Category Archives: Shop

Paper Puppets

07 Monday May 2012

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I love these paper people.  Leslie first introduced them to us when our kids were in a preschool co-op together.  They are great for some DIY puppet making and this batch kept our kids busy for almost an hour.  The cutouts are made of card stock so they can handle some heavy decorating.   We used markers, glue, paper, plastic gems, feathers, metallic confetti, card scraps and pom-poms.  Popsicle sticks can be added as handles for a puppet show.  Older kids can cut out clothing shapes and add more detailed features.  I would love to see a full kid-designed family tree!

Angela, Meet Charlie (or How to Clean a Wool Rug)

04 Friday May 2012

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We love our Angela Adams rug.  Her designs are abstracted from nature and her life in Maine and her rugs are made beautifully and responsibly.  We have had this one for about four years and have been really happy with how it has held up to kids and spills.  The wool resists stains better than cotton rugs, but it still needs a good deep clean once in a while.  Charlie’s Soap is my favorite for the job.  (We get our Charlie’s at Green in Brooklyn if you happen to be in the neighborhood).  I didn’t quite understand the hype over this soap until I tried it.  It smells a little funny, but it is amazing.  I dilute the super-concentrate, spray it onto the rug, let it sit for a minute, and then wipe down with a damp towel.  (Be sure to test for color fastness first).  The Charlie’s Soap label says it “Cleans Everything From False Teeth to Diesel Engines”.  I cannot vouch for the teeth or engine part, but rugs it works wonders on.

Bubblesuit Romper

02 Wednesday May 2012

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We have been longing for warmer days and our Friday forecast calls for sun and 80 degrees.  This bubblesuit from a 1971 Simplicity pattern (#9395) is perfect for a toddler in summer weather.  I think my sister had a similar one when she was little. The vintage fabric is from Ebay – I love the abstract bright figures.  You can find similar ones on Etsy here.  Be sure to check the quality and yardage when you are buying vintage fabric.  This Simplicity pattern also comes with a matching pinafore- so cute!  I’ve made a few versions of both from different fabrics and they are some of our favorite warm weather outfits.

Dreaming of Bees

30 Monday Apr 2012

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I took my first beekeeping class yesterday.  One finger bears a slightly puffy sting to prove it.  (She must have been trapped outside my glove and left her stinger when I pulled them off, poor dear).  I have been wanting to learn more about bees for years and we bought this house with a backyard hive in mind.  I was lucky to find a great teacher right around the corner from us in Brooklyn.  Mickey Beaman comes from three generations of keepers and is engaging and slightly crazy enough to make an enthusiastic and patient teacher.  I’d started reading The Beekeeper’s Bible before the class and I can’t put it down.  I have used it as bedtime reading for the kids…It is a beautiful book about the history, behavior and care of bees and is full of beautiful illustrations and recipes.  Honeybee Democracy by Thomas D. Seeley is another amazing peek inside the collective of the hive.  Standing outside the entrance to the hive yesterday and watching the flurry of activity made me want to get to know these creatures.  We have such a lot to learn before we order any of the supplies from the catalog but I am excited to be at the start of a new project!   I am dreaming of the buzz and honey for our tea and of teaching the kids about the magic of bees.

Organizing Art Work

27 Friday Apr 2012

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Two of my favorite ways to organize kids’ artwork come from the hardware store.  Clothespins are perfect for hanging things from Metro Shelves.  If you don’t have shelves you can stretch heavy twine between eye hooks and hang from there.  Painter’s tape makes easily removable frames for rotating pictures.  Both of these methods work well with bulky collage pieces.  If you still love a piece after it has spent time on the walls it can be moved to a large folder such as this by Alex Toys.  There is nothing like time staring at a piece on the wall to help with the editing!

Neighborhood Alphabet Book

18 Wednesday Apr 2012

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We have several versions of Alphabet books at our house and decided to make our own custom version.  We took the camera along on our daily walks and Ada pointed out each letter in the series.  It was fun to turn the alphabet into a treasure hunt and Ada loved getting the finished book back in the mail.  (She even spotted a V made out of her carrots at lunch time).  It took us about two days to find all 26, but could be a longer project depending on the signage in your hood.  You will need:

*Camera

*Access to Photo Site.  (We used Iphoto, but there are lots of options)

1. Walk around and let your child find the alphabet.  (This can be done with little or lots of assistance depending on child’s age).

2. Take photo of each letter.

3. Upload photos, lay out one letter per page.

4. Add Title, Author, Locations, etc.

5. Order book. (The cost of our paperback book was under $30 with shipping).

*These would make fun gifts for kids and could be done for numbers, shapes, landmarks…So many possibilities!*

Ribbon Dress

13 Friday Apr 2012

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I got this dress at American Apparel with plans to decorate it for Ada.  I was going to make little flowers out of vintage ribbons down the front of the dress.  When I asked Ada to help me pick out the ribbon she said she wanted all of them.  Then she told me they needed to go down the back and not be sewn down into petal shapes.  I was annoyed at her for not listening to directions.  I finally asked what the heck she was going to do with the ribbons hanging off the back of her dress.  “Spin and Dance, Mama.”  Duh.

To make a similar dress you will need:

*Plain Dress

*Assorted Ribbons and Buttons

*Needle and Thread

1. Wash and dry dress to account for shrinkage.

2. Let your designer direct placement.

3. Sew down buttons and ribbon.

4. Put dress on child and let the spinning begin.

Mobile

10 Tuesday Apr 2012

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The corner of Ada’s room.  A vintage kitchen cabinet stores the kids’ clothes and a basket keeps blankets above.  We got this Flensted fish mobile before Ada was born and it came with us from the old house.  The fish are always slowly swimming up there.  I remember staring up at it when I was very pregnant and wondering what was to come.

Play Mat

05 Thursday Apr 2012

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We are so excited to welcome a new cousin into our family soon!  I have been wanting to make this project for a little someone and it is finished just in time for the shower this weekend.  The pattern is from Joelle Hoverson’s More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.  I wish I’d discovered the pattern when my own kids were tiny, because I am in love with the finished project and there are so many color possibilities.

I used Malabrigo Worsted Merino 210 yards, 3.5 oz. which comes in amazing colors and is super soft.  (Purple Mystery and Lettuce are two of the colors and my kids seem to have hidden the other tags somewhere – sorry).  The needle is a 60″ (150 cm) long circular in 10.5 (6.5mm).  I’d never used such a long circular before, but it was fun once I got the hang of it.  Hooray for a new baby!

Easter Egg Surprise Ball

04 Wednesday Apr 2012

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I have been wanting to make a surprise ball since I spotted one at Kiosk a few years ago.  And then this week our friends brought us an amazing swan version from Tail of the Yak in Berkeley.  (More on that beautiful surprise ball in a later post).   Ada had so much fun unwrapping the swan that I decided to make her an Easter version for her basket.  This is an easy project that can be customized for any recipient.  You will need:

*Crepe Paper Streamers (at least 3 colors)

*Tiny Goodies (We wrapped: a vintage bracelet, stickers, vintage buttons, temporary tattoos, a dollar coin, a tiny rubber stamp, a bag of glitter, tin bird pins)

*Felt (or stickers or rubber stamps to decorate)

*Glue stick

*Scotch Tape

*Pinking Shears or Scissors

1. Wrap crepe paper around the first treasure and form a rough egg shape.  Remember this will be the last to be unwrapped so make it a good one!

2. Continue wrapping until first object is completely covered.

3. Cut crepe paper with pinking shears and use masking tape to attach a new color.

4. Insert the next goody and continue to wrap.  Be sure to gently pull the crepe paper taught as you go.

5. Repeat, changing the streamer color with every new object.  Position objects to create a rounded egg shape.

6. Once all objects are inside, use the glue stick to stick down streamer end and apply felt circles or stickers for decoration.

7. Let the fun begin!