The Magic Bean

Freebie Friday - All that Glitters

2009-12-25T07:37:00+00:00

One time when I was taking a doll course from the lovely and wonderful Barbara WillisI was eating lunch with Barbara and another student. The student had a gorgeous bit of beading with her. Barbara and the beader were discussing beading and its wonderful and diverse applications in very intelligent tones when I piped in with "Yeah and they're shiny". Barbara laughed. A lot. What can I say. I like sparkly. And glittery.

Here are a few tutorials and patterns that make the most of sparkle on your dolls:

The wonderful Shashi Nayagam shares with us this lovely sparkly doll wing tutorial.

If you like Shashi's sparkly wings, try Jean Bernard's great tutorial here for another, but very different wing tutorial.

Violette Clark shares this easy jack-o-lantern and crow pair, they would make great companions to a soft doll or as stand alone characters they just shine.

These Pinecone Tinsel Ballerina's by Lisa Kettel would be a great after Christmas craft with the kids - first go for a walk to find the pinecones and then glitter away with a hot chocolate in hand. mmmmmm....

Try making this very sparkly Creative Spirit Art Dolls. These would be great for swaps.

Try this spatula stencilling with the very glittery paint from Stewart Gill. That is quite similar to the technique I used with the wings on my design Bea in her Bonnet (accept I added some pyrotechnics to the mix).

Or maybe you are just looking for a great little pattern to glitter up to the max - try the Lucky Penny pin dollby Judy Skeel. Judy suggests some ways to really make this little pin doll shine!

Here's wishing you a very happy holidays with lots of sparkle and shine!

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Presence

2009-12-23T07:07:00+00:00

Colleen Babcock

Bamboo Oracle Online Class at Joggles

2009-12-20T16:14:27+00:00

My brand new design,The Bamboo Oracle is going to be an online class on Joggles.com starting January 26th. I'm always really excited to teach online classes, but I especially love it when the class is brand spanking new. Here's what you'll learn in the class:

The Bamboo Oracle is a cloth doll standing 14” tall, without the added height of her sprouting bamboo hat which brings her total height to approximately 17” tall. The Bamboo Oracle’s construction is quite unique, with her body designed to fit in a bamboo shoot that we will be constructing. Her lower body is created using a wire armature that will be wrapped to create her legs, allowing the doll to be entirely free-standing. The upper body is sewn and stuffed with an extremely simple wire armature that attaches the upper body to the lower body through the bamboo shoot. The opposable thumbs and separate neck allow for the greatest expression with body language. The head pattern includes side gussets and applied eyelids which are enhanced by the look of dramatic Chinese Opera style make-up. The curled-toe shoes are embellished with simple bead embroidery techniques and the simple, yet effective clothing is decorated with seed stitch. Over 5 technique-packed lessons, every detail of this doll is included from wefting her hair to creating her little felt satchel and the hat sprouting with bamboo.

Click here for more pictures, the lesson breakdown and to sign up!

Wouldn't this make a great Christmas present too? You could drop some heavy hints all casual like, "I was thinking how great online classes are for a gift! There's nothing to wrap, no waiting in the queue at the shops, no paying for delivery. I would really love to take Colleen Babcock's online class on Joggles.com." Then I don't know, print out a picture of the web page at Joggles advertising the class with a giant red heart drawn around the Bamboo Oracle and the web address underlined lying on the table somewhere. See, subtle. Don't laugh, it worked for me one Christmas when my hubby bought me an online class at Joggles for Christmas. Result!

Freebie Friday - Christmas Ornament Patterns for Free

2009-12-18T07:00:00+00:00

There are some great new free patterns on the net for doll or sewing related ornaments, it would be a downright shame to miss them.

Click hereto see Sherry Goshon's free pattern A Wee Bit of Holly.

Eileen Stewart gives us these little Jingle Owl ornaments.

If you want an owl inspired garland to go with your owl ornaments, check out this fab pattern from Moonstitches. Aren't they cool?

If you are not up to sewing but feel like getting a bit goopy, try this no-sew vintage ornament courtesy of Jess at Joggles.

This button wreath tutorial from Craftpalooza will really clear out the button box.

Or use those extra buttons to make little holiday figure ornaments with Martha Stewart here.

Martha shows us how it is done with these little clothespin doll ornaments.

This little present would do double duty as an ornament and a pin cushion.

Go forth and decorate!

Wordless Wednesday - Distillery District

2009-12-16T07:05:00+00:00

Colleen Babcock

Freebie Friday - Elf Patterns for Free

2009-12-11T07:00:00+00:00

Christmas elves are necessary for getting a little Christmas magic done. Here are some free elvin patterns to get you in the spirit:

Click here to see some little softie elves suitable for babies - great for baby's first Christmas, perhaps?

These little wilderness elves and fairies would be great for making with little people (the kind of little peope without the pointy ears). When I was wee I loved making things out of pinecones and leaves.

These cute little flower fairies also bring some Christmas woodland magic to your ornaments.

Make an entire elvish Christmas scene with this pattern designed by Helen-Carol Soucy.

Chickpea Studio gives us these very Nordic looking Christmas pixies. I do love that Scandinavian look.

Here is an Advent Elf to help you count down the days from Calamity Kim.

Calamity Kim also shares this gnome egg-warmer pattern. Wouldn't they be cute on Christmas morning?

If you want to get your elf doll suited and booted or just want a cute centrepiece, why not make these cute felt elf clogs from All Sorts.

If you feel like being an elf yourself, make some pointy elf ears with this free tutorial.

Go on, get your elf on!

Wordless Wednesday - In the Cloister

2009-12-09T07:04:00+00:00

Colleen Babcock

Freebie Friday - More Free Santa Patterns

2009-12-04T07:03:00+00:00

You just can't get enough of the big guy at Christmas! Check out these free Santa patterns available on the net.

Make these simple and cute rag style dolls of Mr and Mrs Claus.

Or make the whole gang - Santa, Mrs Claus and the elves here. These little dolls are between 5-7.5". Wouldn't they make great stocking stuffers?

This jolly little Santa is made on a flowerpot.

I absolutely love this Santa face ornament from Michael's.

Use push moulds to create this great Santa face pin or ornament.

Make these adorable clay Santa and Reindeer figures or try these Christmas polymer clay projects from Sulpey (there is a Sants, a polar bear and snowman).

This clothes pin Santa ornament could be made with the kids.

Linda Walsh offers this free Santa e-pattern.

Make a vintage Santa ornament with Martha Stewart and her guest Lucy with this video:

If you feel the need for more Kris Kringle, check out these Freebie Friday links from 2007. And these links for stocking stuffers and wreaths from 2008.

More Christmas freebies are coming up this month - next week elf patterns for free and the week after that Christmas ornaments for free.

Wordless Wednesday - Babbling Brook

2009-12-02T08:58:00+00:00

Colleen Babcock

Just Cuz Freebie

2009-12-01T17:11:24+00:00

One thing about the Freebie Fridays where I scour the net to find free patterns and tutorials on various themes to share with you each week, is that occasionally I find something that is so great just after I've done a Freebie Friday on that theme. I hate that. And it happened today. I found this sweet tutorial on how to make this gorgeous little polymer clay nativity set after having just shared a list of Nativity set links. And it is probably the best of the bunch. Had to share it.