Teaching Gratitude to Kids Printable Unit

Printable Gratitude Bundle

We've been working on gratitude at our house, and so I've developed a teaching unit "Learning to Give Thanks." The unit pdf include a list of activities with brief instructions for using the printables with each activity, and 24 pages of printables. The bundle includes: 

• two kinds of thank you cards with an option of fill in the blank text inside for younger writers or blank inside for older kids
• tokens of gratitude (with game instructions)
• gratitude journal pages for writing or drawing a daily thankful
• We're thankful for you! Posters
• Where did that come from? Game
• Good manners and Chore Chart
• Matching stationary for other writing projects
• Posters of Quotes and Poems about Gratitude

stationary

drawing journal

Tokens of Gratitude

thank you cards

Games and Charts and Instructions

The bundle is available in my shop for a small fee. Check it out!

Flip Dolls & Other Toys that Zip, Stack, Hide, Grab, and Go

I have to say, publishing a book feels very surreal. I always feel a little goofy telling people I wrote a book - because, really? Did I do that?

Most of my contact with my editor Thom at Lark Crafts  has been by email, with a few phone calls and letters - but never in person. So, occasionally, I've wondered if I'm really like the guy in A Beautiful Mind: anxiously working on projects I can't show anyone, spending hours writing and editing, and mailing away my work in large cardboard boxes; only to one day discover that I've really been corresponding with spammers and all of my plush toys have been stuffed into a hollow log in the woods.

But then yesterday, the UPS man, who seemed to be quite real, delivered an advanced copy of the book, right to my door. And then I saw that Flip Dolls & Other Toys is available on Amazon for pre-order already! And let me tell you, its slick and beautiful, with gorgeous photos and bright colors, and a layout that makes me giddy.

Don't worry, you'll hear more about it soon. It will be officially released in August, and I can't wait to show you all the fun projects in the book!

Laptop Messenger Bag

I'm in too much of a rush to say much here today. This seems to be my new normal relationship with the blogosphere. I can't say I'm unhappy about that.

Yet, briefly, I wanted to share this new pattern. I needed a bag to carry my laptop that was professional, but not one of those black ones with a million pockets and zippers that's all boring and busy looking (you know the one).

I put together this bag. It's very simple but uber-functional. I prefer the messenger-style, and this is padded to protect my computer on the go. It has large pockets inside and a pretty lining from Ann Tuck on Spoonflower. I meant to use this fabric for something else ages ago, but life got busy and it seemed a shame not to use it. 

So here it is. I'm very pleased with it, and I think I'll make a few in more colors. I think it will be just right for carrying art supplies also, for painting outside. It makes a nice guy-bag too, since it has no frills. The pattern is available in the shop.

Two Patterns: Dog and Stegosaurus

You were warned about the Dog, but the Stegosaurus is here too!

My girls love dogs.  And dinosaurs.  Did you know there are 13 Land Before Time movies?

13!

And yes, we've seen them all. Although, I may have slept through a couple.

I fully expect J to open this Stegosaurus at Christmas and immediately say, "Now I need a Long Neck, a Cera, a Ducky, and a Flier!" And L will ask for several more dogs in a variety of shapes and colors. Yes, I'm prepared.

But for now, one pattern at a time.  Or, ahem, two.  

I don't expect these to replace Pink Dog, but I'm hoping they'll join the pack.  


A few notes about these patterns:
My goal was to make the cuddly, so you may notice a few differences.  They're made of fleece and furry blankets, and they're half filled with poly beads to make them more flexible - so they don't stand up perfectly for photos.  I made the dogs in two sizes, just enlarge the pattern a bit more because - of course - we need a mommy dog and a baby dog.  Also the dogs have a million variations - button/embroidery eyes, various ears, tail up or down, spots - ooh, and an easy, no sew collar.

 

Here's a qick giveaway: Today until the 16th - click the links below to grab these patterns and make some last minute Christmas gifts!  I've changed file hosts, so I'm hoping not to have bandwidth issues. (fingers crossed) (Updated: Dec. 17th - the giveaway has now ended. Thanks for all your enthusiasm!) After the 16th, you can still find the patterns in shop.

Tangrams

I saw this sweet tangram tutorial at Elsie Marley last year and have had it nagging me ever since.  She made hers from balsa wood, but I made mind from a 1X6.  I just can't resist a chance to get out my chop saw.  I love that smell.

I haven't given these to the kids yet, because I know the pieces will be lost and scribbled on.  So for now, I'm going to learn how to make a bunch of shapes, then in a few years I'll wow them with my repertoire.  If you haven't seen them before, it's a puzzle made of 7 blocks that you can rearrange in various ways to create an infinite number of animals, people, letters and things.  You have to use all 7 and they can't overlap, but other than that its pretty open ended.  No time limits or point systems, just free fidgety play.  I love it!  I've added a few sets to the shop. 

Poppytalk

I'm really excited to be part of Poppytalk's Mix Tape Market!  Come by and see my table, and have a look around.  There are so many talented designers included this month.

I'm trying to keep my shop stocked with Smile Crocodile and Grinnin' Bear Pillows.  I've also added some more inchworms and tangram puzzles.  Have a look or spread the word - you guys are so good at that.  :)

InchWorm Pattern and Give Away

Happy Summer!  I'm officially back, and what a way to come back!  A give-away below, and still one day left to enter the drawing for the Kid's Crafternoon books (enter here).

I've been sewing all kinds of new designs this year, but I just can't tell you about them yet (I say through gritted teeth).  I wish I could, it's much more fun.  So, when I had an idea that wasn't a good fit for the book, I was quite excited to put it together for you guys, here and now.  So here it is!

This little inchworm is quickly becoming one of my favorite toys.  He's pretty easy to sew and darn cute - but the way he moves?!  Be still my heart.  I can't get enough of perfecting my inching abilities.

I've been wanting to make an inchworm for so long, but couldn't figure out how to make him move.  As usual, the solution was pretty simple - it's all about the filling.  And the best part is seeing how the different fabrics move in slightly different ways.  Am I going on too much about this?  Have a look for yourself.



So, here you go, limited time give-away - he's available for download right here until Thursday morning whenever I roll out of bed. (Updated: the give away is now over!) Please, please, make some inchworms and show them to me!  After the give away, you can find the pattern in the shop along with a few of the inchworms themselves.

On Princesses, and other things

With little girls, I find myself in unfamiliar territory, surrounded by princess language and costumes.  Thankfully, my girls aren't too heavy on pink and glitter, but they do love to wear tutus, dresses, and crowns and be Princesses.  I guess it's unavoidable.

I've spent hours looking for girl heroes - not girls who are rescued or kissed, but girls who do heroic things.  I finally realized that I wasn't finding what I was looking for, because I was looking for girls filling the role of boy heroes - acting aggressively and violently.  Of course, girls can do those things, too, but in most traditional stories they don't.  So, I finally realized I needed to redefine for myself what a girl hero is.   

You already know I love the legend of George and the Dragon.  Here's one version:

A town was held captive by a dragon.  The people tried to appease the dragon with sheep, but one day they ran out of livestock.  With no other options, the princess Elizabeth went out to the dragon as a sacrifice for her people.  Before the dragon could take her, however, St. George appeared and wounded the dragon.  Then, George took Elizabeth's sash and tied it around the dragon's neck, now a tame beast.  Elizabeth took the leash and lead him back into the city, where the people cared for their former enemy. 

 St. George is the hero of the story.  It's true.  But, I'm finding I love the role the princess plays too.  She is brave and self-sacrificing.  She didn't have the strength or swordsmanship to rid her people of the dragon.  But she gave what she had - herself.  And that is a heroic act.

 I also love, in this version, that George doesn't kill the dragon.  He wounds and tames it.  I could write a whole post about how beautiful and redemptive the transformation of the dragon is - but there's more about the princess.  George ties her sash around his neck, and she leads him home where the people care for him.  Nurturing is a thankless task at times, but when someone depends upon it, like a wounded dragon, that's heroic, too.

I made L a little Princess (and a whole series of George and Dragon brooches, too).  As she watched me sew the other night, I told her this story.  Later, I heard her retelling it to John.  That was priceless.

I recently stumbled across this beautifully illustrated children's book about the version of George and the Dragon that I love so much.  In this post, the author Jim Forest beautifully explains how true stories turn into legends and myths, even within Christianity.   I love the way people have always used stories to talk about beautiful and true things.  Isn't that just what art is?  What a beautiful thing to give to our children.  It looks like you can pre-order the book here. 

I'd love to hear about your favorite female heroes.  My sister has talked about princesses some, too.   I'll link to it if I can find it...Here it is! She's excellent.

Comfort Food

I've been thinking about the food I eat pretty intensely since I watched the documentary Earthlings (available to watch free online).  I realize that living in modern America I have the luxury of eating food as it pleases me, for my own comfort, rather than viewing food as a source of nutrition and survival as people of other places and time have had to. 

The thing that really frustrates me is that my primary reason for killing animals is comfort.  Somehow, we have separated the acts of killing and eating, but that doesn't make them any less connected.  Certainly, I shouldn't gain comfort from killing, right?

I don't claim to have anything figured out.  Seriously.  But I want to move in the direction of compassion and awareness.

So to do my tiny little part today, I'm sharing with you two things.  First, the recipe for my new comfort food- it's healthy, yummy, and plant based.  And for a limited time, a 40% discount in my shop when you use the code EARTHLINGS.  Most of my patterns are animals, and I think if we're going to teach our children to love animals, we should mean it all the way, right?  Ideally, I'd love for you to go watch the movie before you use the code, but I'll leave that up to you.  Or if you've already gone vegan, take it as my hat tip to you. :)

"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites, or women for men." - Alice Walker

Fried Rice
To make fried rice it's best to use leftover rice.  I make a large pot of rice at the beginning of the week, and use portions throughout the week.  I don't have exact measurements for the rice, or any of it, come to think of it.  Making the rice ahead of time, makes this a healthy, plant based meal that comes together in under 10 minutes.  Here's what I do:

Heat a TBSP or so of oil in a skillet and sautee minced garlic, minced ginger, and chopped onions.  Add any of the following veggies:  sugar snap peas, diced carrots, frozen peas, sliced red or orange peppers, mushrooms, bean sprouts, broccoli, or whatever else you like.  (When cooking with the kids, I often omit the onions and only use kid-friendly veggies like peas and carrots.)

When the veggies are cooked to your liking (not over cooked), add the cold cooked rice to the hot pan along with some soy sauce.  Stir, and then let it sit still a minute so it gets crispy on the bottom.  Then stir some more and repeat.

Presto! Serve it to toddlers with a spoon for less rice on the floor. :)