Lambs and Daisies just seem to go together....

I found the right flowers for my skunk!

Needle Felted Skunk by MelaniesMenagerie on Etsy.http://www.etsy.com/listing/95874394/needle-felted-skunkhttp://www.etsy.com/listing/95874394/needle-felted-skunk

Letterpress at home!

Okay, get ready....this is big news for anyone on the east coast that's been lusting for the in-home QuicKutz Letterpress Machine that came out in 2010.  It's on clearance at A.C. Moore craft stores! Furthermore, it's now 40% off the lowest marked price! That means I got one today for $22.50! (originally $149.99)

As you can see from the photos above, it's a fairly easy operation. I'm sure it takes some practice, but the results I've seen in stores and online look pretty sharp. (I borrowed these pics, so if you click on them they should bring you to the original sources) 

Call me a nerd, but I'm excited! I wanted one when they first came out, but had trouble justifying the purchase. So if you have wanted one, or want one now that you've seen it, rush to your nearest A.C. Moore and grab it if it's still there. I actually had to drive to another town's store to find the one I got, so each store may only have received one or two units at the most. The supplies are also on clearance so grab those too! I checked sites that sold these and they are still selling from $80 to even $169.99, so this is a steal!

Good luck, fellow Letterpress Wanna-Be's! :)

Do male skunks always have to be with a female, or can they be cute on their own? These are the things I think about..... I need to get out more.

Initially I started this skunk as a stand alone feltie...but because his arms are held out, I think he needs something in them....perhaps a flower! Then I began to consider that perhaps he needed a partner to put his arms around...

Notice that blue in his eyes....I'm LOVING that blue green roving I recently acquired from "indigocranefiber" on Etsy.  At first I was hesitant to purchase 3 full ounces of it because I wasn't completely sure it wouldn't be too soft to needle felt with (some wool is "rougher" and therefore easier to work with when it comes to tangling the fibers.  But it works just fine and I love it.  If you are interested in finding roving in nice colors that you might not find elsewhere, then check out the shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/indigocranefiber Prices are fair and service is great.

                                                                                            Isn't it Bee-UU-TEE-ful?

But back to the skunk.

Everytime I think of this skunk having a mate, Pepe'LePew comes to mind:

And I remember how it used to bother me, watching him maul the cat who sooooo did NOT want his attentions. (When someone puts their feet on your stomach and pushes as hard as they can against you, that's a sign...) It was very uncomfortable, and he was not my fave character. I found it especially weird that when the cat would, in some episodes, be the aggressor, (love potion?) suddenly Pepe' couldn't handle it.

Anyway, in searching for images of Pepe'....I came across these funny ones:

Maybe I'll just give my skunk a flower to hold on to....

:)

Hopping down the Bunny Trail...you never know who you'll run into!

I never know exactly how a character will develop as I make it...sometimes an ear just wants to go a certain way, or a facial expression appears that changes the whole direction I was heading. I like that ....I roll with it, because it's like the creature is being born, developing it's own personality as it grows in my hands. :)

This little rabbit came into being just like that.... When I started, I didn't really have a plan other than to create a rabbit. By the time I was done, I had a rabbit that was hopping along a trail and suddenly finds he has a passenger! A little birdie has decided to come along for the ride as bunny hops home with his basket full of supplies.

I am rather satisfied with the way this needle felted rabbit turned out. It originally had all black eyes but it just wasn't working for me....so I went with the usual eyes. Again, making those tiny birds, like the one who has alighted on bunny's ear, does take me some time. It's also very difficult not to stab my fingers a few times when working with something that small!



I didn't attach the basket because I wanted it to be  removable, so it's not strictly an Easter item. Because everyone knows...

Bunny + Basket = EASTER

Thanks for stopping by....hope you decide to stick around and follow me! :)

Made another Deer with Bluebird Friend!

Needle Felted Deer with Little Bluebird by MelaniesMenagerie.http://www.etsy.com/listing/94683917/needle-felted-deer-with-little-bluebird

Well, I created another deer with a bluebird friend...this time putting the bird on the deer's head.  I used this beautiful blue-green wool that looks so cool...and made a little necklace of pink crackled glass beads. Then I attached a teeny tiny locket to the necklace (and the locket really opens and closes!)

I love the blue-green with the pink color combination...

It takes quite awhile to create the deer of course, but even though the little bird is tiny, it takes a long time too! I have to get the little face just right...

But I'm happy with the way it turned out.  I posted it on Etsy tonight: http://www.etsy.com/listing/94683917/needle-felted-deer-with-little-bluebird