Pages

Monday, April 9, 2012

button eyes and stitched-on mouth

I'm participating in Nicole's Keep Calm, Craft On share over at Frontier Dreams...pop over to her site to see what others are up to!


I spent Easter weekend at my parents' house. On Saturday night I sat up until midnight watching "The Ten Commandments"...did I ever mention that I brought room service to Charlton Heston once?...but I digress...while sewing little bunny faces.


My mom thought I was nuts(not for the first time). My dad was with her. Of course, it wasn't completely necessary for me to leave it all to the very last minute. I had cut out all the little pieces weeks ago, but have no sewing machine at home, so I had to wait until I had some kid-free time at mom's. 

I explained again that, although I rely on store-bought stuff to fill in the gaps, it is among my most important parenting values to present my children with handmade gifts. I had a moment of wondering if Jude was getting too old for this kind of thing, but erred on the side of caution, not wanting him to feel left out.
The next night, as he settled into bed with his bunny as a pillow, I asked him to let me know when he felt he was too old for handmade stuffed toys. He put his arms around my neck, and with such sweet sincerity declared, "Mom, I love the stuff you knit and sew for me!"
I whispered to him that he could just let me know if he ever felt he was getting too old for this stuff.
I don't think that will happen just yet. And that makes me so very happy, and proud to know that the value I wish to pass along appears to have been successfully adopted by my oldest child. And really? I don't think I have grown out of this stuff, or ever will. Button eyes and stitched-on faces have always been and hopefully will always be charming (as long as they're stitched on lovingly by hand, as opposed to the "fake" button eyes of a LalaLoopsy doll...or the button eyes in Coraline...am I digressing again?


I based the design for these bunnies on a picture I found during an "image" search for Easter handmades. I pinned it, but for some reason couldn't link back to the original site from Pinterest. Although inspired by the picture, I used no pattern for my bunnies. If you designed the originals and happen to see this, please contact me and I'll happily give you credit where it's due!

25 comments:

  1. Oh, that's so sweet what your son said! And the bunnies are adorable. Definitely 'charming cute' not 'Coraline creepy';)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Totally perfect. Lucky kids.

    ReplyDelete
  3. So hope my little man feels the same way one day...so precious.

    And how I love your little bunnies.

    ReplyDelete
  4. They are super cute, Steph! Totally inspired to make some of these myself...

    ReplyDelete
  5. They are just adorable!
    Charlton Heston...a huge favorite here
    and we watch the Ten Commandments every
    year! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Very sweet! I'm wondering how old your Jude is. I have a little guy who would say the same thing. :) ~Jill

    ReplyDelete
  7. I LOVE These and want to make for the four girls in my life for next year. Knowing me, I better get started now....

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your bunnies are too cute. If I could sew anything but a straight line, I'd try them!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love those bunnies!

    And I have to tell you that I'm in my 30s and STILL love anything that my mum has made for me - I don't think it's the sort of thing that we ever grow out of if that's the way we've been brought up :)

    My Boy is almost 6 and he LOVES anything I make, sometimes even keeping short offcuts of my yarn because he doesn't want me to throw them away. These boys are sweet.

    Hope you have a great week
    x

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your bunnies. They are positively adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your bunnies are so cute! I love the way you did them. :) Thanks for sharing such a beautiful mom moment. Making handmade gifts for every holiday is very important to us as well. I don't think you are ever too old for a handmade gift, just maybe a different type of handmade gift as you get older. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. These are wonderful. You've inspired me to make something with my hand this week!

    ReplyDelete
  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  14. my own son Elijah went through a stage where we would run ( or push me away)when I attempted to hug and kiss him good night, He was close 14. It hurt me but I respected his need for autonomy and would just give him an oral " good night". At about 16 , one night as I was heading up the stairs ( at some point you are LONG in bed before your kids consider calling it a day) I dashed over to where he was perched at the computer and stole a hug and quick peck on the check. Unlike prior he did move away or recoil in disgust. He just said "night mom". I was thrilled to have that back. I don't know if he had come to realize that he needed this contact or perhaps he realized I DID. Either way it left me teary eyed. I still get a hug and kiss each night- and he's close to 18.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a great Mom you are!! Those bunnies are adorable, but not nearly as adorable as your son sounds. I loved this post!

    ReplyDelete
  16. so darn cute,I think you should make more-for all the little friends!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, yes - more for the friends! All of them. That's perfectly reasonable, right?

      These are GORGEOUS, Knitty Gritty! So warm, whimsical, and full of character. Just perfect.

      Delete
  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Those are so cute- your kids must have loved them! Did you make them from a pattern?

    ReplyDelete
  19. I followed you from Frontier Dreams. Oh my goodness! Those bunnies are perfect! My Bunny needs one or two or... I do believe!

    Here is my most recent project: http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-to-tuesday-bunnys-birthday-dress.html

    ReplyDelete
  20. They are so lovely! I love the mixmatch of fabric for each.

    ReplyDelete

This space is a creative outlet for a busy mama; I warmly embrace your comments and feedback, as well as questions/requests for details. I do check them daily and will respond where appropriate! Thank you for visiting the Knitty Gritty Homestead!