Odd Dotty Dollymaker

Happy Birthday, Aly!

Well, tomorrow anyway.

This past weekend, as I was gazing bewilderedly at my calendar, (you know cuz...um...where the ham did this year go? Is it really already the middle of the sixth month? Wha...?) I realized that my best friend's youngest turns 2 tomorrow!! And she lives in California. I live in Illinois. Which means I had to quickly put something together and get it shipped out in time to make it there for the big day.

So! I had been wanting to make one of these for a while but just didn't have the impetus I guess. Well, nothing kicks me in the butt like a deadline let me tell you! Using some of my most fun fabric in the stash, I was able to whip up this coloring book bag complete with crayon pockets rather quickly.

 

 

Then I searched my garden for another Itty Bitty Flower Oddity, and found these;

 

 

This one seemed to be attracted to the crayons, so she was added to the package.

 

 

And then the girl decided she really wanted to make her one of her Critters.

 

 

 

They were all thrown together, celebratory words of love and blessings written on the card, the box wrapped with homemade wrapping paper and off they went!

 

 

 

I hope they get there in time! And I hope she loves them!

As for the other Itties, they have found new homes through the shop! I can't keep these things in stock! I LOVE it! Thank you! And now? I must away to hunt for more Oddities, and sew like mad because you know what? I just found out that my application for a craft fair was accepted. Which means I probably should have something to sell, yes?

Bug Bites

Finally! The sewing bug has finally! bitten the girl for reals this time. Yes, she made some sock monkeys before. But she never really really enjoyed the process of it. She has tried to come up with different patterns for dollies on her own before, but would always end up a)frustrated and never finish them or 2) I would make them for her. She even declared at one point that sewing just wasn't for her. And, after choking back a few tears and grasping my chest to prevent the breaking of my heart from exploding all over the poor child, I decided not to push it.

Life carried on, and I sewed all alone...silently weeping...in the rain. Well, mostly I really just gave all my attention to the play I was directing,Charlotte's Web. Hey! Wanna see a picture of the cast? Sure you do!

Which, I guess that did involve some sewing as I had to make the girl's Templeton costume. Either way I was sad but I understood that she is going to have her own passions, her own dreams, her own desires, her own thoughts, her own opinions. And I had to be okay with it, and help her to reach her full potential in whatever she pursues. Which, just by the bye, I have to stop a moment here and say that I do think the theatre blood has successfully been transfered to her! Cuz, that bug? That one bit her hard last Christmas during our homeschooling pageant. Where she discovered that she loves being on stage and performing in front of others. And, can I just be honest here? That girl ROCKED THE HOUSE as Templeton! Candidly? I was secretly hoping more for the theatre bug to bite her than the sewing bug, because although I loves me the sewing and crafty goodness that comes of it...my passion? My real talent? What really gets my blood racing and my heart all a-flutter? Theatre. Hands down. Theatre. If I had to give up sewing for theatre, I would. If I had to give up theatre for sewing...not so much.  

Anyway! What was the point of this post again? Oh yes! The sewing bug that bit my daughter! Ok! So, one day she just sat down and started cutting out fabric. She just wanted to make something simple. And this is what she made. The only thing I helped her with were those ding dang safety eyes. Those things are a bear to put the backing on!

His name is Zucchini. And she loves him. And? She loved making him. So soon after the success of Zucchini, she decided he needed a bed set. The result?

Again, all made by herself. The only thing I did was add the tufting to the mattress so it would lie flatter. Here he is sleeping:

 

And a close up of his little dolly, Cucumber;

Well, this got her excited to make more. And so the Critters were born:

I love the hat and scarf on this one, which she made for a swap with this talented young lady, so Sherrie, I hope you like it because this one's for you!

She is really enjoying making these, and I am enjoying watching her enjoy making them. So, let's all enjoy together! Ready? Set? ENJOY!

Because I "felt" like it...

Let me just start out by saying this is what it looks like outside right at this moment.

It really is that gray, and that blustery, and that blizzard-like outside. And coooooold. It's been like this all day. Kind of hard not to get depressed. So, I turned my focus on some crafting to help me stay up-beat.

First, the girl learned about the Scythians today in school. One of the things we learned was that they would applique felt shapes onto wall-hangings and their clothing. It was suggested that we try this out. So, it being Valentine's season around here, I set her to making a wall hanging. This is her very first applique.

Not bad, eh?

Secondly, I have had this idea mulling around in my head for a while. A couple of months ago, I came into some free 100% wool sweaters and wanted to try my hand at machine felting. One sweater in particular made me think of a carrot cake. So I put it in the hot water cycle and dried it on high heat. It really is fun to watch it shrink.

Originally, I was going to make this for my sister's birthday because her favorite cake is carrot cake. But, her birthday is eight days before Christmas, and this past holiday season was crazy crazy crazy. So, I didn't. Until today! I finally decided to sit down and just do it!

I have always admired other people's felt foods. I don't exactly know why, but I am drawn to it. Maybe it's the little kid in me. This was fun to make, and I loved that it only took me a couple of hours of hand sewing. The girl suggested I make a baker dolly and make some more felt food for her. I think I may just do that!

Now, if you'll excuse me I think I need a nice glass of wine and a bubble bath to ensure that I don't succumb to the SAD.

Body parts and cupcakes

Things are slowly but surely starting to get back in the crafty swing around these parts. And speaking of parts, here is what I have been working on for the past couple of days.

It's body parts to a Poppet. What is a Poppet? Well, a Poppet is only one of the cutest lil' dollies you ever did see. See here, here and here for just a taste of the craze that is the Poppet! I love love love this pattern, and am so grateful that the brilliantly talented Ms. Ghilie is so willing to share it with the world.

Also? The girl made another tasty treat the other night. Cupcakes!

And that right there? That's homemade from scratch chocolate frosting. Mmmmmmmmm...chocolate frosting. They were just a little bit good.

Yum!

One of the girl's goals for the new year was to make cookies all by herself. She wanted to make the basic dough for chocolate chip cookies and add whatever she wanted. I was a little nervous, but all she really wanted to add was swirled chips and almonds.

And although she has already checked this off her list, I am hoping she experiments further this year.

All in the family

Do you see this?

The girl made this. All. By. Herself. On her own sewing machine. For a friend's birthday gift. Needless to say she was pretty proud of herself.

Even more needless to say? I am one proud mama!