5 Orange Potatoes » book review

monsters and bean bags and uglies, oh my!

5 Orange Potatoes — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:44:50 +0000

Monsters, bean bags, and Uglydolls have been very popular around here lately.

The photo of the bean bag below, designed by Araina and me, was meant to be a monster, but he looks more like a fish; stretch the imagination a little and perhaps he could pass as a sea serpent. Oh well, tomorrow we will be back to the drawing table creating more bean bag designs.

I knew about the popularity of Uglydolls, but didn’t know they had a series of books until I found them accidentally through Amazon (UGLYDOLL books ). They are hysterical and so imaginative, very kid friendly and match my girls’ sense of humor. Can’t help but love books that inspire a lot of oral reading, writing, creating, and designing by the little ladies.

“Aha, but what does UGLY mean?
UGLY means celebrating
who you are in the inside and
showing us what you’ve got!” -The Ugly Guide to the Uglyverse

“The best thing about the Uglyverse is that it can be anything it’s inhabitants want it to be……It’s there because someone thought it up!
If you see something in the real world, it started as an idea in someone’s mind!
So when someone tells you ‘It’s just your imagination,’ you’re really on to something.” -The Ugly Guide to Being Alive and Staying That Way

An example of the inspiration- Fauna’s made up UGLY:

Name- Baby Boo Bah
Age- too young
favorite color- blue
hobby- sleep
dislike- noise
likes- 1. sleep 2. drink 3. eat 4. himself
*he does not know his mom or dad because he sleeps so much!

The next natural thing for Fauna to do now is to make Baby Boo Bah out of a thrifted sweater! LOVE how their interests guide their learning! It’s a good thing!

making flower children by sybille adolphi

5 Orange Potatoes — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:54:31 +0000

This little fairy doll was inspired by the book, Making Flower Children,by Sybille Adolphi. My fairy doll is not in the book, but the book taught me how to put her together. It’s a lovely little book with patterns and instructions to make many little dollhouse-sized dolls that reflect flowers and insects that we see in our gardens. With the holidays right around the corner and knowing a lot of my crafty friends might be interested in this book- I’m giving one away.

This is what the back of the book says, “Here are detailed step-by-step instructions and illustrations for making a range of lively, creative flower figures. Activities are organized by season, making the book ideal for decorating a nature corner or seasonal table in the home or classroom.”

Here are some of the dolls included in the book.

To enter the giveaway just leave a comment. Anyone can enter, will ship world-wide! Deadline to enter is Wednesday, Sept. 30. Now to go and really start working on that gift list for the handmade holidays I’m doing this year. Have a lovely week! Giveaway Closed.

“toys to sew” book

5 Orange Potatoes — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:12:15 +0000

Here’s another one of my favorite books to giveaway- toys to sew: dozens of patterns for dolls, animals, doll clothes and accessories by Claire Garland. This is one of my favorites because of the easy projects and a chapter dedicated to FELT critters!

Claire shows you how to make a simple ragdoll and some simple clothing for her. She also offers variations of the basic doll, there is a ballerina, angel, pirate and a boy. She includes templates for clothing as well.

Claire also has directions and patterns for various animals: elephant, crocodile, turtle, bear, a pull-along elephant, sock dog, monkey, tiger and puppy.

The sewing with felt chapter has a lot of fun critters. She has directions for felt dinosaurs, dino egg bag,

hobby horse, cat and mouse skittles game,

bears, a retro tea set, and these super cute felt houses!

To enter the giveaway, you must leave a comment. To get an extra chance follow this blog. Giveaway closes Friday evening when winner will be announced. GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Sock Doll Book Review

5 Orange Potatoes — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:21:18 +0000

Not a felty giveaway this time but a charming book- Stray Sock Sewing- Making One of a Kind Creatures from Socks by Daniel. This is a great book for beginning sewers. Fauna and Araina LOVE the corky creatures in this book, all made from socks.

Part one of the book is “All About Sock Dolls”

This section of the book has examples of Daniel’s many sock dolls; with fantastic and fun photos of the possibilities to sock making. The dolls are set up in the cutest scenarios with witty things to say!

Part 2 “The Basics of Making Sock Dolls”

This section includes materials, tools and great step by step instructions for basic stitches.

Part 3- “Projects Step by Step”
And he really means step by step photographed instructions! Fauna (almost 8yo) doesn’t have any trouble with the instructions. He shows you step by step, including how to stuff the socks properly, for 8 different types of sock dolls- mini doll, cat, pig, rabbit, elephant, bear, zebra and hippo.

You only need to leave a comment to enter the giveaway. You have until Friday, August 14th to enter. I will announce the winner Friday afternoon.

Giveaway Closed.