Little Mama

Well, I knew this day would come but I didn't think it would happen this quickly. K has always loved to embroider with me, but ever since I started using my sewing machine more she has been really antsy to give it a try.


C picking fabric for K to use

I don't feel quite ready to have her use a machine just yet (never mind she couldn't reach the pedal anyways) so I needed to find some kind of compromise. She told me she really wanted to make clothes for her baby dolls. I went to my studio/sewing room hoping for some inspiration. Out of the corner of my eye I spied a lovely package that I won from Julia at Adirondack Mama (Who makes me miss my hometown in New York so much). Inside of it was all kinds of fabric pieces that I had yet to organize and put away. I grabbed a handful of them, some embroidery floss and a sharp needle and brought it all to K.


Starting to sew

I showed her how to hand sew and within minutes she was cutting fabric and sewing away. Here's her first completed outfit - a cape and skirt for Purple Grandma Baby (C gave her that name):



She was oh so proud of herself! She now has a basket of fabric, embroidery floss and a sharp needle (stored in a glass jar so C can't get to it) in her art cabinet so she can create doll clothes whenever she desires. I actually caught her sewing in bed last night - be still my heart! I have a feeling our dolls are about to have a whole new K-made wardrobe.


Bed head :)

Wishing you all a magical Memorial Day weekend!

Little Mama

WIP Wednesday: Road Trip Makings

Finally done!

I am happy to say that I have completed almost everything I wished to for this upcoming move. There are a couple of other things I wanted to finish up, like:

-C's matching sweater which is 80% done
-K's birthday present toadstool hat 90% done
-K Baby's birthday crown 95% done

but I can just finish them up along the way.

K baby's birthday crown


I finished up Night Night Baby a couple of nights ago and I planned on giving her to K the morning we left but I just could not hold out. I gave her Night Night Baby the other night as Kevin and I were tucking her in bed and I am so happy that I did. If you only could have seen the expression on her face. She was so amazed that I 'found' her Night Night Baby. She hasn't let her out of her sight since that night. Reactions like that make all of the nights, hours, and love I put into making things so worth it.


K's new Night Night Baby

It honestly amazes me to know that something I created makes her so happy. I always thought (before having kids of my own) that things had to be store bought and name brand to make children happy. I am not sure exactly why I had this way of thinking but I am so glad to know it couldn't be farther from the truth. I just hope her love of all things hand made will stay with her.


K's secret surprise: Princess and the Pea set

I finally finished up K's secret surprise. I am happy with most of it except the bag. I ran out of time and patience so this is a temporary bag for K to use on the road trip and then once we are settled in Portland I will make her a new one. I just couldn't see making her wait even longer for this just because of my dislike of the bag.


Back of the bag with a pocket for the pea and a pocket for her pillow and crown


"The Queen knew that only a real princess could feel a pea..."

I had only one slight problem with K's surprise...



'Chubby Kong' walked in on my photography session and immediately fell in love with the princess. She grabbed her off the table and brought her on to the floor to play with. She then took her downstairs to get a brush and brush her long hair. It was the sweetest thing to witness. Since K was outside helping Daddy rake, I let C get some secret playtime in. That baby of mine is so sweet. I told her the princess was sleepy and needed to rest so she ever so gently tucked her back into her pocket and put her away without K ever even knowing. I am happy to know that if, for some reason, K decides she doesn't like her surprise, then C would be more than happy to have it as her own.

This may be my last WIP post for awhile. I am not sure how internet will work on our road trip next week, but I will keep you all updated.

Happy creating!!

WIP Wednesday: Road Trip Makings

WIP Wednesday: Go, Speed Knitter, Go!

Deja vu?

It may appear that I am working on the same knitting project but don't let your eyes fool you. I actually finished up K's birthday sweater a couple days ago (I already packed it and forget to take a picture) and am now working on C's matching sweater. I *hope* to have it done by the end of the week so I may start work on yet another knitted sweater, but that one is a surprise for someone so I can't talk about it just yet.

I have had the chance to sew here and there and I am finally finishing up my projects for the road trip. I hope the girls like them.


K's night night baby

Night night baby is almost done. I am finishing up the embroidery on her face, and baking the millet (to stuff her with - she's a 'heavy' baby), then I just need to put her all together.



K's secret surprise project has been on the shelf for much to long. Luckily, it's now perfect as a road trip surprise. I am nearing completion on this project as well. Just a few minor stitches here and there, but I honestly don't think it was worth the suspense. I can always fix it up later once we are settled in Oregon, at least I keep telling myself that!

Happy creating everyone!

ETA: Happy Birthday to me! :) Thank you Marina for my Flickr gift! I will put it to good use, ASAP! You are much too kind!!

WIP Wednesday: Go, Speed Knitter, Go!

the Importance of Baby Dolls in Our Home

C baby on C's birthday wearing her birthday crown sitting in her highchair. (C baby made by Rohini at Gopita's Dolls )

Words can not describe how special dolls are in our home. They really do seem to show the love that was put into them by the people that made them. I even find myself enchanted by them (and my husband sometimes, too but shhhhh don't tell him I told you!)

The girls love their baby dolls. They are their most cherished possessions. Even C seems to understand which one is hers, and hers alone. She loves her C baby. She hugs her first thing in the morning when she wakes up and giggles hysterically.
I understand the importance of doll play so I try my hardest to respect this for both the girls and treat their dolls like they are the living, breathing babies that they see them as. Perhaps that is why I take such care and put so much love into making things that K request for her dolls, like knitted clothing. I try to do it when she is around so she can see the process from start to finish. She usually can not wait for me to finish so she can dress her doll in it's new wardrobe.

I also feel it's important for the dolls the girls have to represent our diverse culture,not just in the states but on our planet. We all 'look different' (but yet so much the same), so their dolls should be as well. They both have their special dolls made to look like them and to represent them in play but then they also have other dolls from around the world. I think it's important for the girls to be exposed to all cultures starting right from birth, so it is just the norm for them.
I have a hope that by never noticing or mentioning differences in peoples appearances, that my girls will never notice either and just see whats inside and what matters in people.
They are the generation of change, I know it.


C loving her C baby. Matching hats by Shelley Caskey aka waldorfmama (she sells the doll hat in her waldorfmama shop and the baby hat in her other shop).


K and C posing with doll babies. K is being a goof and making one of her many silly faces.
C has her C baby and K has her old K baby. This one had stains and we were sent a replacement years ago but she hung on to the old one to be her outside doll. K sleeps with her K baby every night just like C. It's a sweet sight to see.


K loving her Meilana dollie.

Baby love pics (just because)




On a side note, I am not sure if I will be able to post my WIP this week. I go in for a minor surgery Tuesday morning and will be in the hospital at least for the day. I apologize in advance if I miss out this week. Maybe I'll get something together Monday and post it then. I'll have to see.
Take care everyone.I hope you all had a great weekend!

the Importance of Baby Dolls in Our Home

C's first baby doll

It's been a crafty kind of month or two here lately.



I know its kind of young for her to have her first baby but I couldn't resist. Plus this doll is so simple it seems perfect for the first year.

I made her last night and did the finishing touches during nap time today. K loved watching me sew C's doll. I'm glad she enjoyed watching because it's a good thing for her to see me sew.

I have been meaning to post a new pic of the first doll I ever made (Conkin as K as lovingly named her) because she now has hair! Thanks to Grandma Conkin is no longer bald! Yay! K is very happy over this.



K wanted to model Conkin and C's baby for everyone (Yep, she's still wearing my dress. She won't take it off! She calls it her 'boots and sweetpea dress' because of our pet rats 'Boots and Sweet Pea'. She doesn't know anything of Mickey or Minnie mouse.



And here is our satisfied customer. LOL. I think she likes her baby, even if she only teeths on it right now :)



I'm making another one this week but bigger and I have to make K another 'night night baby' as I accidentally soaked her other one and it was stuffed with millet so now its all smelly and gross :(

C's first baby doll

Late pics of Winter Crafts

You saw the felted acorn necklace a few posts back and I don't have a pic of her tree blocks yet but heres 2 other things I made her:

1st is a sweet little waldorf baby boy
(pattern from Joys Waldorf Dolls)with bunting outfit,hat,and cloth diaper. I have not been able to make his hair..it requires crocheting and i can't seem to do it so for right now his hat is attached to his head but I will at some point have someone make the hair or something. I also made a sling for him as well. I took lini to the fabric store and had her pic out her favorite fabric but didn't tell her what it was for,tee hee.


Then I made a night gown and matching cloth diaper for her K baby. My mother bought K some Pjs to wear X-mas eve so I figured her baby needed to have a new nightgown too :) K's new pjs were snowflakes and i wanted to try and match that theme but the fabric store didn't have any snowflake fabric! crazy right?! but K loved this snowman fabric so I got her that instead.

Late pics of Winter Crafts