When I was in the third grade my class took a field trip to Point Reyes, California to look at the tide pools. I was fascinated by them, each pool was like a small secret world. There were orange and purple sea stars, tiny little fish, and flower-like sea anemones. When I stuck my finger in an anemone's mouth it's sticky petal-like tentacles would close around it, thinking it was food (this probably isn't a nice thing to do to an anemone, but it certainly made an impression on me). My love for the ocean and all of its creatures has only grown in the subsequent years. I did some snorkeling in Hawaii and saw fish of every size, shape and color though the crystal clear water. It's hard to believe that some of the fish I saw were even real, they seemed too bright and too bizarre to be found in nature.

When we decided to make a set of felt-covered magnets I knew I wanted to make an underwater scene. I found pictures of my favorite fish and other sea life and came up with nine different creatures. Making them with of our bright, beautiful 100% wool felt was very simple and so much fun! I loved watching them come alive and once they were all done I had a surprisingly fun time posing them on their light blue magnetic board (AKA the Aquarium).

This underwater world makes a great gift for a child, or even an adult, who loves the ocean. The tiny magnet inside each creature is super powerful, which makes this a really useful present, a whimsical take on a bulletin board. If you'd like to make your own underwater world please visit my Felt Aquarium Magnets Project Journal. Thanks!- Molly

I was always jealous of the kids that celebrated Hanukkah... eight days of presents! (That's not even to mention those truly lucky ones that got to do both Hanukkah AND Christmas.) Of course, besides the gifts there are many very special things that happen at Hanukkah, from the lighting of the menorah, to the tradition of eating delicious latkes, to the really fun dreidel game.

In case you aren't familiar with it the dreidel is a small spinning top with 4 sides and each side has a hebrew letter on it. You spin the top and whatever letter it falls on determines how many pieces of delicious chocolate coins (called "gelt") you win or loose.

When I set out to make a Hanukkah project I wanted to incorporate this whimsical game somehow and I came up with these clean modern coasters, representing every side of the dreidel. The wool felt they are made out is thick enough to also be used as a trivet and they are backed in rich shades of blue. In addition to protecting your table they will be a pretty accent to your Hanukkah party!   If you'd like to make some Hanukkah coaster of your own, please visit our Hanukkah Coasters Project Journal!

Happy Hanukkah! --Molly