I spend quite a lot of time each week on digitizing or tinkering with the website, but I also like to work on other crafts and projects. This page showcases mostly things I've been working on, though I do sometimes feature items made by my sisters. Most are embroidery-related, but some show other crafts and activities as well. Many of the items, though not all, are gift items for friends and siblings, mainly for Christmas, the biggest gift-giving time of the year in my family.
If any of these project ideas interest you, please let me know and I'll post some detailed instructions.
Geez Louise Ornament Challenge
Posted 27 December 2024
A few weeks prior to Christmas, Louise asked me to make several ornaments for her to give out to friends. In the end I made a dozen ornaments, some of them digitized expressly for Louise's Christmas list.
You can read more about them, and view the whole collection in this PDF discussion.
Racking Up Christmas
Posted 20 December 2024
It's almost Christmas Eve, and time to hang the stockings. In the absence of a fireplace, I'm using this tall rack that I wrote about in January 2023, but this year I added one last modification. Now it's perfect!
You can read about this project and see the full display in this PDF.
Oh No! No-Nose Snowman
Posted 13 December 2024
My poor little star-crossed snowman has suffered a disfiguring accident and seems to have lost his nose!
Not to worry, though: since this photo was taken, he's undergone a successful rhinoplasty, and has joined the other snowfolk for Christmas. To see how he looks now, click here for the PDF.
Loveliest of All is the Unicorn
Posted 6 December 2024
I made this Tiny Unicorn a few years back, as an insert for my Mini Stocking ornaments. He's cute, but . . . . he sure could be cuter.
And now he is, very much so. To see this adorable new generation of unicorn teeny toy, click here for the PDF.
Ringles
Posted 29 November 2024
I set about to make a third wired elf for my sister and her grandson, but I wasn't quite ready for who showed up.
To find out who's going to wear those yellow trousers, click here for the PDF.
Baseball Snowman
Posted 22 November 2024
This cute snowman ornament has a baseball body, but he's lost his bat. I think I can give him a new replacement before he moves along to a new home.
To read how I did that, and to see the new bat, click here to find a PDF with all the details.
And Now . . . Here's Max!
Posted 14 November 2024
For much of this year, I've been making Mini Stocking ornaments with a host of new tiny dogs inside.
This week, I've added another little doggie and have given him his own custom stocking to ride in. Wait til you see him!
Click here to read more about this Christmas surprise and see the photos.
Mesh Stocking Ornament
Posted 8 November 2024
As kids, my sister and I loved those cheesy mesh stockings that were so ubiquitous around Christmas -- even though we knew their contents weren't all that great.
They still inspire a feeling of nostalgia that I wanted to capture in my most recent ornament.
Click here for pictures and all the details to see if I succeeded.
Grinchy the Elf
Posted 1 November 2024
I made up another elf doll this week, using those adorable green hands from last week. My little nephew -- who is already anticipating the arrival of the elves from the North Pole -- is going to love this one.
Wait til you see who it is! Click here for pictures and all the details.
Give Me a Hand
Posted 25 October 2024
I was really happy with this armature that I built for my Elf Dolls' wired hands. But I wasn't 100% satisfied with the felt covering I devised for them. This past week, though, I learned a different method, and I'm just delighted.
Click here to see how the new hand coverings look. I guess I'm going to have to make some more Elves!
Glass-Inspired Cats
Posted 18 October 2024
Believe it or not, I'm gonna make some adorable primitive-style cat ornaments out of these cardboard rectangles.
Click here to see the finished cats and details of how I made them, along with the glass ornaments that inspired them.
Rustic Santa Ornaments
Posted 11 October 2024
I spotted this ornament idea in one of my vintage craft magazines, and decided to make some of my own. True to form, I didn't follow the instructions -- instead I used what I had on hand to make my own variation on the theme.
Click here to read how I did it and to see my finished ornaments.
The Elf Herself
Posted 3 October 2024
After last year's Elf-in-the-Shelf hi-jinks, my young nephew asked for a girl elf to join the group this year. Looks as though she's arriving feet first!
Click here to see the rest of the Elf Herself, beautiful Ellie.
Poor Old Sparky
Posted 27 September 2024
The doggie-fest continues, but this time there's a heavy dose of nostalgia involved. To read the story and to see this adorable baby's favourite dog immortalized in mini felt version, click here.
Call Off the Dogs!
Posted 7 September 2024
I swear I'm gonna stop this dog thing . . . eventually. But for now, two more little bow-wows have come to join the menagerie. It's really starting to get out of hand! Click here to meet the newest arrivals.
Gone to the Dogs
Posted 30 August 2024
Hey, who's that peeking out of this Mini Stocking Ornament? Haven't seen him around before -- he must be new! He is, and so are his three companions. Click here to meet them all and to read about my embroidery adventures since Michelle got the machine going again.
Sheathing the Axe
Posted 16 August 2024
An axe is a must-have tool on a camping trip, but carrying it unprotected in the car can be a hazard. A borrower returned this one to Collin without its protective cover, so he asked me if I could make a replacement sheath. I could, and I did. Click here to read more about it and see the finished sheath.
The Cat that Climbed
Posted 9 August 2024
This adorable Little Golden Book is in great condition on the inside, but the cover is badly torn. I'd like to display it with the rest of my Christmas titles, but it isn't much of a decor piece with the cover in this condition. Can I fix it? You betcha!
Click here to see how much better it looks now.
Lobster Evolution
Posted 2 August 2024
A million years ago I made this tiny lobster on the sewing machine. At 3" long, he's just the right size to fit into one of my Mini Stocking ornaments. But when I started machine embroidery, I wanted to make these on the embroidery machine. Translating the design seemed straightforward, but involved some challenges along the way.
Click here to find a little history, and to see if I finally got it right.
Dog Days of Summer
Posted 19 July 2024
My embroidery machine is back in operation, finally! -- and I couldn't wait to get this new tiny dog design stitched up: a Labrador Retriever, a surprise for friend Louise.
Click here to see Clover, the Golden Lab, and the Mini Stocking ornament that he fits into.
It's a Frame-Up!
Posted 12 July 2024
I've been kinda crazy about these framed ornaments ever since I first saw the idea nearly a decade ago. They're cute and quirky and just the thing to feature Pinky . . . or just about any other subject you'd like to name.
Click here to learn more about the process and to see some of the ones I've made over the years.
Sam, You Made the Mop Too Long!
Posted 5 July 2024
The handle of my commercial wet mop was so darned long that it was unwieldy and difficult to manoeuvre in our domestic space: every time I lifted it into the wringer attachment on my janitor's bucket, it bumped the ceiling or bashed into the nearest light fixture or knocked pictures off the wall. Something needed to be done!
Fortunately for me, there was an easy fix, and now the mop is perfect.
Click here to see my solution.
Tartan Mini Stocking Ornaments
Posted 28 June 2024
I've made tons of these little stocking ornaments -- including some simple plaids like this red one -- but an actual tartan? That's too complicated . . . isn't it?
Click here to see if I can make it work!
Fuzz Eater Repair
Posted 14 June 2024
These little tools are handy for de-fuzzing fabrics, but with use the plastic housing can break and the wire mesh give way. Then they're only fit for the bin . . . or are they?
Click here to see what I did with the salvaged mesh.
Ornament Hacks
Posted 7 June 2024
I'd never buy this ornament that I saw on line: with that hole in Mona's head, it's a major fail. But I love the idea, and it would be just the thing for my Christmas-loving friend!
Wanna bet that I can make a better one myself? I can, and I did! Click here to see the result.
Book Page Rescue
Posted 31 May 2024
Oh No! Look at the rip in that book page -- right through that picture of . . . a cake?!?
If it isn't fixed, the page will surely get torn right out of the book. But can I salvage it?
You bet I could, and I did -- and as they say on The Repair Shop, I'm chuffed as a monkey! To see how I salvaged it, click here for the PDF.
Coil Notebook Projects
Posted 24 May 2024
This scribbler is in pretty sorry shape: no covers, many missing pages, a metal coil that's much too big. Who on earth would buy it, even for 25 cents?!
Clearly, I did. To see how I salvaged it, click here for the PDF.
On the Cutting Edge
Posted 17 May 2024
Looks like it's time to toss these broken scissors, right?
Or maybe not: we have the technology . . . we can rebuild them! To see how I did that, click here for the PDF.
More Touristy Ornaments
Posted 10 May 2024
In addition to last week's ornaments, I also made a few of the shell-style ones that I wrote about last April/May. They just seemed a perfect fit for a Maritime setting, and I hope the tourists feel the same!
To see more images of the ornaments and to read my discussion, click here for the PDF.
Ornaments for the Tourist Trade
Posted 3 May 2024
I've spent the past ten days or so making ornaments for a craft/gift shop where my sister volunteers, to support the historic properties in the local area. I think they're beautiful!
To read more about this project, click here for the PDF.
Remembering Dad's Little Piggies
Posted 26 April 2024
Each Christmas back when I was a teenager, I used to make a little felt piggy for my Dad's Christmas stocking.
Thanks to my sister, I have a few of those original vintage piggies in my own Christmas stash, and I thought it might be fun to try making another one. Click here for the PDF showing the new piggy.
Replacing the Missing Piece
Posted 12 April 2024
This lovely Springbok puzzle is missing a piece. It's still workable without it, but I'm kind of goaded by the absence. Wouldn't it be nice to find -- or better, create -- a replacement?
It's fiddly work, but I did it -- and it was even kind of fun! Click here to find a PDF detailing my process.
Repainting the Little Green Desk
Posted 5 April 2024
For years, I've been meaning to give this old child's desk a makeover, and -- with my new determination to finish up projects that have been languishing on my to-do list -- I finally got it done.
To see its new look, and to discover why I bothered, click here for the PDF.
It's a Puzzle, All Right!
Posted 22 March 2024
We're staring right down the barrel of . . . just what the heck is this thing I'm holding?!
If you're a fan of jigsaw puzzles, it might be just the thing you've been looking for. In fact, might just want to make one for yourself. Read my PDF to find out how!
Mighty Mouse Gets a Makeover
Posted 22 March 2024
Much to my friend's disappointment, his Mighty Mouse ornament has been damaged. The little super hero needs a hand . . . and a couple of feet.
So: here I come, to save the day! Check out the PDF to see how I was able to restore him.
Reupholstering Bearly's Stool
Posted 15 March 2024
A few weeks ago I wrote about repairing the leg on this little stool that used to assist Bearly to get up onto the bed. At the time I thought it would benefit from a new upholstered seat, which I've now completed.
To see what the stool looks like in its new garb, click here for the PDF.
Grom's New Sock
Posted 8 March 2024
Last week I featured my mini toy of the faithful doggy companion to Wallace, the wacky inventor in those wonderful Aardman animated films.
But my little dog, designed to fit into one of my Mini Stocking ornaments, didn't have a mini sock of his own . . . until now.
Click to see the PDF of our little yellow friend in his completed sock!
Note: This design is fan art strictly for my own use and is not for sale.
More Tiny Pets for Mini Stocking Ornaments
Posted 1 March 2024
After last week's post about the tiny pets I made for one of my sisters, another sister fell in love with them and suggested some of her own. I was a bit carried away myself, and added a couple more.
Click to see the PDF with the rest of the toy doggy "portraits" that my sisters will be giving to friends next Christmas.
Custom Tiny Pets for Mini Stocking Ornaments
Posted 23 February 2024
It all started when my sister asked me to create this little pug as an insert for one of my mini stockings . . . . and then it snowballed from there.
Click to see the PDF with the other toy "portraits" that I made for my sister to give to her friend next Christmas.
Partylites Fireplace
Posted 16 February 2024
This gorgeous ceramic fireplace caught my eye just before Christmas, and I thought it would look nice along with my Santas.
Unfortunately, the little stockings that should have been dangling from the mantel had been broken off.
I want to re-attach them, but the ceramic is too hard for me to drill into. What to do? Click here to see the PDF with my solution.
Garland Embellishments
Posted 9 February 2024
This altered puzzle ornament has lots of eye candy, including six glued-on embellishments that might have cost $4-$6 if I'd bought them at a craft store. I didn't.
The little lobster is one I embroidered; the "Merry Christmas" is an inexpensive spangle. But the two holly leaves, the cluster of berries, and the snowflake cost me a total of 15 cents!
To read more about where I got these inexpensive embellishments click here for the PDF.
Crow Tales
Posted 2 February 2024
This crow figurine arrived with a badly broken tail -- but I was pretty sure I could restore him.
To read more about how I did that, and why it mattered, click here for the PDF.
Wood Finial Ornaments
Posted 26 January 2024
This finial ornament came to me with a covering of coarse glitter . . . What were they thinking?!
The effect is unfortunate, and the glitter very difficult to remove. But remove it I did, and the result is stunning.
To see how I managed to rescue two of these finials, click here for the PDF.
Repairing Bearly's Stool
Posted 19 January 2024
Dear sweet Bearly loved to nap on the bed, but as he became arthritic in his old age, he needed help to climb up there. We bought him a stool as an assist, but it had a wobbly leg that needed repair.
To see how I fixed it, click here for the PDF.
Elf Sack Makeover
Posted 12 January 2024
DH has had this sack-style Elf stocking for 30 years. Elf is looking pretty good for his age, but after all this time, I wanted to spruce him up a bit, without dramatically altering his look.
To see the result of his makeover, click here for the PDF.
Last-Minute Looney Tunes Christmas Stockings
Posted 5 January 2024
We love Looney Tunes at our house, so I couldn't resist this scrub shirt with a Christmas print showing vintage LT characters.
At first I intended to make gift bags, but at my brother's suggestion, I ended up making stockings: four of them -- on Christmas Eve.
Click here to see how beautifully they turned out!
For more on how I construct my Christmas stockings, you can find a PDF at this link. It illustrates the making of a stocking other than this one, but the procedure I followed is the same in both cases.
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