As the weather turns cool and wet, we are more often looking for ways to enjoy being indoors, close to the cozy fire.  With Halloween and the end of October birthday my daughters share, there have been so many exciting places to direct the crafting buzz around here.  And now we move right into list making and project planning for all the holiday crafting we’d like to get started on.  It seems the perfect time to share some of the creations we have been working on……

First and most exciting is the birthday sewing that I completed! I am not sure what I am more proud of – the Hillary Lang sleepover pal dolls I finally finished (yes, I had actually started them for the girls’ 2010 birthday gift) or the wool felt crowns I have dreamed of making ever since I first spotted them in Soulemama Amanda Blake Soule’s The Creative Family book.

One advantage to having waited so long is that the girls were old enough to help with the crowns.  The night before their birthday (two days after the wool felt arrived in the mail), they chose the colours for the felt and decided on a basic shape for the crowns. As they drifted off to sleep (for the last time as 4 and 7 year olds) I snuck in and tested my paper templates on their heads for size (Raena half awoke with such a happy knowing smile). On their birthday morning (after a celebratory breakfast tea complete with candles and wishes) they helped me with the finishing touches.  Alex carefully drew a curly “A” for me to embroider and Raena drew and sewed her own initial with her floss of choice.  They both got just excited as I did when we uncovered some vintage daisy trim that had been waiting for a special project — my lack of vintage ribbons now seems a blessing, oh I so love how these birthday crowns turned out, don’t you?

And how about the craft brainwave that only a time-starved, disorganized mama must search for (yes, the night before our little friends’ birthday party, we remembered that we live on a small island and the grocery store doesn’t really have very exciting gifts for seven year olds).  Lucky for me, the party had a theme – cats. Also luckily, we happen to have a special stash of favourite second-hand books just waiting to be passed along. Lucky too we have a girl that loves to braid and some left-over yarn from the Pippi Longstocking wig we made for Raena’s Halloween costume (that is a whole other last minute crafting story waiting to be told).  Et voila, I introduce you to our exciting new CAT BOOKMARK!

Let me tell you, those braided tails can get pretty long….perfect for settling a girl before dinner AND for marking the pages of your favourite book. I think there will be more of these being made for the holidays — they will pop quite easily in an envelope along with a festive handmade card.  I am imagining all sorts of creatures with tails and long necks will be similarly transformed into reading buddies!

I hope this crafting show n’ tell  has made you smile and perhaps inspired you to try something new.  I would love it if you would share some of your current or planned craft ideas.  I seem to thrive on having a sketchbook FULL of ideas (even if only a small portion ever make it to the creation stage).

I finish this post wishing you HAPPY CRAFTING and reminding you that it is always best to paint in your pyjamas!