The Artful Year- a review

I'm so excited to share one of my new favorite books with you! Today we are part of the blog tour for Jean Van't Hul new book. She has written another "soon to be" classic with The Artful Year, published by Roost Books (my favorite publisher!). It celebrates each season and holidays with crafts and recipes for the whole family. The essence is on creating memories and traditions together by following the rhythm of the seasons, which Jean feels are "ideal for introducing children to visual arts and natural science, both of which begin with observation".

Jean and I have been online friends since the early blogging days, and I was honored to contribute to her first book, The Artful Parent. Her blog, of the same name, is a wonderful source of inspiration for how to bring creativity into your children's lives. I love that Jean focuses on projects with an open-ended process. Nature is surely woven in, as well. The Artful Year is a wonderful reflection of that emphasis,  even though there are plenty of crafts that end in a wonderful gift, a celebratory decoration or a wonderful new holiday dish.

The Artful Year is brimming over with activities (175!) for all ages, lending itself well to families with mixed age siblings. It's organized by season, including a chapter on things to do anytime of year. There are reading lists for kids and parents… and there are recipes! I've always believed that cooking with children is just another creative outlet for families, and I love how many fun and festive recipes have been included.

As we push forward the clocks today, I am aware that spring might come after all. I've poured through the Spring chapter with gusto and there are over 10 different kinds of ways to decorate eggs- ten!

You'll  also find nests to make for your eggs and nests to bake and eat! Instructions are simple and straightforward… photographs are inspiring because they're great guides and not too glossy. I've noticed that many craft books for children often have an unattainable quality to their perfect end products. Jean's photographs are real and beautiful.

This book is truly a must have for anyone raising or working with children. If I could only keep a couple of books on creativity with children, The Artful Year would be at the top of my list. It's really that good.

 Here's a little peek:

And if you'd like to see more, check out the blog tour right here and hop on over to some of the other stops. 

Congratulations, Jean! 

mini-crowns

A little Sunday evening post was in order to tell you about our new happy head wear. It began last week when Maya used a toilet paper tube as her prompt of the day for her Frivolous Project. I couldn't resist! In 10 minutes I had made and photographed this definitely frivolous cat hat. 

So fun, right? Our "serious party animal" seemed to make a lot of people smile on Instagram. So I made a second.

This weekend my daughter and some friends wanted to get in on the action. "Pet crowns" were the initial goal, but they changed gears once we added some metallic paints to the mix. Royal crowns of their very own were whipped up. With a hole punch and elastic thread, these work beautifully for people. What a fantastic party hat- or just what's needed to feel like a queen for the day. Because they're miniature, these have a "cool" factor that makes them a little more sophisticated then a typical paper crown. Important to keep in mind for 10 year olds. Elastic thread is the key to them feeling "barely there" and being able to sit jauntily on the side of your head.

The sky's the limit to the design possibilities. We just used a few supplies and were totally satisfied.

Mini-Crowns

 

Need:

• Toilet paper tube
• Scissors
• Washi tape
• Hole punch
• Elastic thread
• Metallic paint
• Paint brush

Make:

1. Cut 1/4 of the tube off. Use the rest.
2. Slice shapes out of the top. Classic crown triangles or fringe have been our only designs so far (we really need to branch out!) Fringe can be wrapped around a pencil to create the curl effect on the top or bottom of the crown.
3. Decorate with paint and tape or whatever strikes your fancy. Let Dry.
4. Punch two holes on opposites sides from each other.
5. Knot elastic thread through one hole. Try crown on pull the thread to the other side to gauge the length you'll need for your own comfort. Cut and tie the thread to other hole.
6. Slip your crown on… your Majesty!

the paper playhouse

A light hearted energy has landed in my home this week and with it came a desire to play. Katrina Rodabaugh's new book, The Paper Playhouse (Quarrybooks), arrived just in time!

 It's filled with children's projects using recycled paper, boxes and books. This focus makes me happy for all of the obvious green reasons, but also for utilizing materials that are so easy for kids to find around the house... and for their parents to gratefully hand over to them for experimentation and creativity.

 

 There are plenty of perfect invitations for parents to collaborate with their younger children around craft, creativity and imaginary play. Lots of the projects can be made independently by an older child. In the back there is an extensive gallery of paper artists and their work for further inspiration. Just a few of the many below. And YES those are my newspaper and sewing pattern flowers! So happy to be included here with such a great group!

Congratulations Katrina! What a lovely book to share our kids!

handmade holidays

As I was checking on my blog for my spicy bark recipe, I realized I should really do= my usual round-up of crafty ideas for the holidays. So let's revisit some projects and roundups from past winters to serve as visual reminders for you (and me!).  A good idea is a wonderful thing to recycle.  Incorporating handmade into your home and gifts always adds more meaning to the holidays, and the benefits are vast. It ensures that there's less rushing about out. And if you create with friends and family, traditions are formed and memories made. There's still time...

diy yule log candle tray here

herb gift toppers found here

wrapping suggestions here

recipe found here

tutorial found here

oat floats: how to found here

diy frilled pencils (great stocking stuffers!)

And here are a plethora of good ones from deeper in the archives!

Above are some well-loved decoration ideas. Links are from left to right.
Row 1: burlap forest, snow covered pine cones, cranberry wreath
Row 2: rag wreath, newspaper snowflake garland, batting scrap wreath ornament

The following are links for simple gifts that whip up quickly. Once again from left to right.
Row 1:  elf slippers, card holders, milk carton cookie houses
Row 2:  napkin rings and other security paper ideas, gift bag/boxes, leather leaf cuff
Row 3:  wrapping ideas, child's travel pillow, paper whites
Row 4:  love letter pillow, travel felt board, envelope purses
Row 5: quick personalized stationery, memory game, last minute treat bags

Happy Making!

Artful Christmas- a review and giveaway!!

I have a treat for us today! Artful Christmas (published by Lark Crafts) is the brand new book by Susan Wasinger. I've loved all of her books. She's a creative whirlwind of ideas that combine clever techniques with easy (and often eco) materials. All of which wouldn't impress me as much if I didn't also love her aesthetic- a compliment I don't hand out liberally. And she's prolific- check out her books here. My love for the winter holidays and resourceful decorating is no secret… so Susan has just published one of my new favorite books. I'm pretty certain that you'll love it too.

 Some of her projects are not new, but the easy instructions and little twists she uses makes each one fresh and more enticing than ever. I've always wanted to make a doily bowl… now I actually will.  Can you imagine a holiday table with a smattering of different sized "snowflake" bowls holding votives?! Lovely!

 Stocking Inspiration is always welcome. I might even make the three of us a new set this year. Time for fresh starts on old traditions. And what to do with those old decks missing a few cards? Love these ornaments.

 Needle-felted wool on linen with raw edges! Need I say more? 

 And then there's the advent calendar… Susan shares some brilliant ways to create different designs on the front with stencils and stamps. Stencils and stamps may be two of my favorite words!

With 30 craft projects for Christmas making, all are quite elegant even if the materials are very humble. I envision pulling this out each year- excited to try something new. I think it would make a perfect present waiting under the tree for all of the crafty folks out there… and worth checking out right now to add some making magic to this festive month.

And here comes the giveaway! Thank you to Susan and Lark Crafts, who would love to offer one of you (in the US or Canada) a copy. Please leave a comment below by Monday 12/9 at 9pm. Perhaps share one of your favorite things about this time of year: a smell, a craft, a treat, or an activity. I'll announce the randomly selected winner on Tuesday!  Good luck!

Now I'm off to paper punch some more playing cards for some weekend fun!

******************************

And the winner is…

Karen PeacockDecember 5, 2014 at 5:39 PM

Now I know what I can do with all those playing cards floating around here! Every year I look forward to getting out my grandmother's "Christmas is Coming" craft books from the 80's. I really need to update my collection!! 

counting the days!

I woke up to my daughter crowing "Happy December!".  It's her birthday in a few weeks, and no one is more excited for this favorite month to begin than she is. Candy canes, eggnog and carols have been everywhere for some time, but we wait patiently until the first of the month… and then we throw open the doors! I brought down decorations from the attic this morning and am setting up our advent calendar for when the kids return home this afternoon. I've saved all three of my TP Tube countdown calendars and am always so relieved to have one ready to go each year when I turn the calendar page.

Don't think it's too late to make one… in fact, I know a mom who made one a day starting on the first day. Adding each addition was part of the count down activity itself. Talk about working creatively with time constraints! If you don't have 24 tubes handy, folded over card stock works nicely too.

Links to calendars of years past:

2008

2009

2010

gold leaf

 Our magnolia tree is finally releasing her leaves. On Saturday I had two assistants to help me gather some for an experiment.

 Silver and gold paint. Leaves. Foam brushes. Some newspaper spread on the floor. Hours of engagement! The largest of the leaves are thick and very sturdy, but not so much for the smaller ones.

A couple of days have passed and the smalls are curling up as dry leaves do. The process ended up being far more rewarding than I had anticipated, so if my planned end result morphs that's ok by me.

"Metal" leaves are definitely a new favorite around here.

foxy friends

Last week I got the call from Quilter's Corner that my sewing machine was ready to be picked up after a much needed servicing. It's always a happy reunion when I've been separated from my favorite machine (a Pfaff classic). My daughter accompanied me. She has the same response to fabric stores that all sewers have... excitement, inspiration, and a desire for just one (or two) more bits of fabric. However, she often claims that she is NOT a sewer- and doesn't like to sew.  Humph. This dichotomy always leaves me a bit bewildered.

When she discovered a foxy flannel fat quarter and began "nicely" begging with clear intentions for what she would make out of it, I couldn't help but get my "mama sewer" hopes up. She knows just how to hook me- and we went home with the sweet flannel below.

Her idea was to utilize the space around each fox and make mini stuffies- a whole family of them. And she did- immediately.

She even taught her friend how to make some later on that day during sleepover. It was a fox frenzy!

One fat quarter of this, makes a lot! And keeps little hands stitching happily for hours with some very immediate results.
The girls even made fox storage pouches and  accessories... sleeping bags, pillows, bowls, messenger bag and a chicken drumstick! And then carefully arranged them for a photo shoot. Thanks girls!

Wouldn't these make perfect little gifts?  Great stocking stuffers or fun presents kids can make on their own are always welcome additions to the holidays... glad my girl got inspired!

all that glimmers IS gold

In the search for holiday simplicity, I'm mining for my usual treasures and striking gold. Literally. I think that there will be some super easy sparkle and shimmer mixed in with my meadow finds this year.

Here are the basic and inexpensive tools I'm using to add a little metal to my nature:

-a foam brush

-masking tape

-Martha Stewart Metallic Acrylic Craft Paint (today I used YELLOW GOLD)

-Sharpie Metallic series (bronze)

I found this feather at my doorstep at dawn... like the last glimmer of a dream. So- a little gold was swept on for that perfect, soft gleam.