One of my good friends showed me the other day a lovely colonial rag doll that her daughter had from a festival. I loved the simplicity of it, the lack of sewing needed to make it, and the fact that little ones could even make their own with a whole bunch of them really easily. Here is how I made one for AJ:
Supplies:
Muslin or other fabric for head, arms, and skirt
Other fabric for apron and head wrap
pinking shears or scissors
1. Decide how big you want your doll to be from head to bottom of the skirt. Double that length and add a little bit extra. Cut 20-30 strips about an inch or so wide. Use pinking shears if you don't want the fabric to fray. Also decide how long you want the arms from tip to tip (arm/body/arm) and cut 15 strips also about an inch wide.
2. You can use a small ball to help shape the head or just leave it a little flatter, but just fold the strips of cloth in half (front to back) making sure that the strips are angled various ways at the bottom to form a skirt. When two long strips are left take one and fold it in half left to right to give more shape and then use the very last long one front to back which will make the face.
3. Use a thin piece of fabric or some yarn to tie off around the neck to form the head.
4. For your arms, lay all your strips on top of each other and tuck the pack under the topmost skirt strip right under where you tied the head off.
5. Use a piece of scrap fabric for the apron, I used a piece big enough to cover the body and form a longer apron. Lay it on top and tie a piece of yarn or thin scrap around to form a waist. This will also trap the arms in between the neck and waist. I tucked the top part of the fabric under the neck tie to hold it up.
6. Lastly take another piece of scrap and tie it around the head. You can tie it like a gypsy or a colonial woman. (
AJ liked the gypsy head cover!!) I also took a bit of thread and tied the ends of the arms to make hands which is totally optional.
Voila!!! Instant doll for your little one! Super easy and there is room for sewing on button eyes, making yarn hair, etc.
I am a huge fan of Make and Do and am getting tons of awesome gift ideas from them. I love winter and making snowmen so I think that this wonderfully easy Snowman Kit is a perfect gift for all the little ones in my life. Really, all you need is a few supplies and then sit back and wait for the snow! (Which shouldnt be too much longer for us Clevelanders!)
Another really yummy idea that I am going to make for all the adults I know is this recipe for Peppermint White Chocolate Popcorn. I have had the pleasure of eating White Chocolate Popcorn in the past and found it sooooo addicting. Add in the peppermint and I don't know if I want to share now that I think about it! Super easy recipe and beautiful presentation! 
I have made legwarmers in the past for my girls using this tutorial, but never did I think about using thigh high socks to make arm warmers for myself! Genius! (@ Little Birdie Secrets)
1. Decide how big you want your doll to be from head to bottom of the skirt. Double that length and add a little bit extra. Cut 20-30 strips about an inch or so wide. Use pinking shears if you don't want the fabric to fray. Also decide how long you want the arms from tip to tip (arm/body/arm) and cut 15 strips also about an inch wide.
We are thinking that it was a power surge (or two) that took out our computers so we have some heavy cash shedding to do to get them back in working order since they are going to require a new motherboard and such. Sigh...
For Christmas Gabby requested a checkers board for us to play and I couldn't resist a DIY Pirates vs. Ninjas Checker Set. I saw this on Etsy a while ago and lucky for me I live near a craft store (Pat Catans) that has all the supplies I need so I don't have to have them shipped here and waste precious painting time.
I will post pics once I get the varnish on some of the little ninjas I started with! If you don't live near a store that stocks these cute little wooden peg dolls, I totally reccomend this great Etsy store! Here is a link to some other neat ideas for the peg dolls... what do you think? Is this something your kids would dig?
It is really hard to resist overspending, especially with "deals" everywhere telling you that you need this and that, making you feel guilty for not buying your child the newest toy, and pushing you into decorating your house befitting the cover of Southern Living.
Lately I have been thinking a lot about fairy tales and their importance in a child's life. With me selling children's books, many of which contain classic fairy tales, I am re-reading many beloved stories such as Cinderella, Snow White, and Alice in Wonderland. 
In an effort to keep the fanciful imagination alive in our home Klint and I decided that we are going to put up a fairy door in the house on Christmas Eve while the girls are asleep. A little door where the girls can leave notes, trinkets, and pennies along with their imagination. I imagine too that the Christmas Fairy (who will have to be named of course!) will also leave notes and bits of fairy magic in the house. I am not scouring the web for a mini mailbox and some teeny numbers to go on the fairy's door. Here is a great little article about where to get some fairy supplies! This is where I shall be getting my door from, I can't wait to paint it and make it a one of a kind fairy door!
