Weekend quickie

I whipped these up for the girls over the weekend.  About a half-hour each.  There was a simple doll pattern in a kids sewing book we checked out from the library.  Trace, cut out, and stitch the head/arms/body piece, repeat the process for each leg, stuff them all, and then stick the legs into the 'waist' of the body and stitch it shut.  Piece of cake!   I added some strips of bias fabric when I stitched the top of the head to make hair and added the face with a Sharpie.  I changed the shape of the head for the right hand (brown haired) one and I like that better.  Not quite so flat on the top.  :)


Leah quickly pointed out that they were naked so 'we have to make clothes'.  Easy enough for her to do so maybe we'll tackle that some evening this week.  I was pretty impressed with making a doll in just a half and hour start to finish.  

The gears in my head are turning because I saw an article in a magazine about sewing 'comfort dolls' to donate to women's shelters.  The requirement for that particular nonprofit was a doll of any shape/material/style but less than 6'' so that it could be easily tucked into a ladies' bag or carried around inconspicuously.  These dolls are about 10'' so they would have to be modified.  But I'm thinking I could figure out my preferred pattern/style and then the comfort dolls could be a take-along hand sewing project I'd keep in the car/my purse to work on while waiting in the school pick-up line, at gymnastics, etc.  We'll see.  I've intended to do take-along project before and they've never gotten off the ground.  If I never post any more dolls, you'll know it was just another brainstorm...

Baby Gift #2 - Block Set

Here is what I have made for the second of three baby gifts for this spring.  

The bigger block is roughly 7'' square and the smaller one 3.5''.  The smaller one has a detachable velcro loop so it can hang from a carseat handle or stroller, etc.  The large cube has a jingle bell in it for extra fun.  There are ric-rac or ribbon loops sticking out from the seams for fun 'handles' or tassles to play with.  I picked out some adorable bright fat quarters from the quilt shop and thankfully have enough leftovers to save and make something else with!

Drawstring Backpacks

Here are drawstring backpacks for the girls.  


I have been playing with these for a while.  I made some quickie prototype bags last summer (ugly scraps and leftover string from making roman shades) in preparation for making 140 (!) bags out of canvas and clothesline for a VBS craft project.  Both girls use those ugly prototype bags all the time  - playing 'camping' or 'vacation', storing things when we travel, snack and drink bags on outings, etc.    


After that I used good quilting fabric to make myself one (lined it, even, and made nice bias-binding straps) and I used that as my purse all summer.  Pretty enough to take to church but also handy for parks, picnics, errands, etc.  Great because both hands are free for biking, carrying coolers, etc.  


Then in Nov/Dec, I was commissioned by a friend to make 8 of them for her to use as Christmas gifts.  Those all turned out adorable made out of girly or ballerina fabric.  


After all that, I thought it was time my own girls got cute ones so we can toss the ugly prototypes.  And here they are:

January must have been 'clean up month', because I've gotten all sorts of small things done that have been on the list for a while.    Next up (I think) is another baby gift... those April babies will be here before we know it!