Valentine

We crafted.

We colored.

We stapled.

We made Valentines!

There is something sweet about making little gifts for friends that brings joy to the heart.

Flannel Baby Blankets

Every once in a while

I sneak a little time

When the dishes are done

And the laundry is clean

When my baby is sleeping

And my list is done

Sometimes I get to sew

I love to create a gift

A gift for someone very small

Someone infinitely precious

It's a little bit of love

Sent to a new baby

Of a cousin, or a friend, or a neighbor

A tiny way to share the Love that has been entrusted to me

By the Creator of all things new and beautiful

Sometimes I get time to sew

My girls and I made a couple washcloth puppets.

They picked out the fabric from my scraps.

I cut out the pieces according to the pattern.

I ironed and then sewed the fabric pieces on to the terrycloth.

Then my girls tried on their new washcloth puppets.



My eldest daughter needed some new jeans, so we went to our favorite clothing store and bought two pairs.  She didn't want to wear them, though, because "they might get mixed up with my brother's jeans."  Meaning: they don't look fancy-girly enough.

So, we sorted through my boxes of ribbon.

She picked out some fancy buttons.

I sewed her pretty ribbons.

Then I figured out how to use the button hole setting on my sewing machine.

Viola!  She now has some jeans that are fancy enough to suit her, and hopefully durable enough for her bike-riding and mud puddle adventures.

And I enjoyed the whole process.

Boxes

One of the most popular toys at our house are boxes.  I do a fair amount of online shopping because I live so far away from...everything....so the UPS truck and FedEx truck bring many boxes to our door.   The deal is: the kids get the box and I get the contents of the box.  I enjoy seeing their cardboard creations.



Boxes make great houses for two little girls



Box Office

Boxes make great doll houses

Boxes can be machine sheds for carpet farmers

Just hanging out in a box

It's been a while since I've sewed something besides

tears in jeans or car seat covers.

So, when I heard about a two-night sewing class in my little town

to learn how to make a ultra-cute bag

with a great teacher

I was very interested.

Then, my husband offered to take care of the

three older kids so I could attend.

Have I mentioned that I have a wonderful husband?

I so enjoy little ways to be creative

and to learn some new skills

and to enjoy other ladies

and to try something a bit new.



My eldest daughter modeling the bag I made in class.



Cars

All of the kids start out with a plain block of wood, four tires, and four axles.

They have one month

to create a car

for the BIG RACE DAY!

I am always amazed at the creativity of the kids and their parents.

Each one of these cars started out looking plain and rather boring

but was turned into something creative and unique.

There must be a cool analogy there. 

Handmade

I saw this on my friend and neighbor's blog and thought it was neat.

A Handmade 2011:

I will send something handmade

to the first 5 people who leave a comment.
They must in turn post

this (where they wish)

and send something they made

to the first 5 people who comment on their status.*

The rules are that it must be handmade by you

and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime...in 2011.

*or, maybe, I'll just send you something handmade, even if you don't repost this.  Just leave a comment.  Just because.

The handmade something need not be fancy.

It just needs to be handmade.

And food counts.

What's your favorite sort of handmade?

In my history,

I've enjoyed designing

or making

jewelry, houses, quilts

clothes, scrapbooks,

cards, bears,

stories, calendars,

photos, rooms, gardens,

cheesecake, cookies,

buns, landscapes,

jams, cross stitch

I enjoy handmade.

 

Steel Stamps

This photo excites the right cerebral cortex in my brain. 

I was created with a joy for creating.  This is my newest [borrowed] idea.  I am already excited about planning some group activities for next year, and I have to try them myself to see how well they work.  A dry run of sorts, you could call it. You can click here if you are wondering what it's about.