A Paper Purse

Spring break was a blur.  We went skiing and purposefully didn't bring any toys because we figured the kids would be plumb tuckered out.  And, they were.  But that didn't mean there wasn't any down time.  Luckily, we did bring the markers, and it never ceases to amaze me what you can do with some paper, markers and a little packing tape . . . .oh, and don't forget the snack.

AW decided to make a little purse, complete with handles and the appropriate accoutrements.  

She included a beautiful wallet with a heart clasp, coins (those are the yellow discs with the smiley faces), and bills ($4,000 bill, anyone?).  She has, count them, THREE cell phones (ack!), a TV remote (huh?), and a huge purple lipstick.  The piece de resistance, *sigh*, a computer that has an email that says "Allie, Love Fills My Heart, by Mom" which I say to her all the time.  Glad it is sinking in.

Allie felt like a true adult, rummaging for her lipstick "I can't find it anywhere! It has to be in here Mommy!".

The purse is super easy to make . . . 

1) Draw, decorate and cut out various purse paraphenalia. (What five year old doesn't like to play grown-up?)

2) For purse, tape the bottom and sides of two 8 1/2 x 11 pieces of paper together with packing tape.

3) For handles, cut two pieces of packing tape the same length.  Fold each piece in half length-wise so the sticky sides are together.

4) Hold the ends of the handle down to one side of the paper (secure with tape across the top of the purse) Be careful not to close the top of the purse.  Extend the tape across the whole purse opening to reinforce the top.  Nobody likes a broken purse.

5) Decorate and strut!

Oh, the boys were plenty busy with those same markers.  Who knew a children's dictionary, paper and markers could keep them engrossed for hours. 

More than engrossed, working together!  Did you know the population of Chad was over 10 million?

I was thrilled - a little creativity, a little paper, some markers and tape -  happy kiddos. 

Exposing Myself

I just announced this blog to my family and long-time friends –a very interesting exercise.  I’ve been blogging since December 2010 and it started to dawn on me that most of the people who know me best or the longest had no idea what I was up to.   To let friends and family in on my endeavor was surprisingly scary and something  to which I was extraordinarily resistant.   With all this trepidation, I had to ask myself, why? Was it just a question putting myself out there?  But, I do it everyday on this blog and don’t think twice about it. 

I’ve been pondering this seriously for the last few days, I think it comes down to the fact that for many years I haven’t shown the real me.  I mean yes, I’m a wear-it-on-your-sleeve emotional being, so people know my personality very well.  But to know that I take craft, making, knitting and design so seriously – my longtime friends had no idea. 

So why don’t my friends and family know this is so important to me? I think it comes from my fear that it may not be important to them.  I’m afraid that people will find my work trivial and domestic – wondering why I would waste my talents doing that.  But, I realize, they won’t know how this work satisfies and inspires me if I’ve never told them.  The truth is I'm proud of what I've accomplished - I should share it.

This conflict returns to the BIG ISSUE about how we value handmade and making things in our society.  I talked about this in my original post.  In my life, it became so vital to do the things that would make me appear “successful” to others.  But, how do we authentically claim success?  Mustn't it be motivated from within each individual?  I feel more successful now than ever before because I take the time to do what I love.  It gives me that glow inside and the feeling that I’ve come home to myself.  At the same time, people do appreciate and celebrate it, including positive and loving responses from those very same friends and family I was so afraid to tell.   The sky's the limit . . .

Petite Purls Feature

I am thrilled to announce that my work is featured in this spring's issue of Petite Purls!  The tutorial to make this sweet gift bag and the template for the adorable little elephant (I call him emmett) can be found here.  I adore receiving lovingly hand-made gifts.  When that gift arrives in a beautiful hand-made bag, it takes me over the moon. Constructed with a neutral cotton/linen blend and adorned with its own made-to-suit motif, these easy-to-make bags have enough detail to make them special on their own.  Go check out the tutorial at Petite Purls and peruse all the other wonderful designs as well.

I found Petite Purls when I started this journey on my blog and have spent many a day dreaming of being featured there.  It is a charming quarterly magazine with wonderful kids' knits (my favorite!) and excellent sewing and crochet projects.  The lovely and talented editors, Allegra and Brandy, couldn't be sweeter.  (They blog here and here).  Some day . . . I thought  - well someday is here.  I am honored and overjoyed.

Ode to Grapefruit

Oh Grapefruit, you are a temptress

Your color, dazzling

Your texture, compelling

Your juices, enticing

Your smell, my undoing

I love you, Grapefruit

I must have you

ughlch!

Your taste, body-shudderingly-foul

Your treachery, devastating

Oh Grapefruit, woe to those 

that fall for your devious facade

Rainbow in a Jar

I remember doing this project when I was young-- one of my favorites.  I loved the process of making it, the way the colors looked next to each other, how the layers undulated in the jar.   I remember begging my mother to let me do this more.  She claimed that it used too much salt – way too expensive.  Given that the salt I bought my children was $0.50 a canister and could make four of these each, I realize now that my mother was avoiding the mess--  Hrmmph.  Well, fair warning, this is a salty mess, but oh so much fun. And relatively easy to clean up with 2 or 3 sweepings.

I love getting ready for projects, so much promise and cooperation. 

 This project makes for a good easter centerpiece - so many pretty pastels.

Here's the how-to:

Materials

Paper

Colored Chalk

Salt

Small Jars --We’re out of the baby-phase so no baby food jars in this house, but if you have them, they are ideal for this project. I found some old plastic craft jars I hadn’t used, so went with that. I highly recommend using glass as the chalk dust sticks less.

1.     Gather Materials.  My suggestion is to get a set of materials for each child - makes for less yelling and grabbing. I know we’ll use them again, too.

Plus, that way they get to label.

2.     Pour salt on a piece of paper, enough to make a layer about 1/4 “ thick in your chosen container. This is tactilely so wonderful – let your kids play with it – or design with it.

3.     Take your chosen chalk color and rub the chalk back and forth across the salt until you get the desired color saturation.

4.     Carefully, pour layer of colored salt into container.

5.     Use the opposite side or a new piece of the paper for a new color (these pages can be used for chalk drawings after the project is over).

6.     Pour layers at angles and around the jar to get interesting strata.  You can rotate the jar while pouring to achieve this.

7.      Repeat process with new colors until jar is completely full.  Take care not to shake the jar as this will mix the layers up – brown salt, no fun.   Add lid and Voila!

8.     Take a moment to relish in the happy feeling you get making something and appreciate the colors and layers and how they look.

9.     Display artfully.