'Sugar Skulls' keyrings

I was watching a program on the travel channel a few weeks ago on Mexico and there was a section on the central and sourthern Mexico festival of dia de los muertos. It showed people decorating skulls and having gatherings or even parties round loved ones graves. It explained about how and why this festival was celebrated, and I just loved the idea.

Of course I'd seen these skull designs as tattoos, as they seem to be popular at the moment, and I am a fan of tattoos, but I decided I wanted to know more about the background of these skulls and what they represent.

I did some searching on the internet and came across a variety of sites, all explaining dia de los muertos. It's a central and southern Mexico festival, translated, means the day of the dead. Indigenous people believe that at midnight on 31 October the ghost of child past return to there families for 24 hours when the gates of heaven are opened. Festivities go on until 02 November when adult ghosts come to join the festivities before take the children back.  The families decorate for their arrival with beautiful altars, using candles, flowers and brightly decorated skulls. Plenty of drink and food suck as fruit, peanuts, tortillas and bread are also used in the decorating for weary spirits.  Toys and candies are also offered for the spirits of children, then on 02 November cigarettes and shot of mezcal are offered for the adult spirits.  On 02 November in the afternoon the festivities are taken to the cemetery where tombs are cleaned, people play cards, listen to music and reminisce about loved ones.

I just loved the idea of this, celebrating people who have passed, so I have made these embroidered sugar skull keyrings.

On analysis I think the green one I've made is a bit too busy. The orange one I think has a good balance but the black one us my favorite.

 I'd love to know other peoples views, not only on the keyrings I've made, but on the festival itself.
I am going to be selling these keyrings for £2 plus p&p, on a first come first serve so if your interested in one please message me.
If its not something that interests you, but you know someone who might like them please pass on and share the link.

So until the next time, happy crafting peoples xxx

References for this article:
http://www.mexicansugarskull.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead
 

Textile Owls

So I have made further progress on my owl designs to hopefully use as doorstops.  I have so far made two mini versions, both with their good points and bad points.

The first one I made was the one with green eyes.  It had been a good few years since I last used a sewing machine, so used this first one to try and figure out the best way to attach each component of the owl.

I used the sewing machine to pretty much attach everything, the eyes, eye outline and beak.  I thought this looked a bit messy tho, particularly the eyes, so with the next owl I made I attached the eyes with the sewing machine, but just using black cotton to attach both the black and whites of the eyes just sewn through the blacks of the eyes, and this was sewn onto the eye outlines.  I then hand stitched the eye outlines onto the body, which I think looks a lot better.  I stuck with sewing the beak on with a zig zag stitch on the sewing machine but didn't bother with the stitching down the sides of the beak.

When it came to the wings, with the first owl I attached them with a hand stitch at the top of each wing, so the stitch and seam was visible.  With the second owl, however, I tried to hide the stitching as much as possible, still doing it by hand but pushing my needle through the body fabric and the underside of the wing to try and hide it as much as possible.

 Each owl was stuffed with craft stuffing and rice to give them some weight. The second owl I think was stuffed better than the first, knowing to use more of everything to make it bulkier.

These two owls only measure about 25cm tall and 25cm wide.  I now have the fabric cut out to make one double these sizes, hopefully using what I have learnt to make a much better version.

Will keep you updated with the progress of these.....................
........................til next time!

Update on Current Projects

Hiya all!!!

Just wanted to update my followers on my current projects I have going on, not only to keep you guys in the loop, but too keep my motivation high :-)

I currently have underway a tiger cub cross stitch, which I plan to use to make a handmade sketch book for a friend.  I also have begun experimentation with different patterns to make an owl doorstop.  Also plan to look at other animal designs for this too, but for those who haven't already been able to guess, my dad is owl mad, so the initial idea was for him.

Additionally, though I haven't yet begun them, I have bought the necessary wool to make an infinity scarf/snood, and a mobile with teddy bears.

This is the first attempt at the owl design for my door stop, its only a miniture version, but the pattern will be the same.

Will keep you all updated on how it all goes, and if you haven't yet subscribed to my blog please do.

More craftyness to come!!!!!

I'm back and ready for ACTION :-)

Its been a while since my last post, and to be honest my crafts have sort of taken a back seat while various things have been going on, like moving house, and the due date for my baby is now fast approaching :-/

But I did just want to up load some of the pictures of cards I made this Christmas, and a picture of some handkerchiefs I made for my dad too.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

All these cards have been made from various bits I've had in my kits and free papers I've received in magazines I've bought.

HANDKERCHIEF

Here are some simple handkerchiefs I made for my dad with an embroidered owl on them

 

He absolutely loved them as he is a big fan of owls, or more specifically the Mighty Owls (Sheffield Wednesday)

Now its just time to start with my 2012 projects, and I have a lot of ideas in mind, trying my hands at a few new things and revisiting a few old tricks.  

So heres to a happy crafty 2012 !!!!!!!!

Quick update for loved Parents

I just want to make a quick post as regarding a card I made for my parents anniversary recently.

It was a card I was inspired to make after watching Kirsties Handmade Britain series on Channel 4.

Basically, its a card made up of different hand made papers, which I then cut into simple but effective shapes of a bird with wing and eye, on a branch, and a banner.  These were all sewn onto my backing paper (after being glued, as to not move around whilst sewing).  I think the finished effect looks really pretty and it is definitely a method I shall be using again!