Everyone who knows me well, knows I’m nuts about my nieces and nephews. Thanks to the kids, I’m becoming slightly *gulp* crafty!!!!

As my niece‘s two year birthday approached, I wanted to give her something fun to open. I was inspired by a book I had seen on making sock animals (Sock & Glove by Miyako Kanamori). Looked simple enough, and, best of all, no sewing machine was required! It’s inevitable that if a sewing machine becomes involved, I need to solicit my mom for help. I was trying to shock even her with my gift idea. 

After making the first critter entirely by hand, I learned a sewing machine would make this “little” project of mine go so much faster. Needless to say, a visit to my mom for her sewing machine was in order. Things went pretty well once I had that. By the last critter, I was glad the project was almost complete. It was a delight to watch my niece pull out each animal, one at a time. She ran around and showed each animal to everyone at her party. Each time a new squeal of joy when she’d realize, this one’s an elephant, or a bear or a ….

I’m not anxious to get back on the sewing machine. I was proud of myself for sticking to it, being happy with the end result, and seeing the smile of my sweet niece, Elliot. BTW, for all of you with children, I did remove the button eyes once she opened them all. I’m a paranoid aunt and didn’t want to give her a toy that had pieces she could pull off and choke on. Sure, they didn’t look as cute, but Elliot got over it immediately once she noticed “eyes gone.” She pulls her little buddies around all the time in her wagon and takes them to bed with her. Knowing my lack of enthusiasm for working a sewing machine, my mom refers to this project as a labor of love. Without a doubt.

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