Handmade Holiday Grab Bag

Hi all,

I've decided to participate in the Handmade Holiday Grab Bag hosted by one of my favourite blog authors, Renée Tougas of FIMBY. I am always inspired by this family and their committment to learning and adventuring together. This is the wierd thing about blogs - I feel like I know the Tougas family because I've been reading about them for years, but since I have never so much as left a comment on their blog, they have no idea that I even exist. (That is, until I have to email Renée the link to this post!)

So, hi Tougas family and any other people that come here to read this post! This blog is primarily for keeping in touch with my own family and friends, so I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of inspiring or thought-provoking posts. But I wanted to support the Handmade Holiday Grab Bag, so here I am.

Renée has offered to collect ideas for handmade gifts and put them together in one place. My contribution is this tutorial for Thrifted Felted Trees. I made a pair of these this week, and they came together quite nicely! It took me two evenings - cutting on the first day and assembling the next. I don't have a photo of mine, but I will update this post if I get the chance.

Photo from thelongthread.com

I found the instructions to be quite clear. I would only add that silver or gold balls might be a nice alternative for the top if you can't find star-shaped beads.

Also, if you've never felted sweaters before, it is quite simple. Look for some 100% wool sweaters at your local thrift shop (men's sweaters are great because you get more fabric for your money, but sometimes you have to look in the women's section for brighter colours) and just throw them in the washing machine on a hot water cycle. They will shrink and turn in to felt. Some people also put them through a dryer cycle, but I don't usually find it necessary.

Happy crafting!

UPDATE: Here's a pic of my trees...