I'm a Softie for Softies!

Is there an age where you become to old to love plush toys?  If there is, I haven't hit it yet.  I still adore all things soft and huggable.  Cute animals, sweet dolls...They just can be so darn cute!  Especially the handmade ones.  If it's handmade, that totally takes it to the next level of cool!  Fortunately for softie lovers like me, plush toys can be very easy to make!  Here's a few patterns and tutorials that I've been drooling over.

First up is this cute, and super simple bunny.  Wouldn't this be perfect to stick in a kid's Easter basket?  Find the pattern and instructions here.

For those of you wanting a more unique project, may I present Plattie the Platypus? Here's the pattern and tutorial.

How cute are these foxes and raccoons from Ruffles and Stuff?  Her adorable pattern can be found here.

I'm slightly obsessed with Russian matryoshka dolls, so I cannot wait to make some of these babushka dolls.  They look super easy, so I'll probably end up making a whole set in different sizes, nesting doll style.  You can find the instructions here. (Note: there is a link to a paid pattern.)


Handmade softies make great gifts as they are very customizable, not to mention they can be a great way to use up fabric scraps!  Make some up for your favorite young people, or just make some for you.  You're never to old to enjoy a homemade softie.  (In my opinion!)

Niki

P.S.  Still want more?  Check out this great collection of soft animals and dolls at See Kate Sew.

The Cat Sweater, and Other Thrifted Things

I've been thrifting.  Big surprise there, huh?  You know it's bad when you visit the same thrift shop two days in a row because they had to close the first time before you were done looking around.  I had no idea they were closing or I would have left sooner...or not grabbed so many things to try on...heh heh heh... I wanted to wear a disguise when I went back the next day.  Fortunately, I don't think they recognized me as the crazy thrifting girl.

 

Anyway, here are a few of my finds from the last few weeks:

 

 

Awesome purple boots that were the tag color of the day at Goodwill.  Score!  I've worn them quite a bit already.  I'm sure they'll surface in an outfit post soon.

 

 

You can never have too many pieces of classic literature on your shelves.  I've already finished Lord of the Flies (it was weird...) and I'm working on Kidnapped.  These were 99 cents each at Goodwill.

 

Fabric remnants for 50 cents each.  I'm a fabric hoarder...

 

A big men's shirt, ready to be remade into something cute and girly.

 

A scarf.  I probably have too many already, but I don't have a blue and yellow one!

This is a cat sweater.  In all its jingle bell glory.  Yes, it has a real jingle bell sewn to one of the cat's necks.  It's a little noisy.  This was a weird purchase, because I don't know if I'd ever wear it out of the house, but it's so funny!  I took a picture of it on my first thrifting trip, showed it to my brother, and he said it was awesome and that I should have gotten it, so I did when I went back the next day.  Thus is the saga of the cat sweater.

What about you?  Have you had any successful shopping trips lately?

Niki