Anyone know of any stores in Connecticut where I can purchase supplies or take classes for needle felting? I found some great online sources but don't want to spend $7.95 shipping on a $19.95 kit.

Any information would be appreciated!

Fifi

My daughter has two American Girl dolls and the accessories and clothes are very pricey. I can't stand the thought of paying so much for stuff like this and, since I am trying to use up some of my crafting supplies, I decided to take the challenge of coming up with my own stuff.

Below is a penny rug that I made from wool felt. I love the feel of wool felt and am particularly intrigued by folk art.

I made mini pretend cupcakes using squares of muslin filled with a bit of fiberfill and sew shut. I glued it to the bottom of a small paper cupcake holder. I squirted pink slick fabric paint for the icing and sprinkled a few beads on top.



Please let me know if any one has other ideas for doll accessories. This is fun!
Fifi

Ocean State Job Lot (I went to the one in Milford in the Kmart plaza) has quite a bit of yarn (most a dollar a skein) including those "textured" yarns. I think that there may be one in Ansonia or Naugatuck, also.
I need to go back....

I just got back from Michael's Arts and Crafts store and they have porcelain ornaments to decorate for a dollar each!!! They have rub on transfers to apply and then you have the cutest ornament for a little over a dollar! Here is the link from Michael's
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=25261b&categoryid=64582

They use stickers for this one but the rub on transfers look cuter (at least I think so). will try to post when I do them
Fifi

I decided that we needed new Christmas stockings and started with my 5 year old daughter who has just started taking ballet. She picked out the colors (she has quite the imagination) and this is what we came up with. The pattern is from Family Fun magazine.

Hope that you like it!

The second one is for my husband- we love moose(and,actually anything from Nova Scotia).

http://www.ultimatesubaru.net/photos/data/500/00_000062.JPG



http://www.ultimatesubaru.net/photos/data/500/00_000044.JPG

I finally finished my daughter's denim jacket - with a poodle, a cat and the Eiffel tower. This is the first time that I have used beads - I kind of like the different dimension. The french knots were quite the project for the poodle and I am very happy that this part is done, but my daughter is very proud and happy. Hope that you enjoy it! (These are from Sublime Stitching patterns - thanks, Jenny!)
Fifi
http://www.ultimatesubaru.net/photos/data/500/00_00004.JPG

I volunteered to co-chair Valentine Bingo at my childrens' school and was wondering if anyone had any interesting ideas for activities (other than bingo). It is not a fund-raiser, really just a family event.The school has pre-k to 8th grade, so I wanted to have some younger kid activities, but not so young that they exclude the older ones.
Any hlep would be greatly appreciated!
many thanks,
Fifi

I made a relaxation kit for the teachers of my 2nd grader and my pre k er. I bought little acrylic plates with wintry or Christmasy scenes and matching teaport shaped teabag holders. I wrapped 2 lemon tea bags (individually wrapped), a bag of Pepperidge Farms milano cookies (also individually wrapped) on the plate with the teabag holder. i added a bookmark (www.artbeads.com) to which you can add beads and a candle. In the card, I wrote something like this:
Make yourself a cup of tea. Light your candle. Settle into your favorite chair with  your favorite book. When the tea is ready, mark your place with your new bookmark and drink your tea and eat your cookies. You are now relaxed - yes, this is what it feels like!
Hopefully the teachers will like it!
Not sure where I got the idea (perhaps craftster?)

http://www.ultimatesubaru.net/photos/data/500/128Blue_lobster_embroidery_001.jpg

This is the first time that I have nerve enough to post anything. My son very much likes sea creatures, so I decided to embroider a blue lobster on his denim jacket.
Hope that you like it!