June 24, 2009

This summer I am doing a 'summer school' of sorts with Regan and Ryan. I picked up a dozen workbooks from the dollar store (2 each of six workbooks) covering addition/subtraction, phonics, time/money, counting from 1-100, word families and sight words. I made packets for them with each packet containing one page from each of the workbooks. I think I was able to make about 15 packets. I also picked up a few creative writing books with story starters and other ideas to get kids writing. I'm thinking it'll take us about an hour each day to get our workbook work done.

I have a variety of activities and crafts planned out for each of our days. I actually made a list of everything I could think of for us to do this summer. From hiking and making day trips to riding bikes and blowing bubbles. While I was at the dollar store picking up the workbooks I also picked up some extra stuff to stock my boredom box. Stickers, water balloons, sidewalk chalk, etc. Perfect things for those days the kids are starting to get bored and irritable.

If you have any ideas on crafts or activities for kids to do please leave a comment and let me know. I'm always on the lookout for new things to try.

January 4, 2009

One of my resolutions for the new year is to do more sewing. I have so many ideas floating around in my head that I really want to work on. So today I set my sewing machine up on the dining room table and brought out a few projects.

The fabric squares in the front of the picture are going to be a lap sized rag quilt for my nephew Kyle. His birthday is later this month.

The quilt in the back is Ryans. I still need to finish stippling it but my machine is acting odd and doesn't want to cooperate. Do a straight stitch its just fine but when I change my foot to the free motion foot the thread on the back makes giant loops. Does anyone know how to fix that?

If you look closely between those two fabric groups you can see a little of the fabric I'm using to make some notebook covers. Skip To My Lou sells a really cute pattern using Steno notebooks.

Picture from Quilt Taffy

I recently ordered this table runner from Quilt Taffy. I just love the simplicity of it. I have it ready to quilt and hope to get it done this week. I also ordered six fat quarters from the Ava Rose collection. It is a lot frilly-er than any fabric I've used before.

Any ideas on what I should do with it? I was thinking of making a baby blanket and backing in with minkee.

Pay It Forward

Last week I received a package from Tami at Lemon Tree Tales. She had a Pay It Forward giveaway and I was one of the three recipients. So now it is my turn. I will send a surprise package to the first three people who leave a comment on this post. All they need to do is leave a post on their own blog and send three items out to their commenters.

Family Fun

The June issue of Family Fun came in the mail today. I haven't been able to read all of it but I did find some interesting things while flipping through it.

The Medibag 4 Kids (pg. 105) looks like something I would buy. Its a first aid kit that resembles a Dr. kit. It has 117 pieces that include bandaids, antibiotic ointment, gloves, a flip chart, etc. The more I look at the website the more tempted I am to purchase one for the house and one for the van. Oh! They have one for pets too.

A sunglass sling. (pg. 18) I know this is meant to be a Fathers Day idea but I think this will be one of the first summertime crafts we'll do this year. Hopefully it will help the kids keep track of their sunglasses and keep me from hauling them around in my purse.

Since my People magazine also came with the mail today I will have to wait to read all the way through Family Fun. I do have my priorities people.

Whats more exciting than boiling two and a half dozen eggs and dying them with food coloring. Not much when you're four years old.

Let the Quilting Begin!

Here it is folks. The beginning of my quilting adventure. I have all my squares sorta arranged and am ready to start sewing. I might move some of these squares around a little but this is my pattern. Nine square blocks. I am going to add a strip of beige fabric between the nine blocks and around the edge too. When I'm finished with this quilt it will measure 36in x 48in. Perfect for a little boy I know.





This is going to be another quilt for Ryan. Since it will be smaller I will probably do this one first. When this one is done it will measure 24in x 36 in. He can use this one in the van or just to cuddle on the sofa.

More Crafting!

Today I made this tutu for Regan. It was super easy to make and she just loves it! I have enough tulle left to make another one but I'm afraid that if I did Ryan would wear it! Tomorrow I am going to make a pattern for a tote bag. I have a certain look in mind but can't find a pattern anywhere that looks the same. So I make my own!

I have been adding more links to my craft section so be sure to check that out!

Michaels' Aunt Christine has asked me to make some new menus for her restaurant. I made a trifold menu for her to give out to customers and a full sheet menu that I'll laminate and she'll have for the tables. I'm going by the restaurant tomorrow to show her a few samples that I've made and make any last minute changes before I start making them in bulk.

Craftiness

I have become obsessed with craft blogs. I have spent the last few weeks browsing through them and getting so many ideas of things I want to make. I think I am going to start a section in my side bar for links to craft blogs I like. Then you can go visit them and get hooked too.

Here is a blanket I made for Regan this week. Its a fleece tie blanket. It is solid purple on one side and lavender with ballet slippers on the other. I made Ryan one a while back. Only his doesn't have ballet slippers on it. His is solid blue on one side and yellow with letters and numbers on the other. I made them a little smaller than I would normally make a blanket because I wanted them to be a good size for using in the van.

The Birdhouses

We finally got the birdhouses done! Don't they look good? Devons' is the barn style with the horse. Surprised? The two sides you can't see have a white picket fence on them. Ryans' is the blue and red one with all the shapes on it. He put different shaped stickers on it and Dad painted over them with the blue. When we removed the stickers it still showed the yellow bottom coat. Regan has the tall green and yellow birdhouse. The back has a flamingo on it. Tomorrow I'm going to run to the craft store to buy her some hibiscus stickers to add to the front and sides. Then we'll hang them out in the front yard.