Kleas

happy birthday to me

That's right, one year older today.  I'm looking forward to spending the afternoon with papa and the boys.  

I received a gift of money last year that I was holding on to for a special gift (I wanted to buy something meaningful with it and didn't want it to disappear buying groceries or something).  I spoiled myself with not one, but TWO new paintings from two dear artists whom I adore.

The one on the left is "Shy" by Jennifer Davis and on the right is "Oscar" by Amanda Blake.  Both were purchased from Enormous Tiny Art, a wonderful place to browse beautiful original works of art.  I was surprised and delighted how these two pieces go so well together with their striped backgrounds.  I can't wait to find a special wall for them.

what we made at the preschool-wool mice

This week we revisited a craft I first introduced at the preschool three years ago.  The children stitched up a simple wool mouse made from felted wool sweaters.  For complete instructions on how to make one of these see here.  

They actually look very much the same as the ones from three years ago...it even looks like the same sweater felt.  What was very different however, was my ability to let go a little more.  I have less fear about handing a needle and thread project over to three, four and five year-olds then I did years ago.  

I once again marvel at the different approach and style each child brings to their project.  How about the nose on this one...

...or the super stitching from this one...

...and then there was this sort of abstract one that really made me smile!

(The poor child trying to stuff the wool in wondering where to put it!)

It warms my heart when they want to bring their little mouse into playtime, little squeaks were heard for the rest of the afternoon.

One the topic of sewing I want to give a huge thanks for the tremendous response to my tapestry table. It was one of those posts that went viral for a few days thanks to Deborah (and a few others)for linking it up on facebook and to Amie (the source of my inspiration for this project) for her lovely post about it on her blog.  There have been so many questions about the table and I'm still trying to catch up answering those emails.  One of the biggest questions is about the frame itself.  The base of an old coffee table is what I used and it works beautifully!  Look at thrift stores, Craigslist, and even recycle centers...I have seen plenty put out to trash over the years.  Just keep your eyes open.

Happy Friday everyone!!

creative spaces-needle felting

It's been a while since I've needle-felted, but when my teaching partner brought her new book, Wool Toys by Laurie Sharp to the preschool the other day I starting browsing and was inspired to have a go at it again.

There is something so satisfying about jabbing and stabbing all those little wool tufts and turning them into a sweet doll.  Sharp's instructions for making a pixie are easy and straightforward and it was quite fun making this little guy.

And another one is waiting for a face.  Don't know if I'll be able to stop at just two!

More creative spaces here.

thrifted collections-ceramic vessels

It seems whenever I stop at the thrift store, I often pick up several similar items and I immediately have a new collection.  Whether it's wood bowls, vintage needlework or celluloid brooches, I tend to find things in multiples.  Here are my latest finds...vintage ceramic vessels (for lack of a better word).  These pieces were definitely made to hold something specific...a candle, a few stems of flowers...I'm not entirely sure. I'm also not sure why I was drawn to these...probably the thirty-nine cent price tag more than anything.

These made me smile, and made me feel a bit nostalgic for my childhood.  All are carved with "norma '74" on the bottom.  They may one day hold a tiny succulent-who knows.

These could very well become pincushions.

And this last one?  Well, it looks pretty ridiculous holding pears, but did look awfully cute holding olives at a recent brunch we had.

I sure would love some suggestions...anyone have any bright ideas how I could use these?  I have a few others I didn't show here...a pig, one with flowers and a treasure chest. 

xx

Monday, Monday

Mosaic Monday.  Some of my favorite photos found on Flickr this week.

1. Untitled, 2. rundobjekt, 3. rock pool, 4. Vintage Velvet Rosebud Bundles, 5. Braided Tapes (2007), 6. Ceramics studio, Suomenlinna, 7. Pinched porcelain bowl, 8. Georgia Crook, 9. correspondence  

We slowed down a bit this weekend.  We went on walks, played games, went to the museum, made large pots of soup and a fresh batch of yogurt.  I usually run around wildly on weekends frantically trying to catch up on work and laundry and house projects.  It was so nice to just be.  Time seemed to slow down just a bit too.  I need to do that more often.  xx.

something new at the preschool

I finally made it!!  We now have our own tapestry table at the preschool.  

I have long been admiring the one I first read about at Amie's Sewing School.  The beautiful one she has at her school was not only too pricey for us, but also sold out.  I was able to very easily make one and although I didn't photograph the process, it is a simple project that came together in a few minutes.

Here is what I did...

1. Using the base of a coffee table (we happened to have one in our garage as we used the top for our table - see a photo of it here-with Julen, so little!) 
2. some burlap (from the gardening center) and 
3. a staple gun
4. cut a piece of burlap large enough to cover the base and staple securely all the way around the edge.  
5. a basket of scraps of yarn and some large plastic needles on hand 

So easy and reaady for sewing immediately.  The kids have taken to it right away and it's nice for them to do some self-directed fine motor handwork.  

Julen loves to keep himself busy after our day is over and he's waiting for me to finish up my work before we go home.

I'm really looking foward to the kids finishing this so we can hang it on the wall.

Friday again...already.  Happy weekend!!  xx

Happy Valentine's Day!!

May you love and be loved...today and every day.  XX

inspire me red

For Mosaic Monday some of my favorite reds found on Flickr.

1. Des journées champêtres # 2, 2. contraste rural, 3. little circles (C365:348), 4. Adore, 5. Pincushion with Estonian traditional pattern, 6. red velvet heart, 7. textile sketch - Jan 20, 8. Red yarn_r 1:366, 9. kantha hearts, 10. une porte rouge, 11. trailing poppies, 12. fern redwork, 13. red, 14. Modesto Foreclosure Quilt (detail), 2011. 16" x 42" Tea stained voile, linen, cotton and embroidery thread, 15. Untitled, 16. Red pom poms

• I'm so crazy about this blanket that I have been digging around in my yarn stash even though that little voice in my head says don't do it!!
• Pinterest You are Drunk
• Doc Martin has been keeping me up at night
• Googly eyes really cracks me up and literally sends my boys rolling on the floor in laughter
• I am SOSO happy to see that friends Jen and Anna have got their blogging voices back.  I sure have missed them-pop on over and say hello!!

xx

all about hearts

We've been crafting valentines at the preschool this week.

We started out the week making finger print hearts.  I spied this idea somewhere on the web, but now can' t remember where. Next we made paper hearts.  This idea came from the always inspiring Julie Collings (see her tutorial here).  I adapted this project to make it work for my preschoolers.  The children got to select double sided print card stock, then using a heart punch, cut out four hearts.  Next I helped them place two staples down the middle, added thread for hanging through the top hole from the staple, and the children folded all the layers over.

This was such a satisfying project.  They were easy to make, not messy, and came together quickly.  Julen has made about fifteen!  I think a garland or mobile is in order.

Happy Friday friends!

something for me

It is so lovely to come home after work to see a package waiting for me in my door.  I bought myself a gift from Regina's Creative Kismet Etsy shop last week.  What a treat!  I love making purchases directly from the artist...I feel so spoiled by the care and love that went into this package.  Where I was just expecting to find the two small paintings I got, I found this inside.

Lovely cards + thank you tag + bird magnet.  What a surprise!!

And I can't even begin to describe how sweet these two little paintings are.  I had the great joy of taking Regina's e-course last summer and so while I not only learned from her by watching her hands in motion, creating layer after layer on canvas to create a beautiful painting...I also came to really appreciate the amount of work that goes into each piece.

"Keep" is a gift, but "Green eyed girl" is for me...after all, I am the girl with Aquellos Ojos Verdes.

See more of her original work here.

(Thank you Regina! xx)