Looks like we're on the same wavelength. haha.
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=130105.msg1263430#msg1263430
Yours have much more personality, though. Great job!

Morbidknits--I just wanted to say that I stumbled upon your site a week or so ago and love it! You do such fun projects. BTW--I used to work in a funeral home. Sorry to seem creepy and stalkerish. Haha.

Thanks so much for all the good advice and encouragement! I'm definitely a newbie to crafting (making my mom proud now after years of fighting her on it--haha). I'll have to try making my own felt next. Looks like fun, and I'm sure it makes the project that much more rewarding! 

The bag looks great. If anything, I think the free-motion stitching looks better than anything deemed "perfect." I think the imperfections of hand-made items make them that much more special or interesting. Your sister is very lucky to get such a beautiful bag.

i adore the dress! cute! and i use flickr and have had no complaints.

re: the felting needle...Yeah, I'm a dork sometimes. I just wanted to make sure I didn't call it the wrong thing! 

You should definitely name her Petunia. Why Petunia? I have no idea. Just the first thing that popped into my head. 

I found an easy pattern for making felt bowls here: http://www.betzwhite.com/blog/2006/10/cutie-pie-tutorial.html. Mine has a few modifications. Instead of using traditionally-felted balls, I used a needle (I forgot what it's called--sorry!--but it has barbs on it. Hurts like a sonofabitch when you accidentally jab yourself in the thumb!) and poked at a ball-shape I made from a rolled up piece of yarn until the mass 'o yarn was completely spherical and held together on its own. The rest of the directions I followed fairly closely. Here's my version:

I'm thinking of making more as inexpensive Christmas gifts. Whaddaya think?

I LOVE your costume! The headpiece looks great. I also adore the last pic in the series. Very dramatic.

Thanks so much! It's been a huge help!