love birds

I whipped some sweet little birds up for the kids from this simple tutorial the night before Valentine's. Of course, I didn't get around to taking pictures until much later, after they'd been loved up a little. (Can you guess which one is Asher's? I'm now rethinking the wisdom of small felt parts on baby toys...)

Aside: I would really like to explain where I've been these last months, why I haven't posted, why all holiday crafts are posted weeks after the actual, relevant holiday... Can I just skip all that and say I hope to have a few things to show you in the coming weeks? No promises, just letting you know I am still here. 

The Girl Needed a New Friend

So, my daughter Audrey has this stuffed dog, Meow. Meow was a gift from her grandparents and dons a black Harley bandanna around her (or, depending on the day, his) neck. Meow is Audrey's baby, puppy, kitty, best friend, and loyal audience.

Now, I'm fine with Meow. But a girl needs more than just one beloved doll. Especially when that one is a steadily-growing-grungier labrador from the local Harley dealership.

So, for her last birthday, I made this doll, inspired in part by Hillary Lang's creations. Well, I guess you could say more than inspired by Ms. Lang, and more than "in part", since I basically used this pattern, but redesigned the head and added accessories. And a matching backpack.

Being a fickle three year old, Aud wasn't thrilled at first with the doll. Until I pointed out that this baby doll actually looks like her. You know, sort of like her own little baby Audrey. I guess that appealed to her budding vanity, because the doll has since joined Meow as a regular bedfellow. Oh, and the backpack was an big hit right away. I'll tell you more about that another day.

Botchalato

My son Gage has a talent for giving his "friends" interesting names. Meet Botchalato. "Botch" for short. (I try not to take that too personally.)

I am a huge fan of Hillary Lang's work. Her toys and dolls are what inspired me to start dollmaking a couple of years ago. So when she released the Spaceboy & Robot pattern a while back, I immediately fell in love and bought it. And when my recently robot-obsessed son's birthday rolled around this year, I had the perfect project ready to go. Which, to my mind, proves that impulse buys are totally justified.

Gage wasn't completely jazzed about the robot until I explained the function of each of the buttons and snaps. Like, as in, "This one raises his left arm, this one his right...and don't ever push this one unless you're prepared for serious Super Blast Off mode." Mission accomplished.