Five for Four!

Now that all of the packages have been sent out, I thought I'd post a few photos of what I made for the 5 for 5 challenge from last February. I signed up to receive a handmade something, with the understanding that I would offer something to five people who responded here on Plot 55. I have made and sent to four people, as the fifth has never responded...(Sarah Paige, if you're by some chance reading this, email me or leave a comment!!)

I was really excited to do this - it spoke to the momentum of creativity that had built during the winter season, but then of course it became spring and then summer and then I had gifts for people in my family to work on, and lo, it was suddenly February again and nothing had been done. Embarrassing. Oh well, I figure no one really cares when they get some unexpected goodie in the mail, do they? So, here is what I ended up making...

The first recipient was actually my cousin, and she got it in person when we visited at Thanksgiving.  It's a crocheted rug...

 A very small crocheted rug!!! Sigh. I dream of making a huge one some day, but as my friend pointed out, it would be nearly impossible to wash it would be so heavy. Right.  So really, it's for her dog. I hope he loves it.

 The next gift I was very excited to make, though I wished I'd gotten to it much sooner.  Kelly, from We Are Here, had asked how I made these pins, and had mentioned wanting to make one of a tawny owl, the totem animal of the brownie troop of which she was a leader.  This was my best shot at a tawny owl, and I was really pleased with the way it turned out.  I am still so new to embroidery (can one be "new to" for a very long time???), and I learn something about it every time I delve into a new piece.

This spring lady and some other bits and pieces are photographed beautifully at The Loving Path (which is fortunate, because my photos did not turn out quite so well, and there are pieces missing! thank you Debbie!).  I am so loving needle felting (yes, I know I sound like a dork here).  It goes quickly for me, which keeps me engaged and the juices flowing, and I work on it in the evenings while Dan is reading to us.  I was pretty taken with this particular creation and was happy to send her off to her new home in Canada...

When we first started needle-felting, we learned how to create flat pieces, like this little pouch.  The girls have become quite adept at them, while I've moved into more 3-dimensional pieces, but I was pleased with how this one turned out, for my sister-in-law at Tree Shadow Farm.   The girls picked out the colors for her, thinking she'd love purple and brown, and I experimented with making a hair clip as well.

 Most of these creations were experimental, but that was the fun part of this project for me, trying something new.

 This little lady and her acorns went along with the pouch...I kind of can't stop making these little be-scarfed sweeties.  They feel really nice to hold, and I like to imagine them sitting in some corner of Rebecca's beautiful home.

So, I made a few more and sent them to the same cousin who got the rug. So really, it is five for four.

 hello, snailie...

There you have it, some outward proof of creative flow!  It was really fun to share that underused side of myself, fun to wrap up some packages for no occasion other than to make someone smile...