{dolls, dolls, dolls!}

I know Ella June is only 8.5 months old, but she already has a best friend. Her name is Alivia Rae (we call her Ali) and her mom and I are best friends too! In fact we've been best friends since we were in the 2nd grade, almost 20 years! Ali's mom and I grew up dreaming of being in each other's weddings, and raising our kids as best friends, so when we both got engaged (4 weeks apart) and got married (4 weeks apart) AND were pregnant at the same time (had our babies 6 months apart) it was like a dream come true! Ella and Ali were destined to be best buddies. Really though, they have no choice.

Ali turned one recently and this is the special little gift that came from Ella (made by me). It's a handmade doll. I can just picture the girls now playing pretend with their dolls. Growing up remembering how special it is to have a best friend.

I made Ali's doll with pigtails, just like how her momma likes to fix her hair. She also has vintage lace and brown ball trim at the waist, green stockings with ric rac trim, and the sweetest two hearts on the chest (representing Ali and Ella) with an embroidered detail. Not pictured I also sewed down the sweetest little bow in her hair. It really put the doll over the top in cuteness and girlie factors. 

These photos were taken before I put two eyes and the tiniest red mouth on her (and of course the bow in her hair) to finish her off. She turned out so darling, and I can't wait to make Ella one of her own. <3

{Projects: Owl Stuffy}

Here is the stuffed owl I made for Baby Evan (who finally made his grand debut last Tuesday, Happy 1 Week B-Day Evan!). I just freehand drew a template for the owl and added what I thought were the right touches; a circle of brown felt for the belly, a small triangle of yellow felt for the nose, and for the sweet little closed eyes I used embroidery thread.

Sorry no tutorial for this one, maybe at a later date I'll scan the template I made so you all can use it. It's not perfect by any means (especially the slip stitching on the bottom, really not pretty) but I'll fool myself by saying it adds to his charm. My favorite part of this little guy is the Joel Dewberry Faux Bois fabric (from his Aviary collection). I've been dying to use it, and I think it fits this little woodland creature well. Hoot!

{Little Darlings}

Here in the craft blog world we're used to seeing homemade dolls. Heck, if you do a search on Etsy you'll find thousands of them. This pattern is a basic one that, this gifted and wildly well known blogger, has made very popular. You can even get the pattern here if you want to make a small flock of them for yourself. The pattern is fun to make, and the opportunities to be creative with it are endless. I've made a few, given a few as gifts, and given myself a few. This one sits around my sewing area reminding me to make more of them! P.S. Overlook the linty scraps of thread!