mommychick

What I've been working on...

I've been working on this purse for quite a few weeks now... Knitting here and there, when I get a chance. I love projects that go quickly. I used size 13 circular needles and doubled up the yarn. I wanted the bag to be a substantial size but didn't realize how much it was going to felt.

The finished size was 19"h x 15.5"w. By the time I put it through the washer twice, it shrank to 14"h x 13.5"w!!! As you can see, it felted more height wise. I might have liked to have the purse deeper, but I ran out of yarn.

Here's my littlest guy, always at my side:-)

I decided to add a pocket on the inside to make it easy for me to find things. Then I added a button to close it. After I felted the purse, I used my scissors to cut out a button hole. No need to worry as it won't unravel! Gotta love felting:-)

This is the bottom of the purse.

It kind of looks better inside out with the pocket on the outside, doesn't it? It could work that way, except that I really need a pocket on the inside to hold my cell phone and lip balm and stuff...  I think I need to put a felted flower or something on the outside, what do you think???

Episode #5: How To Make A Needle Felted Story Puppet

I have a new video tutorial on how to make a Waldorf style story puppet here. It's a great addition to your seasonal nature table or for a puppet show. Also makes a great Valentine's gift for your sweet one!

Monday Vignette

Having fresh flowers always makes me happy:) 

My boys helped me to create this little vignette to keep the little gnome company. It makes me smile whenever I pass by it in my kitchen.

I'd love to hear what you do to put a smile on your face! 

Catching Rainbows

We have a crystal hanging from our kitchen window. And when the sunlight hits it just right, we're blessed to have a room filled with glorious rainbows. Ryker loves to chase these rainbow lights.

He'd yell out, "I got it!"

It's so lovely to watch my little one soaking up the wonders of the world...

Sending Love to Haiti

The boys noticed a donation box at Wholefoods one day. We also wanted to send some donation to Haiti so we made this Love Jar last week to collect money.

The boys even took it to pottery class with some cookies we made:)

New Episode On HandworkTV: Valentine's Gift Bag & Doll Hat

I have a new episode up on HandworkTV. It's a video tutorial on how to make a cute Valentine's gift bag, and how to make a felted doll hat out of a recycled wool sweater. Please stop by and say hello! You have a chance to win the finished projects! Details are on the video. Good luck!

The Capable Two Year Old: "I Can Do It Myself!"

Yes, I use real glass and plates and not plastic. I never use sippy cups nor plastic utensils and bowls made for children. There's no need to buy expensive special cups for little ones. It's not necessary and just creates more things to wash and loose (little parts) in the kitchen. I wrote about buying smaller glass cups for little ones in my past post.

It's so much more freeing to just take off with a stainless steel water bottle when leaving home, or buying bottled water outside the home without worrying about packing a sippy cup for your little one.

I put small cups and plates (just right for little hands) on the bottom cupboard in our kitchen so that my young boys can get what they need on their own. Although little Ryker (2yrs old) is very capable of reaching for things he needs all on his own by moving his chair around!

My children help themselves to snacks all on their own, and it makes my life soooo much easier:) It's also great for helping to set the table for meals and emptying out the dishwasher.

It's especially cute when Ryker sees that I need a glass or a plate, then rushes over to serve ME.

Valentine's Heart Streamers

We got inspired to sew today since I've rearranged our library to have an open table. I saw this nifty craft here. We cut up a brown shopping bag and just started sewing! Mason was also inspired to try out the sewing machine, and little Ryker also wanted to help:)

Oh, it's so glorious to craft together with my boys.  Yes, they were still in their pjs. We talked about the sewing machine and the little tricks that I know. It was so much fun! We hung the hearts in our doorway of the library/creative room (my fav room in the house:).

HandworkTV

I have this adorable toadstool house tutorial on HandworkTV.com. You still have until tonight (midnight) to enter the contest so stop by and leave a comment! The little one on the left was made on the video and it's the one being given away. Enjoy!

Little Boys' Love of Trains

It always amazes me how my boys just love trains. It all started about 9 years ago when my first born was about two. He loved all kinds of trains. We have those heavy duty Lionel electric trains and Thomas trains as well.

Now Ryker enjoys all kinds of trains. First thing he says when he gets up is, "I want to play with toy trains," in those cute little voice only a two year old has.

It's a joy to watch them adoring these trains...such a magical time.

Do you have trains in your home?