by Susan | Jan 13, 2025 | Felt Patterns, Shore and Wading Bird Patterns
Sitting inside watching the snow fly, I’m clearly dreaming of warmer times as I designed my first felt bird of the year–the striking American Oystercatcher shorebird. He waded gracefully along the tide at Roque Bluffs Beach for a photo shoot. If you ignore the...
by Susan | Jan 4, 2025 | Backyard Birds, Birds and Wildlife, Dogs, Insect Patterns, On the Farm, Other Patterns, Sea Life, Woodland Patterns
Our house is tucked away in the woods. When we built it 20 years ago, I wanted to bring the outdoors inside as much as possible. If my budget had supported it, I would have had walls of windows. Instead, I have five tall cottage-style windows and a set of French doors...
by Susan | Dec 8, 2024 | Bird Patterns, Odds and Ends, Projects
A few years ago, I turned my Joyful Owl into a tree topper that now sports a jaunty red scarf. This gray-colored owl looked sweet on past trees, but not this year’s Christmas tree, which has a more natural white, green, and brown theme. What to do? In October, I...
by Susan | Dec 2, 2024 | Felt Patterns, Other Patterns
This little mushroom is a departure from my normal designs. I was inspired by some mushroom Christmas ornaments I spotted while shopping last weekend with Hannah. It made the perfect project for Sunday afternoon football watching. Enjoy! Download the free pattern...
by Susan | Dec 1, 2024 | Christmas, Felt Patterns
This year, I welcome December with a new Snowman design. I used some tiny birch twigs for arms and various size buttons for the eyes and buttons. Mix up the colors as you wish. This makes a nice Christmas tree ornament or present decoration. Download the free pattern...
by Susan | Nov 18, 2024 | Critter Patterns, Dogs, Felt Patterns
Melville, the mini dachshund, was the first dog that Paul and I welcomed into our new family shortly after we married. Also known as “Bud” or “Little Buckeroo,” he was as loveable as he was a challenge. The spots on my wall-to-wall carpet in that old house were a...
by Susan | Oct 27, 2024 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Owl and Raptor Patterns
Visiting Dad in Pennsylvania presents an opportunity for shopping–or, more accurately, window shopping–every day. I think there may be more stores per square mile in his town than in the entire state of Maine. I spied a snowy owl on a floral pick in the Christmas...
by Susan | Oct 21, 2024 | Christmas
Here’s a short video of the assembly of my felt Downest Thunder Farm felt Christmas Tree. Download the free pattern or the kit for purchase...
by Susan | Oct 14, 2024 | Christmas, Felt Patterns
This Felt Petal Christmas Tree idea has been sitting in my “someday” file for years. I found some craft cones from my mom’s stash of supplies, so I began experimenting with various petal sizes and gluing methods before I settled on this final...
by Susan | Jun 3, 2024 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
Here’s another design from last fall languishing in my files: the Gregarious Bobolink. I found him a difficult one to get accurate in felt! Enjoy. Note: if you’re reading this in your email, click “Continue Reading” at the bottom to visit the...
by Susan | May 12, 2024 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Swift and Swallow Patterns
This Playful Purple Martin has been on my drawing board for ages. I finally finished him a couple of weeks ago. I struggled with just the right felt colors. I’d love to see what you use for yours. Enjoy! Purple MartinDownload Now!0 Downloads Note: if you are...
by Susan | Apr 5, 2024 | Felt Patterns
Way back in 2013 I shared this post with a pictorial of how I add legs/feet to my birds. I can’t believe that I’ve been creating and sharing patters for 13 years! Where does the time go? I am still asked questions about making wire legs, so I created this...
by Susan | Jan 30, 2024 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
The Brown-headed Cowbird is a fascinating songbird; they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and let the other mamas do all the work. I’ve occasionally spotted them at our feeder and the edge of the woods. He’s on my list today because I happened to...
by Susan | Jan 26, 2024 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
The European Starling is a beautiful bird with glossy black feathers and a yellow beak. It’s a challenge to create a shiny feathered bird from felt. I designed this Starling while in Pennsylvania, spending time with Dad. This means that I’m not in the...
by Susan | Dec 11, 2023 | Christmas
This weekend, I brought my beloved joyful owl pattern to life in a new way! A Downeast Thunder Farm Christmas pattern book has an ornament-size full-bodied Joyful Owl sporting a Santa hat. I made some of the felt owls this weekend with a bit of a twist. Instead of a...
by Susan | Nov 7, 2023 | Christmas, Critter Patterns, Dogs, Felt Patterns
Spending the week with Dad, I dabbled with this Scottish Terrier design. It’s a fun, quick sew. I opted to make him using plaid Christmas ribbon for his coat. I put tape on the back of the ribbon to keep the edges from fraying. Since I didn’t have my felt...
by Susan | Oct 8, 2023 | Felt Patterns, Other Patterns
It was football Sunday, but I’m not good at just sitting in front of the television, so I drew up and stitched these felt autumn leaves. They’re super simple and quick. I particularly like the oak and can envision a wreath made of them. I tucked wire down...
by Susan | Sep 10, 2023 | Felt Patterns, Other Patterns
Realistic patterns are what I usually create, but with Spooky Season around the corner, I couldn’t resist creating this super easy Ghost Garland. Creating a ghost garland from felt is a fun and creative DIY project that can add a spooky touch to your Halloween...
by Susan | Aug 13, 2023 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Shore and Wading Bird Patterns
I’ve had numerous requests for the Tufted Puffin from folks along the Pacific west coast and Alaska. He was on my to-do list, but so much in my life has gotten in the way of my to-do list in the last year. Recently, a friend who runs a boat charter business...
by Susan | Aug 7, 2023 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
I first saw a Gray Catbird when visiting with my parents in Pennsylvania this past spring – it was nesting in mom’s rose bushes. This summer, I recorded it on the Merlin app at home. We’ve got them in our woods, too – but I thought it was a fox...
