Felt Art, Handmade Holidays, Yarn Along and Orange Pomanders

Pony Boy Felt Art

As many of you all know that I am profoundly inspired by Marie's felt art and aspired to be able to work with felt in such a beautiful, creative way.  It all started out with my little lilac felt girl, then the two little boys. Pondering on what I could do with them and playing around with small bits of magic wool, my first little pony boy felt art revealed itself.

Pony Reins

This is a simple crochet pony reins craft from the Living Crafts magazine. Another gift for Sania's birthday.

Sasha Knitting

Sasha is pretty good at knitting.  Last year he knitted a beautiful little kitten for his brother's birthday and this year he helped me knit the pony below.  He doesn't knit often because it's so hot in the tropics. Winter is the only time he will actually do it and not overheat - it's not a great love of his but he knows how.

Knitted Pony

I'm sure you've all guessed that we love horses and ponies.  This is the little pony Sasha helped me knit for Sania's birthday, the pattern can be found in the First book of Knitting for Children by Bonnie Gosse and Jill Allerton.  Sasha was galloping the horse over our pillows last night whilst his brother was in dream land.

Acorn Baby

Simple little acorn babies in a little felted nest.  I love the fuzzy looking acorn tops that we collected during our stay at the Redwood forest last spring.

[caption id="attachment_1851" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Pink Acorn Baby"][/caption]

Star Decoration

Felting patterns by placing colored wool into cookies cutter shapes are my children's favorite craft.  Last year we made many decorations for the Christmas tree.  Above is Sasha's star decoration from a star cookie cutter but the shape didn't form to well, it almost looks like an autumn leaf.  I added two lines of crochet around to hold the form a bit better.

Boys Felting

The children having fun.  Working with felt always sets a peaceful mood in the home.

Star Ornament

Yet another Living Crafts Magazine ornament I made last year by cutting two star shapes out of red felt.  Sewing them in blanket stitch with red floss and stuffing with wool batting.  I added some beads, shells and a little bell at the end to decorate it.

[caption id="attachment_1872" align="aligncenter" width="533" caption="Angel in an African Violet Pod"][/caption]

A simple little fairy made from magic wool encased in a wonderful pod, dropped down from our splendid African Violet Tree.

Orange Pomander

The sweet, spicy scent that emanates from these delightful orange pomanders is delectable.   A fun little craft to celebrate the holiday season and a pretty, scented decoration.  The children helped embellish these sweet oranges with a pretty arrangement.  A spiral was formed in the orange below, reminiscent of their holiday advent spiral that they love to celebrate.

Spiral Pomander

The oranges in Dominican Republic never have a thick orange skin.  They are ripened at this lime green stage and offer delicious sweet juice.  We have many bitter oranges on the farm that we harvest to make marmalade.

Advent Calendar Bag

Every year we hang our advent calendar bags for the children.  This is a photo from two years ago.  A treasure lies waiting for the children in the morning as they excitedly wake up, thinking they were visited by the fairies.  When Sasha was little he told me the fairies had brought him these wonderful treasures so I have never told him otherwise. Treasures we include are shells, gem stones, little crafts I make, peppermint candy sticks, a small chocolate, bells, some little woodies I found from Michaels, colored glass, stickers. Finding treasures to fill all these bags keeps me very busy.