Mary had a little lamb

I gave him away.

Now Jaynie has a little lamb,

it's fleece is not as white as snow,

it's natural/off white.





I bought some needle felting supplies a while back,  I tried to follow the directions from a book but I didn't get good results.

Then I followed the directions from about.com for this little lamb and I finally got results that we liked.


The difference is that you build a frame from pipe cleaners/chenille stems first, I found it so much easier to get the shape and proportions right.


I still need to add face details but I wanted to show him to you first, just in case.

I'm also working on a black cat,


tutorial at   about.com



The directions were a bit different,
you  make the frame for the body,

And you make the head separate.

Again, I still need to add face details,

I'm searching my supplies for the right green or yellow beads for his eyes.

After the face is done, the head can be felted to the body.


I think the next time I'll try to make a frame for the head attached to the body first.


If I can get the faces done and finish these I think that I will really enjoy this craft. 
It uses very little material and doesn't take too much time and my favorite part, NO GLUE.


I hope that I will have more to show you soon.
The heat and humidity this summer really tapped my energy and slowed me down,
to even slower than my usual slow pace.

With the weather cooling I'm working to catch up on every thing that fell so far behind and also find time for minis and blogging.

Thank you for visiting, Mary

Give-Away Gifts to Jennifer and Faby

Jennifer and Faby   have show both received their gifts that they won in my last give-away so I can show  you my pictures. 

First for Jennifer I made a few books and book marks.

I added a few pages with pictures of cupcakes to the cookbook, I know that Sophie and Flossy enjoy baking and like cupcakes.

I also made a journal with blank pages, 2 pens, a romance paperback and included 2 silver frames, that can also be used as trays.

I also sent a few porcelain vase beads. I added a bit of plastic plant in one. I didn't glue it, it can be changed if wanted.

Jennifer let me know that she likes red, so I included a piece of red lace that I think would make a lovely bed spread. I left it unfinished so that Jennifer can use it as she likes.

I sent both Faby and Jennifer an assortment of veggies, I only took a picture of one, they were very much alike.

carrots
peeled carrots
sliced carrots
carrot peels
potatoes
peeled potatoes
cut potatoes
potato peels
opened baked potatoes
green beans
and some pats of butter

I sent Faby a few books, the stone vase with flowers that she let me know she liked and a vase with plants.

I made 2 special journals for Faby with
'Il Mio Diario' (My Journal) on the spines.

Also 2 pens, bookmarks, 2 silver frames and a romance paperback.

And 4 small plastic chairs.

Just before I packaged up their gifts I made some bathroom brushes and necklaces so I added these also.  The ones on the left to Jennifer and right for Faby.


I'm trying to make a brush holder but have not figured it out, yet.



I didn't take pictures of the clamps that I sent to both and some how missed the baby bottles that I included in Jennifer's package,  you can see more pictures on Jennifer's and Faby's  blogs.

I'm so happy that they liked these gifts that I sent them in my mother's honor, I can imagine my mom smiling.

I used the tutorial from Bruita's minis blog as a guide to make the pens.
If you try your hand at making these, for a more realistic look, use opaque bugle and seed beads, not translucent. I used plain white glue and it seems to have held fine.

I used the tutorial from Joanne's minis blog  for the bathroom brush.  If you don't know Joanne's blog you need to go visit, you will find many great tips, ideas, tutorials and projects, including a weekly trash-to-treasures tutorial.

The paperback was made from a printie but I don't know from where.  If I find it I'll add a link.

If you're looking for tutorials and printies remember to visit my other blog M's Lists , it now has over 1,000 links to tutorials and I'm still updating and adding more.

Please let me know what you like so that I'll be ready if you win my next give away that I plan to do soon.


Thank you for visiting, Mary

A few little accessories

 I've put together a few accessories for Jaynie.

This basket was easy to make following the tutorial   from   The little blue room .

I just put this together quickly to see if the shape was really as easy to get as it showed, it was. 

The tutorial was not made as a mini item so a few adjustments had to be made, but that was not difficult.  I used a 3 x 3" piece of  card stock.   The basket (not counting the handles) came out  to about 1 3/4" long, just under 1" high and 1" wide.   This size would be good for a floor basket filled with knitting supplies or magazines.

Next time I'll try it a bit smaller and add a bit more details, like the shading and handles in the tutorial.

This is my quick version of  a modern planter, it doesn't show well in this picture, it look better in real, really.

See the   tutorial  from Mini Dork at   Modern Mini Houses .

I used a small plastic bead tube and some dried grass from Dollar tree.  I sorted some of the smaller stones out of a package of chips but they are a bit too big.  I need to find some finer rocks so that more branches can fit in. 

While I had the stones out, I picked out a few to use with a candle (a birthday cake candle).

Jaynie is happy with her new items.

Did you notice the carpet, that's new too, upholstery fabric from Joanne Fabrics. 
What do you think?

Oops, I forgot to put the basket in the scene.

Jaynie was very happy when I came home with this giant bouquet of white carnations (imitation baby's breath in 1/1).  We have enough carnations to last a life time plus some to share.











Here is a close up of the little bunches of 3.


Would you like to win a dozen carnations, sign up for  My Give-Away .


 If you are already signed up leave a comment here if you would like these as part of your prize if you win.

Here is one of the carnations in a bud vase (stone bead)

Let me know if you would like this vase, I also have some that are a bit greener and some more yellow.

And a couple more stone bead vases.

I reamed out the orange-y one, now it looks more like a vase and holds more flowers.

The grey one is not reamed, I started it but its a lot harder than the other one.

Would you like one of these?

Please let me know what you like.

The chair and pillows were a swap gift from Cyd of  Mini Mod Pod .

Thank you for visiting, Mary

Welcome

I would like to send a warm welcome to

Cote of   Las cosas se Cote   just posted pictures of the beautiful curtains that she made for her House of Sophie.   Go by for a visit, look  at her older posts to see many lovely miniatures; furniture, dolls and more.  It looks like Sophie and family had a great Christmas.


I've added some links to some mini tutorials to the bottom of the page.

Joann's Minis  has many great video tutorials including a dollhouse for your dollhouse and a toy truck.

New England Miniatures  has a long list of tutorials, some on building dollhouses, making furniture and creating many accessories.

Wanna's Cheap Thrills shows lots of interesting ways to use some unusual items.
Wanna's Tutorials include making a cardboard box full of floor tiles and how to bash a Michael's hutch.

I hope that you find these useful,  I have more that I plan to add. 


 Thank you for visiting, Mary