Sliced Pineapple Tutorial

    Here's a tutorial on how I make my 'Sliced Pineapple'. This is one of my sliced fruits collection as shown above. Once made, I could make it as a fridge magnet or a key ring too! It all depends on what you would like to do with it.  Hope you try this.. very easy... Enjoy!

    Materials needed:

               Felt cloth -yellow
              Thread - yellow and white
              Needle
              Scissors
              Pen or any marker
              Any cap for a guide to your circle with diameter of at least 3"

 Make a circle on the yellow felt cloth. 

Mark a smaller circle in the middle of the big circle as shown above and cut with the scissors.

It should look like this and it should be cut in half  like so.

Sew lines on each side of the half circle.

Cut a strip about half an inch width, long enough to cover the full length of  the half circle and sew them together.
Use blanket stitch.

Once done, sew the other half with it.

Don't forget to leave a space for stuffing before sewing it completely.

Finish it and knot to hold the thread firmly.

    Now it's all done! I will make a tutorial on how to make the strawberry next time. I will make both the sliced and the whole piece strawberry. =))

 

Whatever comes around...: My Very Own 'Amateur Photography'

Whatever comes around...: My Very Own 'Amateur Photography'

Whatever comes around...: Sky Watch

Whatever comes around...: Sky Watch

Share Your skills

    Before going back here in Scotland, I managed to share my skills to some people in the place where I temporarily stayed. With the help of the landlord`s daughter, we called some kids and moms near the place and invited them for a workshop and they seemed to be interested to the idea.  My Busy Hands Arts and Crafts project amazed each  and everyone of  them and gave them the thought of doing something to earn a living than just sitting around everyday and doing nothing.

    I approached  them by explaining to them about the project and whatever they can achieve once they already know the process.  Most of these people don`t have jobs. I always see them everyday in a group chatting with each other so i thought that I might change the way they look at things and maybe, just maybe, finally change their lives.

    The workshop started by showing them how i make the letters.  I taught the kids how to make good letter patterns,  how to trace the patterns and how to cut them. The moms started sewing the cut patterns and stuffed them.  Everytime we do this, Mary Ann, the landlord`s daughter, will  give them something to eat and that will be the workshop finish for the day.

    Everybody enjoyed my project and the kids even approached me everytime they see me. Unfortunately, I became busy with the visa and everything that I can`t continue with the workshop anymore.  When we arrived here in Scotland, I got an email from Mary Ann that she will continue teaching them just in case I`m needing more stock for my small business.  I gave her my sister`s number so they can deal with each other while I`m here since I gave my sister the authority to deal for my  business in the Philippines.  Here are some pictures during the workshop and I feel that kind of happiness everytime I`m able to share something  to anybody.

Busy Hands Arts and Crafts workshop.

Cutting the letters.

Felt cloth letter cutting.

These kids were so keen to learn.

Moms outside started sewing the letters.

The moms enjoyed sewing  and stuffing letters just
as the kids enjoyed cutting the pattern.

Stuffing the letters.

Some of the cut felt cloth and some finished products.

My sister and a friend.

    Always share whatever you have and you will surely feel the happiness in doing it. Smile everyone!


    

Simply Felt

    While waiting for our UK visa, my daughter and I decided to get busy on a new hobby where designing, stitching and stuffing of felt cloth were involved. We enjoyed doing it and had been doing more designs up to this moment.  It all started with stuffed letters to make a personalized doorknob hanger or door tag which is always best as a gift anytime of the year. Be it birthdays, anniversaries or holidays, this will be a wonderful and useful gift to anyone.
    In this blog, I will share to you the ways on how we do things. I hope that you will like our projects somehow.
    I will start on making letters.  The things that you will need are as follows:

1.  different colors of felt cloth
2.  pair of scissors
3.  pencil/pen
4.  polyester stuffing
5.  needle
6.  any 2-3 colors of thread

Procedures:  

    1. Of course, you will need a pattern which is easy to do. First, look for a font/style of letter you want from your computer using Microsoft Word or even WordPad will do. I still prefer Cooper Black though. Please take note that the wider the font the better for making stuffed letters.  If  you have chosen your best font  (lower cases only for this project), change the size up to 300 to 350 depending on the width of the letter and trace it in a bond paper.  the letter should be at least 2 1/2 to 3 inches in height and at least 2 up to 2 1/2 in width to make a proper sized stuffed letter.
Now you can use that as a pattern.

Cooper Black font

    2.  Trace letter patterns on felt cloth.  You need to trace twice on each felt but the second one should be inverted so that the mark of the pen or pencil will be hidden once you are ready to stitch them. Using different colors of felt cloth on each letter is better so the name will have a colorful effect when made.
    3.  Cut the letters now and put the letters together.

Cutting the traced letters

Traced and cut felt cloth ready for stitching

    4.  Start stitching the edges using blanket stitch but leave a space where you can stuff the polyester in.

How to do blanket stitching ( picture from millennia-designs.com )

    5.  Stuff the letter. Once the letter is filled with enough polyester, stitch the space to finish your letter.

Stuffing letters

    These are the letters we finished and samples of the door tag/doorknob hanger we made. =D

Stuffed Alphabet

Doorknob Hanger

Door Tag

Door Tag

    I was able to offer these personalized door tags to my brother who ordered 35 name tags as gifts to his officemates!  You can make your own business too. =D

    Since my family is here now in Scotland, I was not able to do more business in the Philippines but I left all the materials to my sister to continue the business and still doing good.  She created more designs too. Just like us here in UK, me and my daughter are still doing some designs.  I would also like you to see the sign I made last christmas which I hung in our fireplace.

This is me by the fireplace with my work of art =D

My daughter Issah by the fireplace

   Hope you enjoyed what I shared today and i hope to see you again on my next blog to see another design.
   Happy sewing!