Exclusively Shiffler

About to Offically Move Sites....

2010-03-16T22:06:00.001-04:00

We're moved to thesleepytimegal.com.

Join us!

Saturday, Technically

2010-03-06T23:03:00.004-05:00

Okay, Okay, so I'm a little late with getting the new site up. It is 11:09pm in my neck of the woods so technically I stuck to my word about having the site up today.

So, check out the new site and leave a comment to enter into the giveaway. You have until Monday by noon (EST) to enter in to win one of these two totes. Good Luck! And enjoy the (we've been staying up late getting it presentable) site!

Hand Work and Warmth

2010-03-05T06:46:00.004-05:00

When a baby is born a special gift comes from Nanny. A gift that must take hours upon weeks to make--you can see it in every hand stitched detail.

Yesterday, Ainsleigh and Annabelle happily received their very own blankets. I know what this means for them: they will become their most prized possession.

Carried everywhere, it'll be their most valuable sleeping aid for the next four years. (That's at least where we are with Caroline's.)

It was a moment to celebrate together.

And a little sneak peak for tomorrow.... see you then!

Wanna Tote?

2010-03-04T08:21:00.004-05:00

This little tote has gotten me thinking: don't I need a tote to organize everything in my life?

I love the size, slightly awkwardly large. Perfect for random toys and crayons for occupying kids during church. And perfect for an overnight tote for face wash and makeup.

Oh, wait, I don't ever have any "overnights".

Either way, there are plenty of ways to fill this up.

Maybe one for the car, one for kids' trips...

If you love the tote, check back again this Saturday for a giveaway of one of these here totes, to celebrate the new blog with me!

(I'll be giving away 2 totes from my favorite fabrics!)

Merging

2010-03-01T20:37:00.007-05:00

The end of Eat Food Not Junk is just around the corner. For some time I've wanted the two blogs to merge and be one. Food is too much a part of our lives to write exclusively about it on another blog--I want all of our loves in one place. So really it isn't the end, it just found a new home.

Until then, here is a tasty chicken entre with a kick that we love. And if you're worried about the kiddies, don't. Tone down the spices or barely coat their strips.

Oven Baked Pecan-Crusted Chicken Fingers

Ingredients

1 cup pecan pieces
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons Essence, recipe follows
2 large eggs
1/4 cup olive oil
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut lengthwise into strips
Chopped parsley, garnish
Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the pecan pieces, bread crumbs, and Essence. Pulse for 1 minute to combine. Pour into a shallow dish.

In a bowl, beat together the eggs, olive oil and remaining 2 teaspoons of Essence. One at a time, dip the chicken into the egg mixture then dredge in the pecan mixture, shaking to remove any excess. Transfer to the baking sheet and bake, turning once, until the chicken is cooked through and the crust is golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the oven and transfer to 4 plates. Garnish with parsley and serve with the Honey Mustard Dipping sauce on the side.

*Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasonings):

2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

Yield: about 2/3 cup

Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce:

1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons Creole mustard or other hot whole-grain mustard
Pinch salt
Pinch cayenne, or to taste

In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients and stir well to combine. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use. (Honey-Mustard Dipping Sauce will keep, refrigerated in a covered non-reactive container, for 2 weeks.)

Yield: approximately 3/4 cup

(recipe taken from foodnetwork.com)

Anticipated Births

2010-02-28T21:52:00.003-05:00

Jude Michael Shiffler, my new nephew, was born last week in North Carolina (!) and...

drum roll please...

the new blog that Bobby has put all of his free time (what you're probably thinking is exactly right: he doesn't have much) into will be complete this week.

And to think I thought we were almost done with it back in September!? That's life with kids for ya!

It has been an ongoing project that Bobby has had to teach himself as he goes: I couldn't be anymore pleased with it or his dedication to me through it.

This Week in Pictures

2010-02-26T20:22:00.007-05:00

Not one single speck of cheese in that salad--still no dairy.

We're winding down these cold winter days staying indoors. Oh, but how we're looking forward to the upcoming sun in the evening, even if it still is cold outside.

Stay warm this weekend!

The First Born

2010-02-25T21:08:00.006-05:00

Caroline.

She has been invaluable this last year. Somewhere in the intensity of our lives she has stepped up to become my daily relief, runner of all-things baby, and peacemaker (i.e. giving Johanna what she want even if it's her turn to play with it over and over again).

Late afternoons are once again our time. Whether resting under her blankie together or literally running downstairs while the rest of the house sleeps to make something, it's one of our favorite times of the day.

Thus, the artsy clutch. Something I was recently inspired to finally try out for a special someone who can't even comprehend with her four year old mind what she does for me day in and day out.

It was a team effort, really. She got to design her fabric with whatever comes to a child's mind like, "I Luv You", "Coowl Sci" (Cool Sky), and green-haired hills with fabric markers.

And so the pleasing first child graciously thanked me, hugged me, and went along her way, as always, more in love with me than anything I make her.

How I never want to forget this season.

A Bedroom for Two

2010-02-23T20:20:00.009-05:00

All of my childhood I shared a room. At one point in high school with fewer children home, I claimed the basement room for myself. That was the first time I felt unsettled going to bed alone.

My girls pile on the bed and quietly enjoy being-- being so close to each other, being still in the safety of their own room, together.

Their room got another facelift from newborn photos hanging, diapers stacked, and soft baby animals scattered to big girl things. Well, just beds and a dresser, with expectations of bed making happening at least sometimes.

Clothes sometime make their way into their shared dresser, rarely folded but nicely laid inside; PJs on top, tops in the middle, and pants/skirts on the bottom.

And once the laundry enters their space, it's transformed into new uses. Much more creative uses than I would of come up with.

And yes, there's the struggles with bedtimes with two active girls that would rather be playing with the other than falling asleep.

But, oh, how it satisfies a Mommy's heart that her two loves love the safety and security found in their roommate.

Here We Go Again...

2010-02-22T22:37:00.005-05:00

Food. Stomach. Pain.

It's with me when I wake in the morning until nighttime. I miss having a life-- a real life that involves action, goals, dreams, and variety. If it weren't for feeding people, putting people down, and filling sippy cups I'd like to be on the couch all day.

{How I feel all the time, but without the smile!}

"Eat this, don't eat this, take this daily, have another scan..." around and around and around I go...

Today: I canceled my ultrasound and resisted filling the prescription.

Today: I took myself off dairy.

I'm finally taking this into my own hands since traditional medicine isn't cutting it. I'm so done with this seven year reoccurring sickness. I'm putting everything into a possible adult-onset food allergy.

Hello rice milk, goodbye innocent late-night glass of milk.

Think of me when you're dunkin'.

Some Girl Time

2010-02-21T10:54:00.002-05:00

How inspiring it is to be with friends who love using their hands to make special things for the people they love.

Thanks for coming last night everyone!

One of His Longer Trips

2010-02-19T09:31:00.004-05:00

Thank goodness for the partnership in marriage and parenting. While he was gone I increasingly felt like my authority as mother was withering away with the time.

His presence has restored that.

Now there is someone else to encourage Johanna to stay in her seat at dinner, keep her clothes on, at least try her peas, and of course, help me clear off the table.

Not one time have we come downstairs this long week to play or create. This evening I needed it.

To celebrate my independence from playing single parent, I had to do something with my hands that wasn't cooking, changing diapers, feeding, scrubbing, or calming.

Here's the result. I have a place in mind for this Mama and baby chick. (Funny that even in my creating, it often comes back to the same themes I love...)

"and how would you blog today?"

2010-02-17T21:24:00.004-05:00

Today.

I'd like to forget it.

Still no Bobby. Growing stomach pains with ultrasounds not soon enough.
And finally, I really lost it with my girls--more than once.

Upon going to bed, I discovered an email from my sister:

"And how would you blog today? For these are the days that challenge what we are and what we are fighting for. No one understands these days unless they are lived through and no appreciation or praise are given for the war of the day.

But we quietly continue our work, fighting for the next night and coming day, knowing that we will never give in and walk away.

love you,

Amylynne"

How will I blog about today?

My girls forgave me and gave me big wet kisses. I told them I'd be happier tomorrow. So I will.

Take a Peek Inside: The Library Dispute

2010-02-16T23:34:00.007-05:00

Some differences have risen over the interior design of the library.

Comments like, "It's a little abstract for me" and,

"I don't know how I feel having my face on the furniture" kind of comments.

I've been loving the challenge. Bobby and I have similar taste, but as he recently stated, "Our tastes are starting to veer (turn sharply; change direction abruptly) apart."

Yes, my taste is constantly changing, which is exactly why I want to live up every stage of my transformation.

The down low of the "extreme"room:

Couch: recovered with my Granny's fabric with staple gun.

Pillows: Appliqued our silhouettes from the etchings I did for our wedding invitations. (A bit of a challenge staring at a 1.5 inch head of my and Bobby.

Lamps: Colonial brass hand-me-downs I sprayed with pewter-looking metal spray.

Wall Hanging: repurposed canvas draped in fabric.

I prepared Bobby I would be taking a poll: so what do you think?

Remnants of the Weekend

2010-02-15T11:41:00.002-05:00

Traces of love scattered everywhere...

and piles everywhere to be cleaned, ink and all. Mondays are a bit overwhelming here. Especially when business trips are in their prime.

Let the motivation begin...

Unintentional Bangs

2010-02-13T21:57:00.005-05:00

There's a reason barrettes were chosen as the Valentine's Day memento this year:

shaggy heads are a constant here at the Shiffler home.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Take a Peek Inside: A Place to Create

2010-02-11T20:36:00.003-05:00

This scene is a familiar one: Caroline and Johanna silently cutting, pasting, drawing, and too eager in their creating to even sit down.

I love this scene. I've missed this scene. Now with a designated space, it's back.

The Art Room is conveniently down the hall from the playroom and my sewing counter. So technically, the girls and I could go for days without coming upstairs, except for food and seeing Bobby, that is.

The last two snowed-in days they've made styrofoam men with popsicle legs, love letters, fringed paper, alligators, and colored grids.

I try to mix the wall hangings with mostly their works and some of mine--the ones that are bright and hopefully inspiring. And of course, hung at their level.

One of the best parts of this room is that I only spent $68 on shelves (bought a piece of plywood that Lowes cut down for me) plus .44 cents on new bulletin board tacks total. No other cost. I've been saving peach jars for storing materials, asked for and received a children's easel for Christmas (thanks, Mom Shiff) and other than that, repurposed bins and such for the room.

Now, what you are not seeing in this post is the back side of the room: my art space. Piles of randomness all over the place.

I guess it's like the thrill that comes from cleaning someone else's house: it dies once you return to your own house to clean.

A Special Garland

2010-02-10T18:52:00.005-05:00

I've had my mind on making something to hang every Valentine's Day-week. I put this together last night once the kids were down--so it doesn't require too much time.

I picked a hand full of fabrics and began cutting hearts (double up your fabric to get a front and back) and varying sizes.

Once you have a pile cut out,

experiment with different decorative stitches. Above is the stitch setting for the following stitch.

Stitch the front and back of each heart together. Trim.

Beginning at one end of narrow bias tape, sew a seam down the middle, about a foot worth. Now add a heart: sew 1/2 an inch of a corner of the heart and backstitch. Trim. Now move the heart and bais tape along and sew the other corner about a 1/2 inch to secure. Backstitch.

Continue until all of the hearts are sewn onto the bias tape, making sure to stitch the bias tape in between each heart and finishing with about a foot of just stitched bias tape, in order to hand the garland.

It is nice to have it hanging in the kitchen because it's keeping me on my toes to remember Valentine's Day is Sunday!

An Occasion

2010-02-09T15:00:00.004-05:00

Today I did something I've wanted to do for a long time. Reintroduce these strong, healthy girls to the many NICU nurses from 9 months ago. Ainsleigh and Annabelle did their part well: smiled, cooed, and kept the attention of about 7 nurses that came from their stations to see the "grown" Shiffler twins.

I couldn't believe it. There I stood in the exact place that used to represent everything new, scary, intimidating, and unknown, with my cheery, chubby, and aware almost 12 month old girls.

We've experienced the most hardship and exhaustion in our family this year. And today, standing there while nurses smiled down on my babies, it hit me: We've arrived. We're in the exact spot that I've told myself over and over again we would arrive at, all along desperately hoping I was right.

Today I looked down at Ainsleigh sucking on her new toy, and the sentiment returned when I realized that in assembling it last evening, many of the ribbons I chose were the exact ribbons I saved from their shower gifts.

That little taggie blankie now means something more. It connects their beginnings with the closure of the difficult early months. Active, predictable, playful girls are here to stay.

We've arrived. We've definitely arrived.

Exactly How It Happened

2010-02-06T18:11:00.005-05:00

Anticipation.

How it always ends up.

The mystery shoveler-- really it's only Bobby with a Romanian rabbit fur hat he loves... I just wonder what the neighbors think.

We're smart--we stay inside where it's warm.

Somehow unpacking the garage never happened. Again.

Snow dinner.

Post dinner run.

And back again.

Just Waiting...

2010-02-05T20:54:00.002-05:00

...for the apparently huge winter storm of the year to hit and snow us in all weekend.

I'm quite thrilled. Boxes in the garage might finally find a home. All of the family's clothes piled in the corner of my room, clean mind you, might get put away.

Then again, it will be a long weekend. We'll see what really gets done... this odd woman (yes, me) is getting a kick out of painting on pants, for goodness sake! Where are my priorities??

Teething Blues

2010-02-03T22:49:00.006-05:00

Teething times three (yes, Johanna's molars, too) creates an interesting situation for me. But not an entirely new situation for me. It just means I become much more needed than the other very "needed" days.

So we've adapted this week. The neediest child sits on Mommy's lap while Caroline is coaxed to cheer up the ones next in line. She and I are a good team.

So these pants were sewn for that special helper whom I've been promising them to.

Cropped and lace detailed--perfect for the coming spring. But the season wouldn't make any difference to her. On went the rain boots and the outfit was complete.

And while I was making her pants...

the little ones were needing a pick-me-up, you know, teething their first teeth and all.

Some are here to stay and others will find their home else where.

Write Now

2010-02-02T21:23:00.006-05:00

With the great innovations of the last century, pen and paper are seldom used in modern day correspondences.

To sit down and write a letter means having the paper, pen, penmanship, and real thoughts to share. It means thinking through your thoughts before they are passed from mind to pen.

Write. And write some more, I'll tell my children. Write your thoughts and send them. Send a note, write a thank you, grow with a cousin miles and miles away through a personal letter.

This writing tray (which is a resurrected Amazon box) holds a stash of homemade cards, envelopes, stamps, and pen; everything all in one place to inspire writing.

Some of my favorite cards:

Sometimes emailing is too easy to communicate by. Too impersonal. At least in this household I want to spend some quiet afternoons writing, the old fashioned way, my feelings and actually using my mailbox for outgoing mail instead of just for bills.

100 Some Photos

2010-02-01T20:22:00.004-05:00

After sorting through literally thousands of photos from the year 2009, I've chosen my all time favorites. Most of them made it into the "favorites" because they visually speak of childhood and innocence. So of course, most of them are photos of my children thriving and discovering last year.

I have a plan for all of these photos, many of which I loved so much I ordered multiples of.

Some made it into frames, like I'd mentioned before.

The rest have a very specific purpose. One which is almost ready to be revealed except for my part, which will take some possible gluing, sewing, or something to assemble a suitable box. (Any guesses?)

All the while, there are new memories being made, even now, with picnics by the fire.

To be continued...

Oh, the Places You'll Go

2010-01-28T21:26:00.003-05:00

Do you remember that Dr. Seuss' book-- "Oh, the Places You'll Go?" That is what this pictorial fabric reminds me of.

So the playroom. There is so much love in that room I can't stand it! I mean, I am more in love with that room than the four girls combined. And for good reason. Because this, below, is technically a part of the playroom.

Kids push baby strollers and cook with play food while I am singing to my heart's content so close to them, stitching away.

A couple little projects for this room: this cute and yet, odd looking creature of a bookend. The bottom is stuffed with beans and a painted on face completes it. I would of liked to make fifteen of these and just placed them around the house, but Bobby wasn't too up on the idea.

And framing Caroline's portrait of her and her best friend Johanna had to be placed right next to their photo together. Of course, at little people height--this is their room, after all.

Why Can't I Be Out There?

2010-01-26T18:52:00.003-05:00

So much to explore in rubber boots after a good rain. So much so that I wish I had rubber boots.

First Thing in the Morning

2010-01-22T15:05:00.005-05:00

Structure in life does a lot for me: I can do things I love if I'm creative enough with my time, I can cook and bake for my family the way I've always dreamed of doing, and mostly, I feel confident. Like I can balance all aspects of my life.

This structure, of course, comes in seasons. Right now, we're it an all time high since the move. Settled in a new place, two daily naps I can expect my babies will take, they're eating three meals a day, playing and rolling until they're tuckered out, etc. All of these elements have given me the structure I've longed for.

One of the most exciting parts of the day for me is in the morning. After breakfast, getting dressed, and the likes, we're all off to the basement for a time. Kids play, babies suck on anything within a foot of them, and I can run around and organize or sew.

Sew. It really is therapy. I pull fabric from my shelves, get input from the girls while they "cook", and I can whip something together. There is always a running list of things to make for children, friends, and our home.

Of course, vinyl sewn on fabric for this high chair mat. Super easy.

Press the back of your fabric to the vinyl, to get both sets of materials wrinkle free.

Sewn together, using tissue paper on the top layer to keep the vinyl from dragging. No fancy binding necessary. I think it would of taken away from the bold fabric.

And it is an easier size to clean than those store bought highchair mats. And talk about super instant gratification to start and finish by the time lunch comes around!

Grand Opening

2010-01-21T09:26:00.005-05:00

The first customers arrived about half past 5 and were seated upon arrival.

Orders were taken and meals prepared.

The head chef at the Blueber Restaurant was pleased with her menu and service last night.

There was a line wrapping around the basement staircase of hungry customers waiting to take a peek inside the newest establishment.

Now this customer wasn't really served. She sucked on forks and recently pressed table linens.

I'm not quite sure who the dish girl is, but whoever it is will be up late cleaning up from the grand opening.

Try your fancy-- the Blueber Restaurant is becoming the talk of the town.

A Girl Grows Up

2010-01-19T15:14:00.004-05:00

There comes a time for a little girl when they all of a sudden talk, walk, and gesture like a real girl. Like a girl who is subconsciously dramatizing life as a woman someday.

Sewing something for Caroline with delicate lace and more mature print did the trick.

She still is a four year old, for goodness sake.

I love the way the hair kerchief is so feminine, drawing attention to the hairline and eyes. My style continues to deepen like today, when bold, fresh, and modern won't satisfy but classic, vintage, aged, and delicate will.

I'm sure you'll see more of my sewing inspired by this boo k and its whimsical, peasant approach. I could definitely do less vibrant and more subtle.

Take a Peek Inside: A Place to Sew

2010-01-18T23:38:00.002-05:00

I have a new inspiration board for my new space. It reminds me a lot of my Granny, not only because I used her '70s knit fabric but it gives me a feminist woman-power feel. Maybe that will push me to do as I've done tonight, and stay up late just because I can. Now there-- that's woman power.

I thought you'd be interested in seeing my sewing area the way it usually looks, not tidy and cutesy, but definitely lived in. Piles of fabric, trimmings, paint (which really isn't supposed to be there), many half started projects, batting, and a hammer and nails.

I'm still hanging things around the corner from my sewing space in the kids' playroom. Now that has been the funnest room, by far, to plan and decorate. Still not quite ready to reveal.

But these are the pillows I made for the playroom. Thankfully there's still some of this crazy fabric left.

Do Something

2010-01-16T21:40:00.003-05:00

The news about Haiti has really humbled me, made me see how wrapped up in my little world I can get.

One moment you're moody about complaining kids, fussy babies, and traveling husband, the next minute you're reevaluating your whole existence, your healthy family, safe and warm home, and clean food, and abundance at that, in your cupboards.

Then you feel helpless. You feel distant from those suffering and yet, so close, as you have humanity in common, and with that, the ability to fall in love, to fail and succeed, to give birth, to find joy in the simple, to find hope in a new spring... and the list goes on.

And so humanity must act because of those precise commonalities. And so I ask you to do something. Spend a few bucks to make hygiene kits that are currently being sent to Haiti, donate money towards food, water, temporary shelter. Teach your children--about humanity, about giving, even if they are just pennies and nickels being saved up for a rainy day.

Do Something.

Take a Peek Inside: Dining In

2010-01-13T15:45:00.006-05:00

This is our first real formal dining room. A place that is far enough from the kitchen counter that you could still fake a semi-clean house if company stops by unannounced and dinner was never put away.

These chairs make this room. They were bought by my in-laws in Amish country, right here in our own Lancaster, Pa., from an Amish schoolhouse. They've recently been passed down to us, and thrilled owners are we!

Solid wood chairs don't get any better than this. They creak when you shift your weight and have minor wear and tear which only enhance their beauty and background.

My architectural paintings have a home once again and fill the long space on the wall well.

In Fung Shui design, red is the ideal color to paint a dining room as it encourages conversation. It sure encourages a ton of chatter from the many little people during meals. Bobby and I barely get a word in edge-wise.

White platters and lots of them are some of my favorite entertaining and dining-ware.

Family and food feel more sophisticated now--like our hamburger dinners have been elevated 10 fold. I'm loving that.

Two Baby Girls Coming

2010-01-11T20:21:00.005-05:00

Not mine. Two sisters in-law both having their first girls is something to celebrate. And we did.

Fun times were had by hopefully all.

I decided against the usual sewing projects I do for showers and did what I've done all week: paint.

Can you tell I'm loving turquoise these days? After painting Lynn's nursery artwork and hanging it on my wall for a moment I felt secure about doing that grand size painting in all turquoise. I knew Lynn's baby room had white walls, too.

Little baby Sadie will be dreaming in a pick and brown accented room, so white canvas and brown and pink highlights was a no brainer.

And talk about a full house. There were at least 20 adults and that's not including children.

I've always thought that every baby coming into the world deserves a party. This was quite a party--thanks to everyone that helped out!

Take a Peek Inside: the Living Room

2010-01-09T20:55:00.008-05:00

One inspiration: the ocean. Crisp whites, cool colors, and lots of natural textures. All along I've wanted to create a primary living space that is reminiscent of slow days at the beach and it's relaxing beach house. But the space has to be modern at the same time.

Combining beach house and modern would mean intertwining the two themes with a new piece of art for the space.

So I spend many hours yesterday painting, summoning the big girls to watch Pollyanna so I could, and late hours completing this. (It's based on a photo I took visiting Rome with Bobby of Bernini's angel sculptures lining the Ponte Sant'Angelo.)

I switched out dark curtains for crisp, linen-want-to-be curtains. Very beachy.

Our new couch. A great neutral color that compliments the blues throughout the room.

Ask Bobby--I've switched out the mantle pieces daily. I think I'll like this for a while. I wanted a bit of color against the white wall, but not too much since the blue canvas was large and bold. I painted three recently purchased Costco apples just so, so that Caroline's art could lean against the apples without too much business. I love how the apples kind of float against the white wall.

And lastly, my "faking" it. I told you I would be doing that for today's baby shower. That's the cool retro modern fabric from IKEA that will be covering our newly acquired Danish Modern chairs. Not upholstered yet, just nicely tucked in to create the illusion that I spent a lot of time measuring and sewing them. Faking it doesn't hurt.

More on the swingin' double shower for another time. I'm beat.

Take a Peek Inside: Frames

2010-01-07T20:16:00.004-05:00

There is something about beginning life again in a new home full of new walls, corners, and little crannies that begs for fresh ideas you've always wanted to try, but haven't had the excuse to.

You've always heard that paint is the easiest and cheapest way to change up a room, I would add wall hangings to first runner up.

I've been gathering interesting frames for the last month. Some new, some repurposed. By repurposed I mean like taking out Caroline's first year photo with me and replacing it with new life, life now: her incredible soft/oil pastel piece which depicts her own species of flowers including pinkies, orangies, and blueblees. (see above)

I've always hung my childrens' artwork in the typical places like the fridge or on a bulletin board. Now I'm doing what I've always wanted to do: framing their art and placing it with the other things that I value in my living space, like the envied space on the mantel, for example. Framed behind glass for all to see and admire, including that particular artist.

A floating frame is an all around great frame for changing out their art through the seasons of their creating, like Johanna's first use of real paints. That's a green and yellow sun up there in that corner of her artwork, in case you were wondering.

Besides framing artwork, there are lots of recent photos I'm planning to develop, to change up what we look at day in and out. I love the past, the photos from the past, but life keeps moving. I want myself and my children to stay connected to life most recently lived as it keeps the memories real and close, close enough to still encourage conversation about the image and its life. And I'm tiring of the constant black and white trend everywhere. Bring on the super saturated photos of kids playing and intimately close portrait shots where you can see deep into your child's eyes.

A small change: Take down a framed photo you've had up for ions and do something risky-- change out the photo to something fresh, recent, artsy, something that triggers happy emotions. Then hang it up again, step back, and let the photo inspire you a bit more in your daily life as you pass by it over and over again.

Pieces in their Places

2010-01-05T23:41:00.003-05:00

I've been so bummed lately to not be able to photograph daily life and the process of transforming a house into a home. Bobby saved the day by finding the camera's battery charger tonight and now I feel whole with the camera not more than a few feet away from my glance.

Home. Home. I've longed to take you on a tour of our home. So many lists of future projects which mostly involve fabric, canvases, and paint, make me smile all day, happily looking forward to the moments I can transform.

We have some exciting new acquisitions and some new purchases that require clean hands at all times.

I've got a room by room tour coming up, with some how-to projects that will get you running to your nearest IKEA to buy out their incredibly mod fabrics. That fabric there still has my head spinning.

But at midnight, the dishes are finally done, the mountain of trash from our entire move is piled up outside, and we're beat. Much is still needed to be unpacked and at least "faked" by Saturday for this house's debut: a baby shower for two friends. Nothing is more thrilling (and motivating) for me than an exciting deadline!

Eat through the New Year

2010-01-01T23:24:00.004-05:00

A new year's project for you to give or eat.

Hope you all are living up this last weekend before work begins, laundry actually becomes a necessity, and the 75% off "after-Christmas" sale's racks are all totally deplete. We've made quite a bit of progress with the unpacking-thing. If I could just find my camera's battery charger I'd send you folks some pictures. There is still a mountain of boxes I'm trying to avoid in the garage and that's where it's hiding--wish me luck that I come out alive.

And the Winner is...

2009-12-30T21:22:00.006-05:00

So before I reveal the winner, let me say I've LOVED seeing all of the imaginative creations you wonderful people have come up with! Here are just some highlights of the submissions:

Character aprons...

A bedtime bag complete with books, PJs, stuffed animal, and bath toy...

and homemade marshmallows with cocoa packaged tightly with a bit of peppermint by Christine.

Baby doll diapers...

a rainbow ribbon wand...

an adorable fishing set...

and crayon roll by Kate.

Lynn's alphabet blocks and ABC tote.

Cute nativity...

Fashionable flower headband...

Colorful tote...

Little girl's purse...

and character pillows by Zeelightful.

Repurposed jeans for a sewing notions roll...

and quiet book by Cindy.

Seeing everyone's projects was inspiring! I want to try some of your ideas... be prepared. But the homemade Christmas gift that was most inspiring, unique, and interesting was:

A child's kitchen made from a worn desk. Awesome! Kate is the winner! The crayons will be on their way Kate, just drop me a line with your address at nicole.shiffler@gmail.com.

Thanks everyone!

One Interesting Christmas Week

2009-12-26T21:16:00.004-05:00

We made a quick decision in a matter of hours to move one day earlier to avoid this white, flaky stuff.

After throwing loose socks, books, and peanut butter-randomness into boxes and lots of lifting and moving, Saturday came and so did the snow. But we were safe, somewhat settled, and kept warm with cocoa--sadly one of the few food items we did bring from the old place in the rush.

Alas, stockings were hung, a Christmas Eve birthday celebrated,

and Christmas came with simple gifts and longings for familiarity . During all of the festivities, we've tried with all of our might to make these new walls home. We're getting there. We're beginning to feel peace from all of the commotion.

All I want is my sewing machine to find a home, to find matching socks, and to take a walk in my new neighborhood at night and feel like its mine. Then I will have arrived.

2009-12-25T14:43:00.001-05:00

Two Things...

2009-12-17T20:14:00.004-05:00

1) I'm going to show you how to make this cool "On the Go" case with customized music as a gift.

2) I'm extending the giveaway until December 29th, since some of you have voiced your concern of revealing gifts on your blog to the recipients of your gifts before Christmas. Good thinking. Once again, post your creative concoctions of gifts no later than noon EST the 29th.

Now, on for last minute gift making.

The Concept:

Customized CD(s) of music for the car stored in a slender, tidy carry case to be taken on trips, thrown in a bag, and the likes, with slots for additional favorite music to be added to.

My Particular Customized CDs:

1) My older girls and I singing our favorite songs, nursery rhymes, Caroline making up songs as she goes, and made up stories about the people we're making the CD for.

2) Some of my favorite children's books read aloud.

3) One classic story, like Little Red Riding Hood, read aloud with the prominent character's name changed to one of the recipients. (ie. "Little Red Riding Johanna")

Make the CD:
Choose your material-- books, songs, hand written stories to read aloud.

If you have a Mac, use Garage Band to record. If you have a PC, check out what recording software works best.

I played around and found "Gospel Choir" in the Vocals section of Garage Band to sound the most like a professional recording.

You can see I wanted a slight echo and even more reverb. (I mean, Bobby found the perfect set up and I went with it!)

Then record. Edit mistakes and crying children in the background if necessary and then cut the CD.

Now when it comes to the carrying case, or the "On the Go" case, I'm going to give the quickest directions ever because of the mountain of boxes glaring at me in the corner, waiting to be packed.

Take a rectangle piece of felt and line up two smaller rectangles of felt, as seen above, and pin. Those will hold the CDs. Take a CD and position to get an accurate placement. Stitch the three sides. Done.

Now layer the felt to the fabric to the vinyl, which are all the same size, might I mention. You will pin your coordinating seam binding to the three layer. Stitch carefully, as the vinyl will sometimes stick to the machine. The less contact the vinyl has with the plastic machine as it passes through, the better.

Machine stitch the two sides of Velcro for the flap.

And there you have it: a pleasing, very personalized present for children, family and friends. If you can't sew a case, use cardstock and make a card with a pocket on the inside to slide the CD in and out. Then you can print your playlist and paste it to the opposite flap.

We're thinking easy here; do what time permits. And with that, I'll meet up with you again in a slightly distant place where there is, thankfully, no more shag carpet.

Get Your Craft On

2009-12-15T08:29:00.003-05:00

I know many of you are scrambling with 9 days left until Christmas! Remember, you have until this Friday, the 18th at noon EST to post here with a link to your blog of your homemade creations to win this.

Get creating!

Preparations

2009-12-12T09:58:00.004-05:00

Caroline's handwriting, especially the mixing of upper and lower case letters, puts a smile on my face.

So many good things are transpiring. My burdens are being lightened as the babies learn to put themselves to sleep. Huge. I'm feeling renewed confidence in myself and loving real time with my other children, like wrapping presents and reading lots of books.

And to top it off, Christmas will be spent in our new home. Good things, indeed.

Personalized Notebook

2009-12-10T18:25:00.007-05:00

This week's Giving Guide project is one of those gifts you could make a million ways, based on your style, decorative paper and embellishments. It is a personalized notebook. It is small enough to slide into a woman's handbag, be toted around by a child, and versatile enough for grocery lists, journaling, sketching, practicing the ABCs, and to-do lists. This a great project to let your children help along side you for their favorite teacher or friend for Christmas.

Materials:

12 x 12 decorative paper/cardstock
8.5 x 5ish scrap coordinating paper
13 pieces of copy paper
stapler
ribbon, trim or rickrack
Velcro
hot glue gun
craft glue
button or embellishment

Cut copy paper in half, width wise.

Cut 12 x 12 paper to fit flush to the copy paper to become the cover. You'll need to work a nice crease around the card stock on the front and back of the binding to fit the cover perfectly slug. Cut excess cardstock off the lip of the notebook.

With the paper inside the cardstock cover aligned well, staple in a row through all of the paper. If the staple doesn't come through all the way, remove some paper to fit your stapler's capacity.

Now fit your scrap piece of paper to the binding to cover the staples. Again, work the paper to fit the binding snug by creating a nice crease around the binding.

Use your good adhesive to adhere the front and back of the scrap paper to the cardstock cover.

Glue down your rickrack or ribbon, securing slightly to the inside of the cardstock cover.

Cut out two small pieces of Velcro.

Glue one side to the front.

Take some sturdy ribbon, about 3.5 inches long, and cut with pinking sheers to avoid raveling.

Glue ribbon to the inside of the back cover with a good adhesive, lined up with the Velcro from the front cover.

Adhere the other Velcro piece to match. Hot glue will adhere the best to the ribbon since it is essential fabric. Use hot glue to adhere the decorative button on the ribbon as well.

Two Hours Later...

Somebody thinks it's theirs. We'll see.

Burning the Midnight Oil

2009-12-08T23:57:00.003-05:00

Okay, well, it is really 11:56pm.

The first snow is taking place as I type...

I think I'm calling it quits for the night. I have a feeling I'm going to be dreaming in blue/white gingham.

Poppies for Johanna, a Gift for You

2009-12-07T11:21:00.012-05:00

Christmas presents. I love the idea of making gifts for Christmas. The whole time you are planning, sketching, and creating, in the back of your mind is the constant image of that person seeing your creation for the first time. Not only is it personal, but it connects you, literally, to that person. Nothing compares, even if it costs just as much as something you could of bought.

My goal is something homemade by Mommy for each child. I bought such incredible Wizard of Oz fabric for the big girls that I might go a little crazy, if time permits. If that's the case, there is a possibility the babies might be forgotten. Focus... focus...

I started, rushed, and "finished" this blanket on Saturday during my "Mommy is making your Christmas presents downstairs" time. Now that you see the lovely photos, I will immediately be ripping every stinkin' stitch out.

Not the best part to rush on: the binding, but that's life with a few hours to start and finish a project. Now I've learned, since it'll take a good hour to rip out/fix my initial rushing!

Good luck to many of you that are also making memories while you make special gifts. Please post your homemade gifts on your blog, comment on mine with a link to yours, and I'll pick my favorite homemade gift by the 18th of December, and I'll send you a set of these just in time for stuffing stockings!

A set of four of my favorite homemade coloring crayons just for little hands. Start submitting! Many entries per person welcome.

Give Me A Moment

2009-12-04T20:27:00.003-05:00

Journal Excerpt from December 4th 2009:

"The last couple months have been different. I feel almost deceived thinking that life was going to get easier as the twins got older. I thought that made sense.

I am frequently asking Bobby out of desperation, "Why is it so hard? When will we get a break?" There are real tough times over here. Night times when three children need our attention at once. Evenings are constant and exhausting until everyone is asleep. Mornings just remind me of the day to come. And afternoons, I can be found with tears after I've given everything I have and must keep giving until I hear Bobby come home.

Because of all of this recently, I've discovered Bobby as the most incredible relief to me. He repairs me and patches me up. He makes jokes until he gets a grin. And he keeps listening to me in my sorry state as I sound entirely bleak. He believes. He hopes that life will get easier. He does this all so steadfastly, without getting caught up in the frustration of it all.

Bobby, you save me everyday..."

No-Sew Bulletin Boards

2009-12-03T15:02:00.006-05:00

This is a gift I love to make for people, and this season, some special nieces' new bedrooms. They are bulletin boards, but much more attractive than those cork ones.

They can be hung in living areas, like the above board in my home, which I keep recent photos and invitations hung on. This variation uses ribbon and buttons to secure mementos.

I'm going to show you how to make this more simplistic variation which I'm slightly partial to these days.

Supplies:

preferred size canvas
batting (sized to cover the frame of the canvas' back)
fabric (ditto)
staple gun
ribbon for trim
push pins

Place the fabric wrong side up, then the batting, then the canvas front squarely. Now you're looking at the back of the canvas. Begin stapling the length of one side, leaving about an inch from the corners.

Continue around all four sides pulling the fabric taut before stapling.

For the corners, peel back the fabric and snip off the excess batting.

Pull the fabric taut and staple down the corner.

I like to staple one piece of coordinating ribbon to draw the eye to something--you artists know about the golden third. Now add a handful of push pins (I actually use long sewing pins because they push through the canvas easily and stay well.)

There you have it: a great gift for any room of a house. And children love these to keep photos, drawings, and little treasures.

Cardboard Box Christmas

2009-11-30T17:13:00.003-05:00

It's hard knowing how much to really get into Christmas this year. How much to decorate, how much to pull out from the Christmas bins in time to turn around and pack it all up again. At this point, we're even contemplating a tree.

We'll be leaving yet another home this year. My usual day dreaming of hanging stockings and Christmas morning seem clouded with visions of boxes around every corner on that anticipated day.

But this is a good move; a very good move. A mile away, the same jogging route, a much larger space to make life easier for all of us. My mind hasn't thoroughly wrapped around the idea of another move, though. I'm sure it will hit right about the time that the Christmas holiday and its festivities pick up--"Oh right, I should be packing!"

After two moves already this year, you'd think we'd be good at it. Throw two babies in the mix and you've got the most memorable New Year's ever.

Some of My Favorite Moments...

2009-11-28T21:34:00.003-05:00

Grandma reading to eager grandchildren,

uncles taking in their niece,

Annabelle showing off her baby skin while eating from a spoon,

buff brothers holding chubby babes,

an expectant father lightening my load,

sharing my family with friends that feel like family,

and lots...

and lots of smiles.

Good conversation, laughs, abundance of food, and,

tryptophan.

Outdoor Blanket as a Gift

2009-11-24T15:36:00.007-05:00

So I didn't get to post anything from my Giving Guide last week. You can blame it on the two baby heavy-weights; they are sucking the life out of me with their lack of sleeping schedule. But they are so cute and chubby, I won't hold it against them.

Back to the Giving Guide, here's a fun gift for families with children, couples, newlyweds, college students, campfires, tailgating, etc. So I guess really anyone could use this that has a bottom to sit on.

I have one I keep in my car for trips to the park and such. They are indispensable.

So here's the easy version of the blanket. Find a durable fabric (home decor, corduroy, or the likes) for the back piece, and then a coordinating piece of fabric for the top layer. If you want to skip measuring (which I did with this particular blanket), find 60 inch wide fabric pieces at the store and just cut them length-wise based on how long you want the blanket.

Once you have both pieces of fabric cut, simple sew straight lines down the width of the blanket, about 9 inches to 12 inches apart. Now sew the edges together, less then 1/2 inch from the edge.

Once the two pieces of fabric are sewn together, pull out the bias tape. It should take about 2-3 packs of this awesome stuff. Fit the sewn edge into the folded bias tape, and go to town: sew the four sides together inside the bias tape.

I like using the zig zag stitch.

For corners, cut the bias tape flush to the blanket. Then start the bias tape again on the new side with the raw edge tucked in for a clean look.

When you've completed the blanket, sew a seam down about 3 feet of the remaining bias tape, fold in half, and sew that mid section (an inch worth) to the binding on the blanket. This will let you wrap the bias tape around once and close by tying it with a bow. First decide how you want the blanket folded to know where to place the binding ribbon.

I love this outdoor blanket because it doesn't require batting. It rolls up beautifully, too, which is my favorite aspect of the blanket.

Midnight under the Moon

2009-11-21T07:37:00.004-05:00

Thanks, everyone, for encouraging the addiction... until June.

Indoors

2009-11-17T22:13:00.002-05:00

I think I've read Harry the Dirty Dog twenty times today. And caressed hot foreheads even more.

I never expected the quiet, serene atmosphere in my home these past days from illness. Life has slowed down almost to a complete halt while children abandon toys, running, and play for rest, closeness, and stories.

Although I dread sickness entering our fast-paced little world here, it forces me to sit on the couch much of the day and just be with my children, while life moves on without us.

I kinda like that for a change.

Vinyl Bibs and Vinyl Siding

2009-11-14T21:21:00.004-05:00

I've waited all week to do something with my new stash of fabric. Finally last night, once absolutely silent, I crept downstairs, pushed away piles of who knows what on my table, and began cutting, piecing, and sewing. There was lots of ripping and redoing. And I learned I need to sew over tissue paper.

My obsession? Vinyl. Finding a way to sew vinyl onto all of my favorite fabrics, that is. Vinyl--which takes rice cereal, lasagna, and wash after wash. I'm hooked. It also is a far superior approach to art aprons.... hmmmmm.... give me some time. I've got to find some more time. I think I may be on to something.

And speaking of vinyl siding, we found our next home.

I Love Color!

2009-11-12T10:42:00.009-05:00

Here' s week two of the holiday Giving Guide: happy creating!

Take these 574,862 bits and pieces of crayons,

Peel and cut into pea-size pieces,

arrange by color, or let your excited four year old sort them,

then put pieces in your molds- whether muffin tins (which make round crayons), or other metal molds you have, fill roughly an inch high or less.

We did some "assorted" ones and others were a particular color scheme. I broke out my new brioche tins, which, needless to say, haven't been used since I got them two birthdays ago.

Bake the muffin tin (or individual molds on a cookie sheet) on 170 degrees until the wax is melted down to liquid state, about 20-30 minutes or so. Pull them out to let them set a bit and then into the freezer to make it easier for them to pop out of the molds.

Resilient, gorgeous, colors in chunky crayon-form is the end result. Depending on how you hold the crayon when coloring delivers totally different colors on the paper. They're so colorful you'll wish you could eat them--at least Johanna tried.

This Week in Pictures

2009-11-09T14:34:00.005-05:00

Bobby's birthday: he was pretty much gypped. Two days after the fact (and the celebrated prescription for antibiotics for me!) we actually gave him a nice birthday dinner. Happy 29th!

Don't be fooled by those chubby cheeks and dry nose; they were all sick, too.

Thankfully the weekend brought events away from the house; a missed baby shower for family gatherings...

kisses from never-before-met aunts were enjoyed...

and the most priceless photo of all: Ayumi opening a very special gift from all of the family for a very special person and new home.

Now it's Monday. I had to do something exciting this morning to make up for the drag of last week. Peeling a million broken crayons was it. You'll see the exciting tale soon.

Posh Purse

2009-11-03T15:01:00.007-05:00

I got the idea for this purse/diaper bag from my friend who made an adorable purse for Johanna with gathered sides. This purse can be used for a child's dress up, as a baby doll's diaper bag, or make one for yourself for a night out on the town. Just make it bigger!

Start by cutting the fabric roughly an inch wider then the size purse you're wanting in the end: two pieces for the exterior (like a home decor or sturdier fabric) and two pieces for the lining. I cut the pieces all like the letter "D" turned on its side; straight for the top, or opening of the bag, and a half circle for the purse itself.

Start with the exterior fabric pieces and pin them together. Put your machine's dial for length of fabric on 4 to baste to make the gathers. Simply start sewing from the straight line of the top down one side of the bag, following the curse of the bag, all the way to the other side, about 1/2 an inch from the edge. DO not back stitch the beginning of the seam or the end.

The fun part: as seen above, pull on one of the pieces of thread from either end and watch a small gather appear! Keep adjusting the gather down the purse and on both sides until you're satisfied.

Now you need to sew that gather in place. Sew a seam, after adjusting the length of your thread to about 2.5 again, and sew close to the gathered seam all around the curved part of the purse. Trim excess.

Voila! the gathered sides! Do the exact same process to the lining fabric.

Place the right side of the lining inside the exterior's pocket you've just sewn (right side of exterior fabric should be inside the pocket). Now pin your ribbon, row of sequins, or whatever you care to use as the strap, to the two ends of the bag, the ribbon being between the lining and exterior pieces. Make sure at least an inch will be sewn into the seam for security.

Sew at 5/8" all the way around the straight top of the purse, connecting the exterior and lining. Leave a two inch unsewn section at the top to pull the right sides of both fabrics through. Take the two inch opening on the top and pin it inwards for now.

You should have a mostly complete bag now.

Now you want to adjust the wide mouth of the purse. Pin the excess fabric on both the front and back of the top of the purse like the photo above. Sew a zig zag stitch to secure the make-shift darts you just pinned and finish off the edge. (I like to reinforce the zig zag stitch a little more around the darts.)

Simply take some adhesive Velcro squares, attach to the inside,

and the purse itself is complete. If you're making a baby doll diaper bag, you can include store bought baby bottles, rattles, real newborn diapers, or try this:

Here is simple baby doll blankie.

I stacked a rectangle piece of white textured fabric onto green fabric onto a piece of quilting batting. Sew around the border leaving a two inch gap. Snip corners and bulky salvage. Pull the blanket through the gap and finish off the edges with a zig zag stitch.

Sew a small rectangle in the middle to keep the blankie from bulking if washed.

Sew a coordinating ribbon on one of the short ends of the blankie, in half.

This is used to roll it up.

That leaves a small pillow. Same idea: sew two small rectangles together, leaving a two inch gap to pull the pillow back through. Fill with microfill, pin the opening closed inward, and sew a finishing seam, zig zag if you'd like, just at the one end.

And there you have it. A posh purse of sorts.

The Giving Guide Guru is now hitting the sack! See you next week with something new...

What Gives?

2009-11-02T09:51:00.005-05:00

It's November: the month of anticipation.

The winter, scarves, hot chocolate, Nat King Cole singing carols, and the excited anticipation of loved ones opening something you've chosen or made with love. Real, meaningful gifts always take time to consider, research, order, and sometimes, make.

So I'm kick off the coming holidays of giving thanks and simply giving, with a weekly Giving Guide of uniquely handmade gifts.

Tomorrow, get the first of the Giving Guide with the how-to of this posh children's purse/diaper bag. See you then!

The GNN

2009-10-31T23:06:00.005-04:00

This last week's events can be summed up by Bobby's comment tonight, as we were rushing out the door for a date:

"Are you a news anchor on GNN, the Grouch News Network?" No harm done. He was absolutely right.

We're doing the house searching thing again and it has been brutal. Thus, the live-in grouch. Yes, that's me. And it doesn't help that I'm without my camera, our fifth child, which is being repaired miles and miles away. (No, it wasn't me this time.)

But next week brings promises of New York style cheesecake (for Bobby's birthday), sun-filled mornings (starting tomorrow), and more hopes for the perfect house to suddenly appear.

I guess I'd better get to bed to savor that extra hour of sleep...

A Little Blush

2009-10-27T22:33:00.003-04:00

A little something different in the day for the girls. Something new, something they try to reach on the top shelf in my bathroom, something they've watched carefully applied, something they were finally allowed to try out any way they desired....

what they don't know is my good stuff is still intact and shelved. I don't think they really care.

What Happens at Food Conventions, Stays at Food Conventions

2009-10-23T11:04:00.005-04:00

Two anticipated occasions: 1) chubby babies who are officially half a year old and 2) their Daddy landing on east coast soil tonight after a long week in Vegas.

Goodbye exhaustion, insanity, and billowing piles of laundry; hello rest, showers, and... well, piles of laundry.

Your Customized Creative Space

2009-10-21T07:14:00.008-04:00

Many of you have mentioned that you don't know how I make time to create with lots of munchkins at my beckon call all day. Some weeks leave me no creative time (which means I am dying to create when Saturday comes!) while other weeks lend me bits and pieces of time around taking care of home and kids.

Either way, here is my secret weapon: a space that is just waiting for me to sit and create. That is all you need. A tangible, set up, space.

Before we moved here, if I wanted to sew something, mend something, glue something, I'd spend 20 minutes to dig through the closet, pull out my sewing machine, search for thread, etc.

With the twins arrival, I knew with lots of needy little people I would need a more inventive, efficient approach.

The biggest difference from the past: a table specific to sewing/creating.

The most exciting thing is that a small table or corner with shelves can really fit into any size house. Use an existing card table or shelves on a bookshelf that could be rearranged to store your tools for your hobby.

Use a closet, if necessary, to keep supplies organized and even set up a small table to facilitate your work in the closet. There is always a way to incorporate this "creative space" into any size home if you're creative to make it work.

If space permits, keep an inspirational board above your space to tack ideas, future projects, or clippings of things that are beautiful to you.

If you have small children, dedicate one shelf or a section of the wall for them and their creating. They can learn to keep their supplies there and will be able to create along side of you. Ikea has children's table and chairs that are small, simple, are made of real wood- ours was $20.

If you are feeling like you never get a minute to do what fulfills you, the solution is to make a space for it. You will never need to waste time setting up and pulling out supplies to finally sit down and have to be called away.

Be creative: look for an undiscovered nook in your home. Set up and get movin'!

Art Kit Tutorial

2009-10-16T08:39:00.004-04:00

This art kit was simple to make. So for you beginner sewers, try this! It is versatile in that you can make it to fit any notebook or sketch pad and a variety of art supplies. Try crayons, colored pencils, or for older children charcoal pencils, oil pastels, paint brushes, etc.

Start with your wool felt. I think you'll like the quality and durability of wool felt over crafter's felt which is synthetic and flimsy. I get my wool felt at JoAnns or a fabric outlet: any fabric store will stock it.
For the outside fabric, oilcloth or a more durable fabric are best, like a home decor fabric or such.

Cut out a large enough size rectangle of felt and fabric, it should be at least 1.5 inches taller than your sketch pad and wide enough to cover your sketch pad over with a slight lip when closed. This sizing part is really up to you of how big you want the art kit.

As seen above, also cut out a square or rectangle slightly wider than the cardboard backing of your sketch pad but a couple inches shorter: this will be where the notepad backing is slid into. Pin this piece on the left side of the large felt rectangle (mentioned above) with the notebook in place, to insure the notebook will be able to slide in and out snugly.

Sew the two sides and bottom into place to create a pocket.

Now, with the other side of the large rectangle of felt, sew in the art supply slots. Take another felt rectangle, roughly the length of the other rectangle you just sewed, and any height (I like this rectangle to also be like the other one because I'd rather see more wool then more brushes or pencils sticking out-- your preference, though.)

Sew the farthest right end of this rectangle onto the large rectangle felt (the base). Take your first art supply, in my case, a colored pencil, push it into the felt snugly against the seam you just made, and while holding it tightly in place, sew a seam right next to it all the way down. Repeat with all of your supplies. They will fit snugly which is important so as not to fall out of your art kit.

With your sketch pad and supplies each having their own pockets, now you can sew the fabric (the cover) to the wool.

For this particular art kit I simply but the wrong side of the felt on the wrong side of the fabric together, pinned, sewed a seam to close the two fabrics with a zig zag stitch as close as possible to the edge, all around the four corners. Then, sewed a dividing seam down the middle of the art kit. If you're using a ravely-type of fabric for the outside of the art kit, I would initially use a slightly larger piece of fabric so you could fold in the edges, pin them down to the felt and then sew the finishing seam.

Take 2) 10 inches of ribbons and, one at a time, fold the raw edge, pin into place, and about half way up the side of the art kit on the felt, sew down the ribbon with a square pattern. Do this on both sides of the book so that when it is closed you can tie the ribbons closed. (An alternative: sew the ribbon into the seam when you did the initial zig zag stitch to bind the book together.)

Your art kit is essentially complete. I free handed the word "art", using embroidery floss, a large needle, and coming up the back of where the sketch pad would be on the inside--so no one sees the stitching. You could also embroider the person's name, or "nature", "create", or simply a person's initial.

The art kit is a great gift idea for Christmas which is around the corner. Sons, daughters, teens, and adults would appreciate having an art kit to inspire creativity anywhere. More ideas for the art kit:

Keep one in the car per child for those long trips "over the river and through the woods", for drawing scenery, playing games together like tic tac toe, or drawing a collection land marks as they pass by them.

Keep one per child in a tote my the door for when you head out to the outdoors with your children and blanket in hand to draw animals, nature and changing seasons.

Make a kit for everyone in your family with different art supplies in each kit plan times to trade and try out someone else's art medium.

Make an art kit for a niece or nephew for Christmas and give them something that is homemade and will grow with them, unlike lots of bright flashing toys that lose batteries and excitement with maturing and age.

Try a variety of different colored fabrics and felt, too. I can't wait to try a more feminine art kit for my little ones. Happy creating!

A Debussy Kind of Day

2009-10-15T15:03:00.003-04:00

The studio is quiet and dark, the girls' cut-out paper remnants are scattered over the floor from the previous day, untouched today,

it rains cold outside which means the days of permanent sock wearing are here,

and Debussy's melodies have filled the room since 6:30 this morning. Some days you just need some uplifting, like a constant soundtrack to your life as you sweep, fold clothes, rock babies, and finally sit back for the first time to take in what life really feels like.

For a treat on this (what appears to be) rainy weekend approaching, I'll be posting the first of a line of tutorials tomorrow for you antsy-pantsy creators. See you tomorrow!

Back to Optimism

2009-10-11T21:44:00.004-04:00

My life is perfect again. Back to business, constant motion, cries, songs, and naps. Emphasis on the naps. Yes, my non-sleepers have decided life is better with a bit of shut-eye. And so, Mommy is in seventh heaven to have some consistency back.

(Which means Caroline and I can sneak downstairs during others' naps to create again!)

This weekend we enjoyed a friend's birthday party hosted by the talented Elizabeth, gorgeous cake, picturesque games, and all...

which meant making a gift I've had on my mind for a while...

A carry-all art kit. Something you could slide a standard sketch pad in along with your favorite tools: colored pencils, paint brushes, and so forth. There's that rugged wool felt again with a little boyish flair of camouflage.

Like other things I've mentioned, this "how-to" is coming soon, with the new version of this blog. The new website is coming as soon as I can convince Bobby (my web designer) that it is more important to finish the new site over his getting sleep. Wish me luck.

Mommy & Child Bake Off

2009-10-08T13:39:00.008-04:00

Today was our first annual Mommy & Child Bake Off. After a long week, it was a welcomed event to be with good friends and their children.

Children eagerly explained what they baked, telling what they liked best about the experience.

Samplings took place while children and mommies discussed their favorites.

Votes were cast....

And a winner announced (the Hansens) for presentation and taste: the ghost cookies in a chocolate cake graveyard! (I love seeing the unique faces her kids put on the ghosts.)

And my dear mother came to rock babies for me, on her birthday. It seems significant she'd be here for me on this "Mommy & Child" day. Thanks, Mom.

(The details for the Bake Off will be available in PDF form soon on my blog for you to host your own. Children of all ages contributed in the decision making, baking, presenting, tasting, and voting. They ran the bake off--and it showed when they eagerly awaited the results of the vote.)

Easy Out

2009-10-05T21:03:00.006-04:00

Recently, my life has felt anything but easy.

As my recent struggles have mounted, I've begun considering how absolutely easy it would be for me to take a job. You know, leave my mothering responsibilities, sit at a desk, answer calls, scribble down notes, take a lunch break, deal with annoying co-workers, and then return home just in time for dinner.

How easy it would be to turn over the responsibilities of my life: feeding two babies at a time, this one nursing, that one with a bottle perfectly perched to her mouth that keeps slipping and I keep adjusting while feeding another baby, the carefully planned attempt to get two babies to sleep at once while the older girls play loudly, sometimes successful, sometimes not, but always worthlessly short naps.

And what about when it is nearly dinner time and you realize that not once have you had time to play and really interact with your oldest and second child, and you have no real naps to show for it from your babies you've coaxed all day . And what if this goes on like this for days and days and you forget what it's like to even have a moment to think of laundry and solitude, and staying up late just because you're alone.

How easy it would be to run far away from this situation. How easy it would be to give it away to someone else to deal with from 9-5 and keep my cool, keep my grace, my rested body, my witty mind.

Driving home this evening, we sang together. The soft, tired voices of Johanna and Caroline sang words they knew and some made up, babies' cries had finally hushed for the first time in a while.

Sane or otherwise, I realize this whole "easy" thing must be overrated. Since when did women take the easy road? Since when did women turn their back on hard labor, being beaten down again and again and not stand again and again?

Here's to the legacy.

Cameras, Kleenex, and a Lot of Orange

2009-10-04T15:21:00.006-04:00

Photo Day with four children roughly under the age of four. Need I say more?

Thank goodness for an understanding father-photographer. Between four colds and fidgety feet, I think it actually came together. (Which is simply a nicer way to say it's over.)

(Are you sensing a trend here with the color orange?)

A New Mania

2009-09-30T10:09:00.007-04:00

As much as I fight it internally, I am the happiest in the attempt to do hard things in life, like trying to balance mothering and personal endeavors. I used to think it was wrong to do such a thing, but what better way for a child to learn about life but to watch her mother push, work, fail, and get up again.

The most recent mania: sewing for my children--things that are fresh, free flowing, and easy to play in. Lately I've been inspired by many things: this and that, things here, and there. So many ideas, so much room for my own creativity, my own style, and my own approach.

The challenge with my season of life is if I have to follow a pattern or a set of instructions, I won't make it. I don't have 100% mind power in one place at a time, except in front of a big bowl of ice cream late at night.

But if I can make it up as I go and mess up as I go, then I start to see what works and what doesn't. And quite frankly, using a seam ripper to fix my mistakes while I stand at the front door watching my little people flirt with construction workers is much easier than being caught up in the next paragraph of a pattern.

So I try things, fix things again and again, sometimes over the course of days, until it works.

Four different plaid skirts/tops later, I'll see if we really can come together for a family photo shoot this weekend. My new favorite brown wool felt is playing a part as well.

Out of Focus

2009-09-25T14:47:00.006-04:00

My life isn't very different from yours. I have family, responsibility, desires, and struggles.

I go in and out of routines and habits, have moments of fulfillment, and moments of failure. Like you, these all come in seasons.

These seasons tend to rule me. My highs are exhilarating, my lows, weigh me down greatly.
The constant culprit: fear. Fear of failure and doubt.

Some of the best advice came from a fortune cookie made of enriched flour and sugar:

"Failure is the way to prepare you for great responsibility."

And now I'll go on with the inconsistencies in life, the pauses of deep self talk, and get back on my feet to defeat that four letter word, fear, and live.

Around the Corner

2009-09-22T06:54:00.004-04:00

I've spent many nursing hours and countless pages of my notebook in prepping, sketching, and organizing for some exciting things to come.

New projects with tutorials...

New events for the locals...

And very exciting new changes to this, here blog. Keeps your eyes open. It's coming.

Take Cover, Literally

2009-09-18T06:11:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, between checking on cookies, I came up with this...

in an attempt to reduce this: art stains.

I knew I needed something wipe-able, something that felt different to the girls than a kitchen apron.

The fabric, often used for outside tablecloths, needs no seams, which means you could make it with minimal sewing. I simply cut slits for button holes and added a low pocket for the artist's supplies.

They're an absolute blast to make, coordinate, and fill--oh yes, it makes a great friend's birthday present, or at least I'm hoping for that this weekend.

An Alternative to the Old Navy Sales Rack

2009-09-16T06:51:00.004-04:00

Twice yearly I look forward to leaving the house alone and carrying a really, really large tote out the door. That's when everyone in the area rushes to our local children's consignment sales to load up on seasonal items.

(These cool new shoes for Johanna: a whopping $5--and they're Gymboree which means they'll last.)

Everything sold is gently used and in great shape. I get Caroline's next size up for the coming season and, this time around, more clothes for the twins. We're talking $1.50-$4 on most of the great clothing I find.

I hit a couple consignment sales and what needs aren't fulfilled I do my shopping elsewhere.

But hey, it is worth a try looking into your local seasonal consignment sales. Another great plus is great books and toys at these events. I like to stock up on books for the girls for birthdays and Christmas. I've found $1-$5 treasures-- new books and books I've longed to have on my children's shelves.

This year's catch: a 5 piece PlayHut set of tents and crawling tubes for $17. Although hidden now, that will magically reappear set-up, as perfectly as only Santa could do.

The Hooting Mat

2009-09-14T06:52:00.002-04:00

I thought owls, playing, and spit up worked well together when I designed this.

I think the girls would agree.

The Real Story of the Stitch

2009-09-11T22:59:00.002-04:00

When I sew during the day...

I look like I'm very intent and focused.

But then I have to remind Johanna that only her sister can use the scissors,

then I leave my table and confiscate scissors,

And then I have to pick one of these Munchkins up and bounce them around the room until contentment,

And maybe, just maybe, I finish my project, usually completely different then planned, and satisfyingly reap the rewards of big smiles.

Summer's Crop Meets September

2009-09-10T06:38:00.007-04:00

Our friends' glorious acres of gardens, raspberry bushes, chickens, and 19th century structures: definitely some awe inspired expressions on our children's' faces.

Loading the bucket with what remains from summer's prime crop: finders- keepers. A scrumptious chicken chili using our gathered produce was enjoyed the following night.

Raspberry bushes as far as the eye can see.

And eager fingers to pick and eat as long as the night may be.

Eventually the sun set, babies tummies were fed to the sounds of the night, and everyone rode home in silence, with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.

Laboring...

2009-09-08T09:37:00.008-04:00

The girls enjoying a new picnic/reading/rolling-on/throw-in-the-car blanket
that I finished. The best part is that it is sewn with all of my Granny's fabric. How special now that she's passed away.

We made trips to visit family to eat, make merry...

swim... (in dresses, that is, since mommy didn't bring suits)

and indulge...

until bedtime.

Shouldn't they rename Labor Day to something more fitting like, oh... Play Day?

5 Reasons

2009-09-04T15:09:00.008-04:00

Christina tagged me, and an exciting tag, at that.

Instructions:"Just write a post of your own 5 things that you love about being a mom and find someone to link to and tag - someone from your own country, if you like, but definitely someone from another country."

1. I love giving them tools, space, and an idea, and watching them expand, flourish and discover something new.

2. I love seeing their eyes light up when they see me; kicking and flailing of arms is a bonus.

3. I love watching them find joy in each other.

4. I love passing on my passions to them, introducing them to the things that make me happy.

5. I love watching them fall asleep, as their active little bodies slowly calm, quiet down, and are still. The peace in the room of those dear ones sleeping is priceless.

I'm tagging Crystal, Ann and Christine: three excellent mommies.

"Growing" an Adult

2009-09-02T15:47:00.006-04:00

We used oil pastels in the grass...

Played grocery store and stocked the fridge...

And another day of baby doll in arm with the ever present plastic high heels.

Everything about my girls is an attempt to play "grown-up." Well now, I'm grown up, have babies and high heels.

Ironically, I'm backtracking, trying to regain some sort of youthful bliss, seeking play, innocence, and wonder, like I observe daily from them.

Lesson learned? If you're going to have babies, wear the heels and still run in the grass.

Last Weekend of August...

2009-08-30T21:00:00.006-04:00

The weekend closes in with cricket symphonies outdoors, night lights on upstairs, and babies snuggled in tight with light cotton jammies.

Now comes my favorite season of all-- fall.

A House Full of Little People

2009-08-29T16:38:00.011-04:00

Dress up, dress up, everybody dress up!

Some cute characters from the day.

A little time outside and lots of photos by Bobby using the new toy, thanks to last week's accident. Or was it really???

Really exciting presents for daughter and Mommy.

Another happy carrot-cake ending.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore

2009-08-28T22:13:00.004-04:00

Glinda, the Witch, and Dorothy playing with a worm as they wait for the boys, the rest of the cast, to come.

Coloring books that Caroline and I illustrated together for favors.

The best part: all of the children chasing Bobby and the witch up the hill.

The gorgeous cake Elizabeth made.

A happy ending.

One Down, One to Go

2009-08-25T20:44:00.002-04:00

The Wizard of Oz party came and went, taking my camera crashing down with it. Thus, the absence of photos of children chasing Bobby, holding the "vitch" (witch) Johanna, and her broom.

Thankfully, the broom was retrieved and all of the children, including Caroline, returned home to Kansas to enjoy cake and ice cream. Photos to come soon along with another August birthday party.

Greetings from Savannah

2009-08-24T20:08:00.001-04:00

I am in Savannah, GA this week in business. Here are a few pics I snapped tonight while on my way to grab some dinner.

Bobby
-- Post From My iPhone