Every September, the Cleveland Museum of Art hosts a Chalk Festival on their spacious back lawn. Their walking paths are paved with large stone squares whose smoothness is ideal for chalking. The museum is a very short walk from Case’s main quad, so every year I’ve ended walking by in time to witness the colorful aftermath. Last year, I swore to myself that no matter what I was doing, I would not miss the 2011 chalk festival.

So despite being exhausted and haunted by an extremely challenging group project, Brad and I headed down early Saturday morning, the 17th, to pick out our squares and get sketching.

After multiple hours of laying in the sun on this gorgeous day, this is what we ended up with. (click for an even bigger picture!)

Participating in a community art project was a new endeavor for me. This was especially fun because there were so many children there… they all had the most delightful comments. Some observations included, “that looks just like a giraffe!”, “i like your grass, that’s really good grass”, and my favorite: the little boy who said, “wow! you’re a really good artist.”

It was exciting because all day people were walking by, and a member of the party would say, “ooh, look at the giraffe!” because they considered our squares among those that should not be missed.

Did I mention that it was a gorgeous day?

We also got to walk around and see everyone else’s wonderful drawings. There were so many people, all making amazing things and enjoying the lovely day. It was good for the soul.

This one was drawn by a boy who couldn’t have been more than 11 or 12 years old – it was incredible!

Pancake Explorers! See the little guys climbing the pancake? They have a tent!

After waiting so long to actually participate in the Chalk Festival, it made me really, really happy that we were able to draw something so awesome. In the midst of such a stressful weekend, the opportunity to make something outside in the presence of other creative people was just perfect.

chalk festival 2011: cleveland museum of art is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

Who?

It’s a little owl pincushion! This little guy was a surprise made for me by my Aunt Mary! He’s so perfectly stitched & perfectly adorable. I especially love the scalloped stitches on his wings; can you see them?

It’s a beautiful day today, it was even chilly last night! The morning breezes are starting to almost sound like autumn, and I’m always ready for autumn weather. My favorite.

This photo is part of oh so lovely’s 30 Day Photo Challenge. Today is Day 12: Close-Up.

close-up: owl eyes is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

Here is the result of all my scheming and assembly line work: the brand new, re-imagined Plush Narwhals 2.0!

The little guys are made from the softest gray fleece in the world. I don’t know what it is about heather gray, but it even looks softer than all the other fleece colors. I love working with it, and I love how the little guys are coming out.

But my favorite part of the new narwhals, by far, is the striped tusk. Could it be any cuter? I’m in doubt.

Redesigning the narwhals has been a fun process for me. They’ve been the same for so long, and I was never quite thrilled with them, because I didn’t feel they conveyed my personality. As a maker of things, I like my things to reflect who I am… and the tan & cream just wasn’t doing it for me. I think they’re cute, yes, but I knew that they could be better. And that was the hardest hurdle to get over – why change your best-selling product? Why risk ruining a good thing? But I finally took the challenge, and now I feel I’ve perfected the stuffed narwhal, and it makes me very happy.

I know I built up a lot of suspense, and I apologize for not having this be a completely earth-shattering new creation :) But I think they’re pretty cute! And I’m excited to make lots of them now.

narwhals 2.0! is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

My wonderful friend Molly is having a baby and of course he needed a handmade jammies outfit.

There’s nothing quite like making tiny, soft clothes for someone you’re going to love.

look what i made! is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

For Christmas*, she decided a plush beastie would be the absolute perfect gift for her friend. Of course, I was absolutely flattered to be chosen for the challenge.

She sent me a few scanned doodles, along with his preferred color: gray with pink and yellow accents. I spent a few weeks hunting down the most perfectly soft fur I could find, and then it was sewing time.

From the tips of his stripey horns to the bottom of his soft belly, it sure was hard to let him go! I’d forgotten how much I absolutely love fleece applique, how fun it is to sew on little details and make sure everything is exactly perfect. I hadn’t done anything of the sort since Bloo, or the goomba before him. I’d forgotten that, even though I can’t draw, I can make anything as long as I’ve got some scissors. This was a great stretching project for me, a great creative exercise.

But of course, above all, it felt so good to be able to give these friends a real, soft, huggable beastie.

*side note… she asked me to start on a Christmas present in september! so awesome! it’s nice to know there are people in the world who know how long things can take :)

the beastie! is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

My mom brought home a present for the toddler-age daughter of some family friends: a mini playset of kitchen utensils. With pink, red, and green handles on everything, they are absolutely the most adorable play kitchen accessories ever. Then she said, “maybe we could make some potholders!”. Like I could pass that up.

I decided to make them as realistic as possible, even going for bias tape edging. For some reason, I find bias tape intimidating. It’s just one of my “things”… something I think of as extra tricky. And mitred edges? I’ve never quite understood how that goes. Turns out they’re super easy! I’ll be posting a tutorial shortly. (here you go! easy how-to: make mitred corners using bias tape)

I also got to quilt them with my walking foot. I just ordered the walking foot back in September, and it definitely improves my life every time I use it. What a handy tool.

These are certainly the tiniest potholders in the world: 5 inches square. They’re reversible, each is pink on one side and green on the other.

Breaking my sewing hiatus… well, I broke it for all of the best reasons. Gift-giving, learning, and creating something adorable quickly. The sewing break is meant to be stimulating… so a stimulating project can’t hurt!

Now it’s time to whip up some fudge (and maybe oreo truffles?!) for the neighbors! Giving is fun.

around the house today… is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

Orange whales. Blue whales. Hearts. It’s the most perfectly “me” fabric ever. I can’t wait until it comes out in December. It will also be available in half yards (which i always consider to be the best size) at fabricworm. The best one is even called “Whale Love”… how perfect is that?

Happy Halloween, everyone! Hope you get lots of treats and only a few nice tricks :)

me, in fabric form is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog

…and happy birthday to me!

(lily has been harboring a great deal of envy for party turtle’s party hat)

birthday girl is a post from: Fluffyland Craft & Sewing Blog