We’re having camera card reading issues here, so I still can’t upload the cute kid pictures from this week… Instead, I’ll post a query.
Crafty moms, have any of you made felt food? I’ve been doing some searching for play food to go with the kids’ kitchen, and it seems like there’s this whole homemade felt food subculture online that I didn’t know about until this week. There’s a ton of cute stuff to buy on etsy, but I’d like to think I could make it myself, right? If I can quilt and make a costume that sortof looks like a Little Bear, I can handle felt, right? Has anyone else done it? I found a few free patterns, but I’m wondering if I really need a pattern for most stuff? Is it pretty easy? Is it cost effective by the time you buy the felt and the stuffing and pull out your sewing machine and use up that precious free hour of “quiet rest time”? I have never tried any of this, but I’m getting moderately excited to try when we get back from Christmas break…
have not done it, but one of my favorite bloggers has:
http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-felt-food.html
So my felt food is definitely not nearly as nice as what Christina linked to, but don’t go buy carrots, strawberries, a pear, or an apple b/c we have some about to be boxed up and sent to your children for Christmas! After I finished our Advent calendar, I wanted to do something with all the extra felt and started doing this (which Margaret has loved “to help” with!). If I were willing to put more time into it, it could be a lot nicer, but the girls don’t really care and I just don’t have the time. But it is fun to do and the best part is it’s all machine washable, which I love!
p.s. We should figure out if we’ll overlap in RO again. Maybe I should just bring it there!
Kelly, we’ll be coming in the 19th, leaving the 22nd, coming in the 29th, flying to Clare’s wedding the 30/31, and leaving RO for home on the 3rd. When are you guys going to be there?
Christina, bookmarking that page–thanks!
Emily, making felt food is one of those visions I have that may never come into being. From what I understand, making felt food is actually pretty time-consuming (b/c you’re working in miniature) and, unless you use high quality wool felt ($$$) it’s going to look pilly and worn after a couple of months under toddler fingers. Still, if making felt food looks like a fun activity for you and you don’t mind shelling out some money for good felt, I’d go for it! Maybe you’ll inspire me to finally get my act together. 🙂
Oh, here’s a great link to a bunch of felt food tutorials: http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2010/04/short-order-cook.html
This all looks awesome. I love the ravioli. I can just imagine the kids pouring a batch into a pot and stirring. Now I want to help create patterns and cut felt, Em….
I am not ambitious enough to make felt food…so, I bought some from Walmart! 🙂 Its nice because they wash so easily which is very important with 2 little chefs “sampling” their creations.
Bethany, thanks for that link–there are several patterns there that I hadn’t seen yet! Yeah, I’ll have to look into the cost of higher-quality felt while I’m at my mom’s, and if I do end up trying something out, I’ll time myself and let you all know whether it was worth it time-wise! As Kelly pointed out, my kids won’t care if it’s not perfect, and if it goes really fast, I don’t think I’d mind making some cheaper stuff and having to re-make it again in a year or so…if I find it fun and have Derek to help me.=) The kids are getting a bit of felt food from various family members over Christmas, so it will be interesting to see if it’s wool or acryllic and how well it holds up over time! Leslie, I haven’t seen it at our Walmart–will have to take a look next time I’m there!