Enchanted Mama

His day::

His day...was sweet. simple. The morning filled with fresh baked lemon zucchini muffins and a few gifts.  The afternoon held a small little "woodland" party for him.  Since his sister and brother had gnome and faerie parties years back it seemed only right that my five year old have a woodland animal gathering.  He loves animals. Loves being outside. My child who seems so at home in nature and is a master grasshopper catcher.  

The couple of friends he invited to his party were quiet and oh-so-agreeable.  They were happy to sew little capes and don acorn caps for their dolls. Play games. Eat snacks, especially the squirrel snack of nuts and berries.  They adored the cupcakes and were found outside in the yard playing when their parents came to fetch them.  It may have been one of the simplest parties we've given.  

They went home with a bulb to plant and a wee bear and notebook.  All were happy.  

My birthday boy spent time at the park biking his next favorite thing to do after catching grasshoppers. We ended the evening with a delicious-daddy-made cake with chocolate mushrooms.  A good day. 

Now my boy is five and it seems as though it were just the other day he was bundled up in my arms.  Oh how time does keep moving.  

 

Simple Joys::

My littlest guy reminded me of something this past weekend.  Something it seems I'd forgotten.  

Play dough.

Yes, simple homemade play dough.  The easiest thing in the world to make.  Simple Joys.  

I'd made play dough many times before this.  I even spoke of it here.  You would think I'd remember this bit of fun. 

So, my guy had been asking for new play dough, blueberry colored play dough, to be made since Saturday. I suspect the prompt came because the other yellow play dough we had was way past it's prime.  As in, completely caked and dried to every play dough utensil we own.  

My excuses were running wild.  I kept saying things like, "Okay honey, tomorrow."  Or "I'm not sure I have enough salt, I'll have to check."  Or  "Not now it's bedtime!"  

Truthfully, I'd forgotten how easy it is. really easy.  Yet, the happiness yield is GREAT!  

 

After lunch today he cornered me next to the apples and the onions.  He kept saying, "Mommy, PLEEEAASSSSEEEEEEEEE."  You know subtle hints.  If I'm honest, I may have considered another excuse to sling his way but the scene was too hilarious.

Since you're looking at the pictures you know how this story turns out.  Though the scene in the kitchen included an energetic four year old and his little sister the parrot jumping up and down yelling, "Mommy, please.  Mommy please.  Mommy, please!"  Pretty funny.    

Two hours they played.  Two hours.  They owned a bakery sold delicious treats like cookies and muffins and pasta and pizza.  I know because I sampled a few.  

At one point my little guy said, "Mommy you're fun."  Enough said little man.  High praise indeed!  I'll make you play dough anytime.  

 

Here is a tried and true recipe from my childhood...oh, and I doubled the recipe.

Homemade Play Dough::

1 cup of flour

1/2 cup salt

1 cups of water

2 tablespoons of cream of tartar

1 tablespoon of oil

Food coloring

Essential oil...we used lavender.

Put the top five ingredients in a pot on the stove on medium heat.  Stir until it forms into a ball.  Throw it onto the counter and add the coloring and essential oil.  I kneaded the dough a bit before handing it off to the little ones.  They loved kneading the warm dough that smelled of lavender. yum.  

Then, play for hours.  

Store in an airtight container when finished playing otherwise you end up with a hard ball of dough and that's not fun to play with at all.    

 

Here's to another week.  Fall must be on it's way right?  It simply must be.  It is October 1st for goodness sake.    

What are you working on today?  

 

 

 

Children's Art::

There's something so sweet about children's art.  

The pure whimsy of it.  The total abandon with no concern about "what it will look like" or "who will like it".  They draw. paint. mold. create.  That's who they are. 

I admire their joy for art. Their incredible ability to embrace the moment and just jump right in.  

I want more of that for myself.  More letting go and giddy anticipation about art, in whatever medium that may be.   

 

We settled down this past weekend for a bit of evening creative time.  The summer has allowed for a more flexible bedtime routine, at least once in a while. What better reason to stay up alittle later than a bit of art?   

I found with this project that my children needed very little direction.  Other than a "these pens are permanent" speech they were set to go.  There being only one real incident in that regard with my littlest.  I'm sure the marks will come off in 3 - 5 days? weeks? years?  right?

 

My four year old drew a road runner and a man feeding a lady bug.  Do you see it?  

He spent the most time getting the colors saturated enough for his taste.  Maybe from his watercolor love?  I'm not sure.  His head down while drawing in zen mode.  Lovely for me to see.  Usually he's the one flying from one arm of the couch to the other.  Nice to witness him absorbed in his project.  

Watercolor, drawing, art, playdoh, working with the big daddy in the kitchen.  All calming things.  

All good things to remember.  

 

My eight year old drew a city with fireworks, rain, rainbows, and shooting stars.  He's become fascinated with singing the star-spangled banner to us at least twenty times a day.  Just so patriotic of him.  

He's also the one that, had I given him unlimited canvas to work on, would have provided me with a month of sewing to put them all together.  This project was a huge hit with him.  

Another good thing to remember.  

 

My littlest drew and drew and drew and scribbled.  She had a ball and the only tense moments happened when she was handing the marker back to me in a "wielding a sword" kind of way.  I managed to stay mostly clear of permanent pen marks. she on the other hand...well.  

The fourth child is such an interesting study.  She's not even two and yet she wants to do whatever the big siblings are doing.  Frustrating for her sometimes.  I stand amazed at what she can do already. 

 

Thought I'd mention the supplies needed to do this in your own home. 

Regular canvas.  I used duck cloth.  Whatever color you chose.  The white will make the most of your marker colors but I did get a few other canvas colors to experiment with.  Wash your canvas first if you plan on laundering your bags or creations later.  

Cut them out to whatever size you would like depending on the zipper you use.  Mine were 9 x 11 and I used a 9 inch zipper.  Assemble in standard zipper pouch fashion.  

The sharpie markers are easy to find.  Any office supply store will have them as well as most fabric stores.

A bit of ribbon.  Some embroidery floss and a jangly something just to make the zipper easier to pull.  

Cut and begin creating.  Easy right?  

 

My real problem is that I "can't stop".  No fabric is safe with me at this time.  Just look at those helpless muslin bags I found lying around.  They didn't stand a chance.   

Are you enjoying this as much as I am?  

Have you tried it yet?  

Okay, I promise that tomorrow there will be a different theme on the blog.  Three posts back to back may be too much or it just might show you my absolute excitement about this whole project.  

Until tomorrow friends,  

Kellen

 

 

Summer Fun::

As summer approached this year I thought it might be fun to try something new.

This year we would decide on a few FUN things that we all wanted to do.  From the smallest to the tallest.  Our list began to form and as we warmed up to the idea we became quite excited.  

Our Summer Fun 2012 list formed.  

In the past week we have knocked a few of these off the list already.  I'll tell you about them soon.

Today, I thought I might share our list in hopes that maybe you and your family would like to make a list of your own.  

It's fun I promise.  

 

Summer Fun 2012::

family art night

water sponge fight

*1,000 pc. puzzle*  done

write a circular story

water balloon baseball

*make sun tea* done

*popsicles* done

*bumper boats*  done

*water party*  done

finger paint with hands and feet

*star gazing on blankets*  done 

*eating a meal with no utensils*   done

family game night

*gratitude postcards*  done

*watermelon seed spitting contest*  done

*harvest our tomatoes*  done

*decorate bikes for 4th of july and have a parade*  done

blind-folded eating contest

*water park* done 

*chronicle the summer as a family* done

*hike up a mountain* done

*picnic at the park*  done

*hand-crank ice cream*  done

*camp with smores*  done

scavenger hunt

decorate t-shirts

solar yarn dyeing

*banana splits*  done

 

Yes, it's optimistic.  Yes, there's alot of eating going on.  Yes, we are up for the challenge.  

Yes, it's MOST definitely going to be FUN trying.  

 

What about you?  

 

 

 

An artist was here...::

A moment in our home that made me stop, look and smile.  

Any moments in your life?  

 

*linking up with soulemama for this moment*

Her Project::

Her project on Ecuador required a creative handwork piece.  

This is what she chose.  

Love it.  

 

 

Hidden Messages::

We have a bit of construction going on at our house right now.  The old storeroom chocked full of stuff has now been emptied and is undergoing a transformation.  Walls are appearing and insulation soon to be applied.  A doorway and soon another room for one of our children.  

It's been quite an adventure already as construction invariably can be.

 

The other night we had a lot of fun though.  Our children were allowed to draw on the walls....oh my.  They were able to use crayon and write messages and this mama and the big daddy just smiled.  Can you imagine?  

So our children were all about the giggles and laughter while we covered every square inch of the walls with hidden messages.  Messages tucked into the walls that will bring forth the love in which they were drawn or written.

 

I remember doing this with my mom and three brothers in the new kitchen.  Things like great meals made here.  Love in the kitchen.  You know, important things.  

The intention being the biggest and most crucial element.

My love really is to see what each person decides is important.  I love that this is his.

 

 

And, his.

And, hers.

 

And, his.

It's made me wonder why is it that we don't draw on walls more often?  It's such a lot of fun!  

Except for that pesky "its-so-permanent" thing.  Oh well.  

 

My little Artist::

 

Oh, how I love thee.  

 

note to self...remember his little blue fingers and the total concentration he has until we hear the out breath and, "It's done."  He loves creating with watercolor, there's something magical about it, something calming.  Please remember this, for his sake.   

 

 

Handmade Holiday 2011::

Our Handmade Holiday, which we began in earnest last year, was quite lovely.    

We drew names for one another so we could focus on creating a gift for each member of the family.  Last year this is where it started and this was along the way here and here and this is where it ended here and here.  

When I asked my children this year how they had wanted the holidays to be they enthusiastically said, "We want to draw names like last year and have a special date with you and Daddy."  

So that is what we did.

Our Holiday was full of secret projects, closed doors with signs that read, "Elves working...DO NOT OPEN!!!" and whispers about "how to" without telling who someone had drawn.  

There were loud noises coming from the garage as well as sewing machines whirring in the back round.  My knitting needles click clacking furiously in the end.  

Full and fun.  

 

The Big Daddy drew my name this year.  Lucky me.  

I love to have candles on the dining room table for all the seasons.  Big tall drippy candles and short fat handmade candles in a variety of holders.  Though I love all candles these holders may still be my favorite.    

What I don't love is "chipping off" wax from every surface.  The wax that gets stuck on the table, plates, and goodness knows the tablecloth.  So my request in October, I started early, was a slab of wood with feet to put in the middle of the table that would allow for the rolling, dripping wax.  Something that would make chipping the wax off optional.  

Do you know what?  The Big Daddy created this fantastic gift.  He even listened when I said, "I would love to have bark on it as well".  I have a fondness for bark on pretty much anything.  So he did it.  

The love that he put into this project is what makes me smile and the fact that this is so much better than I could have even imagined.  

 

One thing for sure is I felt like the luckiest mama on the block when I opened this.  We have used it every night since.  And I suspect, will continue to for years to come!  

 

My oldest girl took to the sewing machine for her brother.  She made a book cover for the guy who loves to carry around books at this point.  A pencil case to hold well pencils and various treasures.  He was quite proud of his presents.  There was even a bookmark tucked inside.  How simple.   

I loved seeing my girl do this project completely on her own.  All she wanted was the velcro for the pouch and she was off and running without any help from me.  Even I was surprised on Christmas morning to see what she had created.   

Oh, also in her spare time she decided to make gifts for ALL of us, ahem.  

There were hand-knit washcloths.  Stitch markers for this knitter.  And an assortment of other treasures she whipped up.  No wonder she had all those bags of things squirreled away in her room.

She has big plans this girl of mine.  Big plans and a big heart.   

 

My oldest boy, my woodworker, thought of this idea for his littlest sister.  

A wooden stacking ring from some of the candle holders he had in his workshop.  With a little help from the Big Daddy they spent a few days on this creation.  

Sounds of saws and sanders emanating from the garage.  We knew they were out there but had no idea what creation was being made.  

That is what I find so fun.  As the children get older there is less involvement and more surprise and wonder at what their little creative selves come up with.  

Once he cut the pieces he rubbed them all down with beeswax.  So, not only do they look so cool with the rings from the inside of the wood but they smell delicious. 

 

My girl loves it.  

She's taken to carrying it around the house with her for things to stack at a moments notice.  

 

My four year old LOVES to watercolor.  So for his gift that seemed a natural choice.  Plus, he drew his big sister who LOVES to write letters.  It seemed for this year to be the perfect match.  

He set right to work and created a unique set of cards and postcards.  What I enjoyed most was sitting with him after he had spent a few days painting and asking him to tell me about the paintings. 

He knew, of course, what every one of them was.  An angel on horseback.  A fire breathing dragon.  A swan.  A dragon's tail.  A smiling Turtle.  A woodpecker.  A person pushing a wheelbarrow.  And, the one that made me laugh the most was, A vacuum.  

I believe I had as much fun labeling them as he did painting.  They were bundled up with bakers twine and tucked in a bag to await Christmas morning.  

His excitement in giving this gift to his sister was the most beautiful part about it.  

 

The creative aftermath...

 

The next gift was for my sweet four year old from his littlest sister.  Who, no matter how much I pondered, I realized was a bit young to make anything herself.  So with some help from this mama we created a bag for her brother.  

He loves elephants after seeing them at the zoo last year.  He is even referred to, in our house, as the "elephant washer".  We being the elephants and him doing the washing.  When I found this fabric I knew it had to be used.  

He had been wanting a bag of his own to carry more books and toys around like his older brother and sister.

I also tucked a hand-sewn fish inside, as he loves to grill things up in the play kitchen, that I found at the local handmade holiday market.  Think rainbow trout with ribbons along the sides.  

He has since been seen loading the bag to capacity.  Which makes me glad I did the extra strong seams!  

 

The final gift was for the Big Daddy.  

I drew his name this year and of course I had to knit something.  Something Big.  Something scary and thrilling all at the same time.  Unfortunately, the light has been non-existent and with a few sick children we have yet to do a photo shoot but its on its way.  Hopefully this week.  

I hope your holidays were all that you wished them to be and that the New Year is off to a great start.

I myself feel a bit behind the ball already.  But, I'm hopeful that all the lingering pieces of 2011 can be finalized and let go so that we can focus on the Beautiful Year of 2012.     

I'll be checking in here more often I promise.  It's just been well, full.  You know?  

 

Let's chat soon, 

Kellen

 

So She did..::

"She Believed She Could So She Did".

My girlie had her first handmade market debut two weekends ago.  The annual holiday fair at school.  She's been determined to do this for over a year.  Absolutely set on pursuing this dream.  

It happened a few summers ago when we sat side by side in front of my mother's Elna sewing machine teaching her the basics and letting her press the pedal and send the machine whirling through the fabric she had chosen.

Freedom.  

The smile on her face and the learning she did in that first summer were immeasurable.  I, the teacher, wanted her to know the basics, the stitches, the way the machine worked.  How to thread the machine and how to finish it off when done.  She bore this beautifully, in fact she seemed to absorb everything I had to teach her about sewing on a machine.  

Then, she was on her own.  My fabric stash at her fingertips.  Yet another opportunity for me to let go.  To appreciate the thoughts running through my head. "Oh, I was going to use that fabric" or "That one is supposed to be a...." or "No.  That I'm saving for..".  To hear those thoughts and struggle to breathe and say, "Yes, you may use whatever you wish".  

To recognize the girl in me that loved when my own mother had said those same words to me.  To be less concerned about what all the fabric WAS going to be and more interested in what the fabric COULD BE now.  

 

She started slow, tentative.  Reluctant to push the machine very fast more comfortable to amble along stitch by stitch.  Today?  Well, that girl can fly is all I'm saying.  

So with the Winter Faire approaching she and another friend spent days together side by side sewing for their stand.  One sewing bracelets.  One sewing bags.  Both happy to be doing something on their own yet willing to ask questions when they were stuck.  

For me it was delightful. Freeing. Beautiful.  My girl sailing through the fabric stash, ever respectful and helping me breathe and let go...breathe and let go.  

My child as my teacher, again.  

 

And so she did.  She made 86 bracelets to be exact.  There may have been a few days at the end that required some reinforcements.  A late night "ribbon stitcher" along with the big daddy as head "button guy". 

There were looks across the room at one another with this daughter of ours, head down, sewing in the middle.  Smiles were passed and looks of awe.  Her tenacity.  Her drive to create something and follow through.

Her label---completely her design and idea.  Of course, this enchanted mama deemed it just the right name for her.   

 

Then, the big weekend happened.  She rose to the occasion.  She smiled.  She answered questions.  She stood on her feet for hours at a time experiencing "retail".  A challenge at best.  

The weekend flew by and then she packed up her bracelets.  Tired but excited about her first foray into the handmade world.  

She sold quite a few.  She still has some left.  She wants to do it again.    

I know as her mama that more than anything it was a success. She set the goal, pursued the goal and learned a few things in the process.  As much as I would have loved to tell her all about "my retail experience" I tried to let her learn in her own way. Knowing it's better that way.  

 

So I learn to let go of the very children I want to protect and hold so tight.  Recognizing that every time I do they are able to fly more freely.  

I believe that in the end I will have learned more from my children than I ever could have taught them myself.

For now I will smile at my own bracelet, that was made "just for me", from my girlie and love her even more than I did yesterday.