Easy Simple New Catnip Item

Ok, I'll bow to the inevitable, downsizing the fox and wolf heads to make felt/fleece catnip toys.  Though they WOULD also make decent keychain decorations. Hmm.  And pin cushions.  Another 'hmm'.

It's also a good way to use up the smaller bits that are inevitably left over when cutting the pattern out.  I really hate wasting anything, fabric is so expensive today in the stores, even when you use coupons and take advantage of sales the store is running.

Catnip Fortune Cookie Toy

Simple enough of a pattern, a 5" circle.  Most people use felt but I find that it doesn't stand up enough to a cat, not the way polar fleece does.  Thing is, fleece is softer and squishes when you want a fortune cookie to be stiff, so it's a trade off.  You can find the same orange color in both fabrics.

 

I used to use a piece of bias tape for the fortune, though that unravels along the cut line.  A dab of Elmers Glue on the fingers to be smeared on the cut solved that.  Later I just used a strip of white felt for the fortune.  It saved me time when making 60 Fortune Cookies all at once.

 

Then I found this tutorial online. It's specifically for felt.  I tried it with fleece, the results weren't as good.  However here's the tutorial.

 

http://dandelionsandlace.blogspot.com/2012/01/fortune-cookie-cat-toy-tutorial.html 

 

Myself I'll do the sewing all on the machine for the edging, stuffing as I go without taking it out of the sewing machine.  Once they're done I trim them (be CAREFUL not to cut off the fortunes!) and then hand do the fold on the back, stitching that in place.

 

Sure, they sometimes look more like perogies, but the cats like them a lot.

It SO Pays To Google For Supplies!!!!!

I go through a lot of rat tail cording, the 2mm and 1mm widths in different colors. When my local store stopped carrying it I had to go online and thought I hit the jackpot since I was paying literally half what I'd be paying retail for it, and was able to get 144 yard spools as well!

 

144 yards for $18 each, a HUGE selection of colors, and free shipping over a certain $ amount.

 

I just put in another order, 3 rolls, in pink, blue and green. They came in 4 days.  Then I saw an ad online for a place called PaperMart.  ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

200 yard rolls for $6.85.  Now I feel sick. The MONEY I could have saved! 

 http://www.papermart.com/colored-rat-tail-cord/id=10620?origin=Facebook&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=46993440
Scroll down for the prices. They have a good color selection.
 

Well, the new site definitely got bookmarked, it'll take me 5 months to go through all my current stash of cording but at least next time I know I can get it at a lower cost.  That's 3 cents a yard. 

Country Cellar's Sales Coming To An End

For whatever reason, sales this year have been very low. Last winter I made a good $300 there, the year before was $150. This year.........I called a few times but they didn't need a restock on anything that I'd brought to sell this time around, which is discouraging. 

 

The main issue, I think, is that they don't advertise so the clientele that does go to the shop for the 8 weeks it's open are all the same people every year. They buy what they like one year and don't need to buy it again the next year.  It's a closed system so to speak.

 

Ah well.  I thought I had some good stuff there this year but I'll be selling the items elsewhere soon.  The last day the store's open is this coming Sunday.  I'll pick up my unsold merchandise and try to think of something else for next year.

 

The average person they sell to is between 25 and 50, female, urban.  That's generally not the category I make things for.   

Definitely Snap Dragons for Pennsic War

I waffled and waffled over how to do what's basically a 'flat' dragon skin, whether to try it as a sort of dragon pelt to drape over something or turn it into something to wear. The fact polar fleece is HOT kind of discouraged the idea of selling them as a decorative summer item around the neck.

 

However if I make them a bit longer they can drape over the SHOULDERS as a sort of stole, and still keep the snaps hidden. One on the underside of the jaw, one on the underside of the tail just above the flared end part.  Wear it straight and the tail snap isn't seen, turn the tail over and snap it closed onto the head.  I think I'm going with this version!

 

For size I've decided to have the heads 4 1/2" long, with small horns (the only stuffed part is the horns).  The eyes won't be beads or snap lock plastic - they'll be felt concentric circles like I've used on the fox and wolf (and will soon use on the snow leopard scarves!).  They can fold down pretty flat for packing/travel, and are machine washable though the felt may fuzz a bit over time.  At home they can dress up a couch by being draped over it or a pillow.  Just don't let a dog think they're one of those unstuffed doggie toys!!!!!

 

I bought a variety of weird animal prints with odd markings, a nice blue with multiple mottling, and a green with black spots and streaks.   This should allow for a wide range of appeal.  While I did like a few other colors, I wanted to stay away from the pink/reds, far too many people don't like that color range, it comes across as too girly.  There was nothing in a yellow that I liked. Or purple.

 

To keep the item from being too hot to wear I'm going to do the underside with a solid gold or a black Panne Velour which has a nice intense surface sparkle to it.  Cotton was too dull.  It'll keep the weight down too.