Christmas Gift Ideas

[jlobe]

OK, at Christmas I make the main gifts for my two children. Last year was broomstick horses, but I'm a little stuck on ideas this year. I can sew and knit quite well, but do not do much woodwork. I'd also like the gifts to be under $30/piece. (absolute maximum) I am contemplating making waldorf dolls for each of them but the kits are so expensive and I'm wondering if they're pretty expensive even without kits?? Any ideas would be welcome. Thanks!

[iowaorganic]

I was going to suggest a waldorf doll kit. I get mine from DRD- and there is a coupon now- which is about the equivelent of free shipping. They are awesome kits and make beautiful dolls- but if they are too spendy- you could get a mccalls pattern (or one on sale) or something and make different styled doll out of muslin and regular stuffing. Do yarn hair and make some calico clothes and call it a day. My mom made my DD a bunny with dresses and she loves toting it around- and they are pretty inexpensive to make.

I guess my point is- don't be a purist in the toy department- your child probably wont care if it was a spendy (albeit awesome) kit or more of a local fabric store doll.

If you have some fabric stashed you could make a little quilt and a bag for the doll.

[Callimom]

If you aren't a purist you could try this approach.
Dollar Store Waldorf Doll

I didn't catch the age/gender of your kids but some other ideas:
fairy house and bendy doll fairies
costumes
tree branch blocks
play mat and needle felted or sewn animals
playfood, laminated shopping lists/recipes, shopping bags

hth
Karen

[sweetpeppers]

Originally Posted by Karenwith4

If you aren't a purist you could try this approach.
Dollar Store Waldorf Doll

I didn't catch the age/gender of your kids but some other ideas:
fairy house and bendy doll fairies
costumes
tree branch blocks
play mat and needle felted or sewn animals
playfood, laminated shopping lists/recipes, shopping bags

hth
Karen

wow, that doll is so cute!

[dalerose]

You so don't need to buy a kit to do a Waldorf doll. Some of the first dolls I made was from a box of scraps from a tailors shop. Subsequently I have recycled t-shirts, used second hand shop finds of fabric and used up wool from my stash. The last doll I made, her hair was from a frogged nappy wrap (unused) which gave a beautiful blonde frizzy mop of hair.
I bought wool fleece from a local shepherdess and have carded that with dog combs (really, if you can afford to buy some wool stuffing then get it because it is a huge pain in the backside doing the carding). Now I am not in the USA, but a lot of Waldorfy sites do some of the fabric, or the stuffing, get that and make the doll yourself. You can do it, actually it is complicated, but not hard.
Or do a different sort of doll, I think I will for the next one. Just to see, but I think that Waldorf dolls are the most appealing dolls around.

[amberskyfire]

I don't know whether you have girls or boys, but what about flower crowns? Girls LOVE them and they are super easy and cheap to make.

I made my own Waldorf-style doll from recycled materials for only $3 at home. I have the pattern and instructions with lots of photos here if you are interested:

http://community.livejournal.com/doi...out/30295.html

[LaughingHyena]

This year I am making an eye spy bag for DS. I made one for DD a couple of years ago and she loved it.

I'm also planning a doorway puppet theater for them to share
http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angr...t_theater.html

They both got dolls for christmas last year so I will probably make a new outfit for them.

[amberskyfire]

I made my daughter a Waldorf inspired doll and it cost me about $3 total (I had to buy large needles and some crochet thread). I have photos and instructions here:

http://community.livejournal.com/doi...out/30295.html

[caiesmommy]

Originally Posted by amberskyfire

I made my daughter a Waldorf inspired doll and it cost me about $3 total (I had to buy large needles and some crochet thread). I have photos and instructions here:

http://community.livejournal.com/doi...out/30295.html

Thanks so much! I've been wanting to make dd and ds Waldorf inspired dolls! Your instructions are the first I've understood LOL! And I've got an old wool sweater of dh's I've been wanting to use up! One question..How big do I increase the pattern?

[amberskyfire]

Originally Posted by caiesmommy

Thanks so much! I've been wanting to make dd and ds Waldorf inspired dolls! Your instructions are the first I've understood LOL! And I've got an old wool sweater of dh's I've been wanting to use up! One question..How big do I increase the pattern?

Well, you can really make the doll any size you want from the pattern, just so long as you make the head to match.

If you look close, though, I've included the measurement in inches of how large I made each piece on the image.

Good luck and have fun!

[caiesmommy]

Originally Posted by amberskyfire

Well, you can really make the doll any size you want from the pattern, just so long as you make the head to match.

If you look close, though, I've included the measurement in inches of how large I made each piece on the image.

Good luck and have fun!

Oh look what you see when you put glasses on Thanks. I'm washing up the fabric as I type

[amberskyfire]

And post a photo when you finish!

[rainbowmoon]

I am absolutely loving the waldorf doll photos! Soooo cute!

[karlugato]

amberskyfire, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your tutorial and your website, since I found it I've been reading it everyday! I wasn't sure how to link to pictures, but this has my dolly I've been working on from your tutorial, hopefully it works. I love how it's coming along, thanks so much!


http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...lbumId=1284592

[amberskyfire]

Originally Posted by karlugato

amberskyfire, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your tutorial and your website, since I found it I've been reading it everyday! I wasn't sure how to link to pictures, but this has my dolly I've been working on from your tutorial, hopefully it works. I love how it's coming along, thanks so much!


http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...lbumId=1284592

Your doll is SO CUTE! Oh my gosh, I just love his hair so much! Your fishin' hole toy is really neat, too. I want to make one! How did you get the fishing pole to catch the little critters? Magnets?

[karlugato]

Thank you! You were right about needing way more hair than you'll think, and that was the most time extensive part. I've tried these dolls before and just sewed a bead where the nose is, but the way you explained the nose made it really easy and I am so happy with how it came out!
For my fishing hole, yeah, just magnets. I put little magnets in all of the octopus' legs, but may need something stronger because he's a little heavy. I might make some more fishies or poles so they can all play together. For the pond, it is just a round piece of felt with a drawstring sewn into the edge. And all of the critters were just old felted sweaters. I love thrift store wool sweaters!

[Marcee]

I am BROKE and need as many ideas as you ladies have. Keep them coming!

[hayleyvt]

I plan on making Felt crowns and matching wands for my nieces and dd.

http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_...-tutorial.html

I am going to attempt to knit toys this year too, as my kids have asked fro no more hats since there is a surplus:

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer09/PATTcrab.php

Oh, and I really like the fish pond idea! I found this pattern for fish and if I have enough time from now to Christmas, I would love to do that too:

http://www.craftstylish.com/item/400...felting-a-fish

oh, not sure if I can still put a magnet inside when it needs to be felted. hmmm

hehehe, and I really want to make a waldorf doll too

[sapphos]

subbing

[caiesmommy]

I've prob started way to many prjects for dd(almost 1 @ xmas) and ds(3.5 @ xmas)

Dd-fabric panel growth chart
-F-I-L making wooden pull toy
-waldorf like doll
-felt stocking

Ds-fabric panel growth chart
-thomas stocking
-quiet book
-fish catching game(he saw that and he keeps asking for it!)
-waldorf doll..MAYBE...he seems to be interested but I don't know how much he'd actually play with it, he goes through spurts w his doll

I've also knit some small organic cotton balls for them to throw around the house.