Handmade Items

 

Handmade items convey a specialness that is difficult to purchase in a store, and in some cases they can become treasured heirlooms.  I've been fortunate to have children in my life that realize the effort that is taken to make personal items, and their appreciation for their gifts has been heart-warming.  The bear in the picture above was designed as a special musical bear for my daughter.  It was entirely hand sewn and I used ribbon embroidery on it to add a special touch.

Posted below are samples of little toys, bookbag decorations, and baby items that I have sewn.

 

This little horse was made using a pattern that I purchased from: http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/umecrafts/10123714

I modified the pattern to get the effect that I wanted.  The pattern called for a felt mane and tail, but I thought a little child would enjoy the soft, furry mane and tail; plus, the pattern was for a unicorn, but I didn't want to put on a horn.  It was fun working with the specialty felt sheets.  This one was pink with silver glitter hearts.  The most difficult part was making the eyes.

 

This project also used specialty felt sheets.  My pattern was a coloring page that I found online.   I cut each of the scales from various colors of felt, including some from glitter felt.  Each was then hand sewn onto the body, following the placement that I saw on the coloring page.  The eye was sewn on and glued to be more secure,  and I used yellow fabric glitter paint to make squiggle lines to accent the tail and fins.  It's entirely hand sewn.  It was created as a bookbag decoration, so when I finished it, I attached it to a keychain hook using a ring.

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Inspired by various pictures online, I created these.  The eyes were sewn onto white circles, and then the masks were strategically placed.  The shells were embroidered to add detail.  Everything was hand sewn and/or embroidered.  This project took quite a bit of research on my part, so as to use the right colors and the right name (letter) on the belts, etc.  But it was all worth it when I saw how excited the little boy got who received them.

 

Doll pattern:  http://nuno-runo.blogspot.com/2009/11/fashion-doll.html

Witch clothes patterns:  http://nuno-runo.blogspot.com/2010/10/witch-girl.html  (I modified

the clothes to make a lined cape and matching hat, plus fancy shoes.). 

I had fun making this teenage witch and the little girl who received it was excited.

 

This basket was made from a vintage strawberry basket decorated with colorful felt and ribbon.

  The basket is my own design, but the little bunny pattern was found at: 

http://www.creativityinpieces.com/2013/03/07/easter-bunny-template/.  I added embellishments, like ribbon and a shiny flat pearl button.  The basket, bunny, and candy were gifted to a little girl

who paid me with the most beautiful bright smile!

 

I designed this basket using a vintage strawberry basket and wide ribbon.  It was made for a little boy

who loves the Teenage Ninja Turtles, hence the embroidered Ninjas on the basket

and the "Ninja Bunny".  The basic bunny pattern was found at:

http://www.creativityinpieces.com/2013/03/07/easter-bunny-template/.  I modified the bunny

to reflect the little boy's interests.  Needless to say, he was delighted to receive it.

 

 

This little cat was made to accompany a book by Erin Hunter ("Warriors: Ravenpaw's Path #1: Shattered Peace").  {It was to be a motivator to encourage the reading of the book.} 

 

This cat was gifted (along with the book) to a special little girl, so the cat was entirely hand sewn.  It has safety eyes and was made from the softest shiny black fur fabric.  It's entirely lined with a cotton fabric to give the soft fabric more support. The whiskers were made from thick thread, and the nose was made from pink felt that I covered with embroidery fill stitches to enhance it. 

 

I was really tempted to put a ribbon on this cat, but the character in the story didn't have a ribbon.  It was difficult enough to determine if the character had the white patch on its chest or not...  some artists online pictured it with a white patch and some didn't.  And I hadn't read the book, so I "had to guess".  I now think the character didn't have the white patch...  but hey!  The little girl liked it anyway - and that's all that mattered!   haha

 

The pattern that I used was a vintage (1950's) Simplicity pattern (4915) that I purchased online.  I have nostalgia for some of the vintage stuffed animals, so was delighted to have "a reason" for using one of them. 

Baby Items

Recently, I have started making a number of baby bibs, burp pads, crinkle tactile toys, hats, and booties.  I like organizing them into matching sets - bib/burp pad/toy or hat/booties/toy.  I have found many online charities that indicate a need for these items. 
 

It has recently come to my attention that other crafters might be interested in the resources that I have used and/or in the ideas that have been sparked during my explorations online and during my creating of these products.  Because of this, I have posted pictures of various of the items at: 

https://www.pinterest.com/megansgram/baby-booties-hats-bibs-and-toys/ 

where I have also tried to provide information regarding the patterns that were used, so that others might enjoy similar experiences.    I have learned that you will need to have an account on Pinterest.com in order to see my postings (called pins).  If you enjoy crafts (or cooking), you would enjoy the site - and the account is free.  So, if you don't already have an account there, I would recommend considering starting one.

 

Happy sewing!

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Other pages:

1.  Using Scraps of Fabric

2.  Using DIY Enhancements For Baby Articles

3.  Mix and Match:  Mixing and Matching Baby Items

4.  Sequence of Project Steps Is Important