Yesterday's sock monkey wasn't the only handmade gift Violet gifted to Henry...He also requested a King's cape and crown! Goodness this boy really knows what he wants doesn't he?!
This kid really does love to dress up. In fact, from Santa he requested a ninja costume...so on Christmas day he went from a ninja to a king to a prince all in one day!
Violet was just as excited about making this costume as she was the sock monkey! She helped me draw out the crown design on a piece of paper and then I traced and cut it onto two pieces of felt and sewed them together. She picked a piece of ribbon for the trim which I sewed on and then, with fabric glue, felt pieces and shiny gems in hand she decorated the crown to suit it's King! After it dried we added a bit of elastic to the back and it was complete.
Next, she drew and designed her image of his King's cape and I went to Joann to pick out the perfect fabrics...gold cording, faux fur (Violet got a fancy vest out of the "trimmings" of this!) and stretch velvet...
The play cape pattern from "Growing up Sew Liberated" has provided us with some fantastic capes over the years...and it's so very quick to sew up so that is the pattern I decided to use. I added as much length to the cape as the amount of fabric I had provided. The collar is self drafted using the top of the cape pattern as a guide and for the edges I simply cut wide strips of the faux fur and sewed them on...
It was really a figure it out as I went sort of thing.
That being said, despite the "winging it" I am thrilled with the way it all turned out! And so was Violet, the grin on her face when she saw it all come together was priceless!
And, of course, let us not forget "King Henry"!
Who wears this ensemble constantly! I think he'd wear it morning, noon and night if he could!
After Violet's gift to Henry came together...she wished that she too had a crown of her own...She had not given Henry a long list of Christmas wishes as he had to her, therefore, Henry was looking for ideas.
And a Queen was made!
Henry made her her very own Queen's crown, picking the felt, the ribbon and adding on all of the embellishments on his own just as Violet did for his. They both did such a beautiful job and each loves their crown and how well it's perfectly suited for them!
Coincidentally, while I was at Joann gathering King fabrics, I happened to come across some fun "confetti" tulle that was marked down in their "end of bolt" section...I scooped it up "just because"...
As it was, it turned into the perfect accessory for a Queen!
In a tiny moment, while Violet and Henry were out running Christmastime errands with Daddy...I whipped up a simple long gathered skirt for her.
The underskirt is pink laguna cotton knit and the overskirt is simply the tulle folded over on itself with a few wool felt balls tucked between the layers...an added sparkly knit elastic waistband and that was it!
Henry was surprised by this accessory for his handmade crown but thrilled and excited as well, because he knew she'd love it!
And love it she did!
She's definitely more of a "Queen of the woodlands" than of a fancy palace though...
Both kids immediately donned their royal attire upon opening on Christmas morning, they pulled them on over their pajamas...and then again later over clothes as well. And, they've been worn consistently since then as well.
I do so love how much these two like to pretend and imagine. I also love how much thought they make and put into each others gifts, those are the kinds of gifts that are the best to give and the kind that are oh so loved when they are received!