Hello everyone! Time for the first installment of our Christmas Critter Felt Along. Dawn of Creative Cain Cabin and I have made the first two ornaments in the series, the woodland owl and bear, and we didn’t compare notes. You’ll find you can put your own stamp on the patterns, making them uniquely yours. I played around with some decorative stitching, but I’m out of practice. Hope to improve my skills with each new set of ornaments.
Meet Mr. Owl and Mr. Bear. We discovered that our owls are very different from each other, but our bears are very much the same. I was going to go for a black bear, which is what we have in my neck of the woods (and which I’ve seen in our back yard!) but I didn’t have any black felt. But why not a polar bear instead of a brown bear? Or a purple bear? Or a pink owl?
I didn’t make a hanger for mine because I plant to pass these on to a special someone who just might want to hold them and play with them.
Dawn has put together the patterns and they are very easy to follow. You can stitch the pieces together with embroidery floss, or by machine. Or you could glue them together. Whatever you prefer. To download the Woodland Owl visit Dawn’s post at Creative Cain Cabin. Here’s the pattern for the bear.
Click here to download Woodland Bear Ornament Pattern
Click here to visit Creative Cain Cabin to download the Owl Pattern
There you go. Just click, download and have fun!
You’ll need felt, embroidery floss, an embroidery needle and scissors, plus pins to pin the pattern to the felt. If you want to make a hanger, you’ll need twine or ribbon. Dawn shares some tips about the order in which to put these pieces together on her post.
On January 27th we will be having a linky part where we can all share our bears and owls! It will be such fun! So put that date on your calendars. (We’ll remind you, of course.)
So here’s to the first two of twenty-four Christmas Critters! Enjoy.
Happy Wednesday.
Cute!
Thanks, Rebecca!
These are cute :)
Thanks, Deb!
So much fun Claudia! I think my felt stash should yield something owlish and bearish yippie yippie. Can’t wait to see everyone’s.
I bet that felt stash will soon be put to work for you, Sally!
Thumbs up girl :) Thanks for sharing all this fun with me!
Oh, it’s such fun, Dawn! I love making them.
Claudia, I watched Don’s show last night and he did a wonderful job!! Is he really that tall? The show was very interesting and we should all be so thankful to Mr. Norris and the toxocology doctor, I can’ remember his name right now! Tell Don, “Good Job!!
Linda – Kennesaw, GA
Yes, he’s really that tall! He’s over 6 feet 4 inches tall. I just read your comment to Don and he thanks you very much!
This looks like fun! I love handmade ornaments.
I so enjoyed “American Experience” last night. Don gave a wonderful performance. And I learned so much about how forensics started. Thank you Don!
Thanks so much, Tana. It was fascinating wasn’t it? I just read your comment to Don and he says thank you!
Good Morning Claudia. Please tell Don I enjoyed his show so much last night. Not only was it interesting but having been along via your blog when he went to Prague to film it, made it even more so. I am curious if he was satisfied with how it all turned out. Have a wonderful day.
Hi Charlene, so glad you enjoyed the show. And yes, he was very satisfied with how it turned out. It was filmed and edited beautifully and he was very happy with his work – and he’s usually pretty self-critical about these things.
I’m printing them off – will have to buy felt later and give these cute guys a go!
Hunkered down by the fire in the bitter cold and loved the show last night – Bob and I found it most interesting and extremely well done. Don was great and looked so much like Dr. Norris who apparently was a very good man. Was that Don’s real wedding ring on his hand? Did you get all shivery watching him in the more gruesome scenes? Still wish you could have been in beautiful Prague while he was shooting – know you would have loved it. What a great DVD this will be for students of toxicology – they covered so many poisons, and the facts were amazing and so interesting.
Wee bit warmer today thankfully – sunny morning and birds are feasting.
Hugs, Mary
I did get a wee bit shivery…. and when I saw the wedding ring (which is his real wedding ring) I whispered “It’s your wedding ring!” Thanks so much for watching, Mary. I read your comment to Don and he was very pleased! I found the subject matter so fascinating. xo
Hi Claudia,
I too (well, we – husband and I) watched “Don’s Show” last night and loved it. In fact, my husband was planning to switch to something else mid-way through it, but found it so well done and interesting that he watched the whole thing with me. I, too, was wondering if the ring was Don’s “real” one. What a fabulous job he did and the entire show was fascinating. So many facts that I was ignorant of were brought out. Bravo Bravo Don! Well done.
also — love the cute ornaments. We have some very young ones in our extended family — will be fun to make these for them. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you so much, Vera. I read your comment to Don and he loved it.
The ornaments are so cute! I will download the patterns and try to get these made before the 27th. I am going to my Mom’s for a couple of weeks but I an always work on them there. I’m a Don fan and loved the show last night. The whole thing was done so well, interviews, old photos and the re-enactments made it just a fascinating show. Don was of course wonderful and I’m so happy to know that was his real wedding ring! Tell him we blog fans are very proud of him!!
It was really well done! I loved the look of the whole thing. Don knows he has some blog fans and he is most appreciative! He thanks you.
I just have to chime in with how much I enjoyed the show last night, too. I have long been interested in forensics and criminology and found the show fascinating. When Don was on screen I felt like I was watching someone that I really know. You have shared your family with us and brought it all to life. Thank you and thank Don for a job well done. I recorded the show and will be watching again.
Your felt cuties are adorable.
Well, I think you do know Don! He sure feels like he knows all of you! Thank you so much for your kind words. I read them out loud to Don and he thanks you, too! (I just may have to watch it again today!)
This is going to be so much fun. It will be so interesting to see what others do with the patterns.
Hooray for Don!
Balisha
So glad you’re going to join in, Balisha! Yes, Hooray for Don! xo
Hi Claudia!! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed Don’s show last night on PBS!! It was so well done – Don did an excellent job!! It really did shed light on how toxicology came about and some real “crafty” people back in the day!!! Don did a great job as Dr. Charles Norris!! Loved it!!! Stay warm… Francine
Thank you, Francine! I’ve been reading each comment to Don and he’s so grateful for everyone’s support!
Dear sweet Claudia,
Melissa and I watched Don’s PBS program. Great job! It was interesting and educational. M knew a little about the effects of radium on clock dials. If you had not recommended this, we would not have watched. Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Carol!
These felt patterns are cute and I can’t wait to get started! I watched American Experience last night and enjoyed it very much. Don did a wonderful job as Dr. Norris!
Thank you, Debbie. I’ll pass your praise on to Don.
Have fun with the patterns!
I watched the documentary on PBS last night, and really enjoyed it! The acting was awesome and the production was done so well.
Thanks for telling us about it!
nancyr
You’re very welcome, Nancy!
All I can say is WOW! My entire little family – hubby, 13 year old son and I – watched the show last night! First of all, Don was fabulous. He played the part so well – and his resemblance to the real Mr. Norris was unbelievable. Please share with him that we were all impressed! It was so fun to know someone on the screen! Second, what an education! I knew so little about this topic and history – and my husband and I were still talking about it this morning. I specifically said, “If it weren’t for Claudia, I would have never thought twice about watching this”! So Claudia, what else can you enlighten with us with to make life more interesting and educational???
Congrats to Don for a job well done and to you for sharing with us!
Adorable little ornaments – don’t think my eyes can handle the work – but I’ll see if I can get my mother-in-law to make these. Looks like fun!
So glad your whole family watched, Deb! It was fascinating, wasn’t it? I had no idea about most of it, only what Don told me when he first got the job. I’ll pass your praise on to Don. (He sure loves everyone’s comments!)
The show STILL has me thinking! I was thinking earlier today about how important it is to really KNOW what we are putting into our bodies – I think some of the things we eat today might not quite be like the poison of yesteryear, but probably not too far different in the long haul. I’m generally a pretty healthy eater but it still makes me super-conscious for the future! I guess my husband was thinking something similar as he came home with healthy lunches for both of us today from Whole Foods. That is SO unlike him! We even had a discussion about GMO foods and the lack of testing for long term health. I am confident we would not have had that discussion (or that lunch) if we hadn’t seen the show. Don’s acting may just be saving our lives! :)
I was thinking much the same thing as I watched it, Deb. What are we putting into our bodies today that might be just as toxic in the long run? I told Don he just might be saving your lives and he laughed out loud! But, it is true that this kind of program generates a lot of discussion.
I’m so honored to get a laugh out of Dr. Norris! :)
Claudia,as I have mentioned before,I have to come up with a new ornament every year. This year I should have my pick of adorable, felt decorations.. It might be fun to just have a rustic woodsy tree somewhere!
As you know I have so looked forward to Dons performance……, It did NOT disappoint! What a wonderful, handsome,talented couple now reside at “Mockingbird Hill Cottage”. Please give him my congratulations! (for what ever that is worth.)
-Judy A
Have fun with the ornaments, Judy. Your congratulations are worth a great deal. You’re making Don smile today!
Oh How Cute! I am saving these for my Lulu. She is all about this sort of thing. Great gifts for next year!!!! xo Diana
Oh good! Have fun, Diana!
Don did a great job last night I enjoyed watching him.
Can I still jump onboard with the ornaments. I wanted to see if I could do them first. They will look so cute on my bear tree next year. Are you using felt from the craft stores or the better felt that you order? If so, do you have the source. Thanks Claudia.
Absolutely! Jump on board! I just used felt from Joann’s, Debby. You can use the more expensive felt, but Dawn and I are going for a really inexpensive and fun craft.
Thanks for watching Don!
Bravo to Don on a great Job! What an interesting show. I recorded it and will watch it again. Wow, did he look like the fellow he was playing!
He sure did! Thanks so much for watching. Each time I get a comment about the show, I read it out loud to Don.
Just stopping by to tell you we enjoyed The Poisoner’s Handbook, Claudia. We learned so much. Don was wonderful, plus there is his striking resemblance to Norris!
Oh, thanks so much, Pat! I think the show was excellent, with so much interesting information. I will pass your congratulations on to Don.
cute – cute – cute
I’ve downloaded both little critters and I’m off to see what felt I have on hand and what I might need to purchase.
Have fun, Linda!
Just watched the Poisoner’s Handbook. What an interesting show; so full of interesting information that I had no clue about. Don did a great job! You must be very proud of him. Boy, he sure looks like the real Dr. Norris.
I am very proud of him indeed! He’s an excellent actor and this particular show was done so well – I really loved the production values. I’m reading each comment aloud to Don – he’s thrilled with everyone’s response.
I loved the show last night and Don’s acting. Coming from my reporting career in Criminal Courts out here in Los Angeles I found it fascinating. I was taken aback when he came lumbering in one of the first scenes! I loved his demenor and I too was taken aback by his size, although I knew he was tall. Loved the steam coming out of his mouth working on the corpses! I’d forgotten it was filmed overseas and it was cold when they filmed it. Mr. Norris would be so proud of his discoveries and how far we’ve come today with DNA!
i bet it was particularly fascinating to you, Annette. He’s a tall guy, but also the costuming made him seem bigger than he really is, by that I mean bigger in girth – so that he looked like Dr. Norris. That building they filmed that scene in was freezing – no heat – and I think the steam coming out of his mouth was so effective!
“This reviewer” is sending big time kudos to Don for a great performance in “The Poisoner’s Handbook.” Clearly he’s one of the lucky ones. He’s doing what he loves, and he’s very good at it. Hope it leads to lots of great opportunities. And what a fascinating program too – I like learning the history behind just about everything and this was no exception. PS – checkout YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6JoWwd2QSs – someone named Mike Clark has a nice comment for Don too.
He’s pretty darned talented, Janet. So glad you liked it. I saw that comment from Mike Clark the other day. Wasn’t that nice?
I will pass your kudos on to Don, who is certainly basking in the glow of everyone’s praise.
That’s great – he’s entitled. BTW – it seems that lately I’m hearing a lot of actors that say they never watch their “finished” projects. That once a performance is turned in, it’s pretty much over for them and they move on. Is Don comfortable watching his – or overall, would he rather not? Thanks.
He’ll watch himself, but he is sometimes uncomfortable doing that. It’s never easy to see yourself on screen. But he was really pleased with last night’s show. He liked the way he looked and the way the show was filmed. All in all, a very positive reaction from him. xo
Well, he’s right to feel that way because – like all PBS projects – it was truly very well-done. One of the things I did at my university was to process all the inquiries from prospective students – and during/after the OJ trial in the mid 90s we experienced a definite spike in FORENSICS as an area of interest. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if that happened again because of this program.
Me either, Janet.
I forgot to mention last night that I could see Don’s breath in that scene also..I remembered what he had said about it last year and I was watching for that to happen..Kind of gave me a little chuckle knowing the story behind it..I must tell him again how much I enjoyed his performance..the whole production was so well done! Forensics is fascinating..Thanks for the first two patterns..they are going to be adorable!
Wasn’t that cool? I loved that scene! Have fun with the patterns, Nancy.
I love the little felt ornaments. I’ve been looking for a craft project to do this month and I think I might make these. They came out so cute. Also, I tuned in to American Experience last night and really enjoyed Don’s performance. I wasn’t sure I would like it because of the subject matter, but I found it very interesting. I thought Don was well suited for the role and he has such a distinctive voice as well. I thought the entire program was well done and enjoyed all the commentary as well. It can be difficult to watch some of these moments in history, because life was so difficult and rather primitive back then without all the medical advances that we have today. I’ll have to watch more of this type of programming.
Good, I hope you join in, Diane!
It’s gut wrenching seeing what happened to people, simply because of ignorance about the dangers of certain substances. We are also vowing to watch more things like this. Thank you so much for your kind words about Don.
Claudia-
Cute ornaments! I don’t know if I can follow along or not … It would be so nice to
Even if I did them in paper they’d make cute hang tags on the children’s gifts
Now on with the show. The Honey and I watched and thoroughly enjoyed both the educational and entertainment ( theatrical ) portion of the program. It was more then just forensics. The politics and social economics were all very intriguing too .
I have to say Don did a great job in his portrayal of Dr. Charles Norris. I did get side tracked at times thinking about you… And wondering if the wedding band he was wearing was in fact his own wedding band that you placed on his finger?! Crazy, I know.
But I am a hand person and pay close attention to peoples hands. Anyway, I learned so much from the show And my heart ached for the families and victims of the young women in the radium clock factory. So sad. I wouldn’t have watched it probably had you not mentioned it. Thank you.
Great job Don!
Pat
Yes, that is the wedding band I placed on his finger! I got excited when I saw it, too. And it was so front and center in the hand washing sequence. Don is basking in the glow of my readers’ rave reviews. You are all so terrific!
Lovely work on the owl and bear, Claudia. I used to have my students make little stuffed felt snowmen. Bits of fabric, yarn, faux fur and such were turned into a motley crew of characters, complete with names and interesting back stories. I can still picture the creations lining the chalkboard ledge.
As for Don’s show, I’ve recorded it and, from some earlier comments, I’ll be enjoying it soon.
Karen
The snowmen sound adorable, Karen.
My skills need some sharpening, but I’m really enjoying the Critters.
Just wanted to say I did watch the show and it was very interesting. The start of forensics, who knew. I thought Don was very good. Very serious, but it was very serious business. The saddest segment was on the Radium poisonings of the young women. I can’t remember all the names of the compounds, but I bet you were wishing you had some of those antique bottles. Very good show, but I always love just about anything on PBS.
Glad you liked it, Cindy!
Very very cute! I love working with felt…though my critters don’t come out half as cute as yours. I
Blessings, Joanne
Oh, I bet they are just lovely, Joanne!
Hi Claudia,
Just wanted to let you know I continue to look forward to reading your blog every day.
Don is a wonderful actor. The PBS documentary was eye opening. I’m still thinking about the young women who painted radium numbers on watch faces and the consequences. Putting the brushes in their mouths – yikes.
Mary
So glad you enjoyed it, Mary. The segment about the young women was chilling. So very sad.
Claudia, I missed the first half hour of the show last night, but the rest was so interesting!
I love Don’s voice … it’s as rich as his singing voice! (And I also wondered about the wedding ring!)
Bravo to Don! He did an awesome job portraying Dr. Norris. I got so excited and told John – ” I know him!”. Ornaments are darling and I’m going to try to make each of the three little girls their own set. Thanks!
Judy