Handmade Holidays ♥ Christmas Dolls : :

A few new dolls...

{smiles} ~ Maureen

Heart Felt Owl Dolls : :

A few of my newest owl dolls...

These are holiday custom orders, but I'll have a few available in my etsy soon! I've been so busy (and not feeling very well lately) --- which is why I am really lacking on the blog posts. I have lots to share and am feeling much better, so stay tuned!

My Weekend : :

A little more than a week ago a friend of mine left me a comment on one of my owl photos on  my facebook page, asking me if I wanted to have a little table at the Falling Leaves Festival. I decided to "try" to do it, changing my mind because of the weather and then exhaustion, hmn...about 100 times! Oh, my poor sweet husband...I think know I drove him crazy with my hour to hour ramblings of "I'll be ready, I'll just stay up REALLY late each night working. Yes, that's what I'll do"....to...."There's no way I'll be ready and now the weather is calling for rain, AGAIN! No, I'll just do the next one"....

Well....

I made it and I am so glad I did! It was a beautiful day, a wonderful experience, and I did really well! Due to time --- I didn't get everything finished and had to let go to that very specific vision I've had for when I would participate in my first local festival...but that's alright. What's left will be available in my etsy sometime this week or headed to the shops.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend, too! ~ Maureen

Owl Picture Day : :

Doesn't this remind you of school pictures? It must be the background. I didn't do this on purpose, although it seems so fitting now that some of our little ones are back in school and this day for them is quickly approaching. The truth is my other pictures of these little owls just didn't turn out and these are all that I have since they've already flown the coop. Now that I see that connection, I'm finding these pictures so silly!

Well anywhoo, this is "Blue Screech" owl --- name given by 10 year old Hannah, whom received him as a birthday gift. : )   : :

And, this owl is for my etsy shop : :

I have decided to stick with this design for a while. I think it's my favorite so far...

What do you think?

 I enjoyed using some of my new fabrics...

Designer fabrics from Sew Fresh Fabrics.

And, I just LOVE adding little details like this...

I have never shared this before, but this is how I sign each doll. It's not as clean looking as a tag, which I am considering, but to me it just makes my handmade items look a little more handmade.

How do you put "your stamp" on your handmade items?

Owl doll. Owl details.

I realized it's been a while since I've shared any new dolls. So, this here is my latest custom order request to come through my etsy. Created to be a special doll for a babe on the way with a nursery waiting for him/her decked out with this Alexander Henry -- "It's a Hoot" fabric.

I wanted to make a similar doll to the last one I blogged about --- with that sweet, bright eyed, baby owl face.

With lots of "It's a hoot" fabric details.

Under the wings.

And, on the feet.

Oh yes, I love this fabric! I still have an owl embroidered pillow, with this wonderful fabric, still available. And, a few more owl dolls that I am almost ready to share.

Bloggers...we have lift off : :

This weekend I began work on the list the boys gave me -- in our effort to encourage more boy items being made by yours truly. I am not sure how much of the list will make it to an actual tangible thing, but so far so good!

Number one on that list :  Jet pack = finished! Oh, I wish you could see his little fist in the air.

I planned to hand embroider "Jacob's Jet Pack" and some other extra details, but Jacob insisted that it was already perfect. I figure those things can always be added later, if he changes his mind.

With all the zipping around one must do when a jet pack is strapped to your back, it made getting a great picture of Jacob wearing it a little difficult. He was so excited!

Now, I'm onto something special for Kaiden, hmn? Let me know if you have any neat ideas. He requested his own fabric, so I may have to check out the process over on Spoonflower.

I shared my newest owl doll late Friday, and feel a better picture is an order.

She sold before making it to my etsy, but I plan on making many more with this design. When I read Patty's comment, "she looks like a baby"  I agreed right away and realized that this must be why she's my new favorite.

I am also loving this Amy Butler Fabric - scraps from one of Cynthia's projects. I'm thinking I may have to get some for my stash.  : )

It was a wonderful weekend. I hope yours was too!

Boy Meets Owl : :

I just finished a custom owl doll and thought I would share since this little guy is the first "boy" owl doll I have made in a long while.

The etsy custom request was sent with this shower curtain fabric for inspiration...

So, I pulled what I had from my happily growing fabric stash...

And put together some patchwork wings to coordinate...

It was fun working on something for a boy and made me realize, that hasn't been happening nearly enough around here --- more on that tomorrow. : )

New Owls. In the Shop : :

I finally have added a few dolls to my etsy shop! Each of them are so different from the other, with their own colors, details, and little personality.

This is my first patchwork owl doll, with embroidered details and lots of my favorite fabrics --- available here for anyone kind enough to give it a home : :

and Dottie Owl, with needle felted details and fun Riley Blake Fabrics --- available here : :

and this sweet little owl, with lots of embroidered details, a needle felted heart, and a little of  Anna Maria's fabulous fabrics, available here : :

It's been a VERY long time since I have used that poor, neglected shop of mine, so I hope to have you visit me there, as well. One day it will be full, but first I have to focus on the local art show in the works for the fall. I am so excited about this opportunity and for the awesome collection of artists that will be joining together. At the pace of which I have been producing work lately, I'm guessing I'm going to need all of this summer to make the items I have in mind to have on display.  And, I am totally ready for the challenge!

And while you're following the trail of links I am bombarding you all with today, I'd love for you - if you have a second, to check out a recent article about my work. : )

Until tomorrow friends...wishing you the loveliest of days! ~ Maureen

Sunny Day Inspiration : :

The weather here has been beautiful these last few days. We are never inside when it is nice like this, which makes it difficult for me to get much indoor crafting done and new items made. I have been doing a little gardening, but since the home we rent recently has gone up for sale (long story there), I guess my heart is just not in it. All the sunshine, must have influenced what little I have gotten done this week...

I plan on adding this new owl to my Etsy sometime this afternoon. It has been a while since I payed attention to my poor, little neglected shop. I hope to finally start building it up with items this summer. 

The sunshine must have influenced this new purchase, as well. My plan is to make a few new pillows. Imagine that.

I added a link list of my favorite blogs and sites to visit. Feel free to share your favorites with me in the comments, I'd love to see where you go for inspiration!

Wishing you lots of sunshine, wherever you may be! ~ Maureen

Arghhh : :

I just finished this little pirate doll yesterday. Actually he isn't very little at all, about 25" from head to toe. He has been in the works for a while. I started knitting him when there was still snow on the ground, but you all know how the owls have taken over. He and his dreadlocks felted up nicely and I am oh so happy to have him finished. He isn't the gnarly pirate villain that I would want to have, but the boys love him and already want one of their own -- with a few little tweaks, of course.

Even though he has a peg leg, an "injured" eye, and a skull 'n' crossbones on his chest - he is just so stinkn' sweet! More of a little boy dressed up as a pirate, than an actual pirate, I think. I may add a few more details, I'm thinking he needs a little parrot friend. I may have to keep my eye out for an old wool green sweater that I can felt up and use for that. Stay tuned...

Best Always ~ Maureen

Waldorf. Inspired. Doll : :

I didn't set out to make a Waldorf doll --- I was inspired by the Swaddled Baby Love project in Handmade Beginnings and a handmade doll project, I remembered seeing a few years ago either in Martha Stewart Kids Magazine or at her .com. After I finished her up, I saw for the first time the resemblance the doll had to the Waldorf one's I have seen around the web. So, I did a little research, since I was not very familiar with Waldorf educating and I learned that what I made Haila was indeed, a Waldorf doll.All the materials I used fit in with Waldorf doll requirements --- cotton knit fabric for the body, wool stuffing, and I used cotton threads for the facial and hair details. Her appearance is simple, which is said to be important to improve and strengthen imagination and creativity.
I read that you are supposed to hand the doll over to the child and first ask them to name him/her. Haila named her Ella (naturally) and immediately loved her, it was very sweet. I made three diapers and a swaddling blanket to encourage lots of pretend play.

(I'm seeing now how badly Miss Haila needs a manicure. : )

I just finished up this new owl doll, so I thought I'd share. A custom order for a little girl named Karington. - I love that name!
So many sweet little gifts are in the works these days. Wishing you all a wonderful one ~ Maureen

Alright, One More : :

Sarah, the winner of the giveaway, chose Alex Owl and shared why on her blog. The other owls are already at or are heading to hello Bluebird.

So, I guess I wasn't ready just yet to stop with the owl parade. Meet the caboose --- Elma Owl
I made this pillow on Sunday for the daughter of my friend, a sweet little girl named Sophie. (Haila had to see for herself if it was comfortable.)
And, since I didn't share a great picture of Jacob's Birthday Crown last week, I decided to share a better picture. If you have a little one in your life, making one of these is a must. Jacob designed this one himself and wore it for a week straight. --- So quick, easy, and absolutely adorable!
Wishing you a wonderful day! ~ Maureen