party season

We know a lot of kids with birthdays between now and Christmas and I am always trying to come up with a homemade gift that is easy to do in mass quantities, that the girls can help with, and is fast and easy. . .

These girls are sleep in a pouch and come tied to a book.. They are a gang, but a non-violent one. That doesn't mean you should mess with them, however, you shouldn't.

I need to get more clothes pins. Sadie and I make these often, usually while Delia is napping, so we are running low. And how much am I diggin' that flower stitch on the Bernina? A whole lot.

Comments

[Marianna]

I LOVE THESE! Do you have instructions anywhere on how to make them? I have a little girl and she would like them alot.

Thanks. :)

[Jackie]

Oh my - these are the cutest!! and I love their little book/pouch!! Is a tutorial forthcoming? So CUTE!

[Janel]

So sweet, so adorable! What a great idea!

[Janel]

Oh and I love the new masthead. Very cool.

[amy k.]

hey thanks!
okay-so easy, no tutorial needed: I just spread scraps of fabric with a glue stick, roll it around the clothes pin and add the face with a fine pen (pigma) and the hair with a sharpie. that's it!!

[Dannielle]

those girlies are so stinkin' cute!

Ya know, my kids make clothespin dolls but I don't think I've ever joined in. They've always been the "you can't do the same as me, but here...you can make this kind of doll instead" sort of thing.

Now I'm itchin' to make some! :)

[Anna]

Cute!!!! My oldest daughter and I made some of those a while ago. I like the idea of making a few of them and putting them in a pouch... need to do this project again.

[Kim]

Oh.My.GOSH! Sooooooo cute!!! Please tell me the instructions will be available soon.
ps. Lovin' the blog banner as well. :)

[KellyS]

Okay. Jeez. Wow. This is proof-positive that you wonderful crafters obviously are a whole different species than the rest of us, right down to the DNA. I mean, really. I beat myself up for not going to the independent toystore at birthday-party time, and caving in & doing Targe' or Toys R Us. But having the time & organization to MAKE your own gifts. Oh my god. I need a drink. (Good to read that these adorable girls don't sound THAT hard to try, though.)

[hannah]

these are cute, your acorns up there are driving me crazy and damn that bernina...

[Barb]

I sent you some clothespins before--did they work?

[melissa]

so, so cute... must make some now.

[kathy]

These are so incredibly cute. When I was little I would paint the clothes on that style of clothes pin with my Grandmother. She actually drilled a hole through them and we'd poke pipe cleaners through for arms. I have very vivid memories of soldiers and ballerinas that we'd hang on the tree. I love the idea of dressing them in fabric. What a wonderful wave of nostalgia to begin my sewing weekend. (thanks for the kind link, I've met some very nice new friends from it!)

[amy k.]

oh man!! these are them barb! I'm a dork, I didn't even mention that-you are awesome!!

[erin]

cute!!!! tutorial please!?!

[Toni]

What book do you pair them with? It looks like a wonderful gift and I have some little girlies in my life that would love them.

[Jen]

What a great idea! I know my daughter would love a set of those and a set for all her friends.

[Donna]

Those are wonderful! You always find a way to give a unique look to a traditional craft

[sUsAn]

I love these!!! Now to find some clothes pins...thx!

[sally]

What a sweet [but tough] little gang of clothespin girls. And I'm LOVING your flower stitch...too cute.

[Kristina]

Lovly idea. Love that flower stitch too ;o)

[meg]

adorable. and the flower stitch is too much. but in a good way.

[Malin]

Lovely :)

[Jenn]

I love that your kids get to make something for their friends parties. Talk about putting meaning into a gift and teaching kids the spirit of giving! Adorable!

[Rebecca.]

*sigh*

Those are really great. I hope you don't mind if I steal your idea.

[van]

eeek! that flower stitch ROCKS!
By the way, did you get my email about Travelling Murtle? I'd love to send her over to you - or anyone else who'd like to hang out with her for a week -
Just email me back if you can, ok hun?
Thanks.
Rocking rocking stitch...

[carolyn]

These are great, I've been making English Peg Fairies using olf fashioned dolly pegs for some time now but they are so labour intensive these look quick and fun.

[Becka]

That is the sweetest cutest little gift. I agree, I love some of my cute flowery stitches on my White machine, I have been adding them everwhere. Even though they are small I think it's super cute too add that little detail instead of a plain old stitch. Cuteness

[kerry]

oh that is the bestest gift idea for littles ever. thanks for sharing!

[amber]

i have read your blog for a while and always see some new idea that i love. this one would have to be a favorite...i have three boys and am often invited to lots and lot of birthday parties. any gift ideas for boys?

[Tia]

Okay, do I have your permission to borrow this lovely idea? So cute!So simple. Wish I too had the flower stitch on the ole singer.
Thanks for sharing!

[amy k.]

hey thanks so much you all-and please, do this! try it!! so super easy it is silly. and i didn't come up with this by any means. . .this is a old timey toy project that has been around forever. . well, I guess as long as there have been clothes pins!

[sally]

Someone already asked, but do you have any book suggestions? Great dollies. My daughter loves to make these, and I have recently vowed to do only homemades for gifts.

[mrspilkington]

that flower stitch rocks! i've been giving clothespin people and those playful pixie wooden finger puppets away as playdate gifts lately, and it's going over well.

[mrspilkington]

i forgot to add, great fabric on their dresses, too. in terms of book suggestions, i think people can match them with any book, just pick a "hook" from the book -- we recently gave a bunch away with some "letter" books like the alphabet tree and chicka chicka boom boom (just put a letter of the alphabet as embellishment on each outfit), a tea time set with "one of each" and "tea for me, tea for you", and a princess with "an african princess". just my two (or ten) cents. :)

[Jen]

I think the hardest part abut that craft would be finding the clothes pins! Where doy ou get them?

[amy k.]

you can find clothes pin (dollpins) at most craft stores, but they are here too:
http://www.dickblick.com/zz604/04/

and book suggestions? gosh-too many good ones to list! I just buy at the local bookshop-usualy what they have on display.

[brandie]

what a great idea!

[hillary]

cute cute!! you always come up with such great clever birthday stuff.

[Lauri]

Too, too cute! And easy enough for my girls to do all on their own even...Allison can sew the pouch, and she and Claire can make the dolls...perfect!

I have that little flower stitch also, and I use it all the time!

[Mama Urchin]

These are really, really cute.

[molly]

what a great idea! what girl can resist a gaggle of girls that come in their very own patch!

[Eva]

Perfect books to go along with these would be The Tub People (ISBN: 0064433064) or the Tub People's Christmas (ISBN: 0060260289). The books are about a family of vintage wooden toy people and their adventures.

[debra]

What a great gift idea!! I may try to make some for my daughter's b-day in Dec. This way, she has something special and adorable but when she tires of it after a few weeks of obsessive play, I don't have to feel bad b/c I didn't spend forever on it! Thanks for sharing your inspiration!!

[Carol]

OK, those dollies rock! What a nice gift!

[Ellen]

Do you sell them?!!

[Kelli]

LOVE this idea. And that you are giving gifts that aren't plastic and that involved your own children. Wonderful.

[Tia]

Just found clothespins at the dollar store. I've been cranking some of these sweet lil' things out and have been using patterned tissue paper and decoupaging it to the clothespin. It's kinda neat.

[Carmen]

lovely, lovely, lovely idea, a beautiful gang in a pretty pouch!!!!

[Lauren]

hi! this is the first time I read your blog. I love it! I love the capelets that you made your girls!