MOMMIE HAD ME DE-CLAWED SO I WOULDN'T HURT THE BIRDS!

Been sending versions of the cats to family for Christmas. My sister-in-law in Az has a great black & white cat named Oreo....her hubbies fav. After I got him made Hubbie suggested instead of a mouse I should make a bird. So made a little bluebird nesting in his hair! While at it made a couple of more birds, in red and blue.

CATS & MICE ARE WINNERS!

So popular last week at Monte Art Walk, had to make more this week for the Bazaar in Alamosa this weekend. While I was at it decided to make some larger "Tree Mice", to go with the Angel cats. After all who wouldn't want to have a mouse in their tree??? Sure glad I decided to try this as a project to do while at the shows. Have had a couple of requests for instructions on my "technique", so plan to write up after the Holidays.

CATS & MICE

Been doing more experimenting the needle felting and made a few more animals, but have gone crazy with the cats & mice! Wound up with 20 mice, made while watching TV at night. Everyone, including me, loves the cats, so have pretty much zeroed in on them. My original idea was to have cat's foot on tail of a mouse, but a friend suggested with the look on the cats face,putting the mouse on the cat. Love it! The biggest cat is 9". Now have decided to make little ones into Kitty Angels for the Christmas tree. Anyone who has a cat knows they are! So now think I have everything pretty much figured out and if I can control myself, will be able to do them at the 2 shows I'll be at next weekend and the one after.I always like to have a project to do so people will stop to see what I'm up to.

MY NEW TREASURES: MANNEQUINS

What a deal I got this AM at an estate auction...paid $2.50 for these body parts! Been wanting to make a life size doll, so these babies will give me a good start. Had another lower torso but some guys asked me about getting one for their Mother's Halloween decor, so gave them one. Not sure what I'll do with everything, but at this price I couldn't resist. Stay tuned!!!

KINDERKRITTERS

Daughter Rachel teaches kindergarten in Fla. so I was inspired to make some animals to decorate her room. These are not stuffed animals to be played with, but are to be hung on the walls. They are so much fun to make, since they are fantasy characters based on the real ones. I think the kids will really like having them in their class. As I went thru my fabric,that was what determined what animal I'd make. The bird is left over from a bathroom curtain.

GIRAFFE KINDER KRITTER

Got the giraffe done finally. He's the last of the critters I was inspired to make for now. However as I go through my fabric, who knows what will hit me next. I really do have to get busy though and write up instructions for the projects I did using Jacquard Fabric Medium for Soft Dolls & Animals. I sent in the first none, which will be in the March issue next year. So happy the editor liked!!! I'm liking being on the Editorial Consulting Staff for them!!!!

BOOKWORM

Daughter Rachel bought bunches of books in second hand stores while here for the Reading Center in her kindergarten class. So I decided she needed a bookworm. Took a while to finally get the design done. I wanted him to be upright and able to hold a book. After a couple of attempts, finally got what I wanted, by adding some darts, and a piece of wire that goes from tail to neck, so he can be bent & he stays upright. (nothing worse than a tipsy bookworm). I finally made his arms by twisting 4 chenille stems together for strength and again mobility. They go all the way down into his over sized hands, so he can hold a book. The fabric I chose for him is a bright fluorescent lime green & yellow "tiger-like" stripe. His head is also fluorescent yellow...after all he is very bright!