Fans of Carolyn DeAngelis Felt Ornaments: June 2010

Monday, June 14, 2010

Surf Guard

I am NOT a lighthouse person and the drawing didn't look very cute, so I was less than enthusiastic about this particular ornament. My aunt collects lighthouses and loves anything handmade, so I decided I need to make this for her. It's funny how sometimes the drawing looks cute and the finished ornament doesn't live up to, and vice versa. As I was cutting the pieces, I could tell this one would turn out nice -- and it did!

I freehand cut the little rocks and used both gray and white. Other than that, I followed the pattern.

Welcome to my blog!

I hope this will be a fun place for us to exchange pictures of our completed ornaments, as well as tips and stories. If you're new here, be sure to read back through previous posts so you can see all my ornaments. Be sure to list yourself as a follower of the blog so we can start a felt ornament community!

Please feel free to comment to any of the posts . . . maybe you've made that ornament, too, and have a tip or a funny story to share . . . or maybe you have a question to ask. Whatever your thoughts are, please share them with the rest of us!

Who's Ouida?

About Ouida and me . . . . we taught school together briefly years ago when she was nearing retirement and I was a student teacher. We found that we shared a love of crafting and other interests. That, and the fact that our husbands got along well right from the start, made us all fast friends.
We've exchanged many patterns over the years for various craft projects and we both love to sew and quilt. I knew she made the felt ornaments that I remember so well from childhood when my mother and grandmother used to frequent church bazaars. I, on the other hand, had never made one and had only the ones Ouida made me herself: a golfer for Scott and an elf for me.
Ouida and her mother used to order patterns from Carolyn DeAngelis in the 70's and 80's. When her mother had to enter a nursing home, I was blessed to be the recipient of all her patterns. I've been obsessed ever since! She frequently gives me tips and we share ideas all the time. She's my friend and partner in crafting crime!
And the most interesting thing? We're 25 apart in age and 500 miles apart geographically. Think of the trouble we'd get into if we lived in the same town again!

General Ornament Info

I use both regular felt and unwashed wool felt. The wool felt is thicker, offers better colors . . . but is more expensive. :o(

I stitch with regular sewing thread unless I don't have a matching color. Then I use cross stitch floss. I use only one strand regardless of what I do.

I hand stitch the year on the back of my ornaments.

I make everything 3-dimensional . . . like arms, little doodads in hands, etc.

I use a 1/8" hole punch to make my eyes. I add a little white French knot for a pupil.

I hot glue things into hands, to glue hands together, etc. Definitely not a "Ouida-approved" action! She stitches all hers.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Surf Guard

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