Meet the "Big Bad Wolf"

This past week, my church sewing group got together to make our own versions of 'Ugly Dolls' - dolls so ugly that they're actually cute - and I made one for Oliver. We go way back with Ugly Dolls because Oliver has another Ugly Doll that his Aunt Jessica E. gave him years ago that is made out of a soft fleece. He recently rediscovered it and named him "Max" after his best friend at preschool. That's quite an honor in Oliver's book so I knew that any "Ugly" additions to our family would have to measure up. I did some research on Ugly Dolls to find a shape that I liked, chose some soft fleece, and made it orange because that is one of Oliver's favorite colors. He loves the doll and told Nick that its name is "Big Bad Wolf," the perfect name for a sharp-toothed monster. Abby has been dragging Big Bad around by the ear so I think an Ugly Doll for her is my next project.

Ugly Doll, Front & Back

Sew Fun

Last night I was finally able to attend our church's sewing night. It's like a modern sewing circle with the addition of machines and extension cords. I am fairly new to sewing in terms of experience. I grew up doing various types of needlework and at one point even took a hand-quilting class but didn't really know how to use a sewing machine. I took a beginning sewing class about seven years ago where I learned the fundamentals of machine sewing, made a skirt and most of a dress ("most" because I decided that the fabric was hideous and that I'd never, ever wear it). Since that class, I've only pulled out my machine occasionally for some simple home projects or crafts and I've forgotten quite a bit of what I learned.

The project for the evening was a pillow to hold little girl hair barrettes. My friend and I decided to put our own twist on it, attaching barrettes to ribbons on top of the pillow rather than hanging from the pillow, but I think that they turned out well anyways. Most importantly, I finished the project and it looks a little bit like me and a perfect match for Abby's room.

We learned how to make the ribbon barrettes from a gal at a previous event and the felt ones I learned how to make pretty much on my own after looking at one that I bought for Abby. Now all the barrettes have a home and, since I made them, I'm not too upset when Abby takes them out and chews on them because I know that they're easily replaceable!