I’ve tried to start this post with about a dozen different cheery “It’s fall y’all!!!” greetings, but as I write, it’s the first week in October, and there’s just a lot of bad news. Cee Cee and I have been talking about recent events, and it’s no surprise she likes hearing the survivor stories because they give her hope. As one way of dealing with this, she made a couple of bluebirds to give to friends. Our conversations have nudged me from worry, to feeling hopeless, to being hopeful. Cee Cee and I have found that connecting with friends to spread hope and joy around is contagious. And of course our favorite way to connect to joy, is to create! So let me tell you what we’ve been up to.
We’re not what you’d call fancy people. In fact 97% of my phone’s photo album is full of images trying to avoid shots of our very outdated dining room wallpaper! Well, This month brings a project that helps our decor dilemma. Thanks to wool felted acorns, a couple of pumpkins and some gold paint we have a lovely Fall table centerpiece! Every time I walk past it, it makes me smile. We tried a few different techniques, including needle felting, wet felting, and artFelt® to make Cee Cee’s acorns. ArtFelt was definitely the most fun! We added a few drops of essential oil and now they smell good too. We created our “wooly” pumpkin by gluing roving to every other section of its orange little body. We were surprised how the colors matched perfectly. Cee Cee wants a whole field of wooly pumpkins!
October is also known for not only Halloween, but also for something called Black Cat Awareness Month. Cee Cee loves cats so of course she wants to celebrate it. She says there are stories about black cats being treated badly because of being associated with witchcraft. When I asked her where she learned this, she answered “in a cat magazine!”
Time for a little fact checking. We sat down at the computer and started searching for facts to support this statement, and learned that according to many sources, this is more of an urban legend than reality. (Cee Cee was relieved!) We did learn however, that black cats (in October and all year long) are less likely to be adopted, and spend more time in shelters. She made a sweet little black cat to remind people to be a little extra kind to our feline friends, and to consider adopting a black or tuxedo kitty next time you’re ready to grow your fur-family.
She sketched out a simple cat and stitched him up in an afternoon. You can make your very own by getting the pattern on the Makers’ Mercantile website HERE. She’s including the pattern even though she thinks you should be brave and trust your own artistic abilities to sketch out your own cat pieces.
Find yourself a little joy this month and make something. Even better, make something and give it to someone else who needs a little joy. We’re busting out the knitting needles and turning lots of heels for a November project to help you get ready for the holidays.
Now for an exciting giveaway: This felt cat will get to come live with one of you! Cee Cee is giving him away….all you have to do is leave a comment in the blog (tell us what you love to make in the Fall) and we will choose a winner! Winner will be selected and announced in November’s Craft Corner post.
Have a wonderful month!!!
-BeLinda and Cee Cee
P.S. Don’t forget to leave us a comment!! Cee Cee can’t wait to find out who wins her little black cat!
Tools and Materials Appearing in This Issue
artFelt® paper
artFelt® tackboard
artFelt® needles
Makers’ Mercantile® Felter’s Wool (assorted colors)
Black Felt
Scissors
Embroidery Floss
Cee Cee Creech is growing up in a home full of creativity. Mom BeLinda loves making things, and Cee Cee loves it too. In 2011 Cee Cee changed their lives when she wanted to knit elephants to comfort the residents of Joplin, MO after a tornado destroyed their town.
I love to make hats at this time if the year in Maine, I start thinking about matching jackets to hats and scarves.
Such a cute kitty. I love hearing of how your creativity has helped so many others.
I’m happy to make socks all year but I always think about knitting sweaters in the fall.
I love making winter accessories, but I especially love having beautiful fibers to make scarves!
I’m not the craftiest person but I do love to carve pumpkins.
Aww! So cute! I usually am making Halloween costumes for my kiddos at this point in the year. 😊 This year my 5yr old wants to be Moana and my 11yr old (almost 12!) wants to be Harry Potter.
Love your ideas, especially the roving + scent on the pumpkin!
I love baking in the fall. Especially here in the North. It warms the house and our bellies . I’d like to be a crafty person. Totally cute little kitty!
I too want a whole field of woy pumpkins. There is an art teacher in Nashville who does alot of wool felting. I will.find her blog and send you the address.
I’m going to need a whole mess of those kitty ornaments!
The thing I love to make at this time of year is the decorating of my house! I’ve done this for the almost 30 years I’ve been married (with 4 kids). It’s one of my most favorite times of the year, besides Christmas. I’m not a crafty person at all and so I appreciate and admire those who are! The cat is the cutest and looks EXACTLY like our Whiskers, whom you both met! We love ❣️Black cats! My phone finally let me post!
I can’t quit making shawls in the fall. The acorns and black cat are adorable. My son is in love with cat everything – this.woild be a great project to have him try.
Mel
Very nice kitty , 🐈. Here is another true fact. The shelters ( at least by me ) will not adopt out a black cat near Halloween . Too many weirdos out there with different ideas ,so the shelters want to keep them safe. But anyway, I think they are beautiful. I am with Terri, I love making hats, all kinds . Great way to jumpstart the holiday knitting!