How to make a Fall Leaf Fairy Pin

The summer is ending and I am anxious to get started on some Fall crafts. Here is a leaf fairy I started making about 4 years ago.

A perfect friend for back to school. (they also make good gifts for your new teachers).

There are two versions. First I'll show you the easy way that kids can do and then the harder version which require a little sewing, ( more for older kids and Moms ). So come along now and make a leaf fairy.

Materials needed:

- artificial silk fall leaves, felt in fall colors, glue, wooden beads (16mm or 3/4 inch)

- pipe cleaners, wool roving or yarn for hair (optional), acorn cap (optional), pin back

- For the harder version Thread/needle, embroidery floss for hands

Directions:

You need some fall silk leaves. You can pick these up at Wal mart, Micheals, etc. try to get ones made from fabric. Some are made from a lightweight almost papery material. Don't get that as it will just rip while you are working with it.

Clip or pull the leaf of the main stem. Leave the plastic veins on. They help the leaf keep its nice shape.

The ones I used here was chenille type fabric. It has some texture to it like velvet.

From the leaves select the one you want to use, for pins you want a smaller one about 2-3 inches in size.

Find some felt that complements the leaf to use for the backing.

Set this aside for now while you work on the head and hands.

Take your wooden bead and either paint on a face or color one in using markers. My kids like to use fine micron markers to make the face but you can also use pencil crayons.

Take one 12 inch pipe cleaner and cut it in half.



Thread your bead on and center it on the pipe cleaner.

Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner to hold the bead secure. Don't worry about the pipe cleaner showing in the back as you can cover it with hair.

Bend the ends up and hide inside the bead.

For the easy version take 1/2 a colored pipe cleaner, twist onto pipe cleaner attached to the bead. then bend ends down to the body. You then twist the arms a little to make a good hand/arm.

Place your chosen leaf on the felt ( you could pin it or even trace it at this point if it makes this easier ) and cut around it . Try to cut the felt slightly larger than the leaf.

Where the leaf indents at the top for the stem try to cut the felt straight across. This gives you a little extra backing to support the head and body.

Glue body onto the felt leaf. Position the hands where you want them to be before gluing.

Now put a bead of glue all around the leaf shape as well as on the body and arms. Then position the artificial silk leaf on top.

Make sure the hands are sticking out where you want them to be. Use a few clothespins to hold down the layers until the glue dries.

Now we can put on some hair and a hat. For mine I used a little bit of brown wool roving. For those of you who don't have wool roving just lying around you can use some yarn. It sometimes helps to unravel it and separate the strands to make it look more like hair.

Glue this on by coating the back of the head with glue.

I used an acorn cap for a hat. Another option is to use the inside ring of petals in a silk flower.

You could also cut a little cap out of felt and glue it on.

Glue your acorn cap on.

Then glue on the pin back.

Here is a finished easy Leaf Fairy.

For a more polished look we follow the same directions up to the arms.

We still use 1/2 a pipe cleaner and wrap it around the body.

Using the embroidery floss wind some on in the middle of one arm.

Bend the arm in half and wind some floss around both parts to form the hand.

Knot off when done and do the other hand/arm.

Now lets work on the leaf body. Place your leaf on the felt you have selected.

If you want to machine sew it do it now leaving the upper third of the leaf free. Now cut around the leaf.

If you want to hand sew cut out the felt leaf shape first and the sew to the artificial silk one but leave the upper third unsewn.

Remember to try to leave a little extra felt where the stem attaches to the leaf, just cut across without making the indentation.

Insert the body between the two leaves. Position where you want the hands to be.

You can also insert a little batting to puff it up a bit if you desire.

Pin layers into place and finish sewing the upper third of the leaf. You will be sewing the body and hands into place as you do this.

Finish off with hair and a hat. Sew or glue on the pin back and your done.

A New Friend

Make one or a dozen and have fun!

see you soon

gail

Virtual Sketch Date

Today is the day we have to submit our cabbage drawings or paintings for the August Virtual Sketch Date.

Here is mine. I wanted strong color. I don't think I have ever painted a cabbage before but I really enjoyed it.

This was my first time participating in the sketch date and I plan to continue. It will be interesting to see what everyone else came up with.

12x9 140 wc paper

see you soon

gail

Canning Tomatoes

I know, I know no new paintings and no new crafts, but its that time of year. Between Back to School shopping for my now "must be hip" 10yr old and canning I been busy.

Canning in Canada is an institution. I usually only can tomatoes and salsa. My Mom makes the pickles. I also freeze apple and peach pies, and cabbage rolls. If I'm really ambitious I'll do perogies too.

This weekend we went to Heritage Park for their vegetable sale. "Produce at old time prices "was the slogan. Luckily we took the wagon. 75lbs of tomatoes for $15.00!!!!

Anyhow it was cool and rainy yesterday so a good time to can ...... the kids decided to help.

(that only lasted for 40lbs or so)

It was a good afternoon project though. They also had fun designing the label.

oh well, back to the pies, shopping, etc.,etc.

see you soon

gail

Beet Leaf Rolls Tutorial

I know this has nothing to do with painting or kid's crafts but this is a very old family recipe. It is Ukrainian in origin and I have only come across it in other old Ukrainian families who settled in Alberta.


It sounds a bit exotic using beet leaves but they are packed with lots of healthy stuff for you. ( high in Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc, Vitamins A, C, E, and fiber )

My kids and husband LOVE them and eat them like candy. They are a family tradition and I grow beets just for the leaves in my veggie garden. So before you throw away those beet leaves when you are making borscht or roasting them try this instead. Your family will thank you!!

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: 30-35 beet leaves (about the size of your palm), choose newer
leaves not old leathery ones
2 cups of cooked rice (you want sticky short grain it holds
together better)
2 Tablespoons fresh Dill, chopped
1 Tablespoon butter
Sour Cream
Salt to taste




You want to wash your leaves first in cold water. Leave them in your sink and plug it for the next step.




Now you need to wilt your leaves.

Add enough boiling water from your kettle to cover them and let them sit a while until the water cools down.

My mom told me in the olden days they wilted their leaves in the sun but I think it would dry them out too much. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to make sure you get all the edges of the leaves under water.

















While waiting for your leaves to cool make your rice. I put mine on to boil and wait until I see the little vent holes and most of the moisture is gone. I then cover, turn off the heat and let it sit a while. (10-15 minutes)




(see the little vents)










While waiting for your rice and leaves chop up your dill. When the rice is ready, you want it to be sticky, add your dill and some salt to taste.









When the water has cooled, drain your leaves. Now we make the rolls. Take a leaf, shake off the excess water and place on a cutting board. I like to trim out a section of stem on the bottom of the leaf because I find it too tough. Cut out the bottom inch or so of stem.











Sorry these photos are in the wrong position but for some reason blogger won't set them up right no matter what changes I make to the original, go figure.




Put leaf into your palm


Add a Tablespoon of rice into the center of the leaf.









Roll up, kind of like you roll up a burrito or taco. Place into a buttered casserole dish.







Keep layering the rolls into your dish until all the leaves are done.












Dot with butter on the top and placed covered into a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes.







Serve with sour cream and a sprinkle of salt if desired.

ENJOY, trust me you will look at beet leaves in a whole different way after this and they do become addictive.








As part of my MISTAKE MONDAY series I thought I would post a picture of my studio (really a room in the basement). I always get a kick out of seeing other artists and crafters post pictures of their extremely clean and organized work spaces. (like on Poppytalk)

They always look like nobody actually works there. My room is always a mess. The more projects I'm working on the messier. During the school year I'll have 2-3 projects I'm developing for art lessons on the go everyday. I don't have time to clean the room!!!
Every once and a while I will clean it up, usually when I'm looking for some special item to use for a project but most of the time it looks like this. Thankfully the rest of the house is usually clean and no I'm am not a hoarder. I just need a lot of supplies to come up with all the projects for school, Scouts, etc. So welcome to my MESS.

see you later,
gail