One day this week, the sun came out to warm our lands. It motivated me to go outside and tidy up from the massive (for here) snow and winds we had just a few days before. Weird weather, I tell you.
Anyhow, the Fairy houses that we made were starting to look a little bedraggled. Down they came.
As we were doing a little demolition, we discovered bulbs coming up!
Bulbs!!?! Really??!? IN JANUARY.
If we get another cold snap, I hope these little guys don’t freeze.
We built the Fairy houses again, only this time, we left room for the Spring blossoms to grow.
We hope the fairies will enjoy their new front yard decorated with flowers.
That one activity led to cleaning out the wood shed and re-stacking all the wood. Then taking everything out of the shed and putting it all back again. Plus cleaning up the random remnant snow piles.
I was so energized by the sunny warmth, that I kept going (with Falafel’s help~that girl can stack wood like a professional!).
Seeing those little bulbs popping up has made me long for Springtime. *sigh*
Are flowers showing themselves in your part of the world?
Are you feeling the need for Spring?
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There was just a little bit of sewing going on when we were snowed in last week. I had several projects started, but ran out of the specific fabric needed for each. So I started a new project…for me!
It’s a simple messenger bag, with enough pockets to keep me happy!
Falafel also put her two cents in. She thought it needed a heart. She helped me sew a fleece one on.
Isn’t that sweet?
Then I added a button and it was complete!
Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
I normally wouldn’t pay as much as I did ($1.15) for a button, but I was looking for something special and durable to withstand the beating my bags take.
I do really love to make bags. They are easy, quick, and satisfying. And useful. The one thing I am having a bit of trouble figuring out is how to put a zipper in (with a lining). I placed The Bag Making Bible on hold at the library to help me with this. Has anyone read it yet? I can’t wait! Then I’ll be unstoppable! *insert evil laugh here*
Maybe I’ll make a whole peaceful army of them.
A girl can never have too many bags, now, right?
I also do like to share.
What have you made this week?
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::Wordless{ish} Wednesday is where I post a picture without words. Feel free to link up your own post without words in the comments so I can check out your image too!::
Have a Nice Day!
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My oldest daughter likes to be creative on her terms. Whenever I suggest guiding her endeavors or showing her a new way of doing something, the idea is soundly rejected.
She recently made this bunny for me.
Meet “Heather the Lavender Bunny”.
It is adorable and I love that she made it with her own ideas.
With that said, I also long to share what I have learned with her. To pass down techniques that I have found useful. To show her so she can run with it.
So I made a bunny of my own.
I didn’t make it seem like a tutorial (or else she wouldn’t listen), but I cut out the pieces the way I like to, and left them on the table for a while. When she asked about it, I explained that I always cut out squares to sew together (for the front and back pieces and the arms and legs too) before I round the edges out because it is much easier to line up corners than circles.
I got all the way up to painting the face…and I smudged it. So I also got to demonstrate how I take a smudge and make it look like it was intentional. No matter how insane it looks.
Yes. I meant to do that.
We can’t decide whether she looks more like a Bunny or a Dog. I think maybe I created a new hybrid Bunny-Dog. With hearts. On her face.
Peek-a-boo
I also showed her how to attach ears…backwards. *sigh*
I think we both unintentionally learned a thing or two.
And now we have this weird doll as well.
On one of the many snow days last week, the girls and I tried a project I found on the Craftzine blog.
We used painter’s tape, watercolor paper, and watercolors.
Since my girls never saw a birch tree (mostly pines here), they had their own artist’s interpretation of the project.
The Bee’s Tree
Falafel’s creation
It was nice to all paint at the same time. You could almost feel the creative energy in the room. Watercolor paint is so versatile and fun. This is the first time we used tape and painted over it… and it won’t be the last. It had that “magic” quality that invoked a lot of “ooohs” and “ahs” from the girls. That is a good quality in an art project!
What projects have you done today?
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We are in Fairyland!
Not literally. But we are reading the abundant Rainbow Magic Fairy series chapter books by Daisy Meadows. And there are many.
There are the Rainbow Fairies, the Weather Fairies, the Flower Fairies, the Jewel Fairies, the Pet Fairies, and the Fun Days Fairies.
The Bee read these when she was in Kindergarten, and now Falafel and I are reading them together.
I really wasn’t sure if they would catch Falafel’s fancy because they are so unlike her. She isn’t one to dress up, or even to like anything frilly or girly. She has built her fair share of Fairy Houses, though, so I should have known.
They are easily digestible chapter books geared for this age (although I still catch my 12 year old thumbing through them). She is absolutely riveted when we read them. The Bee likes to recollect the stories fondly and share the ones she liked with Falafel.
They are a great introduction to easy to read chapter books.
What’s on YOUR shelves this week?
I truly wish I could give each of you a jacket, but since it isn’t possible at this time, I had a little electronic help choosing!
Without further ado, the winner of the Handmade Jacket is…
Comment #3 who said:
Danielle says:
I think I am already subscribed to you but I went through the motions to make sure. I love your stuff and I am looking forward to seeing your stuff at the market this summer. Just moved back to WA from Hawaii and my daughter would flip out for such a wonderful coat. Crossing my fingers. I hope you feel better soon so you can get out and enjoy the snow.
Congratulations Danielle!
I will be contacting you through email to get your address.
A big THANK YOU to all that commented!
You are AWESOME.
We are in the thick of the blizzard here, and still at home doing snowy things.
We have wanted to try to make Maple Candy from the time we read about it in The Little House on the Prairie books, about 4 years ago! In that time, there have been few snow storms, and few (unsuccessful) attempts at this (usually just winging it).
This time, I found a step-by-step tutorial on the Quaker Hill Farm blog.
Even with these explicit instructions, something went wrong. Either we didn’t pack the snow tight enough in the pans, or I didn’t boil it long enough (and I misplaced our candy thermometer).
It smelled wonderful, though.
The girls ate spoonfuls of maple snow, and said it tasted divine.
I guess there’s always next snow storm to try again!
For now, they are enjoying just being outside, and cold.
Have you made Maple Candy in the snow?
Living out here in Western Washington, we don’t see very much snow, usually. So when the weathermen predict it, our kids go crazy!
They love it so much (and as a bonus, they have a “snow day” from school when it happens). Tuesday we were due for a huge storm, but then it changed for Wednesday. Tuesday was a difficult morning. Everyone was so disappointed.
I am glad it did on Wednesday.
I love snow too, but watching it from a warm house is more my style.
Plus, I am getting over being sick, so every day snuggled inside is just fine by me.
I have worn my pj’s for days now (I do shower and put new ones on every day).
The great thing about not having it all the time, a little goes a long way. It doesn’t even have to be a lot to make them happy.
I looked out the window and saw the joyous footprints as if they were made dancing. In fact, I know that is what they did.
Does it snow where you live? Do you go out or stay in? Do you do a snow dance?
::Wordless{ish} Wednesday is where I post a picture without words. Feel free to link up your own post without words in the comments so I can check out your image too!::
Being indoors and getting down with my cozy side, makes me feel, somehow, Hobbit-like. This photo does, too.
I hope you are all cozy today.
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