Kleas

jump boards

My mom read about this quick little project in a magazine (sorry, don't know which one).  She thought this would be perfect for my preschool and she was right.  The kids caught on right away and have been having so much fun with our jump boards.  It was quick and easy to make and is a great way to teach hand-eye coordination.

Here's how you make it.

Gather materials:

• one 4 foot 1" x 8" wood board (I picked up one in the scrap wood section of our local hardware store for about a dollar)
• one 2" x 4" block of wood 8" long
• two 2" long screws
• one 1/2" screw
• one large flat can (we used an emptied tuna can)
• styrofoam ball
Instructions:Using the two longer screws, attach the 2" x 4" wood block about a third of the way down on the 4 foot board. 
Next, using the smaller screw attach the tin can on the flip side of the board almost at the end.  And that's it! 
Place ball in the tin can and start the jump-catching. 
 
   
Needless to say, the kids LOVED it!  In fact it was such a big hit, we made two.

art party-mosaic canvas

My sister hosted an art party at her house last weekend and very sweetly asked if I wanted to invite Jen and Anna to join us.  I think Jen was happy for once to not be on the hosting side as she has been creatively planning pARTy's for years.  

I had a lot of trouble describing this project to the gals, and am still at a loss of words, so I think I'll just blog it with the visuals. 

Here is the canvas my sister made last year that was the inspiration behind the theme to this party.  I've loved this piece since she first made it.  And I love how my eye always catches something new to look at.

The project involves using photos, ephemera, wrapping paper, magazines, etc. and using a square paper punch, we each cut out enough squares to randomly (or not) cover an entire canvas.  Using the paper punch as a viewfinder and moving it around the paper we were able to crop the pictures in ways that were pleasing to us.  Once we had enough squares we glued them down on the canvas then covered the entire piece with one or two applications of a gel medium to give it a polished look. 

Here's the busy work table

I love how we all came to this project in such a different way.  Deb chose to go with a well thought out placement of her squares.  I love how the border frames the rest of the canvas.

Anna came to the project with several beautiful watercolor postcard prints of photos she took of her garden in all four seasons.   

I love all the softness of the colors.

Kelly not only brought some interestng papers with her, but I love that she used darling photo booth pictures of her daughters in her mosaic.

 

Jen went with a color theme, mixing solids and german text.

I love the muted tones of this one.

And mine...

I had so much fun with this.  I was trying to use just one magazine for all of my images, but in the end I was still short about twenty squares.  What I love about working these kinds of projects with friends is they know just when and where to step in.  My sister found some piano sheet music of our mother's when she was a little girl, which I happily added.  Then Jen said...wait, I've got the perfect paper and handed me some Marimekko print she got from Kajsa.  Can you spot the Marimekko?

My sister also made boxes, which I think are quite cute.

 
It was a perfect night...I really enjoyed the company of all these talented women and the most satisfying part is going home with a piece of artwork ready to hang on the wall.  Thanks gals!  I had so much fun with you all.

Imprints

A dear friend married recently.  It killed me that I couldn't travel the distance to be with her to help celebrate. 

I made this ring pillow for her...because she sent me the link and asked me to.  While not useful in the kind of wedding she had, it became symbolic for me to make it for her...so I did.

 

I scoured the town yet wasn't able to find yarn that was "quite right" for this little project...so in the end I unraveled a sweater of mine and harvested the yarn to use and was quite happy with the result.

I love that when Sonya was here last month, I took her on a tour of my life, and on the half mile drive between my school and my home she pointed out a tree that had recently had a branch sawed off and seeing the heart, said it made her think of Jen.

If you know Jen, you know that she likes to find hearts in nature.  I put together this gallery with her in mind. 

Now when I drive home from school everyday and see that tree, I think of Jen and Sonya.

another good thrift

A fabric store must have closed in the area because I found some of my absolute favorites at the thrift store last week.

wool

silk

and linen

One would think I have enough supplies on hand.  It would be nice to actually sit down and make something with all these lovely fabrics.  Some inspiration from my linen love gallery and favorites on flickr. 

 
 

In thought for a child

During my Lifeways training, we began each morning by lighting a candle and reading this one special verse.  I've recently come back to this verse and have realized that since I first learned it, the words have become much more meaningful to me.  As a mother, and a teacher of young children, this meditative prayer carries me in my work.  I thought I'd share it with you today.

(tree climbing at the lake)

In thought for a child

In thy breath the light of the sun   

In thy bread the salt of earth

In thy ears true words of love

Sustain thy growing, changing life;

That thy spirit's will may work

That thy soul be warmed by joy

That thy body's world be built.

  ~Adam Bittleston, Meditative Prayers for Today

(my boys, I caught their reflection on the quiet lake)

fruit day

Today we picked up our bi-weekly order of fresh fruit.  Fruit consumption in our home is very high.  As you know, buying organic fruit from the supermarket is quite costly.  In an effort to buy quality produce at a fraction of the price, we started buying wholesale from a local distributor.  We divide the order with like-minded friends...kind of the same idea of how a CSA works.  We buy eight-to-ten different varieties of fruits (and vegetables in the winter when our CSA is not producing) then split everything equally.  Not only is this a very inexpensive way to eat organic, but we get the produce at it's freshest (just off the truck) and it hasn't been handled nearly as much as that which we buy at the supermarket. 

I'm off to enjoy (my favorite) arugula salad with fresh strawberries.  Happy weekend!

it was a lovely day

(not sure who brought the flowers...LOVE the mug they're in)

(silk-tie dyed eggs)  

(an old favorite...adding vegetable oil to the egg dye to give it these spots)

The kids enjoyed a good old fashioned egg hunt in the back yard,

while I enjoyed the good company of family and friends.
 

spring break

at the farm.

Farm life has such a draw.  The slowing down of life, so much time outdoors, the freedom the boys feel to just run and run and run.  It was beautiful and relaxing and it's always an adjustment to come home....back to city life.  *sigh*

While in Wisconsin....

...I found some beautiful yarn I hope to knit some dolls from.

Hand dyed and hand spun in such beautiful colors.  Bought at Ewetopia.

...I finished up my buttons for the feeling stitchy button swap.

...did a little spring-y cross-stitch.

(free pattern found here)

...and knit these sweet little lambs

(free pattern found here at Living Crafts)

I knit mine with some soft and fuzzy thrifted yarn so don't know too much about it.  It is very fine though, so I knit them on #3 and #1 sized needles.  Because, well, if you've been reading here lately, you know I have a thing about creating small creatures that fit in the palm of my hand.

Now on to easter plans.  We're having friends over on Sunday and the boys so I will be dyeing eggs later today for the table.  I'm just so thrilled to see that the wheat berries we planted in thrift store baskets at the preschool last week are in full bloom and should look lovely as a centerpiece.

 April first and our high today is expected to be 77 degrees...no foolin'.