Handmade Holidays: Parker's Birthday

This year, Peter and I worked hard to give Parker a completely handmade birthday.  I had started thinking about what I was going to make him back in summer (as I tend to do!) and began to gather materials since the beginning of December.  I was lucky enough to come across some out of print Heather Ross gnome material very cheaply and pounced on the chance.  After seeing it, I knew it was destined to become something of Parker's and that is how the first mama-made pants were "born"!  It was easier than I thought it would be thanks to a little help- my friend Kate and Soulemama's Creative Family book.  The main fabric is an organic cotton twill, also purchased on sale at fabric.com.  

 He loves these pants!!!  He wore them all day and slept in them and then wore them all the next day before I finally convinced him to take them off so I could wash them (and hopefully get out some outdoor stains...what was I thinking getting a light color!).  I still have quite a bit of the gnome fabric left so I think some more (darker!) pants are in the works as well maybe making its way onto a shirt.

 close up of the fabric- so cute!

I also needed to make Parker a birthday crown.  I was instructed to use Christmas colors and he wanted a gnome and a squirrel needlefelted on it.  I think I did a good job of making it to his specifications without it being completely reminiscent of Christmas.  He also wore his crown all day for several days, which makes this mama so happy!

 Daddy was given specific instructions to make him a bottlecap holder.  I wasn't sure how Peter was going to do that, but he came up with a very clever shelf.  The mason jar is perfect for keeping his bottlecaps alltogether (or feathers!) and the two little hooks hold special items.  Right now, he is using it to hang his soccer medal from.

 My boy love, love, loves the Tiptoes Lightly series so I knew I had to make him a little playset so he could live out the stories in real life.  Tiptoes is needlefelted wool wrapped around cotton pipecleaners so her arms are moveable.  I found the tutorial for the Jeremy mouse pattern here

 Making Pinecone and Pepperpot was my most challenging gift of the season.  I am not so great at handsewing miniatures and I would be lying if I said I loved making them, but I am pretty pleased with how they turned out.  For the future though, I believe I will stick with making big dolls!  These guys have a cotton interlock head and hands.  Their wool felt clothes cover wool wrapped cotton pipecleaners (so they are bendy) and they have wooden base feet.  The other night as I was tucking Parker into bed, I pulled back the covers and there was the playset laying there.  My heart swelled as in our family, only most prized posessions make it to the "hiding in the bed" status!

 Parker's final handmade gift was a backpack.  While I had every intention of sewing one myself, I also realized my own limitations (and time constraints) and found a great seller on etsy.  This is the exact style I had been wanting to make him so it worked out perfectly!  For those wondering, the seller is Bratpacks and she is great!

It may seem odd that a homeschooler would need a backpack, but for those of you who know Parker he is a hoarder of sorts, always putting stuff in bags and baskets.  I knew this cute backpack would be perfect as he could tote all his goods wherever he wanted to.

Despite being sick, I do believe this was one of Parker's best birthdays.  He kept saying how much he loved everything and I know he knew a lot of love went into his presents!