Storytime

Love what these kiddos made at J.Crew’s Storytime event today! Was so honored to have been asked to come. We made popsicle stick puppets after reading Pearl and the Whale. My daughter, Olivia, helped me read today — and she showed each little felted character as we told the story. We made a good team!

Rainbow-colored starfish, pink whale, sherbet octopus… SO love their self expression and enthusiasm to CREATE!

The J.Crew staff were wonderful — look what they had all set up– cute chalkboard announcement + the sweetest cookies ever. Delish. From Brookies Cookies. 319-621-3177. Seriously THEE best iced sugar cookies I’ve had. Look at the cute little Earth cookies. And Pearl too!!

Felted Fiction

When I’m not making children’s felted characters for books…I’m making felted characters from other books. 🙂

These two are from Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon. I found the book about ten years ago when I lived out in Oregon, in the Willamette Valley, all surrounded by pine trees and deep shadows and moss. Lucky for me that summer I found a red caboose library in the woods–chock-full of people’s faves. An honor system library. Seriously the coolest thing ever. There should be a red caboose library in every town. Anyway, I took a chance on the dog-eared copy of Outlander. And it was a pretty delicious yarn. Total summer escapism. They’ve made it into a TV show, of course. (Starz). Every bit as addictive!

These two. I needle-felted them from wool roving, (like sculpting with cotton candy) and they’re about 10″ tall.

Happy Earth.

I’m late on posting this for Earth Day, but as my daughter reminded me this morning, “Every day is Earth Day.” Happy week, all!

Made this little Earth to fit in the palm of a hand, with lovely dyed wools in different blues and greens. Added those whispy little clouds on last. My friend Bethany Kohoutek shot this image in front of a watercolor backdrop.

Heart POP.

Couldn’t make a Leia without a Chewie!

We made POP-up cards over the weekend and the kids really got into it. LOVED all their awesome self-expression. Our daughter turned herself into girl Rambo. 🙂

Neon paper + glitter hearts + glue + googly eyes + super creative kiddos = V Day FUN!

HEART felt.

LOVE is in the air.

Too Sweet.

Olivia, our five-year-old, had asked me to make a princess the other day. She’s always been more into Batgirl or Wonder Woman than princesses, so it surprised me. But Princess Leia really IS a Super Hero.

Hello, January.

Hope it’s been a cozy, lovely start to 2017 for you all!

So excited to be asked to be part of Beaverdale Books’ “We Heart Local Authors” event February 11th, for Pearl & the Whale. More details to come!

Also thrilled to be teaching another needle-felting class January 28th at Knitting Next Door. We’re making little heart whales, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

This little sweetie was made from leftover tufts of cherry red wool. Thought she might fly right out of my hands.

PJs, Crafts & Storytime will happen again soon. !!! Thanks to Ephemera’s Karen and Arin for opening up their always sparkly shop downtown to host the Pearl & the Whale reading!