Arts, Crafts, and Fun Things to Do and Make with your children
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The last two years of high school are generally spent preparing for college and enjoying the last hurrahs of senior year, but what if it were the first two years of high school, grades nine and ten where this took place, instead of grades 11 and 12?
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In a previous blog I detailed Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps’ efforts to motivate kids to get moving. As part of his new mission to get kids interested in physical activity the swimming super star is making trips to community pools around the nation to highlight the value of fitness.
I know, how original a title. Even though I work from home, I like the weekends. This week has been blah for my tummy. I just haven’t been inspired enough or had enough energy to do too much.
I’ve been knitting and finished my first super- soft baby blanket or lap blankie. After using 3 skeins each, I still ran out. So there is a funky stripe at the end in a soft angel hair in orange & tan- but I’m pleased with it.
(Before the stripe was added)
Yesterday, Jasper and I watched from our kitchen window as two little stray, black kittens ate a plate of food. They can’t be more than 3 months- totally black. I think there are 4 or 5 in total with a mom. The whole complex gives them food, because it does take a village to raise kittens.
Last night as we listened to Barack Obama’s speech I stitched the curtains for the changing table. Well I got through the 2 side panels. The two front are pinned- but I need to cut & stitch them up. The bright yellow matches perfectly with a stripey rug we picked up at Ikea on sale awhile back. So I guess yellows & oranges are in our sleeping future!
Speaking of an Ikea future, I think we’ll try to make a trek there tonight to get the crib and a few extra little things, like lampshades for the bedroom night stand lamps. I hate to get rid of something that works just for an aesthetic reason. So I thought getting matching lampshades would tie our un-matchy lamps together- yet we don’t need to buy new lamps.
Today I am determined to make applesauce. I have a big Pyrex bowl full or organic apples- waiting patiently. I also have a basil plant that has been getting kinda agitated by the heat, so I have that sitting on a chair in the kitchen. Seems it is time for a big batch of pesto ( without the pine nuts). Maybe I’ll add a little bit of almond meal.
Here are a couple of new items soon to be
available here
The pin cushion is made from a recycled cashmere sweater. It had a bunch of holes, but I managed to salvage enough for this. Blondie, you may have seen before. I’m happy with how her little blonde highlights came out. Lastly, the coffee cuff. Inspired by project runway- it has soft fleece with scissors,tape measures, needles & other sewing finery along with a patch of colorful safety pins and a vintage piece of measuring tape.
For inspiration I’ve been reading through archives,
here. After listening to this podcast I was so delighted to hear a story I could relate to. So I’ve been enjoying her entries and the adorable photos of kids & crafts.
Another bit of inspiration was found in this issue of Hallmark Magazine.
A woman tells her story about becoming more aware of the environment,what her & her family eat and the overall quality of life. My favorite quote of hers is
“It’s the beautiful, messy wild life experience that I want to give my children.” -Rebecca Barry
To that I say Hell Yeah! Have a great weekend- experiencing your own
messy, thrilling life.
xo
Yesterday’s plan was to do some laundry& screenprint Snuggle Bunny all while visiting my parent’s house. We visited ( I even ate some dark chocolate w/ a pretzel stick), we did our laundry ( a ton of little girl’s hand me down adorableness)- we even screenprinted 3 shirts, till our screen kinda went kaput! So we’re working on getting another S.B. along with a different design.
A stop to the market and we were back home. I made some delicious tomato sauce for dinner. It is a great thrill using your own herbs, I can only imagine if they were my tomatoes as well. I was able to freeze 3 containers for later use- which is what it is really all about, right?
Stomach issues still happening- wondering could it be soy? I have no idea!
This week there will be new coffee cuffs & onesies in the shop- I’m trying to crank up the creativity. I also have 2 dresses to photograph, and a few other kids & ladies pieces. We haven’t done any shows this whole season, so we have one planned in September at some point and I’d love to have enough product. Plus as I get bigger & bigger, who knows how much sewing my stomach will tolerate! I need to stock up!
Keeping with my constant theme of ” always the last to know”, I’ve decided to share with you my new cute music fave.
Her name is Andrea Simms-Karp,
Meet her here! From what I gather, she plays banjo & guitar and possibly more. She has a really upbeat, folky tone – kinda reminds me of The Be Good Tanyas, who I also adore. I only just downloaded 3 songs to check her out, but really like them already.
Zach also found on iTunes, the Target commercial song, where the two girls are dance/battling while decorating their sides of the dorm. I’m ridiculously all over the place with music and a sucker for fun commercial music. Just WAIT till the holiday commercials start!
Well have a great Monday!
xo
M
Lots more ideas for the Olympic Games:
Why do home schoolers need a guide to surviving the hot summer months, I hear you ask, your children are always at home why is the hot summer months any different?
Well simply because other children are around. Most homeschoolers I know have a sense of dread at this time of year, knowing for the next 6 weeks any semblance of our normal routine is impossible.
Homeschoolers hot summer months moans:
The parks and playgrounds where we spend our afternoons lazing around are full of children. There is no sitting down and watching the toddler from a distance anymore. We need to follow him around in order to see him and make sure he takes turns.
The libraries where we idle away our rainy days curled up on beanbags reading, are full of such ear-splitting din that it is difficult to think never mind read.
Museums, which we happily potter around for hours on end, are suddenly so full it is impossible to see anything.
Friends who haven’t even phoned all school term suddenly seem to have moved in and everywhere you go in your house you trip over children.
Also if you adopt a formal approach to home schooling it is difficult to persuade you children that they should be working when they can hear children playing outside.
How to cope: major tip is to try to view the mass of children as an ‘educational resource’ rather than an encumbrance.
Parks and playgrounds: Could you change your favourite one for one slightly quieter? Where I live we have two local parks, one is on the sea front and people drive over from several miles around to visit it, so it is always packed. The other is a local one in a housing estate, used by local children; this becomes our regular haunt in hot summer months.
If your children don’t know many local children (home schoolers friends are often spread over a relatively large area) hanging out in the local park over the hot summer months is an excellent way to let them make local friends.
Libraries and museums: They often lay on special events and fun stuff to do for children over the hot summer months, these are well worth finding out and getting involved in. As well as entertaining the children at the time they also provide an excellent opportunity to meet and chat to people such as the local Children’s librarian and museum curators and educational co-ordinators. Mention you are home schooling and they are often keen to help by running sessions at the libraries and museums for home schooling groups.
Friends: Make the most of opportunities to catch up with schooled friends. You are pleased to see them really and your children certainly will be.
Take advantage of the extra children cluttering up your house to do fun stuff to do that are difficult with only one or two children; help the children put on plays, play cricket or baseball, have a mini Olympics etc.
‘School work’: Does it matter if you let things slide a bit really? Perhaps you could change the time you sit down to work so everyone is finished early. We are often sitting at the table at 7am.
And of course, don’t forget to plan your back to school picnic. The day the schools go back gather your home schooling friends, a yummy picnic and take yourselves down to the beach, park or other favourite hang out, kick back and enjoy the peace.
The strawberries were from a local grocery/garden shop in Oneonta. They were local & delicious! We enjoyed them on the 4th of July. Which reminds me, next weekend I need to make time to visit our Farmer’s Market. When I first lived in this town, I could walk to the market every Saturday and usually did. But weekends fill up and before you know it you’ve forgotten to stop. But I am going to make it a point to stop next Saturday. Enjoy the local flavor and the wonderful bluegrass band that usually plays.
We had a fruitful trip to Ikea and now our Expedit bookshelf is in our living room dividing the space for my studio nook. It is filled with Zach’s Mego figures, some jars of buttons,Scraparellas and of course our Harry Potter busts that adorn the top. Zach and I are kids at heart- but I think it will make for a fun apartment to raise a child. The kitchen is falling into place and I have since set up my Strawberry Shortcake pieces on top of a small closet my parents gave us. The vibe is semi-retro, the color- red, black & white.
Friday mom & dad met me at Babies R Us to add a few things to my registry. How confusing!! I’ve been researching everything from cribs-car seats and I still don’t know where to begin.I just want to make sure I am doing the most research possible to make a truly informed decision- but it is kinda overwhelming because there are so many options. So I mostly added basic items, like onesies,blankets,crib gear and other accessories. There is something about using a gun and adding things to the magical registry- that is full filling in a shopping way,yet also keeps your wallet intact.
Curtains were hung in our bedroom. We went with a Martha Stewart green stripe. Zach also hung a small lamp from our ceiling. The shade is a square rice paper in cream. Today we’ll put the bed together. It is a simple frame in a silver-metal. We decided to go with the more streamlined- basic frame. I’ll be able to hang my vintage quilt from the headboard- which is a nice added bonus.
Since Jasper got me up at 4:30 along with clodhoppers upstairs, I was able to see the last few minutes of the sun rising. The cats both watched with me. Hermione by her window Jazzy on the arm of the couch. At some point today a matinee for Hellboy is in our future. Hope you’re having a great weekend. Stay Cool!
M
Up front- I’ll say I only liked these words together for a non- boring title and by no means do they have any significance.
However, with that said we did have dinner and spend our evening with Zach’s sister’s family- who live in Hawaii. We strolled around 42nd street ate at a lovely Italian place called Azalea and people watched from the corners. It was my first time being in NYC since I became pregnant. I must now have baby-vision b/c everywhere I look their are teams of preggos. There was also a nice man who gave me his seat on the subway- so much for wondering” Do I look pregnant?”
Thursday- Saturday we spent in Oneonta with my family. Cooking out, chatting and laughing at the silliness of little kids. I had a really nice time. Everything clicked. The food was great and things ran smoothly. Although the beds are a little uncomfy- the gorgeous bathroom my brother just installed- made up for all that. I can now say I’ve taken a bubble bath in Oneonta. On our way out of town we hit the local Sal’s. Zach scored some great shirts and I found some adorable onesies and such.
The rest of the weekend was spent hanging up towel racks, picture frames and shopping for food at the market- our first actual ” big shop” for the new place.
Now Monday is here. I am visiting at my parent’s house, washing all of the baby clothing I have recieved and sorting it. With hopes, this Wednesday at my sonogram we’ll find out who we are cooking in this tummy of mine!
With luck when I return home today- there will be a new air conditioner, new back door, new closet doors and a new step installed in our place. I just hope the kitties behave!
Have a great Monday
xo
M
A bank of hot summer months fun stuff to do for children that will ensure you and your children a calm, enjoyable and interesting hot summer months vacation.
My review of Nicola’s and Largo’s e-book – Fun children’ Crafts for Any Occasion
