September 18, 2009

enjoying the process

When making something the process can sometimes be more enjoyable than the outcome. Though, in this case it was both.

I am the girliest of girls and my little girls are too. I recollect wanting so many dolls as a little girl and bugging and bugging my parents to buy them for me. I imagine my girls feel sort of the same way, except they don't watch television to see the new dolls that are out there nor do we take them to toy stores for them to see dolls to want. I much prefer the handmade way. There's no such thing as having too many dolls, so we set out to make some new ones to add to our collection.

Using an old cotton sheet and fabric markers we set off to draw some dolls. All three of us did. The girls really enjoyed using markers to draw, especially since it was on fabric rather than paper. Then, I cut out our hand drawn pictures, as the girls picked coordinating fabrics for the backing from our scrap pile. After which, I heat set all the drawn images. I quickly sewed the pieces together and True stuffed as I did so. We were all enjoying the process as we talked and laughed along, though Brave did eventually go to nap somewhere in the middle.
drawing dollswear a smock or bib
(When working with fabric markers don't forget to put on some sort of smock or bib as fabric marker stains will not come out. )


stuffing dolls


True was so excited about all of them that she lined them all up to take a picture. Of course, she plopped herself in right in the middle.
she lined them all up and got in


Immediately, they were taken to her room to be played with and loved.
hand drawn dolls made by True
(The three dolls hand drawn by True.)


True in the picture with Brave's doll
(The doll hand drawn by Brave which True claims to be hers.)


hand drawn dolls
True is at an age now where she is able to follow project instructions really well. Brave not so much, but she will get there. Nevertheless, Brave had so much fun doodling all about the fabric as she pleased. I can see how much True has grown from the very first doll we made. Here, she drew the dolls all by herself, picked out fabric she liked, and stuffed most of them by herself too. The only thing she didn't do was iron and sew, which I don't think she is quite ready for. Also, True is the one who did most of the clean up afterwards. She knew how and where to put everything away. It was so obvious to me how much learning and fun she was having through out the whole process.

See... who needs a toy store when you can make your own toys?!!

Thinking about this little project reminds me how much I need to enjoy the process of parenting. Not saying I don't, but sometimes it can easily be forgotten amidst the busyness of the everyday, and the sometimes hard and frustrating days. Even those days are just all part of the process of our children growing and us growing. Throughout our whole life, no matter what season, we must always remember to enjoy the process. We should always be life learners throughout this process called life.

*****
This week's "just because" package recipient is Karen from Blue-berry Park. Karen- Please email me with your address. Also, don't forget to enter for the giveaway that ends tomorrow.
*****

25 comments:

  1. you are SUCH a great mum.
    i hope that one day i am as lovely of a mother as you are...and that i have just as precious little ones.

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  2. that is adorable! such a great idea. These dolls will be so special to them because they drew them, very cute.

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  3. your little drawings are always so cute! you should make some sort of "little girl" prints for your shop! they would look so cute framed!!!!

    i LOVE doing projects with my girls as well, we made some adorable bunny masks yesterday (i'm gonna blog about it later)lol

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  4. this is so adorable! What a fun project for you and your girls! I just love the finished dolls too.

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  5. This is so adorable and such a fantastic idea to get them do it. Very precious indeed.

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  6. Great idea! It would be fun to make blank dolls too...that you could draw on with washable markers. Then, you could wash them and start over when you want a new doll:)

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  7. What a GREAT idea!
    I can't wait to try this activity with little Pixie.

    I wish I lived next door to you:)
    You are definitely one of my greatest inspirations.
    <3

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  8. I always consider myself a life learner...never too old to learn anything.

    I should do this process with my nieces but I think they are too old now for dolls.

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  9. This is a super great idea. They are so cute, and it looks like you all had a blast. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. Those are adorable! What a great idea. We will definitely have to make some!

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  11. i REALLY love this idea, it's give me such inspiration for other projects! thanks!!

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  12. what a beautiful project. i would have loved to design my own dolls as a kid.

    and i love that you don't take them to toy stores, and don't expose them to all the ads on tv--it's always on my mind that when i do have kids, I want them to learn to use their imagination as their main tool and the outdoors as their playground instead of being stuck in front of a tv, and clammering for all the new toys.

    love your blog as always.

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  13. Love this age when their people look a bit more like jellyfish than people. Katie is in that stage now. Our driveway is chockfull of chalk-drawn jellyfish people...

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  14. adorable dollies :O)

    i was just in b&n and finally looked at the artful blogging issue with your name on the cover. very lovely and oh so sweet, my dear :O) i would have purchased it, but I'm hoping i can get it online with my coupon instead - i didn't know it was $15 for the issue! though it is more like a lovely book than it is a magazine.

    love, susan

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  15. You guys are so cute :) Great project!

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  16. those are so cute! Great creative idea!

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  17. how proud they are! ...and to think of what they will make in a few more years.

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  18. Beautiful! I love this. I miss those days! Every year I let my daughter draw on a pillow case. Then she would use it. Now she doesn't care about them but I have them stashed in a drawer as a treasure.

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  19. what a lovely day :) your girl are darling :)

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  20. What a great idea - I love the dolls.

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  21. I love this post Rubyellen!!! I used to do this myself when I was in elementary school... you are the best mom! I think True will be sewing sooner than you think! She seems to pick up on directions pretty quickly for her age. Cute cute cute!

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  22. What a great idea! I did a version of this with my mom when I was little, only we used felt and made dogs. But I remember it well :)

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  23. They ara so beautiful. We've made similiar project hand drawn rabbit, here;
    http://www.cocuklacocuk.com/ozel-tasarim-oyuncak-tavsanimiz/

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