Monday, September 17, 2012

made for you: LOOK bag

How do you entertain a 2 year old at a restaurant?, or sitting at the doctors waiting for an appointment? or at the school dentist? speech therapy? or travelling in the car with limited toys and books and four young children? or at the midwife clinic for checkups? or entertain visitor children in the maternity ward?

Here is something I would like so share with you. I actually made these going back just over 2 years ago, after seeing Bec's i-spy-bag on bellecherie. But wherever  the children have taken the LOOK bag, it has attracted many eyes. Knowing how much my children enjoy the where's wally books, look and find books and I-Spy books, I thought this would be a nice easy twist on taking a big book along to appointments or for travelling in the car.


It got to a point that when I walked into the doctors surgery for immunisations, the nurses would ask if I took the LOOK bag along! The most recent one was this past weekend during a little get-away with our youngest. The kitchen staff at the restaurant eyed this off, and sent their head waiter to ask if the waitresses were allowed a LOOK at what was keeping our 2 year old quiet... and mum and dad involved with her. So knowing many crafty mums look at my blog, I am happy to share this with you for ideas.

I opted for felt, as it is easy to handle and sew, no fraying and turning inside out.
I scanned in all the 'look' items and printed them out in colour.


 I fiddled with fiddly letters and attached them with scribbly stitching, and sewed on some googly eyes on the OO's, some velcro dots for easy opening and closing (also have used snap-studs) and a nice carry handle on the top


Thick plastic from Clarke Rubber became the windows and my trusty sewing machine, didn't mind stitching it either.
I purchased many different packets of beads and sequins, and made up a mixture. The left over beads were stored for another LOOK bag.
The small items to look for where found around the home, with a couple of special items purchased from our local craftstore.


To give you some idea what I included:
a paperclip,
2 tiny wooden pegs,
the whole alphabet in letter beads,
a little doll,
a bread tie,
special shaped beads and buttons,
tiny bells,
safety pin,
some little metal tools - hammer, spanner, wrench, pliers.
5c coin

The option for the LOOK list is loooong. Each bag is different.

I have made a few of these over the time for gifts, and the mums were happy to share some of their  children LOOKing for the items. One was made to order with a satin ribbon down the middle as a bookmark, for little fingers to fiddle with as some children so enjoy, and taken all the way to Canada!

Quite simple really, and just straight cutting and sewing. If you ever make one, I would love to see your end product!
L.


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