Friday, October 14, 2011

Enchanted Tree

At the bottom of my last post I showed you a photo of an enchanted tree that Maggie had designed and is selling the pattern for it on her blog. I really love this little tree and had to have one of my own so I had Maggie send me the pattern.

While making this little guy I learned a couple of tricks from Maggie that I hadn't known before as I really haven't made any fabric art dolls this size. One thing I learned is it's not easy turning something this small right side out. I called Maggie and asked how in the heck did she manage it and that's when I learned about using a soda straw. Huh? I asked when she told me to use a straw. What does a straw have to do with turning something inside out? She told me that's how she turns fingers and such on her art dolls and then told me how to do it. You insert the straw inside what you want to turn and then poke the fabric with the smooth end of a crochet hook into the straw. It works like a charm. See, you can teach an old dog a new trick. Not that I'm old or anything.

Here's Maggie's Enchanted Tree:



Isn't he the cutest darn tree ever? I love the fabric she chose for the tree and how it goes with the fabric she used for her crow. When I shopped for the fabric for mine I kept that in mind and found a black and a brown that that had a matching pattern.

Here's my Enchanted Tree:


Maggie used doll eyes when she made hers but since I didn't have any I constructed mine with white felt and black beads. I also gave mine a pipe cleaner nose instead of wrapping a wire with fabric mainly because I had a brown pipe cleaner. 

Here's a closeup of her crow:



He looks so cute sitting on the branch. What's really fun with these guys, the tree and the crow, is they can be positioned in so many differented poses. The fingers and arm and branches if you want them to have wires inside. When Maggie posted this guy she had him assume different poses. I've been doing that with mine since I finished him yesterday. I'm going to wear him out at this rate.

Here's a closeup of my crow:



If you think the leaves on my tree look different than the one's on Maggie's it's because I made them differently. My sewing machine was acting up again and wouldn't let me stitch the edge of the leaves without messing them up so I decided to make them without sewing. I glued the fabric to both sides of some heavy paper and them traced the leaf pattern on the fabric and cut. I used paint to add the detail to the leaves.

I think one of the things I really like about this pattern is the flexibility you have when making it. There are three sections to the tree and when joining the sections you have the option of putting section "A" on the right side or the left side and by doing so have changed the appearence of the tree. As you can see by looking at Maggie's tree and mine each is unique. I'm thinking of making this tree in different fabrics for the different seasons and different rooms in the house. I'm also thinking about making one for my daughter and another for my granddaughter as gifts.

Well, I've got to run. Places to go, people to see and things to do. This month in moving along too fast for my liking and Halloween will be here before you know it. I still haven't finished my decorating and I don't have much time left. I do want time to enjoy it before I have to take it all down and start decorating for Christmas.

As always I want to thank you for stopping by.

12 comments:

The Bear's Blog said...

Hi Miss Maddyrose,

Both are amazing. You sure can see that there is a lot of talent in your family.

Heaps of Hugs
Prudence

LuLu & Flora are so jealous that they aren't talking to me. BOY, it's gonna be a grr-eat weekend without their constant babble.

Marlene said...

Wonderful little tree. You and Maggie both have done wonderful work on them. I really don't sew but if I did I would have one too. Thanks for stopping by it is good to be back.

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

Hello lovely lady. Wow, the focus you posess is wonderful. Get pattern, make item, post results....I am impressed. I am such a dabbler in so many things at one time that it takes me forever to get it all done. But the draperies are finished and hanging....the studio cubbby hole is clean (shock and wonder) and Joe's birthday is finished. So now, onward and upward....tree making this weekend. I'll share my photos, honest. Have a great weekend my friend, OMa LInda

Kays Kids said...

Your tree is amazing, what a lovely pattern. I'm not into crows, as I have come from the land, and remember the crows eating the eyes out of the lambs. I would like to make a possum to climb the tree. Imagination is endless.
Hugs
kay

orchid0324 said...

Dearest Maddy,

How lovely to know you and your sister Maggie are so close and
helping each other♬♬♬
Your works of trees are SO marvelous!!! Oh, fabric should be chosen... Your Enchanted Tree has cute autumn atmosphere, my friend.
And I agree with you that your lovely family will be happy to have your work!!!

Love and Lots of Hugs to you, Orchid*

Anonymous said...

Wonderful enchanted trees !!! I love ravens and these look fantastic.
Have a magical day.

Leny said...

Lovely!!! Love the tree and sweet bird!!

Hugs,Lenyx

Lisa said...

Well shoot, I'll have to try that trick! Thanks! and I love the idea of the seasonal tree! I haven't decorated for Halloween either. Whew, to much to do!!!!
have a great weekend!

Ascension said...

Absolutamente fantastico, me encanta.
besitos ascension

Jan said...

Wonderful trees but why does yours look so sad? Is it sad because it has lost its leaves? Nice work by you and your sister. Does your tree have a name?

Katy Cameron said...

Hey, alas, I can't see either pic ;o( I tried in Chrome and on IE, but nada... Still, I'm sure they both look fab

Love Bears All Things said...

Good morning, I just wanted to stop off and say thank you for visiting Bears at Home and leaving a comment.

I like this tree and you've made the design your own by the way you changed it. Years ago, I made a brown paper twist tree in a workshop and then made a white one too. I use the brown one for Halloween some years and the white one for Easter. Its fun to decorate them and they add to a table centerpiece.
Mama Bear