Only six left + free shipping code

Only six backpack dolls left in the shop!  
Free Shipping (US orders only) through Tuesday, December 3rd with coupon code: BACKPACKDOLLFREESHIP

backpack doll

A cute little friend of ours is turning 4 this week - finally, an excuse to make girly stuff. Yippee!

Having never made a backpack before, I went with a very simple design - a rectangle with rounded corners.  Using my son's backpack for reference, I measured out a rough* size, and then sketched a pattern.
 
*next time I will adjust the height just a little - 3" shorter and it would have been perfect.

 

The backpack was new territory for me, but when the time came to make the doll I felt pretty confident. A few years ago I went through a doll making phase and, in the process, created my own doll pattern which came in handy for this project.

Unfortunately, I lost every ounce of that confidence when it was time to draw on the face (as you can tell by the blank face in the photos). Messing up meant I would have to make an entirely new doll, and I REALLY didn't want to do that. It took me nearly a week to muster up the courage.

The skirt was inspired by the Market Skirts from MADE. I just adore this pattern, and when I came across the leftover fabric from the last Market Skirts I made, I knew I had to make a mini version. (It would have been really fun to make a matching big girl skirt to tuck inside the backpack.)  

I had such a great time making this gift, and I really hope I get the chance to make more in the near future.


Happy Birthday Miss Nora!

winthrop bag: an inspired refashion

The inspiration behind this bag was a trip we took to Winthrop, WA last fall with our best friends.  We spent the weekend checking out the shops, and just having an all around great time.  While at the farmers market we popped into the local thrift store, and I found this cool Levi's belt that I knew would make a perfect strap for a bag.  Well, it is nearly six months later, and I have finally finished that bag - the Winthrop bag. 

To go along with the the refashioned belt strap, I decided to use a pair of thrifted capri pants for the lining (which I neglected to photograph - my apologies).  That decision saved me a lot of time and hassle because I was able to use the existing pockets.  The exterior fabric is an upholstery fabric from the clearance section of my local fabric store.  

All in all, I am pretty pleased with the outcome - and we have already planned a second (and possibly third) trip back!

my inspiration: Winthrop, WA

click to enlarge

1. cute little bunkhouse down below the cabin.

2. one of MANY apples we picked from the orchard behind the cabin.

3. a bridge in town that was covered in fall leaves. 

4. our pumpkin carving spot overlooking the river - AWESOME! 

5. the crew - our best friends michael & kelly and me & my husband.

6. produce from the local farmers market (where we got all the fixins' for dinner AND found my belt).

7. the darling cabin we stayed in (well, more like a house if you ask me). 

8. a competitive game of Rummikub.

9. the mountains we drove through on our way home.