How the Walrus Came to Be.

This is the story of a walrus. About how he came to be, and the process behind his creation. 

We like to think of ourselves as fun-loving people. I think the best thing about being married is the camaraderie that comes from sharing an infinite number of inside jokes with my husband. And being able to finish his sentences (although, let's be honest, there is a mix of admiration and annoyance on his part when I do that). A few years ago when I released my masked owl ornament line, Sean declared that he would like one for himself, but could it please be a walrus mask?

Every time I saw that little mint chip owl with his walrus mask it just made me smile. I loved his wee plush tusks and cute little freckled face. It was a surprisingly long time before I realized that the walrus awesomeness needed to find a way into the shop.

All of my designs start with doodles. I think in pictures, and I really need to get things down on paper to find potential problems with the design that may turn into huge issues later on for the final product. When it comes to animals I spend quite a bit of time studying photos of the animal from different angles before I even start drawing.

If often takes hours before the basic pattern is ready for a test run. This particular project took at least four hours to get to the point where I was ready to cut into the felt.

Of course before I cut into the felt I have to choose a color! I started with six potential colors, and slowly worked my way down to the one that felt just right.

 
It was so exciting to see his wee face take shape! It's all in the details, and I took a lot of time with each to make sure he was just right and wasn't missing anything.

Even still, it is often right at the very end when a small problem presents itself, and it's back to the drawing board. With the walrus it was his front flippers that gave me a bit of a rough time. I actually had to put him away for a week or two so that I could come back to the pattern with a clear head.

I came through the victor at long last, and I'm just thrilled to pieces with the final product. I certainly hope he makes you smile as much as he does me! The little pudgy fella is just as happy and handsome as can be. 

> If you'd like to give him a good home, he's available in the shop here. <

> For more about me check out my about page. <

New Year Means Lots of New Goods!

Clockwise from top: Poppy Hair Pins with Tulle, Baby Owl Ornament, Polka Dot Wall Mobile, 

Prize Ribbon Initial Hair Clip,  Raindrop Wall Mobile, Owl Face Hair Clip

Since the new year rolled over, I've been busy pulling all the stuff out of my brain that had been festering there while I was busy getting Christmas orders out the door. Boy, has it felt good! I still have a few new things up my sleeve, but for now I've gotten the above things into the shop. Hope you are feeling happy and productive too!

I've Been Busy! New Goods in Shop for Fall.

I know you can't tell from the lack of posting here on the blog, but I've been busy, busy, busy creating new goods for the shop. With the start of our homeschool year I had a surge of creative brainwaves. Needless to say, that has translated into some late nights for me! 

As you can see, I've been having a lot of fun!  


+ I've added quite a few new colorways to my collection of notched flag banners, and have even started to add metallic vinyl to some of them. 

+ Cat faces have finally made their debut.

+ There are a couple of new potted felt plants in shop. 

+ Not to be missed are some brand new ornaments! Sweet baby polar bears with personalized sweaters, mommy & baby owls, guardian angel owls, and snowflakes. 



Three new things that I especially want to highlight are brand new lines: shoe clips, tassels garlands, and baby headbands. 



+Shoe clips are a great way to add an unassuming bit of spice to your wardrobe. And the shoe clips available in the shop are perfect for that day-to-evening transition: sensible, yet fun. 

+ When it comes to tassels, I have to say that they've always intrigued me; they are so mysterious and decadent. I'm thrilled with the way these tassel garlands turned out! Something about using felt makes them approachable while they still maintain their exotic qualities. 

+ Lastly, I sourced a fully elastic poly knit ribbon to create headbands for the little ladies. Topped with rosettes and freshwater pearls, they are pretty enough for pictures, but not so overwhelming that they have to be saved for special occasions only.



Whew! Thanks so much for taking a peek! As always, these pieces are my own designs and completely hand stitched in my small Pennsylvania home. Feel free to email me with any questions, and be sure to share a smile with someone else today!

In Case You Missed It...

... I released some brand spankin' new designs to the shop a few weeks ago! There are flag buntings with a fresh, notched look, and for the grown-up ladies and discriminating wee ladies alike I now carry hair clip holders. Exciting, right?! The hair clip holders were something that was ruminating in my brain for a long time. I'm so pleased with the way they turned out! I enlisted my husband's help with those a bit, and he was more than happy to cut dowels to length and drill holes for the twine. For now the notched flag buntings come in three colorways, and are guarenteed to make any space feel happy.

Clockwise from top: 

emerald + mustard flag bunting

rustic hair clip holder

blue + bronze flag bunting

soft neutrals flag bunting 

gray hair clip holder

// Please remember that these designs are my original work and may not be copied or reproduced without my express permission

 

Look What's Finally Back in Shop!

I'm going to be playing catch-up a bit here on the blog sharing about all the new designs and products that are available in my shop! One of those pieces is the Ivy Leaf Barrettes. So excited about these! I used to offer ivy leaves on a headband quite some time ago. I had the urge to sew the other day, and I love real-life ivy, so I sat down with my old pattern, improved on it, and here you go!

They really are the quintessential woodland hair clip. And to get the word out (because I'm so excited about them!), I decided to run a giveaway on my Facebook page. One entrant will win a standard size ivy leaf barrette of their very own. Visit here to enter. Giveaway ends 6/14.

// Please remember that these designs are my original work and may not be copied or reproduced without my express permission

New Layered Chain Necklaces in Shop

// Metal Fringe Necklace //

// Offset Triple Chain Necklace //

Look what's new! Two new pieces have been added to the everyday chain jewelry line. I had a lot of fun counting links and putting the fringe necklace together! Also new is a one-of-a-kind offset triple chain necklace. Thanks for taking a peek!

Everyday Chain Jewelry Collection Now in Shop!

Sometimes I find myself with an abundance of supplies. This time I decided to play around with my chain stash and deviate from my usual felt design to bring my clients some affordable jewelry options. The change is actually refreshing; to approach design from a different perspective that requires no sewing! All of the chain I use is soldered, and much sturdier than open links chain.

 

// Antiqued Copper Variety Chain Necklace //

// Long Gunmetal Layered Chain Necklace //

// Gold Dangle Earrings //

// Long Silver Dangle Earrings // 

All of these pieces are great everyday accessories and will go with everything in your closet! Thanks for taking a peek!

// Please remember that these designs are my original work, and may not be copied or reproduced without my express permission.

Felt Succulent Plants // New Line Launch

// Sage Succulent Plant //

Years ago when my mom pulled up some of her Sempervivum tectorum and gave it to me to plant in my own garden I didn't realize how prolific they would become. It's okay though, because I really love succulents! I've been able to plant them around my garden, and share them with friends. My husband even stuck a couple in an empty bean can and put them on our wide bathroom windowsill (the only spot in the house for plants that want a lot of light). I adore houseplants, but as our house is short on space and light we pretty much stick to philodendron and snake plants. 
 

// Hen & Chick //

Sometimes design ideas ruminate in my brain for what seems like a long, long time before they make their debut in the shop.  When I stitched up my first succulent hair pins I immediately knew that I wanted to translate the design into a potted plant. What a sweet addition they would make to my few houseplants! I wouldn't need to worry about watering them, or fret over whether they were getting enough sun. It was six months before I bought my first batch of terra cotta pots from the craft store, and almost two months more before inspiration met functionality and I sat down to work out the details.

// Moss Succulent //

They may have been a long time coming, but I think they were worth the wait! Each plant features carefully layered leaves with delicate color variation. The "root ball", or felt dirt, fits snuggly into the wee terra cotta pots, but is made so that the plants can be removed. Of course they are carefully hand cut and completely hand stitched.

I currently have one of each style brightening up my kitchen, plus another that's still in development. They may not clean my air, but they make me smile. I hope they make you smile too! They are now available in my shop here, here, and here.

// Felt Succulents are copyright Ordinary Mommy Design, and may not be copied or reproduced without my express, written permission. Thank you! 

Star Gazing // More New Constellations

This month I spent some time combing through photos of constellations to decide which would be the next installments in the constellation owl line. After some consideration, and a lot of doodling, I chose Capricornus, Gemini, Aries, Scorpius, Taurus, and Cygnus. They are now all available in the shop along with the others, bringing the collection to a total of eleven constellations. 

These owls would make a totally unique gift for a star gazer, or add the perfect finishing touch to a dreamy nursery. Carefully handcrafted from soft, durable felt.

// Please remember that these designs are my original work. As such they are protected by intellectual copyright laws, and may not be copied or reproduced without my express permission.

New Poppy Design in the Shop!

Poppies are such a friendly flower, so I try to keep them in the shop. This red and black flower has gone through a few different design changes over the years, but the latest variety is going to be around for a while. I love the delicate cupping of the petals, and the grouping of tortoise colored seed beads in the center!

The new poppy design is available as a barrette, or hair pin single or pair.

// Please remember that these designs are my original work and may not be copied or reproduced without my express permission.

More Sparkly Sequin Goodness // New Bows Now in Shop

Though it is meticulous to work with sequins, I'm rather addicted to the sparkly shimmer they add to my hair. The silver stardust hair pin has found its way into my regular hair accessory rotation, and I wanted to add another option to the shop for ladies who like the sparkle.  After a bit of pondering, I decided to try adding a row of sequins to my twist bow design. I love the way they turned out!

Sequined twist bows are currently available in silver and gold.

// Please remember that these designs are my original work and may not be copied or reproduced without my express permission.

Brand New Leaves Just in Time for Fall.

The leaves are starting to change color, just around the edges. I'm not going to lie, Autumn is my favorite time of year! 

A couple of nights ago as I was falling asleep, I had a vision of a lovely leaf dancing in my head. It was a fleeting moment, and dissolved into my unconscious on my way to sleepy land. 

Often those design ideas are lost forever, but the following afternoon something jogged it into my memory. And wouldn't you know, I had the pattern drawn to scale in one shot! I love it when a plan comes together.

These felt cookie-cutter leaves are framed in a pop of color, and the veins are double stitched (in two different colors) to add interest. They are really unique and so much fun! 

Now available in the shop: pumpkin and golden moss.  

Just a Little Black Rain Cloud Owl.

This happy little owl pitter-pattered quietly into the shop a couple of weeks ago. Perfect for lovers of rainy days, or a positively cozy accent for a nursery. Hang him on a door knob. Prop him on a shelf. Just don't forget to give him a smile every time you pass by his resting spot.

// Please remember that these designs are my original work and may not be copied or reproduced without my express permission.

More Pretty Colors now in Shop!

I have to say that these floral hair pins are my favorite go-to hair accessories right now. They add such an effortless dose of pretty to my hair. Now available in four new color options: rhubarb, yellow, white, and bronze.

// Please remember that these designs are my original work and may not be copied or reproduced without my express permission.

Sneak Peek // Constellation Owl Line.

I'm getting ready to launch a new line on Monday! My love for the night sky is revisited with the Constellation Owl design. It took a little bit of time for the design to work its way out of my brain, but once I got started I became obsessed. The line will debut with Leo, Cancer, Cassiopeia, and, of course, the Big Dipper. Stay tuned for the line release on Monday!

Wee Felt Succulents for Your Hair.

A few years ago my mom gave me a dozen or so tiny Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum) to stick in some of my outdoor planters. They grew like crazy and the containers couldn't, well, contain them anymore. The chicks are super easy to pluck out since their root systems are shallow, so I transplanted a few in the front garden area. It's unreal how big some of them are getting, and how much they are spreading! They add such a lovely layer to the garden. 

While I was out tending the garden the other day I was thinking how nice it would be to stick a few of the smaller ones in my hair. I'm not sure what the logistics of that would be, so I decided to take on the challenge of creating a small succulent hair pin. It can be a bit tough to create something sturdy but not too thick for stitching when the final product is on the small side. My main goal was to create a pattern with some dimension to it, and after some stitching and stitch-ripping and some more stitching, they were ready. These sweet pins are now available in the shop! I'm hoping to build on this idea and create more succulents, so stay tuned!

// Please remember that these designs are my original work and may not be copied or reproduced without my express permission.

New Flower Hair Pins.

jadeite + aqua // peach + vanilla // fig + orchid // butterscotch + vanilla

More and more, the hair accessories that show up in the shop are designed because I need something in particular for my hair. With the super hot (horrible) weather we had the middle of last week, my hair was spending a lot of time piled up on the top of my head. I needed something super quick, light, and easy to pop in there and bring a little order. These flower bobbies were just the thing. I love mine so much! Seriously, I've been wearing mine all day, every day since I made them. Now that they're available in the shop you can too! 

// Please remember that these designs are my original work and may not be copied or reproduced without my express permission.

Finally.

Sometimes the time that elapses between the desire to create something and the actual finished piece can be quite lengthy. Way back in 2008 when I started Ordinary Mommy the second hair clip I released was a whale. I love whales. They are such big, beautiful, graceful, and mysterious creatures. As a matter of fact, all five of us are pretty smitten with them. Over the years I also created whale necklaces, and a wee whale hair pin, but for the last year I've been desperately wanting to design soft sculpture whales for the shop. It was always in the back of my mind, and I would work on the idea here and there. It can get frustrating to make patterns from scratch without a background in design or any formal training. I wanted them to be mine, without being influenced by other pattern makers, so I avoided looking at pattern books. Something finally clicked in my brain last week. I knew I was ready.

I started by making a rough mock-up with paper, and taping the pieces together. This way I not only avoid wasting a lot of felt, but it's much quicker to tape pieces together as opposed to stitching everything. This is a very rough estimate as to how a pattern is going to work, so once I began to cut into the felt I found that it still needed just a bit more tweaking.

These little fellas are rather time-consuming, but I'm so pleased with the final product. Wire has been sewn into their tales to make them bendable, and each whale has one of a kind markings. I hope you enjoy them too! The blue whale can be found here, and the beluga is available here.  

// Please remember that these designs are my original work and may not be copied or reproduced without my express permission.

Layered Petal Hair Clips.

In case anyone missed it, I added a new floral design to the shop a couple of weeks ago! Seven delicate petals are arranged on a bed of mossy leaves. For a little extra pizzazz this design also features a freshwater pearl center. These two-toned floral hair clips are a super sweet finishing touch to pair with sundresses. Available in red, purple, yellow, and peach.

I also created a large layered floral piece in yellow here. Currently it's the only one available, but I may add more colors soon!

// Please remember that these designs are my original work and may not be copied or reproduced without my express permission.

Custom Banner Owls have Arrived!

Banner Owls are finally here! For quite a while now I've been dreaming about creating a line of owls to hold custom initial and date banners. Customizable date banners are perfect to commemorate wedding dates and birth dates, and initial banners can be made for new babies, sweethearts, and everyone in between. It was a lot of work getting them ready to photograph for the shop, but they are so sweet and I'm pleased to finally be able to offer them to you! I'm still not done adding all the current color combinations to the shop, but there are quite a few available now. See the current lot here!