Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Making Peg Dolls & More, and a Give-Away!!!

What? Just because she looks like a person more likely to forge a pole axe and come after you with it than make a little peg doll? #watchyourback
I am participating in a Blog Tour! I know! And it's because I am just in love with this book, and when Margaret Bloom asked me to write about it here, I couldn't resist.

This is the first book.
Making Peg Dolls & More is her follow-up to the lovely Making Peg Dolls, and it's so deliciously gorgeous and inspiring that it is currently in rotation here as a coffee table book. [cough *Waldorf coffee table* cough *drink your Sereni-Tea*] Birdy and I pretty much compulsively leaf through it, all the time, and every page shows something we want to make: dreamy-perfect little dolls and toys and ornaments, everything so appealingly wool and wood, so pretty and gentle. Plus, the instructions are super-clear.


We got the book a little before the holidays, and Birdy immediately decided on the project she wanted to make for gifts: these little Herbal Comfort Friends, which are sewn from felt, completed with wooden beads, and filled with sweet-smelling herbs. She designed her own medallions: a sprig of lavender for her grandmother's lavender-filled friend, a little campfire for her friend Harry's that's filled with mint, and a little wind storm for her test doll, that she kept for herself. She loved making them. They are just the sweetest things and, I'm imagining, double nicely as drawer-scenting sachets.

I wish I had a scan of Harry's thank-you note. I think it says, "Thank you for that mint thingy." True, he might not have been the ideal recipient of this particular gift, but it's the thought that etc. 
Birdy was making a diorama for her Underground Railroad report, and she painted this little figure for it. Not a Making Peg Dolls project exactly, but certainly inspired by it. I love the way Margaret paints all the dolls with watercolors so the wood shows through. 

If there were 40 doll bodies in your house, then you could make a few yourself, and your kids wouldn't even miss them!
Making Peg Dolls & More, plus this set of 40 wooden doll bodies (pictured above), would make the world's most perfect gift for a crafty kid. It only gives me a little pang because I feel like my days of giving that kind of gift are truly numbered. Sigh. And then what? Mani-Pedi gift certificates? A Meth-Lab Kit?
I lifted this photo from the Wee Folk Studio post, because this is my very favorite project in the book. 
Anyways, thanks to Margaret's generosity, as well as that of Hawthorn Press, I am lucky enough to be hosting a give-away here. Just leave your name in the comments here if you'd like to be entered (!), and I will announce a winner a week hence. February 18th, 11:00 am EST. Or thereabouts. And for more chances to read about it and win, feel free to visit the other blogs that are hosting reviews and give-aways of this tender, optimistic world-view-as-book:

February 2nd :: The Crafty Crow 
February 3rd :: Clean 
February 4th :: Castle in the Air
February 7th :: A Child's Dream
February 9th :: Forest Fairy Crafts
February 10th :: Bella Luna Toys
February 12th :: Twig & Toadstool
February 13th :: Wee Wonderfuls


Good luck! And lots of love. xo

103 comments:

  1. Andrea G11:16 AM

    We love peg dolls. The book looks amazing!

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  2. Eeeeeeee these are so ridiculously cute!

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  3. My kids would love this!

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  4. Anonymous11:44 AM

    Perfection for the crafters in my life.
    And it said to leave my name....so....
    Here it is: MY NAME.
    hahahah
    (Hally)

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  5. My daughters (okay me, too) would love this book!!

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  6. We are lucky to have a public waldorf-inspired school in our community. My wal-dork family would love these!

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  7. This would be an awesome gift for my niece!

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  8. Jeanne12:10 PM

    I love a good miniature and these would go perfectly in my dollhouse. I'd love to learn how to make them.

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  9. Oooo, I want to make those! Err, I mean, my daughter would love those. And 40 doll bodies seems like enough to do these with her girl scout troop!

    Put me down as Paige.

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  10. My daughter would flip.

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  11. My girls would flip over these. And also...dioramas! We are knee-deep in those at the moment too.

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  12. Oooooh. Me, please. Name of Lelac.

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  13. Okay, first of all, is her name really Margaret BLOOM? And she makes little fairy dolls? That is just too perfect. And secondly, sigh indeed, with regard to cute, fun gifts for kids who are growing up. Sigh. And number three, even if my kids aren't that cute or fun anymore, I would totally adore making me some peg dolls (did you see Angry Chicken's Downton Abbey peg dolls? To die for). So, yes please.

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  14. Anonymous12:55 PM

    I would LOVE a chance to win this adorable book!
    Thanks for hosting!
    Lynne service (at) bumbleberry (dot) ca

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  15. Would love to do this with my daughter - and son!

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  16. Anonymous2:30 PM

    What a wonderful giveaway! Thank you! And I love your sense of humor and your cat. Nancy K. I am entering as Anonymous because I am clueless with regard to the other options.

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  17. Anonymous2:46 PM

    I'd love to win this book. My kids go to the Waldorf School at Moraine Farm in Beverly MA and every year families have to make something to donate to their holiday fair and anything from this book would be absolutely perfect. --Cathy K

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  19. My daughter and I love peg dolls.
    Julie

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  20. Ah, I was just thinking about designing peg dolls with my daughter. Serendipity!

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  21. I would love to make these with my kids.

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  22. Anonymous3:31 PM

    I'd like to be entered ;)

    Becky

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  23. I'd like to be in entered for the drawing!

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  24. Janet Max3:35 PM

    I'd love to make these with my kids. thanks!

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  25. Anonymous3:36 PM

    I'd like to be entered! Julie Henderson

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  26. Bess W4:33 PM

    This looks like something I would love to do with my 3 little kids (while they are still little-- then, yeah, meth-lab kits, I guess it'll have to be.)

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  27. So lovely and wonderful. Whether I win or not, my friend Sunny is getting this as a gift on the very next gift-giving holiday that occurs. Don't tell! xox

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  28. Oh I've had her first book on my wish list for ages...not for the kids mind you, but for ME! If I won this I promise I'd let them share it too though ;)

    (aside: I keep coming back to giggle at Ben's valentine's card. I almost showed it to my mother-in-law when she stopped by today, but then I thought better of it!)

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  29. Peg dolls look fun!
    My 13-year old made anti-valentines day card for all her friends, all with Ben's message! She loved it.

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  30. Truly, if my mom gave me this book and a bag of blank peg dolls I would be delighted (and I'm 42). You may have to take a break for a decade, but I'm sure this kind of gift will be welcome in the future. Please enter my name for the drawing - I have her first book and I love it!

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  31. I would love this! Please enter me in the drawing.

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  32. Well, sure I want them! Before my window runs out...

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  33. Megan P6:28 PM

    I'd like to be entered for the drawing. Thanks!

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  34. Good gift giving days are numbered - oh how true
    You crack me up

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  35. My daughter would love this!!!

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  36. I used to make peg dolls from wooden clothespins with my grandma when I was little. Hours would pass. We loved it. I forgot all about it until I saw this post. Would love to share with my daughter.
    Best,
    Liz Rose

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  37. That looks like a great addition to our craft library. We would love to participate in this give away!

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  38. Adorable! I have a 4 year old and a 5 year old that would love this (and are *cough* students at a Waldorf school but *cough* have Barbies! ACK! Wooden peg dolls to the rescue, please!).

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  39. I think I'm double-posting this, but I can't tell, so...yes! My daughter would love this!

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  40. ShannonC8:53 PM

    Awwww! Yes, please.

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  41. My nieces would love this, oh so cool..

    cheers Marie..

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  42. We would love to have this book to play with, until we are ready to start our meth lab.

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  43. Anonymous10:35 PM

    Enter me, please :)

    Christina

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  45. I want to make a mint thingy! Kristen D.

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  46. If I don't win I'm going to buy this book myself, because my 11 year old daughters will love it!

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  47. What a fun project. My kids would love to make wood dolls.

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  48. We'd love to make these dolls! I was feeling a little blue just the other day, wondering how much longer my kids and I will be making crafts like these... I hope it never ends!

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  49. Oh, boy, would my 10-year-old daughter love to make these! What fun.

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  50. Anonymous7:44 AM

    What a sweet book! My almost 5 year old is getting quite crafty- I'd love to try some of these projects with her! Thanks for introducing the book to us! Jen M.

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  51. What a cute book!

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  52. I have her first book and would LOVE to win this one. Thank you for a chance!

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  53. What a fun giveaway! Please pick me!! :D

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  54. Wahhhh cute. These dolls look like too much fun.

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  55. Anonymous2:07 PM

    Me! Meth-Lab Kit made me snort my afternoon tea all over my desk! I never know how to Comment in the drop down box, except as Anonymous, but I am Kimberly in Goffstown.

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  56. We have the first book and have made many of the projects so would love to have this to add to our collection!

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  57. I love this book and would love to win a copy for our bookshelf!
    ~ joey ~

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  58. Love your writing and would love to own a copy of the book!

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  59. Anonymous6:08 PM

    The book looks gorgeous, and we'd love a new craft idea! - Amy from Michigan

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  60. I'd love to win!

    Jean

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  61. I'd love to win!

    Jean

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  62. Elliesee9:12 PM

    I'd love to be entered!

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  63. Those projects look actually doable for even my limited skills. Thanks for the chance to win!
    -Martha

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  64. Must order peg dolls now...thanks. Gina

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  65. That looks fun!!!! My 11-year-old would love it!
    Joy

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  66. Anonymous6:00 PM

    These are so sweet. All 3 of mine had fun making the felted tree at Christmas and I know they would love this. Thanks for all your ideas.You help me recreate MY childhood for my kids. Alison C

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  67. What a sweet book! I love it!

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  68. Anonymous6:23 PM

    Would love this book for my crafty 11-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter! Thank you!
    Debra C.

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  69. Anonymous7:38 PM

    I would like to be entered please :) kristin

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  70. oh, my girls and i would love this!
    Ashley S.

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  71. Anonymous10:06 PM

    I would love to be entered! This book looks lovely, and the crafts look really fun! ~Jennifer R from Arizona

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  72. Allyson2:37 AM

    Ooh! Me! (Please!) My birthday is Monday-- would it be OK if I gave it to myself?

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  73. I'd love to be entered in the drawing! This is just the kind of project I like to do with my granddaughters.

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  74. Please enter me! We would love this book too :)

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  75. Enter me! In the contest, I mean. Those dolls are adorable.

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  76. I would like to be entered!
    Thank you for the giveaway!

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  77. Ooh! So lovely and small! I would love to make these projects. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  78. WV Mama4:37 PM

    me me me me!
    I have two children still young enough to make these (and the thirteen-year-old would use his Paracord skills to make the necklace part of your favorite one)
    Imagine -- three children working in concert to make pretty little items to gift to others. World Peace can only be an eyeblink away!

    xo
    love you always,
    WV Mama

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  79. Anonymous9:22 PM

    I've been wanting to try making peg dolls for a while, but strangely chicken. This book would give me courage! Or something. I would love to be in the drawing. Sarah Gibson. (My phone always chirpily offers "Palin" after I type my first name. I imagine you can understand how depressing that is.)

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  80. maxanyamom11:11 PM

    Please throw my name in the hat! I have a bag of wooden pegs that I won from Wee Folk Art not too long ago. Maybe I'll get lucky and win this inspirational book.

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  81. my daughter would probably never leave the house again if there were peg dolls to make. thanks! --oma

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  82. What a beautiful book!

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  83. I, too, loved the first book and would love to pour over and oh and ah over the pages of her 2nd book. So squeal worthy. Thanks for sharing.

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  84. I would love to win this book! I am having that "days-are-numbered" feeling too with my not-so-little one.

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  85. Oooooh, I would love this! I mean my kids would love it. That's what I meant. What.

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  86. Would we keep it or give it to a crafty little friend for her upcoming birthday? I'm not sure, but someone around here would love it. -Melissa D.

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  87. I'm thinking we need this book at our house! I am craft-impaired but enthusiastic.

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  88. shelli10:05 AM

    Hope I'm not coming too "late to the party" to enter my name! The felt projects would be the perfect activity for my craft-lovin' daughters! Thanks.

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  89. Looks like a gorgeous book! We'd love to give it a try around here!

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  90. Looks like a lot of fun!

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  91. I hope I'm not too late! My boy is crafty as can be and this would be lovely.

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  92. Looks like a lovely book, especially if we end up trapped here with more snow...

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  93. This book looks as if it would be a great idea book for my 8 year old and I to do during these winter months. Thanks!

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  94. This book looks so great, and my kids are obsessed with peg dolls these days. Thank you!

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  95. This book looks so great, and my kids are obsessed with peg dolls these days. Thank you!

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  96. My soon-to-be 9-year-old would love this for her birthday. Thank you.

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  97. Ohhh, this looks like a great book. Thanks :)

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  98. Kendra2:21 PM

    Because my youngest will soon be too old but would love it.

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