Bluebelle, you will LOVE her patterns! Lynn, MtnRdRedux, and jlsch, THANK-YOU! And what great idea, as I love making the little animals, so hopefully the joy I get from making them shows in the finished pieces. I took a pic of the yarn I bought on a whim, as I don't knit, but when I saw it, thought I'd be able to find a use for it. It's so great for the squirrel tail, and who knows that else. The sparse mohair that the red squirrel tail is made from is $75 and up a yard, and this skein was $5.99 and I can do a lot with it.

BAC717 and Bluebelle66, here is a link on eBay for a good price on the wool felt. The more wool in it, the more shrinkage, but I like a higher wool count. They sell from 6" x 12" pieces to full yards. You can do a lot of things this size with a half yard. The squirrels are about 6" tall. Over the River Felt on eBay 1/2 yard pieces

I've been looking at the Cheswick shop and she really has some really neat stuff. Will have to browse there a little more later today.

Thanks, too, for the felt recommendation! I always buy little sheets for my ornaments, usually purchased in my local fabric shop (limited colors) or on Etsy. I had high hopes for making a set of felt ornaments for our family handmade gift exchange, but didn't get around to it this year. I think I may have to switch over to larger figures, like squirrels, mice and rabbits. They are so darling.

Bluebelle, Check out her special on 'E-patterns', which she emails
and you print at home. You can get 3 for $13.95, as long as they are her
$4.95 or $6.95 ones. I was thrilled to find that felt seller on eBay,
as Etsy is higher.Friends who have seen my little animals all
love them. I think if you made one for your family gift exchange, you'd
start a tradition that would go on for many years. People really
appreciate handmade gifts, and I love to give them!

That squirrel is amazing! Our fur babies sure can be little stinkers sometimes.

Love it.

Mtn....thank you!

Umm, this is my Christmas progress.

My3dogs, you are so talented! Love the squirrels.

M3D, thank you for all the detailed information. I will definitely check out all the sources you've mentioned. At this point, I'm not sure I'm ready to start any projects, but certainly after the holidays. I'm still hoping to put together a cookbook of all my tried and true recipes for my daughter and son as a gift this Christmas.

Sue, LOL!

Sue, as far as decor, you're further ahead than I am!

I was hoping to make a pair of turtle doves yesterday, but found they're very time consuming, so only finished one, and still have to do the simple embroidery on the wings and sew them on. She is high on a window sill, since my 'squirrel killers' are actually bird dogs! I love the wire feet.

Oooohhh, now those Doves are really special finished or not.

I think we need a separate thread on all of 3dogs little critters!

Just when I thought she out did herself......she tops it!

Sweet angel, Annie!

Thanks so much for the etsy recommendation, My3dogs! I think I'll have to make some ornaments next year. So darn cute.

I'm very behind this year. So far I've made stockings for DDIL and DGS, plus a jingle doll for DGS. Need to get cracking on the window seat cushion cover, bed skirt, and decorative pillows for DD! We're redoing her room for Christmas. Not looking forward to painting, though.

Just finished 2 knit wool hats for my GFs for xmas. Now I have to start decorating!

My3Dogs, you are so wonderfully talented. I'll add my vote to those who would love to buy your items. The grey squirrel is my favorite, but everything else is amazing, too.

My3dogs, Your attention to detail is amazing! I wish you would open an Etsy shop.

I'm so inspired by your projects! You're all so talented, and now I'm wanting a stuffed squirrel of my very own. ;-D

This isn't really a Christmas project, but I've been working on some very basic (easy) knitted blankets for my niece and nephews. I've finished the one for the youngest boy, and just finished this funky, chunky blanket for my niece. Still have one more to make for the older boy. Seems like such a fusty old person thing to make for teens/tweens, but believe it or not - they requested these!

Oh, it cheers me up to see everyone's Christmas prep and crafts! I only have lights on my tree as of today because there hasn't been a night when all the children could be home to hang ornaments. This may be the first year I have not produced any handmade gifts; I often do pillowcases or sachets, but I'm in a funk this year I guess. I hope to do more decorating this weekend.

Hope you don't mind me bringing this to the top again with a Maine state bird I finished last night - the Black Capped Chickadee. He's 5" tall and 8" long, and his feet are made from 2 strands of 22 gauge wire, twisted together, covered with floral tape and then painted. This guy is muslin, painted and then sealed. His scarf can come off if the friend I made him for wanted to display him year round. Wouldn't I like to have the rest of the month off just to sew and paint!

Oh my gosh. M3Ds, he's wonderful!!

My3dogs, your bird is so cute! I've never heard of this process of making little figures like this. Is there a frame or core that you then cover with muslin? I love his little scarf. He's just adorable.

Wow - that chickadee is amazing!

My3dogs, you should quit your day job...

Lisa, I would love to, but a few more yeas and I can retire... Hi, Bluebelle, There is no form inside - he's just stuffed. I stuff my items very firmly. He's made from muslin, which I wash and dry first to tighten up the fibers. Then I just cut him out, stitch the body and stuff it. The wings do have a piece of wool felt inside the layers of muslin to add some dimension to him. The opening is to stuff him is on his back, so it doesn't show once the wings are attached. I paint the body and the wings, and I had a good photo of a chickadee up on the monitor to get the colors fairly lifelike.

Then I use 'rusty wire' in 22 gauge, and form the legs and feet, and decided that to make them stronger and more realistic,I wound floral tape over them tightly, then painted the legs and feet with Burnt Umber acrylic paint.

I then carefully poke holes in his tummy and work the legs in. I added some glue at the openings to make sure they stay in and then touched up the paint there. The scarf is made from a scrap of very fuzzy wool felt that I had on hand, and then I sewed some faux cedar to it and then added the 2 red bells and 2 gold bells. I make it up along the way and do whatever I choose to add to make him cute. Normally I'd blind stitch it on, but thought that my friend might want to keep him up in warmer months, so made it so she can just slide it off over his head.

I've been doing this stuff since I was a young kid, a LONG time ago. I grew up near several beaches here in Maine, and would go there and bring home rocks smoothed by the surf and paint on them. I also used to blow out white hens eggs and paint scenes on them, wrap a piece of velvet ribbon around them and they'd be tree ornaments. Jordan Marsh in ME, now Macy's, used to buy them from me and sell them in their Trim a Tree dept. I'd bring them in right in the egg carton. : -) I have this drive to create things, especially this time of year. I really enjoy taking a flat piece of fabric, and making a little being out of it.

This is a mouse writing a letter to Santa that I made maybe 10 - 15 years ago. He's also made of muslin.

Beautiful! You are a true artist in so many areas.

Is it un-Christmassy of me if I say this to My3dogs? "DAYYYY-UUUUUM, woman!" ;-D You are so very talented, and what a delight it is to be able to see photos of your creations. Keep 'em coming!

You ladies are so sweet! I may try a muslin painted cardinal soon, but have to do a few doves and a squirrel, too.

I am so unworthy of this group. But I did get my Christmas cards out this morning! My3dogs, your work is absolutely amazing. It is such a joy to see your beautiful animals and the love you put into each one.

Okay, my3dogs, we are crowdfunding your new Maine gallery, alright? The turtle doves are magnificent!!!

Annie, those hats are beautiful!

Ida, I love the scarf. The texture!

Can you see how excited I get over a white cream and taupe holiday! : )

I am in awe of this talented group. My3dogs, just when I thought it couldn't get any better...the chickadee! Oh my, I love it.

That little mouse made me smile and feel a twinkle of Christmas spirit. My3dogs thank you for sharing your talent.

Such talented artisans! The best I could manage so far was to make a big star out of branches I've saved. I strung lights on them and DH hung it outside our bay window. At least I finally got that made-I've had the branches for 3 years! AND it was put up before Christmas Eve!

I'm planning to make a fleece mermaid blanket for DD2 and a baby blanket for my as-yet Grandson. I found a lovely vintage embroidered baby quilt top that I'm repurposing into a new blanket with a super soft baby fleece backing and new satin binding. Those HAVE to be finished by next weekend so I have a lot of sewing to do!

It's another squirrel, but this one is for a friend who collects special blue & white pieces, loves the color blue, and tartan. When I looked through my crafts supplies that I hadn't seen for years, and saw the little 2.25" blue willow plates (that I have NO idea when or where I got) and found a sample of red Stewart Tartan in my fabrics, I couldn't NOT make this for her. It's a surprise....

Oh, he is absolutely precious!

How darling. I love him! What a great idea to have him hold the plate.

Thank-you! What is so much fun about making things like this is when you can customize one. I saw the plates, wondered where I'd gotten them, but thought of her immediately, and knew I had some tartan fabrics, and that denim blue wool felt went nicely with the plate.

Bluebell, if you really get into this, I think you'll enjoy it very much. Get yourself a hemostat, as it's a vital tool to turn small pieces inside out. I glued a narrow strip of the felt on the backside of the plate, and stitched it to his arms, and then glued his hands to the front of the plate. Hot glue didn't work on the plate, so I used Elmer's and held each hand to the plate with a clothespin overnight.

If I had time, I'd make a little creature for each of you, as do it for someone you know (sort of! ) and can customize it, makes it so special to me. I can't stop smiling as I think of and create something for a friend. Jen/Ida, your beautiful hats and blankets make you feel the same way, I'm sure, just as fouramblues crocheted stockings, and the beautiful decor done by others above.

I bought a tree yesterday at a local nursery, and it's up, but doesn't have a single ornament on it yet. Yikes!

My3, they just keep getting better and better. Your friend will absolutely love that squirrel.

Thanks for the tip, My3dogs. I haven't used a hemostat with my crafts/sewing before but can see how it would come in handy.

I agree - all of the photos above demonstrate that this is one talented group. :)

My3, that new squirrel is so special the way you customized him with what your friend loves. She is going to squeal and love him forever!!

I think we should have a crafting retreat! Doesn't that sound like a cozy break from politics and real life?

I do my best to pay NO attention to Politics. I registered as Independent many years ago, and while I have to see it on the news, I try my hardest to not think about it at other times. This year especially... :-(

I would LOVE to have a nice chunk of time to do a craft retreat. I'm sure we could all give tips and tricks to each other, if we could ever stop talking! A church group asked me many years ago to teach them how to do the painted eggs that I used to do, and it was fun!

I think my canine assistant would miss me terribly - my biggest dog, Riley, who loves to share my office chair with me, has 'helped' me sew several times recently. He is behind me right now, snoring, and I have my feet pressed firmly on the floor so I don't slide out the front end! He is very warm against my back, though, which is nice.

I do pay attention to politics and it's about to do me in. I'm so tired of the feeling in the pit of my stomach. It just came to me how nice it would be to spend some time doing something fun and creative while getting to meet people I already like.

My furbabies and feral cats would miss me. My dad needs too much help and attention right now for me to leave. But all of that makes it sound even more tempting!

I'm seeing a huge, cozy, lodgey place. A girl can dream lol!

ETA: I love Riley's sweet face.

I just finished this cardinal for another friend. I sort of made it up as I went along, and found one unfinished wooden base in my craft supplies of olden days. Painted the base, covered it with Modge Podge after stapling through his feet with my upholstery stapler, touched up the paint on his feet, and then sprinkled on German glass glitter.

This is like the Chickadee, made of muslin, painted and glazed with Modge Podge. This one is true to life size.

Such talent on this forum! Very nice ladies! Me? My talents don't involve making things, but my daughter's DO. She supplements the family's income by creating beautiful cakes and other sweets while staying at home with her babies. These pictures were taken from her Instagram acct. She's selling Christmas baskets that include the following. There are other items but they're not on her Instagram page.

Sugar Plums

Turkish Delight

Monica, They are beautiful!!! I especially like the dog cookies, of course! What a lot of work, and she must make hundreds of them. Plus, I know they must taste as good as they look!

TARTAN DOG COOKIES!!! Wow, she should work out a deal with Williams Sonoma. :) Those treats looks beautiful and delicious!

I just finished these paper Christmas stockings that will hold the Christmas gift check for each of the kids on Christmas morning. There are also stockings for my mom, DH and me, just for fun.

if i could just locate my tree skirt.........

bac717, Those stocking are very cute! Do you glue two sheets of the patterned paper together around the edge of the stocking design to make them? Then use a coordinating paper for the cuff? Is the initial stenciled on? I've never seen anything like them.

M3D, In past years, I've made an envelope from patterned paper for the checks, but this year I had the idea to make a stocking. The backside of the 'stocking' is white card stock. I used double stick tape around the edge to adhere the patterned paper and the card stock together. The cuff is also attached with double stick tape. The initial was cut on my Cricut cutting machine. I used a small hole punch near the top of the stocking and they're hanging from a small wire brad I nailed into a piece of quarter round.

I love the cardinal my3dogs.

Monica, your daughter's cookies are incredible.

Bac, those stockings are very cute.

Me? I'm still trying to get the darned garland hung around the front door.