Operation: Like My Dog / Beauties Pageant 26

I completed this bassinet project well in time for Easter giving.

There’s a canine roaming the halls of From Bolt to Beauty world headquarters. Her name is Rose, and she’s a high-energy golden retriever. She’s a lover, not a fighter, and if burglars broke into my house, the worst she could do is lick them to death.

To my three-year-old niece, however, Rose is scary. Rose towers over this sweet little girl, and with every bark, my niece runs into my sister’s arms, pleading, “I need you!” The relationship between Rose and my niece affects every family visit, and that was the impetus for Operation: Like My Dog.

First, I showed up at my niece’s third birthday party with a gift specifically from Rose. It was a small golden retriever stuffed animal, and Rose Puppy, as this creature has been named, has the privilege of sleeping in my niece’s bed every night (along with, like, 20 other stuffed animals). Then, for Valentine’s Day, Rose sent my niece a card signed with a paw print stamp. (My husband thought it was ridiculous that [1] I own a paw print stamp and [2] I signed a card with it. I thought it was brilliant!)

Later in February, my niece and sister visited for a few days to watch my boys while I went to QuiltCon. My sister noted significant progress. She said that my niece was much calmer around Rose, even when Rose was barking. One night, as the kids were getting ready for bed, my niece walked over to Rose’s crate, said a big good-night, and then crouching closer to the dog whispered, “I love you.”

Rose and my niece have come so far—I don’t want to lose any ground!—so when I saw the sweet bassinet Bernie (Needle and Foot) made for her granddaughter’s dolls, I started plotting my own for my niece from our dog.

I took the opportunity to use up a yard of garden novelty fabric that features springy colors and bunnies hiding in watering cans ...

Because I didn’t know when I would have another occasion to use this fabric, I used as much as I could in this project—on the exterior, as the lining, and in a simple coordinating doll quilt.

This stuffed bunny will accompany the bassinet to its new owner. Fingers crossed that Miss Hopsy will join the chosen few in my niece’s bed at night! : )

To make your own doll bassinet, visit the tutorial on Sew Mama Sew!

If you have other ideas of what Rose can do for my niece—crafty projects and otherwise—please let me know in the comments.

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