I'm back, I'm here, I'm madly recording grades and alphabetizing papers and planning lessons and unpacking and wondering what's for dinner and replying to emails and scheduling cloth diapering classes and picking my A Fair of the Arts booth site and downloading photos and petting the cat and writing my book proposal and crafting for Luna Fest and washing dishes and...
...and maybe sitting down in a minute with a Shiner and some Netflix.
Tomorrow, I'm going to show you the most awesomest thing that we did today. You will not freakin' believe it.
It's that awesome.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
One CAN Have Enough Stickers
Only a child's grandmother would buy her this ridiculous amount of stickers:
Add to that an unlimited number of Netflix-ed Land Before Time videos, a storytime at a different Ft. Smith public library branch every day, and a pizza supper with the cousins, and you have yourself QUITE the Spring Break.
Four the four-and-under set, at least...
P.S. Check out my ode to sketchbooks on Crafting a Green World and my shrinking #6 plastic tutorial over at Eco Child's Play.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Rainbow Cake Bandwagon
In my family's Arkansas kitchen, with its big dishwasher and pantry chock-full of things we don't have at home and a 60-year collection of Tupperware and butter tubs and plastic bowls and such, the girls and I have been indulging in a wider variety of kitchen crafts than we usually do on a daily basis.
No surprise, then, that we jumped on the rainbow cake bandwagon.
I've seen rainbow cake mentioned in several blogs, most recently at Craft Magazine (my Matt has an unsavory name, of sexual connotation, for one blog posting an item, which is then picked up by another blog and posted, which is then picked up by another blog...), but our version, of course, changes some basic and crucial rules and thus doesn't end up looking like the other pictures on the other blogs. It's pretty much another shark cupcake incident.
So for instructions for a perfect-looking cake, try elsewhere.
The basic concept behind a rainbow cake is to divide a cake batter, independently color each scoop or so a different color--
--and then dump each scoop of cake batter into the cake pan smack on top of the scoop that came before it without stirring or mixing it up AT ALL: 
And then you end up with rainbow-y goodness ready to bake: 
My mistake, in rummaging through my family's kitchen, was that I used a white angel food cake mix, which I was able to find in a cupboard, but not an angel food cake pan, because I wasn't able to find one, although I'm sure of its existence somewhere in this house...somewhere.
Mind you, I've never made nor seen made angel food cake before, so I'm reading the back of the box and I'm all, "Hmm, no eggs? I accept that. But balance the cake upside down on a glass bottle? That's weird, and I can't do that with these cake pans, anyway," and therefore my rainbow cake layers, instead of being all light and fluffy and wide and all, are instead dense and narrow and small:
But is the cake still delicious?
Why yes, yes it is.
P.S. Interested in more messy cooking with kids? Check out my Craft Knife Facebook page!
No surprise, then, that we jumped on the rainbow cake bandwagon.
I've seen rainbow cake mentioned in several blogs, most recently at Craft Magazine (my Matt has an unsavory name, of sexual connotation, for one blog posting an item, which is then picked up by another blog and posted, which is then picked up by another blog...), but our version, of course, changes some basic and crucial rules and thus doesn't end up looking like the other pictures on the other blogs. It's pretty much another shark cupcake incident.
So for instructions for a perfect-looking cake, try elsewhere.
The basic concept behind a rainbow cake is to divide a cake batter, independently color each scoop or so a different color--
--and then dump each scoop of cake batter into the cake pan smack on top of the scoop that came before it without stirring or mixing it up AT ALL: And then you end up with rainbow-y goodness ready to bake: My mistake, in rummaging through my family's kitchen, was that I used a white angel food cake mix, which I was able to find in a cupboard, but not an angel food cake pan, because I wasn't able to find one, although I'm sure of its existence somewhere in this house...somewhere.Mind you, I've never made nor seen made angel food cake before, so I'm reading the back of the box and I'm all, "Hmm, no eggs? I accept that. But balance the cake upside down on a glass bottle? That's weird, and I can't do that with these cake pans, anyway," and therefore my rainbow cake layers, instead of being all light and fluffy and wide and all, are instead dense and narrow and small:
But is the cake still delicious?
Why yes, yes it is. P.S. Interested in more messy cooking with kids? Check out my Craft Knife Facebook page!
Monday, March 16, 2009
I Can Tell We're Back in Arkansas
Within 24 hours of re-entering the state, we were at Wal-mart (yes, they have organic milk, no, they do not have veggie chili mix).
Here, the trees are in boisterous bloom:
As we walked into storytime at the public library this morning, my girls were greeted by the SAME little old lady who was the little old lady who held storytimes when I was their age. I adored her then, and adore her now--she remembered my children's names after I introduced her, held the children rapt with a book about a duck who tried, to no avail, to avoid a spanking (she's a little old-school), sat with Sydney on her lap while a group of daycare children sang a St. Patrick's Day song for the local news (5 at 5!), and took my hand as we walked over to the crafts area so that she could ask all about my life ("Why, I'm a teacher, Ms. Louise, and I have a library science degree").
Ah, homecomings.
Matt, who drove us down here for the week but then went back to Indy to work (How I am going to survive here without him, I do not know), did not have the pleasure, thusly, of meeting Ms. Louise, but he did get to hear me blather on all about her on the phone, and all about the horrible papers I'm grading and what exactly are my students doing all class while I'm teaching the material, oh and by the way how was the drive back.
He also, because he thinks of me even when I'm not around, sent me a link to this awesome artist who embroiders female merit badges.
They are awesome.
While I never earned the Applied Mascara or even the Pantyhose badges, really, I am all about the Fertility badges. Not only do I get the ones for the Pill and Pregnancy Scare and Inserting a Tampon, but I also get nicer ones like Bride, Pregnancy--
--and Breastfeeding:
But now, of course, I totally want to add to the list. How about Tandem Breastfeeding? Working with Baby in Lap?
Here, the trees are in boisterous bloom:
As we walked into storytime at the public library this morning, my girls were greeted by the SAME little old lady who was the little old lady who held storytimes when I was their age. I adored her then, and adore her now--she remembered my children's names after I introduced her, held the children rapt with a book about a duck who tried, to no avail, to avoid a spanking (she's a little old-school), sat with Sydney on her lap while a group of daycare children sang a St. Patrick's Day song for the local news (5 at 5!), and took my hand as we walked over to the crafts area so that she could ask all about my life ("Why, I'm a teacher, Ms. Louise, and I have a library science degree").Ah, homecomings.
Matt, who drove us down here for the week but then went back to Indy to work (How I am going to survive here without him, I do not know), did not have the pleasure, thusly, of meeting Ms. Louise, but he did get to hear me blather on all about her on the phone, and all about the horrible papers I'm grading and what exactly are my students doing all class while I'm teaching the material, oh and by the way how was the drive back.
He also, because he thinks of me even when I'm not around, sent me a link to this awesome artist who embroiders female merit badges.
They are awesome.
While I never earned the Applied Mascara or even the Pantyhose badges, really, I am all about the Fertility badges. Not only do I get the ones for the Pill and Pregnancy Scare and Inserting a Tampon, but I also get nicer ones like Bride, Pregnancy--
--and Breastfeeding:
But now, of course, I totally want to add to the list. How about Tandem Breastfeeding? Working with Baby in Lap?
Hosting Child's Birthday Party? Taking Child to Emergency Room? Finding the Perfect Sports Bra?
Telling Former Teachers that You're Now a Teacher Yourself?
We all deserve an entire vest full of these.
Friday, March 13, 2009
I Want to Eat My Marker Roll
Because it looks so yummy.
I first saw the gorgeous patchwork colored pencil rolls in back around Christmas time, I think...
How long it can take something to stew in one's head before it comes to fruition:
This doesn't follow the book's instructions step-by-step, but back when I read it I studied it until I figured out how the most striking construction elements worked, and so I imagine that my own marker roll has some very close similarities.
In particular, I copied the idea of the matching color patchwork--
--and the up-and-down, back-and-forth quilting: 
I like this, in particular, a LOT better than the other ways I've seen discussed of constructing crayon rolls, which is to sew up only to the edge of the pocket and then backstitch to hold the stitch, and then move over to the next place the pocket needs to be sewn and sew up to the edge there, etc. When I made my own crayon rolls with that method, I was bored by the constant stop and start, and I disliked the look of the obvious backstitch.
This quilting method is quicker and cleaner looking.
I figured out the width of each pocket by measuring the length it took for a fabric tape measure to go from the tabletop, over the marker, and then back to the tabletop, adding a half-inch seam allowance. I measured the length of each piece as twice the length of my marker, then folded the whole thing up at the bottom to form the pocket, leaving space between the top of the marker and the top edge of the marker roll.
The marker roll's only flaw, as it pertains to my personal method of crafting, is that it requires some pretty specific color choices. Crafting primarily with recycled materials, I'm very used to working with what I already have or can cheaply obtain second-hand or from the recycling center. I'm NOT used to buying new fabric, and frankly, I was a little uncomfortable with it--consumerism isn't really the goal of my work, you know, although maybe you wouldn't know it if you saw all this fabric I bought just for these rolls:
I am going to look for some cotton button-down shirts at Goodwill tomorrow (50%-off storewide sale!) to use for this type of sewing, but I did make my peace with the new purchases a little by choosing that my outside fabric for these rolls be recycled blue jean denim. Makes it extra sturdy, I think.
Next up--a Micron pen roll, just for me!
I first saw the gorgeous patchwork colored pencil rolls in back around Christmas time, I think...
How long it can take something to stew in one's head before it comes to fruition:
This doesn't follow the book's instructions step-by-step, but back when I read it I studied it until I figured out how the most striking construction elements worked, and so I imagine that my own marker roll has some very close similarities.In particular, I copied the idea of the matching color patchwork--
--and the up-and-down, back-and-forth quilting: I like this, in particular, a LOT better than the other ways I've seen discussed of constructing crayon rolls, which is to sew up only to the edge of the pocket and then backstitch to hold the stitch, and then move over to the next place the pocket needs to be sewn and sew up to the edge there, etc. When I made my own crayon rolls with that method, I was bored by the constant stop and start, and I disliked the look of the obvious backstitch.This quilting method is quicker and cleaner looking.
I figured out the width of each pocket by measuring the length it took for a fabric tape measure to go from the tabletop, over the marker, and then back to the tabletop, adding a half-inch seam allowance. I measured the length of each piece as twice the length of my marker, then folded the whole thing up at the bottom to form the pocket, leaving space between the top of the marker and the top edge of the marker roll.
The marker roll's only flaw, as it pertains to my personal method of crafting, is that it requires some pretty specific color choices. Crafting primarily with recycled materials, I'm very used to working with what I already have or can cheaply obtain second-hand or from the recycling center. I'm NOT used to buying new fabric, and frankly, I was a little uncomfortable with it--consumerism isn't really the goal of my work, you know, although maybe you wouldn't know it if you saw all this fabric I bought just for these rolls:
I am going to look for some cotton button-down shirts at Goodwill tomorrow (50%-off storewide sale!) to use for this type of sewing, but I did make my peace with the new purchases a little by choosing that my outside fabric for these rolls be recycled blue jean denim. Makes it extra sturdy, I think.Next up--a Micron pen roll, just for me!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Spring is Nigh
How do I know?
Well, the windows occasionally get opened now, so that the dinosaurs can look out:
The first flower was photographed.
The girls, unsupervised, raided the neighbor's yard to gather a huge bucket--
--of beautiful green and rich and earthy moss:
We are apparently not the good kind of neighbors...ahem. Mental note: teach the girls to use a trowel, and then we could make terrariums!
The Wylie House heirloom seed sale has come and gone, although their antique quilt exhibition remains, I believe:
And yes, I do think that there are little critters down there in the creek, once again:
Well, the windows occasionally get opened now, so that the dinosaurs can look out:
The first flower was photographed.The girls, unsupervised, raided the neighbor's yard to gather a huge bucket--
--of beautiful green and rich and earthy moss:We are apparently not the good kind of neighbors...ahem. Mental note: teach the girls to use a trowel, and then we could make terrariums!The Wylie House heirloom seed sale has come and gone, although their antique quilt exhibition remains, I believe:
And yes, I do think that there are little critters down there in the creek, once again:
Happy of happies, I got some sewing done today! I swear, there is nothing like blissfully ironing and measuring and sewing while watching streaming videos online--it's like a tiny piece of heaven trapped in the middle of my cracker-crumb day.
I'll show off my babies' new marker roll tomorrow, and yep, you'll love it, too.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Shrink Plastic Buttons You Need a Microscope to See
I've been really really REALLY wanting to get my hands on , but it's not yet my turn in the library queue, and anyway my vintage button stash is dismal (it's a dream of mine to someday go to a garage sale and find a gallon jar of vintage buttons marked at something like 50 cents...someday), but I heard that there's a shrink plastic button project somewhere in the book, and I did have an old empty container of Kroger's pumpkin chocolate chip cookies languishing in the #6 Plastics crate on the kitchen counter (yep--we have a storage container in the kitchen just for #6 plastic. That stuff is useful!), so...
I punched a bunch of one-inch circles out of #6 plastic, punched a couple of buttonholes in the center, and the girls and I got out the Sharpies and worked--
I punched a bunch of one-inch circles out of #6 plastic, punched a couple of buttonholes in the center, and the girls and I got out the Sharpies and worked--
--and worked--
--and worked. I had a plan to make some buttons around the alphabet for my VWX Alphabet ATC Swap over at Craftster (you'll see in a moment why this is no longer part of the plan), and Sydney seemed to greatly enjoy making entirely black button after entirely black button, but Willow did this funny thing where she made faces out of the buttons, using the buttonholes as eyes:
Ahhhh, negative space.
With more forethought, I would have cut out circles of varying sizes and thereby avoided the below phenomenon in which all of our shrink plastic buttons are now nearly microscopic--
But, eh. It's crafting!
What fun is forethought?
P.S. Check out my shout-out in the Weekly Craft Round-up over at The Long Thread. Woot!
P.P.S. I think it's really funny when people rename my posts when they link to them--they're all, "I'm sorry, but I am not putting the word "RAWK" on my blog!" Justifiable, I think.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)