Home Preschool

We're doing a little preschool at home, and I thought I'd share what we're doing.  I'm a complete novice at homeschooling, so maybe you guys can help me figure it out as I go.

We have our formal school time in the morning right after breakfast because the girls are both willingly sitting at the table, and we're all still in good moods.  It's a great way to start the day, and always puts me in a productive mood.  It usually lasts 15 minutes to an hour, depending on how much fun they're having.  Each week we focus on a letter and most of our projects relate to the letter.  Every day, I hang their coloring projects on the wall next to the table, so we can talk about them at dinner when John gets home.  I also try to make sure I work in other activities during the day, which I guess is more like unschooling.  But it helps me to remember to do them if I make it part of our pre-school goal.

Some of our resources and activities:

• my Phonics Coloring Book, and the full size sheets 
• listen to a weekly bible reading and a corresponding Bible coloring page 
• Letter Virtue coloring pages (sweet drawings by another homeschooling mom)
• free coloring pages from here or here
• painting letters on large scale, and just paint for fun.  This is how I taught L to write her name, she's really into black.
• read together for about 30 minutes
• constructive play (legos, play dough, or playing outside)
• pickup toys and put away plates at meal times

I also love the ideas I've read in The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections by Amanda Soule.  Since reading this lovely book, we've found more ways to incorporate the arts and learning into our home.  I especially enjoy our ever growing dress up basket and our art center.  Plus, it made me realize the immense value of the time we spend playing outside.

A Request and Other Things

1.  When I was making crowns last weekend, L asked, "are those for me?"  I told her "No, they are for other kids who don't already have a crown."  She's reminded me of this several times.  The bugger thing is that it sounds so charitable.  They're for my shop.  Not charitable.

But then I thought maybe there really are some kids out there who have a extra special need for a crown.  Maybe a kid who really needs to feel special.  Do you know a child like this?  I get that this is a weird request.  But if you know someone, L and I would love to share a crown with them.  Send me an email and we'll work out a way to get it to them. 

2.  I usually do some kind of handmade valentine for John, but I haven't got any ideas yet this year.  I'm loving this from fabric card with change-able button on messages from Sew Mama Sew.

3.   I've added an "About" page to the sidebar, with some faq's for the blog.  It's pretty standard.

Dress-Up Crown Tutorial

I made birthday crowns for my girls last year.  I had intended for them to be a special birthday thing, that we got out only once a year, so they would be extra special.  But, as these things go, the girls loved them, and they found a permanent home in our dress up basket.  I had no idea how much the kids would love them.  They are a regular feature around here.

I decided to make a bunch for an art fair coming up, and put together this tutorial while I was at it.  I have to add, there are a million great tutorials out there for crowns.  My version, as usual, just keeps it simple (I've left the elastic exposed), made use of what I keep on hand (sorry, not felt), and allows for fun use of trimmings.  And the trimmings are the best part, right?  I love dumping out my fabric and ribbons and sifting through to find just the right match for that funky ribbon, or finding a surprisingly lovely combination of fabrics.  Ah, that's what sewing is all about. 

I digress.  The directions are below, but you can also download the templates I used.  I tried to make a couple that were boyish, too - they're angular and not pink. My crowns have about a 17" circumference that will stretch quite a bit, so they're one size fits most - just use a bit more elastic if you have a big head. :)

Update:  Be sure to check out the Nicholas Crown Project that this tutorial inspired!  I'm giving away dress-up crowns!  Come help me out!

Instructions:
1.  Draw or print template, cut out.  If you draw your own, the width should be about 9 inches.
2. Pin pattern to fabric and cut out fabric adding a 1/4" seam allowance all the way around. Cut 2 (I like to used different fabrics for the front and back).
3.  Cut out interfacing and iron to the wrong side of your back fabric.  Alternately, you can just cut a third layer of heavy weight fabric and put it in the middle of your sandwich - both work well.
4.  Topstitch trimmings onto your front fabric.  I used ribbon, bias tape, buttons, lace, and a handmade crocheted rose.  The possibilities are endless.
5.  Cut a 9" piece of 1/4"-1/2" elastic.
6.  With right sides facing, sew around the edge of your crown.  Leave openings on the bottom inch of both sides.  You'll turn right side out through one of these holes, and later insert the elastic in each side.
7. Clip slits in seam allowance, especially in the corners.  Turn right side out, poking out all the little points and curves with a chopstick/pencil thing.  Iron sound that all the points are neat, and the openings have their edges neatly tucked in.  Don't skip the ironing - it really helps.
8.  Starting just after the opening on one side, top stitch around the crown.  When you reach the opening on the opposite side, insert on end of the elastic (about 1/2"-1" from the base of the crown) and back stitch over it a few times.  Continue topstitching around the crown, and repeat the elastic insertion with the other end.  Be sure not to twist the elastic.
 Feel free to sell items made from this pattern; however, if you do, please give credit to me as the designer. 

Olive Fougasse

I got Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day for Christmas, and I'm on my fourth or fifth batch now.  It took a little adjusting to the idea of wet dough, but once I got the consistency right, everything has turned out excellent.  I love baking bread, but I can appreciate the time saving factor anyway, because it makes it so easy to make something every day.  The only drawback is that it makes me want to buy a bunch of stuff: a larger container so I don't have to keep making new batches, a pizza peel and baking stone (which I should probably have anyway), new flour canisters, cut bread serving platters...  Okay, maybe that's just me.

I made the Olive Fougasse from the olive oil dough.  It is excellent and beautiful, and even easier to make than some of the other breads.  It is basically focaccia bread with olives mixed it.  I took it to a gathering, and felt like a heel every time I said, "fougasse," but everyone liked it anyway.  

Phonics Coloring Book

I've been working on a Phonics Coloring Book to help L learn her letters. We're doing a little home pre-schooling, and I thought this would be fun. L loves all the school activities, as long as it's a little laid back. She's only 3 after all.

The printable version of the coloring book is now in the shop.  It includes a small book that you can print on regular letter paper with an opening for each letter of the alphabet.  Each letter has a picture to color and space for little ones to practice writing their letters.  In addition to the book, it also includes instructions for printing and assembling the book, and a full size coloring page for each letter, assembled as 2 easily printed pdfs.  I drew pictures of animals and objects that my 3 year old would easily know to help her recognize the sounds and associate them with the letter.  Also, I was careful to make the letters in fonts that actually look like the way you write letters, without all the extra flourishes, which can be confusing. 

I'm giving away coloring pages for the letters L-O-V-E and a composite page, which would make a cute valentine coloring page. Download here or buy the entire printable book here. Share the love!

Coming of Age

So, I promised to update you on my new opportunity.

Celebrating my contract with marmalade

I'm working with Lark Crafts to write a sewing pattern book full of plush toys with clever, interactive designs - including, among others, my Smile Crocodile, Peekaboo Turtle, several Flip Doll patterns, and loaded with new patterns.  You won't see the book until 2013, but this year I'll be knee deep in new designs and pretty fabrics.

This is a big year for me.  I'm writing a book, John's building our house, and I'm turning 30!  I feel nervous about aging sometimes, but this year feels like my coming-of-age adventure.  I know it will be a challenge to balance my designing with being a mother, as it always is.  And there are so many other things I'd like to be doing (...helping John with the house, traveling, returning to school, painting - sigh), but I'm also feeling more peace about the time that life takes.  I'm grateful that I have many adventures waiting to follow this one.

So, what did you do to celebrate turning 30?  I'd like to do something special this year - like a trip or an event.  But I'm not sure what.  Something coming-of-age-y.  Any ideas?

2011 Calendar

I plum forgot about this day to day calendar!  I have three tutorials included among the 100 sewing projects in this calendar. I haven't gotten mine yet because I've been so out of it - but it's only January, so I figure it's not too late.  I'll tell you all about it when it arrives!

New Year Organizing

I try to fold my fabric, like, once a year.  It lasts a little while and makes me feel good.  Plus, it reminds me what I have, and I'm able to fit it into the space I have better.  I always consider organizing by size or type of fabric, but in the end, it's always by color.  The upright crate is filled with scraps, and this is where most of my favorite vintage bits are.  I enjoy dumping it out and rifling through it whenever I need a little special piece.

 

My studio has never been pretty.  I get really jealous of beautiful studios, and hope to have my own eventually.  But for now, I have a multi-functional space at the end of my galley kitchen.  What it lacks in prettiness, it makes up in organization though.  

John built me an odd sized counter to fit in between the pantry and the wall.  The top is my work space, complete with marker board, and neatly labeled piles.  Underneath, I have a shelf for my scanner which is essential since I use it so much.  My crates of fabric hide the vertical storage for my paintings and canvases.  The crate under the scanner is my filing cabinet, with manila folders for pattern pieces and all my old sketch books.  The neat picnic basket to the right sits between my counter and sewing table and is full of bags of projects in progress.  Each is labeled, and contains all the fabric and bits that I've set aside for that project, so I don't accidentally use them elsewhere. 

I may be slightly addicted to rearranging all of my small spaces.  But I really do think it helps get me excited about the new year and all the new projects ahead.  How about you?

Dolls and their Clothes: Super Easy Patterns

My girls love their new dolls.  I love their new dolls.  In fact, I secretly wish the red headed one was mine.  Well, not so secretly.  I'm impressed with how easily you can clean the skin, and I love that the wigs can be styled in lots of ways.  It always bummed me out that the girl Cabbage Patch Kids had those huge bald spots when you took out their pig tails - but these dolls can have up or down do's.  I braided them now, but look forward to trying some other hairstyles as the girls get a little older.

I loved the Weir kit I used.  I know it would be satisfying to make one of these from scratch, but if you don't want to hunt down all the materials, and if you're looking to skip a few steps to save time, these kits are really great.

I wasn't sure if I'd get around to making clothes before Christmas. The Weir kit comes with clothing patterns that aren't too complicated, and the panties are so cleverly simple.  But, they were still more work than I really had time (read: motivation) for.  So, I fell back on this super easy pattern that I got from my Granny via an old bunny she made when I was a kid.  This is the same pattern I used for L's baby dolls a couple of years ago.  I also put together a quick pants pattern, that is pretty much the same as every pajama/baby/doll pant I've ever seen. 


The shirt pattern has several things going for it:  It's super easy and fast, which is great when you want to whip up a bunch to mix and match.   Another nice thing, is that it's easy for children to learn to put on themselves - which Mommies are always grateful for.  The elastic in the neck and the roominess of the blouse allows you to just slip it over the dolls head.  Plus, the basic shape is easy to adapt to fit most any shape or size doll.  I drafted mine for the 14" doll, but you can make it fit whatever you need.

So, when L told me she needed more pants, it gave me the motivation to get sewing again after such a long break.  Yesterday, I put together two more pairs of pants, two shirts, two dresses (the shirt only longer), and one nightgown (the dress in flannel).  The girls are really into dress up, so I'm anticipating lots of dolly dress up today.
 

 

I've put the pattern together for you, and it should work with most common 14" dolls (this includes Waldorf, American Girl dolls, and even Cabbage Patch Kids).  It's a 2 page pdf, and all the instructions are inside the patterns so when you cut them out, you won't have to keep a separate page for instructions.  Isn't that tidy?  I've included basic instructions and guidelines for adapting the pattern to different size dolls.  These are adapted from old doll clothes, so they aren't original to me - please, use them however you like.  Download it here.

A few tips:
1.  Pull the elastic in the neck tight so that it isn't too big.  Also, the waldorf dolls are pretty skinny, so the elastic in the pants should be smaller than you expect.
2.  To save time, cut out your pants with the bottom of the leg along the selvedge so that you don't have to hem the pants.
3.  Use knit, quilting cotton, or fleece.  This pattern seems to work with most anything.
4.  To add a little shape to the dress, tie a ribbon around the waist.

Happy New Year!

The Wilsons are greeting the New Year with gratitude and hopefulness.  I'm especially grateful our friends (and landlords) turned our garage into a second bedroom, so we Wilsons now live in a beautiful two bedroom house, giving us much needed space and privacy.  New opportunities promise to challenge and inspire us (more on that soon...).  And this is the year we will begin actual construction on our house - which is scary and thrilling all at once.

Our Christmas break has been filled with family and play.  It's always nice to just be together without too many obligations.  Among our favorite gifts this year were the Waldorf dolls and the beautiful ring John gave me to remember all my beautiful babies.  The stacking ring was made by LaurenMeredith who is great for custom orders. In the picture, the girls are sitting in our new room beneath the windows that only a male Wilson would have taught them to open.  About 10 minutes after I took this photo, I had to fetch one of the dolls from outside.

I hope your new year is full of wild new ideas that you can make with your hands.  I hope you find inspiration and insight in every day and every task.  May your stitches be neat, your paintings feel just right, your words be plentiful, and your house be beautiful!