Felt Taxidermy: the best kind of mount!

Felt Taxidermy 2
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

Aaron is an avid hunter. I'm perfectly fine with that so long as it is done with respect and we use as much of the animal as possible, but I'm not about to allow a dead animal head to hang in my house! So after a friend showed me some wonderful examples of felt taxidermy on etsy.com, I knew just what to make Aaron for the holidays this year! I'll actually allow him to hang this one up! I can't wait to see the look on his face when he opens it.
I didn't have a pattern, so I started with a donkey plush pattern, modified the head, and did the rest with nothing but my imagination. I love how it turned out and hopefully I'll get a pic with Aaron and his new "mount" on Christmas morning!

A wonderful giveaway by a talented artist!

I just wanted to let the world know about a chance to win a customized portrait of your favorite pet by a very talented Etsy artist. Her blog where you enter the giveaway is here
http://www.sittingprettystudio.blogspot.com/ and you can check out her great Etsy store here
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5101750. Go on and enter! It would be great to have a portrait of your current pet or a memorial to a beloved pet that has passed! Check it out!

Grain Bag Project Bag

Grain Bag Project Bag
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

My Grandpa worked at a seed plant for over 30 years and he worked with these seed and grain sacks on a daily basis. He even mended them when need be. My Mom got a huge roll of them when they sold off the seed plant and had no idea what to do with them. Then she realized they'd make great bags. So I took a bunch, washed them like crazy, and whipped up this! My Mom needs a new project bag to haul around her crochet and I think this will be just great. Durable, washable, and even a bit sentimental seeing as her Dad probably filled this bag full of seed more than once.
I think I'll be making more of these with embroidery on them for my Etsy shop. I also think they'd make great reusable shopping bags!

Chef Tree

Chef Tree
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I shared our big Yule tree yesterday and thought I should also share the small tree that decorates the dining room / kitchen. Every year Aaron gets the chef Hallmark ornament from his Aunt for his Birthday. I found this perfect little tree a couple years ago so now they all have a home. The tree skirt is actually an apron. My Grama made the chef snoman for Aaron last year and he looks so perfect beside the tree!

Off to work on more gifts!

O Yule Tree!

Yule Tree 2008
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I just had to share our beautiful tree. We just finished decorating it while watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Our traditional thing to watch while decorating the tree. We just love our real trees. They mean so much. Our ornaments are very eclectic. We don't like sticking to a theme. Each ornament has special memories and thoughts behind them and we like it that way. We have our first year in our new home ornament, our first Christmas together ornament, the hand made ones made by Aaron's Grama, some hand made ones made by me and Aaron, 17 puppy Hallmark ornaments in a series my Mom started for me when I was young, we each have our very 1st Christmas ornaments too! All so special and unique. It is like looking through a scrap book of memories each time we open the ornament box.

I'm ready for my close up

Bunny Close up
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I just had to share this cute little bunny I made using a tutorial on Craftster.org. This is a gift for a soon to be born baby! It is so soft and cuddly. I put lentils in his feet and stuffed the rest of him. He's made from some really soft fleece and tweed for the inside of the ears. All parts are very secure so that baby can pull, squeeze, and gum away. I just love him and want to make one for myself. If you'd like to see a full body view go to my flickr.

Anyone for a check up?

Nurse Black Apple Doll
Originally uploaded by AlwaysInspired

I just wanted to show off my first attempt at the famous Black Apple Doll pattern from the Martha Stewart website. I made her very small though. She only stands about 12 inches. I think most of them are much bigger. She's a little nurse with her stethoscope giving check ups! I made her for a friend for the holidays! I think I'll be making more of these dolls in the future!