Here’s a quick little list of what I LOVE about homemade!
Why Homemade?
Homemade items are almost always:
—More affordable
—Healthier
—YOU have control over the materials and/or ingredients, which means you can avoid unnecessary additives, toxic materials, and so on.
—Custom options
–With homemade items, you get to customize the look, taste, or feel of your project to meet your preferences
—Better for the environment
–-less packaging
–-less transport
– -better materials/ingredients (see above)
–-less waste overall
—One-of-a-kind!
More benefits usually seen with handmade:
—Item is treated with more respect and better care
–-You KNOW what went into creating it
—Item is more likely to be repaired when needed
–-You know how to fix it and care about it enough to fix it
—Self esteem is boosted!
–-Rather than the numb feeling behind shopping or click-and-buy, you have invested your time and creativity, which will more likely make you feel positive and empowered!
Thank you for being here!I hope you enjoy the homemade crafts and recipes I post on here!
As we roll into the last month of this year, I have to admit that my first temptation was to have a post about gifts. And, while I would still like to do that, I stopped myself and realized how strange it is that our holiday season has become so centered around this.
Now, honestly, as much as I’m a fan of reducing unnecessary consumption and waste, I really do love the idea of holiday gift giving. I think there’s a lot of good behind the idea of wanting to show our appreciation of others through giving gifts and recognizing our own part in others’ lives by receiving gifts. But, it seems like the idea behind why we exchange gifts has almost gotten lost. I feel the holidays have become a whirlwind of shopping and lists and obligations. Many of us are going through the motions and doing the holiday “thing” out of habit or a life checklist of sorts.
So, I wanted to pause and think about what the holidays really mean. I know, upon reflection, this answer will be different for everyone. It might be about family or religion or forgiveness. It could be about endings and beginnings as the year comes to a close. It could be about the importance of quiet reflection or finding joy in the moment. But, much like the Whos down in Whoville, I know that the holiday season—for whatever it is you’re celebrating this month—is about more than gifts and feasts. So, while I don’t disagree with many of the traditions behind this month, I do think it’s important to pause and remember just why it is we’re doing them.
To speak the truth, I kind of did a “skimming” reading of this book. Two separate times though. I believe the original “love languages” book is based around the idea of a married couple and there is a slight religious undertone, but the book can really apply to anyone.
I love this book because it reminds us that material gifts are not the way to everyone’s hearts. It’s not just a fuzzy, feel good thing to say “the best gifts don’t come in boxes.” For some people, their “love language,” as the author calls it, is truly not a material possession.
Author, Gary Chapman, lists five love languages in the book—The Gift of Time (which would be spending quality time with someone doing something enjoyable or relaxing), The Gift of Words (which would be a nice, handwritten letter or words in person or over the phone about how much you appreciate or admire someone), The Gift of Service (which would be offering to wash a car, run errands, cook, etc), The Gift of Touch (which would be things like foot rub, a hug, a massage), and also material Gifts (which doesn’t always have to be big, expensive, store-bought gifts. If someone’s love language is “gifts,” you could bring home a cool pinecone you found on your walk, put a chocolate on their pillow, give them a book you just finished reading and loved). Anyway, what I love about this book is the reminder that we don’t have to be over-consuming crazy fools at holidays or celebrations. We can show our appreciation in other ways, and lots of people actually prefer those other ways. We’ve been trained to think in terms of gifts or expect gifts, but if you stop to really think about it, you may realize your love language is something else entirely.
I think I figured out early on that my love language is words. Any time I received a handwritten letter where someone really told me how much they appreciated me, that became a treasure I would revisit again and again. I began telling people who were close to me that on a birthday or holiday, a well-written card means more to me than anything else. Figuring out your love language can be a huge help to others and can help start to cut down on the gift craziness.
When I became a mom, I quickly realized I would do ANYTHING for these kids.I want to give them all the best, always. Not in a spoil them, Veruca Salt, sort of way, but in a -I would walk to Mordor for you- kind of way. And, like so many parents out there, holidays or birthdays approach, and I get excited to give them something really special. To see their faces light up, to watch their imaginations grow. But, I can never help thinking, that the greatest gift I can give my kids, really, is a healthy planet for their future and for their kids. I know that sounds corny as all heckarooni when I say it, but I believe it deep down in my core. And while I’m not going to sit my kids down on their birthdays and tell them that their gift is that we didn’t get them anything that would add to the crisis of overconsumption and instead Mama sat down and wrote this post in the small hopes it would make a difference, I still think that we can keep things in perspective. Maybe cut down on the over gifting. Be conscious about what products we’re buying and what their company’s practices are and which local shop we’d like to support, even if it means paying a little bit more. Or even making our own gifts. Maybe we can also realize that for a lot of people, gifts aren’t necessarily brown paper packages tied up with strings, but instead might be a special outing or spending time together. I want to give my kids a healthy, sustainable planet for their future, and so with every celebration, every gift, every birthday party, I keep that at the forefront of my mind. And then all I can do is my best.
I loved carrying our babies in a sling, so when I saw this idea for a doll/stuffed animal sling, I was all in.I’m sure you can make this into a more elaborate project if you’d like, but I’ve found this method to be super simple and it works well for our kiddos and their dolls.
How?
Because of the way the fabric will rest, I highly suggest a fabric that looks nice on both sides or sewing two fabrics together to create this look.
The size of your fabric may depend on your kids’ height and how big a doll they may be carrying.For me, it’s also depended on what fabric sizes I have available in my stash.The average sling I’ve seen online is about 18 by44 for this doll sling.But I’ve made ones any number of sizes, so a 25 X60 or so on, wouldn’t be out of line.
–Cut your fabric to the size you’d like, leaving an extra bit for the seam.
–Sew a small seam around the edges.Some people like to get very precise with this and use irons and so on; I just fold and sew as I go.A little less perfect, but I think it works just fine here.
–My favorite part of this is using the open and close binder-type rings, because it makes it so easy to take off the rings and wash the fabric when needed. So, locate 2” or 3” binder rings.Some people have these lying around.I’ve also seen these at yard sales or sold individually at teacher shops, so keep your eyes open once you know you’d like to try this project.I’m sure you could also use some other sort of ring, but you will then have to make sure these are in place before sewing down the fabric in the next step.
–Do an accordion fold at the top of the long end of the fabric, fold over, and stitch down into place.I like to slip the rings in before sewing this down to make sure it all works, and then you’re done.
(The one shown as my example below, I sewed a little wide.)
I attached another example as well…
If you’ve never used a ring sling, just take the bottom end and thread it through the rings.Pull the fabric through the bottom ring until you get the length and fit you’d like for your child.
More detailed instructions can be found if you search online—there’s a link to one example here.
(This is a fun beginner’s sewing project, but I’m always surprised at how people are able to adapt things into no-sew projects as well, so use your imagination.)
Gifts
This is such a fun gift for kids!I love giving it to young kiddos who have just welcomed a baby sibling, but it could be great for anytime.When I’m making one of these, I try to make a couple extra if I have the fabric, because these are great to have on hand for a quick, but very thoughtful, gift if you need it.
(I hope I emphasized this enough, but just one more time, remember this project and the construction for this are only meant for a doll sling.Please, please do not use any part of this idea for an actual baby sling.)
Thanks for being here!I hope you enjoyed this idea for a simple gift.
