Art (in my house) and Crafts (I've learned how to make)

E.'s little mermaid friends. I've recently learned how to needle felt and these by far have been my best creations so far. They've joined a little woolen dolly, a very coloful penguin, and some wooly beads that might someday make on to a necklace. 

After having this two of these charm packs since November, I decided it was time to do something with a few of these squares. As a way to practice using my new sewing machine (which I'm still not so hot at), I sewed this together, then mounted it on some cardboard from an old cereal box. It's hanging in our upstairs hallway. 

Using some scraps of fabric from a quilt I made E. years ago, I made this little garland and hung it in our upstairs bay window just in time for Valentine's day (if you didn't notice, the fabric is cut out in the shape of little hearts). 

This is some artwork I did not create. I found it at a local shop and was matted by some friends of my mom's. I couldn't resist it, having a love for fairies and the little fairy girl reminded me so much of E. 

Here's a wider shot of one side of my favorite place in our house (that upstairs hallway I mentioned before). Just to the right is our big bay window. It's so lovely and bright here that it's hard to resist just coming up to sit and working on a project or read while the kids play.

Wrapping It Up

This past weekend E.'s best friend had a birthday bash - very exciting! After picking up a few books and a fun play tent, we came home to realize we didn't have anything to wrap up the gift (which was astounding considering the crazy number of gift bags I have).

Then I remembered my tube of brown parcel paper. I had picked some up at the Dollar Store back in April for E. and her friends to color on at her birthday party. I had tons left, and while I wanted some for our art week to make a mural, I new wrapping a few books wouldn't be a big deal.

After I cut the parcel paper to fit the books we would be wrapping, I passed them off to E., along with our giant vase of crayons (yes, I keep our crayons in a vase). On some she drew pictures, others doodles, and for the last one, because she was losing some steam, we both did some colorful squiggles.

This was a really neat way to personalize the gifts a bit and get E. involved in making presents she didn't pick out (I had to pick them up without her) more "from her."

Our final product

I really loved how the gift wrapping came out (the pictures don't do it justice).

I'm definitely seeing this as our Christmas gift wrapping paper as well! Much less expensive, but so much more personal.

If I'd given us some more time, I might have: let E. paint rather than use crayons; tried stamping or sponge painting; dug out the pastels and let her use those (they would have looked really awesome on the paper, but I would have worried about a residue); or cute and glued on construction paper. 

Also, instead of using packaging paper, you can take an old roll of wrapping paper and use the white side.

Trying New Things

I'm on the brink of my last week of maternity leave (which makes me want to cry, just a bit). This coming week also happens to April vacation, so E. is home. In addition to emotionally and logistically preparing myself to go back to work in a little over a week, I thought we'd take the time to try a couple of new things.

1.) Kiddo Yoga. I am by no means a gym rat, but I did take a couple of classes when I was in college - Zumba and yoga. I really enjoyed the relaxing, focusing effect yoga had on me. I'm naturally a pretty high strung, slightly frazzled person. Taking the time to look inward helped me channel my energy in more constructive ways once I left the class. I think most college students would benefit from a little time on the yoga mat, if only to get them through finals week or internships.

With all that in mind, I've been thinking to myself that maybe I (and college students) aren't the only ones who could benefit from the effects of yoga. While E. isn't quite as bad off as I am in terms of anxiety and high strung, little dog yappiness energy, she gets worked up pretty quickly and easily and can be on screech all day long until she crashes at bedtime. Practicing a little bit of yoga might be just the thing for both of us to relax, refocus our energy, and help us get back into our new normal next week when I return to work. If we really enjoy it, it's certainly something I'd like to continue even once I'm back to work, in the evenings.

I'll let you know how it goes.

2.) Finger knitting. Last spring I taught myself some of the very basics of knitting (casting on, knit, and pearl). After finding some pretty awesome blogs written by some inspiring and like-minded moms, I've been re-energized to begin knitting again and learn a bit more (like, I don't know, how to start and finish an actual project??). E. has taken a pretty big interest in my knitting (she's like me - she loves anything with pretty colors and nice texture). I discovered finger knitting some time ago online, and while it might be an overly ambitious project to start with my five year old (neither one of us are terribly patient people), I think it might be worth a try. I remember my mom teaching me how to hand sew (another project I'd like to take on with E. this summer) when I was probably five or six, and it was probably one of the best gifts my mom gave me. Years later I still hand sew (quilts, nursing covers, pillows, doll clothes, etc.) and it's a hobby I can share with my mom (and hopefully, starting this week and ending over the summer, she's finally going to teach me how to machine sew, something I've been reluctant to learn for years). I hope that knitting and sewing can be a shared between E. and I (and my mom, too!) for years to come.