Felt Garden

The last two posts have shown you what cuddly toys I had made for my nieces L. and M. for their birthdays (both summer girls!). I like both toys, but I never intended them as the "main" present.

Actually the main present is this: a felt garden. Two to be precise. I mixed up several ideas seen online.

In each garden the girls will find two radish, two baby carrots, two leeks, two flowers, two mushrooms and a small doll. One doll has long straight-ish hair, this is L. , the other one had shorter and curvier hair, this is M. :)

I will soon be working on making such a garden for my children too, they've been asking for it and they love planting and plucking vegs and flowers. How do you like it?

Tortoise for a birthday

 My other niece, L., just had her birthday. I can't believe she is already FOUR year old! Time flies! Like for her sister I found a lovely pattern online and I made this for her:

 It is made with fleece. Only the eyes are made of felt. It feels really soft and cuddly. Hope L. will love it as much as I do :)

Tiny whale for a birthday

 The youngest of my nieces turned 2 last month! She is a big girl now! I made her two presents. One to share with her sister, who has her birthday this month (summer girls!), but I will show that one later on. And one just for herself:

 I got the pattern from Pinterest. Instructions are in russian, but honestly it was not a problem. I just wish I had adjusted better the two fins, and that I had made the whale bigger. But never mind, this whale will have a good home and will be loved! That's all I wanted!

Art for Grandma

When Grandma has her birthday and the children wants to make something, what will be the best appreciated present? Pasta necklace or a small painting? ;) Well, this year I opted for painting. While shopping I found two flat canvases 20x20cm and N. wanted to paint on them. So as soon as we got home, I dressed the  children for painting and left them with brushes, sponges and fingers (theirs :-p )

Afterwards I just glued a small white ribbon to the back and dated their pieces of Art. Happy birthday Grandma!

Felt dolls

Some time ago I gave you a preview of what was coming up after getting this great book:

I almost immediately got on making felt dolls. I just waited a few days to receive my order of glass eyes.

I have made four dolls so far:

 

The dancer was my daughter's choice. She spent a good half hour browsing my book to choose a doll! She then called her Rosa. The little guy with the blue hair is called "Plumps" and is a German cartoon character:

About the two top dolls, I am not saying anything yet, you will know more in a few days ;)

Anyway, I cannot recommend enough that book! It is not only simple patterns but also very pretty. The author (whom I contacted) is also very friendly.

Raspberry Cheesecake

Two weekends ago we stayed home for the first time in a while. It was nice to just laze around. A., my husband, decided to do some cooking and baking. Cheesecake, a mix of two recipes found in our Jamie Olliver's books:

It was simply delicious! Maybe a tad too sweet when getting to the third helping, but then I guess that is my own fault for being so greedy ;)

Yet another babies pouch

No need to explain what that is anymore, it is my fourth or fifth, and two-before last ;)

Choosing the fabrics

 And from what I have heard, the little girl for whom this pouch was intended loves it so much that she cannot go anywhere without it :) - that's my best reward!

Happy birthday!

My little N. is 3yo today! Three years ago our life was completely changed thanks to the arrival of a little bundle weighing no more than 3,400kg and measuring 51cm. Today she has changed so much that I sometimes forget how she was when she was born. Time flies, but I love every moment of it ... Well almost ;) Obviously I could do without the arguments, confrontations and other worries, but hey! that is part of the package when you get a little one.

Today will be filled with surprises for her, she does not know what the plans are, except that in the afternoon she will have her very first birthday party with her friends!

Three candles, three friends. She gave out the invitations very proudly and is already looking forward to the party.

Let's get on with the day!  And Happy Birthday my little darling ♥

 

Children's room decoration

When I still had my own room in my parents' house, I had glowing dolphins stuck on my bunk-bed frame. I took them with me when I moved away after my wedding. I've been hanging on to them since them, but they were away in a box, in a drawer. Finally two weeks ago I got a square canvas 30x30cm and I decided to make it a decoration for the children's bedroom. Here it is:

The central star does glow very nicely, but the dolphins are not as bright as before. It is a bit of a shame, but even during the day my daughter, N., thinks they look great. As long as she is happy, I am too ^^