Friday, March 2, 2012

Gnome-tastic Tutorial and Whimsy Kit Giveaway!


Last week during Maine's schools winter break, I entertained a huge group of children and their parents at our local library. The children came to create their very own gnome, magical creatures perfectly suited to our woodsy landscape. My friend and arborist, Jeff Gillis of Welltree introduced the activity with a fascinating slide show on gnome habitat.


My husband Jon's woodworking talents were used to prepare the wooden gnome bodies. He cut 1 to 1.5" diameter hardwood branches into 4" lengths.  Then he used a belt sander to make a 1"-1.5" long notches in the bark for each gnome's face.



I assembled the rest of the materials, wood glue and wood plugs (used for flooring) from our local hardware store. From my studio stash I pulled out polyester fleece, wool roving, yarn and felt scraps. I pre-cut the fleece into 3" x 7" rectangles for the gnome coats, and cut 9" circles into quarters for the gnome hats. I quickly ran the hats through my sewing machine, and turned them right side out. This eliminated the frustration of the kids gluing fabric hat edges.


The first step was to glue on the nose and draw the eyes with a pencil. A word of caution, If you use a felt tipped marker the ink may run into the wood grain. Next children wrapped fleece around the wood body and secured it with a knotted yarn belt. I suggested trimming the fleece under the nose to shape a coat collar.


Wool roving hair and beards are attached with a dab of wood glue. Check out this little guys long mustache!

photo Sheryl Palese
The pre-sewn hat is simply pulled down over the head, fleece has enough give that it stretches to accommodate thicker branch bodies. Or you can skip the hat all together, check out this artist's original 'Yoda'!


My basket of felt scraps encouraged creativity, the children added feet hands, bedrolls, pompoms, sleeves, hands and feet.

photo Sheryl Palese

If you love gnomes and woodland sewing projects please check out my newest book Stitched Whimsy. In honor of National Craft Month I'm giving away two of my new Whimsy Stitching Kits. They include everything you need to make your very own stitched felt creation.



For a chance to win these kits please leave a comment on this post. I'll select a lucky winner next Saturday, March 10th. Happy Crafting and Good Luck! Heidi









22 comments:

  1. Great project there -- I wish I was one of the kids! :) Loving your kits too; thanks!

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    1. You won the owl kit! Please email me your address heidilboyd@comcast.net so I can get it to you.
      Congrats.

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  2. Love all you do,I have one of your books and I love it ! people comment on the bits I've done from the book ! like the bowl made out magazine pages !! (recycle book).

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    1. Thanks for your kind comment. I bet your bowl turned out great, I really enjoyed making that project.

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  3. That is a great project for my daughter's class! I can't wait to do it with them! Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Cindy, You won the doll kit! Please email me your address so I can get it to you.

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  4. Aaaawwww what a sweet little project. My kids would love to play with them, thanks for the chance to win a kit!

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  5. What a darling project. My 10 year old granddaughter would love doing this as she loves to create!

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  6. Love your craft ideas ! I do love to craft.

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  7. You are so inspiring - thank you for all you do for the kids in our community. And I love the pictures - you have great photographers! :)

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  8. This would be so fun to win -- I'd share it with a group of home schoolers that I work with!

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  9. Well done, Heidi.
    The whimsy kits are too cute!
    I'm particularly fond of the nesting dolls.

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  10. LOVE the nesting dolls! But the owl would be just as fun. :) Perfect project to do with my little 7 yr old seamstress!

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  11. Is it wrong to want one of the kits for myself? Something fun and crafty to do while the kids are at school and the house is quiet...


    (BTW - wicked cute pictures of the gnome project. I particulary like the last one)

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  12. I want to be you when I grow up! (But I need a kit to get started) :) Love all you do - what a load of talent AND so positive to boot.

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  13. I wish I may, I wish I might, win either Whimsy Kit with my entry tonight!!!!

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  14. Oh the whimsy kits look like a lot of fun and my daughter has just gotten into to sewing with me!

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  15. I have two winners! - Hungry Crafter for the Petey the Owl and Cindy Sews for the Matryoshka nesting dolls.
    Please email me your addresses heidilboyd@comcast.net so that I can mail them off to you!

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  16. Very good project for kids. I wish I will win whimsy Kit for my kids.

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  18. What a fun idea...my grandkids would love to do these projects...as would a grandmother I know. Would love to win a book.

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