Tuesday, October 12, 2010

It's never too early to think about Christmas elves

Today has been a particularly crap day at work and it's not even noon. I headed to Etsy for some retail therapy, specifically in search of Zadie's Christmas 2010 elf hat. Yes, I can make an elf hat. I know. But I think it might just be my own little tradition to buy a handmade one each year to start off the season right.

Last year I bought this cute white one from Swirly Hats. The striped one up there was a custom order from a seller who normally makes all this cute stuff for Blythe dolls. How awesome was it that she agreed to make this cute hat for Zadie? I just had to measure her hefty toddler noggin.

I did sew that fleece dress in the top photo. I think I used an existing dress as the pattern. I wish you could see the back. I set in some pearly Western snaps for the closure. The silver belt is just wide ribbon meant for wrapping packages and the fleece was some trim I had. I have a box in my basement of Christmas craft supplies. Silver shoes from BabyGap.

Last year I was way more busy so I didn't make anything she is wearing. The red velvet jumper is from Old Navy, as are the striped shirts in both photos. The black shoes are the standard MaryJanes they always have at Target.

This year I found an amazing corduroy jumper at a thrift store and at a different thrift store I found a white button-up shirt with GET THIS: red and white candy cane piping around the Peter Pan collar. Seriously! I am on the hunt for some green and white striped tights and if she is still in an 8, Zadie will wear her silver shoes and I'll make something to cover up the purple metallic flowers.

I am leaning toward asking a seller to make this hat in green. What do you think? I am sick of looking at pictures of those hats with the long skinny tails wrapped around them. Why are there so many? They are not elfin. No.

OK, if you're still reading, for Christmas I have a tutorial all ready for an easy Christmas tree skirt. I did it last year but it got too late to post it. We are avid elf book readers around here so I'll post all of our favorites with reviews. Of course, I have a few other things up my 3/4 sleeves.