Kelly Casanova Weaving Lessons

Kelly

Craft container revamp

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I tried to paint this wooden container ages ago and never liked how it turned out. It’s been holding my paint brushes and knitting needles. Not one to be fond of being reminded of crafty failures I thought I’d try something different. I gave it a couple of coats of Jo Sonja in white…..

Measured out a cute blue spotty fabric (that I’ve also had for ages), slapped on some Mod Podge, wrapped the fabric around, slapped on some more Mod Podge….

Added some Farbenmix ribbon that I’ve been harbouring for way too long, and glued on a little quirky sheep button. Now I don’t mind seeing it on my shelf!

Mmmm, chocolate cake…

I’ve been enlisted as chief photographer and editor for my boy’s latest Lego project. Sleepyhead needed a bed for this scene, so I made one out of polymer clay and a fabric scrap. The things we do for love.

Hope you’re having a great week, God bless. 

Here kitty!

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My newest embroidery pattern inspired by a furry friend of mine! Are you a cat person? I am for sure, which is not to say I’m not a dog person, I love dogs too šŸ™‚

Stitch kitty is available in my Etsy shop as a PDF download for a very reasonable price. I hope you like him!

Thanks are in order to all those who prayed for me after I injured my back, I can now say it is steadily improving with care and exercise. How we take things for granted and don’t appreciate the things we have until we lose them. Good health is such a blessing and I need to be more grateful.

Wishing you all the best for a happy and blessed week.

Waldorf plush doll

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It’s a while since I made a waldorf inspired doll and lastnight I was seized with a longing to craft one.

There is something very special about the waldorf way of making dolls. The materials are a delight to use. The way the character of the doll emerges as you stitch.

Waldorf dolls are probably responsible for igniting my crafting passion, paricularly my love of using beautiful and natural materials and for implementing fine needlework.

A doll like this is perfect for imaginary play and snuggly bedtimes! There were 3 girls looking over my shoulder whilst I was doing the handstitching and dropping not so subtle hints!
Available in my Etsy shop now šŸ™‚

A pretty dress and a bad back

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It’s been a difficult week. Everything was ticking along just fine, and then I injured my back and things fell apart a little. It’s very hard to run a household when you need to spend most of your time lying or sitting. It’s particularly frustrating when you’re a “doing” person, I really dislike not being active.
But, these things happen and I have accepted that rest is best. I’m praying for a complete healing – please pray for me too!

So, the dress. It was mostly finished when I hurt my back so I’ve been able to do the finishing by hand. The pattern is McCall’s M5838 and the fabric (which I love!) is from Spotlight. The pattern was too fussy with too many pieces for my liking, but the end result is pretty good, albeit too large for G – nevermind, she will grow into it šŸ™‚
Now, to the giveaway which was supposed to be drawn during the week! I’m going to extend it until next week in case you didn’t get a chance to enter, please do – it’s a lovely little book.

See you soon, have a blessed weekend.

Snippets of life

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I received this week some very beautiful hand dyed cotton from Melissa at Rainbow Made. I’m knitting up some dishcloths using this famous pattern.

My heart flutters when I look at this photo.

We have so many tomatoes this year. These ones are partially oven dried and sitting in olive oil for sandwiches, salads, pasta etc.

                                                 The love affair with books continues.

Have you tried achachas yet? They’re really good! A little like a mangosteen in flavour and Australian grown. We’ve been getting them at an Asian market  where everything is fresh and cheap.

Today I’m working on a dress for an out of sorts 6 year old, knitting dishcloths, then there is that unfinished painting, embroidery and pattern to write up. Wish me luck!

“I just can’t take it anymore!” book review and giveaway

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Anthony Destefano has a new book and it’s a little different to his other works. Each page has a comical photo of children along with encouraging text for those feeling discouraged. It’s a lighthearted look at life, it’s problems and the way we deal with them. It’s also a reminder that a good sense of humour, along with trust in God will go a long way when we experience conflict.
The book would make a great gift.
You can read more about the book here and the press release is here.
I have one copy to giveaway, unfortunately there is a small tear in one page, courtesy of my over enthusiastic toddler!
Sorry, this giveaway is open to Australian residents only šŸ™‚
Just leave a comment to enter and I’ll draw the winner on Tuesday.

Back to dolls

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This is my latest custom order. I’ve been feeling lately like I miss making dolls and getting all nostalgic about it so a knotsie doll is a really good compromise. It doesn’t take as long to make as my other dolls.

And they’re also really cute!

I’m working on writing a pattern for these at the moment, so if you’d like to make your own, watch this space! Maybe don’t watch too closely, as I’m notoriously slow when it comes to these things.
I have some other things to show you so hopefully I’ll make it back here this week. We have started up our lessons again, so the days are pretty full, but it’s kinda nice to be back in the swing of routine, I think I enjoy holidays a bit too much and start to get lazy.
Hope you’re having a great week, God bless.

Needle felted heart brooch tutorial

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I’m on a bit of a roll with the tutes lately! In case you didn’t know already, Valentine’s Day is next month so I’m seeing hearts everywhere! I hope you enjoy this tutorial and I apologise in advance for the not-so-great night time photos, but as all crafty Mums know, night time is when the magic happens!

You will need: 
Red wool roving (you don’t need all that much
Heart shaped cookie cutter
Needle felting mat and needle
Embroidery floss
Brooch back

Pull off a piece of wool and tease it out a little so it’s nice and fluffy. Place the cookie cutter on the mat and stuff the wool into it.

Using your felting needle, begin to felt the wool by pushing the needle up and down all over the wool. Hold onto the cookie cutter to avoid needle felting your finger. It hurts. I repeat. It hurts! When the wool seems matted add another, thinner layer of wool and repeat the process.

When the wool seems to be matted down nicely, turn it over to the other side. Replace the cookie cutter to keep your heart shape and continue to felt, paying particular attention to the edges and the fold in the top middle of the heart.

Take your heart out and turn it over again. If it doesn’t seem matted enough just repeat until you’re happy with it.

Using the design I’ve provided (at the end of this post) as a guide begin the embroidery. All of the loop stitches are worked in lazy daisy stitch and the spots are french knots. Use a light colour such as cream or light pink as I have used here. Use 2 strands of floss. Knot your thread at the back and use a light tension for your stitches so that they float on the surface rather than sinking into the wool.

Use your cookie cutter to cut a heart shape out of wool felt. I’ve used a lovely hand dyed red wool felt. Slip stitch around the felt and wool hearts with a matching coloured embroidery floss to attach them together with almost invisible stitches.

Stitch your brooch back onto the back of the heart, then, as a cute little touch, cut out a small heart shape from the wool felt and stitch it over the stitched brooch back. This neatens up the back too.
If you make one I’d love to see it, and please let me know if there are any mistakes or if you need more information.
By the way, if you like the brooch but can’t be bothered making one yourself, I have one available for sale, contact me if you’re interested šŸ™‚
This is my own design and for personal use only. Please do not copy this design or blog post in any way.
Heart Brooch Design002

Custom embroidery

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I’ve just completed this custom order and it’s turned out beautifully. The customer wants to give it to a friend as a going away present and she wanted me to come up with a design that reflected their friendship in a cute and whimsical way.

I embroidered all the design outlines and then filled in the white with corresponding colours in colour pencil. I then made it up into a cushion.

Isn’t she sweet to want to give such a meaningful gift?