Fans of Carolyn DeAngelis Felt Ornaments: September 2011

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Eagle

We have a young friend who began attending Ashland University here in Ohio this fall. Ashland's mascot is an eagle and their colors are purple and gold. I knew right away that I wanted to make him the eagle ornament for Christmas, but my creativity stopped there. On a campus visit, I spied a banner with an eagle whose body was purple. A-HA! I usually don't think up the ideas on my own, but I'm a masterful copier! I used Print Shop to make a varsity "A" to put on his chest. He turned out fantastic and I have no doubt that Caleb will be very happy at Christmas.

And now you know my big photography secret. I lay my ornaments on a yellow mailing envelope to take their pictures. I'm too lazy to crop the flap off of this one. And if you look at Star's picture, you can see the return address in the corner. Sorry to blow my cover!

Marching Band Bear #2

Kelly is now a sophomore, so this is bear #2 to add to her marching band. She's still honking away on her clarinet and is still loving band! Nothing exotic here. Stuck straight to the pattern.

Star

This is my third ornament for my friend Rachel's daughter, Audrey. Rachel is currently expecting her 2nd child on October 21st, so I'll be rapidly stitching another ornament for their tree this year as soon as I know whether the baby is a boy or a girl. This is not my favorite of the three angels I've made for Audrey, but amongst a collection, little Star will be just fine.

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.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Eagle

Marching Band Bear #2

Star

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