Hand Printed Poppy Softie, $24.50 from Poppy and Ted.
Lambswool Green Pencil Scarf, $60 from Sara Carr.
Needle Felted Alphabet Balls, $55 from Jack’s Beanstalk.
Vintage Mushroom Bowling Set, $28 from Muddy Feet.
Mickey Mouse Viewmaster, $15 from Hey Hey Tiger.
Julius, $34 from Rabbit! Rabbit! Softies.
Jellyfish PDF Knitting Pattern, $4 from Butterfly Love.
DIY Felt Tools Pattern, $6.99 from Fairyfox.
Thumbelina Laser Cut Shadow Puppet, $15.50 from Isabella’s Art.
Fabric Storage Bin, $25 from Smidegbox Designs.
Porcelain Salt and Pepper Shakers, $45 from Oom.
Sweater Cowl Neck Tunic, $99 from Isabel Amyo.
Necklushie (scarf/necklace) from Necklush.
Sparrow Pin, $15 from Moloco.
Deco Snowflake Rubber Stamp, $3.50 from Norajane.
Amigurumi Jellyfish, $19.50 from Awkward.
Vintage Buttons, 41 for $8 from Little Red Mercantile.
Nova Dress, $58 from Mette.
Tall Knitting Needle Case, $28 from mlmxoxo.
Dainty Little Flags Cotton Trim, $2.70 per yard from Inagaki’s Shop.
Make Your Own Rabbit Kit, $18 from Mikodesign.
Simple Grids Cotton/Linen Fabric, $3.40 for 20″ x 28″ from Apples and Eggs.
Polaroid Wood Brooch$15 from craftyFOLK.
Droplets Screenprint, $45 from Summersville.
Japanese Embroidery Book, $22 from MeMe Craftwork.
Girls’ Annabel Necklace$34 from Nest Pretty Things Kids.
Candy Thief Sparkle Band, $37 from The Candy Thief.
Turning children’s drawings into sewn artwork has definitely been on my mind lately, so I was intrigued when Sarah from TOUCH sent me a link to this collaboration with German designer Alexa Lixfeld and children from Sri Lanka. The dolls above are designed based on the children’s drawings and sewn under fair trade practices by an organization called Selyn in Sri Lanka. I love the whimsy and playfulness of the dolls with their folk-art feel. The positive impact on the community makes them even better. As my children get older, it’s becoming nearly impossible to focus exclusively on handmade gifts for the holidays, but I’m still making an effort. I think these dolls would make a great addition to any kid’s collection.
“The aim of this project is to promote the growth of the handloom industry and provide a sustainable livelihood to the artisans and their families, as well as bring enjoyment and cheerfulness to children all over the world. Lixfeld and Selyn are both making an earnest effort to foster ‘the intellectual, social, ethical, moral, spiritual and emotional development of the less fortunate children of Sri Lanka.’ Participants included students of grades one, two and three.”
Visit TOUCH to purchase the dolls or visit the Selyn website to learn more about where the dolls were made.
Stitched Geometries, $50 from Georgica Designs.
Three Houses Sewing Pattern, $4 from Napkitten Pattern.
Vintage Embroidered Doily, $8 from Harpie Party.
Bohemian Tote, $125 from Dazzling Lanna.
Hand Embroidered Buttons, $7 for a set of 5 from Deep Indigo.
Triangle Explosion Necklace, $75 from Marañón.
Extravaganza Temari Ball, $75 from Suzik.
Zippered Pouch made from Vintage Embroidery, $25 from Leila Badblood.
Felt Baby Booties, $24.50 from She’s So Crafty Goods.
