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Have you ever noticed that kids usually don’t ever need inspiration for creating? They are always ready to pick up a paint brush, crayon, marker, clay, and jump right in. I think part of it comes from how new everything is for them, and part is just them liking to go through the motions. Sometimes they pick up a crayon and aren’t making anything, but you can see clearly that they are enjoying the back and forth motion, or are appreciating just going in circles.
I think adults need to, every once in a while, do the same. Look at the world through the eyes of a child, like you are seeing it for the first time. Un-jaded, pre-judged. A world filled with free-flowing art and people enjoying going through the motion wouldn’t be a bad thing. What do you think?
A beautiful Masterpiece created by my little girl.
Every Thanksgiving I like to think of all of the things in my life I am grateful for and lucky to have. It is so easy to take for granted and to forget what is really important. I know I am not alone in this tradition, but I would like to share a few of those things with you.
This week Carson was being downright obstinate. She was nasty and bad tempered. After screaming at her,I took a deep breath and went in her room to talk with her. When I asked her what was wrong,
she broke down and cried. She said that a week ago she had tied her shoelaces together at school, and when no one could get them untied, the recess Aid had to cut them. She felt awful and embarrassed. It may seem trivial, but to a child it is the whole world. She had been holding it in for a whole week and that is why she was being nasty. She had this on her mind and didn’t want to tell anyone.
I am glad she told me.
Along with being very thankful for my husband, who can still make me laugh,
And our children, whom I love greatly,
And the innumerable other beautiful things in our lives,
I am thankful that our problems still can be solved with talking and listening.
Have you ever had one of those days where you hear something over and over from your children and it is oh so hard to break the cycle? My older daughter’s favorite way to begin a sentence is “But Mom..”.
“But Mom, WHY can’t I blah blah blah”. ” But MOM Why can’t we blah blah blah”.
You get the idea.
One day after an exhausting day of answering the same questions over and over, I turned to my inquisitive child and said “That is NOT my name. Please do not call me BUTT MOM, it is not nice.”
That did it. Laughing and giggling from both of us. She then tried to stop saying it, but it is like when someone says “Don’t scratch it”. You HAVE to.
Most of the time I feel as though we are living in a Marx Brother’s movie.
OK. I am not into the habit of promoting other people’s Blogs (that I don’t know) , but this woman is amazing and remarkably creative. One of those people that makes you feel (unintentionally) like all you do is sit around and eat Bon Bons.
At the same time, I get this wave of inspiration from looking at these beautiful images and reading her eloquent writing. She has written a book, so of course, I took it out from the library. Very worth looking at. Good ideas that will get you making your own natural crafts in no time.
It is called “The Creative Family”, by Amanda Soule. Her Blog is www.SouleMama.com
Check it out!
What are you just sitting there for? There are art supplies to organize and toys to create! Who knows where this can lead? World domination by way of Hand knitted Tea cozies! Oh, I have said too much:)
Happy Crafting!
This is one of my creations.
Fabric-covered Can that is useful when organizing art supplies.
As I took my morning walk I was thinking about how very lucky I am. I have the ability to listen to the birds and breathe the fresh crisp Autumn air, and I can use my body to climb up hills and walk just about anywhere. I can feel my heart pound in my chest, and it makes me glad.
I also was thinking of people that don’t ever take the time to slow down and sometimes even stop to enjoy what lies around us. There can be so much joy found in hearing a child’s laugh, or watching a leaf fall ever so graciously to the earth.
It is nice to step outside my own mind every once in a while to really take in what is around me. I hope you all find little patches of peace, and slow down enough to appreciate them.
Here is a new Batik Sling fabric I found today. I am so intrigued by it. I see a winter landscape thick with bare trees.
My younger daughter said that it is “spider webby”.
What do you see?
As I was sewing baby slings tonight, I was thinking about why I chose the colors I did. Obviously you can’t please everyone, so I usually choose colors I am attracted to. The reasons came so easily once I gave them thought. Hats, I choose bright, vibrant colors. The colors of what childhood should be. Slings, on the other hand, have to be something that a parent would wear and is drawn to for cradling and comforting their baby. I was sewing a bright blue with dots on it, that clearly resembled bubbles to me. So happy. Next, came one of my favorites, the solid red one. Reminds me instantly of the robes of Tibetan Monks. So peaceful, so serene. Perfect for calming a baby. The next one sticks out a bit from the others. Why did I choose this? Almost looks as if Paul Bunyan wore it. Its flannel-like plaid looks oh so familiar…..
Grandpa. It is the same color as a shirt that my grandfather used to wear. I can still smell the leather from his favorite chair, and taste the cashews we used to share when I look at this fabric. He had this calm about him that I have always admired. How incredibly perfect for carrying a child. My subconscious seems to have led me to the essence of what color has the capability to do.
Parents need their colors of comfort too.
Wow. Not even the middle of November and I hear those Christmas bells already!
Every year it seems to come closer and closer to Halloween.
Christmas music is being piped through the stores and people are making holiday plans. Yikes!
I always have to begin sewing for the holidays around October. Along with my two children having birthdays in December, and making Christmas presents, this year, I am going to be at the local craft Fair selling my Hats and Slings. All of you in the area, please stop by the Shorewoods Craft Fair in Hansville, December 6-7 to support local craftspeople. All of you not in Washington, I will still be taking orders to ship to you. I suppose it is never too early to start thinking of giving☺
Who knew that a whole fairy colony sprouted in our backyard? No notice. No warning. They came with the rain and the affordable housing market. Incredible how they sprang into being in just a few days. Now we have all of these new neighbors. I hear Fairies are quiet though.
Strange Fairy Houses oddly resemble
Noggin’ Toppers Fleece Hats!
Smart Fairies.
If you would like to help Mamas in Haiti deliver healthy babies by sewing or knitting caps,
click on this link.
www.MamatoMama.org
I truly believe that it take a village, and that we all work better when in a tribe. When you think of our daily lives, we all create these mini- tribes around us. Neighbors, friends, Mommy groups, family, etc. Within these groups, tales get passed along from person to person, and the songs of yesteryear are once again the songs of today. We even include movies, television, and radio as sources, so in-turn include them in our culture. Here is one of my favorites from a movie from my husband’s childhood. I hope you all will share yours with me too!
Oh I wish I was a little bar of soap, Bar of soap.
Oh I wish I was a little bar of soap, Bar of soap.
I’d go Slishy sloshy sliney
over everybody’s hiney
Oh I wish I was a little bar of soap.
It is the beginning of the rainy season here.
When you feel that bone chilling cold and are unable to get warm,
When you feel you may never see the sun again,
When you hear the stirring of children that have been trapped inside one too many days,
You know it is the rainy season.
Here in the Pacific NW, we have an entire season for it. This isn’t the kind of season that lasts for one of our calendar seasons. This encompasses 3.
It begins in the Fall and doesn’t let up until Spring.
This year I refuse to succumb to the boredom and hopelessness of the ceaseless rain and cold. THIS year I will beat it!
Well, at least I will make an effort:)
These are the days we will put on our Noggin’ Toppers (see how I shamelessly threw that in), break out the homemade clay, markers, string, and shaving cream and create until we are fresh out of inspiration. We shall read tons of books, set the tent up in the house, and put on ball gowns.
I will cook comfort foods with the help of my children, and we shall eat until our bodies are as warm as our imaginations.
We shall cuddle under a huge fleece blanket and share some popcorn and stories with each other (while wearing our Noggin’ Toppers of course).
Come on rain, we are ready. Bring it on!
So, my soon to be 9 year old daughter has just asked me if she can celebrate her birthday by inviting a few friends over to make a fleece tie-quilt to donate to a person in need. Ahhhhhhhh.
She is incredibly giving and sweet and has had this on her mind for quite sometime now. I think it is a lovely sentiment, but am having trouble with the planning.
My question is, does anyone out there know of any organization that would accept a fleece tie-quilt as a donation? I would love to hear your feedback, so that I can make this happen for her.
