Curing Boredom

Chloe's Messenger Bag

2010-09-16T05:10:00.000-07:00

This is for an eight-year-old friend of mine who loves riding her bike all over town. She also likes purple! I promised her I'd make her a bag; 6 months later I fulfilled that promise :). This was made from Keyka Lou's messenger bag pattern. It's got a gathered-top pocket on both skinny sides and a large, deep pocket on front and back. Inside, there are two pen pockets and a pocket for a small notebook (or wallet, cell phone, etc.). I might make one for myself (ha ha ha ha--I have so much time now that I'm back in school).

Rhebekka's "Bucket Bag"

2010-07-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

This is a 'big sister' present for a 13-year-old friend of mine. She's been a huge blessing to me, especially when my boys were babies. She loves purple and black and is also very into music (she plays the guitar). This was a fun bag to work on; I followed Keyka Lou's Bucket Bag Pattern.

Rebecca's Tote Bag

2010-07-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

My other sister-in-law loves pink, so I thought this fabric was perfect for her!

Carrie's Tote Bag and Matching Laptop Sleeve

2010-07-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

This is a my favorite bag (it's fabric I picked out 'cuz I liked it and Carrie claimed it, too! I have YET to make myself one). As you can see, everything coordinates :).

My Favorite Apron

2010-07-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

My favorite apron comes from Lotta Jansdotter's book Simple Sewing. I've made almost a dozen of these aprons by now; they take me 2 hours from absolute start (cutting out fabric) to finish (final hand sewing). They're cute, comfy, and reversible.

Must... Keep... Sewing...

2010-07-27T12:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know I enjoy sewing so much, but I get in these little phases where that's ALL I want to do. (Pay no attention to the mess behind me nor to my general physical appearance--the photo above was to send out to Carrie to show her my latest creation.). The bag above is the small size (yes!) "mail sack" from Sew Mama Sew's pattern shop--I can't find it listed anymore! I am continuing my quest to "use up the stash" and this bag is a great example of that.

Homemade Playdoh: Even Better Than the Real Thing

2010-07-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

This IS better than the real thing and so far superior to the Dollar store variety that I can't express it.

Benefits to making your own playdoh:

cheaper
better
customizable colors
LOTS of one color (big help when you have several toddlers)
softer than regular Playdoh, but still holds its shape

Recipe is from First Art: Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos by Mary Ann Kohl (this is half of her recipe and it still makes quite a bit--maybe the equivalent of 6 regular Playdoh cans or so)

Have all supplies ready. This will take about 1/2 an hour, so do it during naptime when your kids aren't hanging on your pant legs and dying for their new activity.

2 1/2 c. water
1 1/4 c. salt
1 1/2 T. cream of tartar
1/2 t. to 1 1/2 T. food coloring (smaller amount for pastel on up as you please... I like about 1 1/2 t.)
5 T. oil
2 1/2 c. flour

Heat water, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring in 3 quart saucepan until hot (over medium low heat). Stir in oil and gradually stir in flour. Continue heating and stirring until mixture pulls away from sides of pan (depending on how hot your salt/water mixture is, this can take no time at all or several minutes). Remove from heat periodically and check: when you can pinch off part of the mixture and it's not sticky, it's done.

Turn dough out onto a surface like a cutting board and let it cool slightly. While still warm, knead until smooth.

Store in a ziploc bag!

A Little Girl's Quilt

2010-02-13T13:04:00.000-08:00

Four years ago, when my daughter was born, I bought some fabric that I knew would make a darling quilt for her when she moved to a "real" bed. Four years later (and a much simplified design), I finally made it. She loves it. The pillow shams really needed to be done because the quilt looked unfinished without them. I think it all turned out quite well. The ribbon pillow is from Sewing in No Time by Emma Hardy.

Aprons and Pot Holders

2010-02-13T13:02:00.000-08:00

I have a housewarming party/shower to attend this coming weekend. What to make for the honoree? My favorite apron, of course! I whipped up six of them this past December, so creating another one went fairly quickly. I also tried my hand at some potholders--not as easy as they look, let me assure you! But, I think all turned out well. The girl has picked teal, taupe, white, and yellow for her kitchen colors. I didn't find fabric that incorporated the yellow, but this old-timey-kitchen themed fabric met the other requirements nicely! See aprons in this post. Pot holder pattern is from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing.

The T-Shirt Quilt

2010-02-13T13:01:00.000-08:00

This t-shirt quilt is a LONG promised project: I coerced my husband into cleaning out his t-shirt drawer a few years ago, promising I'd turn those old t-shirts into a quilt. Several years later, I decided the time had come. I made it for his birthday (end of January) and I think it was a hit!

Quick Table Runner

2010-01-12T05:52:00.000-08:00

This table runner was very easy and quick to make. I originally made it for my sister Carrie, but she moved by Christmas to a new house with different dining room colors. So, it's now gracing my dining room table in this picture! Eventually it made it to Carrie's house. Made from pattern in Sewing in No Time by Emma Hardy.

Tea Cozies

2010-01-12T05:43:00.001-08:00

I made two identical tea cozies (and matching finger mitt--not pictured) in 2009. They were fun projects. One of the recipients sent me a fat quarter of the Mary Engelbreit teapot fabric featured on the middle strip. What, she wondered, could we do with this great fabric? (Incidentally, this is my friend Megan who hosts Literaritea). I thought of this tea cozy pattern from Sewing in No Time by Emma Hardy. They turned out well.

Drawstring Bags

2010-01-12T04:58:00.001-08:00

These charming bags were for two little girls down the street, one of whom had a birthday, and for my daughter. The bags are big enough to hold stuffed animals, a few books, and other necessities for a car ride somewhere or an overnight. I made them from the directions in Emma Hardy's Sewing in No Time. (a book I highly recommend) 2009 project

New Year's Goal 2010: Use it, Enjoy it, Love it!

2010-01-11T06:53:00.000-08:00

My neighbor, Lisa, and I have a joint goal this year: "use up the stash." We both have accumulated a wide variety of fabric pieces/scraps/yards from various projects (both hoped for projects and finished projects that didn't use up the fabric).

So, as much as possible, I'm going to create with "what's on hand." I have a somewhat unfair advantage going in because I've already bought fabric for some planned projects this year. The rest, though, will come from the stash (which I plan to use with wild abandon, with no regard for future possibilities that could be made from said fabric....). I'm going to apply the same premise to other categories (food stuffs, arts and crafts supplies for the kids, etc.) because it's not doing us any good just sitting on the shelf.

We are going to love using up our "stuff!" Crayons, stickers, markers, paper of all kinds, fabric, ribbon, buttons, beads, felt, popsicle sticks, the list goes on.

My first project using up the stash: a portable changing pad that rolls up (with pocket for wipes) made out of 6-year-old fabric (the twins I made quilts for from this fabric when they were babies will be turning 7 this coming summer... why I kept 8 random 9-patch blocks, I don't know...). The first of many projects using up the "stash."

A "Long Twirly Skirt"

2010-01-11T06:47:00.001-08:00

Per my daughter's request.... she loves it :). Since it's made of old drapery fabric, I keep hearing Captain Von Trapp say "my children have been running about Salzburg dressed in nothing but some old drapes!?" 2009 project

A First Toddler Purse

2010-01-11T06:46:00.000-08:00

This was one of the first things I made early in 2009. I made it the same weekend I made the matching skirt with my friends.

3 Little Girls' Purses

2010-01-11T06:45:00.000-08:00

My husband's cousin has twin girls and a younger daughter as well (all toddler/preschool age). (I feel lots of empathy for her!). At any rate, my mother-in-law commissioned me to make some purses for this crew. I wanted them to be similar, yet each unique. The youngest girl's purse has a short hand-strap. The twins' purses are to be worn cross-body style. All three are lined.

First Skirt

2010-01-11T06:39:00.001-08:00

This is a simple girl's skirt that a young friend of mine (and her mother) and I made. We made two: one for my daughter and one for my young friend's younger sister (the skirts are matching). We used this tutorial. 2009 Project

Mom's Sunday School Tote Bag

2010-01-11T06:34:00.000-08:00

My mom requested a tote bag to carry her Sunday School materials in (she teaches an elementary school aged class). She said she wore a lot of black, wanted the bag to be dark enough not to show dirt, and it needed to be moderately sized. Here is what I came up with! (She also wears a lot of turquoise/teal--hence my choice of contrasting ribbon.) It's all decorator fabric and lined, with stiff interfacing as well. The inside fabric is the same striped fabric as the top of the bag. The paisley fabric forms pockets (6 total). I got the basic pattern/idea from this. 2009 Project

Erin's "Mom Bag"

2010-01-11T06:32:00.000-08:00

I'll be making more of these, but here is the first one... (I couldn't wait to take pictures, so I snapped these photos before I even cut off all the stray threads!). This bag is slightly bigger than a medium LLBean Tote.

It is fully lined with a contrasting pocket inside; the pocket is subdivided into 3 smaller pockets. The bottom is reinforced with duck cloth; the rest of the fabric is quilting cotton. There is some stiff batting in it as well. I made it for my sister-in-law, Erin. (2009)

2009 Sewing Projects

2009-12-21T06:21:00.000-08:00

I need a place to keep track of these, so I figured this blog would be a good starting point! I posted about my Christmas sewing projects a couple of days ago. This is a list of all the projects I've made this year with my trusty sewing machine....

First, a bit of history: I had an old, black, cast iron Singer that I inherited. It did one straight stitch--and did it splendidly...until I was finishing up the 5th of the 6 Christmas stockings I was making last year. And it was a couple of weeks before Christmas. And it died. Kaput. May it rest in peace.

So, my wonderful husband heard about a sewing machine sale and sent me off to get a new one. WOW... the newer machines can do so many things!!! I got a Janome mid-price model and have used it so much ever since. I never knew what I was missing! My husband may regret that purchase because since then I've spent a lot of time sewing...and not as much time cleaning house :).

I've definitely become a better seamstress this year and am glad I've taken the time to practice and make some smaller projects. It's very rewarding to gain expertise in a skill and hobby you enjoy.

So, without further ado, the list of projects (links to pictures are being updated as I get the pictures up...):

5 toddler purses (blue, pink, and a group of three)
2 tiered "twirly" skirts for my daughter (short and long)
1 queen-sized bed quilt
2 basic reversible totes
Mom's Sunday School tote
1 passport neck pouch
3 window valances
2 tea cozies and matching finger grips
3 drawstring bags for preschool girls
6 women's aprons
1 men's apron
1 "mom bag" for Erin
1 tablerunner

Christmas Sewing Projects

2009-12-18T11:06:00.000-08:00

This blog seems an appropriate place to list my Christmas projects for this year (and this will explain why I never contribute to this blog--I'm rarely bored! :) ). Sewing is a terrific hobby if you have young children because you can stop and start easily and even put a project on the shelf for 6 months (unlike cooking or gardening or other more time-sensitive pursuits). It's also quiet--even if your machine is noisy, you can always cut and iron fabric during naptime and get all the prep work out of the way.

Here's what I made for Christmas this year (as I type this, I'm keenly aware that I should be working on the remaining projects... ahem... items with asterisks (*) still need to be completed....).

6 women's aprons (* 1 left)

1 man's apron*

3 toddler superhero capes*

2 tote bags

1 table runner (that, alas, has been rejected due to recipient moving into a new house!)

On the docket for January (items for upcoming birthdays and/or requests from the peanut gallery)

1 t-shirt quilt

3 tote bags (plus 1 for me if I can squeeze it in)

3 laptop sleeves

1 apron

1 preschooler's dress :)

1 purse

Someday, when I have time, I'll post some pictures of my projects. They're getting better, so it's been rewarding to see what all the practice has done for my skill level.

Spring Time=Nature Time

2009-03-11T18:34:00.001-07:00

Found a great new book. My son is super excited. It is a nature journal. Granted at his age I will have to copy most of his thoughts down, but still cool. You can draw (and it prompts you on ideas), journal, make snacks, collect leaves, records trips you take, etc. It is not evolutionists in any way (big factor for me!) Check it out. We found it at Bass Pro, but you can also find it on Amazon.

Advent coloring book

2008-12-08T11:55:00.000-08:00

These are printable coloring pages, one for each day of December, telling the story of Jesus' birth. It's a free activity, and not to late to start (my son is doing two at a time to catch up.)

DLTK's Advent Coloring Pages

As a side...this website has lots of free printables, craft ideas and more. I have used it a lot.

Eric Carle's From Head to Toe

2008-10-07T05:54:00.001-07:00

This book is full of activity and boredom busting potential! Like all Eric Carle books, this one is full of his energetic, signature art. This one shows different animals moving and invites children to mimic, saying, "I can do it!" There are quite a few extension activities if you are homeschooling a young child or simply need to entertain young children. Click here for a great list!

Too Cute Penguin!

2008-09-20T05:37:00.000-07:00

This was a craft idea with my son's school curriculum. Oh it is too cute! You get a black balloon. Out of poster board cut feet (together), flippers, beak and a white belly. I had my kids paint the feet and beak orange and flippers black, but you could just buy those colors. Use googly eyes or cut eyes out of poster board too. Make a slit in the feet halfway through. Slide the knotted end of the balloon through. Tape or glue on the rest of the penguin.

Disclaimer: Our balloons did pop when the kids pulled on the flippers that were taped on, little disappointing for the 2 year old.

Busytime for Preschoolers!

2008-08-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

If you have a toddler that is about to run you out of the house screaming...check out Activity Bags . It is a book of several "kits" you can make and store in a ziploc bag to keep your preschooler busy. Better yet, you can arrange with other moms to do a swap...each make several of one activity and swap with others. I know moms that use this and rave about it. We are about to use it to occupy our son.

Sun Hand Craft

2008-08-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

Ok...I don't have a picture, but I got the idea off of www.enchantedlearning.com. It is a sun using your child's handprint. I always love these things...you can look back later and see how much they have grown. Takes a little of mom prep, cutting out the hands, unless your child is old enough.

Supplies needed: Paper plate, yellow paint, 7 hand prints on yellow/orange paper.

Directions: Paint the paper plate yellow on the BACK side. Trace and cut about 7-10 handprints of your child on yellow or alternating yellow/orange paper. (The smaller the child, the more hands needed to go around sun.) Staple or glue the hand prints to the edges of your sun. Feel free to add a face or Bible verse (i.e. Jesus is light of the world.)

I Can Color!

2008-06-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

This is a new series I just discovered that is geared for children ages 2 and up. It's really neat. Regular coloring books (and activities such as connect the dots, etc.) are a little too advanced for my 2 1/2 year old. She simply doesn't have the fine motor control to actually color in a shape. These books start with the most basic of the basics: holding a crayon of one color and making squiggles. Why would I need a book to help me teach my daughter that? Well, these have actual colored pictures for inspiration. For example, page number 1 shows three little monkeys swinging on a swing set (just like my own three little monkeys!). There is a big white patch in the grass. The task: make green squiggles in the white patch, making more grass! We had a great time filling in all kinds of things--brown squiggles for earthworms, ladybugs and butterflies drawn by yours truly, etc. Another early picture shows a hot dog--the child adds red squiggles for ketchup, yellow for mustard, and so forth. I don't mind drawing things for my daughter (she doesn't judge my artwork), but I run out of ideas. These mostly-filled-in pages help generate more ideas. On the plate with the hot dog, I drew other things we might eat with the hot dog (asking my daughter for suggestions): peas, watermelon, chocolate chip cookies,.... She had a hilarious time "picking them up" and "eating them." The pages get more advanced, moving to coloring in an entire shape with one color, drawing patterns, and, finally, tracing letters and numbers.

There are other books in this series--all designed to teach skills that children will need for kindergarten/first grade. I'm not really looking at it as school prep; instead, it's providing some great activities we can do together when the Mommy brain has simply run dry in the idea realm. The other titles include things like I Can Cut, I Can Trace, I Can Draw, I Can Paste, and I Can Fold. You can search for them online (use the title and the series title--Big Skills for Little Hands). I found them at Sam's for well below retail ($7.50 as opposed to $14).

2008-05-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

Looking ahead to long summer days with your children? Want a free activity? Go outside!!! Young children love going outside. I've posted a picture here of some sidewalk chalk artwork on our front steps--hours of entertainment. We even "jumped" into the pictures like Mary Poppins does....

You can also start a garden (see my post on The Tarnished Teapot) for my story. Here's a great website for gardening with kids: Children in the Garden.

Kids in the Kitchen

2008-05-14T04:34:00.000-07:00

As summer fast approaches, you may be wondering what to do with those little hands during the expanded time you have with them. Get them involved in cooking! Sure, it will take longer than if you did it by yourself, but even two year olds love to "help" Mom. Baking is one of the easiest places to start since it generally involves cool or room temperature ingredients (until you put it in the oven) and does not involve sharp knives. (Make sure to keep little fingers away from a mixer.) Perhaps this summer will be the one during which you learn to make bread! Bread is a very easy thing to let your children help with since the ingredient amounts aren't generally as precise as something like a cake. Your kitchen will be a wreck, and so, most likely, will be your child--but the two of you will have some great memories and an edible finished product to boot! Simply clean up the kitchen while your baked goods bake. Then, sit down with your proud child and enjoy the fruits of your labors!

Fun Foam

2008-04-16T05:37:00.000-07:00

There are so many things you can do with craft foam. For example, the picture is of a box set I got at Easter. It had foam crosses, glitter, and stickers to decorate. My 5 yr. old did one for each member of the family and we hung them in our window. They made a great display. Sets change seasonally, but you can always buy other basic sheets or crafts to do. (Found at any arts & crafts store or Walmart/Target.)

Discount School Supply

2008-04-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

Discount School Supply is a great website from which you can order all kinds of art and craft supplies inexpensively; their own brand seems to be fairly high quality. They have free shipping on large orders, so plan ahead (or share your order with a friend) to get the best deal. We ordered all kinds of very fun beads, tempera paint, toddler sized smocks, pipe cleaners, newsprint, glue sticks, and a host of other miscellaneous supplies. My toddler can't use some of the items yet, but she absolutely LOVES the beads we have. Look for larger sizes if you have young children.

The New Camera

2008-04-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

Cameras have come a long way in my time (let alone my parents!) It is also a big hobby of both mine and my husband. He likes to try to take good scenery pictures. I just like pictures, and LOVE scrapbooking! So if you are in the market for a new camera check out http://www.imaging-resource.com/. They review all types of cameras and have sample pictures. Keep in mind a few pointers too:

If you aren't going to use the manual option of taking your pictures (adjusting light, focusing, etc by hand) than don't spend the extra money on a SLR camera. Look for a good point and shoot.

Digital cameras can be sensitive. You usually have to hold the button down half way to focus, then snap the picture. Otherwise you will end up with a blur. You'd be suprised how many people don't!

The higher the mexapixle, the larger the file or picture size. But you can often crop in your picture later with a much better resolution than using a lower setting.

Rechargeable batteries. These really do last longer in cameras, and you would hate to miss out on that perfect shot. Always carry extra.

Bring extra memory cards, especially on long trips when you can't download often.

Happy Shooting!

photo by Carrie

Learning Can Be Fun

2008-04-10T13:50:00.000-07:00

Summertime is quickly approaching! Whether your children are in public, private, homeschooled or just starting Pre-K, here are some sites for free educational worksheets and crafts to chase away summertime blues. Who says learning can't be fun!

Starfall: Excellent for reading and abc's
Enchanted Learning: Has ideas for everything! You can pay to get better printouts, or deal with a few ads and keep it free.
PBS Kids: Games, coloring pages and more from those favorite cartoons.
Free Kids Coloring: Free printable coloring pages.
DLTK's Educational Activities: All kinds of crafts and learning activities.
Crayola: Everyone's beloved crayon has a webpage of coloring pages, crafts and games.
First School: Has a bunch of printables especially for pre-school age children.
Your Local Library: Not just for fiction. They will have books on crafts, or other activities for children. They also have books on tape, videos, cd's and other fun things all for free.

You can always google a search for free printables. I did and it brought up lots of websites, especially if you have a particular craft in mind. Make summer fun!