Handmade Christmas, Update One

Chris spent the weekend in the garage making four PVC pipe marshmallow guns--two red, two black--for Elias. Years ago, I banned Chris from even looking sideways at plumbing equipment for the sanity of our marriage, but I figured I'd make an exception for this project. They're quite the elaborate little things, and send a mini marshmallow or craft pom-pom across the entire length of a room. I'll post pictures when they are finished and in their full glory.

Weapons. It's what's for Christmas.

I've been making library totes for each of the kids. At first I planned to make one only for Chloe, who could sit and read until the cows come home (really, though, do they ever come home? not in this house). But hers was so cute, I couldn't resist making one for each child. We go to the library all the time as a family and usually cart arm-fulls of books to the car, so these are cute as well as useful. Chloe's favorite animal as of late is a giraffe, so here is my rendition:

Notice the silver disc around the giraffe's neck. See, that's a pet giraffe. And it's wearing a pet collar and tag with my child's name and phone number on it, in case the bag is lost. Here's an up close of the front of the tag, sort of (I've used my hand to cover the phone number because, well, this is the Internet and everything):(Click on the pics to enlarge, BTW.)

The tag is hand-stamped by the wonderful Pamela Susan, whose work can be found here. And you should find her. She's got some amazing stuff. I need to order two more tags for the bags I did for Clementine and Elias. Lest you call me a cheater, Pamela and I did a trade for this tag, and we will do a trade for the next two (I'm knitting something for her--right Pam???) so we're still within our handmade rules. Without further ado, a kitty for the tangerine:

I can't wait to see this one with her kitty tag on! A close-up, because I am that proud of my creation:

Meow?

Elias was trickier. He's getting older, see, and wants to be manly. But inside he loves all things cute and crittery. I knew I wanted to do an abstract sort of owl for him, but all the fabric I had on hand was rather feminine and I didn't want a sad 6 year old on Christmas. My solution? No, I did NOT go to the fabric store (the rules, remember?). I used an old necktie that used to be my father's. My dad was a non-profit exec and wore a suit and tie every day of his working life. He was crazy obsessed with that line of Jerry Garcia ties, and Chris inherited most of them when Dad died. Chris isn't much a tie wearer anymore, and I don't think he ever would have been caught dead in this one, so I took the thing apart and used the outer silk fabric and the inner lining, which happened to have this fabulous "J. GARCIA" embossed all over it. I've got a blurry close-up of Owlie's belly where you might be able to make it out.This dude's tag might be a problem, though, seeing as he has a distinct lack of neck. I'm thinking it could hang from his ear. Thoughts?