Monday, November 9, 2009

Baby Doll Bassinet

Mine from when I was a little girl:
I like classic, simple toys. Toys that remain popular through generations and generations. That's why I made the playhouse tent, mail center, and bean bags. These things aren't made with bells or whistles or lights. They don't have batteries or speaking voices coming from them. They are just good old fashion fun. And I think good old fashion fun is a great way to get kids imaginations working. These kinds of toys serve a different purpose each time you play with them. They can be anything you want them to be. The playhouse tent can be a cave, or a doctor's office. The mail can be love letters, or homework. The bean bags can be used for hopscotch or hot potato. I love to watch my children and their imaginations run wild. That means they're exploring and developing and growing. I like that I played with bean bags and had a table tent. I love imagining my grand children playing with the things I've made. Remaking classic toys for my children to play with really makes me happy.

(Sorry to go off on a little tangent)

But that's why I had to make a bassinet for my girls dolls. Last Spring we went to Arizona and Gwen toted this little doll carrier around the entire time. She slept with it right next to her and filled it with all kinds of treasures. This was my little bassinet as a girl. I vividly remember housing my Cabbage Patch dolls in it. Wasn't my mom brilliant to keep it? Thank goodness she did. I love that she made it and kept it after all these years.

Well, I asked my mom if we could bring it home so that I could recreate one for each of the girls. After all these months (and finally getting my sewing machine fixed) I have made the girls their very own doll bassinet (they're for Christmas, sshh, don't tell).

They were quite simple to make. I actually have a tutorial for them. Step by step instructions that anyone at any skill level could follow.

But I have reservations about posting a tutorial. Here's why,

1. I am a self taught seamstress. It's something I tried once on a boring day when I was pregnant with my first baby almost 5 years ago. I don't claim to be very knowledgeable. And I do things the way they make sense in my head. It might be the "wrong" way to do it, and there may be a more simple way to do them, but I just do it the way I can imagine it. If I post a tutorial, you might see that I am crazy and go about sewing all wrong. But the outcome always works. I just don't know if I want to expose myself like that or not. What if you laugh at me?

2. And most importantly, I don't like it when someone takes another persons idea and claims them as their own, never giving credit to the original person. I didn't understand this before, but I do now. This is the first time I would post something that I didn't use someone else's tutorial for. This was something I didn't look on the Internet and find. This was all mine (and my mom's, since I used her work as a pattern). I don't want someone taking credit for this. I don't want someone making money off this. That would really be dishonest. And I really dislike dishonesty. But I know it happens, and that's why I hesitate to post a tutorial. How hard is it to give credit where credit is due? A little link back to a posted tutorial is not a big deal.

On the other hand, I love when people share their tutorials. I wouldn't sew half the things I sew without them. THere are some amazingly talent people out there with great ideas. I usually change them up to fit me and my personality and style, but I do link back to the original. Why can't everyone do that? Seriously?

Anyway, I do have a tutorial. Should I post it? What are the thoughts out there on tutorials and other people taking those tutorials and claiming ideas as their own? And would you laugh at me?

PS. Just the other day I saw this at Pottery Barn Kids. I was half way through making my own and liked the idea of having them embroidered with my girls name. So I quickly got mine embroidered before I finished putting them together. These sure are cute, but I can promise you that you can make your own for well under $29.00 and they would be original. Plus, I like picking my own fabric, that's half the fun of sewing.

14 comments:

  1. I hear ya on the hesitations for tutorials. People tell me all the time that I should sell the things I make... but it's never going to happen until I make something original. I love using other people's tutorials... but could never sell it. So dishonest.

    How about you email the tutorial to people who want it? Like me:

    carlyjane35@gmail.com

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  2. First off I would NEVER laugh at you. You sew the most fabulous stuff. Really. And secondly I really do understand this. I too wonder why people don't link back to what they do. I always try to send people back to where I have found something. (EVen if it was just off etsy and I created my own of looking at their picture.) Especially when a tutorial is given! I feel like you need to give credit where credit is given. But, I too LOVE tutorials. I sew a lot of things off of tutorials. I think they are even better then real patterns because they show pictures and you get the step by step directions from someone that has just done it. I hope you will show the tutorial, or do as Carly said and maybe email it out. Maybe you can put a disclaimer at the top that you hope people will link back to your pattern. That you are giving it for free, but hope people will be honest. It is a tuff call. But, all I know is I would love to see it. And if you do email it out please send it to me too. (raegirl25@yahoo.com). But, I hope you are able to post it. You do just amazing work Jamie. I just love it. Your girls are going to love finding these tucked under the tree. What lucky girls!

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  3. What fun! I had a similiar one when I was little. I vote for the tutorial too, but I understand your hesitation too.

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  4. Can I get in line for the tutorial? The bassinet is adorable--what a fun idea. And i love the fabric you picked out. The previous comments had good ideas. What about emailing it or posting it with a disclaimer?

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  5. oops. the above comment is from Jill, not Paul. And if you decide to email it my email is jilldtanner@gmail.com

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  6. Jamie, you make lovely, lovely things. And you take wonderful pictures of them, too! And you are so right about blog etiquette. The internet makes it so easy to do wrong. There are ignorant and dishonest folks out there. But there are also very decent ones, and I hope you meet loads of the latter kind! I think emailing people the tutorial is a great idea. Or uploading a pdf file of it to a site where you can send people to download it if they email you.

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  7. A tutorial would be so nice, but I understand your hesitation. If you plan on selling them, maybe don't post. If not, go for it. Also, there are patterns for these if someone really wants to make one- they can go buy a pattern. It may not be quite as cute as yours, but I know my mom has a pattern for one, that I'm in line to borrow to make for my little girl as soon as she finishes sewing one up for my younger sister.

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  8. I'm also a self taught sewer and if it wasn't for the generosity of online tuts, I wouldn't have half the unfinished projects lurking around :)

    I'd love to make one of these for Santa to bring my littliest, but I totally understand your situation as well.

    Emailing could be good :)

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  9. I love how they turned out Jamie. By any chance, did you make three??? =) The girls are going to absolutely love them. But don't think that Henry might not love one too. If he's anything like Isaac, he'll need something large enough to haul around his dinosaurs, cars and anything else he has in multiples. I can't wait to hear how the girls react. Love to you all!

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  10. Can I put my order in for this tutorial too? You amaze me!

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  11. I would love to see your tutorial. These are the cutest things I've seen in a long time. Oh, and I promise not to sell them. :)

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  12. I would love to make one of these for Ava for Christmas. I think my rowdy tom boy daughter may have finally seen the light and is starting to be interested in dolls. It is so adorable. I am totally with you on the no lights no talking thing! And with people stealing...that is so not cool. I'd love it if you could email the tutorial. Thanks!

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  13. I understand totally, I too would love the tutorial. I had two sons and never got to sew for little girls, but now I have a granddaughter and she loves her dolls, I just know she would love this too.

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  14. This a adorable!!!! Do you have the link to the tutorial or could you please email it? I would love to make this for my niece for Christmas :) Thank you!

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