Green!

24 Tuesday Apr 2012

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We found newly opened leaves on the sidewalk, knocked down by the heavy rain last night.  The overcast sky today makes the green glow and we brought some in to brighten up the house.  The leaves reminded me of an amazing documentary about origami called Between the Folds.  The film talked about a quest to fold a perfect shape and the years of practice in a futile attempt to mimic the folds that contain a leaf inside a bud.  Amazing.

Robin’s Egg

23 Monday Apr 2012

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We found half robin’s egg shell on the sidewalk on the way to school.  Ada is part magpie, so she was thrilled.  We needed to fortify the fragile shell a bit, so we filled it up with Elmer’s Glue and let it dry.  Now it is strong enough to join the collection and survive inspection by a curious three year old.

Seedling Flip Book

20 Friday Apr 2012

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We just did our yearly planting of Morning Gloria seeds in our window.  (Ada’s name for them from when she was two).  Planting the saved seeds reminded me that we’d taken photos of the growth last year in order to make this flip book project.  You will need:

*Growing Plants (We started the photos with newly planted seeds)

*Camera

*Card Stock

*Double-stick Tape

*Scissors

*Hole Punch

*Ribbon or Yarn

1. Take a daily photo of the plants.  Be sure to stand in exactly the same spot and try for the same time each day.  (You may want to mark the spot with painter’s tape).

2. Print all photos once growth is complete.  It is important that the images be the same size.  (We used a regular printer to make our 2″x4″ photos).

3. Cut card stock to fit around photos, leaving a 1/8″ boarder on three sides and 1/4″ on the left for binding.  Make one extra for the cover.

4. Mark two spots for holes to be punched in one piece of the card stock.  Holes should be about 1/4″ in from the left side in order to put the ribbon through.

5. Punch holes in one piece of card stock and use this as a stencil to mark the others.  It is important that all holes are in the same place.

6. Put double stick tape on the back of a photo and line it up on the card stock.  Stick down, and repeat.

7. Stack photos in order of growth and thread ribbon through holes.

8. Hold book in left hand and flip to watch the garden grow!

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!*

Wisteria and Violets

17 Tuesday Apr 2012

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Chris was cleaning up in the back yard this weekend and found Wisteria in bloom!  We had it on our planting wish list, and there it was.  We must have missed it in August when it was done flowering and surrounded by the overgrown jungle in the back yard.  It has opened up all across the neighbor’s back shed and grown two stories up into the trees.  We can see the purple blooms from all of the back windows in the house.  Who planted it there?  The vine looks old.  Who were they?  Who planted the tiny purple violets in the yard that exactly match the ones on the old teacup that I use every morning?  Someone cared about this place a long time ago.  We are excited to uncover more about the lives that went on here before us.

Planted Can

16 Monday Apr 2012

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I like buying groceries with beautiful packages.  It makes me happy see bright little compositions behind the cabinet doors.  In honor of Earth Day this weekend, we reused these colorful tomato cans as geranium pots.  The graphic labels are printed on and will withstand drips from a watering can.  You will need:

*Recycled Can

*Can Opener

*Geranium, or other small plant

*Potting Soil

*Small Stones or Broken Clay Pot Shards

1. Wash and dry can.

2. Turn can over and punch a series of slits on the bottom to allow for drainage.  Our holes are about half an inch long.

3. Put one inch of stones inside can.

4. Put in plant and fill in any space with potting soil.  Soil line should be half an inch from the top of can so that it will not spill out when watered.

5. Place a tray or dish underneath when watering.

*These would make sweet Earth Day or Mother’s Day gifts.

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.

Baby Food Cap Beads

12 Thursday Apr 2012

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I always feel conflicted about buying baby food in pouches instead of glass jars.  The pouches are amazingly convenient and organic and kids can feed themselves…but the packaging is not recyclable.  (I don’t understand why someone hasn’t come up with responsible packaging amidst all of that amazing design).  I realized that the colorful caps would make great beads and keep some plastic out of the trash.  Ada made this for Josie yesterday and it is her new favorite toy.  The colors are bright, it makes noise and it is super fun to take on and off over your head if you are a toddler.  You will need:

*Baby Food Pouch Caps

*Leather Cord or Cotton Shoelace (Nylon will snag on the caps)

1. Wash caps.

2. String caps onto cord through holes.

3. Tie at the ends.

4. Show off to your friends (or your sister).

*The pouches would also make great little ice packs for the summer: Rinse thoroughly, fill 2/3 of the way with water, twist on cap and freeze.*

Sculpture

11 Wednesday Apr 2012

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Ada brought this down for me the other day.  She made it out of modeling clay and Wikki Stix and paper and a toothpick and I think I see some of my hair wound in there.  It reminded me why we are so lucky to live here.  There is art everywhere in New York.  I don’t do enough museums lately with the double stroller, but I am counting the days until we can get back to it.  (Yes, I was one of those crazy people who dragged my two-year-old to the Alexander McQueen show).  I love that our kids are so close to art here – and music, and dance, and food, and people…I Love NY!

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.