Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Treasures for wee folk....


With the happy news that Only Daughter and her husband are going to have a baby around Easter, I have been one of those grammies whose mind has gone all a-swirl with ideas for gifts and handmade projects,  books to share, and even sweet videos to watch.  Not only is Only Daughter having her first baby, but Daughter-In-Love and Firstborn Son are having their second baby, coming right up in January.  Imagine how much there is for me to do!

List:

1.  Quilts for two grandbabies


Well, as you can imagine, the list grows as I start to think about it, and so I decided to put it on paper so I could promptly get started with the little Grammy Things I want to do.  Some things will remain secrets, but some will be shared.  Things like baby quilts will be shared because I want the girls to help me pick fabrics that they like.  Only Daughter told me that she would like her baby's nursery to have a Peter Rabbit & Friends theme with the Beatrix Potter animals and stories that she grew up listening to me read aloud.  That got my mind a-spinning with quilt ideas.  Wouldn't a patchy quilt sprinkled with Peter Rabbit embroideries be the sweetest thing?  I went online trying to find Peter Rabbit hand embroidery patterns, but with very poor luck, and then I thought, "Why not find coloring book pages to trace and embroider?"  I did find a nice selection of those online, free for the printing here and here.  Little Hazel Peach will also enjoy coloring some of these pages when she comes to visit, and I'll have fun coloring too!

As I was out looking for all things Peter Rabbit, to my excitement and pleasure I saw that there was a wonderful rendition of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit in DVD form so I went to find out if there might be a preview for me to watch on YouTube.  Yes, there was!  Look here and enjoy yourself.  Don't forget to pour  a cuppa tea first.  Is this not the best stuff for Grammies and their Littles to watch together?  Better add this to my Christmas list.

List (cont.)

2.  Cloth diapers to sew.  I like this pattern.
3.  A jeans quilt for My Baby who will be graduating this coming spring.  It's a family tradition that every child  who graduates, leaves home with a denim quilt made of the family's old jeans.


4.  Make little dollies and fairies made from the book Felt Wee Folk:  Enchanting Projects by Salley Mavor


I was so happy to bump into this author's book via Maya*Made blog.  This artist has created several books in the past that were illustrated in felt and embroidery pictures that she made herself, and in 2003 she published Felt Wee Folk to show us how to make adorable dolls and fairies like hers.  Salley Mavor has recently published a new book called Pocketful of Posies, A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes that I have added to my Wish List.  Take a look and be enchanted.

5.  Make fluffy pom pom animals.  I found the most wonderful video on how to make pom pom animals.  This sweet British grandmother gives instruction to children on how to do it, and I was totally enthralled by her voice and her ways.  Whether I end up making a pom pom animal or not, I want to watch this lady teach art,  and I wish all children could learn art from a granny like her. Perhaps I ought to practice my British accent for teaching the Grands.



Even though my list (so far) has just five things, they seem like biggish things to me.  I feel I really ought to start tomorrow.  The days go by ya know!

12 comments:

  1. Congratulations! How wonderful! There is nothing like newborns to liven up a family and get the creative juices flowing! I'm just about to start my second grandbaby quilt, for our little one's first birthday...

    I will enjoy the youtube and the links.

    blessings
    Niki

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  2. Oh what wonderful news! Congratulations on the blessings arriving next year. I love Beatrix Potter! Enjoy...

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  3. I watched the pom pom pets video all the way through - quite entertaining!
    I'm so happy for you, Granny! Two more cherubs to love and spoil! This month's Victoria magazine has Beatrix Potter's house in it. Don't you love Peter and the rest SO much? I do, too! Oh, your house shall be full of snuggles!

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  4. Oh Jody, you are so full of inspiring ideas! The Peter Rabbit theme will be so adorable.

    Anna and I were out shopping today and we came across the cutest scarf. It various shades of blue pom poms strung together one after another and we were wondering about making such a thing. (found a picture - not sure if this link will work: http://www3.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=191cbdb&DeptID=70656&CatID=71736&SO=0&SelDim=4294957900~&CatSel=4294953647|scarves+%2b+wraps&Ne=4294957900+4+5+1031+18+8+904+833+949&x5view=1&shopperType=G&N=4294953647&Nao=63&PSO=0&CmCatId=70656|71736)

    I can't wait to see all the wonderful things you make. I am so excited for you!

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  5. Joining in your excitement, Jody! I can't wait to see all the wonderful things that come from your hands and bless that little babe (and her mom too!).

    My friend, who grew up in the Lake District, told me she was recording The Tales of Beatrix Potter for me. Oh joy! It will sound like Beatrix herself telling her tales.

    Joyce

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  6. You're so funny! What excitement the next year will bring your family -- you definitely need to get in gear LOL. I LOVE Peter Rabbit -- I had some Peter Rabbit things in my boys' nursery and I would love it if I could talk a DIL into loving Peter Rabbit too. I've seen some Peter Rabbit fabrics out there too, that would be really cute for sashing with your little Peter Rabbit embroideries. Have Fun!

    Oooh, and thanks for the info about the new Wee Folks book -- I have the one you've pictured and now the new one is on my wish list for my yearly Amazon gift card from the in-laws. ;-)

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  7. Such exciting news! You can't go wrong with Peter Rabbit, and I think your embroidery idea for that lucky baby's quilt is simply perfect! Love the jeans quilt idea too. What a wonderful tradition. Best of luck to the Mommys-to-be in your life. C

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  8. What happy news! There is hardly anything better, I think...
    And *only* those 5 projects -- well, that would keep me busy for years. It is fun, at least, to see you having so much swirly enjoyment of preparation.

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  9. So much joy and excitement for you and your family! Congratulations on your blessings...and to them for being born into such a loving, generous family! Your project ideas all sound amazing...they do inspire me to action! Thank you so much for the links you've provided. I'll be looking forward to watching your progress!
    Warmly,
    Tracey
    x0x

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  10. Congratulations! What an exciting time! I love all your ideas. I especially like the Beatrix Potter nursery - I've always been partial to her stories!

    Manuela

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  11. Congrats on those new grandbabies. I love me a baby. That's for sure. I also love those little felt folks. I have that book. If I can shake off my crafting schizophrenia, I might try to make something out of the book. I think the fairies would make super cute Christmas ornaments.

    Blessings,
    Cassie

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  12. Blessings on the hoped for child.
    Just today I was rummaging around in my sewing things and found three B. Potter color books that I saved and I was glad to see that they had survived purges of the past! With the nice black lines I think they make great patterns. Your embroidery is so sweet. I suspect your creative urges will blossom like flowers in springtime.

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