In the midst of the baby blanket making, I also put together a gift for a small friend’s birthday party. I had decided a few weeks ago that an “eye spy bag” might be a fun idea. A spin-off from the popular Eye Spy books, these are little pouches filled with small trinkets and poly pellets. You manipulate the bag to discover the trinkets hidden amongst the pellets. They’re great for keeping curious kiddos occupied for a while!
I was so busy with all my organizing that I put this gift off until the last minute. This is possibly not a good idea when you’re making something for the first time, but last-minute seems to be my style, and in this case I think it turned out ok.
I perused a few of the many tutorials available on the Internets and then sort of just put together my own version. I used a medium-thick clear vinyl for the window, as well as some blue twill (which you’ve seen featured many times in other projects; I’m still cutting away at the leftover twill and finding new uses for it) and some leftover scraps of flannel.
There are three rounds of wonky topstitching around the outside to make the seams extra secure, which was a little tricky once the bag was full (and hence the wonkiness). This wasn’t part of my original plan, but in the end I really like the look of it much better.
I added a little pocket on the back of the bag to hold the card that contains the pictures and names of the items in the bag. For extra security, I also added eyelets and attached the card to the bag with a bit of yarn.
There are 36 small items in the bag, mostly collected odds and ends from around the house: a safety pin, a penny, an eraser, a thimble, a paperclip, some stickers…. I also put in an assortment of fun buttons (with shanks cut off) and pre-cut wooden objects found at the craft store. I think our young friend was most excited to see the beads with the letters of his name hiding in the bag.
Both my kids loved the bag. (My son is the hand model in the photo above.) My daughter has requested one for her birthday, and in light of my goal to have some gifts made well in advance this year, I’ve decided I’ll be making a bunch of these bags for some upcoming birthdays and for all my cousins’ kids for Christmas. Easy and inexpensive, just how I like it for this sort of thing!
How flipping awesome is that?! I completely love it, what a great idea!
written on February 15th, 2010, at 10:13 amGreat idea – excellent result! I think it turned out really well.
written on February 15th, 2010, at 10:13 amThat is fantastic! I have never heard or seen of such a thing before but I can just imagine how absorbed my three-year-old would be with one of these.
written on February 15th, 2010, at 10:15 amAli
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Oh wow! Amazing, Gretchen :) I think this would keep any kiddo absorbed for hours – what a great idea! I think I would play with it myself, hehe :) Beautifully made too, of course!
written on February 15th, 2010, at 11:12 amwhat a fabulous gift…made with care and imagination and modeled with the cutest hands!!
written on February 15th, 2010, at 11:27 amThat’s adorable, Gretchen! The hands are even more adorable :).
written on February 15th, 2010, at 3:17 pmWow, I think your eye spy bag turned out really good! I have been wanting to make one for ages, but I need to get over my fear of sewing vinyl!
written on February 15th, 2010, at 6:04 pmLOVE! What a fabulous idea and I can’t wait to try it! So, where do you get all the supplies?
written on February 15th, 2010, at 8:54 pmFab idea! But don’t you just hate that last minute thing? Sadly I am also afflicted with the same complaint…
written on February 16th, 2010, at 6:16 amWhat I love about this the most is that you can fill it with odds and ends of little toys that have been trashed a little or have lost other toys they belonged with and it’s a whole new fun toy & game! What a magnificent idea. Thanks!
written on February 17th, 2010, at 7:59 pmIt loos great – wonks and all – what a great idea – I should whip up a few for in the car.
written on February 17th, 2010, at 8:34 pmIt’s my first time visit here:)
written on February 18th, 2010, at 1:15 amSuch a lovely gift! So thoughtful!!
Thanks for the idea!^^
The blankets look so beautiful and soft and squishy and that eye-spy bag has quite simply, knocked my socks off, I just LOVE IT.
written on February 18th, 2010, at 3:26 amWhat a great Idea! love you work.
Bye
written on February 19th, 2010, at 4:10 amMarieke
WOW Gretchen… this is AWESOME. What a great idea and a wonderful present. I love it!
written on February 19th, 2010, at 5:20 am