Total Teepees!

Last weekend I was at the Hickam Craft Fair. Well as I was planning it (and I planned it for months because I only planned to do one fair this season and it is my favorite) I wanted to make some new things. I get bored making the same things in large quantities and didn't want to spend alot of time on a tiny bib and only get $10 for it. I wanted soemthing really cool. Teepees! I found a couple patterns but tweaked and tweaked until I created what I consider to be the absolutely perfect child's play teepee. I give my sister, Becky, credit for helping me figure out the poles idea. These teepees set up in a few mintes at the most and can be stored in their coordinating carry bag which only takes up about 8 inches by 2 1/2 feet. The one you see above is a sage green and cream print.


The one below is the same print in a peachy color but it is a different pattern. I nixed this size after making one. It is $10 less than the others because it is made with 4 panels and poles instead of 5. It is a little smaller than the others. Wider footprint but shorter inside.

Below my model is in a yoga pose, she said. This solid blue is a microfiber. I really liked it when I bought it but after sewing all the fun prints, I was bored with this one. Now I am back to liking it again. I tried to choose fabrics that would not only appeal to different buyer's tastes and be sturdy and easy to care for, but would coordinate in people's homes and not scream "I have kids! See my Sponge Bob tent!"(or Dora or Princess or Cars or...) This one is simple and fine for boys and girls. It would look super personalized with a name or embroidered picture above the door.

Above is an awesome canvas I bought on closeout and now discontinued. This one sold at the fair. The pastels were very bright and fun. I was excited this was purchased to send to some lucky grandkids on the mainland. The size this folds to is handier for shipping, even though PVC pipe is pretty heavy.

Desert Camo is great for a boy or girl. This one sold but is an easy fabric to pick up and sew another one. The Hickam Fair has military people of all branches there and desert camo is pretty universal (Even though it is all but phased out in uniforms) I really liked this one more than I thought I would. It is so fun! See how much fun this little boy is having? He couldn't stay awake for my photo shoot!

Speaking of my shoot: It was raining for a couple days and I couldn't get outside to shoot the pics I wanted. I made instruction cards for each teepee with a picture of it set up so customer's would have an idea without taking it all out (we did have some on display, too) It was alot of work developing these but I couldn't be happier! Thanks Maidy for helping me set them all up. And thanks cute models!

I could have sold 10 of these if I had the fabric. Another closeout and I bought all they had. This one was my all time favorite and alot of other people's as well. The colors are beautiful and rich. I have tried searching for this fabric but I guess when they say discontinued they really mean it. Oh well! It is super expensive too, so I wouldn't have bought it if it was regular price anyway.

Before making all of these, I worked on my prototype and tested on many children. I have taken it to other's homes to see how it sets up quickly and get kid reviews. I have 4 of my own and they all loved them. And all 4 can fit in it! The 4 year old slept in it the first night. The 2 year old loves it because it is enclosed and dark and he has played in it with his therapist. It gets rave reviews from the teachers and therapists who saw it at the fair and who come to the house and is great for special needs children . And my big girls (11 and almost 9) love it just as much. Pillows and flash light complete it. The buttons help you keep it opened or closed. A nice fort to poke your head out when watching TV. Ok, I'll stop gushing about them.

They are pretty cool though.