Santa’s Workshop: Children’s Toys

<<DISCLAIMER for my sister-in-law: Stop reading this post now if you want to be surprised in a few weeks!>>

Remember how about a week or two ago I went shopping for toys for my niece and I found the oh-so-appropriate children’s tramp stamp kit and ended up going home empty handed?

Well, I was originally shopping for little plastic toys in the shape of various foods. My niece is almost one and is really getting into playing with toys (and the odd plastic spoon, water bottle, or kleenex). A friend’s toddler has little plastic foods and enjoys playing with them, and, you know, since this is the Hungry Cook and all, food toys seem appropriate.

I was thinking of buying a small picnic basket to go along with the toys, to help contain them a bit when not in use and to play with when they are. I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for, but I did find a cute little two handled basket and bought some red and white gingham fabric to line it with.

Next step, buying the plastic food toys. Except, when I got to the store I noticed that the packaging said they were only for kids 3 years old and up. Nothing seemed particularly choke-able, but I decided to err on the side of safety and just make my own toys instead. My niece is very much in the chewing/teething stage right now, so I decided to sew some soft, stuffed felt fruits and vegetables for her to gnaw on play with (kinda trying to instill the healthy eating thing in her early on, too). It took a number of evenings, but I’m finally done!

Ta da! The “picnic” basket with a gingham storage bag for the toys:

I ran elastic around the mouth of the bag to help contain the toys, but the opening is still plenty big for a not-yet-coordinated baby to get her hands in and out of.

I decided to do an even split of fruits and vegetables. Maybe later on I’ll get a second wind and make some other foods to go with the set (I’ve got some cute ideas for breakfast foods). I made everything by hand using simple felt squares, embroidery thread, and polyester stuffing. I winged it on the design and cutting. (My dad saw the finished product and asked if I used a pattern. I told him, “We don’t need no stinkin’ patterns!”)

For the fruits, I made an apple, an orange, grapes, a pear, and a banana:

The grapes were the first thing I made. I improved upon the leafy tops by the time I got to the vegetables, but was proud of my first ever appliqué job!

For the veggies, I made a carrot, a potato, an eggplant, peas, and a radish:

I don’t actually know how to embroider properly, but my rudimentary skills were good enough for jazzing up the root vegetables.

Aren’t they cute?? I can’t wait to see her play with them!