Woollie ponies and fairy toadstool brooches

The little Woollie "Barry" that I made for my nephew was so well received that his brother decided he'd like one too, this time in pale green and to be named "Tiny".  I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to package "Tiny" up in the hard cardboard business box that I'd been using for all my other Woollies.  When I bought the batch of boxes from Hobbycraft I took all that were on their shelves (there weren't that many) and when I rang to ask if they had more they told me they no longer sold them.  Internet searches didn't lead to much either, so I was extremely pleased to find that there were two of these boxes left at Hobbycraft when I decided to pay a visit, just to see for myself.

Katie makes the Woollie ponies and I put the rest of the package together.  I think this one's very sweet, she has such a lovely face.  I wonder if I'll get any more requests for Woollies - perhaps their friends will see them and make enquiries!



I recently purchased three packs of tibetan silver charms which I knew immediately could be used to make pretty brooches for the shop.  I have fairies, curled up cats and toadstools.  I think the toadstools are my favourites (I've always believed in fairies!) and I have loved using them.  The first brooch I made I decided to keep, but have since made another which is now for sale in the shop (and pictured below).  The blue felt used for the background is a gorgeous colour, very striking against the embroidery silk flowers.  I hope I can find more of this colour felt as I only have scraps left which initially came from a recycling store. 

Another toadstool brooch I made was for my daughter's friend as part of her birthday present.  They are just the right size to accessorise handbags (which is where I've put mine), as well as scarves or clothing.  This one has two different mauve hearts, deep purple front and back and lilac sandwiched between.


So, what's next for Ellie's Treasures?  Well February has been kind for sales which means my shop is feeling a little low on goodies!  I've started cutting out more Patchy Pockets to sew using some fabulous materials.  I'm hoping to include a proper little coin purse into some of these new Patchies, just to update them a little.  I'll see how I get on!  Also, can't wait to use more of my new charms, certainly on brooches but perhaps also to decorate a couple of Patchies too.

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Custom Woollie - "Master Barry"

Here is "Master Barry", a little custom Woollie Pony just finished and mailed to my nephew who asked specifically for a Woollie named "Barry".  My nephew has already bought "Icy" through Ellie's Treasures, and my sister had purchased "Raspberry", so I was quite surprised to get another Woollie request from him.  Master Barry is particularly handsome I think.  My daughter actually makes the ponies, I make all the other little bits and bobs that pop into the box, but it took her a couple of attempts to get  Master Barry looking so lovely.  As my nephew asked for a yellow Woollie she used a yellow wool which, once completed, made for a rather chuppy stead!  She started again with a mix of two thin wools in lemon and beige and has produced, once again, a stunning little horse well deserving of his two rosettes.

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New Woollie hits the shop

It's been a long time coming, mainly because my dear daughter who makes the cute little Woollie ponies, has had too many other things happening in her life to get little Marble finished.  Anyway, she's ready now and has just been listed at Ellie's Treasures.



Just like Icy and Raspberry (who I have to secretly admit is my favourite Woollie of all time), Marble comes nestled in tissue, inside a sturdy box, together with a hand-sewn booklet of "likes" - her favourtie things, two award winning rosettes and a small bag of shavings. 

The wonderful Harvey Crafty Cards made the little buttons for the "likes" book - a mint, apple, carrot and heart full of love.



Marble is made from a pipecleaner and blue/grey and beige wool.  She has a lovely deep grey mane and tail, black eyes and nostrils.  With gentle care she can be posed.



Sadly not suitable to children because of all the buttons, pipecleaner, shavings and other small things, but Marble, Icy and Raspberry would make fabulous collector's items for anyone, but especially for horse and animal lovers.

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Scooby the mini Woollie pony

Katie's horsey friend was celebrating her 11th birthday last week so it seemed the perfect opportunity to make her a little Woollie pony just like the one she helps look after - Scooby.

Scooby was made from white cotton yarn and I pencilled in her little pink nose! I packed her up inside a blue box, with her care booklet, bag of shavings and two rosettes (as she's such a star) and finished it all off with a pretty baby blue ribbon. Katie made a special friendship bracelet too with a heart charm attached, which we popped inside.

Her friend was very happy to receive a Woollie Scooby and I think Scooby was pretty happy to have found her new home too.

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Good news ...

I've found Chips! It suddenly came to me in the middle of night (as many thoughts often do) - he could quite easily have found himself wrapped up in the big black bag of rubbish after my big clear out yesterday. Being a good sort that I am, I untied it all and sifted through (luckily he was quite near the top) and found him nestled inside a box - still clean but rather angry. I do apologise Chips - try not to let it happen again!

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Meet Raspberry - she's so cute!

Raspberry and her little package have been in the pipeline for a couple of months now, but finally it all came together and she's now for sale at Ellie's Treasures.

Raspberry has been hanging around for a new home for some time. First of all I made a little box stable (modelled here by Chips who seems to have gone off in a huff somewhere, he's totally disappeared - and I miss him, he was my wollie buddy!) which, although pretty, wasn't really sturdy enough to survive a trip in the mail.

Katie and I hunted around Hobbycraft and managed to source the last business card size box available - just perfect for my needs. I also bought lengths of thin red and blue ribbon to make rosettes (these took forever, I was all fingers and thumbs) and pretty country green check ribbon to tie around the box.

So now I had a pony, two award winning rosettes and a box - not nearly enough to keep a woollie happy. Little bag of shavings to keep her cosy at night and perhaps a book of favourites would go down well so her new owner would know exactly how to look after her. Hunting on e-bay for special buttons - carrots, apples, mints and hearts was interesting but not really what I was after (and I couldn't find any mints anway). Wonderful Natalie at Harveycraftycards stepped in and rescued me by making some fabulous buttons from polymer clay.

I was getting there, but painfully slowly. Buttons - brilliant, I could make up a little felt book for them, but I needed to sew in some writing too, just to explain everything! I'm not particularly good at sewing letters, especially in miniature so help from the Folksy forum lead me to purchase some printable fabric which took just over a week to arrive and a few dodge attempts to print out on the printer. But ... I got there in the end and am absolutely chuffed at the result. Pop over here to see for yourself. I promise I'll add more woollies to the collection - they'll make fabulous collector's items for horsey-mad people or anyone who likes miniature things.

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Valentine Heart Swap - meet Minnie

Owner of noodleBubble on Folksy very kindly set up a Valentine Swap between Folksy folk which must have been quite a challenge seeing as how so many people took part. The brief was simple "hand made heart" which had to be ready to dispatch to your designated swap person by 5th February.

I'll post piccies of the heart I made closer to the date just incase my swap decides to keep it wrapped until Valentine's Day.

However, I can share the swap that I received - the fabulous Minnie HooterNinnie that I from Oddsox. The postie delivered it a couple of days ago and I was initially going to put it aside for the 14th but Katie and Ben insisted I open it! Secretly, I'm glad they made me, I was desperate to rip open the envelope!

Inside was a lovely note telling me that Minnie HooterNinnie was my Valentine Heart Swap - I couldn't believe my luck, Oddsox's mini hedgehogs are the best and now I was a proud owner of one!

Here's Minnie HooterNinnie meeting Chips, the little Woollie Pony, for the first time. Minnie and Chips watch over my craft making and I think they're becoming firm friends.

They meet ...

they greet!

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New shop items

Katie and I went on another shopping spree last Friday for goodies to add to our growing stock of beads and buttons. Among our finds were some fabulous beads from a necklace in the local second-hand shop.

Anyway, more beads = more crafting. Have just listed this lovely dangling charm which can be hung from a mobile phone or mp3 player (if it has an "eye") or from a zip on a purse, bag, pencil case - the list is endless.

The picture really doesn't do this justice. The deep purple velvet style beads are beautiful and go so well with the other tiny beads and silver charm at the end. All securely fastened to a black attachment.



This little fella is another dangling charm, this time with a red attachment. From the Woollie ponies range, he's a tiny, tiny Woollie in striking blue embroidery thread (wound around wire) with tiny mane and bushy tail. So cute - he has his own little character!



Click on the pictures to go to the shop to see more photos.

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