In A Nutshell

soccer team shirts & freezer paper stencils

 

Years ago, I saw this tutorial for freezer paper stencils and it stuck with me... I really wanted to try it out, but didn't have a good enough reason to experiment with it. There is this one too, which is equally as awesome, yet has a completely different feel to it. 

Well, my 5 year old is starting spring soccer this month. Logan and I are volunteer coaches and I had this insatiable desire to get a little crazy and make team shirts. It's not a requirement, it's just something I really wanted to play around with. Plus, the kids will dig it, right? I hope so.

I used the freezer paper stencil technique for the snake. This was just a freehand outline. The numbers were iron on vinyl letters that I found at JoAnn's. I like the way the shirts turned out but I am curious to see how they will hold up after some washing.

gardening bug

 

The gardening bug has already hit me. The weather is warming up. Granted, it's in the low 50's but generally speaking, it feels warm. That is something this California girl never thought she would say. 
 

I've been pouring over my seed catalogs since they arrived in the mail several weeks ago. Today, I was finally able to make up my mind as to what will be going into our spring/summer garden and made my seed purchases accordingly. I feel very pleased with myself at the moment. This year I purchased the greater majority of my seeds from Seeds of Change and Territorial Seed Company. They are "safe companies" that are neither owned by Monsanto, nor carry Monsanto seeds. 

 

One of the things we are doing in our garden this year is planting blueberries. I have six baby bushes that may not produce anything this year, but Logan made a nice raised garden bed for me (the first of many) to put them in. I can't wait to fill it up with dirt and get 'em in! 

 

 

For the kids, I will be taking a couple of ideas from Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots this year. I set up a moon garden teepee with bamboo poles a few days ago. My boys are really excited to get this going and so am I. Waiting for growing season is the hardest part! I'm going to plant lunaria (I wild harvested the seeds a few days ago - you can see the "parent" plant in the photo above), chinese lanterns, and dwarf sunflowers with them. We'll try and get a giant pumpkin going this year. Although, the success of that undertaking is highly questionable.

for the birthday boy

I think I bought the Tea Party playsuit pattern so that I could make Phoenix a playsuit for his second birthday, and I just got around to making it last night... for his fourth. It worked up pretty quickly, and am really pleased with how straight forward the pattern directions are. Although, I have to admit I am really frustrated with the puckering right in front. The directions warned me of this, although once it was done, it was done. I know better than to rip it apart and rework, because usually that just exacerbates the problem. Next time I will be a bit more mindful and work more slowly. 

Any how, I can look past the puckering and be satisfied with the fact that it's actually done. I wasn't planning on having it turn out looking froggy like, but I'm very glad it did. 

You may remember the green animal print from this project, which is still holding up. We got the most use out of that bathrobe last summer. I would have Phoenix wear it as a cover up before and after his swim lessons. It was so much more convenient than having him get out of his clothes and then back in them half wet. 

Listening to: In the Morning, by: Junior Boys 

play silks

"We have so much time and so little to do. Strike that, reverse it."
- Roald Dahl Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Dying play silks was one of those ideas that I kept stewing over. I would turn the thought over and over in my head, all the while keeping it on the back burner. After all, there had been so much to do. However, a certain little someone has a birthday coming up. I knew I needed to get crackin'.

So, play silks I made. Oh, what fun that was. I can think of lots of little children that would like to have these. must. make. more. 

mushies

I'm systematically hoarding away materials for Phoenix's entry into our home-school kindergarden program. These little painted mushrooms will become math manipulatives, and have already proven themselves useful for dinner time discussions about amino acid chains. You can get an assortment of sizes and shapes here.

The boys are having a ton of fun painting them (we are using Angora watercolors), and the best part is that it's so simple. We dusted off our National Audubon mushroom book for the sake of authenticity. This mushroom Flickr group is inspirational as well. Although, the boys' inner creativity prevailed resulting in some very extraordinary looking shrooms. Each one is so unique. I really do love them all.

he needs a name

   

Phoenix's birthday isn't until June, but I've been trying to get a head start on the toy making. Last year I was able to make everything for him by hand, but I practically gave myself carpal tunnel in the process. I usually do everything at the last minute, so my crochet hook was like an extra appendage for a couple of days there. I'm all for not doing that again.

I've been wanting to try my hand at making a Waldorf / Steiner doll for quite some time. I'm so glad I gave it a shot. It was a very fulfilling experience and it was a lot of fun to see how the doll's personality unfolded through the whole process. From what I read, you're not really supposed to make the doll look like the child they are intended for, but uh, I sort of ignored that part... except for the blue hair maybe.

Any how, I need a name for this little guy because I am stumped. Well, not completely stumped. I have an idea but I want to see if you have any better ones. All of Phoenix's toys are named for what they are. For example the monkey is named "Monkey." I want this doll to be much more than a monkey. I want him to have a personal connection with my sweet boy, so a good name is in order. I'd like to go with something short and easily spelled. Thoughts?

Also, I'll be making some accessories for him too. A backpack is a must, and I'm thinking a beanie and a baby sling to carry him around in too.

Update: Thanks to all of you for your wonderful suggestions! I've decided to name him Kip. Short, sweet, and easy to spell.

swedish stamped cookies - spring inspired

A brief history:  Around 150 years ago or so, it was common of the people of Sweden to hand make furniture and useful tools to help them get through the long dark days of winter. Among the tools they made were cookie stamps. These stamps had designs inspired by daily life, nature, and symmetry, and were traditionally made from wood. They were so popular, practically every family had a set of stamps. In some cases, history has been well preserved and people are still using the stamps from generations ago today. 

Cookie stamps were given away as gifts during the holidays. Christmas time was, and still is a traditional occasion on which to make stamped cookies. During the Christmas season, my family makes cookies similar to these every year in the German tradition. I plan on making some later this year, and will share my results with you then.

Since the recipe I used to make these stamped cookies requires that the dough be rolled into sugar, I thought it might be fun to make the sugar different colors. We went with traditional spring colors here.

Little hands will have fun rolling the dough around in the sugar. The dough is soft enough to where it can easily be stamped by little ones as well. Although, it may take a gentile grown up hand to peel the dough from the stamp.

There are several different companies that sell cookie stamps these days. I chose to go with Rycraft. I really liked their traditional Scandinavian designs. They have a fairly quick turnaround time on online orders too.

In this photo, you can see that the stamp in back is darker (from lots of use) and has less depth than the stamp in front. The one in back is a vintage stamp, the one in front is new. I prefer the new stamps because with them, the prints have more definition after the cookies have been baked.

 

Almond Butter Cookies
Recipe from the kitchen of Mrs. Rycraft

1 c. butter
1/2 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. almond extract
sugar for rolling (we used 3 - 4 drops of food coloring in 1/4 c. sugar). 

Cream butter and sugar. Add extract. Add salt and flour and mix well. Divide dough into two equal parts, cover and refrigerate for 1/2 hour. Use a tablespoon of dough to form a ball, roll in sugar coating evenly. Immediately stamp the cookie with the cookie stamp. Bake at 325 for 12 - 15 minutes.

Many more recipes that can be used with the stamps can be found here.

Unrelated: The Bird & The Bee came out with a new album yesterday. Excitement!

 

soft nesting boxes pattern

   

I've been working on a little something for y'all. (Okay, and for my kids too.) 

   

   

What do you think?

   

Oh, hello Mr. Peanut. What are you doing in there? 

These nesting (and stackable!) boxes are a great open ended toy for children. My boys are getting a lot of enjoyment out of them. They also make great catchalls. I have the small sized one in my bathroom holding most of my makeup. Mental note: I think these would be great for using in bathroom drawers too, to help keep things organized. They're super easy and addictive to make.

Time is up on the free download. You can now purchase the 8 page tutorial from my Etsy shop: The Cookie Jar. In this tutorial, there are also measurements for an extra big one that isn't shown - just in case you'd like to make a purple one for a complete rainbow. 

Thanks for your interest!
 

Update: Okaaaay. I hate to close the comments up because they've all been so nice ;), but the giveaway is over. According to random.org, the magic number today is 57, so that means Beth is the lucky winner. Thanks to everyone for participating!

For those of you who have asked and are curious, you can find the pattern for Mr. Peanut in the book: Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. That Mr. Peanut: he's such a cutie pie.   

wood & sandpaper letters + mini giveaway

 

  

I always end up having a total freak out session when I give my three year old flash cards. He's rough with his playthings; always using them for their unintended purposes. Flash cards become chew toys, they get stuffed in between the couch cushions, they become ice skates and roads for toy cars. They also tear & bend way too easily. 

I found these on Etsy by accident last week, and at first sight I was in love. They're made from wood, which means they will have longevity in my household. The letters are made of sandpaper which is great for sensory stimulation. The vowels are blue, and the consonants are red. The little dot punch out tells little fingers where to begin tracing the letters. My little guy figured that the dot was supposed to go on top without my having to tell him. I was impressed. 

  

We spent a lot of time yesterday playing with the letter tiles, forming real words and make believe words. I would quiz Phoenix, and he would quiz me. I pretended not to know some of the letters, but he didn't buy it. He didn't think my feigned ignorance was the least bit amusing, but I digress.

See these number tiles? These are for you! Marvelous Michele from Polliwog Learning Products will be sending one of you lovely readers this set of mini sandpaper numbers. They measure 1.75" wide by 3" high. They are a perfect size for little hands. Wouldn't you agree?

If you would like to be entered in this drawing, please show some love to Polliwog Learning Products by visiting their store, then come back here and leave a comment in this post. I will be closing comments & selecting a random winner here on March 7th @ 12pm PST. This post will be updated with the name of the winner at that time. 

Update: The comments are closed, and the winner is Denise. 

Thanks to everyone for participating!

scented gel paints

 

Made from everyday kitchen ingredients, these gel paints are a useful tool for teaching color theory as well as developing fine motor skills. They're also great for having lots of messy fun.

1/2 c. cornstarch

2 1/4 c. cold water

food coloring

flavoring extract

4 small heat proof jars (preferably wide mouth)

Add cornstarch to a medium sized sauce pan. Whisk in water and turn heat to hi. Whisk constantly being sure to get into the corners. When all of the paint base has come to a gel like consistency, immediately remove from heat. Let the paint base cool for a couple of minutes, then spoon evenly into four heat proof jars. Careful, it's still hot!

Now is the time to add your food coloring (I used 5 drops of McCormick Neon! colors in each jar. It appears as though they have replaced the green with yellow since I purchased my box.) Add 1/8 tsp. of your flavoring extract of choice to each jar. Mix vigorously with a spoon until your paints are evenly colored.

These paints will stain. Keep your child's clothes and work surfaces covered.

Have fun!