Day 256
After 13 years of post-college employment, I left the work force for a few years after my first child was born. There are many wonderful blogs out there completely dedicated to documenting the challenges and joys of making that particular transition. So, I won’t elaborate.
I will just say after alphabetizing the spice cabinets, painting every room in the house, color coding my infants wardrobe by shades of pink and planting a garden in Dante’s Phoenix in June, which as you can probably imagine didn’t have the most satisfying outcome; I turned my mania to crafts.
That sound like a good therapeutic hobby, doesn’t it? Stay at home mom creates all kinds of beautiful items for her home and children. Except for me, there was no LEISURE about it. There was no joy in the creation, just a frenetic desire to get it done– finish.
I taught myself to knit by reading, Knitting for Dummies. That’s not a joke. The book starts with potholders. I made three and then promptly spent over a hundred dollars on yarn to make my infant a sweater that I worked on every available moment until it was complete.
I can quit any time…
And it was lovely, except I didn’t really understand the whole thing about sizing and I ended up with a sweater that was so large, she is actually wearing it now, nine years later. That was the first and last sweater I ever knitted.
My knitting flame burned too bright…
The sweater today
I truly do appreciate hand fashioned items. But, I eventually came to the realization, not only for my own sanity, but the sanity of those around me, that I should really limit my personal artistic pursuits to projects that can be completed in an evening or less. This is why The Simple Year does not contain more great crafty and upcycling solutions. I tend to get a bit out of control.
So recently when I tried to help my youngest, Kelsey into her PJ’s and the elastic gave one last gasp and let loose for good, I thought that the nightwear was headed to the scrap heap.
But then I was inspired while watching a game of tug-o-war between the dog and the child. And the girls and I set about creating a line of DOG PAJAMA TOYS. Although, in the future if we use other types of cast off clothes, we might need to tweak the name a bit so don’t get too attached to it.
Cut strips
Knotting and Braiding
Almost like the $4.99-19.99 versions at Petsmart
Our product consultant approves
Do you know the best thing? The clothes get a second use AND the toys take less than five minutes each to make. And that, my friends, is simple.
Love the sweater! The fact that it fits now, and you kept it this long, made me snort coffe out my nose! Something else used pajama pants and kid shirts are good for? Heating pads. Get a large bag of rice – like super large Costco size – (does that count as a consumable???). Cut off the leg of pajamas. Sew one end tight. Fill with rice. Sew the other end shut – tight. Microwave for 3 minutes, and voila! You have a reusable heating pad 🙂
I think this is a great idea and I will be using it in the future on things that aren’t worthy of being donated to live a longer life as the original item. Because dogs don’t care if their toys have little holes, rips, or stains.
I love this and your writing style!!!
Your blog is hysterical and what you’re doing this year is amazing.
that’s a great idea u can also use used socks and stuff them for dog toys i do this a lot for my puppy!