knitting kids in the round

I am still basking in the victory of last months craft club.  I usually have a friend who is a GREAT helper, but she was unable to make it.  I used my entire reserve of patience but had all seven girls finger knitting by then end of the hour.  I love the directions posted on creativebug. We used super soft chunky yarn, in bright colors.  This first picture just steals my heart, aren’t they just precious   knitting in the “round.”  

We also worked on two group hula hoop looms, using yarn, ribbons and cut up strands from old t-shirts.  They loved it so much I had to pull out paper plates for more “practice.”  I am going to miss this little group when we break for summer!

the sun, the rain and the apple seed

I love celebrating life’s best moments, marriages, birthdays, anniversaries, and new babies.  This year has been full of all for me, with people I love most – family.  I am striking a little creative vein with these new ceramic baby bowls, thrown on the wheel and then hand-stamped with childhood songs & nursery rhymes. Each of the songs below have special places in my childhood and in my children’s.  Hopefully these bring back great moments for you too…

Oh, the Lord’s been good to me.
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need:
The sun, the rain and the apple seed;
Oh, the Lord’s been good to me.

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
We’re going to the Moon
If you want to take a trip
Climb aboard my rocket ship
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

 

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

 

Each bowl is glazed with lead-free glazes, and is microwave and dishwasher safe.  All of these are available on my etsy shop.  If interested in a custom phrase/rhyme please send me a convo or custom order via Etsy.

 

 

 

 

rainbow harvest at dow gardens

As I post these pictures, I am realizing how much we get around the state of Michigan!  Midland is beautiful little gem hidden in the middle of the state, the girls and I got away for a little culture field trip and ended up at Dow gardens.  They have a great interactive children’s garden where the kids can help water and play through out the carefully planned space.  The best part is it is full of all different types of vegetables that are out of their norm, so they can see what the plants look like and even taste.  I was impressed with the basil hedge, varieties of beans, corn, squash, peppers, tomatillos, cabbage… it was so education even for me.  I wish my vegetable garden looked this beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

knock knock little fairy

With the older kids at daycamp this week, I snuck out with my mom, nut and my nephew for a little urban fairy door hunt in Ann Arbor.  We found quite a few on the list before we stopped for lunch at sweetwater cafe. The kids left little token hearts for each fairy, it was adorable to see them peeking in the windows  and knocking on the doors, “come out, come out little fairies we want to play!”  None came out… I don’t know why? if someone left life-sized swedish fish for me, I would open up in a heartbeat.

In the afternoon, I stopped by Hollanders in kerrytown shops and took a workshop with their summer artists in residence.  I have been wanting to take a class forever now but my schedule has not lined up.  They were making these little flag books in the drop-in class,  I had such a grin from ear to ear just to be in the workshop and working alongside other creative souls again.  Seriously such a grin!  The little purple book in progress is mine, I am thinking about incorporating little fairy doors and leaves – something magical that highlights our trip.  I am thankful for a chance to learn a new skill and check out the many facets of bookmaking.  It’s always good to get out of your comfort zone and stretch your creativity.

flat Braden

My nephew sent me an assignment for his kindergarten class based on the international literacy and community project Flat Stanley.  We hung out with Braden at one of our favorite places SpringHill, see our adventures through our photo journal.

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heart crayons, party & the missing tooth

Of all the school parties they have, Valentines is my favorite.  As I dropped my little student off this morning, excited chaos was happening all around.  I was happy to make a prompt exit as sugar treats, boxes and cards entered in with their excited little humans.

As predicted this weekend we were busy preparing for the special day.  Heart rice crispie treats were made along with 24 new heart shaped crayons and cards made from a template found here.

And to top it all off, we lost tooth #3 last night.  Here are excerpts from the conversation:

S (6 years old):  (in a very sad voice)  ”Just pull it out daddy, I don’t want to worry about it tonight… (pouty lip, hides tooth) plus it hurts.”

H (4 years old):  ”If you loose your tooth, the tooth fairy will bring you CASH for new clothes.”  (not really sure why she calls all money, CASH)

Scene: tooth comes out, much excitement, looking in the mirror, gargling with water… time for bed.

S:  ”Mom, I think you have to put the tooth under your pillow because the fairy is so bright that she might wake me up if I see her.”

Bright and shiny that tooth fairy is.  Hope everyone has a great valentines.

little friday love

Valentine’s day is almost here, which is very exciting in a house full of girls. Without much choice being a mother of two girls is all about sparkly things, laundry loads of pink clothes, barretts scattered about the house, and hours upon hours of playing dollhouse. Nut and I had  a little crafting session this morning, an event we both heart.

First up felted rocks (or rock sweaters as we call them) – which are just fun to have around, I have yet to find a “useful function for them,” how many paper weights does one really need!  The we followed it up with a bit of festive coloring.  Tater has her class party on Monday so I am sure there is more in store for this weekend at least valentines cards and class treat.

books, books and sacred corners

Some mornings you wake up and know its just gonna be a great day.  The beauty of the ordinary which is rarely appreciated until something catastrophic happens and we long to be back in that spot.  That mindset allowed me to savor waking up early with my husband, anticipate the coffee brewing and reading in bed together for a whole hour before the girls even woke.  Dutch baby pancakes and sausage for breakfast, I sat on the couch gearing up to go out and shovel the 5 new inches of snow when my neighbor drove up in his tractor/plow and took care of the sidewalk and driveway.

This allowed me to look around at corners of my home that I have been overlooking for weeks with a new freshness.  I wish I took a before picture but I am sure we can all imagine a corner ruled completely by kids, books shoved in crannies, crayons, sticky fingers… isn’t that quite the picture in itself!   This morning I was on a mission more than straightening books but sorting and savoring.   As nut turned four shortly before Christmas I am torn between making room on the shelves for new mature books and parting with treasured pages.  We are a family that reads, so many afternoons are spent snuggling on the sofa a kid on each side a pile of books on the lap.   I generally fall somewhere in-between a keeper and purger, but today is a great day.  I can confidently make the room, letting go of the objects, yet keep the memories and moments.  Sometimes the letting go leaves your hands free to embrace what is coming ahead.

{this moment}

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see. Find out more about this ritual at soulemama.com

I have to write a few words… Just want to give a heads up, next week I am posting a series of working in clay – reflections from a potter.  I am so excited to share about what has been laid on my heart.  Also I will be posting more pendant necklaces and hosting the first sale in my shop all next week, stoneware pendants will be 20% off.  I am looking forward to this weekend and enjoying the sun glistening on the snow!

jesus storybook

We were first introduced to this bible at an Andrew Petersen concert.  My girls adore the stories in this book.  This excerpt is taken from the back ” The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the story beneath all the stories in the Bible.  It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story.  And at the center of the Story, there is a baby, the Child upon whom everything would depend.  From Noah to Moses to King David, every story whispers his name.”

In addition to the stories, they are drawn to and identify with the illustrations.  I looked up the illustrator Jago online, and to my delight he sells reasonably priced prints on his site.  I hope to get a few of the girls favorites for their room (the hardest part will be choosing which ones.)  How beautiful for them to have a visual reminder of Gods great promises and their favorite story’s that always point to Jesus.