holiday inspiration

I received this book for Christmas, and got to start reading it during our annual Christmas Day Nap. (Sophie even took part this year - I tricked her by saying she only needed to lay down and rest, and she ended up falling asleep!). 

I haven't finished reading it yet, but I got through the first few sections and got inspired to start implementing some of her ideas for creating spaces and providing supplies that encourage kids to create. I made some blank books for Sophie to fill in, using plain white paper inside (I used 4 folded sheets per book), construction paper for the cover, and pink duct tape to cover the spine (hey, it's what I had!).  

I showed them to Sophie when she woke up from her nap and she wasn't super impressed; she's always grumpy when she wakes up so it probably wasn't the best time to introduce them, but I was excited about my creations!

I cleaned out her big art drawer and re-stocked it with blank drawing paper, construction paper, origami paper, notebooks, the new books I made her, and cards and envelopes. So far she's only gotten into the blank drawing paper, but I'm sure she will "discover" it all on her own in good time. My stubborn girl only does things when she decides to do them!

Here's a picture (bad lighting, sorry!) of Sophie's newly-organized drawing tools... She got lots of new art supplies for Christmas - from Santa, me, grandparents, and friends! It's so neat to see her growing and expanding as an artist. I decided I need to find a way to keep and remember her artwork as she grows and goes through different stages with her art. For now I started keeping a file folder of her current artwork to save and go through later (once a year maybe?), and I want to get her a portfolio to keep her favorites/my favorites from each year. Also on my shopping list is cloth tape (to make nicer bindings for her books!), plastic envelopes and some more organizational-type supplies like small baskets to keep her supplies easily accesible and easy for her to put back when she's finished.

Now that I'm done with school (finally!!) I am excited to have more time to spend just being with Sophie and being more present with her all of the time since I no longer have a running list of deadlines and to-do lists weighing on me in the back of my mind. Of course I still have a to-do list - but I'm very thankful that for now at least it consists of things like "clean house" and "write thank-you notes." Hopefully you'll be seeing more of me here, as well - I've even been knitting! Finished object post coming up soon :)

a diversion

Last night I hemmed Sophie's long underwear onesie into a shirt (now that she has to go potty all the time those onesies don't work so well!) and I had the leftover fabric just sitting there, so...



Ta-da! A jellyfish shirt. Two "new" shirts in one night, not too bad, eh?

a rainbow party

Sophie's birthday party was a blast. The forecast said mostly cloudy with a chance of rain, which around here usually means it will be raining, but we got lucky - by the time her party rolled around, it was sunny and hot.



Nana made her birthday dress (with matching bloomers!) and since it buttoned down the back, she actually kept it on for most of the party.



There were rainbow sugar cookies, rainbow playdough party favors, and rainbow ric rac around the punch glasses (otherwise known as jelly jars). My mom made beautiful (and delicious) rhubarb-raspberry punch.



There was lots of running, jumping, screaming (in joy), playing...



Bubble blowing....



Nana and Papa made her a teepee out of bamboo poles and covered with all her new silkies.

And here is her fruit pizza!




Play Dough:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Combine ingredients in a saucepan and place over medium heat. Stir constantly until a ball forms; remove from heat and knead for a few minutes. Add food coloring and knead until the color is even.


Bubbles:

5 cups water
14 oz. Dawn dish soap (eco-friendly soap doesn't work)
1/2 cup corn syrup

Mix. Dip. Blow.
We used egg dippers (for dyeing Easter eggs) for wands - just use pliers to complete the circle.

some birthday sewing

I can't remember the last time I went near a sewing machine... it was over a year ago, that's for sure. Probably longer. But last weekend Sophie's friend Dashel was turning 2 (2! Sophie and her friends are turning 2!) years old, so I managed to come up with this:



I only had to rip out one seam, which I think is pretty good given my sewing history.

There's been no knitting around here - term papers and studying for finals instead. I'm not going to make that mistake again! Come next Wednesday I'll be completely done with school until next January (hopefully). I have a big list of things to start (and finish) knitting.

And I have a birthday party to plan!