What will you be doing in 5 years?

I just recently was asked that, and wow... for the first time in my life I don't know, or care!  When I was younger, I was the person that planned ahead every moment, every goal, etc.  etc.

The constant moving has helped me this whole plan-every-moment thing.  If I am always looking ahead, I can't be here now.  Or I should say NOW.  I kind of dig enjoying the now. Like right this second, Paul has the kids, and I am watching Unique Sweets on the Cooking Channel, and I couldn't be more content! (Stuffed Beignets? Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes?  some crazy fried cake thing?)

But really, like today when we were doing some shaving cream marble painting, and the kids were making a total mess.  And Tate just wanted to play in the shaving cream.  And I was giving him instruction as to how to do the painting.  His response; "Mom--You're going to tell me HOW to do ART??"  You are right, kid.  That is so wrong of me!  And I let him go....

And this morning, when I thought I would be cleaning the kitchen and both kids came dancing in to "Every Day You're Shuffling", I just had to join in.

Project 20: Random Kiddo Activities

I guess this is Project 20....I have been horrible about blogging lately.  This is where 2 kids is wayyyy more than1 kid.  I look back when Tate was the age Soleil is now, and I think I may have been blogging daily!  

It is Spring Break here and we are chilling at home. I am grateful that I am not sitting on an overcrowded plane with overtired and/or overexcited kids!  I think with the move coming up, I like to hunker down in my home and just feel that cozy homey feeling.  

This woman I found on pinterest makes themed baths for her kids.  They are totally cool.  I  thought they were just for the toddler set, but every time I copy one of her baths, Tate (age SEVEN), loves it and requests one for the next day.  Here is what we did for St. Pat's day, with some help from our local dollar store. 

Food color, green toys we already had, foam shamrocks that stuck to the side of the tub, and green bath safe molding sand (Baking soda+food color+teeny bit of water).  

This is an idea from Family Fun magazine and inspired by the toy Perplexus, one of Tate's faves.  You make a maze out of legos for a marble.  Pretty cool until your little sister decides that she can improve the design...

And I didn't make this, but I am going to!  We were at Minnesota Children's Museum and they have the greatest animal costumes that the kids can don while they play.  Tate loved this bird costume and it was really cozy.  I should start NOW for Halloween...

And lastly, a project that I actually DID make myself.  Tate's friend, Sebas, loves Narwhals.  (Whale +horn=pretty cool.)  His dad asked me to make one, and I was honored!  This was my first time making a 3D stuffie, and it was not easy.  I loved that I learned a new skill, and made a kid happy.  Of course, then Soleil wanted me to make her animals of all sorts, now that she know that I can make them.   

This guy was my 4th attempt and he looks like he ate a few too many plankton and has deformed flippers, but he was wayyy better than the first few attempts.  

If you want to make your own Narwhal, the pattern can be found here.

And since I am being random....anyone else completely tired of being cold?  I am very ready for spring.

Spring has Sprung! Project 19: Felt Bunnies

I feel it right around the corner!  I love the seasons and doing things differently for each season, as suggested by my friend, Bella.  Firstly, I needed a bathroom update.  Soleil and I went to Homegoods and pretended we were on a HGTV show, and got everything we needed to change the bathroom into a spa.

 While we were there, I found this amazing Amy Tangerine ribbon collection!

Paul needed some quiet time this weekend to handle some important business, so I took the kids to the Minnesota Arboretum to get out of the house.  The temperatures were not that bad (above 32F!), and they were featuring Fairy Houses and Maple Syrup tapping, and we were dressed for the weather.  Tate just loved launching himself into the giant piles of melting snow.

....And Project 19:  Felt Bunnies!  I can't stop.  Version #1:  Find Bunny template online, cut out, stuff, and sew together, by hand or by machine.  Version #2: Needle felt little bunny shapes.  Google it.  It is soooo easy, and perfect for one if you have been just exhausted lately with moving plans, and buying houses, and etc etc etc.  

On the Move

Transition is hard.  Our family has experienced a lot of that in the past couple of years, and we are getting ready to be on the move again.  When I started this blog, I had a new baby, was living in the 'burbs of St. Louis, and it was my very necessary outlet with the outside world.  Since then, we have moved to Michigan during Paul's deployment, back to St. Louis, to London, to Bath, to Minneapolis, and we are headed to Washington DC in July.  We plan to be there for 1.5 yrs, before FINALLY settling in Michigan.  Hopefully very close, if not in, Ann Arbor.

I am really, really, really ready to settle and grow some very deep roots.  I want community, I want consistency, I want a very boring life :)  I plan on establishing my dream business (more on that soon!) and plant a garden, and more specifically, some raspberries.  Why raspberries?  Because they take a few years before they yield fruit, and we haven't had that opportunity in awhile.

from http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/raspberry/care-of-raspberry-plants.htm

We have been watching a lot of HGTV around here, and even Tate has made his "Forever House Wish List".  (This kid LOVES HGTV, more than a little kid should! The Property Brothers are his favorite.) I am also addicted to "pinning" cool stuff on pinterest.  I love planning things, so this time is quite enjoyable, even if I have to wait to start creating my dream home.

The one thing that makes these changes easier, is my craft things.  Even when we had a little apt. in Michigan, I left most of the furniture behind, but brought most of my crafty bits along!  When Tate would go to sleep, I would watch really bad tv and craft, craft, craft.  It is my therapy.

What makes things better for you in a transition?  I'd love to hear:)

Project 18: Easy Child's Apron

I thought the last apron was pretty do-able.  I was quite surprised at how that all worked, to be honest!  

Soleil wanted an apron as well, and this one was even easier!

Ok, here is the quick overview.  

1.  Trace apron shape from another apron-FABRIC 1.  (Or just draw your own on newspaper)

2.  Trace same shape as the top half of the apron on FABRIC 2

3.  Make small rectangle of fabric for pocket on FABRIC 2

4.  Cut ties from ribbon.  Judge your own length--enough to tie around neck and a set for around body. 

Now how do you sew it together?  It isn't perfect, but this is what I did.

5.  Sew pocket on.  (Fold & iron edges in all the way around and top stitch on.  Easy Peasy.)

6.  Hem the bottom and the 2 lower sides of FABRIC 1 (Pink stripe).  Leave top and top sides (shaped like a trapezoid) unhemmed.

7. Hem botton of FABRIC 2 (Pink damask) top section.  

6. Trim FABRIC 2(Pink Damask) top section to match size of top section of FABRIC 1 (Pink stripe).  

7.  Pin RIGHT SIDES together, with straps sandwiched in, on top section (for neck straps) and sides (for side straps) and sew around sides and top. **Look at finished product to see what I mean**

8. Flip right side out.  

9.  DONE!

And while Soleil was waiting, I gave her some dried out markers, a little bowl of water, and a coffee filter.  When it was dry, I used a pipe cleaner and made it into a flower!  You could also make it into a butterfly.  

And later that day...  we had science experiments.  To start, we had a science kit from my friend, Claudia.

After the "real" science,  I gave the kids each a muffin tin, and they could mix whatever they wanted from food color (that I added), corn starch, salt, baking soda, vinegar, and water.  I used little condiment bottles and spray bottles for the liquid.  This was a hit!!! 

I also saw something on pinterest where you fill cake pan with baking soda, and give them many containers of food color dyed vinegar to add as they please.  I might do this next time :)

Project 17: Upcycled Sock Hearts

My mom knits me socks.  They are awesome.  But the socks from her first batches may have been a tad too small... and I may have worn holes in them.  I know that it takes A LOT of work to make them, so when they became unwearable, I couldn't throw them away.  I added them to the pile of clothes made from good fabric/patterns that I don't wear anymore that are stashed in my craft room because I know I can use them some day....

That "some day" was this week, when my little one looked me in the face and said "Craft, mama?"  I almost died of happiness.

The (clean) socks are almost felted, because of being washed so many times, so when I cut them open to make useable fabric, it didn't unwind.

This is what I did:
1.  Made heart shape from magazine paper as pattern.
2.  Pinned to flattened out sock.  Cut 2 hearts out of sock material, using pattern as guide.
3.  Put Right Sides together and pinned.
4.  Sewed around 3/4 of heart.
5. Turned right side out.
6.  Stuffed.
7.  Hand sewed shut.
8.  Gave to baby to play with. :) :) :)

This took less than an hour.

Project 16: Modern Penmanship

In the past, I have dabbled in a little self taught calligraphy. So when a friend of mine, Crystal, set out to teach a course in Modern Penmanship, I didn't hesitate to sign up! I loved it. She is a font designer for Tart Workshop (see her button to the side) who creates beautiful letters, and I was inspired.

I love the practicing. It is so relaxing and therapuetic. I ran out of ideas of what to write, so I grabbed this month's Martha Stewart Living and started to write the titles, advertisements, and random words that spoke to me. I ended up with this little sampler. Oprah is another great magazine to get some beautiful and inspirational words to copy.

 Our final preject was super fun. We chose a (chocolate covered) fortune cookie that was themed for love or for friendship, and wrote the sentiment on paper doilies! I loved mine. I cannot wait to write and write and write! If you write me a real snail mail letter, you will definitely get one back from me :)

If you want to try, just grab a basic calligraphy pen set and some ink and have a go.  It was wayyyy easier than it seems.  We used a Speedball calligraphy pen and the Speedball Basic Black India Ink.  Just dip your pen and PLAY!

Project 15: Valentine's Day Bunting

The kitchen is a mess, and the baby is falling asleep at her meal, but see the pretty bunting hanging above her?

Here is how you make one: 

**NEXT STEP**
No photo, take each the 2 TRIANGLES that you cut, turn them so the pretty sides face each other.
PIN so they don't move around.
SEW ALONG sides of triangle, leaving top of triangle open.
FLIP INSIDE OUT, so that pretty side is showing.
IRON FLAT

Yay!! You are now done. Hang up wherever you want!

This tutorial helped me a lot, but there is a little measurement confusion at one point. (To clear up, she asks you to mark 11cm on top and 22cm on bottom.  Each of the marks should be 11 cm away from one another, but on the bottom, starting at the 22cm mark.)  Again, I love the youtube videos.

As I type this, my sick baby just fell asleep on my arm.  She never ever ever does this, but the snuggly spot and the repetition of the typing must have done the trick!  Keep warm and stay healthy everyone.

Project 14: The Sketchbook Project

This week, I scrambled at the last minute to finish my entry into The Sketchbook Project.  I hate scrambling.  I like to plan and get stuff done way ahead, but that didn't happen.

When my friend, Ladonna, called to remind me of the deadline, I tried to be zen about it and told myself, "Just do what you can before the deadline and send it in."  But I couldn't.  So on the day of the deadline, I loaded the dining table with a ton of art supplies and barely parented all day to get this thing done.  I think we got to the post office at 4:29pm.

I really enjoyed the process, and let it just all come intuitively.  Soleil loved playing along for about the first 2 hours, and then she was over it.  (Yes, I parked her in front of the tv.  Yes, I am a horrible mom.)

Here it is.

 

Project 13: Ruffle Apron

I made this for one of my childhood BFFs!  I love making things for other people--I try to make it nicer and learn something I wouldn't otherwise, if I were making it just for me.  I reallllly wanted a pretty ruffle on the apron, so I went to Youtube.

Here is the general idea--
1.  I traced the pattern for the skirt, and then the top piece, on newspaper, and cut the pieces out of fabric.
2.  I added ruffle and pocket.
3.  I hemmed everything.
4.  I sewed it all together, trying to make it look as finished as possible.  (This involves sewing right sides together, most times, and opening up/flipping inside out to get a nice sewn edge.)
5.  Watch LOTS of Youtube tutorials and pick the stuff that works for you best.

But I will give your specific instructions on the zipper pocket, because it was so easy!

1.  Sew in zipper to pocket fabric.  (Right side of zipper facing right side of pocket fabric.) Flip over so that you see pretty side, and sewn side is hidden from view.
2.  Place the other side (unsewn side) of zipper face down, on apron fabric.  Sew zipper in.  Fold over so that pocket looks like a pocket.
3.  Make sure you have folded the other 3 edges in about 1/4-1/2 inch, so the raw edges don't show.  Top stitch all the way around, making sure to sew over the little zipper end tails up at the beginning and end of zipper.

(I hate written word instructions... so sorry!  I prefer seeing it, rather than hearing about how to do it.   This is where youtube comes in handy.)

RUFFLE:  The best tutorial was from DIY Dish--the twin sisters who make the videos are soo adorable and easy to understand.