My crafty side...

So I mentioned that I love making things for my girls. If fact I am always up for the challenge and there isn't much I won't attempt when it comes to crafting. I just get it in my head that I want to try something and go for it. (Similar to my last post on the treehouse) So I thought I would share the two things I do every year for my daughters ... Purim costumes and birthday cakes.

So Purim is a Jewish holiday in March at which kids dress up in costumes, get/give candy and get to make a lot of noise. (This is not the religious significance of Purim, but it's the fun part for the kids). Well after my daughter was born I wanted to hand make her Purim costumes.


The first year I made her an Owl.....without a pattern and basically from a picture in my head. I made it entirely out of felt and my mom helped. She was a Home Economics teacher so sewing and baking are her thing. I guess that's where I get it from.

Cutting out all the feathers was the most time consuming part. The mask is from Panama. We got it on a cruise, of course I was to naive to think that a 1 year old wouldn't cooperate and wear the mask. That is as close as it ever made it to her face.

When she was two I decided to make her Queen Ester (she is part of the story of Purim). My mom loves to knit and wanted to make her the crown. I made her the tutu and shirt. She loved it.

Now...on to the cakes....which always seem to get a little out of control. My aunts have a tradition of making elaborate birthday cakes for their kids and my mom always made us something special, but I have definitely carried on more of my aunt's tradition.

When Maya was one I decided to make an elephant themed party complete with custom invitations and an elaborate cake. The cake takes a couple of hours to bake and then probably three hours to frost and decorate... that doesn't include the time spent decorating the flower cookies that were all over it. And did I mention that Maya's birthday is in March right around Purim, so I have to do the costumes, cake and party all at the same time. Yeah it makes for a busy month.

When Maya turned two I continued the tradition of over the top insanity and made her this cake....

What little girl wouldn't want to have a bunny and a duck come to their tea party. At this point I feel like I can't turn back. I can only make things bigger and better. So history will probably repeat itself. It won't be long before I am incorporating lights and sounds into the cakes like my aunts. Oh well as least I enjoy it and so does Maya.