Ian & Cranberry Red Crafts

Ian was pretty crafty leading up to Christmas.  For example, he threaded cranberries and blueberries onto twine for the birds:  

I really appreciated this -- I've always wanted to "decorate" the outside trees with edibles for the birds, just like I saw in this magazine:

Cottage Living, December 2005.  [ Clearly,  I will really, really save things :-) when I'm determined.  That magazine went across the ocean twice on a container ship.]

He let his sister hang the garland out on the tree, though:

Pretty.  :-)

As much as I love the bird feeding creativity, Ian's true height of craftiness came in what he chose to make his sister for Christmas.  This was ALSO an idea I'd been saving.....but, I now have a  Pinterest  account online :-) and can "click" to save ideas, instead of hauling old magazines around the globe with me. 

Anyway, anyway -- back to Ian. 

It all started with a handful of wood....

....wood from an old branch in the backyard.  Ian cut the branch into short lengths, pulled off the bark and hollowed out the centers.  Doesn't seem so extraordinary, does it?  Scouts do things like that all the time.....

But,  JUST LOOK AT THIS:

He needle-felted some white roving onto deep red wool I bought in Germany.....

.....and ended up with this beautiful work of felted art.  :-) :-)   There's more. 

 idea & pattern originally from Mamaroots

He rolled up a note and put it inside for Eliza on Christmas Morning, with a hint about how to find a second present he'd hidden in the house. 

She was T - H - R - I - L - L - E - D. 

By the way, I've had that little metal base for a long time, too.  I bought it for one Deutschmark at a Christmas Market in Germany in 1983.   It's supposed to be a candle holder;  and while it has also moved with me countless times, I find it to be QUITE perfectly ideal  for holding this mushroom.   Hooray for keeping things.  Some things... I'm managing my tendency to stash......but, I love that I still had this.  

However, this story is not complete without showing what Ian made for his brother's Christmas gift:

idea & pattern originally from Handmade Holidays at Sew Mama Sew

Angry Bird.  An idea which also lives on my "craft board" over on Pinterest. 

Lars laughed out loud when he saw this.  Then he threw it at Ian  (apparently, that's significant to people who understand the game.....) 

I'm really impressed with what Ian pulled off here....and I am delighted that gigantic, football-playing Ian will sit down at a sewing machine and stitch.  Let alone needle-felt.    :-)