I remember as a kid my grandparents had this long white, deep chest freezer that was in their basement with a single naked light bulb hanging above it. I imagined it would have been a good place to hide anything you never wanted someone to find. Inside the freezer were bags, and bags of tin foiled covered food that was older than I was. Layers and layers of freezer burned meats that had been on sale and vegetables from seasons ago. My grandparents grew up during the depression, so saving every last scrap of food was imperative to their survival even though they now were going grocery shopping every week. There was a an old metal coffee can next to the stove top for them to scrape their bacon fat into. And when it was full, it was placed carefully into that chest freezer in case the end of the world was tomorrow.
In their 'root cellar' were countless Bell jars full of preserves. I'm talking countless. Many shelves high and stacked to the back wall like a grocery aisle. I can vividly remember my grandparents working together like a machine to seal up jars and jars of pickles, beans, tomatoes, corn, everything from their huge garden every summer at their Winnipesaukee lake house. I don't know when they were planning on eating all that food, but it was there "just in case." It must of been done out of habit. I remember thinking that I was never going to waste my time preserving food, or freezing it. It seemed to silly when I could just go to the store and get a fresh rotisserie chicken, and a bag of pre-made salad.
I grew up on a dairy farm but was very uninterested in the business and concepts as a teenager. My mom spent hours in her gardens. She has the greenest thumb. She knows how to sew anything, cook everything and has a mean creative edge. I was never interested in what she was doing but certainly retained most of the information through what must of been osmosis.
I've come drastically far since I used to think those silly thoughts and now am more interested in all the things I didn't like as a younger woman. I don't know if it's part of my dna, or if all that work my family did in their gardens and craft rooms was imprinted onto me.
Because, I am in love with the idea of freezing food for later, canning for gifts, sewing, glue gunning, and stretching myself creatively.

I created this blog for my future and because of my past.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Baby shower idea. DIY nappy cakes!

A client of mine is pregnant with twins!  And beause ofher maternity leave, their dog won't be comping to my day care anymore.  I wanted to make something unique but useful for them and searched the internet and came across "Nappy cakes."  I am sure if you've been to a baby shower, you've seen them.  Typically made form diapers, bibs, bottles, etc the materials are shaped into cakes, flower bouquets, or bikes.  I thought the bikes were totally adorable and thought, "I could make that!"  So, I searched high and low for a website that told what the buyer would be getting for their $100.00 purchase. By the way, I made two of these for less than $100.00.....maybe I'm in the wrong business!  The same sight for that $100 cake also had a $399.99 Harley Davidson cake. whoa.  After pondering my career choice I hit Target and got to work.

First, I purchased....

the diapers: for the tires
pair of super cute socks: grips for handle bars (x2)
the swaddles:  one as the seat, and front wheel cover (x2)
two bottles: one the head lights (x2)
four receiving blankets:  one for the handle bars, one to tie the back tires together (x2)
gos-grain ribbon to tie handle bars together
two stuffed animals: the riders




















I started by laying the diapers out, and then laying the ribbon across them so I knew the length it needed to be so I could tie it closed.




















I tried a few different things to roll the diapers up.  But, the way I wound up with worked and looked the best.  I turned my laid row over, and folded the "tops" of the diapers into the middle of the row and then curled the "bottoms" over.  I had to lean on the pile, stretch my hand out, and remember yoga moves to get it just right.  I think once your diapers are laid out, and you think about it for a moment you'll figure something out too.




 Then, while stretching my hand and using my body to smuch the diapers, I got the ribbons around the created circle and tied it off.  Then after it was tied really tight, I re-shaped the circle.
I ultimately did 6 of these diaper rolls - three for each trike.  But you could do just one trike or a four-wheeler!






Then I took the receiving blankets and folded them up so they were about 2 inches wide, and put a length of fabric covered wire in the middle so I could shape them into handle bars.  I used a pair of baby socks on each end to keep it from unrolling.











Then I took two of the diaper wheels and put them side by side, so the knotted ribbon would be in the "middle" of the bike - un seen.  I took a folded receiving blanket and pushed it through the middle of one wheel, and the middle of the other and tightened the wheels together.  I took the long end ad used it to wrap them together.  So, the long end would fold around into the middle of the other wheel.  The short end of the blanket, I just folded back into itself.  You can create the wrap so its on the 'back' of the bike or in the 'middle' of it.  I chose the middle so it would look more real. 
I then took another piece of fabric covered wire and put it behind the ribbon of the third diaper wheel and twisted it around the back receiving blanket so all three tires would stay together.





After the tires were together, I took a swaddle and shaped it into a seat for the rider, and a front tire cover.  You could use use two bibs - I just like the idea of a swaddle, so I wanted to make it work. It was a bit tricky because of the weird shape and velcro.  But, I figured it out just like you can.







At this point, it should be fun.  If you aren't having fun - then you should take a break and come back to it - because this bike is going to be so cute.   This is the final stretch, where it all comes together and you can say, "oh man, this is cute."

I took the handle bar I made and pushed one end through the front tire, folded it up to the top and tied it off with my pretty ribbon.


Under your bow tie, shove the bottle in - so the bottom is facing outwards.  It makes for a not nippled head light...........................

Then all you have to do it add your riders!







I didn't realize how big the bike would, otherwise I would have opted for larger riders.  But, these guys were really cute and it was the first time I ever made anything like this - so lesson learned.  The size of the tires is also going to greatly depend on the size of the diapers you choose!  Another baby thing I didn't even consider.  The model I found online used size 1, just born babies.  As you can see above I chose size 3 because I thought it made more sense for the parents to get an assortment for when their needs change unexpectedly. 

Happy nappy trikes by me.  And soon, you.
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