Disboutiquers Part 28 Kids Disney Boutique / Customs Clothes psst..we sew ;-)

[SallyfromDE]

Okay, now I have a QUESTION

I made the fab five themed skirts and I need to work on the shirts to go with them. WHAT COLOR SHIRTS should I get for the two skirts pictured below if I want to use the applique design shown?

Since the Mickey head needs to have a white background it won't work on a white shirt (or will it?). I thought about maybe yellow, or possibly a pink one for the Daisy one. Thoughts?

Thanks!
Sunshine

How about a red shirt. Or if you used white, could you use the white fabric and another color, or varigated thread? I don't know what the other one looks like, so I can't comment.

For centering, since you don't have a printer, most machines have a way to baste down the rectangular outline of the design, usually for if you need an overlayment or interfacing. Check your user manual on your machine. I know on Vikings, it's a special button you push, but I don't remember on the other machines. I'm sorry I'm not more help, but since my injury, I haven't been able to sew or embroider, and it's amazing how quickly you forget.

It's not so much centering it, as being able to tell how the necklace is going to stitch out on the shirt. That's why a print out is helpful. You can see how close to the neckline you want to go. But I'll make them work as they are. It didn't help that I didn't really feel like doing them. I wanted them for a bday present (and it's a little kid and she'll never know how bad they are). I thought about doing some for myself when we go away, but I'll make sure I can print out the pictures for those.

 

[TinkNH]

Okay, now I have a QUESTION

I made the fab five themed skirts and I need to work on the shirts to go with them. WHAT COLOR SHIRTS should I get for the two skirts pictured below if I want to use the applique design shown?

Since the Mickey head needs to have a white background it won't work on a white shirt (or will it?). I thought about maybe yellow, or possibly a pink one for the Daisy one. Thoughts?

Thanks!
Sunshine

My first thought was red for donald and pink for Daisy but not sure how I would like the red as more than an accent...so I like the felt idea or how about a light blue?

I need some help. I just finished the easy fit shorts for my son in a size 2 (He is 14 months old). Anyways I am having a snafu with the hem. When I go to hem them the 2.5" they are extremely close to the crotch/leg seam (where the crotch and leg are connected) and when you got to hem them they pucker in that area because they are so close. Plus I would like him to have additional room in that area for his diaper. Is my best option to reduce the hem some by like 1/2"-1" so that it isn't so close? I hope I didn't do something wrong. It all came together easy enough but then that stupid hem is driving me nuts. Also after measuring your child's waist how many inches do you reduce your elastic cut? I did my son's waist measurement minus 4" and they fit fine. It's just so hard because I would like them to fit in September when we go and it's hard to know how much he will grow. Thanks!!!

I had the SAME issue with the first pair I made..the inseam was shorter than the hem....my 4 yr old is really thin and short legged, so when i folded the hem it went over the crotch. I just trimmed the excess and made the hem 1.5 inches instead, still room if I want to let the hem down at some point, but eliminated the problem.
I did the same with the elastic and they fit but seem snug to me so next pair I am going to do his waist minus only 2 inches.

They look adorable..your little man is so cute!!!

 

[miprender]

I have to show you these cute tshirts, although I am super embroidery challenged in doing them. Of course, not doing placement to directions could be a problem You print out the picture for placement, but I don't have printer right now, so I tried to improvise.

Cinderella gave me fits, I broke 6 needles and can't begin to count how many times the thread broke. I finally remembered that on my last project I wanted to try a prewound bobbin. I finished the shirt anyway as a tester.

Snow was the second one. I should have given up while I was ahead. The neck line is crooked and I had the interfacine off a couple of times trying to get it straight. Anyway, it is way off center and the neck makes it look even worse.

I thought I finally got the placement right. I measured, and re-measured. But it's still off. I think I'm finally getting there!!

I'm going to give Tink a try next. Try to do a better job of centering it. I was making them for a gift, and I don't really want to do them again. The other "stitchers" were putting little bows at the top of the necklace. I think I might try that to try and camoflague how off center they are.

Kirsta thinks they are creepy! Little heads on a necklace. I've done other designs from Nobbie Neez, but I found these were pretty dense in places and stitched out just okay. But they are cute and you get the idea of who they are.

I checked out her website on FB. She has some cute designs.

I

Okay, now I have a QUESTION

I made the fab five themed skirts and I need to work on the shirts to go with them. WHAT COLOR SHIRTS should I get for the two skirts pictured below if I want to use the applique design shown?

Since the Mickey head needs to have a white background it won't work on a white shirt (or will it?). I thought about maybe yellow, or possibly a pink one for the Daisy one. Thoughts?

Thanks!
Sunshine

Those skirts are adorable.


[/QUOTE]My son modeling

Here they are compared to the pattern. I think I got top and bottom right but I wouldn't be entirely surprised if I didn't. I am pretty sure I double-checked before sewing because she has that little box that says don;t mix them up but who knows?

See how close that giant hem comes to the crotch.

The bunching around the crotch seam[/QUOTE]

Seems like when you sewed the crotch something went wrong but we have all done that before

Also I cheat with the hem. I sew the hem first before I even assemble any of the pieces

 

[miprender]

Down to only two more days to finish

So can anyone guess where we are heading this day

The outfit was to be for the launch until I put a tiny hole in the shirt. With no time to make another one DD is the lucky one who gets to wear it :lol:

 

[TinkerbelleMom]

You can also do zig zag over dental floss -- my periodontist always gives out a huge roll of icky floss so I save his for the occasion! I've never used a petti for dd -- I guarantee she wouldn't wear one and would complain it itched all the time. The skirts are full enough without on anyway, but they sure look cute with one

I'm at the yucky floss comment, because I'm a dental hygienist, and I know what you mean, I only give out the good stuff! We've got the yucky stuff because that's what the Dr prefers, but you won't find it in my room, or in the care packages I send home with my patients.

I've vetoed the petti, I know she will want it off before we're in the park for an hour. And yes, she to make it twirl!!!

 

[VBAndrea]

Down to only two more days to finish

So can anyone guess where we are heading this day

The outfit was to be for the launch until I put a tiny hole in the shirt. With no time to make another one DD is the lucky one who gets to wear it :lol:

Love the DHS set! Then again, I love everything you've done so far! You must spend a lot of time on the appliques -- you do ones with soooooo much detail! They look great though!

I'm at the yucky floss comment, because I'm a dental hygienist, and I know what you mean, I only give out the good stuff! We've got the yucky stuff because that's what the Dr prefers, but you won't find it in my room, or in the care packages I send home with my patients.

I've vetoed the petti, I know she will want it off before we're in the park for an hour. And yes, she to make it twirl!!!

Had no clue you were a hygienist! Yep, they tell me to use dental tape (which I do and highly prefer it) and then in my goodie bag I get a 500 yd roll of this thin icky stuff -- perfect for sewing!

 

[PurpleEars]

For the tote I wanted to make the pocket piano keys all around. I saw an on line tut, but they were hand sewn and I was hoping I could finagle the rectangle on my embroidery machine but it wouldn't reduce to the right dimensions. There was no way I was going to do 40 rectangles by hand. So plan B was I found an on line applique for a set of piano keys -- I did two sets on one pocket and then on the other side I put some of Heather's music notes. It will still be cute, but not exactly what I was hoping for. All I did yesterday was cut fabric and applique the pockets. And today I have to take dd to the hospital to have her sutures removed which sounds very simple but travel time and wait time will make this an all afternoon event. I will pick her up from school at 1130 for a 1315 appt and hope to get done and back to school by 1530 to pick up ds -- I have to go over a draw bridge and through a tunnel to get to the hospital and then sometimes it takes 20-30 minutes to find a parking spot in the garage (I am NOT exaggerating). Traffic going home will be a royal mess if we don't get out of there before 2:30pm b/c there is a ship yard near there that has the same shifts as the hospital.

DD's teacher is NOT an awful teacher -- it's more so her personality getting on my nerves. She is very young and an overly excessive braggart! Her constant boasting is what is killing me -- she even started off her monthly news letter gloating And my dd is a bit of a show-off at times as well and I fear seeing her teacher like this will only make dd worse. Thankfully only two more weeks of school and next year we transfer back to the other campus so dd goes back to having a teacher she's had twice before that we LOVE! REally crappy thing is dd started the year with an awesome teacher, but after about one to two months she became pg and was put on bedrest so we lost her.

The tote sounds great. I can't wait to see a picture of it. I hope the suture removal wasn't too bad. It's a good thing that you will get the teacher that you both like next year.

I have to show you these cute tshirts, although I am super embroidery challenged in doing them. Of course, not doing placement to directions could be a problem You print out the picture for placement, but I don't have printer right now, so I tried to improvise.

Cinderella gave me fits, I broke 6 needles and can't begin to count how many times the thread broke. I finally remembered that on my last project I wanted to try a prewound bobbin. I finished the shirt anyway as a tester.

Snow was the second one. I should have given up while I was ahead. The neck line is crooked and I had the interfacine off a couple of times trying to get it straight. Anyway, it is way off center and the neck makes it look even worse.

I thought I finally got the placement right. I measured, and re-measured. But it's still off. I think I'm finally getting there!!

I'm going to give Tink a try next. Try to do a better job of centering it. I was making them for a gift, and I don't really want to do them again. The other "stitchers" were putting little bows at the top of the necklace. I think I might try that to try and camoflague how off center they are.

Kirsta thinks they are creepy! Little heads on a necklace. I've done other designs from Nobbie Neez, but I found these were pretty dense in places and stitched out just okay. But they are cute and you get the idea of who they are.

I like the designs!

I just wanted to post that My Boyfriend works at a Walmart that just got back their fabric section and he came home with pics of Disney fabrics that were in the store to show me what they had, and I said yes I need them all HAHAHAHA. I love that Man

Cool!

Okay, now I have a QUESTION

I made the fab five themed skirts and I need to work on the shirts to go with them. WHAT COLOR SHIRTS should I get for the two skirts pictured below if I want to use the applique design shown?

Since the Mickey head needs to have a white background it won't work on a white shirt (or will it?). I thought about maybe yellow, or possibly a pink one for the Daisy one. Thoughts?

Thanks!
Sunshine

I would suggest going with a yellow and a pink shirt.

Ok ladies this is my first time posting pics. Hopefully these show up.

My son modeling

It looks like you had the pattern pieces lined up correctly, so I would make the hem shorter.

Good news and Great news!!!


First, I changed the needle and thread on my machine... it worked fine. It must have been the bobbin I was using! almost done 2 pairs of shorts already.

Second~ AND BETTER... Embroidery machine is here!! So far so good!

I did end up in the ER with Alli today, but she is feeling much better. So much for going back to school full time (she went back yesterday for the first time in 10 weeks).

On to sewing!!

So sorry to hear that Alli was in the ER. I am glad to hear that your sewing world is looking up though.

Down to only two more days to finish

So can anyone guess where we are heading this day

The outfit was to be for the launch until I put a tiny hole in the shirt. With no time to make another one DD is the lucky one who gets to wear it :lol:

Wow! Those outfits look great!

 

[zuzu310]

My first thought was red for donald and pink for Daisy but not sure how I would like the red as more than an accent...so I like the felt idea or how about a light blue?



I had the SAME issue with the first pair I made..the inseam was shorter than the hem....my 4 yr old is really thin and short legged, so when i folded the hem it went over the crotch. I just trimmed the excess and made the hem 1.5 inches instead, still room if I want to let the hem down at some point, but eliminated the problem.
I did the same with the elastic and they fit but seem snug to me so next pair I am going to do his waist minus only 2 inches.

They look adorable..your little man is so cute!!!

Bleive me, my son is quite the ham. Glad to know that someone else had this problem. After looking at it more closely the bunching was caused by the hem overlapping the crotch seam slightly. So I will cut off the excess tonight and only hem about 1-1.5 inches. Yeah the elastic seems a little snug so I think I will only do 2-3 inches next time. Hope I can get these cranked out. I have lots of cute fabric to work with for our trip and some skirts to make for myself. Thanks for everyone's help!!!!

 

[zuzu310]

So I fixed the shorts tonight and here are my final products. I had the skirt done for Memorial Day but couldn't get baby's shorts done so we will wear them on the 4th of July and these will be our Epcot outfits.

My skirt with pockets!

Baby's shorts...His shorts are made with the same fabric on the stripe of my skirt

Closeup of the skirt

 

[teresajoy]

Good news and Great news!!!


First, I changed the needle and thread on my machine... it worked fine. It must have been the bobbin I was using! almost done 2 pairs of shorts already.

Second~ AND BETTER... Embroidery machine is here!! So far so good!

I did end up in the ER with Alli today, but she is feeling much better. So much for going back to school full time (she went back yesterday for the first time in 10 weeks).

On to sewing!!

YAY!!!! about your machines!!!!

I'm so sorry about Alli though.

I sew all the tiers then attach the tiers together starting with gathering the ruffle first -- I go from largest to smallest to make my last row of gathering the easiest. Make sense or clear as mud?

Yes! That does make sense, thank you!!!

When I had stitches in my hand (along my wrists from carpal tunnel surgery) it didn't hurt at all to take them out. Of course, that area is still numb on my wrists 20 years later.

Down to only two more days to finish

So can anyone guess where we are heading this day

The outfit was to be for the launch until I put a tiny hole in the shirt. With no time to make another one DD is the lucky one who gets to wear it :lol:

FABUOUS outfits!!! You guys are going to get lots of attention!

Had no clue you were a hygienist! Yep, they tell me to use dental tape (which I do and highly prefer it) and then in my goodie bag I get a 500 yd roll of this thin icky stuff -- perfect for sewing!

See, they probably know you use it for sewing and are trying to be nice by gi giving it to you!

So I fixed the shorts tonight and here are my final products. I had the skirt done for Memorial Day but couldn't get baby's shorts done so we will wear them on the 4th of July and these will be our Epcot outfits.

My skirt with pockets!

Baby's shorts...His shorts are made with the same fabric on the stripe of my skirt

Closeup of the skirt

You look so cute!!! And, I love the pockets in the skirt! Arminda has requested that I make her a bunch of skirts with pockets!

 

[nannye]

GRRR okay need some advice maybe on what we couldn have done wrong, errrr what my mom could have done wrong. She made Carla C's Precious Dress Pattern for the 18 inch doll. She followed the pattern instructions to a T, had all the right pattern pieces etc... gets it done and it doesn't fit the AG doll. We couldn't get it over her bottom! It's way too small! Any ideas on what went wrong?

I am starting my first dress tomorrow! Well that is if we get the doll figured out.

 

[TwinMamaTastic]

I am BRAND new to sewing and embroidering. I just bought the Brother SE400 machine and am getting ready to break it in.

My twins will be turning 2 the end of July. I am doing a Dr. Seuss Thing 1, Thing 2 theme (Is this thread for Disney only? Im sorry if it is!)

I am planning on making them matching hats, and shorts and a skirt (I have a boy and girl) with matching shirts. Maybe a matching shirt for hubby and I if I can convince him to wear it!

Now, here are my questions for all of you creative ones (I seriously lack imagination!)...

I want to make the favors. The kids will range from age 1-6.

I was thinking of

1.) Crayon rolls, Car rolls, or both so the kids can pick which they want. Im not sure if giving them an option will open it up for fighting though.
2.) Making medium sized bags for them and putting some bubbles and other trinkets in there. I know some of the Dads wont want their boys to carry around a "purse" though, and I dont want any of the kids to be left out
3.) Any options you all can suggest.....??

Id like to try to keep the cost around $3-$5 per favor.

AND.... If you have any cute party ideas, feel free to share! Im making the invites with the Cricut. Its going to be a fishbowl with the directions inside, and a red fish and blue fish swimming at the top. Im so excited!!

(I did the min 3 bananas, LOL!)

 

[teresajoy]

GRRR okay need some advice maybe on what we couldn have done wrong, errrr what my mom could have done wrong. She made Carla C's Precious Dress Pattern for the 18 inch doll. She followed the pattern instructions to a T, had all the right pattern pieces etc... gets it done and it doesn't fit the AG doll. We couldn't get it over her bottom! It's way too small! Any ideas on what went wrong?

I am starting my first dress tomorrow! Well that is if we get the doll figured out.

What size seam allowance did she use?
Did she measure the test square on the pattern pieces to make sure they printed out at the right size?
Did you try going the other way with the dress? Over the doll's head?

 

[nannye]

What size seam allowance did she use?
Did she measure the test square on the pattern pieces to make sure they printed out at the right size?
Did you try going the other way with the dress? Over the doll's head?

yes we measured the square to be sure. I'm not sure of the seam allowance she used, I'll have to check, but it looked pretty tiny. We did try going over the dolls head (nope )

 

[nannye]

I've spent all night searching on Ebay and Etsy looking for canadian Flag Mickey heads. Preferably iron on patches or whatever so I can make t-shirts for V and I for our Epcot day. I am at a loss, either I am coming up with the wrong search terms or what I can find anything else but. Does anyone have a recommendation of where else to look?

Thanks TIA
Erin

 

[teresajoy]

I've spent all night searching on Ebay and Etsy looking for canadian Flag Mickey heads. Preferably iron on patches or whatever so I can make t-shirts for V and I for our Epcot day. I am at a loss, either I am coming up with the wrong search terms or what I can find anything else but. Does anyone have a recommendation of where else to look?

Thanks TIA
Erin

yes we measured the square to be sure. I'm not sure of the seam allowance she used, I'll have to check, but it looked pretty tiny. We did try going over the dolls head (nope )

I've never actually made the dolly version, but I do have one that Carla made for my girls and it fits them really well.

I sent you a PM.

 

[teresajoy]

yes we measured the square to be sure. I'm not sure of the seam allowance she used, I'll have to check, but it looked pretty tiny. We did try going over the dolls head (nope )

I just printed out my pattern and measured it and then measured Arminda's Josefina. The pattern measured out to 14" around and Josefina's posterior measured 12", which would seem like plenty of room to get on. What is yours measuring either across (7") or around (14") ?

 

[VBAndrea]

Not the best pictures, but these are the totes I have been working on recently:

For DD's teacher -- I originally bought the exterior fabric on clearance at Joann's to make dd a pillow case dress. Still never tried a pillow case dress. Anywhoo, this teacher went to Kenya on a missionary trip last year and talks about it a lot (as in over and over and over and over and over...keep inserting loads of overs.....again) and the fabric kind of appeared like the colors I saw when saw when there (see, I've been to Kenya too but I don't talk about it incessantly). This teacher has honestly become so annoying with her personality that I'm tempted to keep the bag, but anyway, here it is:

This bag is for ds's teacher. She is awesome -- very hard which ds doesn't so much care for but teaches in a very unique way -- doens't teach by text books and provides tons of hands experiences (she will not be back next year -- she is staying home with her baby). I really didn't mean for the colors to be so "fall" (as in the season) but I wanted to use fabrics I had on hand:

And this is for DD's piano teacher -- we love her. She also teaches music at a local grade school. This bag didn't turn out like I wanted to -- my goal was to make my own piano keys all around the pockets but my choices were to hand applique them (no tanks, would have been too many keys) or reduce the size of the rectangle my machine came with -- it wouldn't reduce to the proper size. So plan B: but the keyboard applique and use music notes of Heather's that I had already purchased for another project. I likewise didn't want to applique on the black fabric (which has treble clefs all over which I thought were non-directional and after cutting found out they were non directional in two dimensions, not four ) but it looked empty so I added some of Heather's fill notes and one other design I had to buy:

Piano teacher also didn't get two complete rows of interior pockets b/c I ran out of fabric. I made all bags extra large so they can put ring binders in them and still snap them closed. The only bag I had to buy things for was the piano teacher -- ran out of decorbond, had to buy the lining fabric and the other appliques. This saves me the $$$ I normally spend on AmEx gift cards at the end of the year and $ is tight this summer.

 

[VBAndrea]

So I fixed the shorts tonight and here are my final products. I had the skirt done for Memorial Day but couldn't get baby's shorts done so we will wear them on the 4th of July and these will be our Epcot outfits.

My skirt with pockets!

Baby's shorts...His shorts are made with the same fabric on the stripe of my skirt

Closeup of the skirt

They all turned out fabulous! I love that you made pockets for your skirt! Did you use a pattern or just make up the pockets on your own?

GRRR okay need some advice maybe on what we couldn have done wrong, errrr what my mom could have done wrong. She made Carla C's Precious Dress Pattern for the 18 inch doll. She followed the pattern instructions to a T, had all the right pattern pieces etc... gets it done and it doesn't fit the AG doll. We couldn't get it over her bottom! It's way too small! Any ideas on what went wrong?

I am starting my first dress tomorrow! Well that is if we get the doll figured out.

My guess would have been printing the pattern incorrectly but I see you said you measured it. I don't have that pattern but everything else I've made of hers that was for AG dolls fits great (better than the way the real AG doll clothes fit). I did buy some preprinted fabrics at Walmart (clearance $1) with doll outfits that are supposed to fit 18 inch dolls and they are way too small -- and I bought 4 sheets so it was a waste of $4!

I am BRAND new to sewing and embroidering. I just bought the Brother SE400 machine and am getting ready to break it in.

My twins will be turning 2 the end of July. I am doing a Dr. Seuss Thing 1, Thing 2 theme (Is this thread for Disney only? Im sorry if it is!)

I am planning on making them matching hats, and shorts and a skirt (I have a boy and girl) with matching shirts. Maybe a matching shirt for hubby and I if I can convince him to wear it!

Now, here are my questions for all of you creative ones (I seriously lack imagination!)...

I want to make the favors. The kids will range from age 1-6.

I was thinking of

1.) Crayon rolls, Car rolls, or both so the kids can pick which they want. Im not sure if giving them an option will open it up for fighting though.
2.) Making medium sized bags for them and putting some bubbles and other trinkets in there. I know some of the Dads wont want their boys to carry around a "purse" though, and I dont want any of the kids to be left out
3.) Any options you all can suggest.....??

Id like to try to keep the cost around $3-$5 per favor.

AND.... If you have any cute party ideas, feel free to share! Im making the invites with the Cricut. Its going to be a fishbowl with the directions inside, and a red fish and blue fish swimming at the top. Im so excited!!

(I did the min 3 bananas, LOL!)

I think if you make either a crayon roll or artist portfolio for each child that would be enough. Add in the crayons and a small pad of paper. I am one who prefers to give one decent gift than a goodie bag full of junk -- for example, I did a camping sleepover for ds's last birthday and each child got a n embroidered t-shirt and a decent flashlight (small one, but good one -- about $4 each). That was it. No bag of junk. You will also find that Suess fabric is expensive, so my adice would be to just do an artist protfolio with Suess fabric on the outside and something coordinating on the inside:
http://sycamorestirrings.blogspot.com/2010/06/coloring-travel-pack.html

And we show photos of everything we make on here - Disney or not!

I've spent all night searching on Ebay and Etsy looking for canadian Flag Mickey heads. Preferably iron on patches or whatever so I can make t-shirts for V and I for our Epcot day. I am at a loss, either I am coming up with the wrong search terms or what I can find anything else but. Does anyone have a recommendation of where else to look?

Thanks TIA
Erin

Try contacting Tricia -- I am almost positive she will make them for you and sell them to you. I don't know her shop name, but she posts on here from time to time.

 

[dianemom2]

Sally I saw your posted these on FB too. How about doing the embroidery onto felt and then sewing them exactly where you want them on the shirts? If you use yellow felt, maybe it will look like gold on the necklace. Or you could use felt that coordinated with the shirt so that it doesn't stand out much at all.

Okay, now I have a QUESTION

I made the fab five themed skirts and I need to work on the shirts to go with them. WHAT COLOR SHIRTS should I get for the two skirts pictured below if I want to use the applique design shown?

Since the Mickey head needs to have a white background it won't work on a white shirt (or will it?). I thought about maybe yellow, or possibly a pink one for the Daisy one. Thoughts?

Thanks!
Sunshine

I like the idea of a red shirt and a pink shirt. I think they would look great with your skirts.

Down to only two more days to finish

So can anyone guess where we are heading this day

Another fabulous set for your vacation! You are going to get some great pictures of your family in all your wonderful outfits.

My skirt with pockets!

Baby's shorts...His shorts are made with the same fabric on the stripe of my skirt

Closeup of the skirt

The skirt and the shorts look terrific. I also never do such a large hem on the easy fit pants or shorts. I always just do a regular sized hem on them.

My twins will be turning 2 the end of July. I am doing a Dr. Seuss Thing 1, Thing 2 theme (Is this thread for Disney only? Im sorry if it is!)

I am planning on making them matching hats, and shorts and a skirt (I have a boy and girl) with matching shirts. Maybe a matching shirt for hubby and I if I can convince him to wear it!

Now, here are my questions for all of you creative ones (I seriously lack imagination!)...

I want to make the favors. The kids will range from age 1-6.

I was thinking of

1.) Crayon rolls, Car rolls, or both so the kids can pick which they want. Im not sure if giving them an option will open it up for fighting though.
2.) Making medium sized bags for them and putting some bubbles and other trinkets in there. I know some of the Dads wont want their boys to carry around a "purse" though, and I dont want any of the kids to be left out
3.) Any options you all can suggest.....??

Welcome to the group! We like to discuss all sewing, not just Disney. Although we all love Disney best. I like the idea of the crayon rolls for the party favors. I don't think I would give the kids a choice because it will lead to issues. I think I'd do crayon rolls and little pad of paper or coloring book. Tie them together with some ribbon and you have a snazzy goodie bag item.

I agree with Andrea about hating junk from a lot of goodie bags. I am so relieved that now that the kids are older they don't do them as often. We just did Meredith's birthday party over the weekend and we gave each girl a towel for the pool as her goodie bag item.

Not the best pictures, but these are the totes I have been working on recently:

Andrea those look super! Is that the Aviolo (spelling????) tote? I have thought about buying that pattern but haven't done so yet. I love how you did the piano teacher's tote with all the embroidery. I think all the teachers will love the gifts. I did totes for the kids teachers a few years ago but I just decorated some purchased canvas totes. These are so special! And how great that you were able to make them with mostly what you already had.

When did you go to Kenya? Did you do a safari? Going to Africa is at the very top of my list of places we'd like to go on a vacation. I've been saving up our frequent flyer miles for a couple of years now, hoping that I will eventually get enough to cover the airfare.