project: little-house-inspired bow

I don't usually wear bows in my hair. In fact, I don't like to mess with my hair too much. But while watching an episode of Little House on the Prairie, I saw something that made me want to try a bow. Ma Ingalls goes to the theater with Pa, and her hair is all pulled up. Underneath the updo, she has a large-ish pink bow. It was perfection, and I had to create a version for myself!

To make it easy to craft and wear, my bow is made of wool felt, and I've attached it to a hair comb. Consider this a place to start, because I know that you could (and many already have) make this in lots of ways.



To make your own pretty bow hair comb, you'll need:
Wool felt
Embroidery floss
A hair comb (the kind I'm using can be found with jewelry findings)



Cut the wool felt into strips at the following approximate sizes (these can be adjusted to your liking, depending on how big you want your bow to be):

1.25 x 8 inches
1.25 x 5 inches (with angled or notched ends)
.75 x 2.5 inches



Stitch the long strip into a loop as shown. For mine, I added some stitching along the sides of the smallest strip...it's just there to look pretty!



Layer the three elements as shown: notched strip, loop, small stitched strip.




Wrap the stitched strip around the other two pieces, and pull it in to create little tucks in the bow. The two ends should overlap a bit in the back. Hold it tight, or pin it.



Sew the small strip together in the back, catching some layers of the rest of the bow, if possible.



Stitch the comb onto the back of the bow, wrapping it around the bar and through the teeth, then back through the felt.



And here's how I wore mine:




I pulled my hair into a high bun, then slid the comb in right underneath it. Looking at the photos, it's a little more like Pebbles from the Flintstones, but I suppose if my hair was a bit lower it would be closer to Ma Ingalls! Still, it's one of my favorite hair accessories that I've ever made!

More colors may be required...

project: fold over felt hair comb

This week is unofficially accessory week, and many of the projects are things that I've made as a quick addition to an outfit. Sometimes I think that I make simple accessories even more than I actually wear them. It may be silly, but I love the kind of project that only takes a short time to make, uses inexpensive materials that are on hand, and that I can make custom for an outfit! Often, I make them right before I need them!

Recently, I've made more items to wear in my hair, just to have something nice and simple to accompany the bun that I usually am sporting. A hair comb embellished with a piece of felt works well for that something extra!



Here's what you need:
Plastic hair comb (like these)
Felt (I like wool!)
Perle cotton or embroidery floss



Cut a piece of felt to be 1.5 inches tall and as wide as your hair comb.

Thread a needle with perle cotton, then tie a knot. Holding the felt behind the comb, take a stitch through the felt, coming up near the top of the comb.



Fold the felt over the top of the comb, then bring the needle up through the felt in the area at the top edge of the comb. Go back down through both layers of felt, this time through the comb area, so that you are securing the felt to the top edge of the comb.

Repeat this process, stitching across the top of the comb.




When you make it across, tie a knot between the layers of felt to secure it. On the front, you should have straight stitches, and the back will have angled stitches. You could flip this though, to have angled stitches, or even Xs on the front if you want!



I like to slide things like this in my hair as you see above! Actually, I wore this yesterday, and tried something a little fancier. A few hours into my day, my hair started falling out of the braid I did, and I reverted to my typical easy bun with a hair comb for cuteness!

printable: hair pins

I wanted to try a little experiment, and while I was at it, thought I might share it with you too. All this week I'm featuring some accessories that I've made and today I've made some hair pins.

What I did was to print out some little designs and then attach them to bobby pins. They are the type of thing that I just stick in my hair for fun decoration, because when I try and use bobby pins to actually hold my hair, they fall out and my hair is a mess. Seriously, I think I've used hair pins successfully about three times in my entire life. If that.

Anyway, these are a bit on the strange side, when it comes to accessories, but they are fun and quick to make, and when they get messed up, you can just toss 'em and make more!



Print out the PDF with fall leaves and buttons or use other small designs.



Cut out the designs you want, then stitch through them with a sharp needle and embroidery floss.




Attach the cut out to your bobby pin. You can tie a knot, or even use some glue.




For the leaf, I made a few stitches along the stem. It definitely punctured the paper more, but I suppose that's okay.

To make these more long lasting, you could print the designs onto fabric, or just use little pieces of fabric to add baubles to pins.

And of course, you can use the printable for other projects too...enjoy!

in my hair...

My sister was taking a few pictures of me yesterday while I was just sitting and having a chat with my mom. This used to make me very uncomfortable, but these days I just let her do it. After all, who's really going to see the pictures if they are horrifying?

Anyway, this shot is one that I really liked (no comments about the fact that my face isn't in it). But this is a nice view of how my hair often looks. Many days there is a pencil stuck in there...not functional, just there. And people will ask me, "Did you know there's a pencil in your hair?" or "Why do you have a pencil stuck in your hair?" It's cute and it's handy. And just because.

The downside is that I often forget it's there, and go to remove a sweater or something, and get all stuck and my hair pulls and I yelp. Oops.

project: felt kite hair clip

March has been a month for kites on my blog, and although today's kite doesn't fly, it will look like it does...while holding your hair in place! But before we get to making a hair clip, let's pause and talk about real kites.

When I was little, I almost always got a kite on Easter, and I would hope, hope, hope that the weather would be okay for flying my new kite at my Nanny & Papa's house after our big meal. Rarely did this actually work out for me. It seems that kites need just the right wind and weather.

But if you want to make your own kite that will really fly and not be temperamental, try out this how-to on WikiHow. It's easy and it works better than any small kite I've ever seen. Even with only a light breeze!



Now, on to making a kite for your hair!

You will need:
Felt in two colors
Embroidery floss
Jewelry wire (mine is 24 gauge)
Craft glue
A large bobby pin



Cut out two kite shapes, and six bows for the tail. For the pattern, I cut apart my kite embroidery pattern.

Stitch a face and some lazy daisies (or whatever design you wish) on one of the kite pieces, and cut two slits in the other piece. This is where you'll eventually slide the bobby pin through.



Cut a piece of wire about 10 inches long. Fold it in half and twist it together.



Glue around the edge of the kite with the slits, and add a bit of extra in the center to hold the wire. Be sure to put the non-folded end in the glue, so that the folded end is out and less likely to poke your head. Place the embroidered kite on top.




Glue the bow pieces along the wire tail.



Once everything has had a chance to thoroughly dry, slide the bobby pin through the slits in the back of the kite. Now you're ready let it "fly!"




Clip your kite in your hair, and if necessary, adjust the wire tail a bit. Even if the wind isn't blow, this kite will keep your spirits high!

Update: Beth and her daughter already made one of these and sent me a photo! Check it out here!

I now declare the summer open?

It's officially summmer.

"Why?", you may ask? 2 reasons.

Today was the first day that I went, "Wow! It's hot!" (But not in the oh so 5 minutes ago Paris Hilton style)

And...

Today I went and got a summer hair cut. My hair which was unruly and nearly to my shoulders, is now short and sassy. Very short. This is a change from my usual short hair in winter, and long hair in summer (so that I can tie it back). I know, like you, dear reader, care. Hair is not something that I usually write about here.

It won't happen again.

Enjoy summer!

project: come on! let's boogey to the elf dance puppets

Today, I'm very pleased to introduce you to Susi. Her blog Lilla Luise is full (FULL!) of wonderfully creative things. I was delighted when I found Lilla Luise, and even more so when we became fast friends. (Even though we live in different countries!)

When Susi showed me this project, I instantly knew that it would be perfect to share here, and to match up with the song Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance! It's not one of your traditional songs, but it's oh so good. Now, without further ado, let's Craft a Song of Christmas with Lilla Luise!


Hello dear readers!

This is Susi! Today we want to give Mollie a little break, so I am here to spread some Christmas joy! I am blogging over at Lilla Luise and Mollie was so sweet to let me write a guest post here on Wildolive. I have been (and still am) so flattered when she asked me if I wanted to write something on her blog - yes, of course! So I hope I won't disappoint you all. Mollie and I haven't known each other for very long but she became such a lovely friend already and I feel as if I have known her for ages. We have a lot of fun talking to each other online and coming up with fun ideas. As we both are big kids at heart one of these ideas were elf hand puppets. They have been one of these ideas that just had to be realized and soon enough they developed a life of their own. They are fun to play with and make great Christmas gifts for little ones! So I'd be happy if you want to make some with me today!

Here is what you need:

Fleece in happy colors (because elfs are happy little creatures!)
Felt in a skin color for the face and hands
Felt for the hair, eyes and cheeks
Felt for the hat
Scraps of fabric for the binding
Ribbon, trim, embroidery floss, felt and fabric scraps for the embellishments

Download the Elf Puppet Pattern PDF

First print your pattern and cut out all the pieces. The seam allowances are included in all pieces!

We will need two body pieces from fleece, one face piece from skin colored felt, four hand pieces from skin colored felt, one hair piece from your chosen hair colored felt, two little felt cheeks, all the hat pieces twice from felt and two fabric strips for the binding.



Take one body piece and two hand pieces. Pin the hands to the arms, right sides together. Optionally you can pin a ribbon between the two layers. Sew together with a quarter inch seam allowance.



Press the seam allowance towards the hands and topstitch to secure. Repeat for the remaining body and hand pieces.




Sew all the strips for both hat pieces together, add ribbon or other trims if you want. If you decide to put a cookie on the hat, you need to stitch it on now.




Take the hat front piece and line it up with the top edge of the body front piece. Use some pins to secure and sew along the edge with a quarter inch seam allowance. Press the seam allowance towards the the body piece and topstitch. Repeat for the back pieces.



Stitch the eyes and cheeks onto the face and embroider nose, mouth and freckles.



Position the face onto the body front and sew around it, very close to the edge. Position the hair and sew around it, close to the edge like you just did for the face.



Now we need to prepare our two fabric strips. Fold your strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together and press. Open your strip again. The right side of fabric down, the wrong side of fabric up, facing you. Now fold both sides towards the crease in the middle that you have just created. Press again. Fold it up on the middle crease (the crease you created in the first step) and press. Now take the little piece of binding you just created and sew it onto on of the body pieces (simply push the bottom edge of the body piece into the binding and secure with some pins). Repeat for the second strip of fabric and sew it onto the remaining body piece.



Applique the candy cane or bootie onto the body front.

Layer the two body pieces on top of each other, right sides together and secure with pins.



Sew all around the sides and along the hat with a quarter inch seam allowance. Clip the curves on the hands and the tip of the hat.



Turn right side out and admire your new little friend!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and had some fun stitching with me!






Thank you so much, Susi! The elves sure do look like they are ready for a Christmas party!

For more fun projects like this, go visit Lilla Luise! Oh, and Susi will be sharing these puppets in a giveaway on her blog, so be sure to follow her and keep an eye out!