Spooky Ghost Socks

Do you want to make a spooky sock ghost for your pup?  I bet you do... it's as easy as grabbing three socks that are ready to be turned into rags and a pair of scissors.   

(I know I show four socks in the picture, but I was able to make these with only three. Oh, I used the mister's old socks ... so they were nice and big!)

Take one of the socks and cut it in half the long way... like so.

Tie knots in the two halfs.  These are going to become ghost stuffing, so don't worry about how they look.  The knots give them a nice texture for chewing.

Shove the sock knots into another sock and push down to the toe.  Then also stuff this sock with the third sock.  These create the ghost head.

Cut off the bottom part of the sock and use that loop to twist around the ghost head (almost like a hair tie around a pony tail).  And last, feel free to draw a face on the sock -- which I know isn't for anyone but me.  Puppies don't seem to mind these with or without a face.

Then, find a cute puppy to share it with!!

Hmmm, which ghost should Katie pick?

And here are the spooky toys in action. 

They crack me up!!!  Hope you are having a wonderful Monday!

Fiber Art Junkie in the Making

Monika, this is for you!  You've created a fiber art junkie!!

My sweet friend Monika, from My Sweet Prairie, put a magazine in my hands yesterday that really got my creative juices overflowing!  Thank you again for doing that... I am so lucky to count you as my friend!

It was the perfect reason to drop everything else (ironing included) and start making my first real fiber art piece.

And just so you know up front... it did pass it's first quality inspection!

So, how did I get there... first step was to pick a picture to work from.  I landed on this one of Katie to start with.

Next grab some fabric to be your background.  I am using a white linen as the base and then some khaki cotton -- it's just two strips I had left over.  I sewed around the edges of both of them. 

I did omit using a fabric stabilizer... as I'm still trying figure out what that even is... *blushing*  I did mention I have a lot to learn, right?

Next, I added a base body and head and sewed around those shapes.  I have used my normal walking foot so far for all of this.  This fabric is more burlap-esque.  Really cool texture and it has that perfect golden shine!

Next, I added the ears.  Here is one.  All the pieces are free hand cut using regular fabric scissors.  The ear is made from a more velvety fabric.

Here is an idea of what it looks like under the needle.

Before I started sewing, I cut a lot of the pieces I wanted out and laid them out together to see what they would look like.

I sewed the rest of the pieces down.  Aren't those eye brows just to die for!!

A closer look at the textures and shapes!

Time to measure it up to the real thing.  Katie did her normal two sniffs and then licked it.  Her mark of approval!

Hmmm.  Not a bad start.  I have a lot of ideas for other details I would like to add like the whites of her eyes, the wisps of hair on her ears, chest, and shoulders.  Whiskers, nostrils... all that good stuff that will make this more recognizable.

In the spirit of full disclosure.... this is a messy messy craft.  For some reason I didn't anticipate the amount if little fabric pieces I would have on my desk after.  Looks like I went a little scissor happy.

The last thing I did was to add two lighter shapes to Katie's body to reflect the lighter bands of fur she has.  I'm really liking the different textures together!

Tonight, I think I will be putting on my free motion quilting foot and starting to shade in certain areas to add fur detailing.  I'm really looking forward to the challenge and it's refreshing to work on a small piece before I dive into my next big quilt.

So, what do you think?  Have you tried any sort of fiber art?  Any tips you could pass on?  Should I eventually put batting behind this and sandwich it like a normal quilt?

Hug the ones you love dolls. 

I'll be back later today with a precious photo of flowers in the snow!  Yes, we got some snow yesterday.  But, this picture will make you want some, just you can photo flowers in the white stuff!

-- I am joining Fabric Tuesday at Quiltsory --
日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Tulip Table Runner or is it a Table Square?

She's done!  Ready to be admired for all her beauty. 

As we are expecting anywhere from 10 to 18 inches of snow in the next 24 hours this is a welcome breath of the spring to come and a good way to combat the winter blahs!  I have showed you progress here and here.

I give you Tulip Table runner -- or Table square?  What do you call a table runner that goes on a round table?

A closer look at the free motion quilting that I am learning to live for!  Gives that "loop, swoop, and pull" saying (to teach kids how to tie their shoe laces) a whole new quilting meaning. 

I find myself saying the phrase or mantra over and over as I free motion.  It becomes a sort of rhythm -- a meditation. 

Next up was the binding.  I had the binding picked out from the start and it turned out even more fantastic than it was in my head. 

I can see improvement in my binding each time I go through it, but I have a lot of room to improve in this area!

And here is the first look.  The corner is flipped up to show the back and front at the same time.

Oh yes, this sceams April showers bring May flowers!! 

I have a wonderful assortment of tulip bulbs in the ground patiently waiting to bloom.  I really enjoy watching them grow and then pop full of color (as long as the deer, woodchuck, rabbits, dog don't get them first)

And a quick look at the back.  This could potentially be considered double sided if you wouldn't mind the brown.  I actually quite like the look of the pin wheels!!  The whole thing is so playful!

Yes, there are many variations that could be dreamt up for this.  I am already planning another one and might instead use a single color for each tulip.   Also, this next one will in fact be a runner instead of a square.  Can't wait to see what my crazy spirit whips up in the next design!

These tulips are already happily adjusting to their new home with my amazing neighbor -- yes, the one that makes us homemade meatballs and extra sauce and always has a dog biscuit and carrot on hand when Katie visits.

Have I mentioned how lucky I am today?