Are Green Toys going to the dogs? Only in Georgia’s world! Being a small dog lover means this toddler chickie parties with the dogs. Tea parties that is!

Georgia loves her Green Toys! Why wouldn’t she? They’re darn near perfect—> the perfect size, great colors and FUN! She uses them for real food too.

I love Green Toys, because they truly are GREEN. Green Toys are made in the USA (CA to be precise) from recycled milk jugs (yes, the very jugs you rinse out and recycle). On average, every pound of recycled milk jugs used in the making of Green Toys saves enough energy to power the average TV set for 3 weeks! The fact that they are made in the USA means LESS transportation … no fossil fuels wasted getting them across the pacific!

Georgia’s stirring up a little water soup for her puppy fans.

I am really trying to cut down on STUFF (you know … useless, I can live without it … only lasts an hour kind of STUFF)! I missed the boat with the older kids, but with Georgia there is still a small glimmer of hope that I can keep the junky toys to a minimum and fill her toy box (hopefully just 1/2 full and not overflowing) with toys that are good for her imagination and the earth too!

Speaking of the earth, WHAT IN THE HELL IS WITH ALL OF THE PACKAGING? Plastic, metal ties, more plastic, cellopane, tape, cardboard, more metal ties. Is this some kind of Chinese attempt to torture us? (I’m watching you China!) Remember back in the good ‘ole days, when all you needed to have on hand Christmas morning was some extra batteries? Now you can add to that list, wire cutters, box cutter and the patience of a saint. Unless your kiddies are opening Green Toys that is, then even your three year old can just open the recycled cardboard packaging all by themselves and get right down to play. Honest … you just open the box. What a concept!

Attention ALL toy manufactures: WE DON’T LIKE PACKAGING! From this day forward I will take note to the amount of packaging you wrap around toys, and if it’s more than absolutely necessary it’ll stay at the store on the shelf, never to be purchased by ME! NEVER - EVER!

TAG —> If you are reading this, you have been tagged! Blog and let toy manufacturers know we’re tired and annoyed at all the redundant packaging. We insist they be more responsible! Please :)

Georgia breaks out into song. A happy kid, is truly the sign of a great toy.

GREEN TOYS = GREAT TOYS

Green Toy sent us the Cookware & Dining Set, I have already purchased the Tea Set for Santa to leave under the tree. I’m adding the Indoor Gardening Kit to our wish list.

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Monday the whole family (plus the dog), my aunt and uncle, cousin, wife and 2 mini cousins packed up and headed to a local pumpkin patch. The kids had a great time, BUT it was COLD. It feels like winter here.

Already dry chapped winter skin is making an appearance. My hands hurt with cold all afternoon. It got me thinking about felt (remember I found felt last spring), and how even though I am the NON-crafty sort, the one who said, “craft schmafts“, I was desperate to turn old Salvation Army wool sweaters into mitts and slippers for the kids.

Did you know you can ‘felt’ old wool sweaters by washing in hot water and rinsing in cold? Make sure you add soap :)

Here are a few of the sweaters that I felted. I think this batch went through 2 cycles in the machine. These started out as adult larges and are now about a kids size 4 (I know because they fit Georgia).

Once felted, I cut the sweaters up into usable pieces. Mostly this means cutting out the seams.

I decided to make Sam a pair first. Mostly because he was the only one who DIDN’T care about color, design etc. It was nice to be able to do whatever I wanted. He wasn’t bothered in the the least to get the dark gray lambs wool. I traced his hand, added a 5 mm – 1 cm seam allowance and then cut out two templates.

I pinned the paper templates to the fabric and then cut out the fabric. I did two layers at a time … mostly because I am lazy like that. Also note, that you can use the ribbing of the sweater waistband as the wrist area for the mittens if you cut them as above.

I then turned them inside out and sewed them together. I sewed these by hand, because I don’t own a sewing machine, and have no clue how. No worries though … hand stitching works just fine.

Woohoo—> one down and one to go.

Once the two mitts were sewn, I used other recycled felt pieces, buttons etc. to add a cute design. I think these turned out sufficiently boyish.

I am working on some Chihuahua mittens for Georgia (her newest obsession). Lizzy has now decided she wants ‘girl’ Skulls. Then I am going to get started on some felt booties.

Do you have any projects on the go?

All comments and back-links for this post will be entered to win a $10 Starbucks Gift Card (includes shipping and handling) in my ‘Have a Coffee on Me’ Contest. If you comment and blog about the contest you’ll receive two entries (too easy). I have a whole ‘schwack’ of Gift Cards to give away, so make sure and come back often for a chance to ‘have a coffee on me’.

MK xo
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