Overheard This Week

Mama, my body doesn't want to take a nap right now.

The New Hobby

I don't know why it took me so long to try out needle felting.  I've known about it for years.  My favorite craft store in Denver has their own super cute kits.  I've seen really cool felted items made by fellow crafters, I guess I just thought it was too freeform for me.  Well, that has all changed.  Every year I make an easter bunny for my kids (2011, 2010), and this year I had many different thoughts on what to make.  I was browsing Etsy for inspiration when I kept coming across these really cute needle felted bunnies.  My main inspiration was from the amazingly talented fairyfolk shop.  I just couldn't get her cute bunnies out of my mind.  Then I realized I already owned everything I needed to try!  I bought a gnome felting kit at Rhinebeck this past fall, and I accidentally ordered the fiber Phat fiber box a few years ago, oops!  Well here's my version, I still want one of fairyfolk's bunnies in an egg though!

Hope the kids like it.  It's gonna be tough not to give it to them beforehand!

Overheard This Week

Son: Hey Mama! Mommmeeee! Mama! Mama! Mama!  Mama!  I have something to tell you!  Maaaamaaa!
Me: What is it?
Son: I forgot to tell you something. Goodnight, sleeptight, don't let the bedbugs bite you or your shoes!

Dreaming...

The funny thing about not really having winter weather, is that you still get into that winter mindset.  I've been daydreaming and planning, but the thing is, the good weather is now, and the summer?  Well that's the inside season!  I've been dreaming about this workshop.  I love Heather Ross, her sewing book, and all her gorgeous fabric.  Plus, this workshop is in Vermont!  Well, I won't be able to go this year, and probably not next year either, but if I save my pennies maybe I can go after that!
Until then, I need to figure out what to make out of my Heather Ross fabrics I've been hoarding...

Overheard This Week

Mama did you see that boy on the tv?  He burped out a snail!  I wish I could burp out a snail.

Overheard This Week

Son: Sister did you make this telescope?
Daughter: Uh-huh.
Son: Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, this is so awesome!  Mama I have a new name for sister, Best Telescope Maker!
(The telescope in question, is infact a rolled up piece of paper.)

Overheard This Week

Sister, you are going to have to go kiss that bear somewhere else, I am busy.  Please, just go kiss that bear somewhere else!

A Bit of Magic

We received a really nice art desk/Easel from my brother's family and put it under my son's loft bed.  We're working on rearranging the kids' room.  It's quite dark under the bed and so I decided to hang up some lights I bought months ago.  It really added some needed lighting and color.  Plus the kids just loved helping hang the laterns.  I did however discover we are 8 lanterns short of what the package says we ought to have, oh well.

Now we just need some art on the walls.  These lights should help with that!

What A Difference Wool Makes

Sometimes I'm stubborn, okay most of the time.  I hadn't worked with felt much since childhood and figured, you know felt is felt.  I do strive to use natural materials, but aren't there always exceptions?  Since having my kids I have been looking at more kid centered crafts, and many of these involve felt.  On the websites and books they usually state to use wool felt.  I did the price comparison and wool felt is quite a bit more expensive.  So, I just kept using the other stuff.  I finally decided a month or so ago that if everyone keeps talking about it, then it must be worth using.  So I ordered some (as I haven't found a local shop that carries it).  Okay, everyone is right!  I am never going back.  It's amazing how much nicer to work with the wool is.  Plus the wool just looks nicer to start with. 
I made my son his birthday crown last year using, you guessed it, the poly felt. (The stars are wool as they were added this year).

I made my daughter's out of the wool felt this year.


Yes, L's has had a year of rough play behind it, so maybe next year I should pull them out to compare again.  But I think these pictures speak for themselves.  I didn't use a pattern, just what I remembered from reading The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections. Which if you haven't checked out this book, you should.  I now know that birthday crowns are a Waldorf tradition, but reading this book was my first introduction to them.
I'd like to say that from now on I'll listen when people call for a better quality material.  Yes, let's leave it there, I'd like to say that I'll listen.

Popsicles in January

When my little man asked for popsicles the other day, I thought why not?  It's not like Texas is very wintry during the winter.  

We had all the ingredients, but I couldn't find my molds or toothpicks for the old standby ice cube tray trick.  After work the next day I stopped at a kitchenware store (oh, what a delight!  Good thing I stuck to my mission because there were so many wonders there).  Buying popsicle molds in January is not the easiest, but what was lacking in choice was made up for by the clearance price!  We now have new popsicle molds, and my little ones got to make their wanted treats.  

I like this recipe Banana Bluebery Swirl, I really like having the yogurt, but juice works perfectly too!

These are the Prepara Volcano 4-Piece Pop Set. They are a little bit finicky about popping out of the cups but if you place them in a very warm bowl of water for a minute or two they release just fine.  One thing that is a bit odd about them is they are hollow in the center.  At first I didn't like this, but since using them, I've discovered it cuts  the portion size down perfectly for smaller children. (This is just my personal view, I am not advertising for anyone.)