Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Cagatío - holiday felts

My holiday themed felting continues today with a Cagatío. A Cagatío is a Catalonian tradition that I am fascinated with, and apparently I am not alone. If this post peaks your interest go and read this blog post too, I highly recommend it.


A Cagatío is a log with a face painted on it. Usually standing on 2-4 legs and wearing a traditional Catalonian hat. The condensed version of what it is (really go and read that blog post) is that you feed the log all through the season and it grows and grows. Then when they big day arrives the children beat the log with a stick until it poops presents. (There are songs and everything.) Putting aside the message that it is ok to beat something you have cared for for a month, it is a great idea! The growing log, and the pooing of presents creates an air of magic around the season, and the energetic whacking is sure to make the kids have a calm afternoon.


To be clear these are only really found in Catalonia. It is the Spanish side of my family who introduced me to them. Sadly they are not something readily available here in Madrid.


If I were to make this over again I would have made the legs thinner, to make them appear more stick-like and less log-like.



Do you celebrate any unusual holiday traditions?

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Holiday spirt

I am starting to get into the holiday spirt, are you?

I am wondering if I should give my self a another challenge and make a holiday themed felted creature a day. Kind of like a mini advent calendar. (Mini because I am starting late.) I made these two guys today.


 For the moose I decided that if I am going to go cartoon, I should go all the way and experiment with yarn legs. Everyone knows that moose have long straggly legs, why not triple up some handspun, attach it to the body and felt a hoof on the other end? I have to say, I love the effect!




Next up is one on my "sheep nuggets" with a Catalonian type hat on.



And just for fun I bought a new home for María, José, and Jesus. I made them last year. Read about it here. It gives them a more solemn air. I'll bet that makes my friend Susana happy. ;)



What are you making for the holidays?