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Making Peg Dolls & More: Toys that spin, fly and bring sweet dreams is a second book by Margaret Bloom full of ideas about how to make the most delightful peg dolls.
Like many families, now we’re in the run up to Christmas, we’re spending time getting crafty together, making presents and decorations, and this book has given us hours of delight. Full of ideas about how to customise wooden peg dolls into adorable characters, Bloom also provides lots of tutorials for how to use your peg dolls in innovative ways, such as in mobiles, wands, wall hangings and pincushion embellishments.
Super clear and friendly instructions, made beautiful and even easier to follow by the inclusion of simple but beautiful watercolour illustrations along with many photos of all sorts of children making and playing with peg dolls made sure this book really appealed to my kids as soon as they set eyes on it.
That the instructions are easy to follow and result in items which the kids are really proud of was clearly demonstrated by the way my 9 year old, M, took the book off by herself and created her first ever felt toys:
Although M was totally absorbed by herself in her sewing, as a parent I especially enjoyed Bloom’s emphasis in her instructions on how the whole family can take part in making their own peg dolls; she clearly indicates which parts even the youngest children can get involved with, and encourages us grown-ups to be involved, but also to let our kids do their own things with the dolls. This book isn’t about parents turning out coffee-table-book-worthy gorgeous ornaments (although we’re definitely encouraged to play, sew and create along side the kids); it really is about facilitating children’s exploratory play and creativity.
The book includes a list of suppliers of peg dolls, felt and one or two other items that are especially nice to use (such as artificial/millinery flower stamens) and I would heartily encourage you to gift a bundle of supplies, including some watercolours, with this book so that the recipient can dive in straight away. I’ve personally used Craftshapes for my blank wooden peg dolls in the past and they’ve always be lovely to deal with.
What we started with
Here are some of the characters we created:
Whilst painting, sewing, sticking and playing we listened to:
Wedding of the Painted Doll, one of the hit songs from the musical “The Broadway Melody” – indeed, it reach #1 in the charts in 1929! Another version with more lyrics can be heard here.
The doll dance from Delibe’s ballet Coppélia
Come Over To My Dollhouse by Lunch Money. Whilst in some ways this is a world away from the lovely peg dolls made by Bloom (which are the antithesis to Barbie, who does feature in this song), the video is enormous fun and might inspire you and your kids to make your own video for your favourite music.
If you want ideas about how to take things a step further with your peg dolls take a look at:
Using corks instead of wooden peg doll blanks. Especially good if you drink a lot of champagne…
Using acorns instead of wooden peg doll blanks – I really love these!
Turning pinecones and wooden beads into dolls – a priceless idea from Margaret Bloom herself. In fact there are lots of lovely free tutorials on Bloom’s website – I encourage you to take a look! I particularly like the bat tutorial.
We’ve thoroughly enjoyed Making Peg Dolls & More: Toys that spin, fly and bring sweet dreams: It is beautiful to look at and filled with enticing projects, which are both achievable and give results to delight in. It is also a book which is very proud to be just a starting point; it’s really about giving you ideas which will bloom in you and your kids’ imaginations.
What family craft books would you recommend?
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher.
By:
Faith Pray,
on 2/27/2013
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I am Icharus.
Except instead of wax and feathers,
I'm patched together with glitter glue,
writing morsels and
cups of hot tea.
Struck by a blaze of new story lightning,
I'm going down.
That's a good thing, right?
...Right?
Muttering at walls, scribbling
"Words are my wings!" on sticky notes,
covered in ink smudges,
I'm delightedly doomed.
But not too doomed
to help with peg dolls.
Indeed!
And Ancient Greek peggies at that.
Athena, patron of wisdom, and arts and crafts!
She's an owl lady.
Aphrodite, patron of love.
Posiedon. Sea guy. And that's his trident.
Hera, wife of Zeus, patron of marriage.
Peacock lady.
Also compared to a cow in some circles.
Now you know.
Parthenon?
Ruler. Cardboard. Scissors. Tape. White glue.
And now for the drum-roll, please...
we'd like to announce a winner!
A hearty thanks to all of you who entered
Margaret Bloom's
Making Peg Dolls giveaway,
and thank you to
Margaret for the fantastic blog tour.
Our winner is...
Barb Davis-Pyles. Congratulations, Barb!
I hope you will all go out and find this beautiful book.
You are going to LOVE it.
And did you know SACRED DIRT has a
facebook page?
"Like it" to get posts on the beautiful mess of artsy writing,
daily dirt, and parenting sent directly to your facebook feed.
Ancient Greece on the page:
Greek Myths For Young Children, by Heather Amery, ill. Linda Edwards
Explore Ancient Greece!
Greek Myths - Ann Turnbull, ill. by Sarah Young
A Gift From Zeus - Jeanne Steig, ill. by William Steig
The Adventures of Odysseus, by Hugh Lupton, Daniel Morden, ill. by Christina Balit
Aesop's Fables - Lisbeth Zwerger
It begins just like the other days.
Almost.
Hanging up the washing.
Nubby and bare,
naked as day.
Wishing.
All pegs have wishes, but Jane wishes most, and longest.
For color, aliveness, adventure
beyond the laundry line.
Little does she know that today is the day.
Today the wind is listening.
It twists into a great spiral,
knocking the orderly yard to pieces.
A folding chair barrels across the green.
The chickens gawp, the dog haroops.
Wind whips like a sandblast
and all in one great whoosh, down comes the line!
Socks!
Pegs!
Helter-skelter, shilly-shally, willy-nilly, down!
And Jane, the wooden wisher, is free.
Free!
Free to don paint and petals,
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| from Making Peg Dolls, by Margaret Bloom |
her owling self,
 |
| from Making Peg Dolls, by Margaret Bloom |
her fairy face.
It doesn't take much time.
Jane and the family find their secret selves:
Greek gods!
See, there's Jane in her purple hair.
She's waiting for wings.
She's changed her name to Athena.
Her coming-out party is next week.
Adventure awaits!
Making Peg Dolls, by Margaret Bloom is here!
Margaret is the creative genius mother of
Wish Baby,
There are umpteen reasons we love this book:
Margaret's illustrations tucked in and around the text.
Tiny peg bears.
 |
| from Making Peg Dolls by Margaret Bloom |
Can you say darling? Oh my nubs!
 |
from Making Peg Dolls by Margaret Bloom
|
Fairy tale dollies.
Owl peggies.
Amazon has already sold out. Yes, this book is THAT hot.
I packed a Peg Doll Get-Well-Kit for Pip's recovery.
Bliss!
Paint!
Why don't we do this every day?
I had no idea how joyful and addicting it would be.
The thing that amazes me about
Making Peg Dollsis how Margaret has made this process accessible
to adults and kids of all sizes.
We are smitten. Absolutely smitten with this book.
I am convinced you will be, too!
And I have a copy of Making Peg Dolls to give away!
It's simple: Just leave a comment.
You'll be entered in the drawing.
I'll announce the winner next Wednesday.
Exciting!
Entries end at midnight on Tuesday, February 26.
Thank you, Margaret!
By:
Faith Pray,
on 2/4/2013
Blog:
SACRED DIRT
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We like to ring in Groundhog Day
with high style over here.
He sees his shadow, he doesn't see his shadow,
either way we get balloons
because Sugar Snack is four!
Bring on the sweets and sprinkles.
Sugar high!
I'm thinking of changing his name to "Cheeks."
Everyone likes a party.
Even small sewn friends.
Happy day, Cheeks.
And speaking of happy days,
Happy book birthday to Margaret Bloom of
We Bloom Here.
"Making Peg Dolls" is a gorgeous book.
I can't wait to rave all about it.
And I will!
I get to be part of Margaret's
blog tour, which starts today.
Margaret will be giving away a copy of "Making Peg Dolls"
to one of my lucky readers this month.
Stay tuned for giveaway details.
You can also visit Margaret as she tours the blog-globe.
Giveaways and surprises, oh my!
February 4th:
The Crafty CrowFebruary 5th:
The Magic OnionsFebruary 6th:
The ToymakerFebruary 7th:
CleanFebruary 8th:
Anna BranfordFebruary 11th:
Red Bird CraftsFebruary 12th:
Art is a WayFebruary 13th:
Softearth's WorldFebruary 14th:
Chocolate EyesFebruary 15th:
Rhythm and RhymeFebruary 18th:
Wild Faerie CapsFebruary 19th:
Sacred DirtI'm the caboose!
It's going to be brilliant.
Hooray, Margaret!
and in other news, goodbye Pip's tonsils...
That's our next adventure.
I'll let you know how we do.
Sugar Snack's birthday books:
I, Crocodile, by Fred Marcellino
Little Tug, by Stephen Savage
Alphabet City, by Stephen T. Johnson
Shortcut, by David Macaulay
In the Town All Year Round by Rotraut Susanne Berner
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Love-love-love this post! Thanks again, Zoe! I love the ballet Coppelia. It was the first live ballet I saw as a child’ sigh.
This post has brought back so many wonderful childhood memories. My sister and I often made peg dolls as children and my daughter would love to make these. One to add to my Christmas wishlist
Catherine, if you bundle the book up with some of the things you need (felt, blanks,etc) this will make a gorgeous present that will give hours of delight