Fairy Princess Pumpkin House--work in progress

Well, I decided last night that I will post pics of the pumpkin house in progress and not wait until summer.  Since I have a while to wait until my stuff in the dryer is done (and I have no jeans until then), I thought I'd make use of the quiet morning hour by updating the blog.  Sooo...here we go:

First, I cut off the back of the "funkin" in a flat plane, then cut the windows and door. 

After that, I needed to establish floors.  I used 1/4" foam core board, partly for its durability, and partly because I knew I could get a good fit by angling my cuts so that they fit the curves of the pumpkin. 

Floors need covering!  This is some heavy scrapbook paper.

My floors are not perfect, so to both cover the minor gaps and to give a nice, finished look, I glued some fine, flexible braid that I had on hand over the seams.  It also gives a little extra stability to the floors.  I have used hot glue in some areas, but Fabri-Tac in most others. 

It was my husband's idea to include supports for the 2nd floor, and a cool aesthetic appeal.

I also added crossbars to the window holes.  The wood I've used is actually a bundle of grapevine stems, so I've been able to incorporate their curly bits to add to the character of the house.  After all, pumpkins have curly vines!!

Windows need curtains--and this is where I got to be more creative.  I used 20 gauge beading wire and size 8 beads for the curtain rods, winding them around a fine knitting needle for the curly ends.  For beadwork, I used G-S Hypo cement (made for beadwork), which has a fine tip (and is kind of hard to thread the cap back on, as it is a fine piece of wire that has to go back in the needle tip of the glue tube!).  You need to have ventilation for it--it is a stinky, toxic substance!  The curtains are made from some cotton Leaver's lace.  I tied the curtains using 1/4" orange ombre ribbon, and to decorate, some teeny, thin polymer cane slices in leaf patterns. 

The curtains installed.  Definitely gives things a finished look. 

And here is where I ran out of time, and left things unhappily unfinished.  I started a chandelier for the bedroom, and also did some candle sconces for the downstairs, but never finished.  First, the roof of the pumpkin had a small flat spot, but it was kind of ugly looking, so I covered it with a bit of scrapbooking paper (I do a LOT of crafts). 

Then I worked on devising a chandelier using jewelry findings and beads.  I couldn't just stick a pin into the ceiling (well, I probably could, but it would have been messy, and look unnatural), so I made a lamp finial (don't all hanging lamps have a circular flange/finial that covers the wire box?) with a resin flower, a head pin, and some necklace chain.

The chandelier itself was a bit of a challenge, getting all the wires to line up properly, then gluing them in place, and then making them all curve the correct direction, etc.  I have all the beads and findings set aside to complete the candle look, but haven't done the gluing.  My cement ran out!  And life caught up with me.  Sigh.  But here is the unfinished chandelier.

And, for scale, a Polly Pocket doll (same scale as many other tiny princess dolls, including Tinkerbell and friends).

Oh, and here's the front door--I made a handle from a bead and wire, then made hinges from twisted wire.  Good thing we aren't working on sealing it from the weather!  I had to cut it from the section I removed for the back, and got the size a bit off.  However, it swings open easily!  :)  And does rest on the base, so it isn't always hanging out.

Here are materials I gathered for the project...I plan on using the styrofoam as a base (this was pre-finished for use as bases for Halloween houses at the craft store) and the faux foliage as decoration/vegetation around the house (as well as on top).  Gotta make it pretty, you know?  I do have a lintel/mini roof to go over the door, complete with woody supports, but am saving that for after the interior is complete. 

I'll post more when I get in that Autumnal spirit again!

Ice Cream Sandwiches for Ben

Several months ago, I began crocheting and knitting play food for my daughter.  A few of my friends had come over to visit, and saw the food, thinking it was cool (and that I needed to get a life).  Later, I e-mailed one of them, and asked if there was something specific her son would like, as he was particularly taken with the toys.  So she asked him what he'd like, and I decided to make them for him for his birthday.  One of the items he wanted was his favorite frozen treat, ice cream sandwiches.  So I browsed Ravelry to see what was there, but unfortunately, I didn't find what I was looking for.  A challenge!  Aha!!  So... I made my own pattern.  Not that it was particularly difficult--it is all flat crochet--but I'm rather tickled that it turned out so nicely.  I made him three so that he could share sandwiches with his parents, and then I thought that it needed special presentation, so I also made up a box for them.  Yeah, I'm geeky that way.

Anyway, here are Ben's Ice Cream Sandwiches, a free pattern I share with anyone who likes them!

Supplies:

• Worsted weight yarn in white/cream and dark brown.  I don't know the quantities, but it was not a lot--remnants, leftover bits, etc.  I know I used Vanna's Choice yarns, however.  I like their loft and lack of "squeak" when you use them.
• Size E hook (3.5mm)
• 1" foam (I used a pre-cut chair pad foam from Jo-Ann's) cut into 3 1/2" x 1 3/4" rectangles

Sandwich cookie top and bottom: (make two for each sandwich)

With brown yarn, chain 14

1.  Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each sc across.  Ch 1, turn (13 sts).

2-5.  Sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (13).

6. sc in next 12 sc, 3 sc in 13th sc, do not chain or turn.  Continue sc across ends of the other rows, spacing 4 sc across, 3 sc in corner stitch, then sc in each ch across.  3 sc in first ch, space 4 sc across row ends, 3 sc in last stitch, 1 sc in each of the next 13 sc.  Tie off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Ice Cream Filling: (make one for each sandwich)

With white yarn, chain 5

1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each sc across.  Ch 1, turn (4)

2-48.  Sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn (4).

49.  Sc in each sc across, tie off, leaving an 8" tail for sewing.

Assembly:

Bury starting tail of ice cream filling.  Using the tail at the end of the stitching, sew the short ends of the filling together, creating a loop (be careful not to twist the stitching!).  Bury the tail and set aside.

Bury starting tail of sandwich cookie top and bottom.  Before stitching the filling and the sandwich cookies together, I made a stitch in the next sc top loops to make a smooth finish on the cookie edge.  To do this, I thread the yarn through a tapestry needle and then pass the needle under the top loops of the next crochet stitch.  I then take the needle back down into the same place that I started, making it look like the rest of the top loops.  I also like to take a little tack stitch unobtrusively in the crocheted fabric as a kind of "knot", securing the tension of that little stitch, and ensuring I won't pull it too much when I start the regular stitching.  Anyway, bring your needle up to the nearest corner and set it aside.

At this point, I put the foam rectangles in the loop of filling stitches, aligning the stitched corner with a corner of the foam, and keep it there.  It gives me a better idea of how the stitches need to be aligned as I sew it.  Place the cookie part on top, and whipstitch the edge of the cookie to the top edge of the filling.  After you finish stitching, tie off and hide the tail.

The tricky part is getting the top and bottom pieces to line up properly, which just means paying close attention to how things are lined up.  My first sandwich was just a bit off, and the sides looked a little wonky as a result.  The second two turned out better.  I found that I was expecting the second corners to end further than they really did, so I needed to start the corner stitching a stitch or two sooner.  If that makes ANY sense...  These were fun, quick, and easy!  Now my daughter wants some...  Sigh....

I also have the file for the box, if anyone wants that.  I completely made it up in Publisher.  :)  Just print it on cardstock, cut it out, fold and tape/glue the sides.