Bird gets new beak. Tweet on!

woolly birds - robin

Same bird, but a new look! A new beak molded from polymer clay and then baked in my kitchen oven for about 30 minutes.

The idea originally came to me from a knitting store in Sitka, Alaska, Knitting With Class. Laura Ramp has been creating clay carrot noses for her Woolly Snowmen. How fun is that! My adaptation is the clay beak for any of the Woolly Birds. What I love is that you can control the beak's size so much easier than a knitted beak. Plus the clay beak doesn't lose its shape from year-to-year.

Want to make your own clay beak? Below is my first-ever YouTube video showing you how to do just that. Tweet on!

The Bunny Doing the Twist!

woolly bunny, front side

You may not notice it at first. Look more closely at the photo above, especially at the position of the bunny's back paws. Then notice the front paws. The head and ears. See how they are twisted slightly to the right. You would think I altered the pattern to obtain this fun little position. NOPE! Believe it or not, it's all in the yarn!

The yarn is Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride worsted weight, #M115 oatmeal. It consistently torques (twists) during the felting process. Why? I haven't a clue, but I love the result!

Here's the same little bunny from the back view. Is it a fluke, a one time creation? Not at all. I have used this yarn dozens of times for the Woolly Bunny pattern and get the same results.

woolly bunny, backside

So if you want a little 'jitter-bug' bunny of your own, try Lamb's Pride worsted. Let me know if you achieve the same results. I would love to hear from you.

Yummy! Home-made Butterfingers.

woolly candy corn

The Butterfingers is about my most favorite candy bar, EVER! So when I came across this recipe on Pinterest I had to get the recipe. FYI, I haven't made it yet. I am having a hard time finding traditional candy corn. I may have to go to a specialty candy store.

So for all you Butterfingers lovers out there, here it is! Let me know where you found the candy corn, would you?

Home-made Butterfingers

1 pound candy corn pieces

16 ounce jar peanut butter

16 ounce package chocolate candy coating

Melt candy corn in a microwave on high for one minute. Stir and continue cooking in 15-second intervals until melted, stirring after each interval. Stir in the peanut butter. Spread the mixture in an 8x8-inch pan lined with parchment paper. Cool completely. Cut into 1-inch squares. Melt the chocolate candy and dip the 1-inch pieces in the chocolate to coat. Lay on a sheet of waxed paper to set.

Makes about 32 pieces.

Who would of ever thought those leftover candy corn to go to such a good use?

The Luck of the Irish!

woolly leprechaun

NOTICE: As of January 1st, 2015 I have taken the Leprechaun Gnome PDF off my website for downloading. My new book, Whimsical Woollies, is coming out in May 2015 and will have all the gnome adaptions in it. They are new and improved and all in one simple location. Thanks!

According to folklore, a leprechaun is a type of male faerie that lives on the island of Ireland. Most often, leprechauns are cobblers. But whatever their trade, they are always mischievous. The leprechaun is said to be very rich with treasures buried in secret places. Follow a rainbow to its end and you may find a leprechaun and his pot of gold!

Create your own woolly leprechaun just in time for Saint Patrick's Day! I have just created a pdf download, below, with photos and directions on how to turn the Woolly Gnome & Mushroom pattern into a wee little woolly leprechaun.

Soon I will will have downloads for the other gnome versions: Matilda the Witch and the Santa Gnome. Stay tuned!

No Dyes. No Mess.

grade A woolly eggs

Woolly Eggs! They can come in all sizes: Grade A small, medium or jumbo, depending on the yarn weight you use, that is. The above eggs are smallish in size, measuring about 2-1/2 inches long after felting. They were knit using Cascade 220 sport weight yarns with size 8 double point needles. I am loving this yarn for how it felts and the wonderful color choices!

While these eggs were still wet, I stuffed them with my own Woolly Stuffing. Wool stuffing, like wool yarns, has a memory to it, thus holding it's shape better and longer than traditional polyester fiberfill. 

Create a dozen eggs in various colors, stripes and embellishments. Then place them in this cute egg carton I found on Etsy. The egg carton holds 12 eggs beautifully!

easily holds a dozen woolly eggs

You can also purchase these cartons with a blank front, not shown. How fun to print your own creative label for the front, a whimsical greeting card!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Something 'woolly sweet' for you, valentine!

valentine party mix

1 cup chocolate covered almonds or peanuts

1 cup dried cranberries or cherries

1 cup cupid's candy corn

1 cup roasted cashews

1 cup Corn Chex cereal

1 cup pretzel sticks or circles

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well with your hands. Store any leftovers in a plastic container with a lid. The mix will keep up to 3 weeks.

Makes 6 cups.

I usually triple this recipe because it goes that fast!

A Bird For Your Nest?

This little robin is from my Woolly Birds pattern. She was first knit using 2 strands together of Frog Tree Alpaca sport weight yarn, #0012 dark grey. This yarn felts beautifully! Then she is brushed with a nap riser brush to pull out the yarn's hairy fibers, creating a soft fuzzy little bird. Every nest needs a little bird to roost in and to call home. Look out, then come the eggs!