Fortuna's Apple Harvest Festival

It's that time of year again.  Fortuna's Apple Harvest Festival will take place Saturday, October 3rd in Fortuna, Ca.  I'm so excited to say that for the first time ever I will be taking part in the craft show taking place in downtown Fortuna on Main Street.  Starla and I will be selling our hand-crafted goodies for all to enjoy.  We've been busy putting in late nights to get lots of lovlies ready for all of you.  We are really excited as sometimes the creative juices are flowing so fast and free we have a hard time turning it off at night so we can sleep!  We will be selling LITTLE GIRL TUTUS, (they are adorable, by the way), Starla's gorgeous  BOOK PURSES, my HOLIDAY PENNANT BANNERS,  and LOTS OF OTHER STUFF.  The festival  is a time for the community to come together to celebrate the harvest of apples from Clendenan's, a local apple orchard (96 12th St., Fortuna).  It's also really the start of the holiday craft fair season.  It's always fun to see people after the summer, catch up, and see what other crafters have been up to.  Tractors pulling hay wagons ferry people from one location to another (for free!) since there are different types of activities in different locations around town.  I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and maybe making some new ones.  I hope you will be able to stop by the Apple Harvest Festival and enjoy some of Clendenan's cider.  Look for Starla and me on Main Street in downtown Fortuna. 

 If you stop by and mention this blog post, you will be receiving a special free gift from me! 

See ya there, Saturday, October 3rd!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button & To Kill a Mockingbird

How many of you have seen "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?"  BunBun and I watched it the other night and I can't decide what I really think of it.  Let me say that I rarely watch movies with Brad Pitt - I just don't like him as a person - but the fact that this story started out its life as a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald had me intrigued.  For those of you that don't know, it's the story of a man, born old that gets younger as he ages.  Basically, that's it.  BunBun loved the movie and would watch it again right this second if it was on.  I watched the whole thing, all 2 hours and 47 minutes of it and was interested the entire time.  It was strange to get a look at what Brad Pitt may look like in 10-20 years from now.  Also what he might have looked like before he hit the big time.  And as always, Cate Blanchett did not disappoint.  She is an incredible actress.  I guess I'm rambling here, but when it comes down to it, I couldn't get over the fact that this was Brad Pitt.  Maybe that is why I can't decide if I liked it or not.  I think there are some actors who have become such a persona that it's impossible for them to disappear into a character.  And it really has nothing to do with how long they have been acting or whether they are an icon or not.  I have no problem watching older, more seasoned actors that have a lot more well-acted roles to their credit than Brad Pitt.  And it's not just that I don't care for him.  I can watch any movie with Clint Eastwood and he becomes  the character.  I can watch any movie with Johnny Depp and he becomes the character.  I could list lots of actors that inhabit the role they are playing and let you get "into" the movie.  But I just couldn't do it with this one.  Maybe I will watch it again and see if i receive it any better.  I don't know.  Maybe I should just read what F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote.

Last night we watched "To Kill a Mockingbird."  It never ever disappoints.  The story of Jem, Scout, Atticus, Dill, and Boo Radley has been a favorite since Mrs. Thrap read it to the class in 7th grade.  I don't know when I watched the movie starring Gregory Peck and Robert Duvall for the first time, but I know I fell in love with the story way back when.  BunBun had never seen the movie and I think he liked it.  He didn't say much the whole time.  But I love each and every moment of the film.  From Scout and Jem meeting Dill the very first time to when it ends with Scout walking Boo Radley home.  These are characters who are real.  I didn't think..."oh look, it's Gregory Peck going to give his closing arguments," in the court house scene. No, I thought, "Atticus is going to give one of the most-convincing arguments of his adult life right now."  If you haven't seen the movie or read the book, go do it and enjoy.  If you have seen the movie or read the book, do it again just for the pure joy of watching a terrific film or reading one of the best stories ever written.

Felt Bird Ornament Tutorial

I think I have finally figured out this little guy so here is the tutorial I promised.  I hope you like it.  If you use any of the pictures here, please link back to me.  Thanks.

1.  I free-handed the basic shape of a bird.  I have never claimed to be a great artist, but I think it turned out well.  Then I drew in the features I wanted to include.  Basically, beak definition, tail feathers, a wing, and an eye.  I should not have done this with pencil though, as it didn't show up well in the picture.

2.  I placed my cut-out of the bird on a piece of felted wool skirt.  If you don't know how to felt wool, it isn't really that difficult.  (Click on the link for some great instructions.)  I pinned it down on a double layer so I could cut two out at the same

3.  After both pieces were cut out,I began stitching the features from the sketch onto the bird using 3 strands of embroidery floss.  I really like DMC .  I just used a basic stitch for all the features.

4.  I cut a smaller version of the bird from cereal-box-type cardboard and then used Aleene's Craft Glue to adhere the cardboard to one of the felt pieces.  I just waited for it to dry before sewing button eyes on. 

5.  I used six strands of embroidery floss to make the hanging loop and attach the jingle bell.  I used a blanket stitch to put the two felt pieces together.

And....that is my little felt bird ornament.  I actually like how they are all turning out and I may post later on when I have a whole flock to show you.

If you make some of your own, let me know. I would love to see how they turn out.