my little mochi

Another breath freshening craft

You might have guessed from my pocket advent calendar post that we like to keep our breath fresh around here and so we end up with a lot of empty mint containers that I just don't have the heart to throw away. But I finally came up with a use for them - snow globe pendant necklaces! I can't decide whether to make these for the kids or do it as a Christmas craft with them because they were really easy to make. In case you want to make some too here's a little tutorial for how I did them.

Pocket Advent Calendar

Over the past few weeks I've been thinking about what kind of advent calendar I should do for Buddy this year. I wanted to do something different from the snowman origami ones I've done over the last couple of years. So I created these pocket ones which were really fun and so fast to make that I  think I'm going to make a bunch more for friends and family.

I came up with the two different versions pictured above. I made the red one in a "book" style. Here's the inside, can you guess what it is?

More Softies!

One thing that happened during my bloggie absence was the publication of this book in September by Penguin Australia. Some of you may remember the wonderful Softies book from last year which I contributed two patterns for. Penguin Group has once again done an amazing job putting this beautifully photographed book together featuring 22 new creations from many of the same crafters and designers from the previous edition. I'm beyond excited to once again be a part of it!

They've has also created a website just for the two books which features an exclusive pattern, and wallpapers to download including my little pup shown above. Fun!

I'm not sure if it's available for purchase internationally, but if you're in Australia or New Zealand, you should definitely check it out.

my little mushroom

Crafters love mushrooms don't they? I know I do, and I've been dying to try my hand at making one. So last night I came up with this little toadstool which measures about 1 1/2" tall.

Wanna make one too? It's easy-peasy and quick-as-a-breezy. Promise.

Baby Kokeshi Dolls from my little mochi shop

For a while now I've been wanting to start a little shop to sell patterns and other items I've designed, but up until today I haven't been able to find the time. So I'm so excited to post that I've finally set up shop and my first item is a pattern and tutorial for these little baby kokeshi dolls.

I designed these as gifts for Girl's Day this year and they are just under 1 1/2" (38 mm) in height and so much fun to make. The pattern and tutorial is available as a 9 page PDF file that features color photographs with a material list, step by step instructions, and lots of tips.

It was a challenge trying to keep the PDF file size down since I included so many photographs, but I wanted to make sure that there was enough steps that even a beginning crafter would find it a breeze to make. And it really is, I promise!

I'm not good at self promotion but I really hope you'll be as excited about your baby kokeshi as I am. Make some for yourself or as gifts for friends. They're the right scale for decorating your Re-ment or other doll house miniatures and the perfect size kokeshi doll for all you Blythe fans as well. Here's one sitting in Miss Kitty's living room.

I also include some ideas for other uses for your finished kokeshi and an option for turning it into a bead. So if you want to learn how to make a baby kokeshi, go to my shop site. Mahalo nui loa everyone!

Sugar, oh honey honey

I can't believe it's already December. We were supposed to put up the tree this weekend but never found the time to squeeze it in. Hopefully we can get it done this week, I know Buddy can't wait. I did manage some Christmas crafting during the game last night.

We tend to give out a lot of gift cards this time of year, and I always feel a bit sheepish just giving them out in those cardboard holders they provide at the store. So I came up with these felt reindeer pouches sized to fit a standard gift card (sans cardboard holder). I made two different versions one hand-stitched with felt antlers and a quicker machine sewed version with pipe cleaner antlers. I didn't want to have to fiddle with too many little pieces so the ears are part of the back pattern piece. Here's what it looks like from the back.

Wanna make one? Here's a pattern with instructions for the hand-stitched version.

(Update: I noticed a small error on the pattern where I wrote "ear placement" instead of "antler placement". Sorry if that confused anyone. I reloaded the file with the correct wording and some revised instructions. Thanks!)

Reindeer pouch pattern and instructions.pdf

In other news, I've never been much of a sports fan, but I couldn't not get caught up in the University of Hawaii Warrior football fever here in the islands. Last week UH became Western Athletic Conference champions when they defeated Boise State and added another win to their undefeated record of 11-0. Yesterday was their last scheduled game of the season against Washington State and a win last night almost guaranteed they would be invited to a BCS bowl game, something that has never happened in University of Hawaii history. It was a crazy game and in the end Hawaii was triumphant and we learned today that they're going to the Sugar Bowl on New Years day! Incredible. This means so much to the State, and finally gives our football program some much deserved respect. Go Hawaii, go warriors!!

Softies!

Yesterday I read on Prairie Mouse's blog that she had received her copy of the Softies book that we contributed to earlier this year. It was exciting to finally see it but I thought for sure it would be at least a week or so before my copy arrived because it always takes forever for mail to get to Hawaii. So imagine my delight when as I left for work this morning my postman handed me a package from Australia!

I was so excited that I kept sneaking peeks at it as I drove to work. It looks amazing and I really like how the publisher laid it all out, with wonderful photos of all the projects. There's instructions and patterns for 22 different adorable softies from a bunch of talented crafters. I contributed two patterns, the little donkey on the cover and my kangaroo softie and joey finger puppet I posted about earlier this year.

The book is published by Penguin Australia, but I don't have all the details yet for where it will be available.  In the meantime here's some information from the publisher.

Yeah! Have a great weekend everyone!

It's a snap!

Eh! You like make one fabric box? 

Nah! I no like. Sounds too complicated.

No way! Supa easy. I promise.

For real? Okay den. I go try. What I need for do?

First we gotta make a pattern. Get a plate and trace um onto one piece of paper.

Hee, hee! Is that Mr. Incredible? What size plate?

No matter. Can be any size you like.

Okay, I wen trace um. Now what? Cut it out?

Yes, and then fold um in half and then open um up and fold it in half one more time.

All pau?

No, fold um in half again two more times until you get eight equal parts. You know, like when you cut one pie.

When I cut one pie only get four parts. Ha! Now what?

Now, it's time for cut out the fabric.

Ho da cute your fabric! Where you when get um?

Thanks eh! I bought um in Japan. Okay, where we was? Oh yeah. Use your pattern for cut one circle for the outside, one for the lining, and I also cut one from a super stiff interfacing. But you no need add the interfacing if you no like.

Can you spare some change?

My blog has had the same banner and look for almost two years because I've been too lazy to figure out how to change it. And now that I have, I just want to put it back to how it was. So we'll see how long it lasts, because the cookies are so gigantic they're starting to take on a Gozilla-about-to-stomp-the-city feel. If anything it's a giant reminder that I promised Buddy we'd make snowman cookies again for his class this year, I just have to remember to get the ingredients. (A little bit better, but kinda loud. First it's too big, then too loud. Oh well.)

Speaking of snowmen, I have another guest post over at Kiddley. It's for a really easy to make origami advent calendar using these snowman bags folded from a sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" (A4) paper. I created a PDF file for the snowmen, so all you need is an inkjet printer and some folding time.

Buddy's is almost ready to go, I'm filling his with some of the great ideas Claire and Amanda came up with for theirs.

(Added: The snowman cookies in the banner are from last Christmas, you can find the recipe I used and more info here.)

Pinecone Hedgies

I'm so excited to have a guest post and tutorial over at the wonderful Kiddley for these little guys. Go check it out!