not your average cookie cutter creations;)

I suppose this is what happens after you write two posts about gingerbread-- those dog-eaten cookies, and those nummy gingerbread pancakes... It's only natural to follow up with gingerbread ornaments made from recycled wool, er, if you're me, after all. I've made some of the growing gingerbread crowd into kids' ornament kits, while other sets are ready made for my Etsy shop.

Anyhoo, sorry for the unplanned blog break. Sick kids here, falling like dominoes. I think I ran to the grocery store for Gatorade, and whatever else sounded good about every day last week. And also last week, I lost my camera. The oldest sick person, Ainsley came over here to be sick (There's no place like home to be sick, right?) for a day. In between feeling lousy, she worked on crocheting an afghan, and I wanted to blog about her creation. And how for generations, the ladies in my family have crocheted. But no camera. Hunted everywhere. I found it later that evening, when I went to my embroidery thread basket... because you know, that's just where a camera should be, right? Sheesh.

I'm trying to be more organized and useful today-- so here's that post for how to make a coat wreath pin.

I do have to tell you, it was inspired by my lovely, sweet maternal Grandma Warner. I remember the little crocheted green coat wreath pins with a red yarn bow she made for Christmas. And how as a child, I thought they were the most wonderful, clever things. My Grandma was a farm wife and a mother of nine during the Depression years.. I loved her, and how she smelled... White Shoulders perfume, Jergens lotion, coal dust, and farmy. More like cow-ey, actually. She lived next door to a cow stockyard. She was always complaining about the "cow dust" in her home, and the smell. But I always liked it. And the mixture of White shoulders perfume, and cow dust.... Well you'd just have to smell it to understand, I'm sure. Love you, Gramma.

Cut two strips of felted wool. Approx 1" wide X 9" long. Twist both pieces together like so in the photo. Just until they twist, but don't knot.

Tie a regular old knot with the red wool strips. (That is a crappy photo, I just realized. Sorry)

Cut the green wool strips into leaf shapes. Trim red bow. Sew on a few beads for berries. Sew a jewelry pin backing onto the back.

Gee, you're done. Was that worth directions? I hope I didn't insult anyones' intelligence on this one. The thing is, you never know... I'm sure some people would look at this, and know exactly how to make it, and others would be stumped. I am often stumped at something simple, so in the spirit of, um, whatever you might call it, here you go:) 

If I'm not here more than once or twice a week until Christmas is over; I'm Okay, just busier. Right now, I really want to make so many things. Some of those things are for my kids, and a couple of those kids actually read their Mom's blog (gasp!) So, I know I can't post all of what I'm working on at the moment. And I also really want to just share ideas for Christmas right now. And I want to try and have a successful Etsy shop, like, someday. Maybe like now would be good, huh?

Take care, hope all's well with you? Are you making anything fun for the holidays?

Tell me tell me, please! xoxoKelly

Comments

[Donna Layton]

This is darling Kelly and so are the round felt ornaments below:)

[The Painted Fern]

Love the gingerbread ornies...yummy cute!!!
Jocelyn

[Deb]

Hi Kelly
Sorry to hear you have had a sick family ~ hope everyone's feeling better! Love all the sweet gingerbread ornaments and Thanks for the wreath tutorial - so cute! I am making stockings for the pets - this is my daughter's cats Angelo and Douggie's fist Christmas with her so they need a stocking and we are adopting a new lab who is due to arrive from Quebec this weekend so he will need a stocking too :-)And for some fun and whimsy, I have made a set of "paper dolls" of my family (they are wondering why all the laughter is coming from my little studio) :-) Have a great day xo

[Kelly Henderson]

Thanksso much, Jocelyn. Happy Friday to you!

[Maria]

Great post and the gingerbread ornaments are adorable!

[Julie]

Such a happy group of gingerbread ornaments, each with their own unique outfits! So cute, I had to smile. Big smile! :)

Love the felted ornament and appreciated it even more with the family story behind it. My grandma raised 9 kids and lived on a farm, too. But her house usually smelled like homemade soup or dill pickles!

[Julie]

I said felted ornament, but was thinking "pin", as it is! But they would be cute as ornaments and there are always different levels of crafting/sewing experience, so it was great of you to show us how they're made.