This year, I officially transitioned out of the phase of life that involves constantly going to weddings and into the phase that means going to a lot of baby showers. In 2009 alone, I think I've gone to five baby showers, and there are many more on the horizon. Not that I mind. I like babies, and I think making one is definitely worth celebrating. But, I am kind of sick of buying people stuff off of registries. Luckily, I am an avid crafter.

Dakota bought me a sewing machine several years ago, and I finally broke it out of the box this year. I took a beginner class at machine project and then started testing my skills at making soft toys. After a few bunnies I made from patterns found online, I decided to design my own plush. I ended up making these bears.



I really like how they came out. The body is a simple U-shaped piece, and the ears and arms are separate pieces that I attached as I sewed the body together. I made the pattern on regular white drawing paper, and just free-cut the face, which is made of felt.



I glued the eyes and nose onto the face piece with a small dot of fabric glue and then sewed around the edges with embroidery thread. Overall, these bears are fairly simple to make. They just take time. I gave one to my friend Nanci at her shower last weekend, and she loved it, which made me really happy. I can't wait to give away some more.

As our friends' babies get older, Dakota and I have devised another fun handmade gift to give: wooden baby blocks. We made the first set for one cute little girl last year. Dakota took some scrap hardwood from his shop and cut it into small wooden blocks, which he sanded smooth. Then, I used my wood burning pen to spell her name on one side.



And on the other side, I drew and burned in animals that match the letters of her name.



I am happy with how that gift turned out as well, although I'd like to improve my wood-burning skills a little. Also, I like that Dakota and I made these blocks together, so they're truly a gift from the both of us. I plan to make more of these when all the babies we know turn one.

With all my handmade gifts, I hope to create something that the child will really like, and maybe even keep for a while. And I really enjoy giving babies (and their parents) something that's especially for them, that can't be found in any store. Giving gifts is great, but giving a gift you made is even better.

6 comments

1. kmfukuda on 9/01/2009 10:31:00 AM

   Those are great gifts!!! I've been thinking that I, too, would like to get out of the habit of purchasing gifts that have no real meaning off of a registry. I love the bears. You've just given me inspiration to try my own! The blocks are great too, although I don't have a wood burning pen, so I'll have to think of some other way of marking blocks if I want to do that. Is the wood burning pen difficult to use?

    
2. momster on 9/07/2009 07:41:00 AM

   Your old cartooning style is evident in the plush toys--they are adorable! And the wood blocks are great, too!

    
3. Victoria Williams on 9/10/2009 02:13:00 PM

   So, so very nice. Love the bears and the blocks are works of art.

    
4. leah on 9/21/2009 06:44:00 PM

   these gifts are wonderful. what lucky kids. i particularly love the blocks. finding a project that you can work on together and both enjoy is awesome.

    
5. Personalized Baby Gifts on 10/27/2009 11:42:00 PM

   I like home made baby gift's.It's best gift for babies

    
6. Wannabe Crafter on 10/31/2011 02:25:00 AM

   Hey, thanks for this, my cousin had a baby and shes a week old, and i was going to buy her something, but i might buy her soemthing someone else has already bought her, so i thought id make something, the bear is what imma try and make!