This One Skill That I Have: Part 2

"In a world where news of inhumanity bombards our sensibilities, where grasping for things goes so far beyond our needs, where time is squandered in busyness, it is a pleasure and a privilege to pause for a look at handiwork, to see beauty amidst utility, and to know that craft traditions begun so long ago serve us today" John Wilson

Last time, gifts for adults.

Today, gifts for girls!

My friend the camel beanbag (perfect size for toddler to sit in between the neck and hump)!

Ranger bracers for the adventurous girl 

A friend for Abby, and Milly.  

 Sweet baby nappy pants and hair accessories 

 Felt tea bags for tea party play

 Dress-up apron with a heart pocket

Felt birthday crown

 Sparkly mermaid tail

Completely Necessary Things

My to-do list is towering over me.
Should I even list the things-that-must-be-finished (or started)?

Maybe it was escapism.
Maybe it was misplaced priorities.
Maybe honesty?

Whatever it was, this week I absolutely had to sew two tiny dresses for the two tiny bunnies of two tiny besties.
It was fun.
It was totally unnecessary.
It made the girls giggle.

Looking at the adorable playmates (both sets), I'd say it was worth it!

(They are reversible for extra playfulness!)

Happy Handmade #6

For the boys (or really it could be for the girls, but this one was for my boy). He was going to a Star Wars party. He likes dressing up (I think it's in the genes). He chose Han Solo. With good intentions to make him an outfit, but no realised costume (or spare time) by the day before, it wasn't promising. And then I heard Han's voice say 'Never tell me the odds'*, and I decided to get ultra creative. I went to a dollar store and Big W to get supplies:
Black pants;
Black gum boots;
White skivvy;
Tea bags;
String of brown leather;
Red dog leash;
Plastic gun;
as well as a black vest from home;
and brown leather belt and gun pouch from the dress-up collection.

At home I just took three shorts steps to finalise the costume.
Firstly, I used the tea bags to stain his skivvy the perfect colour (honestly, a fluke!), and I cut a small opening at the front.
Then I hot glue gunned the dog lead to the side of his pants and added stripes with a sharpie pen (this didn't ruin the pants, the red pulled straight off after).
And finally, I used the caribeena (from dog lead) and some leather strapping to hang the gun pouch from the belt.

Oh, and added an ewok sidekick too...

* Artistic licence taken. Haha.

Happy Handmade #4

More dresses (and this you just can't buy).

Matching outfits for my niece and her doll, Lula.

With box pleats, pockets for little hands, and a dash of bright yellow binding inside, this is a cute and classic style for busy girls. The pattern can be bought here. I found the fitting perfect, with this one made in a size 2. I simply mini-sized and added an easy-open velcro back for the matching dolls dress. 

I so hope they go out together and get stopped by all kinds of Grannies who have stories to tell of their own matched outfits when they were young! 

Happy Handmade #3

Kitty + Pinny = kawaii cute 

A gift for a little lady who missed her grey cat Benny.

Pattern adapted from a pinafore my girls wore when they were three.

Happy Handmade #2

Sparkle

[spahr-kuh l]

verb: to be brilliant, sparkly, vivacious 

A Pow Wow Party

This girl wanted bright and bold for her birthday party this year.

She loved the idea of a Pow Wow with feathers and face paint!

And she thought a Native American 'India'n celebration was most appropriate for her!

 She picked a design for a special dress (that doubled as a Fiesta outfit), 

 and we made feather/leather accessories for the whole family. 

India's Aunty made invitations and we used this site to find Native American name meanings for all the girls invited. This was so much fun!

Gift giving time.

 Food teepees that the kids helped make before the day. Just three sticks of dowel with a bunch of feathers at the apex, and various types of wool wrapped or woven just up from the base, and then a (light weight) plate balanced in the middle.

 Jelly cups, fruit arrow kebabs, corn chips, pretzels, potato gems...

...and arrow cupcakes made for easy fare (for a very pregnant mama).

The birthday girl wanted no games, so we instead made simple headdresses.

 And picked a face paint design to have done.

 

 Some of the little Indians at peace.

 And making some noise!

A very easy to decorate cake with fruit tingle icing.

And colouful layers inside.

And finally, filled take home jars. One with mini m&ms and one with beads and feather charms to make friendship pins for their 'tribe'!

So much joy for my Pocahontas Princess and very beautiful friends!