Happy Hippo

So, a couple of years ago both my sisters-in-law and I were all expecting.  I`m not sure what was in the water at the family gatherings, but I didn`t recommend anyone drink it.  ;)

E was due first, but I`ve never in my life seen a lady get given more due dates than her.  Needless to say, we were expecting a baby sometime between late November and January. 

Which created a big question for Christmas.  Whether or not there would be a new addition by then was anyone`s guess.

As the Crafty Aunty-to-be, I decided to be ready just in case. But what do you make when you have no idea if it`s a boy or a girl (or if it would even be there!). This was what I came up with...

 Basically, it`s a gigantic floor pillow in the shape of a hippopotamus (with an opening mouth!).  Completely machine washable, it`s great if you have carpet you don`t want a little mess on, or if you just need a bit of extra padding on hardwood or laminate flooring.  Since G didn`t arrive in time for Christmas, I made it out of a buttery yellow dimple chenille (quite possible my favourite material ever).  And it turned out to be a pretty welcome addition at the house, because `little messes`didn`t quite describe what he was capable of.  :)

I recently finished up another one to deliver as a baby gift, and as I begin to ponder what all the Crafty Aunty has planned for Christmas 2010, I was just reminiscing a bit...

Chalk Placemats

A while back we'd posted looking for some feedback on our chalk placemats.  The final verdict was that we should bring them back, better than ever.

And so we have.  They debuted in a big way at the Corn and Apple Festival in Morden, and since then we've found a few new patterns that we're pretty excited about.  You know what else is cool?  We've found more cool BOY designs than girl.  How often does that happen?  NEVER.

So what is a chalk placemat?  Just that - on the one side you can doodle with chalk (and then wipe clean with a dampish cloth).  On the other, it's a wipeable material that you can use as a placemat for eating.  You might think, "Who needs a placemat to eat off at a restaurant?"  But here's my thought - what exactly is IN that redish/pink bottle of stuff they spray on the tables and then wipe off with a cloth?  I (Kari-Ann) am not a crazy germ-phobe, but sometimes you have to wonder...  They are also equally as exciting on airplanes, in the Doctor's Office, or anywhere else you need to be entertaining in a hurry!

They are going to hit the website this week.  Here's a peek at my favourite - the airport design!  If I had a boy, I'd also think it would be a great track for little matchbox cars...

Cost is $15.  As always, you can email us at yourplayfulpeanut@gmail.com for more details!

Wet/Dry Bags

This were sent off to their new home this morning...  For anyone wanting to see what we came up with for a wet/dry bag, here's some pictures!

The overall size of the bag is 12x18 inches.  The front zippered pouch has a cotton liner (the "dry" part of the bag).  The top zippered pouch has an industrial grade waterproof liner (the "wet" part of the bag).  Then there's a handle with a snap if you want to hang it anywhere. 

We're past the diapers in this house, but I've already got mine picked out for next summer for the pool...  I'm actually liking this idea a lot more than just a regular wet bag - especially for the beach - because you can still toss in your sunscreen, towel, and whatever else you need, hang it on your bike or stroller and head for home!