Sunday, August 29, 2010

mermaidens

I would really love to stay up all night and blog about all of my summer projects, but since I have tried that 3-4 times this week working on post-vacation catch-up (of both the household and mental varieties), I really need to get some beauty and mama's-patience sleep to get ready for THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL tomorrow.

But Marian's first post of the year gave me the bloggy itch, so I will post just one: my August nieces' birthday gifts. Appropriate because they were my first projects from the book I gushed about in my last post (weeks ago!). I chose the mermaiden doll, and if you want her to be yours, you are very very lucky because she just happens to be the one free pattern from the book lurking around blogland (on the Martha Stewart Crafts Dept. blog, here). Much of the sewing is machine, but they have plenty of hand-worked fussy bits, so these lovely ladies were part of my road trip. The recycled felted wool sea buddies were part road trip, part late night crafting with my sister.Amari's is *ahem* not mailed yet (but boxed & in the car!), so I don't have her reaction to brag about, but Ellee was rather madly in love. She saw me working on hers a bit (I was trying to cram it in before her birthday party), and offered to help, since we'd sewed together when I visited her in Arkansas in March. She hinted that she'd like one of her own ("you can make this for me"), but I had to tell her "Later, Ellee, but this one is for my niece." When she opened it up that afternoon, she was quite giddy with mermaid joy, and paid it this supreme-from-her compliment when she was showing it off to my sister-in-law: "It's not pink, but I like it." She had it with her every minute for the last two days we spent with her.The playcloths were a major Old Navy find: a gorgeous scarf clearanced to $1.99 made of three shades of blue cotton gauze stitched along one side. I cut it in half to make two, and the resulting cloths still long enough to be put to good dress-up use (I saw it in action). You should be so lucky! I bought green, purple, and blue, and found another purple one at ON just this week (though a bit more, since it wasn't 1/2 off clearance day), so you might still be in luck.... Perfect for wrapping, too.

5 comments:

Christine Frandsen said...

Just as magical in person! Such a fun gift for those girlies. Good work Aunt Valerie :)

PS- Beach fun this weekend, can't wait!

me said...

I love the dolls, what a great talented person you are. I have been trying to sew dolls...for my little nieces, but have had no luck. Sure wish you were around here to help me.

Sherry said...

I've missed the posts. If you make it down my way, give me a call and we can get together.

*Abby* said...

seriously so great! Ellee still sleeps with it every night. In fact right this moment it is sitting on the couch with her as it reads a story to it's friends! And yes, the scarf makes a great dress for her too! She wears it like Ariel wears that sheet after she gets legs!

Mindy said...

Amari loves her mermaiden. But mostly the little whale you sent with it. :) And the water, of course.