Buzzmills

Craft Hope, the Littlest Warriors Project...

This is my first time participating in any of the Craft Hope Projects.  I first heard about Craft Hope back in the fall when they were collecting Sock Monkeys for victims of the Texas wildfires, unfortunately I heard about that project too late and wasn't able to participate.  

In January they announced that Project 16 was a call for beanies and bags for The Littlest Warriors, children who are fighting cancer.  I knew I wanted to be a part of this Project, but whoops, with our busy February I almost let this one slip by too!  

I had high hopes to make both hats (I had hoped to make some bucket hats from "Sewing for boys") and bags, but since the deadline is in just a week and I didn't start till this weekend I had to stick with what I knew...

So I made a few fat quarter toddler totes over the weekend.  

Inside each I tucked a small box of playing cards and a little puzzle.  Oh, and a little clothespin fairy friend too... 

I did clean off the acorn caps before using them.  I really just thought that having a little friend to stuff into the pocket of the bag and to have right there with you would make the kids happy.

While I was packing them up Violet asked me what I was doing and I explained to her that I was making some bags for kids who are sick and have to go to the hospital.  Bags for them to carry some of their things.  I asked her if she wanted to draw a picture to put inside the bags to make them smile and she happily began to draw.  So, we slipped these inside too.   Now they are ready to get shipped out, and will likely arrive just in time, phew!  I am glad I didn't let this one slip by!

Fat quarters and new stroller seats...

I'm not sure about you, but I have a thing for fat quarters.  It used to be a lot worse when I wasn't sewing as much, then I would almost always buy just fat quarters.  They are fun!  I love fat quarters because if you fall in love with a piece of fabric but don't want to spend all the money for a half yard or a yard of it you can still get a little "taste" with a fat quarter.  Or, if you just have no idea what you would do with the fabric but have to have it, you can always get a fat quarter and use it for some little project. 

Needless to say, I have a lot of fat quarters floating around.  There are always little projects to be done and a fat quarter is just the right size, no need to cut into a whole yard! 

Today I pulled out a couple of fat quarters to use to update the beloved toy strollers we have in the house.  Okay, maybe you think that this seems like one of those extra frivolous projects...but, if you had any idea how often these strollers are used and how often the seats come apart or break at the exact moment that I have chicken all over my hands...then you would understand.  These are not fancy strollers, they are the kind you buy at Target or some place similar for about $10.  We have had these strollers since Violet was about 15 months old.  The stroller frame is still in great condition, the seats, however, are cheap, ripped, and ultra pink.  Okay, okay...truth be told, they have kind of always bugged me and I've been wanting to make new seats ever since we got them (but I did wait until they were very much falling apart). 

Wish I had taken some pictures of the strollers before, oh well...

Sorry about the blurry picture, there were some seriously fast stroller races happening here!

Look how happy and comfy she looks!

These were simple and quick and clearly enjoyed!  I especially love the tape measure twill tape!  I had the twill tape leftover from when I made some very cute tea towels at Christmastime to give as gifts, but now I've used almost all of it so I might need to get some more...

I think I might need to make a habit about posting fun fat quarter projects here, mostly because it will give me an excuse to keep buying them ;)  So, if you love fat quarters too keep your eye out!  Also, perhaps in the works...a tutorial for the stroller seats...