Compasio

Have you seen the updated crown gallery?  Maybe you noticed a pair of pictures of crowns that are headed to an orphanage in Thailand.  Watch this video to learn about Compasio, an organization that's reaching out to the women and children who are living on the streets in Thailand.  Be sure to check out ways you can get involved.

"Seeing a need, feeling compassion and acting with practical love on behalf of those who are poor, needy and at risk -- this is the heart of Compasio."

A Few Items

1.  I updated the crown gallery to show all 49 of the crowns I've put in the mail.  It's a fun scroll, so check it out!  The last crown I made came from my orange curtain fabric, and paired with blue bobble trim - it just made me so happy on many levels. 

2.  I'm anxiously awaiting Whip Up's new mini-mag, which I think could be a great homeschooling resource.  It's loaded with crafts, cooking, and outdoor activities for kids, with busy parents in mind.  It sounds lovely, and it will be available to download on March 1.  Don't forget to get yours.

3.  I've added one more little thing to my crown project:  A coloring page for the kids!  If you're making crowns (to send to me or give away on your own) - get your kids involved!  I was having L color each child a whole picture, but after awhile she lost interest (49!  you can imagine).  So remembering the wild success of Inchmark's valentines, I created a similar template of a head and crown that she can doodle a face and hair and other goofy details onto (like a goldfish).  There's also a note and a space for her to write her name (plus space to add a more personal note from the adults).  I'm adding the link to the main Nicholas Crown page, but you can also download it here.

4.  And I made a new twitter account to separate my craft tweets from my local tweets.  So if you do twitter, join me @wewilsons.

Call for Compassionate Crafters

I've been thinking about what I can do to make my Nicholas Crown Project more impactful.  The connections I've made have been such blessings, and I want you to share in that experience.  I've come up with three ways to make this better.  I need you to join me! 
 
1.  Spread the word.  I caught myself hesitating to share my link, worrying that I might get too many requests.  But this is the opposite of what I'm hoping to learn.  Compassion is a muscle that gets better with use.  I want to share as much joy as possible: Help me spread the word!  Feel free to use any of the pictures in the gallery, and link to the Nicholas Crown Project. 

2.  Learn about children's ministries.   I also want to share some of the good works I've learned about through those of you who have contacted me.  Several people who have submitted names have introduced me to organizations serving children in very big ways.  Their stories are so moving, and I want to share them with you.  I'd also love to find ways to work together with these organizations.  I'll be posting about some of these groups in the next few weeks. 

3.  Join me!  For me, the most amazing part is the way that people are letting me be a part of their lives, their struggles, and their healing.  I want to share that opportunity with you!  I promised some friends and family that if I got overwhelmed, I'd send out a call for help.  But now I realize that with more people we can reach more children, and more of you get to exercise your compassion muscles. 

So you want to help make crowns?  Here's what you can do:

1. make crowns. 
2. email me at wilsonlauralynn {at} gmail {dot} com for my mailing address.
3. send me crowns. 

I'll photograph your crowns and add them to the gallery.  And as I receive requests, I'll send the crowns.   I'll also create a linky list of compassionate crafters as my way of thanks. You don't have to use my tutorial, the only thing I ask is that you make each crown unique as a way to remember each child is unique.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas.  This is a work in progress - so help me progress!

Postal

John took some packages to the post office in town for me today.  They told us the postage we'd been putting on our domestic Nicholas Crown packages (the amount our local country post office said we needed) wasn't sufficient, and the recipients might be charged when they received the packages.  I'm so frustrated and heartbroken about this.  It shouldn't be more than 70 cents, but still. 

We're correcting the postage immediately, and international and larger packages shouldn't have been affected.  But if you received a package and had to pay for it, I'm so sorry!  

Handmade Olympics

I love the handmade olympics!  Partly because it give me a chance to be an olympiad.  But also because it's a fun way to learn about all the creative awesomeness happening in the handmade world.  Voting is open now!  Click on the badge to go vote in all 8 events - but especially be sure to vote in events 5 & 7 where you'll find my Nicholas Crown project and punny bookmarks.  ;)

And while you're at it - help me out with the Nicholas Crown Project!

Vegan Valentines

 I've been trying out a some vegan fudge recipes like this incredible one, meaning to give them as gifts this year.  Unfortunately, they all turned out too soft for giving away (or is that fortunate since I get to eat them?), so I ended up making this Peanut Buttercup Caramel Popcorn at the last minute.  I think I used all the pots in my kitchen twice today, and I was very grateful for my candy thermometer.  But I ended up with a nice valentine basket.

eta: I had to update to add a picture of my fudge that did eventually set after 24 hours.  It turned out great, maybe a little gritty from the raw sugar.   I've never made fudge before, so I think it will only get better from here. 

I also printed these adorable Valentines to make with L.  I wasn't sure how into it she'd be, but she loved it.  And I love it.  I recreated the idea with a red crayon for the little tags on my popcorn bags.  They're designed by Brooke Reynolds at Inchmark.  I just love all of her simple and beautiful designs.  Her Valentines for this year are even more wonderful, and I'm just giddy with love for it.  Go, love her, too.

Nicholas Crowns

Give a crown, share some joy.

Whenever I sew, L always asks, "What are you making for me?"  It always makes me smile, because this is how a three year old thinks.  So this weekend, when I was sewing some dress-up crowns, I told her, "I'm making crowns like yours.  But these are for some other kids.  Other kids who don't have crowns."

"They don't have crowns!?"
"Nope." 

And then I realized maybe this was a chance to teach her about something bigger than sharing.  Maybe it was a chance to teach her compassion.

L likes to dress up in her crown (and tutu and mittens) and pretend she is a princess, because it makes her feel special.  I wondered if there were other kids who might need to be reminded that they are special too.  So I asked you guys if you knew any kids who might need a crown.

By the end of the day, you introduced me to three beautiful families with children who might like a crown.  Two children who are very sick, and one little boy whose mommy is very sick. It reminded me that life hits us hard sometimes, and it doesn't show favoritism.  Children suffer and grieve like the rest of us, and this is harder to bear.

As we packaged our crowns to put in the mail, I was telling L about the children.  She asked about one girl, "why is she sick?"
I told her, "I don't know."
"But this crown will make her feel better."
My heart sank.  Will this crown really make any difference for that very sick little girl?

I don't know.  But I am learning that compassion is the beginning of love, and without love we are nothing.  Will it make a difference?  Let's find out together.

For the next three months, you can submit the name of a child who has an extra need to feel special, and I will send them a crown. (Now closed, thank you everyone!) That's it.  A silly, simple, dress-up crown, that they can put on and become a Princess or King, Victor or Olympiad, Superhero or Fairy, or whatever special person they imagine.

Read the details below.

_______________________________

About the Nicholas Crown project:

1.  What is the goal of the Nicholas Crown project? 

(a) With your help, to give away as many crowns as I can to special children,  (b) spreading a little bit of joy to those who most need it; and in the process, (c) to learn about compassion together with my children. 

2. How can I participate?

I need your help!  Here's what you can do: (the project has now ended.  Thanks so much to everyone who participated.  You can still make crowns yourself to spread a little joy.  The free tutorial is here. Or if you know someone who still reeeally needs a crown, send me an email.)  

3. Who can receive a crown?

No one will be turned down. 

4.  What information do you need?
All I must have is the child's name and a mailing address.  You can give me the parent's email address and I will contact them for permission, or your own address and you can deliver it.

5.  Who has received a crown already?

I'll be keeping the recipients anonymous. However, I've assembled a gallery of crowns.  This way, we can all enjoy the cheerful crowns, and remember that each represents a special child.

6.  How long will it take to get the crown?

I will try to mail the crowns within a week.  We'll see how it goes.

7. Why is the deadline on May 4?

May 4th is my 30th birthday!  Help me celebrate by spreading joy and compassion.

8.  Who is Nicholas?

I learned this year about the Kindness Project.  The idea is to perform acts of kindness in the name of a loved one who was lost too soon.  In this way you create a legacy for them.  This is for my Nicholas.

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.