tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41914876953516621212024-03-13T09:34:42.588-07:00mamaTAVEnourishing a mother's soul through gifts for her familyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-58125570417422082842012-02-14T15:53:00.000-08:002012-02-14T15:53:00.486-08:00While chopping fennel for tonight's soup, I remembered that I wanted to say......Happy Valentine's Day!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9KUCz2hShpM/TYbN_USO6ZI/AAAAAAAABvY/5Rqjh2bsgNM/s1600/100_0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9KUCz2hShpM/TYbN_USO6ZI/AAAAAAAABvY/5Rqjh2bsgNM/s320/100_0117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-67290775459681200662011-11-08T12:47:00.000-08:002011-11-08T12:47:00.486-08:00Christmas Gift Idea--Fairy BabiesThis is another one from last year. Anastasia made (with a bit of help from me) these Christmas Fairy Babies for her aunts and uncles last year. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRpPLXs889I/AAAAAAAABtg/m23C8Zl9GJs/s1600/HolidayFairyBabyOrnament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRpPLXs889I/AAAAAAAABtg/m23C8Zl9GJs/s320/HolidayFairyBabyOrnament.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>You probably can't see that we included a gold string, so they could be used as ornaments if that was the wish of the recipient. J split walnut shells in half along the seam (please do not use a butter knife for this task... it just may slip, slice your finger rather painfully, and require the use of many bandaids as well as assuring your concerned child that you will eventually be okay). We sanded the edges of those that needed a little smoothing. We placed the gold string in the shell with a dab of tacky glue, then added some fluffed up (that's a technical term) wool yarn to be the baby's bed. As that is drying, you can make your baby. <br />
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Take a bit of pipe cleaner and wrap it all but a tiny bit with colored (or not) wool roving. This is one of the tasks that your young child can feel successful with completing. Glue a wooden bead on the unwrapped bit--this will be the baby's head. Glue a small acorn to the head to be the baby's hat (See! It's a good thing I told you about this now. You still have plenty of time to go out and collect acorn caps!). I clipped apart silk flowers to use as the baby's wings and we glued them on to the baby's back. <br />
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After everything is dry, snuggle the baby in her shell bed. We did not glue the babies in, in case the recipient wanted to take it out and hold it--they are so cute, it's hard not to hold them!<br />
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Enjoy this one. Another present done!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-55097494092889171602011-11-01T12:34:00.000-07:002011-11-01T12:34:00.379-07:00Christmas Gift Idea--Candle WrapIt's beginning to look a lot like...Christmas! I know Halloween just happened, but this is what the stores would like you to believe, right? Well, they have a point. It wouldn't hurt to start thinking about it and get a few things tucked away, so you are not nutso in a month. I'll give you a couple of ideas to get you started. Here is a candle that Anastasia wrapped as her gift for her grandparents last year. She also made smaller versions for her teachers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRpL6ID4TDI/AAAAAAAABtc/HUgMhLsy1D8/s1600/HolidayCandleGift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRpL6ID4TDI/AAAAAAAABtc/HUgMhLsy1D8/s320/HolidayCandleGift.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>You can get the glass candles for very little money at a number of different stores (hint: shop the day after Christmas and stock up for gifts for next year!). Have your little one choose a piece of scrapbook paper. Measure and cut it to fit the candle. Ask your little one to color (making sure to include her name somewhere, if she is able) the white side of the paper. Use tacky glue to glue the ends of the paper to the candle. These candles were a little too large for the paper to wrap all the way around, which is why there is a strip of ribbon covering that blank spot. Let it dry. <br />
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You have a gift finished and ready to give. Good for you!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-67820291599265635262011-07-09T21:33:00.000-07:002011-07-09T21:33:00.112-07:00Pillowcase Dress and Matching CaprisI made another <a href="http://mamatave.blogspot.com/2009/09/pillowcase-dress.html">pillowcase dress</a> for Ana to wear to our school's May Day Festival (yes, I am really late in writing this post). It had been rather chilly, and the pillowcase was white, so I wanted to make something to wear underneath the dress. She had some jeans that still fit really well in the waist, but were making her sport that highwaters look that we weren't really going for... So, I cut a few inches off the bottom of the legs and added a ruffle, using the same fabric I used to make the bias tape for the pillowcase dress. This will save me the trouble of buying any capris for her this summer, as there are many more jeans that have holes in the knees and will receive this same treatment (stay tuned!). Here is the sweet little outfit she wore to the May Day Festival:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y96PTHgCwXo/TfRC-QNZ8aI/AAAAAAAABx0/d-3KcBn9uDU/s1600/Solvang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y96PTHgCwXo/TfRC-QNZ8aI/AAAAAAAABx0/d-3KcBn9uDU/s320/Solvang.jpg" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gH89NJEUrH0/TfRDDj2B0pI/AAAAAAAABx4/0_lUe3Mw8kg/s1600/MayDayFestival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gH89NJEUrH0/TfRDDj2B0pI/AAAAAAAABx4/0_lUe3Mw8kg/s320/MayDayFestival.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-37533106317283729742011-07-02T08:40:00.000-07:002011-07-02T08:40:01.120-07:00Felted Playmat and DuckMy friend's son just turned two. Ana helped me to make his gift. We wet-felted in a large ziplock bag, like we did for her <a href="http://mamatave.blogspot.com/2011/06/teacher-gift-story-apron-tutorial.html">teacher's gift</a>. But, this time, Ana created a farm scene. Her farm ended up having a pond, so we felt that a duck should be available to swim in it. I needle-felted a simple one, using white and orange roving. I also needle-felted some flowers (vegetables?) to be grown on the farm.<br />
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This is the gift we created:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ2wv7w-5pY/TfQ2aBi8MtI/AAAAAAAABxQ/ygpl5RR9jMw/s1600/100_0285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQ2wv7w-5pY/TfQ2aBi8MtI/AAAAAAAABxQ/ygpl5RR9jMw/s320/100_0285.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jfvFnR0jwos/TfQ2t7dOecI/AAAAAAAABxU/B9G-U6RY1q4/s1600/100_0287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jfvFnR0jwos/TfQ2t7dOecI/AAAAAAAABxU/B9G-U6RY1q4/s320/100_0287.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>**Fair warning: Dogs like wool. Well, they specifically like to destroy anything lovely you've made with it. So, be sure to keep any wool toys put away and out of your dog's reach! I had two students lose wool gifts to their dogs mouths this year. It's sad, so beware!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-82423637475161057942011-06-24T22:10:00.000-07:002011-06-24T22:10:25.446-07:00Another Teacher Gift: Reversible Pouch TutorialI wasn't sure what to make for Ana's teacher assistant as an end-of-the-year gift. I asked Ana exactly what the assistant's job was, and she said, "It is her job to watch the kids and make sure they're not hiding anywhere. If they are, she has to find them... We should give her a magnifying glass!" So, that is what we did. <br />
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But, I wanted to put it inside something lovely that also might be memorable. Since the kindergarten class was called the "Cherry Blossoms", I was thrilled to find a cherry print fabric to use to make a drawstring bag. Ana fingerknitted a chain of yarn to be used as the drawstring. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J_EckFsckNw/TfQyK-_vaFI/AAAAAAAABww/pK4J-gfQSj4/s1600/100_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J_EckFsckNw/TfQyK-_vaFI/AAAAAAAABww/pK4J-gfQSj4/s320/100_0301.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div> Cute! But, the fabric was rather thin, and I didn't want to just toss a magnifying glass in there and hope that it survived the journey to school. So, I decided to make a reversible bag out of fleece to hold and protect it.<br />
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I started by cutting two long rectangles, and stitching the sides together (wrong side out), making two shorter rectangles.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PbBCgEGyL2I/TfQyTd0sCVI/AAAAAAAABw0/uAJuAWKvvOs/s1600/100_0295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PbBCgEGyL2I/TfQyTd0sCVI/AAAAAAAABw0/uAJuAWKvvOs/s320/100_0295.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div> Next, I stitched the two rectangles together by placing one inside the other, right sides facing each other, and stitching around the open edges, leaving about an inch unstitched.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U2ah-tZxjRg/TfQyaZJ7Y6I/AAAAAAAABw4/pbuo9lmDTX4/s1600/100_0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U2ah-tZxjRg/TfQyaZJ7Y6I/AAAAAAAABw4/pbuo9lmDTX4/s320/100_0296.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div> That unstitched part is where I then pulled the fabric right-sides-out, like shown below, and then hand stitched that last inch closed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pnj_LDPOOB4/TfQyhyigDXI/AAAAAAAABw8/i_6Icx-afzs/s1600/100_0297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pnj_LDPOOB4/TfQyhyigDXI/AAAAAAAABw8/i_6Icx-afzs/s320/100_0297.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div> To make it look like the pouch it is, I stuffed the lighter colored fabric into the Bears fabric (she is from Chicago, and we are Bears fans, so... it just had to be done). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qbJpjL3pkNU/TfQyo0sHkKI/AAAAAAAABxA/5A8Pn4vOdrA/s1600/100_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qbJpjL3pkNU/TfQyo0sHkKI/AAAAAAAABxA/5A8Pn4vOdrA/s320/100_0298.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div> Or, you can reverse it by turning it inside out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lybQ_Fpxl14/TfQyt_hFjkI/AAAAAAAABxE/52QGWwFYLRE/s1600/100_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lybQ_Fpxl14/TfQyt_hFjkI/AAAAAAAABxE/52QGWwFYLRE/s320/100_0299.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div> Two fabric options, depending on your mood (or the success of your favorite team)!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pdNJ2IYa_gc/TfQyzjJ_fcI/AAAAAAAABxI/awWS3bYo4CY/s1600/100_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pdNJ2IYa_gc/TfQyzjJ_fcI/AAAAAAAABxI/awWS3bYo4CY/s320/100_0300.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div> And, in the end, a useful and memorable gift.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YY-0dkyANFA/TfQy7b_XleI/AAAAAAAABxM/EOrl40NYc8A/s1600/100_0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YY-0dkyANFA/TfQy7b_XleI/AAAAAAAABxM/EOrl40NYc8A/s320/100_0302.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-19911315386033786392011-06-21T16:22:00.000-07:002011-06-21T16:22:32.201-07:00Tea Cozy GiveawayDear friends, today is the last day to enter to <a href="http://patchofzinnias.blogspot.com/2011/06/tea-cozies.html">win an absolutely adorable tea cozy from Garden of Daisies</a>. Isn't the mushroom one adorable?! Go enter now!<br />
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Just yesterday, a friend and I were talking about hosting tea parties at our homes on a rotating basis. I will be visiting the Garden of Daisies site again and again for more tea ideas, I am sure.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-13276103962717612722011-06-18T19:54:00.000-07:002011-06-18T19:54:00.172-07:00Teacher Gift--Story Apron TutorialSchool ended last week. I am still decompressing a bit, with a few reports left to write, but I did manage to pull off some pretty sweet gifts for A's teacher and teacher's assistant. We all worked together to make the gift for her teacher, which I think made it extra-special. We began the gift of a home made story apron by wet-felting wool. This was a great outdoor project, as it tends to get water everywhere, particularly when a five-year-old is heavily involved. <br />
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We started with a piece of wool batting that would fit into a large ziplock bag (this can certainly be done on a small scale as well, in a smaller bag), and covered it with whisps of colored roving (the thinner, the better, I have found). Then, we carefully put it into the plastic bag, added some hot water (as hot as little hands can stand) and a squirt of dishsoap, and sealed the bag, letting as much air escape as possible. Then, squish the bag as much as you can stand! It takes quite a bit of work to get the wool to felt. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k5trmdVyRH0/TfQshe1lxtI/AAAAAAAABwc/0nqPo8Pp9Z0/s1600/100_0273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k5trmdVyRH0/TfQshe1lxtI/AAAAAAAABwc/0nqPo8Pp9Z0/s320/100_0273.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div> After the wool has felted (open the bag to check and see that the wool is all "stuck" together before you pull it out), take it out of the bag and place it in a tub of cold water. It is important that it is cold, as this will "shock" the wool and further felt the fibers together.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dRBGn2zy--w/TfQsnj6XqjI/AAAAAAAABwg/JetGMLokBJg/s1600/100_0274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dRBGn2zy--w/TfQsnj6XqjI/AAAAAAAABwg/JetGMLokBJg/s320/100_0274.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div> This step also gets the suds out...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1NgMjITFOh0/TfQswoSGNOI/AAAAAAAABwk/wYcluVFiyCQ/s1600/100_0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1NgMjITFOh0/TfQswoSGNOI/AAAAAAAABwk/wYcluVFiyCQ/s320/100_0275.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>After your piece is thoroughly rinsed, you may wish to wring out excess water. I use this bamboo placemat that I found in the "as is" area of Ikea.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jEbBommd9_4/TfQs57FqLuI/AAAAAAAABwo/hPwND8fhoj4/s1600/100_0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jEbBommd9_4/TfQs57FqLuI/AAAAAAAABwo/hPwND8fhoj4/s320/100_0276.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>There were a few wool stragglers that I felted into the piece with a needle after it was dry. <br />
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We used the felted piece for the bib part of the story apron. I bought some lovely green silk to use as the dress of the apron, as I had the idea of the bib being the sky and the skirt being the grass when her teacher was sitting to tell stories. I had leftover blue satin from another project that I used for the neck strap. Stitched them all together, and...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LyI7vYWy0I/TfQtazIXGTI/AAAAAAAABws/EveY4bNIyMU/s1600/100_0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5LyI7vYWy0I/TfQtazIXGTI/AAAAAAAABws/EveY4bNIyMU/s320/100_0303.JPG" t8="true" width="206" /></a></div>A story apron gift is complete.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-4724426980377405382011-06-14T16:30:00.000-07:002011-06-14T16:32:02.827-07:00Which way does the ceiling fan turn?It is hot today. 97 degrees right now. It is a dry heat, so it could be worse. Still, just a week ago it was 30 degrees cooler and raining! We jumped right to hot. I'm not ready to turn on the a/c and I am wishing to turn the ceiling fans on as the little one and I move from room-to-room, trying to get some house work done around here.<br />
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Am I the only person who's memory is so bad that not only can I not remember which direction the ceiling fan blades are supposed to be turning, but I also cannot remember if I have already changed them for the season or not? <em>(Tessa, you may not comment in reply to that question.) </em>I'm recording it here for my future reference, and yours, too, if your memory is at all like mine. <br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceiling_fan#Uses">Wikipedia says</a> that in the summer, the fan blades should be turning with the higher part of the fan blades leading (usually, this is counter-clockwise). In the winter, the lower part of the fan blades should be leading, which is generally clockwise.<br />
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There. You've been schooled in ceiling fan rotation, and so have I. Hope that helps someone else, too!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-14002906811492717842011-06-11T19:53:00.000-07:002011-06-11T19:53:29.648-07:00Golf Cupcakes and HairdoJ's boss just retired, which means more golf for boss and more work for my hubbie! The retirement party had a golf theme and J was asked to bring two dozen cupcakes with either green or white frosting.... I couldn't let it be as easy as that. Instantly, ideas came to my mind of how to make the cupcakes fit more with the theme. I did allow myself the liberty of using boxed mixes, which saved a little time on a weeknight. Here is what we delivered:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jqDjaU2UXI/TfQoUpYJ3sI/AAAAAAAABwQ/z2mpPJ-kdiU/s1600/100_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jqDjaU2UXI/TfQoUpYJ3sI/AAAAAAAABwQ/z2mpPJ-kdiU/s320/100_0289.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4G_afz9YAQ/TfQoeW9DQoI/AAAAAAAABwU/ezOGUc8b1qw/s1600/100_0293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4G_afz9YAQ/TfQoeW9DQoI/AAAAAAAABwU/ezOGUc8b1qw/s320/100_0293.JPG" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I thought coconut in the frosting would make it look more "grassy", but it didn't. Extra-tasty though. Flags were made by gluing diamond-shaped paper around toothpicks. Little balls of sugar (found in the cake decorating aisle at JoAnn) for golf balls... voila!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, when I was dropping A off at my parents' before the party, my dad suggested this:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jhmak4N8bRA/TfQofC-GuLI/AAAAAAAABwY/JCE4-P9oISU/s1600/DadsGolfIdea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jhmak4N8bRA/TfQofC-GuLI/AAAAAAAABwY/JCE4-P9oISU/s320/DadsGolfIdea.jpg" t8="true" width="240" /></a></div>Yep. Pulled my hair up with bobby pins and stuck long golf tees in.... My dad's idea... I suppose that is where the creativity gene came from.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-49077568920620154282011-05-22T22:17:00.000-07:002011-05-28T14:03:33.354-07:00It's the little things... Giveaway! (CLOSED)<em><strong>And, the lucky random.org winner is.... Hayley! Look for an email from me, Hayley, and "thank you" to every one else who entered. I have a few more giveaways in mind, so stay tuned!</strong></em><br />
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Welcome, welcome! This is the third <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2011/05/giveaway-day-handcrafted-item/">Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day</a> I have participated in. It is always so exciting. Though the end of the school year is really trying to push my stress buttons, squeezing in the crafting for this day of giving was actually a good idea. It was nice to find good reason to knit and felt. Please don't hold your breath, as my work week is about to begin, but I am hoping to add one more "little thing" to my giveaway. I might be able to get it done in time... stranger things have happened, I'm sure.<br />
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As it stands now, these little things would make great accents to your <a href="http://mamatave.blogspot.com/2010/08/becoming-waldorf-our-nature-table.html">nature table</a>, if you have one. If you don't have one, winning this would give you good reason to make space for one! It's always nice to be near nature, and so special when you can bring a little indoors without any harm to Mother (Nature).<br />
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For your summer table, a little felted strawberry:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-72yp5oJ20uc/Tdns0oEGHiI/AAAAAAAABv4/xPuElf1C51c/s1600/100_0282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-72yp5oJ20uc/Tdns0oEGHiI/AAAAAAAABv4/xPuElf1C51c/s320/100_0282.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><em>To make this, I simply wrapped wool around a tiny pine cone and needle felted it in place.</em><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For your autumn table, a little knitted acorn:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-isCA_xMcOTY/Tdns9_XhmCI/AAAAAAAABv8/AWuenP8LZ_Q/s1600/100_0281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-isCA_xMcOTY/Tdns9_XhmCI/AAAAAAAABv8/AWuenP8LZ_Q/s320/100_0281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><em>The pattern for the acorn can be found in this book:</em><br />
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How can you win these lovely little things? Simply leave a lovely little comment. That's all. If you are one of the folks who has been following me for a while (or wishes to start now), please leave a second little comment so I can give you a second entry as a token of my appreciation.<br />
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The giveaway will be open until Friday evening, because I will surely not get around to randomly choosing a winner until the work week is over! I will ship internationally ("hello" to my cyber friends across the pond and over the border!) by Monday, the 30th.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-37112035990672842992011-05-15T22:22:00.000-07:002011-05-15T22:22:52.018-07:00A Mother's Day GiftMy little lovely made me a gift at school in the same fashion <a href="http://mamatave.blogspot.com/2010/05/mothers-day-scarves.html">I tried this craft last year</a>. It was supposed to be a scarf, but when the "scarves" arrived to her teacher, they were much smaller than anticipated (hankie size). Still, my neck is small enough that I managed to wear the gift as intended and please my little girl (though, she did give me permission to "blow my snot in it and stick it in my pocket"). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aVmNlF4Ntos/TdCzvWhDwSI/AAAAAAAABv0/PQSw96XDybE/s1600/ScarfFromAna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aVmNlF4Ntos/TdCzvWhDwSI/AAAAAAAABv0/PQSw96XDybE/s320/ScarfFromAna.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I also wanted to show you one of the first cherries that has come off the tree we planted last year--yum! Not enough to do more than munching this year, but I'm hoping to have some cherry canning on my "to do" list next summer. Pitting them doesn't sound too fun though...<br />
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Back to the topic of scarves for a moment, I <a href="http://mamatave.blogspot.com/2010/05/giveaway-day_17.html">gave one away last year</a> during Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day. It's coming up again, really soon, and I am wishing to join in the fun again. What to give away? Any suggestions, based on what I've made in the past?... Requests?... Hopefully, this week won't whisk me away and I forget the Friday deadline. Let's see...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-71024444853565250902011-04-18T10:21:00.000-07:002011-04-18T10:21:16.737-07:00Read this book: The Country Bunny<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=ma068-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002VLIIFA&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><br />
<span></span>In the spirit of Easter and all that is good in the world, please read this book! <br />
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I read this to my kindergarten students last week and they were mesmerized by the beautiful story. I suspect the Easter Bunny will be delivering a copy to our house this year... <br />
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It is amazing to me that this story of a strong mama bunny--who proves she can do things just as well as (even better than!) the male Jack rabbits--was written in 1939!<br />
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Good stuff. Check it out and let me know what you think.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-11432187257347224372011-04-16T10:17:00.000-07:002011-04-16T10:17:41.329-07:00Wool Eggs... Hatched!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAwKUAsib9g/TanNcIdbOqI/AAAAAAAABvs/1EPfuxlLcPw/s1600/HatchingChicky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAwKUAsib9g/TanNcIdbOqI/AAAAAAAABvs/1EPfuxlLcPw/s320/HatchingChicky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh, my! The egg started cracking about a week ago. And, then...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YAgSTjSPSMg/TanNfHagngI/AAAAAAAABvw/LhrJ7Bw8J5s/s1600/HatchedChicky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YAgSTjSPSMg/TanNfHagngI/AAAAAAAABvw/LhrJ7Bw8J5s/s320/HatchedChicky.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Cheep! Cheep! This chicky was joyfully discovered after he hatched and has been out of his egg and traveling in pockets, so his face is a little smooshed right now, but still so cute. He lives on our nature table.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-24140027654756895112011-04-05T19:53:00.000-07:002011-04-05T19:53:00.428-07:00Wool Eggs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTNIIZB-nog/TZoLq2WySuI/AAAAAAAABvo/sX_DRNjFNQI/s1600/100_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTNIIZB-nog/TZoLq2WySuI/AAAAAAAABvo/sX_DRNjFNQI/s320/100_0126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We are making these in my classroom right now, and I wanted Anastasia to have the opportunity to make one as well. This is a nice, warm activity--good for the senses with its use of natural fibers. <br />
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Don't know how to wet-felt? Just ask, and I will do my best to explain here. The supplies and procedure are quite simple.<br />
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They are cute just like this, but you can modify them a bit... Check back in a week or so to see what this one has morphed into!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-72845683051312377762011-04-04T10:40:00.000-07:002011-04-04T10:40:08.995-07:00Poison Oak in My Front Yard?How did this get into my front yard?!?!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rOPQ_Af9NoU/TZoBjvALJoI/AAAAAAAABvk/1ZE5oUCol5c/s1600/PoisonOakInFrontYard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rOPQ_Af9NoU/TZoBjvALJoI/AAAAAAAABvk/1ZE5oUCol5c/s320/PoisonOakInFrontYard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><strong>SO</strong> glad I was paying close attention to the weeds I was pulling out of the ground before I just reached and grabbed this. <strong>AND </strong>that I remembered the little "leaves of three, let them be" mantra... <br />
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Happy Monday everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-32535596215869763212011-03-30T09:56:00.000-07:002011-03-30T09:56:00.679-07:00Project: Simplify -- Week Four -- Pantry and Refrigerator<a alt="project simplify on simple mom" href="http://simplemom.net/project-simplify" target="blank" width="150px"><img src="http://simplemom.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/projectsimplify-square.png" /></a><br />
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This one will be a bit easier to handle, as I've already been purging a bit every day for the last few weeks. My offspring and I are on a "Candida Diet" (well, I am more strictly than she is, but she's doing an awesome job!), which means no sugar (of any kind at this beginning point, we'll be able to add back honey and other unrefined sweeteners later) or yeast. Do you know how hard that is? There is sugar in EVERYTHING!!! This is seriously harder than I thought. I'm not having the sugar cravings like I did at first (we didn't eat a lot of sweets before, so the cravings really didn't last long at all), but nearly every food that I didn't make from scratch has sugar listed in the ingredients. Yeast is a little bit easier to predict (think: breads), but it sneaks in the ingredient list more often than I anticipated, as well.<br />
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The point of me sharing this, is that I very recently removed a lot of things from our freezers and pantry. We look temptation in the face in my own kitchen? I do the cooking around here, so it's really not a problem to suit the cupboards to fit my needs. I have moved most items that we cannot eat right now, either out of the house entirely (garbage) or onto an inconvenient shelf. <br />
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I have found some lovely quick bread recipes and even ventured into making my own sourdough starter! I omitted the cup of brown sugar the aussie bites recipe called for, but did keep in the 1/2 cup of honey. I figured that would be dispersed enough between the 5 dozen bites we made. Plus, it was our turn to make them for the kindergarten homeschool group and I didn't want to force them all onto our diet. I thought they were delicious--just a touch of sweetness, plus oats, sunflower seeds, flax, dried figs (natural sugar), wolfberries (more natural sugar),... YUM!<br />
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So, I have until the end of the week to finish my organizing of this project. I will post pictures later, maybe even on time! But, I do have class all weekend, so... maybe not.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-79325421943438301582011-03-29T21:56:00.000-07:002011-03-29T21:56:41.719-07:00Project: Simplify -- Week Three -- Kids Clothes and Toys<a alt="project simplify on simple mom" href="http://simplemom.net/project-simplify" target="blank" width="150px"><img src="http://simplemom.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/projectsimplify-square.png" /></a><br />
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I am really showing off my procrastination skills with this project... <em>REALLY</em>. Not meaning to. We're in the middle of another round of being woken up every. single. night. by a little person who comes crawling into our bed from a bad dream, a full bladder, just waking up, something undertermined,... and likes to snuggle up right next to me and proceed to elbow me in the face or knee me in the back until the alarm goes off and it's time to get up and go to work. So, I'm tired. I'm really tired. And, I'm spending my time on the things I have to get done before the morning comes, rather than these fun little projects! <br />
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I am still working on J's closet (slowly and sneakily, though he did willingly hand over a stack of older-than-us t-shirts--score!). And, the boxes of paper are still waiting for me next to the new DVR that I am having way too much fun with... <br />
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Week Three was actually last week. Oops, again. The thing about the project is, I go through Anastasia's clothes on a fairly regular basis and always find something to donate or pass along to a cousin or friend. So, I'm not really feeling the need to do that. I have, in the last few months, come up with a system that allows her to pick out her own clothes for school without my having to really get involved and make trades in the middle of the night. We still have her changing table/dresser in her closet and the dresser that is part of her bedroom set is out in the bedroom. The dresser in the room contains clothes that she can wear to school, i.e. no logos, sparkly distracting things, etc. This requires a bit of help on my part when it is time to fold clothes and put things away, but it definitely helps in that she can pull anything out and have an outfit that will meet the dress code. Weekend clothes go in the closet dresser, i.e. logos (particularly those of a certain Kitty that all the little girls seem to love), sports teams (Go Bears!), sparkly flashy stuff, clothes with writing on it, etc. If you ever have to battle your child when it comes time to get dressed for school, I would highly recommend trying this system--I love it!<br />
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Now, the toys part of this project... Well, that is a different animal. I can't exactly go in and just do that myself... Or, <em>can </em>I?! There are many things that I haven't seen in quite a while, and she hasn't either, and I'm wondering if I remove those things from her room, if she'll ever even notice they're gone? Have you ever done this before? I have with one thing at a time, but this could very well be the entire closet floor, or the entire contents of the toy chest that she recently forgot even existed. Hmm... Thinking about it. Because, otherwise, this will require working with an exhausted girl (see note on our recent sleeping troubles above) to say goodbye to <em>toys</em>... She has her favorite things she likes to do, and is it really necessary to hold on to things that she only plays with when I say it is time to give the things away?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-77445244000480312732011-03-20T20:38:00.000-07:002011-03-20T20:38:08.699-07:00Project: Simplify -- Week Two -- Paper Clutter<a alt="project simplify on simple mom" href="http://simplemom.net/project-simplify" target="blank" width="150px"><img src="http://simplemom.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/projectsimplify-square.png" /></a><br />
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Okay, it is actually the end of week two as I'm posting this. Oops. I have a good start on it though. This week is tackling paper clutter. YAY! My least favorite thing, yet the thing I have the most of. Huh. Interesting. <br />
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Well, my mother-in-law is on board with this one, which is cool. So, we're trying to motivate each other by checking in and saying "Good for you!" I haven't actually gotten further than rounding up all of my paper clutter (it took a while, and a few boxes) at this point. But, the boxes are all sitting by the TV, ready for me to have a moment to veg-out. I am learning a new story to tell my kindergarteners this week, so that moment hasn't arrived yet. But, I hope to be ready in the next couple of days. Perhaps the week three project will be one I already have a handle on, so I can spend the time finishing weeks one and two <em>(she says with a big grin on her face, knowing the odds of that are slim to none)</em>. Stranger things have happened!<br />
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Here is what is waiting for me:<br />
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What you don't see are the Recycle and Take Action boxes that I will be using one of to toss each piece of paper into. What you do see are all the pieces of paper that I will be making decisions about... That's quite a few boxes. I have to be honest. Two of them are filled with papers I took when I moved out of my old classroom last school year... It's just been hard to go through them for some reason. But, here I go!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-2242199221961773832011-03-08T21:49:00.000-08:002011-03-08T21:51:37.757-08:00Project: Simplify -- Week One -- Wardrobe and Closet<a alt="project simplify on simple mom" href="http://simplemom.net/project-simplify" target="blank" width="150px"><img src="http://simplemom.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/projectsimplify-square.png" /></a><br />
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Don't you? I am always looking around and thinking <em>How did we end up with so much <strike>crap</strike> stuff?... </em>So, I was thrilled to find a declutter-a-long has just begun with one of my favorite blogs: <a href="http://simplemom.net/">Simple Mom</a>. <br />
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Would you like to play along? Click on the picture above to go to the page that shows what we'll tackle each week. You really have to just commit to this, because you don't know what area will be tackled each week until the week arrives and the area is revealed... ooh... mysterious... I may or may not like that. We'll see.<br />
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Since this week has already begun, and the Hot Spot has been revealed, I can tell you that it is your <strong>wardrobe and closet</strong>. How funny that I actually just completed this task for Anastasia and I after being inspired to <a href="http://mamatave.blogspot.com/2011/01/simplify.html">simplify</a>. One family member's wardrobe is still in need of decluttering.... hee, hee, hee.... By the end of this week, Jason will either be pleasantly surprised, or digging through the "donate" boxes, looking for a shirt that is older than our relationship. If we're placing bets, my money is on the latter. But, I'm going to cross my fingers and hope for the best. I've actually been meaning to make him a memory quilt out of old (seriously, some of these shirts are literally hanging on by a thread) t-shirts of his. This is beginning to sound like the kick in the patutie that I needed to finally get that started. <br />
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Stay tuned for before and after photos!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-52321134746465191102011-02-15T22:22:00.000-08:002011-02-15T22:24:05.226-08:00Finding My RhythmIt's been a while since I posted about my new school (okay, since I've posted about <em>anything</em>). It is keeping me busy in a wonderful way. I am able to use a lot of creativity at work and in preparing for work at home. How refreshing! I don't feel such a need for a creative outlet these days, because I am living it in my work life. Wow. I should share with you some of the things I am creating for work, and I will try to do that another day when I have more time (I need to finish my tea and get to sleep now). But, in the meantime...<br />
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Another waldorf thing, is rhythm. You might refer to it as "routine", and you probably know how much it helps to have one. This is especially true for children (those of you who have some or work with some know exactly what I'm talking about), and I'm finding that <em>I </em>am a happier camper these days now that I am knee deep in developing my own new rhythm. I'm feeling pretty fantastic, actually. It's nice. <br />
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In the kindergarten, we try to balance the day with "in" breaths and "out" breaths. An in breath is an activity that is more inward, thinking and reflection, calm, focused, requires a bit of concentration. An out breath is a more physical activity, releasing, outward. The in-out rhythm has a nice feel to it. In my classroom, it generally goes like this: circle, activity (nature walk, painting, beeswax modeling, craft, coloring, bread-making), inside play, snack, rest, outside play, story.<br />
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I am experimenting with rhythm in my personal life and remembering that I am quite a creature of habit. So, having a rhythm is very helpful to me! Not to say that the rhythm and I can't be flexible when we need to be, but that it provides me with a clear path of where I'm going and what is ahead of me each day, which sets my mind at ease. In trying to <a href="http://mamatave.blogspot.com/2011/01/simplify.html">simplify</a>, I am able to better follow my own rhythm and not get so distracted by the chaos that I see/feel around me, because the chaos (read: clutter) is slowly (but surely!) disappearing altogether or finding a home that is not in plain view of my procrastinating eyes.<br />
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So, I am trying to borrow some of my work rhythms and morph them into rhythms that will work for home life, too. In kindergarten, we have a snack schedule. Kids refer to the day of the week by what snack is being served--i.e. Monday is "rice day". Some of my colleagues have already utilized this technique at home for dinner preparation by instituting "taco Tuesday" or "Mexican Monday" or "soup Saturday"... that's not to say that is all they can eat on that day of the week, but I imagine it sure helps when Tuesday rolls around and you begin to ask yourself at 4:00 in the afternoon <em>oh, shoot, what am I going to make for dinner?...</em> You always have something in mind to quickly help you make the decision <em>oh, yeah, tacos! </em>I was thinking of instituting a similar rhythm for cleaning, but haven't been successful with a plan that I will stick to... yet.<br />
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I am curious, how do you use rhythm in your life? What rhythms have you found work really well for you?...your kids?...your family? I would love to hear from you, and then honor your success at maintaining a rhythm by borrowing your idea and trying it out for myself! ;-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-32134674040027972932011-01-22T21:10:00.000-08:002011-02-15T22:25:53.515-08:00Simplify.At my new school, the kindergarten faculty has a curriculum specialist (what a novel and wonderful idea!) who helps to guide us with her 30+ years of waldorf experience. I have a hard time swallowing criticism (even when constructive), but am finding that after I've chewed on it for a few days it is much easier. And, I even end up liking the taste of my new skills/technique after I've implemented the suggestion. The best piece of advice she's given me all year, is this: <em>simplify.</em> Of course, she was referring to my classroom, but it totally inspired me and I have taken it to heart at home as well. It is helping me to find my rhythm at both work and home, and life is slowly but surely feeling a bit easier because of it. <br />
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How do you simplify? <br />
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This is what she said when referring to our classroom cabinets: <br />
<em>Pull everything out.</em><br />
<em>Only put back what is useful and beautiful.</em><br />
<em>Simplify! Simplify! Simplify!</em><br />
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So far at home, I have implemented this strategy to my clothes closet and dresser drawers. This resulted in two large garbage bags of clothes being donated to charity, and I can now see that there is a red wall on the back of my closet. Huh. It's kind of nice. I can actually see all of my clothes. I don't pass by five shirts because I don't ever really want to wear a single one of them. It feels orderly, without clutter and chaos. I love it! <br />
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Such a simple way to feel good. And, really, why would you want anything in your closet (or anywhere else in your home, for that matter) that wasn't useful and beautiful? <br />
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I immediately moved on to tackle Anastasia's closet and dresser, and it is easier for her to put her own clothes away now. I am itching to purge J's closet, but he's not ready to let me. In time... In time... Or, if the Bear's make it to the Superbowl and he somehow manages to go see the game without us... (Go Bears!) In the meantime, I am going to attempt the living and family rooms... Oh boy!<br />
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<em>1/23/11 Edit: The Bears are not going to the Superbowl. But, I want you to know, it was not for lack of encouragement from our house!</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TTzA0bt3MZI/AAAAAAAABuE/hoV6dofQTtw/s1600/WeTried.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TTzA0bt3MZI/AAAAAAAABuE/hoV6dofQTtw/s320/WeTried.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-8595901237149340392011-01-03T22:04:00.000-08:002011-01-04T21:31:54.403-08:00Baby, it's cold outside!We're in a bit of a cold-snap here. Brrr! No better time to work on some of the felted wool jumpers I've had in mind, inspired by one of my students. Her mother made her a few of these that started as dresses when she was toddling, and as she's grown have become long shirts. I found some great wool/blend sweaters at a thrift store a few weeks ago and felted them immediately. One was actually a woman's vest, which felted enough that I didn't have to do any cutting and sewing at all. The others were womens' sweaters, which felted just right, so that I only had to cut off the sleeves and shape the arm and neck holes to fit just right. The sleeves could then be used to make wrist warmers. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRpJBWUP0OI/AAAAAAAABtY/M8kNQVu-s28/s1600/ResweaterVestWarmers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRpJBWUP0OI/AAAAAAAABtY/M8kNQVu-s28/s320/ResweaterVestWarmers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I was so pleased to find this sparkly green sweater, which made a perfect Christmas gift for my little munchkin. There are still enough sleeve bits left that I can make some sparkly wrist warmers for myself, too! <a href="http://mamatave.blogspot.com/2010/10/sew-what-holiday-edition-week-two.html">I made some a while back.</a> It is really easy to do. If you're going to make the vest, you might as well make the wrist warmers to match, too. Don't you think? Give it a try and let me know how it goes!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Update: Here is the only "action" photo I have so far. I didn't realise she'd put the vest on backwards until the night was nearly over... it was still cute! Here, she and her cousin are going camping in my parents' living room. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TSQCDgQx5dI/AAAAAAAABtk/WUX0SRIQHXE/s1600/SweaterVest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TSQCDgQx5dI/AAAAAAAABtk/WUX0SRIQHXE/s320/SweaterVest.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'll add more vest photos as I get them. There is a really sweet purple vest... </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-6680765201490615852010-12-31T23:59:00.000-08:002010-12-31T23:59:00.511-08:00Just say NO!Hey kids, this is not just a handy phrase for when someone offers you a hit off their crack pipe. It works for that, sure, and this phrase is useful in many other situtations as well. For example, when you have an idea of one more thing to do/make for a child's birthday party that is already tricked out as much as it needs to be,... when you already have three piles of things to fix/sew/refashion and you find something at the thrift store that would fit perfectly if you just took in the waist a bit,... when you see a plant that you really want to buy for your garden but you already have plants at home that are still sitting in their pots (not so) patiently waiting to be planted,... <br />
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Procrastination is a bad thing most of the time, especially when you are a person who tends to say, "Sure, I can do that!" Because my husband has requested that I learn how to say "no", I am going to try. This will be extra difficult, since it will be breaking a habit of many (all of my) years. But, I think it's about time I really put some effort into this. Seems like my life will be simpler, less cluttered, smoother, happier as a result. Those are nice things to look forward to! So, this is my resolution for the new year. I am going to leave it with just this one thing to work on. Looky there: I'm just saying "no" to excessive resolutions. Off to a good start!<br />
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I hope you have a healthy and blessed new year. Do you have a resolution?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191487695351662121.post-58328797787045941552010-12-28T11:51:00.000-08:002010-12-28T11:51:37.042-08:00Sew What?!! Holiday Challenge: An ornament for the treeThis is the last <a href="http://untilwednesdaycalls.blogspot.com/2010/09/sew-what-holiday-edition.html">challenge</a>. Maybe I will think twice before I commit to another thing that sounds really fun but I don't actually have the time for... well, <em>maybe</em> I will. Stranger things have happened, I'm sure. Plus, Jason has requested that I please learn how to say "no", so I really ought to try. Sounds like I have my first resolution for the new year!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRo6Wv1HkyI/AAAAAAAABtE/GmKF1DV-_pY/s1600/HolidayAngel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRo6Wv1HkyI/AAAAAAAABtE/GmKF1DV-_pY/s320/HolidayAngel.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The final challenge was an ornament for the tree. Is the angel considered an ornament? I'm going to say "yes" and have my sweet little angel count. She is a cornhusk angel that I bought, I don't know where, and knitted a skirt for her that matches our <a href="http://mamatave.blogspot.com/2010/12/sew-what-holiday-edition-trying-to.html">garland</a>. She's cute. And the little angel who places her on top of the tree every year is cute, too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRo93ZMdyiI/AAAAAAAABtM/sceks62bRTc/s1600/2006TreeAngel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRo93ZMdyiI/AAAAAAAABtM/sceks62bRTc/s320/2006TreeAngel.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRo-Ao-NKxI/AAAAAAAABtQ/GAUAWb49EyE/s1600/2007December+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRo-Ao-NKxI/AAAAAAAABtQ/GAUAWb49EyE/s320/2007December+021.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRo-FCT88-I/AAAAAAAABtU/D5SfDRZIvD8/s1600/OurTree+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRo-FCT88-I/AAAAAAAABtU/D5SfDRZIvD8/s320/OurTree+008.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRo9YLW3HXI/AAAAAAAABtI/1gnujUclTcw/s1600/XmasTree2009+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RDN4URq1VQI/TRo9YLW3HXI/AAAAAAAABtI/1gnujUclTcw/s320/XmasTree2009+059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This year's photo is on the camcorder, and I'm not sure how to get it out of there....! It is safe for you to just assume it is an equally cute photograph. ;-)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0