Holidays

My mom is still under the weather but she asked me to go through her rough draft post and see if I couldn't get the pattern up for everyone. I think I got all the links and such working (let me know if you notice something missing).

I must say, I think this little guy might be the cutest in the bunch so far. My girls were excited to see him. Pippin will make a great spring guest in your home. Enjoy!

Materials: (yardages are approximate and based on optimal placement)
Felt
Embroidery floss
2 3/4" buttons with 4 holes for eyes
2 12” pipe cleaners
Stuffing (wool or polyfil)
Beans, fish gravel or large grained sand for weighting the bottom
Pattern

Note: My felt was from Wool Felt Central. I used the following colors:
Haybale (TOY2617) for the front, back, ears and base
Driftwood (WCF2619) for the muzzle, chest and tail
Antique White (WCF1102) for the eyes
Blushing Bride (WCF0942) for the inner ears and nose

IMPORTANT: If you haven’t done so already, read our tutorial on cutting out felt found HERE.

Directions: (All seams are 1/4" unless otherwise noted.)
Download pattern and make copies.

Cut out pattern pieces as follows:
1 front and back
4 ears
1 base
1 muzzle
1 chest
1 tail
2 eyes
2 inner ears
1 nose

Using the pattern as a guide, pin or staple pieces on the front and back of bunny. Note: the eyes will be tucked under the muzzle as shown on the pattern.

Applique in the following manner:
Using a blanket stitch and 3 strands of floss, sew on eyes.
Using a running stitch and 2 strands of floss, sew on muzzle, chest and tail.
Using a running stitch and 2 strands of floss, sew on nose.

Embroider the face in the following manner:
Transfer facial detail to muzzle.
Using a stem stitch and 6 strands of floss, embroider mouth.
Using French knots and 6 strands of floss, embroider whisker spots.

Sew on eyes using 6 strands of floss, crisscrossing through the 4 holes.

Optional: If you would like to, embroider the bunny’s name on the bottom using a stem stitch and 6 strands of floss.

To make the ears begin by laying an inner on top of 2 layers of ears. Using a running stitch and 2 strands of floss, sew the inner ear to the ear going through all 3 layers.

Take a pipe cleaner and lay it between the 2 layers of ears between the running stitch and the edge. Allow the pipe cleaner to overhang by about 1”.

Using a blanket stitch and 3 strands of floss, sew the 2 outer edges of the ears together, trapping the pipe cleaner as you sew around the ear. Gently bend the pipe cleaner around the top of the ear.

Clip off the extending pipe cleaner so it is even with the edge of the ear.

Do the same for the other ear making it in the mirror image of the first ear.

Mark the unfinished edge of the ears ½” from edge.

Position the ears on the front of the bunny, with right sides together, following the markings on the pattern, allowing the ears to overlap the ½”. Pin in place.

With right sides together, stitch front to back leaving a 2 1/2” opening as indicated on the pattern. (This opening will be used to turn bunny right side out after the bottom has been added.) Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end stitchling lines seams do not unravel during the turning process. (This step can be done be by hand or with a sewing machine. If sewing by hand make sure to use very small stitches.) Note: Be careful when sewing over the ears, since there are pipe cleaners in them. If you go very slowly, you shouldn’t break your needle.

To reinforce the ears and to help them stand up straight, sew a second stitching line between the seam and the edge where the ears are attached.

With right sides together, pin bottom in place matching side seams and notches. Sew in place.

Turn bunny right side out.

Using beans, gravel or sand, fill the bottom of the bunny to the opening.

Fill the remainder of the bunny with wool or polyfil. Pack firmly without stressing seams.

Using a blind stitch, sew up opening.

 

NOTE: Wee Folk Art is on vacation for the next week as we head to Wisconsin to see The Little Lady... and her mommy and daddy, of course :) We will have lots to share when we return. For those of you new to our site in the past year or two, we are resharing our links to our Leprechaun crafts and stories. Hope you enjoy :) I will be checking emails so if you have any questions, comments or concerns, I will be available. Have a great week, and see you back here on Wednesday, February 29... YAY! Leap Year :)

Last year we shared the goings on in the Gnome Thicket when the leprechauns came for a visit. If you are new to Wee Folk Art, you'll want to check out the crafts and the stories. Poor Britta was beside herself. Below is a list of links in the order that they were shared last year.

And, if you have been missing hearing stories from The Thicket, not to worry. There is going to be a wedding there this summer and you are all invited! More info to follow! 

The Leprechauns have returned to The Thicket. If you dare, you can make your own leprechaun... but be warned, Wee Folk Art accepts no responsibility to the havoc they may wreak! An introduction to the gnomes and directions for making your own can be found HERE.

Ever since the Leprechauns returned to The Thicket, Britta has been noticing a few oddities. Jackets and shawls disappear and reappear, the order of the shoes lined up by the backdoor get rearranged, and her bookmark gets moved nightly. Whenever Britta complains to Axel about the leprechauns, he shrugs and chuckles. "No harm done", he always says.

Find out what happens when the pranks affect Axel's breakfast and learn how to stock your gnome's own larder HERE.

Found out why Britta and Axel are sleeping in the middle of The Thicket and learn how to knit this cozy blanket HERE.

Throughout the day, you could hear Britta mumbling... "Eight more days, just eight more days." Read about the leprechon's latest prank HERE!

No one was more surprised than Britta when she awoke St. Patrick's Day morning rather sad to think that the leprechauns would be leaving today. Expecting a final prank, she was delighted to see find a beautiful rainbow banner, and below it, a pot of gold... golden honey that is. Read about Britta's morning adventure and find the directions for the rainbow banner and the pot of honey HERE.

Whether you live in an apartment, condo, or house, the place we call "home" is often an alias for "family". Our home is where we gather with our family at the end of the day. Our home is where we keep the things that are most important to us. And our home is where our life long values are instilled. When we think of going "home", especially when we talk about "going home for the holidays", it really isn't a building we are talking about, but rather a sense of belonging, love and happiness that can be found in a loving family.

This week we have been talking about the importance of the family in our lives. When reading Christmas in the Big Woods, it is apparent that Laura's Christmas was filled with happiness, excitement and family. As parents we all have tales of how we spent our Christmases. Some stories may even be sad, but I'm willing to bet most of your stories were about things done with family. We created a Log Cabin Applique Block that resembles a house Laura might have lived in. It was designed to fit a 6" x 6" block but can be enlarged or reduced to meet your needs. The block can be found with our FREE Appliques, or the 2 page pattern can be found here:

Page 1
Page 2

We are hoping that everyone will be "home for the holidays... if only in their dreams" :)

Every family has their favorite traditional foods they make for Christmas. In Michelle's house, Christmas breakfast always includes a birthday cake for Baby Jesus. Although pancake men are not a part of our holiday celebration, the children enjoyed them just the same :)

In the book Christmas in the Big Woods,

"For Christmas breakfast Ma made each child a pancake man. All the children held their plates next to the stove and watched while Ma made their pancake men one by one out of the pancake batter. Peter ate his right away, but the girls ate theirs slowly to make them last."

Not a shocker that you could have changed out Peter's name for Bug, and the above statements would be true! Bug tends to devour the things he loves to eat, barely coming up for air, while the girls tend to savour their treats!

Below is the recipe I always use to make pancakes from scratch:

INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 c. flour
1 T. baking powder
1 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1 beaten egg
1 c. milk
2 T. melted butter or margarine

DIRECTIONS
Mix flour with baking powder, sugar, and salt and set aside.
Combine egg, milk, and butter and add to dry ingredients, stirring just until combined; do not over mix! The batter will be lumpy.

Heat a lightly greased griddle or skillet over medium heat (375*F - 400*F). The griddle is ready when a few drops of water bubble and dance across the surface.

For each pancake man, pour about 1/8 cup batter onto hot griddle. Then pour the head, legs and arms. Cook pancakes until surface is covered with bubbles and appear dry around the edges. Turn and cook other side until golden brown. 

Optional: Add chocolate chip or raisin eyes, nose and mouth.