Maybe you already noticed. I have an ongoing love of peg dolls.
If I had to pick just one craft to do with my kids for the rest of time, this would probably be the one.
And my kids share the obsession. I pick up peg people when I house clean like other families pick up Legos.
Creating peg dolls is quiet work that engages the imagination and the hands. The children and I sit around the table, quietly visiting and working on our own creations and soon a peaceful, imaginative hour (or two) has passed. It is magical.
Creating a plaything is satisfying work for a child of any age, and I find peg dolls are a suitable for a three year old as a ten year old. And for their play-value, a homemade peg doll can't be beat. They are open-ended, natural, and oh-so-simple. What's not to love?
Last year I was honored to be asked by fellow blogger and long-time Clean reader Margaret Bloom to contribute a few wooden peg dolls to her book, Making Peg Dolls. We were of course honored and the children I both sent some dolls to be included.
Last week when the book finally arrived, how tickled everyone was to see their very own peg people in this gorgeous hardcover book! Such fun for us all.
But that was only the beginning. Margaret's projects are lovely. While I am not often inspired to follow a pattern per-se, I still found the book to be brimming with beautiful, inspiring projects. And for someone looking for a step-by-step this book is an absolute treasure.
Each page is magical and will light a creative spark in you and your child.
Indeed, we all got lost in – and inspired by – the projects in Making Peg Dolls. Lupine made up a bright little song for every page ("We are the bumblebee babies! We are bumblebees three…") and before long the kids hurried off to gather supplies. Then we all set to work.
Oh, my. Look at all of those friends! Such fun.
Making Peg Dolls is without a doubt a lovely, inspiring craft book. For all ages.
Oh! And what have we here? A copy just for you! Margaret sent me an extra book to share with one lucky reader. Just add your name to the comments below to be entered to win! I'll close comments and select a winner on Monday.
Comments are now closed. And the winner is Lisa who said:
"I would love to be so lucky as to win a copy – such inspiration! Lovely!"
This sounds like such a wonderful activity to do with your children. Fantastic! I’d love to try this with my son.
Jake and I discovered the lovely world of peg dolls around Xmas. They are so much fun indeed. Where do you get your wooden peg dolls? I get mine at the local craft store but they only have 2 shapes. Thanks for the chance to win.
I’ve never made peg dolls before. They look like so much fun to make…and play with!
I buy mine from Caseys Wood Products.
How wonderful that you were included in such a lovely book! Congratulations. 🙂
I have made a few peg gnomes in my time, and I have a bunch of peg people sitting in a box waiting to be made into the man and monkeys from ‘Caps for Sale’. (They were supposed to go in Asher’s Christmas stocking *two* years ago. Maybe I’ll get around to making them before Easter?)
I should do them more often, though. They really are very simple and the children love them… xo
My 23 year old daughter would have loved this when she was young-she made families out of everything- button family, soap families, etc. We will have fun reminiscing about those families when we make a few peg families!
This looks like such a great book – have you seen the video promo on you tube? SO cute!
Yes! Its adorable. Here is the link of anyone else wants to see! (Thanks for the reminder, Daisy.)
What a great idea, I love the little fruit and vegetable ones. My four(almost 5 year old) would love this!
Oh my goodness! The book looks wonderful. I especially love the little carrot people. How exciting for your children to see their work in a book!
That gave me a big smile, Page. I’m a bit partial to soap families, too…
Endless fun! How exciting!
My children love making peg dolls too and they are greatly prized (I still have to pick up the lego, as well). This book looks so lovely.
My girls love peg dolls and are just getting old enough to make their own! This would be lovely.
This looks like such a wonderfully fu book for our girls!
Great homemade gifts too.
You all did a great job on yours.
I have wanted to make peg dolls with my kids for awhile now, but both my daughter and I like to have references to look at when we craft. This would be perfect!
I have a little bag of peg people that I have been trying to decide how to paint so this giveaway is perfect. Thank you so much.
Those are amazing. So cute. I think I need to try this. I can see how it would be addicting.
That would be so fun. I have two littles and would love to do this with them as they grow!!!!
This looks enchanting! I have a bag of peg people that’s been sitting around waiting for inspiration to strike–I’m sure the book would be very helpful!
My kiddos (6 & 3) are the perfect age for this kind of activity – the book looks amazing
I love this! So adorable!
Oh wow, that looks like a fabulous book – thanks for the opportunity to win it!
Oh so cute! I love making them too and would love to have more ideas!
my daughter is coming up on two, and i am getting so excited about starting to craft with her in the coming years – this book would be a great place to start. thanks for the chance to win a copy!
I love this post! Don’t enter me for the giveaway (I already have a copy! Yay!) but I had to say: when the book arrived, my little ones lined up their peg dolls and matched them to the pictures, squealed over seeing gnomes they and I had made that were featured. I swear, this book gets more attention than their story books. (:
Also. How is it that I’m not following your blog? This must be remedied immediately!
So fun! I made peg dolls for my girls for Christmas last year, and they love them!
Sweet!
This sound like a very fun activity. I bet my son and I could also get lost in it.
I would so love to win this! I have been wanting to make peg dolls with my kids at the library (I am a children’s librarian). So many of the children I work with do not get the opportunity to be creative very often, so I try to offer as many opportunities as I can. I’ve had this item on my watch list on Amazon for a few months now, and am quite excited it is being released.
I’ve made some peg dolls for my kids (and me, too 🙂 and still the glimpses of the pages of this book were really exciting. I’d love to win a copy!
I made my very first peg people as part of my handcrafted Christmas gift for my son and we are in love! Can’t wait to make more with him!
Oh, what a sweet book. We had a love affair with peg dolls a few years back that I think needs to be revisited.
How fun! My girls would love that book!
What a fun book! I’d love to win this!
I’ve always wanted us to give peg people a try. I’m not a particularly creative person, so this will give us some much-needed guidance!
Oooooohh! I want to make these with my little ones. Such a cute book. But I never win anything 🙂
We’d have so much fun making these. What an enchanting book. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to check out this book! We have lots of gnomes like this on our nature table, but have never ventured into making other sorts of folk with wooden pegs… I am going to dig them out of the craft closet now! We’re expecting a blizzard starting tomorrow, and needed a fun, creative project — thanks for posting about this today! (And I hope I win the book, thanks for the chance!)
cute! i like the idea of lupine’s little songs. sounds like the girls around my house processing their days, as well. thank you!
Such a cute project! Simple and engaging, i love it!
What a great project!
Yeah! This book looks s fun!
I’ve been wanting to start making peg dolls so this would be perfect! Heck, even if I don’t win I think I’ll be buying this book! It looks gorgeous!
I got a whole bunch of wooden peg people pre-Christmas and never got around to painting them! This might just be the inspiration I need! Thanks!
Congratulations on being included in this delightful book — how exciting! And I really really hope I win!!
So cute! A great activity for the kids! The possibilities are endless!
we love peg people over here!
These would be SO fun to create for/with my daughter, and to give away as gifts! Thank you for the give-away!
This book looks like loads of inspirational fun! Thanks for the five-away!
Oh my how our home loves peg dolls!
My six yr old recently announced she would be making a peg village…what an inspiration this book would be!
So cool! Would love this book!
“give-away”!!! Oops! 🙂
Enchanting! The little video clip is so very charming. What a treat!
What a lovely book! I would love to make some of these peg people with my kids!
What an inspiring book. I know my eight year old and I would love to make these together. Thanks for the chance!
My kids and I would love this book! Thank you 🙂
What a fun thing to do for a day, or two or seven! Thank you for the chance!
Pegs!
I would LOVE one of those books! I’ve made peg dolls a few times and it’s really fun. And of course my daughter loves them. I’d love to try some with felt clothing, a little felt sleeping bag, some of those cute little accessories.
What inspiration! Loving just the few images you shared! We’ll definitely want to add this to our library!
My kids just received their first peg people for Christmas – this book looks so fun!
I think my daughter would love this. Thanks!
My girls would just LOVE this! Looks like just the thing to get us crafting, finally! Thanks for the chance to win! =)
This looks like such a wonderfu book to have and would be great fun for me and my daughter, Wren. I’d love a chance!
Okay!!! I have vowed not to BUY any more craft books…my shelves are overflowing and my time to create is dwindling! However if I could WIN a book especially one that will engage all of my kiddos then what a treat!!
I would love to be so lucky as to win a copy – such inspiration! Lovely!
My girls would love to make these. I’ve been eyeing your cuties for awhile. Hope we get some inspiration!
“My” Sofia will love to do some of them!! Very inspiring!!!
This looks like a craft I need to do with my girls! The book looks wonderful.
Oh excellent! I did this a while back, being inspired by another peg doll post you wrote, but am finding my painting know-how to be lacking. I just need more practice, I know. Looks like a wonderful book.
Oh yes please! Those peg people would look so at home in my little girls room! 🙂
We love peg people over here 🙂
This looks like such fun and you’re right that little ones love to play with these peg people. I’d love to get my hot little hands on a copy of that book!
It reminds me of the play mobile dolls I had when I was little.
I don’t think I have entered yet ( if I have I am really sorry). My boys love peg dolls and I would love this book to help create some for them. Thanks
Wow! I’d love to do something like this with my girls! It looks like fun!
Looks like great fun. I’ve been wanting to try with my kiddos. Thanks!
So lovely! I hope we’re ok to enter (we’re in England). x
How lovely! I would love to make some peg people for my two little ones. Certainly more affordable then anything you’d find at the store. And so much personality!
Anything I can do with my son is a winner! I swear I have as much fun (if not more!) as he does. By the way, I made playdough from the recipe you posted and it was just perfect! I told all my friends and sisters
what a nice book!
Oh, I would love to win this book. Margaret’s work is always so inspiring!
I just bought a bag of pegs to make some dolls. I would love this book for some inspiration!! Have you ever tried using Sharpies instead of paints? I wonder if the ink would run on the wood……only one way to find out, I guess 🙂
I would love to win a copy of this book. Need some new ideas for my gnome
scenes.
Oh, I love this! I have yet to make peg people with my boys, but it sounds like a perfect winter-time activity. The pictures from the book instantly made me think of all the presents I could make for them and our nieces and nephews.
this sounds like so much fun…would love a copy of the book
That never knew that there is a book about peg dolls – how beautiful!!
My fingers are crossed…
These are awesome! I’ve seen peg people around but never payed much attention. I think I’m in love!
Stephen and I spent the wee hours of the week before Christmas “making babies” we called it ;). By Christmas morning there was a whole tribe of peg people for Canaan to love. Such fun!
How fun. It’s amazing how 1 simple wooden form can be transformed into so many different people with just a little bit of paint.
Pick me please! We have lots of babies here waiting for faces!
I’d love to win!
Your peg dolls are lovely…I adore all the different personalities. Thanks so much for the chance; I’d love to check out the book!
I have some peg-doll making in the works for the weekend–toppers for my daughter’s birthday cake.
Markers work beautifully. Lupine uses just standard non-permanent type with great results. (See the bottom shelf of the first photo. Her prize “Rosie Doll” is there.)
I’m so glad!
yes please!!!
We just recently discovered the joy if peg dolls…what kind of paint works best? I suppose it’s different for different results. Thanks for the chance!
Oh, I love this! And I have a six year old and a four year old who would too!
I am just starting to make peg dolls and would love this book!
This book loves fun. I bet my son would love to make some peg dolls together. Thanks!
Ive had great results with acrylics and with water colors. Experiment! Even markers work beautifully.
This looks magically amazing! I literally have never wanted to win a give away so badly before. My three little girls (and myself, if we’re being honest here!)would LOVE to be so inspired to create!
So adorable! Can’t wait to do this craft with my daughter.
I love making peg dolls with my girls. We could always use more inspiration.
what a neat book – thank you so much for sharing! my kiddos (11, 8 & 4) and i also love spending hours creating pegs. meganwoodwilcox@gmail.com
thanks for the giveaway, we love making peg people and this book would be awesome to give us more ideas 🙂
That looks like a lot of fun! My oldest would probably love to make the pegs themselves. He enjoys his wood working tools.
I’ve got a collection of peg dolls, sitting waiting for me. This books looks exactly what I need to get started!
We love peg people ! This looks like a fantastic book !
This book looks so lovely! We’ve just caught the peg-doll big ourselves. I’d love more ideas for easy peg dolls that can be made by my younger children.
Wow! Thanks for this opportunity–I was just thinking of making some of these with my sons.
I’ve been making peg dolls for our seasonal table, but I can use some new ideas! Love the youtube clips for the book, the peg dolls look so cute! Would love to win it!!
We love peg dolls! My girls have made one for most of our family and close friends. This way they can play with Grandma/Aunie Cindy/whoever, even when they’re not around 🙂
Everyone here has been ill and I’ve been away from my computer for a few days, so yours was the first review I’ve seen of her Peg Dolls book! Oh the pictures look so sweet. I agree my children all enjoy making peg dolls, even my 15 year old son makes them, and has fun doing it! Of course he claims that he is only doing it for the little ones, but no matter, he still enjoys the process! I’ve requested that our local library get a copy of Peg Dolls!
P.S. thanks for posting in the comments where you get your blank peg dolls from, off to stock up now!
I ‘d love a copy!
I have long admired your peg-peeps. My fingers are crossed for a win! Thanks for the fun giveaway!
We would so enjoy this book for winter crafting inspiration. If we are not the winner we will anxiously await it’s arrival at the library. Jenni – Waldorf homeschooler.
I’ve never heard of peg dolls, where can you get them to paint?
We’d love to be inspired by this book. It looks amazing!
Oh How fun! We have never made peg dolls before and with our life in chaos I have been looking for some little bits of crafty inspiration. I did make a nice little heart garland for my front door with a scrap of red cashmere I found while unpacking. So sweet.
This book looks lovely. I could see a lot of new crafting and gifting with inspiration from this book. Thanks for the chance.
me too!
And there is another here, too!
Adorable peg people in your family.
I would love to make the characters from Little Red Riding Hood for our circle time!
Ooo, these look fun. I want to create peg org and I’m thinking the girls will love them. 🙂
We just pulled ours out for our little girl……she’s been in pegland all day! Thanks for the chance.
I remember making these as a child.
We buy ours from Caseys Wood Products (online) but occasionally you can luck out and find them at Michaels or other craft stores.
What a treasure of a book! I loved seeing the concentration in your little girl’s eyes whilst painting her peg doll! Absolutly gorgeous!
So excited about this book! Oh the days I will spend painting and cutting and glueing and sharing and playing!
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!
love the look of the book. I have some peg dolls waiting for their personalities to appear – must get them out of the craft box!
Gorgeous book and I love your peg dolls too! Lovely 🙂
Oh my, I would love to have this book on hand as inperation for my gang, I think all 5 of them would love peg dolls for their own reasons, I’ve been meaning to add them to our crafting supplies all year!
We’ve only made clothespin people. Peg people would be so fun!!
they look so fun to make!
That looks like so much fun. My kids would love to make these peg dolls.
The book looks awesome and very fun! Thanks.
Love!!!
What great fun! I would love to do this with my granddaughter.
How much fun it would be to make these for and with my 3 year old grandson.
Seriously swooning…
I have some peg dolls I ordered some time ago just waiting for inspiration! Looks like this is it! Thanks!
Wonderful book I would love a copy!
How totally divine!! My 2 babes and I would love this. I just added it to my Book Depository wishlist but to win it would be simply super. Thanks so much for the opportunity x
What a cute book!! My daughters would love it! 🙂
I’ve never made anything like this before, would be great to try!
Great giveaway 🙂
Those are great peg people you created! I would love to win Margaret’s book and inspire my kids as well to create some lovely peg people.
Those peg dolls look so sweet! Thanks for the chance 🙂
Inspired already! Would love to see more of those gorgeous pages.
Wow, such a lovely book! Thank you for offering it!
Hi there, I have been following your blog for the past couple of months and find it very inspiring. I have a 2 & 4 year old and I know they would love peg dolls. I’ve been meaning to pick some up and create with them. This would be perfect to get me started. Thanks, Kristina
Oh yes… please, oh please!
Sounds lovely, Aja!
Oh my goodness, so cute!
Looks like a lovely book!
I’m in!!!
My kids would love these!
I noticed your peg people obsession before just wondered what to do with all these creatures. I’d love the book it’s so sweet.
Oh, what a great new project to work on with my homeschooling 6-year old…going to look into purchasing supplies now — Can’t wait to check out the new book for inspiration! Thanks for the change to win.
We give many of them away. The rest we keep around as our prime toy of choice. We dont have loads of toys so these are well loved. Also, when one falls out of favor we sometimes paint over the old peg person and start again! Were more process than product over here…
This looks like an AMAZING book!!
How sweet! I’ve been wanting to try my hand at peg people with my little one for a while now 🙂
Am I too late?! This would be great for home and preschool.
Would love to win!
I too have a small peg doll obsession. 🙂
Thank you for the inspiration!
This book is so sweet!!
oooohhh, this looks like fun!
This is something we would love to try.
Hi there,
I have been meaning to tell you for a long time that your daily words bring sunshine to my soul! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Peace,
Anita
I love peg dolls too! they are so beautiful and simple and open to endless imaginative play.
I would love to win this! I think my five year old and I would have hours of fun!
This is so ironic to me. Yesterday, while my baby was sleeping I started searching on Ebay and etsy for natural and wooden toys. I got swept away looking at peg dolls and they have been on my mind since. This morning I read your post and don’t think it coincidence. Peg doll making is my next craft! Thanks for the inspiration!
I would love to win this book! My girls would have so much fun making these!
What a wonderful book! Thank you for the chance.
Oh cute! I’ve been looking for a new rainy(snowy) day activity for the kids:)
Oh looks like fun and I think my boys are old enough to make some too!
Great, that was my thought, overpainting it.
Sweet and dear. Reminds me so of the miniatures I was into as a child : )
Book looks awesome.
What a great book. I would love to win the copy.
oh my…this looks like a great ways to spend some of our winter days in Montana! Thank you~
I love the creativity of this craft and the use of imagination!! Maybe it would work for a birthday party craft? Thanks for the ideas and inspiration.
How fun!
What a lovely giveaway – the book would certainly make excellent reading and would contain lots of wonderful creative ways to make these peg dolls.
Ha!
Look at all the people who come out of the woodwork when books are mentioned.
We also love peg dolls. We have a big family vacation this summer and I plan on bringing enough dolls and supplies for everyone to make one. (I love family craft night!)
How fun! I did not know such a book existed. I have always admired all the sweet little peg people on your blog. I would be nice to have a book to boost creativity. Thank you for the chance!
Fun!
The book looks lovely! We often make peg dolls around here to go with books we’ve been reading. Such fun! Thanks so much!
I would love this book! And promise to share it with my 3 yr old 😉
So cute! Thanks for the chance to win!
How kind! Thank you Anita.
I love these!! What a beautiful book and the valentine ones you did are too sweet!
Thanks for the chance to win something so lovely!
What an adorable book!
How cute! We’d definitely have fun making those little guys. 🙂
Wow! Thank you for the giveaway.
This book looks wonderful. I can’t wait to try it
How lovely! Thank you for such a sweet give-away.
I’d love to get this book.
Thank you so much for the chance to win such an enchanting book! I would love to have some inspiration to make more 🙂
Love peg people and how we could use some inspiration and tips. Thanks for the chance!
Oh me please!
I am almost embarrassed to say I have never tried to make a peg doll. However, after reading your review, I think I would like to give it a try. Where do you find the pegs?
That looks wonderful! Count me in!
Excited to check the book out:) I think my son would love it!
So cute! Thank you or the opportunity to win!
Oh my, I feel some weblooking today. Thanks
Sooo cute! I hadn’t even heard of this book! Thanks for the chance to win! I’d love to make my son some cute little peg people. 🙂
This looks like so much fun! I would love to try this with my kids. We would be so inspired by this book!
Oh universe if you would be so kind as to select us for this magical book. I promise to put it to good use. Thank you!!!
Thanks for sharing Rachel and Margaret 🙂
Oh, yes. I want to make those with my children! So fun!
~ oh, yes, what delightful enjoyment with creating these little people. I would loVe a copy of the book to share with my artsy Mammas & children. Thank you for the chance ! ~ I loVe the little one sleeping in the wooden bed, so dear. In fact, the wooden friends I made with my son, 15 yrs. ago, are being drawn into a storybook.
AND, I so loVe matryoshka dolls too ! ~
Best,
Shell ~
What a wonderful book! My 3 and 5 year old would love it.
Congrats on being included in the book! This looks like something my granddaughter would love. I’ve made a few peg gnomes for her but have never made any with her. ty for the giveaway and good luck everyone!
cokelush at gmail
Yes! Love to do crafts and pretend its all about my kids! Thanks for the review!
I love projects that excite my kiddos and I.
Would love some inspiration in the form of this fab book!
This book looks like so much fun and I even just bought some new paints!!
So far I have only made gnomes for my 2 year old; I would love this book for inspiration!
I hope international readers can enter. I have become a regular reader. Love your honesty. Cheers from south Australia
what a fun craft! So many little personalities waiting to emerge. We are excited to start creating our own little village.
We buy them online at Caseys Wood Products.