Cuteness

There was an interesting article in yesterday’s New York Times about what makes something cute. Scientists have studied visual signaling and identified the following features that make something look adorable:

-forward facing eyes
-round head and ears
-round body
-small, flat nose
-floppy limbs
-eyes set low on the head
-body fuzz

Interesting to think about when designing and sewing softies. It seems like many of the patterns for animals in the Japanese books that are just so cute have these attributes.

I was thinking a bit this weekend about making a new softie, but I didn’t want to do another bear or a bunny. Charlie suggested a fox and I thought that was a great idea. My sister loves foxes and I don’t have any patterns for them. Here is what I came up with.

and a side view so you can see her tail.

I orignially made her a dress with matching yellow and brown floral fabric and some trim, but decided in the end that the minimalist scarf was a better look. The main thing I’ve learned from the last few creatures is the wonder of basting. Basting is terrific, that’s all I’m going to say.

Well, we said good-bye to Chanukah and packed up the menorahs and driedels for next year. Roxy was pretty sad about that. The candles were just beautiful on the last night.

We had two great dinner parties over the weekend, by the way. New Year’s Eve was so much fun this year and all the food was tasty.

Thankfully, the local tot activities have started up again so we are out of the house more. Those two weeks around the holidays are brutal when you are home with a toddler and every playgroup and story time is cancelled! Now, if only the weather will hold out we’ll be in good spirits around here.

*I promise to add some more things to the shop later today. Most everything has sold out!