Loving These Handmade Gifts

My grand daughter turned two years old last week. Her parents and I wondered how this could be?? Those two years have buzzed by and here she is, a toddler who talks a blue streak, is starting to be potty trained, and has perfected the all-important sentence “I can do it myself”.

Oak and walnut step stool created by Grandpa.

My husband and I wanted to make her a gift from each of us. As one would expect, his was made of wood and mine of fabric. Ray made her a pretty step stool. My DIL actually asked him to make this. Recently they converted her crib to a toddler bed and it is a tiny bit tall for her still.

He laminated strips of oak and walnut together to make the top. Then he framed it with walnut. Always one to think of safety, he angled the legs on the bottom so it wouldn’t tip as she stepped on and off of it. He also put little grips on the bottom of each leg making it hug the floor for safety as well as avoiding any scratches on their hardwood flooring.

She loves her little seat. Such a sweet girl.

Gram-gram chose to make a little bassinet for her dollies and stuffed animals. H is at that age where she loves to put things and people to bed. Sometimes a doll or stuffed animal, sometimes her Gram-gram or her daddy – she loves to cover you up with a little blanket and say pat-pat when she tucks you in. Oh my heart.

I used a tutorial on Sew Mama Sew for this project. It was very fun to make. Nothing too unusual in the process at all, just boxed in corners, a lining of a stiff, fusible batting and a ruffle to decorate the outside. I used a home dec fabric from Jo-Ann’s for the outside. I love the whimsical birds. The lining, ruffle and pillow are made with a purple Kona cotton.

The bed was a little bit ‘floppy’ so before adding the band above the ruffle, I lined it with a stiff, fusible interfacing. That seemed to give it more structure.

A soft little dolly quilt too!

Of course a doll bed needs a little quilt! I used this little floral and just quilted a few lines across it each way. It is just the right size to tuck in a dolly or stuffed animal.

She loved it!

My grand daughter was all smiles when I gave it to her. She immediately loaded it up with a little doll and her stuffed elephant. (I blocked out the name on her hat, that is why it looks a little strange!)

How many animals can sleep in one little bed?

I really loved making this for her and hope she will play with it for a long time to come.

Using the little cushion as her own pillow. Testing out the softness for her baby dolls?

Of course she felt the need to do a little bit of quality control and lay on the cushion from the bed. Any good mommy has to make sure her dollies will be cozy, right?

Happy birthday to this two year old. Such a fun time for her as well as Gram-gram and Grandpa. Linking up with my usuals plus two new (for me) Linkys – one is called Show Off Saturday and the other is at The Crafty Quilter. Check the others out at the top of the page, under link ups!!

Remember that this Saturday, March 16th is National Quilting Day. Check your email first thing Saturday morning for a newsletter announcing some fun deals for just that day only! If you don’t subscribe to the Needle and Foot newsletter, this might be a good time to sign up!! Click here to subscribe – and remember, I won’t use your email address for anything else, nor will I share it.

PS – If you would like to see more of my husband’s woodworking, follow him on Instagram! He is @kringelwoods and is a talented kind of guy. (I may be a bit biased, but still….)

33 thoughts on “Loving These Handmade Gifts

  1. Roseanne

    Hi Bernie! Oh that picture of H sitting on that little stool just warms my heart. Doesn’t she just look SO adorable?!! I know you are shaking your head, YES. And the bassinet for her baby (and elephant) is so very cool. Yes, I can just hear the sentence I can do it myself. Yes she can ’cause she’s a big girl now. Aww, thanks for sharing the sweet pictures. I’m going to PIN your bassinet because my sweet girl is only 2 months so I have a ways to go before she needs a bassinet for herself. You’re paving the way for me and showing me all the things I need to make! Happy Friday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      So glad you enjoyed the post Roseanne. You are going to love making all these fun things for your grand daughter too! It won’t be long. 😉

      Reply
  2. Elana

    Bernie this is so precious. What wonderful gifts for your adorable granddaughter. Those will be cherished for years to come.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      That is what we are hoping. I love some of the items that were made for my kids when they were little and we still have them.

      Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Hi Sarah! Nice to hear from you. Yes, we hope she will play with these all the time. She does drag that wooden stool around to reach light switches, see out the window etc. I think she will enjoy both gifts.

      Reply
  3. Wendy

    Love the picture of H reading her book and sitting on that beautiful stool! That will be a family heirloom for years to come. The little bassinet for her dollies is so cute! Love how happy she is with it. How can she be 2 already?!? What fun memories you are building with her!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      I agree – where did the two years go? Before you know it, we will be receiving ‘first day of kindergarten’ pictures. We need to slow down time!!!

      Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      I bet your niece would love this! It was really easy to make – you won’t have any difficulty. The only thing I would change is I think I overstuffed the little mattress. I wish I had made it ‘flatter’ so it would be easier to put her babies in. Not a huge thing but just thought I would let you know. Have fun if you do make one!

      Reply
  4. Barb Neiwert

    “Oh my heart” is right, and she’s not even my granddaughter, lol! Your photos are so good and capture the love that surrounds her. So nice to have handmade, heartfelt items to enhance her life!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      What a sweet comment Barb. Thank you. I know they just got married but hope you get to be a Grammy some day too. It is the best!!

      Reply
  5. Deb E / CA

    LOVED your post! What great gifts you both gave your granddaughter! Part of our granddaughters Christmas presents this year was a collection of smallish quilts in varying prints, blocks & sizes as our granddaughter loves to put her ‘babies’ to bed, too.

    Reply
  6. Carol Elbert

    Bernie, your granddaughter is so adorable! And your gifts are wonderful. I’m still smiling from the pleasure of seeing this post.

    Reply
  7. Cherie

    You are certainly a good Gram Gram. Who wouldn’t be with such a precious child. I enjoy reading about all the great things you are making for her.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      I have really enjoyed sewing for her these last couple of months. She is at such a fun age and there are so many projects to make. Just not enough hours in the day, right??

      Reply
  8. JanineMarie

    Oh my goodness, you both thought of everything in these marvelous gifts! Such a sweet way to celebrate her 2nd birthday. Two years old! How can that be?

    Reply
  9. Leanne Parsons

    Handmade gifts are the best! Your husband is definitely talented and the stool is perfect. The little bed for her dolls looks like it will get a lot of very adorable use 🙂

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Thank you Leanne. I know you share my love of making gifts for people. I appreciate your sweet feedback! Hope all is well up there in snow country. 🙂

      Reply
  10. Melody

    Bernie, You may remember that my granddaughter also turned two in March. (We should all want a red tricycle for our birthdays – what fun!) So, now you’ve inspired me to raid the stash for materials and print the directions to make a sweet carrycot for her ‘Peppa’ 🙂
    I’m wondering what interfacing you used for the cot sides – would a 101 provide enough body? (And might I also interface the band?)
    Thanks for the inspiration, Melody in NY

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Hi Melody, for the sides of the cot I used a fusible fleece. It made it nice and soft but wasn’t very stiff. So I used a heavy duty fusible pellon for that contrast band around the top. I don’t honestly know which one though. It was fairly stiff. Have fun making this. I bet your grand daughter just loves it!

      Reply

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