The Joy of Making Birthday Presents

Recently we were invited to the Birthday Party of a 3 year old friend.  My children were very excited about a trip to the toy store to buy present,  however, I had something different in mind.  After inquiring about what our young friend would like for her birthday (anything girlie or princessie), I remembered all the time she  spent playing dress-up the last time she visiting our house.  I decided to make her a tutu.  My children were NOT excited about this idea, after all I had just nixed their trip to the toy store.  My Bouncing Boy decided to hang out with his father, but Baby Girl choose to go with me to the fabric store.  I let her choose the colors for the tulle and the ribbon.  She was very excited to help, and the toy store disappointment quickly faded.  While I put the tutu together the children drew some really beautiful pictures for their friend.

No-sew Tutu with knotted ends, embellished with ribbon roses and a headband and necklace to match!

The children thoroughly enjoyed the Birthday Party.  When it came time to open our present the first words out of my son's mouth were, "My mom made it!" proud as can be.  Our young friend LOVED her tutu and matching headband and necklace.  In the end the missed trip to the toy store was forgotten and my children were just as excited as our young friend.  I really hope that I pass along to my children my feelings about presents....

Happy, Birthday Ballerina! 

Finding a present for someone is always fun, but making a present for someone is an extra-special kind of fun!

View From the Clothesline Part II: A Happy Ending After All!

I was very saddened by the camera events that occurred yesterday.  When I looked out the kitchen window this morning and saw this....

Pink mountains, PINK MOUNTAINS!!!! I had to try the camera one more time.  I crossed my fingers and ran outside.  Miracle of all miracles the camera WORKED!  The electronic gods smiled upon me.  Thrown from the top of the car, left in the rain, dropped on the floor, and she still just keeps on taking pictures.  I've decided she and I were meant to be together.  I named her Viola, and drew a little heart on her purple duct tape "band-aide,"  and then took her out for a walk in the sun.  We walked with my favorite baby and her mother over the hills and through the vinyards. Happy, happy, happy day!

The View From the Clothesline

 I love to take my camera with me to the clothesline.  Perhaps it has something to do with the view.  This was the view from the clothesline the second to the last time I took my camera out....

The clothesline is right next to the garden so if I have my camera with me I stop and take some shots there too..

 It makes me feel happy and peaceful.  I enjoy hanging out the laundry and taking lovely photos on beautiful days.

 Two days ago was one such lovely day.  I was happily hanging out the clothes when an insect caught my eye.  I decided to run back inside and grab the camera.

When I returned the insect was gone.   I hung the camera up on a little hook near the garden and finished hanging up the clothes.

This morning I needed the camera....then I remembered where I had left it....panic hit when I looked out the window at the pour rain....
All hope was not lost, after all, this is the camera that survived a fall from the top of the car on to the road (it's spent the last two years held together with purple duct tape).  I took the battery out, set the camera near the heater to dry and went off to teach my watercolor class.  5 hours later, when I put the battery back in, the camera made a little noise.... my hopes shoot through the ceiling.....then the screen came on....I felt like I'd escaped disaster....then the burning smell started....I tried to quickly remove the battery....then came the loud, startling *POP*....the camera went flying out of my hands, through the air, and landed on the floor, the duct tape popped off and the battery fell out...the camera she is dead.  *sobbing*

Procrastinator Special

Because procrastination loves company....

Check out the pattern selection in OxeyeDaisey's ETSY Shop

Halloween on the Brain...

More Happy Little Fairies

Yesterday marked the conclusion of a two-part fairy wings and tutu class, and just in time for Halloween.  I am so excited about the creativity my students brought to the class!  We had a very small class, but one of my favorite classes of all time.  It is always my goal to encourage students to use their creativity.  For the class, I provided outlines of 3 wing patterns from last year, plus the two new ones I created for this year, as a starting place for students.  This year I had one student create her own wing pattern, another alter existing wings, and 2 more students use existing wing patterns, but paint them in very creative ways.  These ladies all get gold stars for creativity and super cute one-of-a-kind Halloween costumes!

Class began by choosing or creating wing shapes, and then we moved on to painting.

One student created a bat wing pattern.  She had a great beginning, but was unable to attend the second class.  I really hope I get the chance to see the project finished!

After the wings were painted students made no-sew tutus using a method that yours truly created to avoid the tangled, rolled up mess that can sometimes accompany making no-sew tutus.   

Once the tutus were finished, students finished and embellished their wings. 

These wings and tutu were designed to go with a pig hat, which I think will be absolutely adorable, and super fun!

I love the boldness of these wings and the sunflowers make the perfect accents!

These lovely tri-colored wings and tutu were designed to go with a Tinker Bell costume.  This student so enjoyed making wings, that she plans to make another pair for her upcoming wedding!

Thanks for the inspiring class! Those are some lucky kiddos! 

If you are interested in making your own fairy wings and tutu, this pattern with a full set of illustrated, detailed instructions is available on Etsy.

Monster Bags

 I made these really fun Monster bags.  But I thought they could use a little more "personality"...

Perhaps "personality" would have been easier to 

add in the preliminary steps, but I managed.

Love, love, love the results.  By the end in my little adventure of "personality" I wished I had more bags to fit all of the personality ideas that popped into my wee little brain.   

 Meet the Ladies...

and the Fellas. 

 The only way in and out of the Monster bag is through mouth, which I think adds extra fun.  

During our photo shoot...

Little One Eye Miss got a little HUNGRY!