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If you've been enjoying the projects I post each week on KBB Crafts & Stitches, you can now follow me on Bloglovin'. It's a tool that manages all the blogs you follow and lets you know when a new post is published. Just click the Bloglovin' button on the right, create a quick account, and add any blog you want to keep up with. There's also a Bloglovin' app for iPhone.

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Heart Charm Bracelet

When I realized how many heart baubles had accumulated in my bead box, I decided it was time to finally do something with them. The result is this cute heart bracelet, which I made just in time for Valentine's Day.

So where are the hearts from? Some are from pieces of broken jewelry, like the sparkly rhinestone and pearl charm. It was part of a pin that was one of my go-to accessories in the '80s. (It was in style then, I think.) Other hearts are leftovers from projects gone by. To get the hearts ready for stringing, I gave them hanging wires and dressed them up with more beads.

And now for the easy part -- crocheting the beads onto a strand of narrow red ribbon. I used a steel crochet hook small enough to fit through the wire loops, chained five chain stitches, and added the first bead by crocheting right through the loop. I attached the remaining beads the same way, making five chain stitches between them. Before I finished the chain I made sure the bracelet fit around my wrist (it's a Valentine present for myself). No fancy jewelry techniques for attaching the clasp and ring; I just tied them to the ends of the chain and wove the extra ribbon into the stitching.

A Snowflake Story

I finished reading the novel The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey a few weeks ago, and I haven't stopped thinking about it. It's about Jack and Mabel, homesteaders in 1920s Alaska who can't have a child of their own. Without giving away too much, I can tell you that a young girl does come into their lives after they build a snow child during a storm.

I loved the story and the author's descriptions of the wilderness setting, but the element that sticks in my memory the most is the coat Mabel sews for the girl. It's described as being made from blue wool with white fur trim and snowflakes embroidered with white silk.

I finally got around to trying my hand at stitching snowflakes this week. I guess all the talk of snowstorms inspired me. I didn't have any white silk, so I used embroidery floss and blue felt. The effect isn't as enchanting as Mabel's coat, but I think I satisfied my urge to sew snowflakes--for now, anyway.

Groundhog Finger Puppet

In just a week, famous Pennsylvania groundhog Punxsutawney Phil will come out of his hole and forecast the weather. According to tradition, if the groundhog sees his shadow on Groundhog Day--February 2nd--we'll have six more weeks of winter. If not, we'll have an early spring. I made this groundhog finger puppet in honor of Phil's big day. This little guy is guaranteed to predict an early spring because he can't see his shadow--it's hiding on his back.

Groundhog Pattern

To make your own groundhog finger puppet, print the pattern and size it to about 3" tall. Use the pattern to cut one groundhog from brown felt (the front) and one from black felt (the shadow).

Since fabric markers don't work well on felt--especially dark felt--you can make a tissue paper pattern as a guide for the embroidered details. Place a piece of white tissue paper over the groundhog pattern and trace the body outline, facial features, and arms (or are they legs?) with a fine-tip black marker.

Next, pin the tissue pattern onto the brown felt groundhog and then make your embroidery stitches through both the tissue paper and the felt. I used satin stitch for the eyes, nose, and teeth, and light brown back stitch for the arms and to outline the mouth and eyes. When you finish stitching, peel the tissue paper away gently to reveal the embroidered details. If necessary, you can fill in any areas you missed.

To assemble the groundhog finger puppet, pin the front and back pieces together, wrong sides facing, and sew the edges together using dark brown floss and running stitch. Be sure to leave an opening at the bottom so you can slide him onto your finger. Now you're all ready for Groundhog Day. Let's see what the real Phil has to say about the weather.

Embroider details on the front of the puppet.

Hide the shadow in back.