Kleas

preschool project + some random stuff

I do like having this space to document what we make at the preschool.  It helps me sort out my ideas for projects, see what we made and when, and will help me be more prepared as each new school year starts.  This bird feeder project is what my teaching partner made with the kids when I was in Florida for a conference  last month.

Cups and saucers were found at the thrift store and then each set was drilled carefully so as not to break the ceramic.  She made a hole through both pieces and then using a nut, eye-bolt and washer secured the two pieces together.  With a bit of fish line and bird seed they were ready for hanging.

Julen couldn't wait to show me when I got home.  I didn't get to see them all, but the ones I did see sure are cute.

A few random things...

...first bloom of the season

...this is what happens when I leave my boy on his own while I have a twenty minute conference call with one of my parents

...and finally...I'll be away from this space next week while out of town for another conference.  I won't even pretend I'll be able to check in here as I tend to get too busy with the meeting.  Be well friends.  See you soon.  xx

their trash

Happy Spring!!  And happy spring cleaning.  Just about as quickly as my neighbors put this old desk in their trash...I had it in my garage.

A few coats of white paint and some new nickle-plated hardware and this desk is all mine and ready to be moved into my new space.

And just for fun I painted the inside of the drawers lime green.  Maybe I'll show you those some day.

Hooray for Spring!

mosaic monday-signs of spring

1. spring~, 2. Spring Lamb, 3. Cricket Whites - 28 May, 4. blackbird and young, 5. before we went out, 6. 78/366 Another sign of spring, 7. pink tulips, 8. Coming Home..., 9. Flower, 10. Best Vintage Fabric Button, 11. spider mum, 12. .Whipped green wheel

It's spring week!  Although it already feels like summer where I live in Minnesota.  I'm still fighting the urge to get out in my garden.  I love all the spring photos above from my flickr friends...they truly feel like spring to me.

Also loving...

100 acts of sewing

baby clothespin bunny

Tenar's Cave

preschool ramblings

Like most of the US, we are experiencing a crazy early spring.  Spring temperatures in the seventies?  Unheard of!  Today we reached seventy-eight and I had to keep reminding myself it is still March.  Trying to remember what it was like a year ago, I went back to find this snowy day.  It's hard not to think of gardening, but it's still too early.  (Right Mom?  Right Anna?*) 

*Anna comes from a family of master gardeners

This weather makes for lovely outdoor play at the preschool and today was exceptional!  It's hard to know how to dress when the day begins in the forties, but it didn't take long before the sun warmed our bodies and the coats, hats and sweaters were stripped off.

The bright sunshine made for some happy shadow play against the house.

And we couldn't keep ourselves away from playing in the garden.  By pulling seed pods off old plants and sticking them in the soft ground, we were able to build our own special garden.

When I arrived home this afternoon, there was a surprise waiting for me in my door...

...a sweet gift for my school from a little leprechaun.

thrift score-all things needlework

Tuesday is usually my day to go thrifting as I have a shorter day at the preschool.  I love going in the early afternoon since my favorite thrift store is not as crowded then.  Today was an exceptional day for all things needlework related.  I found this vibrant beauty to add to my collection.

I do love all the french knots.

I also came home with a floss box full of embroidery thread (wrapped around homemade cards), a batch of DMC pearl cotton thread, vintage crewel wool and two huge bags of a new to me floss called Retors a Broder...a lovely super soft cotton thread.

I immediately fell in love with this new embroidery thread and all the lovely colors so...inspired by yesterday's mosaic, I pulled out a few colors to play with.

This should satisfy my thrifting urge for a while.

Mosaic Monday-patterns

1. scrim, 2. Stitches, 3. Rare Notions - Pearls of Wisdom, 4. in progress, 5. Untitled, 6. lavender love, 7. 'a patching' and 'a stitching'..., 8. Matchbox Monday 8, 9. 326:365, 10. Urban patchwork, 11. IMG_0773, 12. blue books

We had incredibly beautiful weather this weekend...unheard of for this time of year!  It actually reached 68 degrees yesterday.  I had to keep reminding myself it is early March to fight the urge to start digging around in the garden.  We did have a barbecue picnic in the backyard, got the bikes out and I got some big painting projects out of the way.

Hope you had a lovely weekend.   xx

lucky day

I often don't enter give-aways but couldn't resist chiming in on Jen's she held last month.  After all, I am a huge fan of her work.

I am especially fond of her punch designs and love her journals (top)and the little brag books (on the bottom) perfect for filling with photos of the kids to give as gifts.  See how the brag books open accordion style?  So sweet.

Anyway...back to the give-away.  I just couldn't believe it, but she drew my name.  Friday was such a happy day coming home from school to find I Heart Stationary waiting for me in my mailbox.

What a lovely book!  It's filled with so many inspiring photos by artists all over the world.  Here's a peek at a couple pages that caught my eye 

and of course, Jen's

Now available at Amazon.

Thank you Jen!!  I heart my new book.  xx

what we made at the preschool-collaged stones

This is a little project we did at the preschool last month.  My original idea was to use some of the beautiful fabric scraps that have been donated to my school by some of the moms who sew.  I thought it would be fun to decorate stones with all the gorgeous fabrics.  What I quickly found out is that the fabric was too bulky to sit nicely on the rocks.  It may have worked better if the rocks were larger.

So instead, I cut up squares of pretty paper and using just a bit of glue the kids arranged and glued the paper on their stone.

Each child always gets their own little lid from a baby food jar with just a bit of glue to use.

Once again, I marvel how each child's individual style comes out in their projects.

Happy Friday!!!  xx

two more off the sticks

I've still been working on that long list of scarves I took on all at once way-back-when.

I love having a little something to pick up when I have idle hands but not the time to take on a bigger project.  These easy scarf patterns are just perfect.

First is Eve's Rib, the pattern from friend Becky and can be found in the comments here.  I CO 27 stitches on #8 needles using Patons Pure Organic Cotton.  This scarf is super soft and cozy and looks just adorable on Papa worn with his brown leather coat.  (wish I had a photo of him wearing it to share)

Next is Airy Scarf 

Pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts

CO 22 stitches on #10 needles using a locally spun kidlin lace

This one will be just the perfect light scarf to welcome spring.  I wasn't sure how I'd like the kidlin wool but it is very comfortable, even when worn around the neck.

There are still three scarves waiting to be finished, but at this point, I'm in no hurry.  I'll just enjoy knitting them until I'm done...and then I'm sure I'll cast on for a few more.

random inspirations

Mosaic Monday.  I found that a lot more color was inspiring me at Flickr this week.  It's probably because spring is just around the corner.  

1. natural dyes, 2. polar bear, 3. DSCF6249, 4. cloudy days and sunny thoughts, 5. Untitled, 6. Pearly triangle necklace, 7. confetti-plant, 8. Good bye summer decoration !, 9. rag weave cut offs, 10. hydrangea dyed fabrics, 11. Untitled, 12. Photo moth circle, 13. le printemps perché, 14. leaf garland, 15. wooden doodle bowl, 16. House With Red Chimney - Small Stitched Art Quilt

Click on the links above to learn more about the artist(s).

• if you're quick, there are still a few hours to enter Jen's fabulous give away
• and look!!  I was featured on Pinterest, You are Drunk (guess I can cross that one off my bucket list)