Softies Central

Online Arts & Crafts Time Wasters

In this week between holidays when some people (like me!) have to be at work, but need a little break...here's some fun online time wasting games that have a design focus, so I figure that makes them, uh, well, sorta inspiring and therefore justified....right?

Design a Tile, design a wallpaper or create a tarten plaid from the V&A.

Build a toy and then get it safely through a maze to the toy box.

Design a room - Tudor, Victorian or Modern from the Geffrye Museum in London

 

Create a kaleidoscope using Buzz Lightyear and other kid's toys from the V& A Museum of Childhood.

For more games go to Show Me

Loopy - Handmade For Kids in Britain

Loopy is an online shop from Britain that sells wonderful handmade children's clothing -- some knitted like the capelet above, and some incorporating original embroidery from the 1930's. There is also a selection of other sweet things like the embroidered bunting, felt flowers and pillows below.

I know these aren't softies, but I figure if there's felt and/or embroidery involved, it's worth a post. :-)

Holiday Sparkle - ABC Carpet

This is the entrance to my favorite store in NY - ABC Carpet & Home. Years ago it was just a rug store, but now it's an enchanted forest with floors and floors of great linens and furniture. The ground floor has pretty chandeliers, Christmas decorations and jewelry. Here's some lovely eye candy from my pre-Christmas window shopping....

Hand towels - the tag said it was made by '2 girls from Avignon' ...I'm still looking for their web site.

A wonderland of glitter and shine.

Oooohhh...pink trees and baby blue wreaths!

Beaded horses...also sparkly.

Beautiful chandelier - Italian, I think @ $2,000.

Pretty pink pottery.

This chandelier is a little hard to see - it's a sailing ship - $2800.

Ok, sorta a softie, this reindeer was about 4 feet high and really nice. Can you imagine how wonderful he would be under the Christmas tree...uh, next to the tree.

Merry Christmas!

Handmade, blue net Christmas tree my mother made every year when I was a child. Following are some favorite Christmas trees from my childhood.

Wow. Baby doll + stroller + tricycle + more...someone had a good haul that year.

Milk & Cookies for Santa

Merry Christmas Eve!  Milk and cookies softies from Norththreads. Check out her softie pizza and cheesecake here.

Gingerbread House

Gingerbread Luxury 3
Originally uploaded by Ritzie-Pie.

Gingerbread House

A gingerbread farm stand on display at the Four Seasons
Originally uploaded by sfadden.

Gingerbread snowflakes and men

gingerbread snowflakes and men
Originally uploaded by dustinbing.

Gingerbread House

Gingerbread House
Originally uploaded by typealice.

Holiday Cold

I've been sick with a horrible cold all week and so have somewhat neglected this blog :-(. When I can breathe again, I'll be back looking for more softies for you. Til then, please enjoy the lovely gingerbread houses coming up today here. This one is my all time favorite - a softie gingerbread house by Bella Dia.