I try to justify these ebay purchases saying their for Phoebe, but really she’s much more interested in legos and transformers. Seems if it’s not Oscar’s she not interested. Oh well, more for me to play with on Christmas Day. above: Holly Hobbie and below: Tammy dolls (wait til you see all their outfits!)
Remarkably, despite the negative degree temps, I’m in a much more holidayish mood this week. My new and improved spirit is due to some amazing customer service (will spill the details after the holidays), a few holiday successes and some super fun holiday parties with good friends. Add to that my handmade gifts being nearly finished and ready to ship out and I’m one cheerful elf today!
These are the last guys to be packed up. They’re bookmarks made from pre-painted wooden heads, pipe cleaners, felt and ribbon. I was stumped for “little something” gifts and then I found this idea in my sketchbook. I think I saw it in one of the many old craft books I’ve checked out from the library. They’ve definitely got a kooky 70s craft vibe.
I glued little craft floss hair-dos on them and then stuck pipe cleaners in their heads, used more glue to make a felt pipe cleaner sandwich and then whipstitched around the edge.
Sending out poorly glued together crafts that will likely fall apart in shipping has become something of a tradition of mine. Like these and before them these. I’ve got my fingers crossed for these gals!
I made a new flickr group of all my Christmas crafts, poorly glued and not. It’s here. I like to look at it when I feel like punking out on a handmade gift. It either motivates me to get going or it makes me feel accomplished enough already to take the pressure off myself and just rest. Either way it’s good!
I’m going to go ahead with the full-of-holiday-spirit post I had going for today instead of going on a crazyperson I hate winter rant about boots and frozen pipes and sheets of ice for roads and parka hoods that get tangled in bag straps and try to put you out of your misery by hanging you on the minivan door. Nope. Instead it’s all cheery. It’s all good. Dream of a white christmas. Snow is your fluffy happy friend. And zero degrees, why just another reason to have hot cocoa!
So decorating this year was much easier than last year. Instead of trying to figure out how to decorate a new house this year I just put everything in the same spots. I was happy to follow the path of least resistance. Guess that’s how traditions are made. I still felt compelled to take pictures though so here’s the same stuff, different angles.
I made a felt crown for Phoebe for Christmas. I doubt she’ll like it half as much as her daddy’s stinky winter hat that she likes to parade around in, but I’m giving it a shot. I’m feeling pretty good about my handmade holiday list so far. Of course this is before I’ve tackled what the boy has on his dress up wish list, much more challenging than a felt crown.
There’s a fun handmade holiday giveaway over at STC Craft, tell them what you’re making and enter to win the STC book that’s been on your wishlist!
They need to come up with a name for spending the Friday after Thanksgiving sitting at home working on handmade presents. “DIY Friday”? “You don’t really need it, even if it is on super sale, so sleep in and spend a leisurely day knitting Friday”? Whatever it’s called, I was able to spend a good part of it inside snuggled up with my sewing basket finishing these two nutcracker dolls from Alicia’s new book, Stitched in Time. They are presents for two new babies on my list and I think they just turned out so cute and I love them. Thanks Alicia!
If you’re making presents this year definitely check out Alicia’s book. It has lots of really cute gift ideas. Actually, just lots of cute all around! I’ve been tapping my fingers since I pre-ordered my copy this Summer and I’m so happy to have it in my hands. The cover alone is enough for me, but to have a whole 160 pages of Alicia at my fingertips is simply wonderful!
Illustration by Gyo Fujikawa from Everywoman’s Family Circle, December 1959
I’ve got a few new additions this Christmas to the collection of paper dolls I had as a kid that I’m gradually amassing for Phoebe.
Early America. (I showed these to Mom and she said, oh your
grandmother must have bought you those and I bet you hated them. She’s
probably right. Not roller disco enough.)
The Ginghams were my favorites. My sister had two sets and I had two, if I remember right. This is the first box I’ve won. Gingham fans are very competitive! Also a 1970 Barbie wedding set that came with a lot I won.
These I didn’t have as a kid but I just love them. 1950s Snow White.
and I’m still expecting a little something, something much more glamorous than Early America. Can’t wait!
A captivating gang of 24 huggable, lovable creatures to sew—from classics like Margot, a topsy-turvy doll, and the button-jointed teddy bear Bjorn Bjornson, to irresistible Evelyn, a wool felt inchworm decked out in mod glasses and a kerchief, and Koji, a fiercely cute spiked softie monster. There’s something for everyone here—from kids to grown-ups and from beginning sewers to advanced dollmakers. Published by STC Craft, August, 2010.
