"those hearts are nasty,

They taste like chalk!" My children weren't big fans of the little message heart candy that they dribbled all over the "valentine's cake". I gave them free reign with the decorating of the cake. I frost it and set it down on the kitchen table and walk away. It's great. So when they started biting in to the hard little candies, they weren't so excited about their decorating choices. Now we have a valentine's cake covered in potholes where little fingers have gone around removing the 'nasty' candies.

Another valentine gift that didn't go over so well was the gift I made for Dan. After seeing Blair's post, it was the push I needed to finally sit down and sew some of these rice bags that I've been meaning to make for quite some time.

I told Jennifer that I'd given up sewing for awhile, until life slowed down, but with some of her cute fabric staring at me, a little more time on my hands and some inspiration from Blair, I broke out (my friend's) sewing machine. (my machine is still out of commission...those darn knits!)

 

I think the rice bags would have been a hit, had I not gone the extra mile and put a little handful of dried lavender inside each bag.  That was the spoiler. I was simply trying to avoid that cooked rice smell. But now, the lavender smell was overpowering to Dan, enough that it sent him to bed clutching his stomach. We slept with a window open, if that tells you anything about how strong he thought the smell was. And I swear, the smell wasn't that strong, it's just that I also made a bag for each of the girls, myself and a friend. So I guess that adds up to a lot of lavender. And a whole heck of a lot of rice.

But nevertheless, my girls came through. They love them. We heat them up every night before bed--3 minutes each in the microwave. And they head off to slumberland with toasty warm toes.

(I altered Blair's pattern a little bit--I made the bag out of muslin and then sewed a separate cover with ties at one end. I figured there would mostly likely be a need to wash them in the future, knowing my children...)

And now that I have my sewing machine out, the requests are flying in from my children. The latest (and one that's sounds do-able) is a sleep bonnet/cap like Mary and Laura Ingalls wear in Little House on the Prairie. I can't really find any kind of pattern anywhere. Have any of you made one? I'm thinking just a circle with some elastic sewn in? Is that right? Help?? Anyone?

happy weekend everyone....see you on monday.

Comments

[Amy]

Yup, that's basically it. Hang on, I have instructions I'll scan for you.

Here, from The Children's Year... http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellaminnowpeas/2267382444/

[jesica]

have you tried out Angrychicken's bonnet pattern. I left off the brim of the bonnet and used flannel and wool to make a reversible very warm and cozy bonnet/hat that my kids love. I don't know about sleeping with something tied around your neck so the shower cap style might be safer. Good luck and I am so glad the package arrived and was a hit.

[Ella]

oops. well i love lavender but i understand that some people find it overwhelming. The bags and trim are really great.

[Eren]

I was thinking about angry chicken's pattern too.

Or I have seen them done with a rectangle of fabric with a casing done at one end, ribbone in the casing and pulled tight. This becomes the back of the bonnet. Then ribbon around the other end with ends long to tie it under your chin. I hope this makes sense. I did find one photo if it will help.

http://www.headcoverings.com/ChildrenOrder.htm

(down about half way on the right)

[Melissa]

Yep, my girls have those caps as well and I think the basic concept was two circles and elastic band, my friend added a ribbon bow for decoration.

The first time I made the rice bags years ago my hubby said he didn't like the lavender scent as well so I made new ones this year that are just rice. Everyone raved about those this year as they said the ones I made years ago had all been lost or were ruined from overuse.

[Bluebirdbaby]

I never did a separate bag and cover. I just made mine out of cozy flannel, stuffed with flax seeds and lavender. By the time the flannel was showing wear and tear, the flax would have been cooked so many times it started to smell a bit burnt, so I would just make another one.
It's so funny to see these all over the blog world now. I started making them back in high school and was just recently thinking about putting some in my shop. I guess I won't now...everyone's making them instead! :)

[Jen]

When I was a kid I hated the necco hearts, too, except for the minty green ones. And I wanted to be Laura Ingalls :) Little girls are so often the same, generation to generation, eh?

I used to make a lot of flax and lavender eye bags, and our house strongly smelled of it in some quarters. I loved it. Husband, not so much. Poor Dan! So much for good intentions!

[molly]

I've been making those rice bags for years too - I didn't know they were making a comeback. I made them as favors for Avery's birthday a few years back - Star Wars fabric for the boys, Strawberry Shortcake for the girls. For grown-ups, I use heavy cotton upholstery fabric and mix a little bit of mulling spices in with the rice. I'm with Dan on the lavender thing - makes me queasy. I used to have a sleeping cap made out of pink calico when I was five or six - my ballet class did a performance of Wee Willy Winky and we all wore pink nightgowns and caps. I hadn't thought about that cap for ages. Have fun sewing!

[Ellen]

This site lists directions for a mop cap which is what I think you're referring to. Scroll down. There's no picture, but it has directions. Hope that helps.
http://www.fancycostumes.co.uk/hats.htm

[Sarah S.]

Molly,
I got two caps in Williamsburg a few years ago for the girls. If you would like to borrow one let me know. You can stop by and pick one up. I also have a friend whos Mom made a praire bonnet for HES when she a toddler that you could borrow too. Remember we have big heads around here so it might be the right size. We got an audio version of Little House in the Big Woods for Christmas. It is a favorite in our house.
I am glad to hear your are using my machine. At least someone can use it. I will not be able to sew for a while.
Sarah

[Lori]

lol! poor dan .. i have an extreme sensitivity to smell, so much so that strong smells can trigger a migraine. in the movies, someone's perfume 12 rows away can ruin my night!

[Mama Urchin]

I love the chalk personally, and the lavender too.

[Faith]

Ha ha! That's funny about Dan. Tell him we say hello.

[Kristy]

My hubby hates the smell of warm lavender too.It makes him feel physically sick.Not a good effect for cosying up together!I think I'd give that a miss.The warm rice smells homely I think.
I must make some new ones for us.We tend to fight over the two we have at the minute!

[Morgan]

You gotta get that machine fixed : ) Missing you at the quilitng bee@

[Tonya]

Have you tried corn as a substitute for the rice? It smells sweet, but not overwelmingly so.

[meg evans]

I just made Little House "nightcaps" for my daughters a couple of weeks ago. I found a pattern--Simplicity 3725. I bought the pattern because it had the more traditional sun bonnet--but another one of the costumes had the nightcap style. It's pretty much two circles and some elastic. They love them. I don't think I've seen anything cuter than my girls getting into bed and putting on their nightcaps!

[Janice]

Field corn does work great for "rice" bags. Another alternative is to purchase some essential oil (I used peppermint). 2-4 drops of that makes a nice pleasant smell and you can buy what scent dh prefers :)