Craft Day

I'm finally feeling recovered enough from a lousy infection I had last week to get some stuff done around the house. After getting the bills and errands and laundry and cleaning caught up, today was free for crafting.

I never have the focus to stick with one project at a time, so I worked on:

a cute little tunic for Margaret made from Alexander Henry's Apples and Pears. I made a dress for myself out of this fabric a few years ago using a vintage 60s shift dress pattern, and I still have yards left over. I got bored of the tunic when my bobbin jammed making the button holes, so I moved on to:

a felt board. I wanted it to be multi-functional as the kids grow, so I made the board on the back of a white board. I just cut the felt to size, glued it on the back, and attached a complementary trim to hide the edges. I like the size, as I think it'll be small enough to use in the car or at church, but large enough to hold a whole story's worth of figures. I've been printing out templates for felt stories and games, but I moved on when I ran out of paper in the printer. Much more fun to work on:

a pacifier clip. I've been looking online for a pacifier clip I really like for ages. Most of the ones that appeal to me stylistically don't offer the security of knowing they're made from non-toxic materials. I'm betting this thing is going to spend a lot of time in someone's mouth. The Haba ones are safe (and pricey!), but I don't like the cartoonish look. So I decided to just go ahead and make my own.

I bought some unfinished wood beads and dyed them with fruit juice and crushed blackberries. I like the mottled, sort of organic, way they turned out. I bought some soft hemp cord to string them on, as well as a badge clip to attach the thing to Meg's clothes.

I'm waiting for the beads to dry right now, then I'm going to wash them really well to make sure the color is set. Maybe I'll even finish a project today!

For your patience, a few of Margaret's recent antics:

On picture day, waiting for the photographer to come.

I was working at the computer while Margaret played on the bed. When a link unexpectedly started playing music, I looked over to see a rather astonished Margaret.

This is what happens when you leave the laundry a little to close to a very helpful girl.

New shoes!

This morning, I was lazing in bed with Margaret. I realized it was nearing her nap time when I looked down and saw this.