Felt Garden Box

[Lavender2]

@Lavender2 How did you get the "eyes" on the potatoes?

French knots with regular sewing thread, 5 wraps around the needle. You could also use embroidery floss. I used a long needle, after the potato was stuffed, and just ran the needle through the stuffing, from one side to the other.

I might have a pea plant ...

 

[thistlebloom]

Woo-hoo @Lavender2 ! I was thinking about that, after you had mentioned it earlier. I figured you could do the vines like the beet stems with pipe cleaners sewn inside....or....?
I thought a spring green pipe cleaner wrapped around a pencil into a coil would make a nice tendril. I thought of that because Kid#2 was messing around with my supplies and critiquing my potatoes again while wrapping my pipe cleaners around a pencil.

Hey, I'll take ideas from any quarter!

My sister is now excited about this project and is making one for her 3 year old granddaughter. She is adding some yellow onion bulbs, and maybe a watermelon.
I had an idea for a different vegetable too, but I'm not going to spill the beans (har) until I see if it works or not.

 

[Lavender2]

@thistlebloom , pipe cleaners are so fun, you can't just sit there and not play with them.

I had thought about onions also, finally found a fabric in the stash that looked kind of oniony.
Four of my grandkids will be here in a bit so I thought I better get a pic, it may not look like this tomorrow.

I think I'm out of room unless I make a bigger garden (as usual). And I finally figured out what it's missing ...... WEEDS!

 

[journey11]

Let us know how they like it!

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

you might be able to use a pair of brown tights or nylons to cover the potatoes. i love the pea vine!

 

[thistlebloom]

I love your pea vine too @Lavender2 ! Those are the cutest little pea pods!
I'm feeling very slow. When I get one of one type of vegetable done, I'm so excited about the next one I start on it. I guess my garden ADD isn't limited to the outdoor one.

I know what you mean about needing a bigger garden area, I keep thinking of more fun things to make and the box isn't going to hold it all.

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

well, you could go with the idea of square foot gardening!

 

[Jeni Ann]

I'm still waiting for Carol Dee to post a picture. This is SO something she would do ...

 

[Lavender2]

I figured you could do the vines like the beet stems with pipe cleaners sewn inside....or....?
I thought a spring green pipe cleaner wrapped around a pencil into a coil would make a nice tendril.

(Great minds ... ) It worked real well to lay a pipe cleaner on the edge of a sheet of felt, roll the felt tightly over it while sewing it together, then cut it off the sheet. I made 2 leaves attached by a narrow strip about 1 1/2" long, folded that and stuck them in as I sewed up the stem. (I stitched the leaf veins first) So easy!, and no hand sewing!

For the tendrils, I used 1/3 pipe cleaner and wrapped it with florist tape, coiled on a pencil and then twisted it to the vine. A small piece of white Velcro (hook side) will stick the peas to the felt stem.

 

[Lavender2]

The kids absolutely loved it! I just put the garden in by the toys to see how they would use it.
Jamie (8) quickly was setting up a food stand, TV tray and sign "(last name) Farm" . Wyatt(5) raided grampa's change jar and asked me for some paper bags. By this time, Heidi(3) had already picked and replanted the garden, more than once, and Travis(2) had done a bit of tilling.

Jamie decided to limit each sale to 2 picks, whew, but yeah we need a bigger garden! When the food stand ran out, she said 'I think we need more, all I have left is weeds!' They had no clue why grandma was laughing! ... but apparently all you need is imagination so skip the weeds. Anyway, they planted the garden again, and went off to play legos for a month (3 minutes) until the garden was ready again. At one point they got out a pan and put all the veggies in it to make soup on the fireplace, but the food stand was more fun.

It was SO fun to watch them having fun in a garden when it was 2° outside. It held up great and was a big hit! I love it!... and by request will be adding cucumbers, pumpkins, and another box!