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Crab 1

Crab 2 

Crab3 

The children found two gorgeous crab shells when we were walking on the beach the other day. We left them there, but they often ask to look at the photo I took of those funny smiley shells. Arlo needed a new jersey to wear to school so I sewed one up from dark grey wool jersey fabric, but it seemed a little plain. And then I knew what I had to do. I took a drawing he did of a pair of dancing, smiling crabs and made them into a freezer-paper stencil, and printed his new sweater with white ink. Voila- a crab top. Just what he always wanted.

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16 responses to “crabs”

  1. Margaret Oomen Avatar

    so wonderful
    reminds me of my mom’s favorite saying
    “don’t be shellfish”

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  2. annri Avatar

    excellent! it must make him smile.

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  3. Sarah Avatar

    That is adorable!

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  4. Mary Avatar

    Oh my goodness – cutest T shirt ever!!!

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  5. Sally Avatar
    Sally

    I love that – so simple and personal – and suitable for a boy.

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  6. louana Avatar

    I love it! I can’t believe that you cut that out of freezer paper – you are just tooooo clever. I really love Arlo’s dancing crabs

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  7. megan Avatar

    Hello Melissa, that is such a cute print of the crabs, what a great idea for a sweatshirt design. I just read the article about you in the North and South magazine- my mum mentioned the article to me so I asked her to send me up the magazine. I like your green room!

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  8. Eyecatchers Avatar

    Who would have thought that dancing crabs would look so cool on a sweatshirt!!!

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  9. Holly C. Avatar

    Well-that crab top is adorable!

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  10. lizzie Avatar
    lizzie

    that is so cool and “big boy” – wonderful to live so near the ocean !

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  11. Nicole Avatar

    Dancing crabs! I love it!!! What a fantastic drawing.

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  12. Plain and Joyful Living Avatar

    Your embroidery made me smile. so sweet.
    warm wishes, tonya

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  13. Julie Avatar

    hi!
    i love this shirt! and i love that you made it out of your sons own drawing. so unique and so fun. i love reading your blog. im recently married and don’t have any kids yet, but you inspire me to get better at my sewing skills and art skills ive let go by the wayside. thank you!
    Julie

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  14. amber Avatar
    amber

    The smiley faces look like Koala bear’s faces! How sweet, I love the new shirt complete with dancing crabs! We have a hermit crab for a pet. Her name is Houdini, because she is an escape artist…

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  15. durafemina Avatar

    lovely 🙂
    I commented in your last post about freezer paper stencils (but several days later, so it was hidden away!) about where you bought the freezer paper? We are in the lower North Island and can’t seem to find any. . .
    thank you!

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  16. tinyhappy Avatar

    hi there,
    thanks for your nice comment. i bought my freezer paper on ebay, but i think you can also find it on trademe (nz) and at spotlight- you have to ask at the counter. good luck!

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