Three more adopted critters!

These guys went to a family in Orlando. Three children under the age of 3. Ellie the elephant went to the newborn named Ellie (of course), the frog is for the middle child and the mouse goes to the oldest. As I've mentioned before, I didn't start out making critters for young children. They do have buttons and are not for babies who put everything in their mouth. That being said, critters have ended up with small children who love them. I do sew the buttons on really well and mom's and dad's should keep checking on the well loved critters to make sure that nothing is coming loose.

Other critters in the works for 4th season of Abracadabra - business bear, teenage girl in a mini jean skirt, and maybe a jester. Still working on that idea. Stay tuned.

Brucie goes to Arizona!

Phew! What a busy week with critters. Last Saturday I got a whole bunch of fabric from Sharon Carr of Carr's Corner Cafe. Fabric always inspires me and this was no exception. First I found the cream colored quilted fabric and the cotton with the tiny print and they screamed elephant for some reason. While I was making her, a friend from Tampa called and announced that he had a new baby granddaughter named Ellie - Well, Ellie and elephant just go together so I sent a photo of the finished elephant and he claimed her! 

Now Brucie - I've talked about my friend from California who was always told that the tooth fairy was named Brucie. When I envisioned Brucie, I immediately thought hippo - so I gave him sparkly pants, white wings, nice white teeth and a bag to carry all those teeth he collects from under the pillows. When I sent the picture to Karen, she immediately wanted him for her granddaughter Tatum. So Brucie is on his way, as we speak, to Arizona. 

So, in addition to this, I heard that Abracadabra is signed for another season and they need a dozen critters for July 1. Yikes!! Better get sewing.......

Mr. Moose is off to the Bitterman's

Marji Bitterman of Beads and Dangles asked me one day if I had ever created a moose. "Hmm", I said. "I have not, but coming from Maine, it seems like I should consider one."  So I thought about it and came up with a pattern and then wondered what he would be wearing. Well, wouldn't he be a lumberjack? Seemed logical to me. Flannel shirt, jeans, suspenders and black boots. So that's what I came up with.

The antlers were a challenge. They had to be firm enough to stand up, but flexible enough to be sewn inside the head and then turned right side out which is how I have to sew it. Felt seemed to be the best solution. I tried a thin foam core, but that tore when I turned it. My husband reminded me that bull moose have a beard as well as a tuft of fur on their head, so this guy does as well. He's a "real man" in the moose world.

When I was making this moose, I decided to make a second one - similar but, as always, never exact. When I sent a picture up to the Abracadabra folks, they made claim on him. So, Moose number 2 will be in Season 4 of the show.

I love seeing the faces of the people who adopt my critters. The smile is what makes it all worth while. So, if anyone has any ideas for critters, please pass them on. You never know who will be created.