Adventures of Alex O & Co

Adventures of Alex O & Co
You only live once......................live beautifully!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Creating a Little Person

People always ask me how the "Little People" are made.
So I have put together a photo diary for you on how to create a Little person.
For the clothes I buy 100% wool or wool blend felt in white or cream which I then hand dye myself.
I tend to dye small amounts of felt at a time so I get the colours I want. 
I use a number of dyes: Ashfords dyes, Dylon, Food Colouring, Tea Bags
all mixed with setting agents. 
On this day I was dying Greens and Reds for Mushroom Ladies.






Here are the naked little people bodies which I buy from " Winterwood" in Australia.


I then wrap the body in 100% wool Fleece


I then make fitted pants to go over the legs


I then make a fitted top


Then I make the dress


Last but not least I make the hair and hat which I glue to the head.
And now I draw on the face with permanent makers.
Some people prefer the dolls with out faces and for those I leave the faces off.
And so a Little Mushroom Person is born:



Monday, September 26, 2011

Ladies

When I started this blog in February I said that I might start my sewing with a few Little People. 
However last year I made so many Little People for Master O's school fair plus I held a work shop over 3 nights to teach people how to make these lovely little people. 
As much fun as all that was I lost the joy of making these little ones. 

Last week the joy came back..............Yippee.
I sat down one night and Mrs Mushroom was born.
I sold her on Sunday to a lovely lady that had the stall next to me at Kraftbomb. 
Yesterday afternoon Mrs Mushroom was heading to Mt Mauganui to make her new home with a little girl there.

Mrs Mushroom
The two Autumn ladies (Mrs and Miss) came about when I visited 
"Ribbon and Rose" in Ellerslie ,
Liz who works there just had to show me through all there hundreds of threads.
I fell in love with these Autumn colours. 
I used some of my vintage lace collection that my mother in law had sent me from 
Ireland to decorate there hats and dresses.
On Saturday I had a little photo shoot for the Ladies.
 
Miss Autumn
Mrs Autumn

Ladies Day Out

Sunday, September 25, 2011

This Moment


{this moment} - A Sunday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from
the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause,
savor and remember.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Hearts and Owls

I have been finishing off a few more Special Hearts

Mushrooms

Rose Lovebird

Plus here are some of my new Owls



 They are all in there basket ready to go off to Kraftbomb on Sunday.



But just in case you cannot make Kraftbomb I have been very pro active and loaded them on my
Felt site for sale.
Just click on the Felt logo on the right hand side of my blog.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Right Now

Life seems incredibly busy right now or perhaps that's just life.

I had a wonderful time at Crafternoon Tea on Saturday and when I got home I found my car and my house had been decorated with All Blacks Rugby Flags and Irish Flags ( Mr O is Irish)
Master O and I went to the park on Sunday and left Mr O one happy man after Saturday nights Rugby game  Ireland against Australia (score 15/6 to Ireland) at home painting my soon to be craft space.
We feed the birds and admired the new spring flowers.
Mostly I admired the flowers and Master O chased the birds.

Tread Softly and Repair the World

I finished up the week with a few more special hearts.


This week I am making Owls as I sold the last one on Saturday. 
I am going for a more decorative Owl with Christmas only a few months away. 
I will share them with you later this week.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

This Moment



{this moment} - A Sunday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from
the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause,
savor and remember.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Paddle Out

 The Paddle Out to celebrate the life of my Uncle Russell who died last month is today
at Newport Beach in California .
My cousin found a beautiful poem:
Little did we know that morning
God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly,
In death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you did not go alone.
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories,
Your love is still our guide.
And though we cannot see you,
You are always by our side.
Our family chain is broken
And nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.
God Bless you Russell Brown

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Right Now

I have just finished off more hearts for Crafternoon Tea on Saturday. 
These ones have a little Love bird theme.
I cannot seem to help myself I am drawn to little birds.



Off to market we go...................
Back In July I showed you the demolition of my spare room / craft room.
It is a long process when you are renovating yourself.
But the plasterer has been here the last 2 days and here is where we are at so far:


I now have 3 test pots of paint to try.
So next week we are painting.
The end is Nye.
Yippee.......

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Hearts

I have picked up the needle and started sewing again.
I will confess a day earlier than I had planned. I just could not help myself.

Not long ago I bought a lovely cream wool blanket that has felted up beautifully to make Hearts.
One of the things I sell a number of are my Appliqued Hearts. 
I started making these to use up my blanket and felt scraps 
and they have just taken on a life of there own.
I stuff them with 100% wool fleece .
They can hang on doors, cupboards, decorate trees,
whatever you please.

A big heart will always be filled with love.







Sunday, September 11, 2011

This Moment


{this moment} - A Sunday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from
the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause,
savor and remember.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Tea Towels

One of the things I love about about road trips is that you get to check out op shops in other cities.
In Napier I found this lovely new Linen Tea Towel from Ireland for 99 cents.
I just had to add it to my collection.


Spring is here and the weather is changing...................yippee!
I am starting to think its time for a ladies tea party. 


I am still on a sewing free holiday. 
I have given myself 2 weeks of no sewing. 
I have all these ideas running around in my head. 
So Monday I will start sewing again as I am off to Crafternoon Tea on the 
17th of September 10-2pm at the Trinity Methodist Church Hall. 
Corner of Sandringham and New North Roads in Crafty Kingsland, Auckland City. 

Sunday, September 4, 2011

This Moment

{this moment} - A Sunday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from
the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause,
savor and remember.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Take My Heart

My boys and I are having a holiday this week. 
Unfortunately I have come down with a terrible head cold.
I have been resting the past few days while the boys explore the beach, throw Master O's new boomerang around, ride there bikes and generally have fun.
I have not touched a sewing needle since Sunday instead I have been exploring other peoples blogs. 
What a great world we have out there.
I found this lovely song by an artist called Soko called
*
"Take my Heart"
*
 I thought I would share it with you.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Sunday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from
the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause,
savor and remember.