Felt Fun-atic

Etsy is a dangerous place to leave me with some free time. After perusing for fun items and silly inspiration, I was instantly captivated by several sites selling felt play food. I literally laughed out loud when I saw a latte kit, as well as a muffin tin, whisk and bowl – all crafted from felt. I had no clue what kind of skill level was required for these projects (“intermediate” was listed on some of the patterns … but really, how does that translate to the felt novice?), but I decided this was something worth investigating.

With the assistance of my loyal friend Google, I found several sites with free felt food patterns, and I headed to my nearby JoAnn’s to check out their felt selection. I wasn’t deterred by several patterns talking about dying wool felt, speaking of “crafters felt” in four-letter-word tones. The little pre-cut … CHEAP … sheets of recycled fabric would be just fine for me.

In typical fashion, I started two projects at once – bowtie pasta and a sandwich. Every time I’d see the progress on an item, I’d just start laughing because it was so cute. This was really my first excursion with fabric and my sewing machine. My thought: I should probably tackle something a little more suited to a sewing newbie before I tore into pillow covers with zippers. Isn’t felt food a natural starting point?

I found patterns for all kinds of adorable items – sunny side up eggs, a grocery bag, bacon (complete with an internal pipe cleaner to make it “crinkle”), carrots, frosted animal cookies – the options really were wide open. And I became somewhat obsessed. Not only because my niece’s birthday was quickly approaching and I needed to mail her felt gift, but more so by the choices I wanted to provide for her. Of COURSE she should have the option between bread and toast when making her sandwich – this gift would be unacceptable otherwise!

I’ll admit … it got a little out of hand.

Luckily, the play food was a hit with the two-year-old, and I already have a head start on her expanded collection for Christmas. But to me, the most interesting aspect was the unintended ripple effect. As I’ve been sharing some of my crafting adventures with dear friends, I’m reminded by the surprised looks of many other friends that this is not a side I’ve expressed in awhile. It’s been so joyfully therapeutic for me to feel like I’m playing again while engaging in the creative process … and a good reminder not to put off that “therapy.”

Next up on the felt agenda: baby mobile for a friend. We’ll see how my replication and pattern-making skills shape up for this sweet little thunderstorm!

Going Postal

A Zoo Of A Halloween

I love celebrating. Big or small – it really doesn’t matter. I enjoy special preparations and all the touches of care that go into decorating for changing seasons, cooking a Christmas feast or showing some cultural flair.

Growing up, I eagerly anticipated the Saturdays when Mom would bring a box of decorations up from the basement so we could help dress the house. I also knew this meant a special surprise from my aunt would soon follow in the mail.

My aunt was one of many who helped me see joy in holidays. For every occasion, she would send individually addressed cards to me and my sister – a big deal when you’re not accustomed to receiving mail. And this wasn’t just run-of-the-mill mail. The cards were always the kind that made me smile … and often included an extra little surprise, like a stick of gum or a dollar bill. Plus, the envelopes were penned in beautiful calligraphy, and equipped with seasonal stickers and a special stamp. It was almost as if the “boring default” flag stamps weren’t allowed. I remember thinking I wanted to be that kind of aunt when I grew up.

Never fail, every holiday brought a card with a loving note. The cards even came when I moved to college, and still come now that I have my own household with my husband. I firmly believe my aunt helped me cultivate the bit of pleasure I receive every day when getting the mail.

Fast forward to this summer. Remember my mention of borderline hoarder tendencies? I have a hard time tossing personal things … even if those things aren’t meant to keep forever. I decided to sort through my boxes of mail, collected through the years, and consolidate. (Is it frightening that I speak of these boxes in the plural tense? Or that I’ve sorted through them a time or two before?) What did I find? Numerous holiday cards from my aunt, kept treasured away for their sweet sentimentality. Some of my favorites I’d even used as holiday door decorations while in college. I had to laugh when I discovered a date on a postcard – 1989. Wow.

So, instead of keeping these thoughtful notes stuffed in a box, I decided to honor my aunt’s postmaster career by putting a new twist on these old cards. And what a great reminder – take joy in celebrating life’s many occasions!

Pilgrim Turkey

Clean Inspiration

In college, one of the tasking commands from my professors I came to dread was the ever-enlightening, “Just be creative!” Seriously. Do you think I’m trying to make things boring? But when those words demanding creativity were asked of me, I felt a distinct pressure added to the assignment.

My best ideas kind of sneak up on me. I might be thinking about a certain project, but I often have to let it sit and just percolate in my mind for awhile. And oddly enough, the “winning” ideas often come to me in the shower.

For me, the shower is a relaxing place with no distractions, where I energize for the day or wind down for the night. I let my mind wander, ticking through my mental checklists on auto-pilot. Somehow bouncing around thoughts and ideas in the little space is therapeutic to me. I enjoy this quiet time each day.

I first realized “the power of the shower” my freshman year of college. I may have worked on a project for hours, but when I finally stepped away, relaxed and let my mind just play with the concepts, I’d come bursting back into our room with a grand idea in tow. My best friend and roommate at the time laughed that if I ever owned a company, I needed to install an awesome shower in my office to speed my brainstorming along.

I remember a specific occasion in my first job after college. We had just purchased a national ad with an incredibly short deadline, and we needed copy immediately. I pounded text all day, brainstorming with our group to try to find a concept that worked, but nothing was dynamic. I asked to let it rest overnight, and even when I went home that evening, my mind was spinning. Sure enough, I hopped in the shower the next morning and the headline and idea came to me. With a little tweaking and an in-house photo shoot, our ad was out the door to the publication.

Granted, the shower is not an instant fix for me, but I think it’s important for everyone to have a place or space where your mind is free to test things out. Commanding creativity may not be realistic, especially on a deadline, but allowing inspiration to flourish and learning to tune in to that inner “idea spigot” is always valuable.

Here’s one of my recent crafting projects that came together in my mind during my morning shower. Check it out on my Etsy site!

Natural Love