Llama Llama Returns

April 24, 2014 at 5:34 pm (Etsy, Handmade Toys, Sewing, Show 'N' Tell)
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Long time Folk Haven readers may remember this post  from almost two years ago where I shared a llama rag doll I was inspired to make for Eli. I created the pattern based on illustrations in Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama series of books. The main character in the stories has as little rag doll llama that is seen on nearly every page, but never mentioned. Eli has always loved his llama doll and Zoe now loves it as well.

llama rag dolls 2

Recently, on a whim, I posted a photo of it on a local Mom-to-Mom sales page on Facebook to see if there would be any other mothers interested in buying a llama doll for their kids. I posted my question at 10 pm and when I checked Facebook again at 6 the next morning I had 14 people wanting to place orders!

llama rag dolls

 

So, lately any free time I can get has been dedicated to llama creation! As is almost always the case with my sewing, I use repurposed materials for these little llamas. I love the thought of pieces of fabric from well-loved clothing finding a new life as part of a snuggly children’s toy. I also am enjoying how each of the little llamas has a very distinct personality… truly there are no two alike! I can make only about 1 a week so it is taking a while to fill the existing orders. In addition people have contacted me about creating other sorts of critters and literary lovies for them. My next pattern to draft will be a pig inspired by Laura Numeroff’s If You Give a Pig a Pancake. I also will be designing a horse (not so very different from a llama), an owl and an elephant.

 

IMG_1458If I can ever catch up with local orders I plan to put some of these in my Etsy shop, which has been sitting empty and gathering dust for a very long time. I have also created a Facebook page for Folk Haven Creations to have a place to post llamas as they are created and available for sale.

corduroy rag doll

I haven’t done much sewing at all since well before Zoe was born, so I am enjoying this return to a bit of a creative outlet.

 

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Tea for Two

December 27, 2011 at 7:58 pm (Etsy)
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This is a little quilt I started about 7 years back, but when we move to California I packed it away and never unpacked it on the other end. I found it this Fall and finished quilting and binding it.

Tea For Two- Appliqued Wall Hanging Quilt

It is roughly 2 feet by 1 1/2 feet. I hand appliqued the letters, tea cups, saucers and pot. Details are hand embroidered. There is something so relaxing about hand quilting… especially when the project is so small and doesn’t take 3 years to complete!

Tea For Two- Appliqued Wall Hanging Quilt

I used my Great-Aunt Jenny’s linen table cloth for the material used in the tea pot and the saucers.

If you are interested in buying  this quilt you can find it in my Etsy store Folk Haven Creations.

Thanks for reading!

Karen

Here’s where I’m linking up.

Tuesday:

At Home With K,  Funky Polkadot Giraffe, Kammy’s Korner, The Kurtz Corner,

Tip Junkie, Raising 4 Princesses,

all crafts Homemade Projects ~ Add Yours {12/13}

Wednesday:

Sew Much Ado, Frugally Sustainable, The Shady Porch, Tea Rose Home, Lil’ Luna,

Sweet Peas & Bumble Bees, Mom On Timeout, Someday Crafts, Passionately Artistic

Thursday:

Thrifty Decorating, Bear Rabbit Bear, The Crafty Blogstalker,

The Shabby Creek Cottage, Delightful Order,  A Glimpse Inside,

 

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Elfin Hat for Newborn

November 14, 2011 at 12:48 pm (Etsy, Show 'N' Tell)
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Here is another Elfin Hat… this time in newborn size!

I made it from a discarded sweater. A larger hat from this same sweater can be seen here. The tassel is made of strips of thin knit fabric, each strand knotted at the end.

It would work great for that newborn photography session!

Unfortunately, I don’t have a tiny one to model it. (But if I did I’m sure there would be no new Elfin Hat at the moment!) Eli’s white bear was willing to lend a helpful noggin.

  

If interested you can find this hat in my Etsy shop, FolkHavenCreations.

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Spanish Graffiti

November 1, 2011 at 1:55 pm (Etsy, Photography)
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When one hears the word “grafitti” images of ugly gang-land scrawl usually come to mind. A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit Spain with my husband. The graffiti I saw in Granada amazed me.

"Thank you spacemen"

Vibrant, playful or serious, simple or complex, these layered images decorated the steep, narrow alleys and streets.
They were quite helpful to us as visitors when it came time to retrace our steps back to the bus station after a long day’s wandering.
I took many pictures to use to make notecards which I sold for a while in a local coffee shop.
I’m making up some new cards now for my Etsy shop and I thought I’d share some of these delightful images here.
Enjoy!

"I am a free bird"

 

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Homespun Betsy

October 5, 2011 at 3:58 am (Etsy)
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As a child I was your stereotypical tomboy. I climbed trees, built dams in the creek to create swimming holes, jumped my BMX bike and most certainly didn’t wear dresses or play with dolls.

But a few years ago I became chronically ill, and after I married, had the luxury of staying home to rest and try to regain my health. (I am doing much better now.) I needed something to occupy my time now that I was no longer teaching so I made quilts and discovered folk art.

I was surprised to find I was drawn especially to primitive and folk art dolls. I think it was a mixture of factors… I loved using up scraps of cloth left over from my quilt projects. Dyeing the cloth with tea and coffee to achieve skin tones was just plain fun. But most of all I was drawn in by the personalities that took shape as the doll was constructed. Each was entirely unique. I drew the pattern for the body pieces on notebook paper and then sewed through it to stabilize the skinny arms and legs, ripping it away when done. I might have a vague idea in mind upon starting a new doll but mostly the doll dictated to me what to do as her parts came together. Always the resulting doll was much different than my initial concept of her.

Although I found making dolls fun and intriguing I really didn’t have much use for them once they were made. Displaying dolls still just isn’t my style. Many have become gifts over the ensuing years, but I just pulled a box out of the closet in which I had packed away this one.

Introducing Homespun Betsy:

Homespun Betsy is a 19″ tea dyed doll hand sewn of muslin and cotton ticking. He dress is roughly woven cotton, unhemmed and fraying at the bottom. The neck of the dress has a hand sewn edge of embroidery floss.

Over the dress she wears a small apron and a simple thread necklace with three wooden beads. Her hair is made of fringed felted wool from an old thrifted coat. The face is needle sculpted and hand embroidered.

In Betsy’s lap is a quilted American flag, a work in progress with the thread and a needle still attached.

She appears to be momentarily pausing in her work, holding her needle at the ready to get back to sewing once again. The large sewing needle is real so THIS IS NOT A DOLL FOR CHILDREN.

Homespun Betsy has the honor of being the first item ever listed in my Etsy shop, Folk Haven Creations.

Thank you for reading,

Karen

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