Thursday, September 11, 2008

It's good to be a fiberhead.

And a pack rat. And almost good to be broke; at least it's motivating.

So. Tomorrow morning is the Goober's surprise birthday party. (The in-laws are getting in after she goes to bed tonight, I will be hanging a banner and streamers and all that stuff.) She has informed me that a proper party requires party hats. Well, long story short, I was in the middle of looking around for party hats (I'd hit three stores), when that damned almost hurricane came knocking and we spent the rest of the party budget (such as it was), on stuff like canned foods.

Not to worry, I'm also a planner as well as a cheapskate packrat, and had purchased the Goober's present in July.

So I was feeling kind of bad about her not having a party hat, because the Goob had made a huge big deal about how she needed a party hat (she'd been to a New Year's Eve party that I think permanently warped her idea of parties), and I got obsessive the way I do, and, long story short...

The crown itself is knitted and then felted (with yarn leftovers from 2004). The 'jewels' are needle-felted on with some of that bloody damned unspinnable corriedale I bought this spring and a felting needle I'd picked up on my last run through the craft store for no real reason.

Now I'm thinking I need to make another one for my nephew's dress-up box I'm putting together for his Christmas present. And thinking further... I think I'm going to put together a group of patterns, like a mini-booklet, of stuff like this to king for kids. Anyone got suggestions? I'm thinking Viking Helmet with fake braids. And I'm thinking very hard about how to felt a sword. And armor.

The in-laws should be here in about two hours. Anyone want to clean this?

15 comments:

amy said...

Very cute crown! I knit some for my kids from a free Interweave pattern; they occasionally get dragged up from the dress-up chest. Have you seen the book New Knits on the Block? It has lots of dress-up knitted things for kids.

I heard Jo-Ann's had a sale on feather boas and thought of you.

Donna Lee said...

Birthday parties are big deals in our house. As long as it's not raining and very humid, there is crepe paper and balloons (if there is a lot of humidity, the crepe paper droops)and hats. I have made hats out of all kinds of leftover things. Having varied craft interests helps in having interesting bits and pieces around the house.

Anonymous said...

I think you need to do a pirate hat and a patch for the eye. Maybe a felted sword? LOL

The princess crown is adorable, btw. I want pics of her in it!!

Trish

Bells said...

Oh she's going to go nuts - a crown AND a stealth visit by the grandparents. I wish I could see her face when she wakes up and sees they've arrived in teh night!

Anonymous said...

Your girl is so lucky. That crown is just adorable. She'll be so surprised her hair will stand on end more than it already does and she will be twice as cute (if that's even possible)

Anonymous said...

the crown is adorable -- can't wait to see the goob wearing it!

she's a lucky little girl to have such a creative mom.

just one problem: sekhmet will be jealous and want a new catnip mouse.

Leonie said...

The crown is fabulous she can be a princess for the whole day and keep her hair off her face so she can unwrap pressies! Hope she has a wonderful day. Oh and the desk...leave it, it isn't that bad and does in fact look small for a crafty space and it's part of you, why should it have to be packed away?

Anonymous said...

I'll clean yours if you clean mine. Deal?

Louiz said...

The crown is lovely.

How about a mermaid's tail?

Or a toy theatre (I shall be doing one this weekend with cardboard and glue. And Kathryn will be helping), or puppets?

And have you looked at www.toymaker.com for paper toys -

Louiz said...

that url should have been

www.thetoymaker.com

sorry!

roxie said...

Clean what mess? I don't see a mess. Do you see a mess? There is no mess there. Don't clean it.

Wonderful crown - but it needs glitter. Beads, sequins, shiny yarn. Flash, glitz, bling.

She is too a-dimpled-dorable for words!

Sara Winters said...

What a good idea! I love the idea of the dress-up box as well. My son is 10 months old, but it won't be long before he needs a dress up box himself. I had better get cracking.

So I'm new here, do you have a pattern or basic instructions on how to make the crown?

Alwen said...

We prefer to call it creative clutter.

Amy Lane said...

That's AWESOME. I LOVE it when the stuff you bought and didn't know what to do with totally turns into the thing you needed the most.

Claire Fun said...

Gorgeous crown! I may have to make one or few too. Here's my boy in chainmail : http://www.ravelry.com/projects/clairefun/chainmail if that's of any help or interest. Hope she had a great birthday :)