Monthly Archives: June 2010

Dottie’s Kraft Korner: Summer Crafting Tutorial Round Up.

Dottie's Kraft Korner, , , , , ,

(Image via: Purl)

During these lazy hazy days of summer, you still want to get your craft on of course, but you want to do it quickly so you spend more time lounging in the hammock, bike-riding, grilling, spitting watermelon seeds, going to the beach, running through a sprinkler and just plain old enjoying this sunny funny giggly time of year.

So, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite summer crafty projects that are light, fun, and add to the overall summer fun for you and your little ones. (Hey, that rhymes!)

Summer always reminds me of hours spent making daisy or dandelion chains. Sadly, my little works of art were wilted mush by the next morning.  If only I had this ingenius Hana Ami flower loom and sweet tutorial from the lovely folks at Purl as a kid…  Talk about taking friendship bracelets to the next level! What a perfect little prezzy to tuck into the next care package going out to your kid’s camp.

Let your kiddo be king of queen for a day with this charming crown tutorial from the long thread that could be used to make special birthday crowns as well.  Just think of all of the great pretend play that can happen with such a simple bit of sewing.

Do you have thirty minutes? Well, then you have enough time to make this dress from crafty wunderkind blogger Grosgrain. Imagine it sleeveless for the summer. Heck, I’m sure that would knock off at least 10 minutes. Sweet!

It is never too early to teach your wee one the power of a balanced check book.  So, why not start them off playing “store” in style by making kiddo checks, courtesy of that clever clogs blogger Cathe Holden of Just Something I Made. Perfect summer rainy day game that will keep them busy for at least an hour while you finish the last chapter of your beach paperback.

I must admit that there are a slew of great dress tutorials out there. But what about the boys, eh? Well, they deserve their own cup of crafty awesomeness! Like this great tutorial on how to turn a t-shirt into a pair of toddler pants that was featured and done by those clever ladies over at  Rookie Mom.

Oh, summer crafting. I can’t wait for that three day weekend in July and the Peach to settle down for a long baby nap. Aaahhh, let the sewing begin!

What do you plan on making?

Threadless Kids luv

Widdle Wednesdays,

Threadless has always been one of the coolest site’s around for getting rockin’ tees—designers submit illustrations and then the community votes for their favorite designs and the top picks are produced each week. It’s an endless rotation of cool, fun, graphic shirts. Sooooo you can imagine how deeeelighted I was when I discovered the sassy spawn of Threadless: Threadless Kids. If you are lucky enough to live in Wicker Park, Chicago you can hit their actual store front, but for the rest of us we’ll have to shop online. And great news, they’re having a HUGE SALE and all onesies, tees and hoodsies (a onesie with a hood, doncha know!) are $9 clams. YEOWZA! Methinks we’re gonna have some totally groovy arty bebe’s out there after this post!











There are TONS more styles (and they have sizes up to 6-8 for bigger kiddos) so swing by Threadless Kids to check ’em out!

UPDATE: Thanks to our sweet reader Esther who reminded me that Threadless tees run SMALLLLL. I would recommend sizing up just to be safe!

Koo Koo for Cuckoonest!

Things We Like, Vintage Toys + Fun Stuff, ,

You thought New Zealand couldn’t get any more awesome after the hobbit invasion?

HAH! Hardly! Let me introduce you to Cuckoonest.

What is Cuckoonest, you ask?

Well,  Cuckoonest is the creation of Kim Edwards, a gal who I have never met, but I think we must have a lot in common.

– A love of felt. Check.

– Perfectionist nature. Check and check!

– And a good sense of humor. Checkety check CHECK!

According to Internet lore, Ms. Edwards “spends many hours creating a range of beautiful, handcrafted play and decor items. After her first child was born, Kim began sewing with the help of her sister, and 10 years later they have it down to a fine art. The whimsical world of Cuckoonest brings delight to both young and young at heart, with a collection of items which is sure to be treasured by all who own them.”

You may know her for her wonderous deer heads, yes?

But I fell in love with her for her cuckoo clocks. Really, what is not to love?

And then I bow down to her for her little Red Riding Hood felt house. Oh my!

Sadly, I can’t find her hand crafted goodies Stateside, but oh you lucky Brits. You can find her goodies (when they are not sold out…) at Peanut and Pip, or in Australia at Lark Handmade.

But until I find you, I will enjoy you online, Kim.  Sigh.

Vintage Kiddo :: Coin Operated Rides

Best of Dottie, Vintage Childhood, ,

Image: Greenkozi

I loved shopping with my Mom when I was a little girl. Not for the ride in the cart or the ability to “accidentally” grab a box of Cookie Crisp. Oh no.  It was the hope that I could get a ride on one of these sweet treats.

Of course the most popular were the ponies and horses—a little flirt reminder of merry go rounds.


Images: PigRock, AnnieBee, eclectica miami

 

Of course horse is a horse of cours of course but what about a ride on other animals that aren’t necessarily known to carry humans.

Like a snail. Or pelican.

Images: Javier Agredo

or a goose or a cat…

Image: Bumblesweet

I can’t help but love this pink elephant.

Image: AnnieBee

Tops hats are perfect for giraffes, aren’t they? Who wouldn’t love to see that outside of Red Owl Supermarket?

Image:  AnnieBee

Even sea creatures were not off limits to encourage a child’s inner aquaman (or aqualady).

Image: Drumthwacket

Clearly taxi and cop cars were popular choices as well.

Image: NYC Comets

Cars are so much fun.  Which to chose? Race car or race car with Spiderman?

Image: BrechtBug, Kiddie Rides USA

But why limit your transportation to earth when you could blast off from Safeway in one of these beauties.

Images: Kiddie Rides USA

And then just some odd choices.

Hmmm… I never would have thought about taking a ride on Papa Smurf.

Iamge: Oerenhard1

Or a vintage Communist child?

Image: AgentYellow

These images are just a small small peek into Flickr’s photo pool, Just One More Ride Pleeeeze. I assure you, it will take you back.  Did you have a favorite growing up as a child?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23837798@N04/3390018523/

Vintage Kiddo: Retro Roundup

Kiddo Style: Vintage

Goooooooood Monday lil buckaroos! How was your weekend? We had a really nice and relaxing one. We had some out of town friends visiting, Wolfie had his final t-ball game and then we all went and saw Toy Story 3—it was awesome! Kind of a love letter to all Toy Story fans….we really loved it. We saw it at the historic Grand Lake theater in Oakland, CA, which is SO cool and has this great organist who plays before the show. It was fun to see so many adults in the theater as well as kiddos—proof that those genius Pixar peeps know how to tell a grand story that transcends all ages.  GO BUZZ! GO WOODY! Have you seen it? What didja think? The first two movies are among my top fave Pixar movies, I have to say. Followed by Nemo. OK, I’m gettin’ chatty here….ya’ll want vintage clothing? We have it!

For those of you new to Vintage Kiddo Mondays, we take a look at some fun and funky vintage items that will help you keep your child’s wardrobe stylish AND sustainable! The key to wearing vintage for kiddos is to mix and match with modern pieces. A future post is in the works for our Top Style Tips for wearing vintage (kiddo style), but until then, on with the show!

SHAZAAM! Hey, what more can I say. This is adorable…. But can we please talk about the chattering teeth on the counter having a talk with that owl??

From eBay seller: robotparade4kids

This little dressie is the bees knees and is from one of our delicious sponsors, Three Ring Circus Vintage! As an aside she has some CUTE vintage baby announcements in the shop ya’ll (for boys and girls) so head on over and see!

From our sweet friends at 3RingVintage

It’s REVENGE OF THE ROPER!!! We had one of these awesome jumpsuits a few months ago, and this one (which is deadstock vintage, aka NEVER WORN!) is really cute. As an aside, I should acknowledge that technically it’s a Mr. Furley (Don Knott’s character on Three’s Company) who wore the jumpsuit/cravat but its just kind of more fun to say The Roper!


From: eBay Seller CasualWays

This little onesie is great for tucking into a skirt of pinafore. The stripey/polkadot action is sooo indie cool.

McEnroe, eat yer heart out….this Lacoste tennis onesie is posh and Hamptons ready.


From ebay seller niceguy8508

The Health-tex logo was always so cute and iconic to me…..this deadstock item has little kitty/flower ginham shorts and a matching tee. Whoo hoo!


Etsy seller: racracandbuttons

Oh matching dress and coat ensemble, how I love ya.  Greta because the coat would look swell all by its lonesome.


eBay seller lovelove88

Yer kiddo will look cracker jack in this smart lil sailor outfit.

Etsy Seller Fun with Puns

These little sassy overalls get a girlish twist with the ruffle strappies. Mmmmm. Ruffles.

From Our Lady of Vintage, LishyLooVintage

I’ve never seen a 60s indie boy mod sweater in ONESIE form…..and yet here we are:


From our pal,  Etsy seller: Oh Sydney

And we end with ……Truman! Alas, the young lad is not up for grabs with the hat, but look how fetching this little heartbreaker is in his patchwork sunhat. Adorable on boys or girls. Oh Truman, how we love ya.


Yes, of course. From his stylish mama over at LishyLoo Vintage

Ahhhh, I always love looking at these sassy duds, don’t you? That’s it for today. Stick around because Le Dottie has some more fun vintage goodies up her sleeve for later this afternoon! Oh and say, if you ever have a hot tip (vintage, modern, fab sale, cool item you scored at Target or Gap, insanely awesome boutique clothing or even just a question……EMAIL US! We love to hear from you and are always on the prowl for new cool posts!)