Monday, March 30, 2015

Crafting with Courtney

Well, let's get back to business here. Thanks again to those of you who commented on my last post - I really, really, REALLY appreciate your encouragement! My plan for the time being is to just post whatever I have whenever I have time to do it. How's that sound? ;)

I've been making stuff... even have a couple of completed projects that unfortunately I can't show you yet (next week, okay?) and another one in the works. And then there'll be another pattern test that I'll need to get through as quickly as possible, so if I disappear it'll only mean that I'm busy, not that I've quit blogging.

Meanwhile, last Tuesday when Courtney came, she had another softie project in mind. That girl! She now even has a notebook dedicated to sketches of ideas for things we can make. :) I guess I... um... complained a wee bit about being kinda tired of making tiny softies. (REALLY, Grandma!) She insisted that since she had her sketch already drawn that we had to make it that day, but she also promised me she'd give me 3 weeks off from sewing itty-bitty softies before we had to do another one. What a sweetie! :)

Here's the sketch page from her notebook:


It was an owl... or actually a pair of owls. We decided to look up on the internet to maybe get a better idea of what owls looked like. Below is the revision, in the actual size pattern pieces.


Courtney did all the cutting this time, and she drew on the features before I sewed the felt pieces together. Drawing seemed to be much easier than sewing on teeny eyes, etc. Here's the finished project:


If you noticed on her original drawing, there was "velcrow" shown for fastening the little owl to the big one. Great idea!


She also wanted a strap so she could "wear" it. So the bigger owl has a piece of fold-over elastic attached to the back.


The strap was so she could wear it on her hand!


Here (in terrible lighting) is Courtney modeling the finished project.


I wonder what her designing mind will think up next! With 4 weeks to work on it, it could be quite a project! ;)

Update: Here I am updating the post before it even gets posted - ha. I was so proud of myself in that I had already written it up Friday evening to get auto-posted today. BUT... we went out to eat with Courtney and her parents Saturday night, and she had a gift for me, and I just must show you! She had made, on her own, with her very own Sew Cool sewing machine something "to thank you for helping me make all those little stuffed animals"! Awww.... how sweet is that?!! Here's my gift:


Wow! That tiny little critter... and stuffed, even! I guess she's been learning things in our crafting sessions. I am so proud of her!!

6 comments:

Jessica Jones said...

Wow, I love those clever ideas of velcro and the elastic band. Awesome.

Jenny said...

Courtney's owls are so cute, and I love the additions of Velcro and a strap to hold them.

Last week my oldest son (4th grade) begged me to take him to Joann's to buy blue fabric. Upon further questioning it was revealed that he wanted "lots" of blue fabric to make a Merlin robe to wear the following day to school for "dress as a favorite book/movie character" day. With matching hat. When I told him I did not have time to make him a robe, he assured me that he was going to make it himself on his sewing machine. He was planning to design his own pattern and assemble it without adult supervision, even though a pillow is the most complicated thing he's made so far. It's actually too bad that I had to tell him no. I'm pretty sure he would have gotten frustrated and it would have ended in tears and ruined fabric, but there is a tiny chance it could have been awesome. Maybe we will start with clothes for his "cuddle friends" (our term for softies) and work our way up.

Geneviève said...

Yes!! Yes!! So happy of your decision, it just made my day :) And posting when you have something and when you have time is absolutely perfect. Your blog must not become an obligation or a chore you despise.

On my side, I will try to NOT read your posts until I'm on an actual computer. I tend to omit commenting when I'm on my cellphone (it can be seriously troublesome and I erased what I had written by accident more than once haha).

Courtney is really a sweetheart for doing such a cute thank you gift. Her sewing is a reason to be proud, but to me, her gesture is an even better one.

Grandma G said...

Thank you all... I passed your compliments on to Courtney today.

Jenny... what an ambitious little guy you have! It would've been interesting to see what he would've created, but yeah... the chance of tears and wasted fabric would be hard to deal with. He sure has great aspirations, though! Someday.... :)

Genevieve... YOUR comment made MY day! :) And yes, Courtney's gesture was so precious. It warmed my heart.

annie dee said...

Hooray, Courtney! You go, girl!! Keep designing and sewing.

Grandma G said...

I have no doubt she will! :)