Official NEC-magical gift post

[myiiiisons]

Hi all, i just finished my penguin and thankfully no hat to glue together and trim. The little benie he was wearing seemed much easier for me to put together. But we shall see...we shall see..

Ruschele, I'm in there with you, I think mine won't pass either. He ended up taller than the sample they sent me and really the patterns they mailed me to cut out were totally different sizes than the actual sample. Did that happen to you I went ahead and made my patterns to look more like the sample. Which meant bigger feet and less rounded wings than the pattern included in my kit. I had to stretch wool too. I didn't have to do any wool stretching form my snowman...so that was new too. I hope I did it right. I just don't get how my 3 balls glued together were taller than the sample. I did enjoy working on him and really liked the beanie . Lots more glitter work which is fine with me. Glad to hear that the DVD was a big help and a solid investment for your next attempt. I'll keep everyone posted as soon as I hear back. I'll be mailing both: penquin 1st attempt and snowman 3rd attempt back on Monday. Nanc

[tink28]

Hello my penguin sample alsohad different sized parts than my pattern. I stuck with the pattern. I guess we will see what works. LOL I had trouble getting the hat on and glueing it without squishing it all up. It ended up a liittle crooked. Making the hat was easy though!I am anxious for my review!

[Ruschele]

my sample penguin I had has been sitting around for over a year and he is kind of squished up. He was in storage and I think the styrofoam balls started to dis-inagrate or something, so I didn't really go by him to much. They do say the sample is just something to go by and that we should always stay with the directions, so I would stay with the patterns they gave you. He could be taller if you wrapped more wool around the balls than what they had, or did you squish the top ball a little for the head. At least that is what my directions say to do, but then again they are over a year old, so they could be doing things a little differently now.

I do have question for either of you though. The video showed that she was cutting the beak into 2 pieces and then gluing the edge to the face. My patter is one piece, sort of in a diamond shape. What do you guys have. I'm thinking the pattern for the beak at least may have changed since I got my kit.

[tink28]

The beak is two pieces and then you glue the edges to the head. Hope this helps!

[myiiiisons]

My pattern calls for 2 pieces glued together. But my sample penguin had a 1 piece peak that you glued in the center to the face. SO...I stuck with my make-it-look-like-model theory and did a one piece diamond shape. But the pattern I received is def. cut 2 pieces to make the beak. We'll see! Nanc

[Ruschele]

Thanks...it sounds like they may have changed the pattern for the beak then. I guess I'll know soon enough. If they stick with there 2 week turn-around, I should get something maybe as early as Fri or next Mon/Tues.

[kateintexas]

Hi all, I havent been around for awhile. I have been so busy with kids and school, and my school, and work,I feel bad that I havent been keeping up with ya"ll. It took me a few weeks to even start on my second cd case. I finally mailed it out saturday. I had sewing machine issues, so I already know I wont pass. Thats ok though, I am looking forward to still another try to see how much I can improve. Im starting to worry that if I don't have time to get one done, that doing several will be even harder. But I really want to do this, sowhere there's a will there's a way. Gotta remember that. Glad to hear everyone is coming along ok. Lots of encouragement here. Talk later Krazy Kate

[momoffour]

I've been looking at doing crafts at home for quite awhile and am planning on ordering a starter kit from NEC in the next day or two but I have a couple of questions.
1. What is involved in making the penguin and how difficult is it also which magnet would you consider to be the easiest and what is required to make it?

2. Have you found the DVDs helpful? Would I need one to make a magnet or to make the penguin?

3. Which projects are you working on and how long does it take you to do each craft.

I'm eager to get started but want to make an informed decision. Thanks for your help.

Mariah

[tink28]

Just received my penguin back today. Didn't pass. But I am so excited. I just need to tighten my wool and put less glitter on my hat. I thought it would be a lot worse than that!
That wool is tricky but I can do it!
I received good comments sticking to the pattern. I hope this helps.

[klant]

Finally, I finished my tropical birdhouse. It's only been about a month, but with school starting, we had 2 weeks vacation, I'm back on track. Did you know you can get free boxes and labels on line from the post office? You don't even have to leave the house. Check out their website USPS. Karen