Baby Crafts

Here are some things from Lilly's nursery that I really enjoyed making...

Seagull Mobile


I couldn't find any mobile I liked (except for the Phillie Phanatic one we are currently using until the season is over) that fit the vibe I was going for, so Andrew helped me make this one. I downloaded a pattern for the birds from Spool - a wonderful local fabric shop here in Philly. 

After I made the birds, we used monofilament to string the birds at various heights over the crib and tied them to an embroidery hoop we spray painted white. We then hung the piece from a planter hook over the crib.

Braided Yarn Octopus

I got this idea from Martha. I was reading Martha Stewart Living and when I saw this idea, I had to try it out. 

Octopuses totally fit my beach theme, especially when I saw this dark grey wool yarn.  I also decided to enlarge the bird pattern from Spool make a single sea gull to keep the Octopus company. I had a skein of yarn, and wrapped it around a folder (like a school-supply-type-folder). Once the whole skein is wrapped, cut off some yarn to save for tying. I took a small piece of yarn, looped it through at the top of the folder, tied it off, then cut the loop of yarn at the bottom of the folder. What you end up with looks like the beginnings of a tassel. Then spread out the yarn over a styrofoam ball, and tie the yarn at the bottom. Divide up the remaining yarn for your tentacles and braid each one. I left off the eyes because I plan on eventually letting Lilly play with the pair I made. Each octopus I made was made with one skein of yarn. The one Martha made in the magazine is floppier than mine - she used yarn that was much thinner, and a smaller styrofoam ball. 

Family Tree & Scrap Box

I got both these ideas from the February 2010 Living issue where Darcy Miller created a ton of illustrations and scrap box art for a family reunion. 

Andrew and I made an outfit for a boy and a girl, since we didn't know what we were having. Waiting to make Lilly's coming home outfit scrap box was torture because I had to wait until she actually got home to make it, and I was tired of looking at an empty box on the wall.

For her outfit, we found a pale pink onesie with puffy sleeves at Old Navy & ironed on an "L" I got at Joann's. I pinned the outfit to the backing, and layered on her bassinet ID card and all of our hospital bracelets.

The family tree was so simple to make. I downloaded the PDF of the tree & name tag illustrations here. I used Photoshop to create my tree, beginning with Andrew, myself and Lilly in the center. Andrew's side of the family branches off to the left, mine to the right.

Happy crafting!

xoKim