Owls

15 April 2014

I try and make most of the presents that we gift, especially to children.  There is something special about the process of thinking about and making the right present, even if it is something you make time and again there are little tweaks you can make to individualise it to the recipient.  I was given a lovely book for my birthday last year which has inspired us to make a few bits and pieces for our seasonal table.  The back section of the book is given over to stories and whilst I wasn't inspired to make any suggested by the book I started to think of stories that I knew that would lend themselves to be being added to in this way to make a small storysack.

One of my all time favourite stories for young children is Owl Babies by Martin Waddell, I have reviewed it here.  I bought a copy for my eldest when he was very young and have been reading it to him and then to my youngest ever since.  There are some books that I find tedious to read time and time again, but not this one.  The text also lends itself to being read by those learning to read, it is slightly repetitive and the words are simple.  It will be a sad day for me when my children no longer want to hear this charming story.  It has four characters mother owl and her three babies, this book is perfect for a story sack.


I used little peg dolls to make the Owls, a 6cm for the Mother Owl and 4cm for the babies both rounded in shape.  I bought my peg dolls from here.  I painted them with opaque paints, non toxic in case they are put into little mouths.  The wings and the head/beak on Mother Owl are small pieces of wool felt, glued in place.



The little bag, to keep all the pieces together, has owls on it too, of course! I made the bag in a simple construction with a drawstring top.  If you cut a piece of material to the size you need.  Turn the side edges, at the tops, in by a cm for about 5cm, turn the top edges over by about 1/2cm and pin, now turn the top edge over to create a tube for your cord, I turned over 2 1/2cm.  Pin and sew a seam on both ends of your fabric.  As close to this tube as you can cut the fabric so that the sides will sit flat, pin and sew the side seams.  Iron the seam and turn the right side out.  Cut your cord into two, I had a metre for this bag which is a little on the short side, and thread each piece through both tubes and knot on each side.  To close the bag pull on the knots to draw the top together.



An Owl Babies Storysack........



.........now I just need to finish another present for his sibling, their birthdays are a day apart!

Joining in with Nicole for a sharing of making and creating, pop over to see what others have been up to.....


20 comments:

  1. Wow - you are amazingly creative!!
    What a wonderful present.
    I think I will attempt making this drawstring bag (now that I've established some kind of working relationship with my sewing machine!!)

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    1. I was thinking of you when I wrote the post. This drawstring bag was one of the first pieces of sewing I did. We had a lot of them at the place I worked at for storing things in. I spent ages turning them inside out to see if I could work out how they were made. I have also lined them but that is a little more complicated and takes more time, which I didn't have on this occasion I will share how to do that another time!

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  2. This is such a sweet and thoughtful idea. What a great way for the children to use their imaginations. I will have to check that book out. We have a kindergartener who loves to read! Have a great day.

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  3. What a delightful present! I'm sure the recipient will find hours of pleasure playing and reading.

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  4. What great gift ideas! We also love Owl Babies as well as some of Martin Waddell's bear stories. Such a sweet gift set. You are so creative with your different figures. Thevpeg book looks like something my 9year old would really enjoy. Time to search the library.

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  5. Hello! I noticed you visited my blog a few times and always like to pay a visit in return, so... nice to meet you! I love being in touch with like-minded people and have been reading some of your posts.
    It's also nice to be in touch with people who understand being a stay-at-home mum and the reasons behind our decision.
    Sarah x

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    1. Hello and welcome, thank you for visiting :)

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  6. What a creative idea! I love it! This book is one of my daughter's all time favourites. It has helped her with her reading too.

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  7. Oh how wonderful, that's an absolutely lovely present. We really like "Owl Babies" as well, such a charming story.

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  8. Story sacks are great! I am sure the gift will be much appreciated.

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  9. A lovely idea to make a story sack! The owls are very sweet and the book looks interesting as well. Thank you for sharing!

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  10. Oh, we love Three Baby Owls! What a sweet spring project. Very inspiring:)

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  11. SO very cute!! We are owl (and Owl Babies) lovers over here, too. We have a mated pair of Barred owls in our neighborhood, and my girl has become a regular owl aficianado! I wonder if I have time to whip these up for her easter basket? hmm....

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  12. i love that they have their own home-sack and the pieces will stay together! great idea.

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  13. Well, that is what I call a lovely gift, so special!

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  14. Adorable! My younger three boys love this story, too (I substitute their names in place and they think that's really funny). What a lovely gift.
    As a little aside, I wonder if you might stop by mine, when you have a moment. I have a little message there for you under Monday's post. Thank you so much!

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  15. What a fabulous gift, one that will be treasured, I'm sure. I don't remember Owl Babies when my children were small, it seems to have passed us by.

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  16. I have been thinking of this exact thing lately. My youngest sister is expecting her first child and has asked for some childrens' books. I thought it would be lovely to make a play set to go with it. I like the idea of putting it in a "story sack". Thanks for sharing your idea with us

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Hello......would love to hear from you :)