Um bebê pequeno para um amigo novo*

*A small baby for a new friend, in Portuguese (at least as according to Babel Fish)

Here's a tiny doll made to go in our goodwill goody bags to AfricanKelli for her to take to Mozambique next month. I wanted to make something small (has to be, the goody bags are tiny) and fairly simple (for my sanity), so I got out my Japanese craft book collection and decided upon this one. Isn't it amazing what you can do with tiny bits of fabric? This is just a 2.5 inch circle plus a 5.5 x 2.75 inch rectangle. The finished doll is only about 2 inches across. The idea and pattern were from the "Bunnies" book in this table, 2nd row. I love just about every project in this book, I don't know why I haven't made more from it.

The bunny towel underneath is from Japan, from my own baby-hood. I believe they used to be diapers, but if so, the ink certainly has held up well. My mom saved a bunch and gave them to me to use as burp cloths for Max. I love them!

Just a few more bebês pequenos to make and then I can send them down to Kelli for their journey far far away. I really hope the kids like them as much as I enjoyed making them. This is one of the great things about handcrafts, one of the things I love and the reason I do it. Handcrafts take longer to create than just popping off to Target to buy something, so I spend more time thinking about the intended recipient while sewing. It's the same concept as is behind prayer shawls, knitting a prayer for someone into a shawl. But it doesn't stop there, it also works with other handcrafts. With these bebês, each little handmade stitch brings with it a hope for a better life, a good life.

Comments

[debbie]

the tiny hope doll is so cute - you did such a nice job, such a sweet face too....

[Carabeth]

By the time I got to the second sentence, and without even knowing exactly the history, I was already imagining the recipients, so they are getting some extra lovin' prayers from Vancouver. It is beautiful and I'm sure it will be cherished. Wouldn't it be interesting to know its story in 10 years from now?

[moki]

What a cute idea!

[heidi]

i got in on that about an hour too late! she already had it cut off! darn! i'm sure the kids will love their new babies and feel the love from so far away!

[Jennifer]

Oh, these are lovely! They are like tiny root children (those darling waldorf inspired bean filled dolls). Would love the link to your source for them. I've got scraps, and these would make great road trip crafting... and I'll add my prayers to those above for their recipients!
Cheers!

[Bettsi]

Yes, that's so true! Every stitch of a handcrafted gift is filled with good wishes. That's why I always feel bad when I give people store bought gifts. Lovely little doll, Amanda.

[africankelli]

Holy cow. How could they not totally love these? How am I not going to steal one? Okay. I promise I won't. I am so impressed!! And thankful. :)