Pearl & Jack: A Sock Monkey Love Tale

We'd like to share a heartwarming story with you, a tale of crafts and a tale of love. And of sock monkeys.

Pearl & Jack

Once upon a snowy day in February, Pearl the sock monkey sat inside wishing she had a woolen hat to keep her head warm. Being a crafty monkey, she set out to knit up a warm cabled hat. She chose the perfect shade of mulberry merino yarn to bring out the pink in her cheeks and a flattering cabled beret pattern--Gretel by Ysolda Teague.


Pearl is quite the avid knitter and was finished in time to enjoy the fresh snow fall.


She donned her perfect little Gretel, smiled, and set out to enjoy her favorite snowy day pastime, snow angel-making!


Suddenly around the corner came a handsome fellow. Jack the sock monkey also enjoyed a snowy day and became immediately smitten when he saw Pearl making angels in the snow.


Pearl blushed at being caught playing in the snow by herself. "Your rosy cheeks give you away. You need a hot drink to warm you after a day in the snow," said Jack.

She joined him and together they walked to the local coffee house, Metropolis, where Jack ordered a latte for two from the barista.


It was a perfect afternoon and by the end of the day two sock monkeys were in love.

The End

A special thanks to:
Miguel at Metropolis for the mini-latte for two
Angelique for knitting a mini Gretel
Betsy for making Pearl the pink sock monkey
Zach for making Jack the sock monkey

Craftastic Valentine Project: Sleepytime Love Eye Mask

Here is a quick project that makes a perfect crafty gift for the object of your affection--a sleepytime mask filled with rose petals!


To make your very own mask you will need:

• 2 pieces of wool felt (1 pink and 1 red)
  
• 1/2 yard of elastic
• rose petals
• rice
• sewing machine (or you may handsew your mask)
• scissors
• pinking shears
• thread

Draw a heart about 4" x 4". Cut it out and use this for your pattern. Trace two hearts onto each color of wool felt and cut out your four hearts.


Sew your first heart together, leaving about a 1" opening to fill it.


Trim the edge with pinking shears for a cute finish. Repeat for other heart, leaving an opening in that one as well.


Place one heart on top of the other, overlapping the edge just a bit. Stitch the hearts together by stitching-in-the-ditch of the previous seam.


Now fill one of the hearts with a bit of rose petals and a bit of rice. Don't fill it too full, you want it to be soft on your dear love's eyes. Insert one end of the elastic into the opening and pin everything in place. Now stitch the opening closed.

You can now check the elastic band length. Hold the mask up to your face to determine how long you want the elastic to be. Cut it to that length.

Now you will fill the other heart, insert end of elastic and pin in place. Stitch the second opening closed.


Voila--super-cute sleeping mask!

Happy Valentine's Day my lovelies, and sweet dreams!

Valentine's Day Crafting

We are getting ready for the lovin'-est holiday of the year, and what Valentine's Day would be complete without conversation hearts? Here's a project you can craft up in no time for your honey or your secret crushmuffin.


Here is how to needle felt your very own conversation hearts.

Supplies:
Heart shaped cookie cutter
Wool roving in Pink, White, Yellow, Lavender, Mint and Peach
Felting needle
Felting surface (foam, brush or sponge)

Instructions:
Fill your cookie cutter with wool roving. Place on felting surface and poke with felting needle until it holds its shape and develops a smooth surface. Repeat for all conversation hearts.



Decide on what sayings you want on your hearts. Using an ultra fine point Sharpie in hot pink, write your sayings on the hearts with a gentle jabbing motion.

Cute!