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!

artprize 2012

Last weekend, we took the girls down to GR to see artprize.  I think this is our third year to make the trip.  Since they are getting a bit older now, I wanted them to set the course of which direction to go and see what sparked their curiosity…   I should have guessed,  giant sculptures of teddy bears and pop cans and a swing set band.   There was a lot of art to cover  (no way we could take it all in one day) and a LOT of people.  But truthfully, what took the prize for me was the drive north and seeing the autumn colors peeking the closer we got to home and the beautiful FULL moon rising over the horizon.  Nobody creates like the Creator!

 

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origami flowers

We made these blooms for the teachers and the classroom volunteers this year for Valentine’s Day.  The girls are really getting into origami,  I had scrap-booking paper on hand and we found directions on this video.  I love seeing them making gifts!  There are little cards made by them hidden all over the house today ,  we have to play hot or cold to find them.  I think this may be one of their favorite days of the year!

“If we commit ourselves to one person for life, this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom; rather, it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession but participation.”  Madeleine L’Engle, The Irrational Season

origami paper dolls

Somedays when you have a bad day at school because the gym teacher makes you play volleyball and you’re no good at it and it just about ruins your whole day, you need a little craft time with your mom afterschool, making something fun like origami paper dolls and somehow the frown from the corner of your lips begin to turn back up.

counting ponies

New bedding for the girls – an early birthday present.  I really wanted something colorful and something that they could grow with, nothing too babyish.  We are all thrilled with these!  They remind me of Ann Wood’s horses stampede (photo below).  I love this creative experiment where she made a different horse everyday until she reached 100.  They look just lovely as a collection, she offers the template on her website.  Perhaps this will be a project over the holidays with the girls, they can drift off to sleep counting ponies…

small perspective

 

I had some left over pieces of clay after cutting out the windows in my larger journals.  Not wasting the time it took to create them, I decided to make them into mini journals.  This is great fun for me and gave me a chance to practice the Coptic stitch with paired (two) needles.  I remembered after this that I used to make such books when I was a little girl.  I had a set of calico critters, gray bunnies that I cherished greatly.  Back then I spent hours sewing cloaks for them out of felt, making beds with little embroidered carrots on them, and lastly little books for them to use at school.   I nearly forgot about this little set until my girls receive an identical new rabbit family as a gift, and 20 years later sent me searching for the silver Crowley’s gift box which I used to keep them in.  Now days the old and new are all mixed together and my girls love playing with them.  I am amazed at the vintage handmade items, how they fancy them as I used to, the creativity at even that young age and of my youth.  Do the joys of childhood transfer over to adulthood?  Does our innocent play speak of who we are created to be?

Last summer I was in a bible study with three other amazing women, in which we worked through Experiencing God  by Blackaby and King.  We  talked about spiritual markers in our faith journeys and how to draw on them and grow from them.  Spiritual markers were defined in the book as “ The times God clearly spoke to you that are recorded in your spiritual journal can become spiritual markers in your life.  Go back and review your journal six months, one year, and two years later.  Observe ways God has been faithful to do what He promised.  Examine whether you have been faithful to obey what you knew God was telling you to do.  It can be rewarding to see how much you have grown spiritually since you wrote in your journal in times past.  When you face times of transition in your life,  what God said to you in your journal can also provide clear direction for you as you make decisions today.”

I tried to start this blog a couple of years ago but failed, only writing a few entries, in that two-year span.   The timing was not right but as I look back I see this early reflection  here written nearly two years ago.  I am kind of amazed at timing, the nature of it, the building of events and experiences.  I am learning about the documentation of it and how best to capture them.  My spiritual growth and my journey to become an artist is not stagnant but abundant!  I heeded that advice in Georgia, from the retreat and from the locker room.  Learning the good with the challenging, I can honestly say I love my family more, God more, and am following those early passions of creating and working in clay.  I taught over 90 students at our little studio in town, and wrote a grant for a pottery studio.  I am currently taking time off teaching to pursue my own artwork, and building my own home studio.   I still haven’t gone back for my Masters degree but will be watching for the right time.  Overall I am thankful, for the few records I have kept, old discoveries that help me to have confidence in this journey, and the time to keep playing!.  It also is sweet to watch my kids play and dream about who they will grow up to be… so far so good.

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6

 

 

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.

snow and sewing

Snow storm today… It is absolutely beautiful out, we spent about 2 hours outside playing with friends, building snow forts, shoveling, riding on sleds, snowball fights… you get the picture.   The moment we stepped inside S began asking to use her new little sewing machine again.  It was by far her favorite present that she opened last night, within 30 minutes of opening it she sewed up these two little felt sleeping bags and pillows for her littlest pet shop animals and a little bag with a heart pocket for them today.

I have really been wanting to find a way to spend some special time with just her, so this may be the ticket.  To be honest when I was about her age I had a little rabbit family of calico critters, I spent hours hand-sewing clothes and little beds with embroidered carrots on them.  Glad to see her developing this passion on her own (and with maybe a little encouragement.)

The coolest part of this is I got this little pixie sewing machine for free!  Yep sometimes others cast-offs become our new treasures.  I was wanting to get her one anyways to learn on but wasn’t sure that she was old enough.  I should have known with all the exposure this kid has, she would know just what to do.

More about this little machine, the reviews I read online for this and other kids/crafting machines are really not that great.   So I must have scored that 1 in 1000 machine, because I love it!  This is such a great machine for a new little learner or crafter.  It comes with a petal, multiple stitch patterns, a back-stitch, even a light, not to mention that its purple!  When she gets enough practice I will just move her up to my larger machine.  I love how small and light it is, very easy to pull out for a quick little project or sewing on paper.  If you are really getting into sewing or have an older child you may want to research a student version or simple sewing machine, but this works great for this purpose.  Six year old approved!

 

reshaped crayons

 

We made these fun heart crayons today from our old broken nubs. We had so much fun mixing colors and drawing with our “new” crayons.  Sadie stashed away a few of her favorites in her crayon apron for safety.

After peeling the wrappers, put in a tin or we used a silicone heart shaped cube tray.  Melt in the oven 250′F  for 10-15 minutes, let cool completely.  They came out really easily but I think next time I will spray it with a little pam to keep the residue on the tray down.  enjoy.