doll for the ER Christmas Party/Auction, which is TOMORROW!  I'll be able to post photos of Santa after the party.

Felt Ornies

I've been slow to post a photo of some felt ornaments made during a November evening of crafting, food & wine. It's been fun collecting ideas, and the folder is getting mighty thick!

I made the snowman, but still haven't finished the red and orange heart yet. Friend Julie made the little deer (her dog ate the one she painstakingly made a couple years ago).

 

Danielle made the Mickey ornament.

Gretchen worked on an owl, but left before I could get it photographed.

 

Julie had her eyes closed in the one photo I took of her and she'd probably kill me if I posted it here, so I won't.

 

I'm looking forward to next year, and have collected even more ideas and examples of felt ornies. 

A Fast & Friendly Quilted Potholder Tutorial

I've been keeping an eye out for some fast and easy gift ideas for Christmas. There's a blog post on Craftsy - a tutorial to make quilted potholders, which would be a great way to use scraps of fabric (Lord know I've got plenty of those!)  A lot of mine are pretty ratty looking, so I could always make some for myself, too.

 

But first, I need to finish a couple Santa dolls. So... I'm going to go work on them now while I have a moment.

Life Book 2013 December Lessons

Oh, my. We're getting down to the end of Life Book. The binding lesson has just been released, and I'm five lessons behind (nearly done with one of them). This amazing year of art journaling is coming to a close.

 

This lesson is all about binding our Life Books. I haven't yet checked out the lesson, but I understand two methods of binding will be reviewed - a Coptic method, and a three-ring method. I'm not sure  I'm going with, but either way it's going to be a really thick book.

 

Tam requests that we film a flip-through of our books when were done, so I'll probably do that and add it here or in a separate post.

This wintery lesson was by Jeanette Maisy House. It took me some time to get started, but I finally finished it in January 2014. I still need to do a little journaling in the music balloons, but want to put some thought into it.

This last lesson of the year was taught by Dina Wakley. I just finished it today (January 26, 2014). I can't say I'm really happy with it, but it may grow on me.

 

More Art Journaling Explorations HERE

Tooth Pillow (for grandson Ivan)

Ivan lost another tooth today - his third. So I decided to sew some sort of pillow with a pocket to make it easier for the Tooth Fairy to find that tooth. I wanted to make it from wool felt and wanted it to be big enough - but not too big. This is my first attempt, and it's about 4x4 inches in size. I think it will work just fine.

The little pocket was sewn to the tooth back by machine, as was the ribbon. The pink wool cheeks were sewn by hand. The front was sewn to the back by hand.

 

Naturally I'll be making one for Fiona in a couple years - maybe one with blue eyes.