Some bunny loves you

Yes, new projects again! The bunny purse (shiny stitched fabric with a furry bunny applique handstitched on.)

The bunny quilt-patch canvas and the "night sky bunny" canvas.

I have some fashion ones and bird prints in the works. These are fun projects to work on at the table, while the kids paint next to me!

(will be added to etsy soon... first I have to give one away to a special someone as a baby gift!!)

New projects and fresh ideas

We've been busy with horse camp and playdates this week, but there's still downtime after lunch. Today, after the kids whipped me at Sequence, they drew some "plans" for me. I can't get to the sketches right now without the risk of waking of snoozers. And no mama would risk that!

At least I can tell you about them.

Nature Man thinks I should do more projects with animals. Go figure. He specifically requested a lizard or frog apron. Lucky for him, I have that fabric!! (Thanks again, CM!) Here is his apron, cut out and ready to sew. I'll use the same template and material for the etsy shop. You probably can't tell from the picture, but that large lizard in the center is a big pocket, in the shape of a fish bowl. Boys need big pockets! The Artist drew pictures of creatures, with fins and optional teeth. I love that the teeth are "optional."
Soooo, I worked a bit to finish up "in-progress" aprons, and then cut out patterns for new aprons and creatures. All of the patterns are mine. I'm measuring and sketching them out on butcher paper. And the kids are in this business venture with me, all the way!

Here we have a striped bunny. It will be a full apron with ties in coordinating colors. The bunny is appliqued on, using mega-bonder. It will be fray-proofed and hand stitched around as well. Ignore the stray fabric scrap.

Had to have an owl. Just call him Hooters.

This bunny one is a favorite. I cut it out of canvas-y material, and the bunnies are from that super-awesome curtain-like upholstery fabric. Yeah, it costs an arm and a leg, but in small amounts it's do-able. I added two rows of lace along the top of this one. (yes, I always stay up too late.)
The birds. I love me some darlin' birdies! Should I leave this as-is, or add a large and long branch, reaching up and around the apron?
Some people read magazines. Some watch tv. Some go running. Me? I sew. I sew when I watch movies with my wonderful man. I sew as I sit & laugh at the kids, swimming in the kiddie pool outside. And I sew when we drive from here to there, chatting along with the family. Ah, the joy of a good hobby!

And thank God that we are all different, with unique talents. I still can't bake a cake to save my life (although I do love to bake anything and everything else!! My cakes just... die.)

Photos of the goods

Did I just make a shop announcement without posting the goods?? Really? I must have been pretty tired indeed.

I'm *sure* you all have already clicked over to Nest in the Sun, but I'll post some shots anyway... plus a sneak preview of what I'm working on next!

These are two of my favorites:

The white lace hostess apron with red buttons and

the white gauzy fabric with blue flowered waistband and pockets

I'm pretty partial to this one, too: The green paisley. Sigh. I love aprons.

I'd keep all of my own creations if I had places to store them & time to love and cook in each one. ;-)

I'm still working on some half-done aprons,

but I've also been making button earrings, and other such fun!

The cost of discount buttons or roses at Wal-Mart: $1.50

Cost of earring findings at Wal-Mart: about $2, depending on the size

Amazing Craft Goop: around $6 with tax

Owning Nest in the Sun Wendy's original button earrings? Priceless!

Heehee, couldn't resist. I'll list some tonight. Naptime/ computer time is over now, so we're off for a hike!

Explore the New Shop!

In case you didn't notice the mini-shop on the right, LOOK. :-) Yep, I went and took the plunge. I'm now an Etsy shop owner.

To answer the first likely question: the beautiful model is my sister.

In anticipation of the next question: When do I get time to sew? Generally when I should be sleeping instead. Or during quiet afternoon time.

I need to create. Actually, I feel this tug more often than I recognize hunger pangs.

Enjoy. Buy. Get inspired. :-)

Joy in the Journey

I want a workable, structured and joyful environment.

That said, we often do our schoolwork outside, when the weather accommodates us. By "structured," I don't mean that we are always at desks. Neither do I mean that we rigidly follow a schedule, to the detriment of the goal. For me, "structured" means that the kids know what to expect. They wake up. They do chore packs, then eat breakfast. After that--during the summer-- we start with Bible and "fun stuff." Today our fun creative time consisted of playing with and creating new folder games.

During the school year, (which will start for us during the second week of August,) Bible is followed by handwriting, math, and so on. I'm hoping the kids will enjoy the workbox system more than the "lesson plans and pile of books" system. ;-) I'll still have my lesson plans, but the kids won't need to constantly refer to it.

It's the joyful part that is easier for me to lose sight of. Yeah, you know that I love color and art, music, and friends. But I also get set in my one-track-mind when it comes to school. Remember my love for lists? Or, to be more specific, my love of crossing things off of said lists? This applies to the lesson plan book, too.

I'm hoping that, with the workboxes, we will go in order and have "scheduled" game times. Isn't it just fabulous when kids think they're only playing?! Heehee, yes moms are tricky indeed.

So, let me jump back to what we did today: folder games...These games could quite possibly be the easiest fun learning activity you ever make!
Someone recently asked me what to do with the younger kids when you teach the older ones.
The answer: teach them, too!

I have too many ideas to list, but here are a few. Teach number words by using cut outs. Either draw or print off numbers and the number word. Glue either the numbers or words to the outside of a manila folder. Tape the sides of the folder up, to store the matching parts. Let kids match away!

We made a huge folder-pack of these from 1-30, using either words, #s or picture counters.

We also do shadows on the walls with our fingers, making shapes of letters and numbers. Anything that makes a good impression is ...well, memorable!

Of course, you can use the same concept of matching for almost anything. This is one of their favorites: The Mixed-Up Animals! Why even bother trying to match these animals with their backsides, when it's obviously more fun to give the cat a duck's tail?


Here you see my 2-year old matching color bears. This happened quite by accident a few months ago. I had the lacing shapes and folder games out for Dash, the 4-year old. Suddenly Little Lad (not yet 2 then) ran in and began to lace and match. W-o-W

Another lesson for momma: Do not to dumb down the kids!!
You never know what they are capable of until you expose them to it and let them try!!

Folders can be as elaborate or as simple as you want, much like Lapbooks. This one is as simple as simple gets. Just black and white printouts to teach "empty" and "full." No, this is not my usual teaching method for this concept, but they don't mind the extra sorting practice...remember these are all games to them!

Here we have more sorting practice... The kids colored this set.
(As a side note: I recommend always laminating your pieces!!)

The little people also enjoy match-the-outline games. Might as well reinforce some science lessons while matching, eh? For the actual teaching of these things, I like the Charlotte Mason method, and particularly The Handbook of Nature Study.

Why stop with simple matching and sorting games? Another option is to print full game "boards" and glue them to an opened folder. It's fun, compact, easily contained, transported and stowed away.

Here is our "connect-four" game, about animal coverings.
I plan to do another one with magazine clippings of real animals.

How to make: Draw or print your grid. Each square should be labeled with one of the following words: "hair, fur, scales, shell, feathers." Cut out or print a corresponding animal for each square. Glue on a square paper (that will fit over the little grid square.)

How to play: Mix up the deck of cards and place face down. Each child takes turns picking a card and placing it on a matching animal covering. The first to have four in a row is the winner.

For little people, I also like the Montessori-type buckets, shelves, and tubs. We even do Montessori-like-play outside, with an area of digging dirt, some sand, a rock pile....anything to be touched and explored.

Some ideas in the manipulative department: poker chips, acorns, dominos, macaroni noodles (and 10 noodles glued to a Popsicle stick to play around with math concepts.) There are also geoboards, dominoes, and pattern blocks.

I don't use many "sensory buckets" indoors, unless you count bowls of flour when we bake bread, water when we wash dishes and take baths, and the pile of cereal on the floor when the 2-year grabs the box!

We also use color-by-number pages, like this one from Making Learning Fun.

I know, I know... I'm all about the school ideas right now. We may just have to start back early.

Who am I kidding? The whole concept of school is quite silly,
when you consider that kids are learning ALL the time,
(whether or not we want them to.)
They may think they're just having a fun summer, creating new games and exploring the "wild" trails, but we're really in full-blown education mode. :-)

Nesting in the homeschool room

I'm in full-blown nesting right now. The "nest" being my homeschool area. Just like nesting hits around the mid-point of pregnancy, it also hits me mid-point of summer. The year-end burnout is gone, replaced by excitement & a fervent attempt to quickly prepare everything for the new year! Suddenly I'm trying to tie up loose ends of projects, reorganize and label every shelf, tub, and cubby. When the kids go to bed, I've been cleaning off and on, and then sewing, sewing, sewing. Why? Because I plan to open at etsy account soon, to help fund our books. Why not aid our family while doing something I love?

How do you like the naked Barbies in the man tub? Inappropriate perhaps? I should fix that asap. There are some other areas in this shelf that still need to be dealt with, too. New desks are brought in. I now have four of these beauties!! L-O-V-E 'em!
(by the way, they were $3 each at a flea market!!)Things are painted, made, stacked, and packed.
The nature shelf and cabinet is dusted and organized.
New systems are researched and set into motion.
This is my temporary solution to the workbox system. I can't have 48 tubs laying around. Soooo, the hanging shoe racks have a new purpose! This one is for The Artist and Nature Man. The cubby spots are large enough for full-size books, and puzzle boxes. I was worried about things falling out when the kids swing the door open and shut, but it has passed the test!! There are twelve slots for each child.
Oh, yes. This mid-summer point is rejuvenating for all of us. The birth of a new school year is upon us!!!

The button fetish

Yes, I have a thing for buttons. I love them. Everywhere. This is one of my "button buckets."

A painting adorned with buttons...
Hey, why not?

Then a mushy monster with button eyes and nose...

This is one of my dearest pins...

Purple cloth needs orange round happiness in the center.

This "vintage" apron (yes, I just made it) is graced with some of my
favorite shiny pearly green lovelies.The lacy apron deserved the wooden red hearts!

Why limit buttons to clothes? I thought the binder picture needed some 3D enhancement, too.

This binder couldn't be left out. Flowers practically shout for a button center!

(And don't get me started on my binder-obsession!)

By the way, I'm in the process of creating my workbox system, and I'm excited!! I'll post progress soon.