Crafts for Boys

Accidental Tradition

posted by Cara

I know Christmas seems a long way off, but it really wasn't that long ago.  I usually have so many projects that I want to get done before the big day, but I never get around to finishing everything.  I always say that I'll start earlier or work on it throughout the year, but I always end up leaving it until the last weeks before Christmas.  This year was no different and I had a long project list.  Some things got completed, others abandoned.  

One project that I was going to make, come hell or high water, was Hector's stocking!  I actually didn't realise that I needed to make him one until the middle of December.  Our stockings are pretty time consuming.  10 years ago when I was a newlywed and wasn't allowed to work in France yet, all I did was sew!  I made huge matching stockings for Matthieu and I, and then every child got a similar one for their first Christmas.  I think maybe Jacques' was finished on time, and maybe Juliet, too, because she was due early December, so I did the main bits of hers before she was born, no, I'm pretty sure hers was lacking some finishing touches on Christmas Eve.  Anthony's and Philippe's were not completed, I know that for sure.  They were however, all put together and had their name on them :)  All Santa needed so that he could fill it up.

So apparently, I subconsciously felt the need to carry on this slacker's tradition.  I left it until the last day and realised midmorning that I didn't have a piece of stuffing large enough.  It worked okay, however, I was able to piece some together.  There's still a lot to go, more than the others, but it was together in time with his name on it.  The paint was still wet when I went to bed ;)

Baby gifts

posted by Cara

I just wanted to share a few gorgeous baby gifts that I recently received for Hector.  My good friend Susan sent this fantastic blanket that she made!

 
At first, I saw the back of it and immediately fell in love.  It truly is the softest blanket ever.

 
Then I turned it around and got all teary eyed!

 
 
Duggan was my mom's maiden name, I love that she included his middle name.  LOVE LOVE LOVE this blanket :D  It's in his cradle (along with one my Nannie knit when Jacques was born) and keeps him warm while he sleeps.

Next, is this precious cross stitch that Henar, my SIL and Hector's godmother, made for him.  So sweet and pretty.  It's going up over his crib.

 
 

This is a snuggly blanket that Meaghan, my future SIL (and future wife of Hector's godfather) made. Pretty and practical :D  This is in his baby seat and keeps him cuddly warm during the day.

 
 

Thanks ladies for all the love and hard work that went into these gifts :D

Our four bears

posted by Helen

There are many amazingly realistic soft toys available these days (how old do I sound??), but I love my seventies bear with her round legs and squashy nose! My husband has a very similar bear ( except his is pink!!) so when I found out I was expecting for the first time, I decided to make a similar bear for my new baby.  My mum found an old knitting pattern in a Woman's Weekly (probably from the same era and in all likelihood by the very talented designer Jean Greenhowe) so having plenty of time on my hands I made one for Tom. 

Having set the precedent, when I found out I was pregnant again, baby number two was going to have to have a bear too.  Of course this time I didn't have hours to while away, so I've just finished Joe's bear - in time for his first birthday!!

 

Being super organised, I couldn't find the pattern from the first bear so I decided to have a go at copying it... with mixed results.  He's a bit on the wonky side, and rather bigger than the others, but I'm sure Joe will love him.  His bear family already do!

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY AND FLICKR LAUNCH

posted by Helen

Happy due-date Cara! (although as yet no news on that front... maybe he/she is holding out for Canada Day on the 1st July!)

To celebrate, with or without the new arrival, we've decided to launch our flickr group by hosting a giveaway.

After nearly 2 months of sharing our projects, we'd love to see some of YOUR ideas.  You have until the end of July to share with us your favourite boy project then we'll pick our favourite to  showcase on here.  Of course we won't let you go away empty handed so there'll be a material prize too (no pun intended...)

For Cara's baby and my new nephew, I decided to make a set of scrunchy, munchy, crinkly, crunchy set of keys, complete with car/ house motif key ring.

I made a set for Joe too so that I could try out different types of crinkles and trims to see what worked best.  I can confirm that he loves them, so hopefully you will too, and of course the bright contrasting colours are perfectly unisex, so there's no 'boys only' here.  And don't worry if you don't have a baby who'd appreciate them, I can easily adapt the idea to make a grown-up key-ring fob, with less baby-proof embellishments and I'll throw in some bits of funky boy ribbon too. 

So... get making... all ideas and crafts are welcome whether completely original or versions of our ideas, just think BOYS and post on  http://www.flickr.com/groups/1452404@N21/

All entries posted before 31st July will be considered and we'll announce the winner shortly after.

Good luck and we can't wait to see your handy-work.