Needle Felted Pug
OK... I think I can safely say that I am addicted to needle felting wool pugs! I had too much fun! I am going to the yarn store tommrow to see what wool they have.

Collage
I continue to learn lots of fun things I can do with my art and photos using Photoshop Elements 4. Here is my first collage. You would not know it from looking at it, but this file has 21 layers to it. The background and textures are created from closeup photos of items around my house. I also used masking techniques and drop shadows to change the lighting and depth on each indiviual item. I had a great time!

Needle Felting
My Polar Bear
I took a needle felting class yesterday. I have always wanted to learn. We had so much fun. It is amazing what you can do with a lump of wool and a needle. You basically sculpt as you stab the wool and hopefully not your fingers. I am sure there will be some wool pugs in my future.

Wallace the Pig
I just finished another great cartoon pillow kit from http://www.haan.com/
What fun! I hand-sewed, machine sewed and hand-embroidered him.

Mini Pug Ball
Just as crazy... just smaller!

Life size Crochet Pug
I am so excited about this crochet pug I just finished. The pattern is the most well written I have ever seen. It is an ingenius design. You can find it and greyhound patterns at the artist's websites ... http://www.greyhoundcrafts.com

http://stores.ebay.com/Aerie-Designs

Happy New Year!

Wishing you Health and Happiness in 2007!

Melissa and Emmitt

New Year, New Stuff!
I have added 5 New products to my website that are available in all of the Pug and Pug Pal Designs! That is over 100 images to choose from!
Check it out!

Book Preview
You are the first to see two pages from my new ABC book to be released in 2007. I am so excited!

Felted Parrotlet
I created this funny bird in the same way I made the felted teddy bear. I love crocheting with wool. It is my type of favorite yarn.

Reggie the Raccoon
When I was about 12 years old, I took a Home Ec class that scared me away from sewing machines until my 38th birthday. :) I was so afraid of ruining the project, that I pretty much hand sewed the whole thing and my teacher helped me with the machine sewing. I know she was just trying to help, but i did not learn a thing.
So, the first thing I did after receiving my sewing machine for my birthday was to try and find the cartoon pillow kits we made in home ec that year. I could not believe it when I found them online! http://www.haan.com/
My project back in 1979/80 was the turtle. Today, I just finished the raccoon, and it was fun!

New Crazy Crocheted Pug Doll




Oh my! These dolls just make me laugh!

Crocheted Cotton Dishcloths
Sometimes it is just fun to create something colorful and quick. I made these dishcloths this weekend.

Crazy Crochet Pug Doll
I just made him up. He makes me laugh. Enjoy!

Another bear...
I made a second bear today, and changed the bow on the first one. Here they are...

My first crocheted and felted tiny teddy!
He is only about 3" tall. I was always leary of trying to work with thread crochet as the tiny scale and hooks seemed difficult. I found this wonderful pattern on ebay, that you work with a G hook and regular 100% worsted weight wool yarn! It works up really fast and then you felt him down to a small, fuzzy size. I am really happy with him. The pattern is genius as you do not stuff him with anything except the long tails of yarn she guides you to cut for each piece. When you boil and felt him, he shrinks and is stuffed!

Photoshop Elements 4
I am taking a Photoshop Elements 4 class online, and it is so much fun! I am just starting session 2, and I thought I would post some of the fun things I am able to create. The online school is only $20 for 6 weeks of instruction! They have a ton of classes to choose from.
http://www.eclecticacademy.com/

Crochet Hook and knitting Needle Cases
I cannot believe sewing rectangles could be so much fun! I am really happy with the new cases i made today. Using regular craft felt and cotton fabric, I made a case for my crochet hooks and scissors, a case for my circular knitting needles and a case for my straight knitting needles. I love them!

Felt Pets!
I just finished sewing felt dolls of my pug, Emmitt, my sister's corgi, Moe and our parrotlets, Gilbert and Dunkin. I sewed the bodies, arms and legs together with the sewing machine and then hand stiched the faces using felt and beads.

My New Sewing Machine!
My birthday present is awesome! I have always wanted to learn how to use a sewing machine, and now I have one! I have been busy having fun practicing with new projects. I made a sign for a Pug Notes display. I am so excited to be in an Art Walk show next week. Hopefully, it will be an eye catcher. I also sewed myself a checkbook and datebook holder with a place for note paper for my purse. I am sure my next sewing creation will involve creating some sort of pug... felt ... yes, I definitely see felt pugs in my future. :) Stay tuned!