the need to create

Recently I've had a little resurgence in my desire to be creative and make things. In the matter of one week, I have completed 3 projects and I have been really happy with them. They are not for anything special, except for us to enjoy, which makes them even more special.
The first project I did was a set of little houses made of crayola air dry clay. I love this stuff because it gives immediate results and it doesn't need to be fired. I use this clay quite a bit with Noah, especially at Christmastime to make ornaments. It also works well for hand prints.
I had seen many of these types of houses on Pinterest and Etsy, and yes, I do believe in buying and supporting other artists, but I also believe that it is okay to be inspired and to make things for yourself. Would I go and sell these little houses on Etsy, when other artists do so? No. Would I sell them at craft sales here in the Yukon, when no one else makes them up here? Yes. For as long as art has existed, artists have found inspiration from other artists. I think as long as you give credit, don't try to take business from others, and don't pretend to be the original one, then it is okay.
I quite like how my little houses turned out and I think I might make some gnomes to go with them....or  some matryoshka dolls.
The second project I completed was a sundress for Katia, using some old pieces of fabric that I had on hand. I wanted it to be ready for our upcoming trip to Cuba, but I didn't use a pattern and unfortunately, it turned out to be way too big on her. I think come summer or fall it might fit her, and it would look cute with a long sleeved t-shirt under it.
And last, my favourite one of them all, a painting that I did of a matryoshka doll. I have a thing for matryoshka dolls. Yesterday, I got out my paints (and Noah's paints too), and we painted together. I haven't completed a painting for quite some time, and it felt so good to have the desire to do it. This painting was completed in just over 24 hrs. I went back to it a few times and would spend about a 2-3 hrs at a time at it. I used water colours for it and am happy with how she turned out.
And that is all for now. Who knows if I will continue with this creative streak (I hope so!) It would be nice to make up a few more paintings and clay houses. Sewing is not quite my forte, so I think I will take a little break from it for now.
Creating art and things to use is something that I just need to do. It is part of who I am. Since having children, I have found it very hard to find the motivation and attention that making art requires. I find myself often feeling scatterbrained and unfocussed, but lately it's been different. I really appreciate that making art is a gift that I can give myself. It's not for anyone else but me. It allows me to escape and focus on something. It feels right.
How about you? Have you felt the need to make lately?
xox

red, yellow, orange, gold

The leaves out our back window are the most beautiful golden yellow. The other day I pulled Noah up on to his bad and told him to look out his window (he has a great view from his room). I showed him the beautiful yellow leaves and told him the would begin to drop soon, and then the trees will be bare. I've been enjoying that I can talk about the season with him and that he is starting to understand this shift in nature.

One of my goals for this school year (not that Noah is in school yet), is to begin to learn about the seasons and to find ways to celebrate each one. I drafted a working list of ideas that we could work from, and so far, it's been so much fun.

For me, there is no better way to integrate an idea into our day to day life than to physically experience it. We've been getting out for lot's of nature walks, picking up beautiful leaves (which we've pressed in a book for some Autumn crafts), and making seasonal crafts. 

The other day we worked on making coffee filter Autumn leaves. I chose to only put out "Autumn" colours (no blues, greys, blacks ect), so that our leaves would have some unified colours. Once our filters had dried, I used a sharpie to draw out leaf shapes, cut them up and hung them in our front window for people passing by to enjoy (we also enjoy them too, the colours are so pretty when up in a window).

The other fall craft that we did was to grate some old crayons (again, we used Autumn colours) and to sandwich them between wax paper. We then covered the wax paper with an old towel and ironed the wax paper shut. I then used a sharpie to draw leaves and cut them out. They produced such deep and rich colours. 

I have to say, I've really been enjoying this Autumn so much. We've had such lovely days, where we really get to go out and enjoy it (it hasn't been too cold), and I've been having fun with Noah, watching him experience the season with new eyes. 

And how about you? Have you been getting crafty yet? Is the cooler weather making you spend more time indoors?
xox

colour, fun, fresh air, snow

This afternoon we found ourselves outside enjoying the late afternoon sun. That's right! Late afternoon sun! The sun doesn't set now until 5:30 or so and we are fully taking advantage of the extra daylight.

I decided that we would do some snow painting in the front of our house which entertained Noah for a good 45mins or so. Katia slept away in her ergo carrier, while I watched Noah play.

After some play in the front yard, we wandered down the street to look for Sinclair, the neighbourhood cat. Noah loves him and Sinclair always comes over to greet us, which makes Noah's day.

The days are getting longer and we've just had a stretch of unseasonably warm weather. I'm soaking it all up.

Good things for today:

:: going out for breakfast with Noah (and Katia) while Daddy stayed home to study. It was like a little date with my little guy.

:: sunshine.

::colourful houses in my neighbourhood.

:: watching a chick flick because I wanted something light and fluffy.

:: making valentines for the kids to send to family and friends.

:: brownies. yum!

happy weekend

xox

keeping busy in the winter

It's January and it's cold outside. Like -40 cold. Yes, very cold. Add one very active little 2 and a half year old to the mix and well, I'm sure you get the idea where this one is going.

I am always trying to come up with new ways to educate, entertain and stimulate Noah. We have a few things that we like to do on a daily and weekly basis, but more recently I've been feeling the need to add to our list of activities and to also start some kind of a weekly schedule of activities.

One of the things that I would like to get Noah into more often is doing art and crafting. For those that know me well this would seem obvious, but I have to admit, we actually haven't done much crafting/art making up until this point. I find that with very small children (2 years of age and under), that making art usually just consists of sensory activities such as finger painting and playing with playdoh. When we tried other types of painting in the past, I had to keep a very close eye on Noah because he'd often stick the brush in his mouth or start painting the walls. Sigh! But now that he is a bit older I am finding that he is starting to make the connections and art time is actually a lot of fun.

For Christmas we got Noah an art easel and set (easel from IKEA, art set from Melissa and Doug) and it is definitely getting used by Noah. The other day while looking for some new activities to do with Noah, I found these ideas to do at our easel. We tried out doing some collaging right at his easel yesterday and it was a success! I had to stay with him the whole time to show him the process, but he loved it and it kept his interest, which we all know is hard with little ones.

Here are some things to keep in mind and how we did it:

1. I always clean up the area that the child will be working at ahead of time. If you don't do it ahead of time, you most likely have an excited child who wants to get into things that aren't part of the craft. Have everything already set up and clean so that the child knows exactly what is happening and doesn't have to wait. This goes back to me teaching art to highschool students... you wouldn't believe the amount of prep that needs to be done before class starts.
2. Precut various shapes of colourful paper and felt scraps. I cut squares, circles and triangles. You can cut what ever shapes you like, hearts...stars...organic shapes...ect. I then put them in a small box on the tray of the easel.
3. Have a blank piece of paper ready and allow the child to draw on the paper using crayons or markers.
4. When they are finished drawing, show them how to use a glue stick. Noah and I got a little song going, every time we'd use the glue stick on the paper we'd repeat "circle circle circle" because that's the motion we were making with the glue stick. I think it helped him to get into the process.
5. Allow the child to choose one thing at a time to stick on. Ask them questions like, "do you like the orange triangle?" this helps them to identify shapes and colours.
6. Once the child is finished gluing their shapes you could take it one step further by adding stickers or stamps or bingo dabbers if you like. I like the idea of adding to a picture and not just leaving it with one thing.
7. Et voila! You're done! Looks great doesn't it?

I'll be back soon with more ideas on how to spend those cold days indoors.

Stay warm!

xox

handmade giving

Christmas may well be over, but I wanted to share with you this little toy that I made to give to the babies in my life for Christmas this year. It's a simple taggie triangle that has two different materials on either side (for texture and colour) and has cellophane paper inside to make it crinkle. It was really easy to sew up, so easy in fact that I made up 4 of them in like 10 minutes. Done and done!

I wish I had taken step-by-step photos to show you how to do it but I didn't, so these instructions will have to do. Feel free to ask me any questions if it doesn't make sense.

Step 1:

Gather supplies : 2 different fabrics, assorted silky ribbons, stuffing and cellophane paper. You will need scissors and a sewing machine too.

Step 2:

With a pen on the WRONG SIDE, free hand draw a triangle onto one of your fabrics. Make the triangle larger than what you hope it to be, as you will need extra room for the seams. I would go 4 inch long sides.

Step 3:

Hold your two different fabrics together and carefully cut out the triangle. You should have 2 pieces of fabric cut exactly the same now. Place the fabrics RIGHT SIDE together.

Step 4:

Cut 3 different coloured ribbons to 2 inches. Fold the ribbons in half and place them in miscellaneous spots inside the triangle. Pin them in place.

Step 5:

With your sewing machine, follow the outside and sew the triangle, leaving about a 2.5 inch space unsewn so that you can turn it inside out.

Step 6:

Turn the triangle inside out and then stuff the triangle with stuffing. Don't fill it too much, as you also want to put cellophane paper inside it too. I kept taking stuffing out and adding more cellophane until I was happy with the the softness-to-crinkle ratio.

Step 7:

Hold the gap closed tight and sew up the triangle with your machine or by hand.

And that is that! A super simple tactile and colourful toy that takes no time to make.

xox

recently...

Recently ... we've been spending as much time as we can outside ... we've been gardening ... we've been hanging out with little friends ... and been having lunch outside ... we've been going to outdoor concerts ... and enjoying lemonade with pretty ice cubes and strawberries floating in it.

It's been so nice to have the sun back and the days warm. Hope you are enjoying your sunny summer days.

xox

ps. I'll be back tomorrow with day 2 and 3 of my June photo challenge.

top of the day to ya'

Happy St.Patty's Day dear friends!

Just popping in to wish you all a very happy day. I hope the luck of the Irish comes your way.

Today we are celebrating by wearing our shamrock pins ( I swear I am obsessed with making pins for Noah) and some green. And I thought I'd try to make some green food for lunch, so spinach squares it is!

Hope you have a lovely day!

xox

ps. here we were last year, green beer and all! Look how much Noah has grown!

it's a colourful week...orange!

It's Friday and it's an orangey day! Yes that' right- it's an orangey day!
In other news, my sweet hubby is finally home from 2 weeks of training. And what does that mean you ask? Well for starts it means that I am no longer the only person to wake up through out the night when Noni gets up (time and tine again). Also it means that I don't have to sleep alone and let my imagination get the best of me. Yup, that's me, I totally let my imagination run wild when I am all by myself. Ghosts, intruders...you name it, I imagine it. Anyways, now that hubby is home I don't need to worry about that anymore. Happy I am!
So happy Friday dear friends, hope you have a lovely weekend.
xox