show me a story: review and giveaway!

I've been so excited to tell you about this brand new book:  show me a STORY- 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children's Storytelling!  I first met the author, Emily Neuberger, online as a fellow crafter, and then was lucky enough to have her and her lovely mother in one of my Squam workshops. We've kept in touch over the years and shared our book writing adventures during late night emails. Yesterday began her book blog tour, and today it stops here for a peek inside and a giveaway below. Emily has created an AMAZING resource for parents, homeschoolers and educators.

Storytelling is an intrinsic part of child development and a wonderful way to encourage creativity and imagination, while building communication skills. The projects Emily has designed are simple, yet totally enticing... it arrived in the midst of my daughter having a playdate and both girls devoured it cover to cover. It not only got their stamp of approval, but my mother was still in town and was wowed by it, as well. She has been an early childhood educator and reading/language specialist for decades and has incredibly high standards... so that's saying a lot, folks!  We both loved this story wheel, which I'm keeping in the car to enhance any road trip or carpool commute.

 In fact, many of the story games and prompts are very portable, which make them perfect for incorporating into the little windows of time that our current culture seems to be be determined to fill up with plugged in technology.

I'm so thrilled to have a slew of new ideas for the coming cold, when we're looking for cozy activities around the fire... but tons of the projects incorporate outside time, too. Thank you, Emily!

And there are even wonderful group activities for engaging more than one or two children... parties, classrooms, homeschooling gatherings will be benefit from so many of these tools which foster play and working together! I'm gushing, I know...  but it's a good one. In fact, I was going to donate my copy to my daughter's little Montessori school, but I've ordered them a copy... so I can keep my own!

Are you ready to have a chance to win a free copy for your own home or classroom? Storey Publishing has a book with one of your names on it! Just leave a comment below before Thursday, the 27th, at 8pm EST. I'll announce the randomly selected winner on Friday. The publisher has requested this to be open to US residents only, please.  Here's a look at the rest of the tour calendar... follow along for more giveaways and inside peeks! Good luck, friends! Congratulations again, Emily... what a fabulous book you've created!
Week One 

9.24 Catherine Newman
9.25 maya*made
9.26 Crafty Crow
9.27 Average Jane Crafter
9.28 Zaa Berry

Week Two
10.1 Zakka Life
10.2 Small Measure
10.3 scrumdilly-do
10.4 One Golden Apple
10.5 Jane of All Trades

Week Three
10.8 Mommy Coddle
10.9 Whip Up
10.10 Wise Craft
10.11 Bird and Little Bird

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nest building

I greet new transitions for my little family with the utmost of sensitivity. Children like things to stay the same... stability, familiarity, maintaining what they know and trust. Against all matter of odds, I'm doing all that I can to provide this. Yesterday I held my breath all day. On the first day back to school, my daughter eased into a brand new classroom and made a new friend.  And that first born of mine actually enjoyed the shift into high school! Sweet relief for all of us. Upon coming home, they both went off in separate directions to quietly regroup and process. My son now has a "teen lounge" in his bed room. My daughter's art table was switched out for her brothers outgrown desk- homework and art space in one! For several weeks I've been giving corners of our home little facelifts, in anticipation of this new chapter in their lives. With some help from my mom I learned how to really... I mean REALLY use a drill!

Now, that's a handy grandma!

 I've painted shelves and desks, carried (with lots of help from son, who's stronger than me these days!) those said desks, shelves and even a couch up and down stairs. I mostly did a lot of reinventing of the furniture we already have. I've been feathering our nest with what's on hand, a little ingenuity... and one very exciting trip to the lumber yard. Here's a peek at our our new shelf... and my first dabble into carpentry. 


I painted it white, and I'll share more once we've filled it and I can take a decent photo. Feeling proud!
 

simple finger puppets

Last week my daughter's friend introduced her latest passion to our home- instant (almost) index card finger puppets. They're so simple that making one isn't possible... an entire cast of characters is inevitable.

 

 We expanded upon her idea with a shoebox theater and a summer day whizzed by only interrupted by some cooling off water play.



We used a hinged shoebox so that the lid could flip down into a backstage- for props and the cast. The front of the "house" opened with doors cut with a sharp blade. A felt curtain hid the backstage and was attached with some duct tape. A center slit created access for actors controlled by happy small hands. They loved how everything packed up nicely at the end of the day.



Index card finger puppets:

need: 

• index cards 
• tape
• markers (our friend insisted on sharpies, but any will do)
• scissors 

make:

1. fold card almost in half lengthwise- leave 1/4" to 1/2"of an edge to fold over onto the first fold
2. tape shut to create a tube
3. fold one of the open ends over about 11/2" to create "the head" 
4. fold back/under each corner of the head
5. add tails or ears with additional pieces of index cards and tape
6. draw and color characters

So fun, right!? What a great project for final summer road trips or as a tool for easing/acting out the transition back to school. Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

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tipi

She wanted a wooden hut at the base of tree... a space that was all her own that she could dream in. She hoped one day to tame a fox and they would live happily there until the snow came. She knew her mama and big brother wouldn't be too far away with a wood stove when they got cold. She wondered if their cat would let her fox inside? Probably not. 

Diligently she gathered sticks and stakes. By herself or with the help of friends. Throughout the summer I quietly listened to the many conversations of 7 yr. old girls discussing building materials and wild architectural plans. The dreams were big, but in the end a little grown up help was necessary and the blue prints in her mind morphed to encompass the supplies on hand and a timeless design. With the help of her very enthusiastic grandma, my daughter built her first tipi. 

 

Instead of at the base of a tree, she located it right in the center of the yard. Something this beautiful should be seen! And seen it is. I asked if she wanted to plant scarlet runner beans or morning glories around it next year, but she said she like the walls to be made of air and the ceiling to be the sky. 

taproot #2

I've always loved the early morning hours before the day gets going, but I enjoy them even more in the summer. The sun is up and waiting for me at the picnic table long before my children roll out of bed. It's some of the only quiet time I have these days, and I savor it with my favorite cup of coffee and bit of good reading. Today I finally had the moment I've been craving with the second issue of Taproot. I know, I know... it took me a good long while, but it was worth the wait. This issue is even more lovely than the first!
Editor, Amanda Blake Soule, understands deeply just what has been missing in the print world for the growing community that respect a life that is slower and closer to home... that seeks sustainability, simplicity, and soul. She's curated (and written) a compilation of articles, recipes, stories and projects that feel like a gathering of old friends that are brimming with new inspiration. I think one of Amanda's gifts is that she truly is that old friend you adore that always has the best ideas. I'm absolutely honored to be included once more.You'll find my Story Staff amidst the pages.

It's a walking stick collaged with foraged treasures from family hikes... and a great summer project for making and taking on your next journey into the wilderness or even just down to your local park trail.

inspiration board on design*sponge

I'm so pleased to share this link to Design*Sponge today! You'll find the full instructions to make my burlap inspiration boards from Reinvention. There are endless varieties for adding organization with various pockets. These boards can help sort and stash tools as well as be a spot for gathering inspiration.

The board they featured is one that I created based on flight, soaring ... finding our wings. It was photographed almost exactly one year ago and has since morphed into something new. How fascinating to look at it a full turning of the seasons later. Don't forget to photograph your inspiration boards before you dismantle of freshen them. They are snapshots of our past and can carry messages to the present.

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diy- burlap scrubber

There's always something new to learn... even (or especially!) when you think you know it all. Take burlap... the material that I've come to know exceptionally well over the years. I've always preferred spot cleaning to getting it wet. I still feel that way when it comes to projects like buckets and bags, but my mother taught me something surprising. Burlap makes a fine cleaning tool when wet! What? Yes, she made a little burlap "pocket" to hold soap scraps or to contain a little sponge. It's gentle, yet abrasive, and holds up very well for dishes and counter scrubbing. The smell I associate with wet burlap (certainly not my fave), disappears when it's used with soap regularly! Very cool. Letting it dry out after every use is recommended. Compost when it's seen better days.

How To:

1. Take a rectangle of  fabric and fold over the short sides twice and stitch in place to create a finished edge
2. Fold in half lengthwise and stitch up the sides, keeping the finished top open.
3. Sew a sturdy snap at the top.
4. Add some soap shards.
5. Get scrubbin'!

These might even make a make a nice alternative exfoliator in the shower. Burlap is totally natural, after all. It's made from woven jute threads, which are plant based. Recycled burlap from coffee sacks are untreated, so it has some good potential as a natural body care tool. I'm still in the experimental phase, but thought you might want to test it with me if you have some burlap scraps to spare. Let me know what you discover!

Happy Scrubbing!

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handled cup sleeve and the cuppow

Thanks so much for your kind words about my rocky start yesterday. Simply writing it out always releases a bit of stress for me. I also think my very special cup of tea on the drive in to town helped. I often steep some some tea in a mason jar and screw on a lid for my morning country-to-town commute. As you can imagine, drinking out of  a widemouthed jar in a moving vehicle is not advisable. Therefore, my tea is often cold by the time I get to it. I kind of got used to that over the years, but last month I discovered a brand new device invented for folks just like me. I'm totally excited about The Cuppow! It arrived right before we left for the beach, so yesterday was my first time really trying it out. Love!

Knowing that I will now be able to sip my tea while it's hot, I decided I needed to make a sleeve to keep my hand comfortable around piping hot glass. Laura got a Cuppow too and had a similar idea... she's got a very sweet knitted cozy tutorial right here.  I wanted a handle... a slot really, to slip my hands in for a secure hold.  I used a scrap of wool from an old army blanket that I've been reinventing for the last couple of years.

I knew it would shrug off tea and coffee stains and insulate as well as add comfort. I made it in 5 minutes!
fast+simple+useful= happy

I cut a rectangle long enough to have the ends overlap and another one with an equal width for the handle.

My jar of choice has a narrower bottom so I adjusted the wool to fit securely and pinned in place. Note the angle.

I zigzagged one layer to another along the angle and covered that seam with the handle piece.

The handle was sewn to the bottom and top with a simple straight seam. It was reinforced with multiple back stitches for added durability. Note the white thread below. It's strong! Because the bottom is only slightly narrower, I added a tiny strip of cloth... a tag at the top to make it easy to know which side to slip the cup into. Although I'm holding it from the bottom in this shot, I soon learned it's totally sturdy... that cup isn't going anywhere. Good stuff.

organizing with sticks

After getting frustrated with my jumbled basket of trims and salvaged selvedge for the umpteenth time, I grabbed a couple of sticks and pieces of driftwood and began winding them. It only took a few minutes and the end result was more than an end to chaos- each one felt like a handheld sculpture.

make-it party

My daughter's request for her belated seventh birthday party couldn't have been more welcome. She didn't want a theme (as in the past), she just desired an afternoon of art and crafting with her closest friends. She asked for a "make it" party. That's my girl!  I didn't take a ton of photos, as my daughter was quite happy to have the focus of my eyes and not the lens. Any pictures with children have been kept anonymous with some intentional blurring. Photo-laden or not, I can share the steps, because seven is really the perfect age for this type of party and I encourage you to give it a try.

The stage was set for their creativity by organizing separate stations for each kind of material with signs hung from above:

• Drawing Door
• Beading Bazaar
• Sewing Station
• Painting Place
• Glitter and Glue

They were each welcomed to spend the afternoon roaming from one project to another. I didn't want there to be a sense of rushing, as everyone creates at a different pace.

Three of my favorite moms, who also happen to be good friends, stayed and helped. Between their able hands (all master needle-threaders) and my husbands fire-tending and snack prepping skills, we had a smooth and cozy three hours. I had a personal moment of bliss (rare in the midst of holding a children's party), when everyone gathered for sewing simple felt pouches and purses. So good! The girls each made something unique and amazing. My only regret... not having a record of their completed projects.  It must be a sign that I need to start hosting a little girl's sewing group.

 I made 8 project/party bags in the final hour before the guests arrived- silly me! They were whipped up out of an old sheet with a cheery twill tape handle and printed with my old scissor stamp that I still love so much. Not my finest stitching, but they did the job as they hung on the mantle to await the piñata goodies and assorted craft projects to take home.

I had made that super duper quick piñata in the top photo at midnight the night before. Under pressure crafting seems to be my favorite kind. Tissue paper, shredder scissors, glue, and a paper bag- that's all it took. The glue dried to form a nice hard shell and it was quite pretty for being so simple. An indoor piñata with big, strong seven year olds had me terrified once we got to that final moment. My husband saved the day with a wooden spoon! No blind fold (kept them from random whacking) and the smallness of their tool, made for controlled chaos and loads of fun! I'd actually do it again next year... even with bigger eight year olds!

7 craft party tips:

1. Beads- use elastic beading cord and help make the final knots.
2. Sewing- felt, felt, felt. 
3. Paint- use real artist canvases in small sizes and emphasize filling out the info on the back which includes date, name, signature, title, material... it gives a sense of reverence to each small masterpiece.
4. Music- quiet piano solos and such keeps the mood mellow, but a few dance tunes at key moments is good for shaking it out.
5. Snacks- have a scheduled buffet, and then gather children on a picnic blanket on the floor (fun and keeps the project tables from needing to be cleared... until cupcake time.
6. Cupcake Decorating- little dishes with little spoons for sprinkles, craft sticks for spreading frosting.
7. Piñata- wooden spoon instead of a bat (had to say it again!)

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