Month: November 2013

Uses for Kids Artwork – Idea #2

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For Christmas, I made both Elly and her younger cousin lace cards.

Elly colored or drew all the artwork.

I simply adhered the artwork to pieces of cardboard with mod podge. I used both cereal boxes and the box my new-to-me compost container came in. Then, I muscled through all the layers with a hole puncher. The laces are actually parachute strings that I cut in thirds and then burnt the edges of.

I have an ulterior motive, of course. These lace cards are Elly’s introduction to the word of sewing.

Though I have tried handing Elly a blunt embroidery needle, the fun ended when she pricked her finger. Rather than give up and try again in a few years as a more patient person would, I searched for an alternative.

Sunday Snapshots (of Christmas Decorations)

Marie Haigh4 Comments

How I hate decking for Christmas when it is frigid outside. So with temperatures in the 60’s this weekend, it was the perfect time to hang the outdoor Christmas decorations.

One day this tree will be as tall as me. Until then, it is our Charlie Brown tree.

Elly has helped deck our home for Christmas.

She made an ornament out of Crayola model magic clay. It’s a funny face, in case you were stumped. 

She filled our hand knit stockings (no, not by me. These were knit many years ago by my neighbor) with pinwheels.

She made a Christmas themed angel house.

Our local garden store, Achin Back, taught a fairy garden class today. Elly was the youngest at the class. Though I helped, Elly called all the shots. She picked the pot, the plants, the decorations and, of course, the angel. The end result is gorgeous and now sits on our dining room table.

Memory Board

Marie Haigh3 Comments

Long have I wanted a memory board to hang Elly’s craft projects on. But all the ones I saw at a store or even at my best friend’s house were so small. At best, they could hold 5 crafts. Elly makes 5 crafts in a day. I would need to buy several memory boards to hold a weeks worth of artwork.

So, instead I made a gigantic memory board.

It measures 2.5 feet by 4.5 feet.

Not only is it big enough to hold all the artwork Elly can crank out, it should hold all our Christmas cards saving me from the white trash approach of taping them to a door with masking tape. You know, the approach I went with last year.

I made the memory board out of a plywood board which oddly enough came with the house, home decorator fabric, batting, duct tape and push pins. The push pins were a beast to push into the plywood and after so many curse words were muttered, I went in search of my glue gun. Tacking the ribbon down was a breeze with the gun.

It took me a few days to convince Elly to add any of her artwork to the memory board. Artwork is supposed to hang on the refrigerator.

No School Campaign

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Elly started a no school campaign earlier this year shortly after I informed her that she would go to preschool next year. Like most things, I assumed it was a phase and she would grow to love the idea of going to school and hanging out with other kids. Instead Elly has taken to pointing out at every opportunity, like when I mention how smart she is or what a great memory she has, that she knows everything already and thus does need to go to school.

Elly is 3.5 years old!

I expect a know-it-all attitude from a teenager, not from a toddler. What is going on?

Just yesterday, when we were playing with her magnetic map

(Thank you, Aunt Michelle and Uncle George. Awesome gift!)

and Elly pointed out Russia, China and the USA, she proceeded to tell me how bored she would be at school because she knew so much.

It doesn’t help that Dan mentioned that he too was bored in school. Although it does allow me to blame him. Truly, this is all his fault.

Sunday Snapshots (of Reading Museum)

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Earlier this week, Elly and I visited the Reading Museum. It had been my intention of taking her to the playground across the street from the museum, but it was a mite too cold. So, to the museum we went.

I was worried that there would be nothing for Elly to do and I would spent the entire visit begging her to not touch anything. When they let her in free (kids 3 years and younger are allowed in free), my shoulders might have slumped in defeat.

Then, the museum staff directed us to their new exhibit, Run! Jump! FLY!, stating that Elly would enjoy it the most. He wasn’t wrong. The entire exhibit is geared towards kids. Mind you, they probably had 7 year old kids in mind when they put it together, but Elly still had fun despite being too small to do some of the activities. There was a rock wall, yoga station, dance station, and an exercise station. Elly’s favorite was the surf and snow section where she got to ride the waves and snowboard down the snow.

Elsewhere in the museum, I did have to ask Elly not to touch sculptures and paintings. Surprisingly though, there were things that Elly could touch. There were “Please Touch” signs at all the Discovery Stations as they were called.

Elly got to try her hand at weaving.

I pity the poor staff member who had to untie all the knots Elly made.

When we left, it was all one big knot.

So, yes, I think Elly and I will be back to visit the Reading Museum this winter when it is too cold to go out and play.

Uses for Kid’s Artwork – Idea #1

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As you know, I have a problem just throwing Elly’s artwork out, but I can’t possibly keep the mountains of artwork she creates. Well, to be more precise, I have a hard time throwing out Elly’s paintings and legible drawings. It’s not just because Elly made it. Without a second thought, I toss little crafts that Elly makes on a daily basis. No, it’s more because I love paintings. The more colorful they are; the more I love them. Elly thinks like I do; she too loves color and rarely limits herself to just one. So, I swoon whenever Elly pulls out the paintbrushes. I do.

Rather than throw out Elly’s awesome paintings, I have come up with a few ways to save them or repurpose them.

A clock! 

This was an easy project. All you need are 4 handprints, scissors, white acrylic paint, mod podge, a clock and clock gear.

Elly made the handprints with Crayola washable paint and construction paper.

The clock, clock gear, and mod podge I purchased from AC Moore. The paint came from my insane supply.

Once home with our clock, Elly and I gave it a coat of white acrylic paint.  

Then, I fussy cut around the handprints.

With a paintbrush (though Dan prefers a foam brush for fewer brush marks), I coated the entire clock with mod podge. It took me a while to line the handprints up at the 12,3,6, and 9 positions.

To protect the handprints, I sealed the entire front of the clock three times over with mod podge.

Finally, I installed the clock gear.

 

Though I was tempted to keep this clock myself, Elly picked out who she wanted to give it to for Christmas.

Sunday Snapshots (of Halloween)

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Our Halloween celebration lasted all month long.

It started with our annual Autumn Fest where pumpkins were painted and apples were bobbed for.

It continued at the Weavers Orchard’s Fall fest where Elly got to card alpaca fleece and paint another pumpkin.

Then, we attended a MOMS Club Halloween party.

Next, we attended Boo at the Zoo.

Finally, Halloween finally arrived. After an hour of trick-or-treating, we returned home to pass out candy to the kids with more stamina.

Elly had a blast!

She was a bit disappointed though to learn that we didn’t get to give out more candy the following day.

Packing Away a Quilt

Marie Haigh4 Comments

It has been two months since I have posted on this blog and with good reason. At first, it was a happy reason. Then, it wasn’t.

Because I always have some sort of sewing or knitting project going on, it is fitting that this story revolves around a quilt.

This quilt was given to me by my neighbor. Her mother made cross-stitch quilts for every child and grandchild she had. This was her final quilt. She only had time to do the border and the mobile before she was called home. My neighbor, not having a crafty bone in her body but unable to just throw it out, gave it to me with the hopes that I would finish it for my child.

I truly tried to finish it in the way that it was intended by cross stitching the moon, but I gave up quickly. Cross stitching is not for me. I take my hat off to those who follow the tiny diagrams and truly love the process.

After failing to complete it, I stuffed the quilt back in the bag and hid it in my sewing room. Two months ago when I found out I was expecting our 2nd child, I pulled the quilt back out, determined to finish it. Elly owns 3 handmade quilts from me. Surely, my next child was deserving of the same love that I pour into each of the quilts I make.

Halfway through the hand appliqueing process, the dream went away. It started with just some innocent spotting.  Then, the pain started. It worked itself into a frenzy until a rush of blood occurred. Finally, the gestational sac was passed and our child was no more. It was all so horribly simple.

Unable to even look at the quilt, I packed it up in the bag that I had carried it around in. The needle is still threaded and slipped in the fabric waiting for a happier day.

To keep my mind and my hands busy, I turned my attention to Christmas. Oh, how I love Christmas. In a few short days, the shopping was almost done. Sewing projects are being worked on. Crafts are being made. Slowly, I am finding peace.

Happiness was never truly lost. It is impossible to be unhappy when you have an Elly.

 

We were at Target in this picture. It is difficult for Elly to keep her superhero costume wearing to just home or Halloween; it is too stifling.