This morning I was complaining to the Hubby about how much I detest the helicopters from the Maple trees.
They get all over the yard, when it rains they get slimy on the sidewalks, there's no way to get them all up, so there are hundreds of tiny maple trees trying to grow all over our yard.
I hate them.

This afternoon, my daughter looks up and says "Mama! Look! It's raining butterflies!"

All right.
I guess they're not that bad.

Flour Sack Bunny

I felt so sorry for my Flour Sack Bunny after the photo shoot yesterday, that I had to open it up and re-stuff it this morning.

I guess after 17 years or so, poly-fill loses its fluff factor.

While I was seaming up the back, my Elder Hug-a-Bug came over and asked to help.

She sewed up the back seam and did a great job.

I tried to get a close-up picture of her handiwork, but the flash was not cooperating.

Here's to a creative morning to you all,

Jess.

The Button Baby

There was a question last post about the assembly of a doll.

I have made a few dolls for the Hug-a-Bugs, but mostly for myself, let's be honest...

Thus far I have used 3 methods of construction.

Method 1: like Wee Wonderful's Olive arms and legs are made and stuffed and then sewn into the seam of the body.

Method 2: like my Vogue Sewing Pattern Doll, Siobhan, the doll body is composed of two assembled pieces front and back including the arms and legs.

Method 3: like my sad McCalls Bunny from High School, which is in dire need of eyes and a new stuff, and reattaching of the arms, (but I still love those flour sacks) the arms and body are separate pieces which are sewn shut after stuffing and then the doll is assembled by hand-sewing the pieces together.

This last method is the how the Button baby is made, with the exception of the joints.

The baby has button joints. This means that the arms and body are sewn together with one long piece of craft string which is threaded through buttons between the pieces.

The doll is really floppy. The arms and legs go all over, but when I asked at Wonderment, they said it is supposed to be that way, that babies can't control where their limbs go either, and once I make it some clothes it will calm down.

As I have said, the Elder Hug-a-Bug is happy with the baby even with its flopping, the feet are already kinda grubby from all of the loving.

I think that my main problem with this construction technique is that the fabric is stretchy. I might try this with a woven next time and see if I get different results.

As I make this list of dolls, I realize that I have a little problem.

The Hug-a-Bugs are running out of room for toys.

I love making dolls and toys.

Where will it all end?

Have a terrific Wednesday,

Lost Finale Tomorrow!

Jess

New fun

I have a couple more friends who are expecting tiny bundles this year.

Last year I gave my two closest birth-giving friends blankets.

I knitted one and quilted the other.

I have to say that I wasn't perfectly happy with either project.

My quilting skills are not the best, and the knitted blanket was made of squares and it didn't come out as even as I might have liked.

I thought for these babes I would try dolls.

I bought a pattern for a Waldorf Baby Doll from Wonderment about 6 months ago, just to try it, some friends of mine from the Yarnery took a Waldorf Doll-Making class and they really liked it.

I have a primal fear of sewing on knits, even the Sew U book did not help my phobia, but this pattern came right together.

I am not sure if I am completely happy with the button joints, they seem a little too floppy to me, but I will give it the benefit of the doubt.

I did get the doll assembled yesterday but the Elder Hug-a-Bug appropriated it for bedtime so I didn't get a photo.

A trip to the Yarn store for some hair is the next item on my agenda.

Please keep the victims of the Hugo, MN tornado in your thoughts.

Jess

Softies for Mirabel

I heard about Softies for Mirabel by reading someone else's blog, and I don't remember who.

It is a marvellous thing.

Crafty folks from all over the world send in soft toys and they are displayed in a storefront window in Australia for a couple of months then they are all auctioned off and the proceeds go to the Mirabel Foundation.

Here is a quote from their website

"The Mirabel Foundation was established in 1998 to assist children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental illicit drug use and are now in the care of extended family (kinship care). Mirabel believes that every child deserves a childhood and its mission is to break the destructive cycle of addiction.

Mirabel is the only organisation in Australia specifically addressing the needs of this vulnerable group of children, the most profoundly overlooked casualties of substance abuse in our society. Mirabel supports children aged 0-17 years and works at restoring a child’s sense of self-worth, belonging and hope for the future in order for them to reach their full potential as young adults. Mirabel believes that investing in children is the most compassionate and economic investment we can make. Whether it is done financially, emotionally, or by lessening the stigma and feelings of isolation, both the community and these children will reap the rewards."

Such a great cause.

I am donating some Star Babies to the fundraiser.

I took inspiration from the Simple Organic Baby Doll pattern from Nature Babies.

I changed the shape slightly and instead of using organic cotton fabric for the head, I recycled loner baby socks.

I also made some smaller stars based on the same idea.

I will come clean and say that I had these laying around already.

In the last 2 years, and this is not an exaggeration, I have had about 15-20 pregnant friends. I guess that's what happens when you've kept in touch with 4 different ECFE classes-worth of child-bearing aged women.

I had this great idea that I would put a bunch of these Star Babies together and give them all to my friends when they had their babies.

Unfortunately, I am not as on the ball as I had hoped to be, and most of the babies got a big smile and hug instead.

I did get a few done anyway, and they have been packed away for a special event.

I think this is the place that they need to go...

Have a memorable Memorial Weekend,

Jess

Naturalized Garden Update

There has been some encouraging progress in the Naturalized Garden.

I think by the time we hit high summer I may have something to be really excited about.

Thank You

Yesterday was the last day of Choir School at House of Hope.

We did some sight-reading and cleaned out folders.

I got to take the kids up in groups of 10 or so to see the bells in the bell tower, really fun.

We had our end-of-year potluck, and gave out awards.

At the end the director Sofia, and I got flowers from the parents and we both recieved a journal from one of the boys in my 2nd & 3rd grade group.

It was so touching to see the card that my little student had written.

I love my Choir School work.

So Thank You back, Choir School.

Thanks for making each year more fun than the last.

I am so enjoying watching the kids grow.

This is my 8th year in my current position and it has been my pleasure to watch unsure and squirrely 2nd and 3rd graders grow into confident, and still goofy young adults.

I have been present through 3 directors, 7 if you count my entire history with the choir since age 9, and I am really proud to be a part of this program right now.

My friend Sofia is such a talented director and you can see that the kids really respect and love her.

Not an easy feat.

I don't think anyone from choir reads this weblog, but I hope that they can all feel the positive feelings I am sending out.

Have a quiet Thursday,

Jess