Archive for the 'toys+plush+fun' Category

toys & games: Bender Bending Rodriguez

Monday, March 17th, 2008

free pattern by Soph Viklund project by hooks and needles

toys & games: easter bunnies

Monday, March 17th, 2008

soto softies - bunnies

softies central - bunnies, bunnies and more bunnies

this bunny is from make it awesome etsy store

feed the dogs - gorgeous bunnies

and Fibonacci Rabbit at daskaninchen [via feed the dogs]

these lovely flying star toys bunnies

handmade crocheted twenty-sided die

Saturday, March 15th, 2008

by flickr user needle noodles - blog where you can find patterns etc here oh and pattern available to purchase on etsy

toys & games: woody folk

Friday, March 14th, 2008

soule mama always inspiring with her natural take on toys and games for kids. here she discusses wooden toys and all the wonderful things you can make with wooden acorns (the real thing is good to use too - see pics)


acorn message by flickr user Li.. | acorn face by mac3 | acorn family by flickr user 8skeinsofdanger

How to make a funky kids playstove out of an old side table

Friday, March 7th, 2008

Before and after

The first step in this project is to find a suitable table. Check the size with suit the user and make sure it has a few drawers or doors. In this case, we used a small table with long legs, and multiple drawers. We don’t have a ton of space, so we wanted to go small. The key to this project is working with the piece you have. Figure out how to use the lines and details of the piece to your advantage.

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soft tools

Thursday, March 6th, 2008

Etsy seller fede has designed and made these gorgeous ‘first hammer’ for babies which double as a rattle. These are way too cute.

etsy showcase: toys from recycled materials

Thursday, March 6th, 2008

Part of our toys and games month here at whipup - check out these wonderful toys made from recycled wool.

plump WOOLeY BUNNY - made from my old sweater stash felted down - small stone from lake michigan for lovie thoughts inside his belly stuffed with wooly scraps-and then stitched up -

mushroom forest scene- sculpture recycled felted waldorf toy - taken from old felted sweaters and adding some knitting and sculpted felt for rocks.

Woolly Blue Bird - He was stitched completely by hand with embroidery floss. His body is made from felted wool.

knit felt clam

Tuesday, March 4th, 2008

Part of our toys and games month: Love this cute knitted then felted clam shell by Life of an alien (pattern download is available for a reasonable cost).

Hand painted folk art dolls and toys

Monday, March 3rd, 2008

By The cart before the horse - love this doll and cat set (available from their ebay store)

This edgar allen poe doll is so incredible.

chicken and the egg

Sunday, March 2nd, 2008

Wonderful reversable chicken and egg pattern by Mochi Mochi available in the new CRAFTzine play issue.

blueberry pie and other things to eat

Friday, February 29th, 2008

whip up a blueberry pie for your dad on his next birthday or enliven up your garden or fruit bowl with these knit veggies.

crazy for greyhounds

Monday, February 25th, 2008

greyhound crafts has an amazing array of patterns - all greyhound related. {via ravelry}

beautiful Greyhound Fisherman Sweater by amazing greys (pattern)

pixie greys and real life sized grey hound by flickr user aroyall (pattern)

greyhound table runner by Kathy in Georgia (pattern)

kangaroo stuffies

Saturday, February 16th, 2008

at hop skip jump - and boy are they adorable

viking dolls

Thursday, February 7th, 2008

I am so in love with these viking dolls (there is also a backpack) by herzenart [via swiss miss]

Lidmen

Saturday, January 19th, 2008

lidman

Australian mama Cheryl makes these great Lidmen (and Lidladies and Lidbots and animals for the Lidland Zoo) for sale online and also offers a tutorial on how to make your own. What a great green craft for kids. If you’re lidless, or don’t think your country’s lids are as cool and colorful as Australia’s, you can also buy a kit. (via)

books: tea cozies & toilet roll covers

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008

Tea Cozies (Cozy) by Guild of Master Craftsman, published by Guild of Master Craftsman (November 1, 2007)

The cover image with its pom-pom top captures what this book is all about. Kitsch at its very best - the variations of the tea cozy - shows how to dress up the humble teapot. With 30 patterns and a comprehensive techniques section, it is a great read for those knitters into cozy construction.

The book its well illustrated, but at times over done in that the final cozy is shown in a variety of repetitive poses, and there is a lack of work in progress shots. Clearly laid out instructions and design diagrams supplement the instructions.

A good little book for those into the craft, but I have to wonder how the ‘Seashore Surprise’ design made it in; somehow to me, seahorses and tea seem to clash. But maybe thats the point?

…………………..

Toilet Roll Covers (Cozy)by Pat Ashforth and Steve Plummer, published by Guild of Master Craftsman (November 1, 2007)

‘Stacking Cube’, and ‘Comin up Roses’ are two of the names given to designs in this book devoted to the knitted Toilet Roll Cover. From the same series as Tea Cozies this collection of patterns to knit covers for the simple toilet roll is great if unusual. It opens the door of possibility to make a feature out of something
most people try to hide.

With clear instructions identical to the other books in the series, and a good section on techniques - especially crocheting the tops, the only downfall is the lack of work in progress pictures.

With designs such as ‘Office Supplies included’ - a pattern for a cover complete with paper clips and tacks, how could one go wrong. The ‘Paper Tiger’ is so cute, I briefly considered making him for myself, but then it may offend those who prefers things to be quite clean and organised in the bathroom. This book, and the whole concept of covering toilet rolls are for a select group of craftians but it would make a great present to any knitter just wanting to have fun.

My own reference to this kind of craft comes from the barbie doll roll holder seen throughout homes in the 80’s… unfortunately this pattern hasn’t made the book… perhaps its just an Australian thing. [see pic]


About the reviewer:
Heather is a designer, film maker and generally crafty creative person. She loves to invite her friends round for a craft jam and craft-a-noon - and has a website which she occasionally updates with her adventures and experiments in design.

recycled scarf doggie

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

love this scarf that has been made into a doggie pillow by sweet paul.

stuff christmas

Tuesday, December 18th, 2007

cute stuffed christmas ornaments by my paper crane

The story of the six Ken boys

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007

Six Kens you've never seen before

Six unique Kens

No No, don’t stop reading and say, “I don’t do Barbies…”

I won’t retell the whole story here, but if you click on this link, you’ll get it in full. It’s one of the funniest, most delightful crafting things I’ve seen in a long time - six teenage boys, the power of sewing and great amusement. Maybe it’s got potential for one of your children’s favourite teachers? (I know the school year’s just started in the northern hemisphere, but it’s coming to an end, with a term to go, here in Oz).

Acorn Tutorial

Saturday, September 15th, 2007

acorn

Just in time for autumn (well, at least in the northern hemisphere) a fun acorn softie tutorial from Old School Acres.