craftgrrl | Things I learned today... (Reply)

When you start making a handmade gift at 9:15pm for a birthday party the following day (unless you do this for a living so it's not unusual or anything), it's a good idea to keep in mind some guidelines.

1. Keep it simple. I started thinking, "wouldn't a bunch of pockets in the lining be awesome?" Answer: Yes, but then I wouldn't finish putting the whiskers and feet on the Totoro and that is sort of key to its recognizability.

2. Don't sweat the small stuff. So the eyes are too close together, so what? This is for a 5-year-old. If she notices, I'll be surprised. In fact, I'll be impressed.

3. As much as it would seem like a good idea to have a glass of wine after a long week, this being Friday and you have nothing to do tomorrow but go to a kid's party, don't do it. I have a policy, don't drink and sew.

4. Useful trumps perfection. I made a backpack/bag thingie. Its imperfections will surely get overlooked in daily use. Create something that's meant to sit on a shelf and get looked at, and it will surely get scrutinized heavily.

What the hell am I talking about? Behold, the Totoro bag/backpack/thingie.