ARTFULLY AVOIDING THE LANDFILL (& driving my husband crazy) ONE PIECE OF JUNK AT A TIME

11/2/10

Guess What's in the Oven?

If you said "not food"... you know me well and you're right!


Now, if I was cruel, I'd leave just this picture up for a week and see if you could figure out what the heck it is.  But I've met so many wonderful friends through my little blog I just couldn't do that.

I will tell you that it started out with a couple pieces of paper for the main pattern pieces.  An oval (4.75" wide and 9" long) and a fat curly worm looking shape.  Since I forgot to take pictures along the way, I guess I have to just show you know what it turned into.  (Hate it when I get excited and forget to shoot the steps!)


Roasted Turkey (and no, they weren't impressed with what was in the oven again).  Oh Well.

Now I can explain how I made it.  Seriously, it requires very little skill.  To make the body of the turkey, you cut five of those ovals and sew them together - leaving the middle of the last seam open for stuffing.  (DO NOT STUFF WITH BREAD CRUMBS! : )  When you get it done you've created your basic ball.  Kinda cool.  You can make all sorts of things out of balls.

After I made and stuffed the ball, I drew that worm looking thing - it's the neck and head of the turkey.


As you can tell, it took me a few attempts to get it right.  Thank goodness for erasers.  Then I took two pieces of fabric, slipped the pattern between them and traced around my outline with my disappearing ink pen (so cool!).  Then I sewed the pieces together leaving the bottom of the neck and about 1.5" of the top line of the neck (from the edge of the paper to just about the curve) open for stuffing and sewing onto the body.  Note:  Trace, sew on the lines you drew and THEN cut the fabric.  So easy - don't have to worry about seam allowance : )

The tail feathers were the easiest.  I set my stuffed body (turkey body, that is) on top of doubled fabric and cut a 3/4 oval shape - curved on the top, flat on the bottom and pencil drew long fingers on the fabric.  Then I stitched the "fingers" and stuffed them.


After the fingers were stuffed, I stitched right below them, put a little, not much, polyfill in the pocket and stitched all the way across the bottom.

As you can see, I antiqued them - secret recipe found here and baked them separately.  Believe it or not, I had to baste the turkey!  The top dried out faster, even though I kept turning it, flipping it from side to side.  Too funny!

Oh the waddle thingy!  I just cut a waddle shape out of red material and sewed it on the neck.

I did bake everything twice because I didn't think it turned out dark enough the first time.  Who wants to look at a pale roasted turkey??


I put the finishing touches on by painting the beak and the eyes with acrylic paint.


Then I dressed him up a bit and I think he looks very festive for the upcoming holiday!


I see I have 3 hours and 14 minutes to link this turkey up with Jan over at the
so that's what I'm gonna do!  (I hope she likes it!)

Oh!  I found a new party to link to:  Fabric Fun Thursday over at Cheap Chic Home - cool!

So what do you think?  Is it the "Crow's Toes"?

29 comments:

  1. lol, you are just a creating machine! I love it! Lezlee p.s. did you make the men some brownies, yet?

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  2. You should get on it and sell on ebay!!! I don't think I have to help YOU with any computer help! You are so awesome!

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  3. Love this post and the turkey is too cute!!!

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  4. Coleen you amaze me with the things you create. My one and only attempt at aging something in the oven turned out as a burnt offering. lol That turkey is really cute. If you were selling them you'd be too busy with orders for them to be able to cook.

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  5. I should have known when you came to work Monday and told me you made a turkey!!! I really thought about going out and buying a turkey to cook and eat, lol. You got me!

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  6. That is awesome!! Oh... and the bread crumbs remark... LOL! Coleen... you are on a roll lady! Your turkey turned out wonderful... even if you can't eat it!

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  7. hahaha cute post... your turkey turned out awesome... and it is most definitely the "crows toes"... you aced this one. Great job.

    If you don't feed those guys soon they may just start plucking away at it... lol

    Hugs, Deb

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  8. Like it? I LOVE IT. You found a project that you know is right up my alley, Colleen. Although I was a bit taken aback at first (haha). I want you to know that I totally appreciate the staging! But it isn't REALLY STAGING, is it? You actually had to bake this crazy bird. This will indeed be a wonderful centerpiece and a keeper from year to year. It's the kind of thing that someone will someday say their "crazy auntie" did (haha). I love being the crazy auntie, which means I may also have to try it. Thank you for sharing at Tuesday's Boardwalk Bragfest. It was a show-stopper.

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  9. Adorable. Such a cute little turky!

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  10. I thought you put the bird in the oven as a prop :). It's too funny that you had to baste it. I've seen baked fabric before, but this project is perfect. Thanks for sharing, it's so adorable.

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  11. Will there be a REAL turkey in the oven soon :)

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  12. What a cute turkey. I couldn't guess what it was from the first picture at all.

    Thanks for stopping by and the lovely comment on my glittered bed spring trees. I love your pencil/pen holder with one. I think I'll be finding room on my desk for one of them.

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  13. Hey there- What's shakin' chicken? Just thought I'd pop in and see what's been going on with you? Hope all is well. Like us you're probably in the throws of the holiday hustle and bustle... drop me a line.

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  14. Hey, what cha been cookin' lately? Thanks for the nice comment about the silhouettes. Lezlee

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