Easter (make something cool when I can)

It was Saturday, I hadn't done A THING for Easter. It is hard to be motivated when you have been invited to three Easter celebrations and there is going to be candy and egg hunting at each one. But I decided I needed to do something, I wanted to do something. I preceded to brainstorm, rabbit silhouette, felted sweaters, images from a Google search. Result: Easter bunnies for the kids.








Denny said he will take my pattern and turn it into a pdf so I can post it here. Maybe in time for next Easter.


Happy Easter kids getting revved up for the hunt, decked out in scarves I made them with that dreamy-soft-bumpy-baby blanket material (don't know what it's called) and scraps of fabric. Something I did on a whim and just love how they turned out.

Pop Out Valentines

Tomorrow the kids are passing out Valentine's at school. I really wanted to come up with something that would be fun for my kids to make and fun for the kids in class to receive.


Violet's very violet Valentine.

Supplies:
paper cups
colored card stock
stickers
googly eyes
glue stick
craft sticks
ric-rac


I bought colored paper cups and then made a template of a heart that fit inside that I used to trace onto colored card stock.


While I cut out the hearts, the kids had the job of signing their names on the cup and decorating them with stickers.


Then came the fun part, googly eyes and ric-rac. I glued the stick on to ensure that they were straight so that they would align well in the cup. I used an exacto knife to cut a line in the bottom of the cup. The cut needs to be right in the center and just the size of the stick so that the heart fits inside and the stick is snug.


Making 24 of these was a lot for the kids to do. Wren signed his own name on all the cups and did most of the stickers and faces. I printed out the word "from:" and glued it in front of his name. I hope the kids have fun with them tomorrow!

Quilting and Knitting

I've been quite busy lately. My biggest project right now is organizing and designing the kindergarten class quilts. Yes, I have volunteered to head the project!

The kids have been studying water and ocean themes in class. I thought it would be a great idea to have each child create a painted sea creature that would be scanned and then printed onto fabric.


We did a test print from one of Wren's paintings he brought home from class. I am really pleased with how it turned out.

The process is quite simple. Cut an 8 1/2" X 11" piece of freezer paper, iron your fabric on and trim. Then you can send that right through your printer. I was surprised to find that HP has detailed instructions on how to do it. Now I get to print out about 50 of them! Wow, I've got a lot of work ahead of me. I'm trying not to worry about the fact that I've never made a quilt before! Luckily, there are many other parents who are helping and some of them have quilting experience.


The rest of my extra time has been put to use knitting socks. I finished Violet's and started on some for myself. I have been holding onto this yarn for years, it feels so good to finally knit with it. I really love how toe up socks knit up. Can't wait to slip my feet in!

Happy Holidays!

*I'm a guest blogger over at Dabbled today! I needle felted a little gnome and wrote up a how to. Dabbled is one of my favorite blogs. Dot dabbles in many things, felted sweater crafts, illustrations, robots, cooking, just to name a few. She also hosts contests that are very fun to participate in. Go check her out!

We had a wonderful time yesterday, quite relaxing.




Denny's mom took pictures of the kids in front of the tree on Christmas Eve,


and I wanted to join in the fun!

Happy Solstice!

And I'm happy to say that my camera has returned! I'm busy finishing up the gifts and trying to stay warm. There is an unusually large amount of snow in Portland, OR right now. I'm very thankful for heat and a fully stocked kitchen!

I just have time to show some of the pictures I've take since the camera returned.


I bought four of these crocheted snow flakes at a craft bizarre, now I'm wishing I would have gotten three times that many!



This is one of my faves, a sweet little hedgehog.


Here are the kid's advent trees.


More stenciling.


We have such an abundance of drawings and paintings by the kids, we decided to use it for wrapping paper. Shown with gift tags from the black apple.


The house for Violet. I still need to sew on buttons, doors and such.


I was going to make Wren a little house too, but he is obsessed with the creatures from this book. I've made sock moneys and glove monsters, now I've ventured into the world of Stupid Sock Creatures! So very fun.


Stocking stuffers for the kids. Pattern from Mochimochi.


I finished one sock! The second one will have to wait until after the holidays. Can't wait to finish it and start on a pair for me though.

Hope to stop in at least one more time before Christmas. Until then, don't forget to enjoy these last few days until the New Year.

Attempts With The Point And Shoot

The good camera is still in the shop, but I just had to take some shots with the old point and shoot. I can't believe this used to be the only camera we had!


Wren likes to 'ride' his finger board on the tree and sometimes I find it there, left for decoration.


I think this shot actually turned out quite nice! Denny took this while we were out playing in the snow yesterday. I don't want to go outside today, it is freezing. We just aren't equipped for this kind of weather here in Portland, OR.


And here is a picture of some craftyness. I cut a cool print off of one t-shirt that wasn't fitting so well (due to shrinkage, I'm sure!) and sewed it onto a plain old brown shirt. Et Voilà! Now I have a one of a kind creation.

OK, now I must go work on more Christmas projects. I'm trying to take pics of them with the old camera and I'm just not pleased. Hurry home Power Shot G9!

W.I.P. It Up

Freezer paper stencils. Butterflies from Lotta, dandelion by Leethal, praying mantis by Denny.


These are the guts to the little houses.


I'm finally learning how to knit socks! This toe up pattern is designed and taught by Chrissy.


This is Violet's new do. Ah, she looks so old now!

I also made the kids cute advent button trees from a tutorial by Diane, but I can't get a decent picture to show.

And I can't forget to tell you about the coolest Christmas Digest by Diane and Katin! I got mine yesterday and I'm totally enjoying all the whit, humor and craftiness. You should go and buy one. Thank you guys!

Christmas Gift List, Halloween. Wow, It Must Be Sept.

I'm starting on Christmas gifts. Here's what I'm doing so far.


This portable doll house for Violet from UK lass in US.


From mmmcrafts. I've just got to make these for the kids. I'll do a boy version with removable pants for Wren.


I really like this double sided cable scarf from Sweater Surgery.


This is what I want to make for Violet's Halloween costume from Wee Wonderfuls. Wren's costume idea changes weekly, so I'm not sure what that one is going to be.


Last year he was the Prince from Katamari. I also crocheted the Prince for him from a pattern I bought from anapauloli on Etsy.

Things have been extra busy here. Wren is starting kindergarten next week and Violet is going to preschool. It feels like the end of an era for me, life is never going to be the same. It is going to be all about school for the next 15 years or so.

I've been at home with my kids since the beginning and this is a bit of a hard transition for me. On one hand, I'm thinking about all the time I'm going to have for myself. On the other hand, I'm really going to miss Wren. He is going to be in school for 6 hours a day! That is 30 hours a week! Violet will only be going for 5 hours a week, so she will keep me company. I think she will miss her little buddy too though.

Memory Mobile

I made this out of objects that we found at the beach this summer. While I was making it I was brought back to each time and place where it was discovered. And now we have something lovely to look at that reminds us of our adventure.








Materials:
seashells, sand dollars, beach glass, snake grass, mossy stick, cotton pearl thread, beading wire, beads, our memories.

You can turn any outing into a Memory Mobil , a walk around the block, a hike, road trips. Collecting objects helps you become more aware of your surroundings and then you have something that will trigger your senses and conjure up a memory.

*This project was inspired by and is dedicated to my dear friend Sage who once gave me a Memory Mobile.

Forced to Craft

I came home with this book from the library the other day. It is very cute, set up like a comic book of instructions on how to make all these cute useful things like tissue holders and water bottle covers. The book is narrated by two rabbits named White Rabbit and Brown Bunny.

Wren got a hold of the book and informed me that he wanted me to make everything for him right now. And specifically he wanted me to make him one of the rabbits, right now. Telling him it wasn't actually possible for me to make them all for him, right now, was not getting through. Desperate to stop the demands, I started searching for a way to appease him. I spotted some terry cloth that had been in the closet for quite a few years, it was finally destined to become something. A rabbit, right now!


Here you have it, White Rabbit!


White Rabbit with a shirt made from one of my socks.



I really like how they turned out. Although, the terry cloth was a little hard to sew through, especially at the arms and legs where there were four layers. I was worried for my sewing machine! I made Violet one and used corduroy for the body, which was much better. Luckily, they came together pretty fast and Wren has been appeased. For now, at least!

Totally In Need Of A New Pincushion!

This pincushion has sentimental value, it was my mom's. I really have no idea how or when I ended up with it. I probably took it with out her knowing! I have many fond memories playing with it when I was a kid.



It has one major flaw, it is entirely too skinny! The pins poke out of the bottom. Part of the memories I have deal with this very issue. I was fascinated with pushing them down and seeing them poke out the bottom. Alas, I have been poked one too many times and I'm ready for something new.



It finally occurred to me that I can make a new one myself! Now I just need to decide on something and make it.



I love Betz White's felted cupcake pincushions. The instructions are in her book Warm Fuzzies.

Molly Chicken has this cute little house tutorial that would make a great pincushion.

I could always crochet a cupcake and use that for a pincushion.

There is a book called Pretty Little Pincushions.

I really like these mason jar pincushions and they are multi purpose.

The possibilities are endless, which is making this seeming easy project hard for me! I also feel like I should be able to come up with an idea on my own. Oh the pressure! One of these days I will just force myself to sit down and make something and the dilemma will be over. Until then, must not let kids get poked with pincushion!

Waiting Until The Last Minute!

There is a birthday party for a couple of Wren's school friends tomorrow afternoon and I waited until the last minute to decide on gifts!

After spending large amounts of money at the gas station and grocery store today, my decision was made. I must make something.

These are based on the pattern Simple Tote from Bend-the-Rules Sewing.





I used grosgrain ribbon for the handles to speed things a long, which I think works for kids bags. It's always a gamble giving homemade gifts to kids you don't know very well, but every kid could use a tote. Right?