Piapie

Heart Crayons

Last year I melted crayons and cut out heart shapes to attach to the valentines Funky B handed out at her preschool.   I was pleased with how they turned out and when the Old Peep gave me a cigar box filled with crayon nubs, I knew just what I was going to do with them.  More heart crayons!  This time for our friends on the West Coast!

It turns out that these cards were a great multi-day activity for Funky B.  We spent a morning peeling papers off crayons and chopping them into chunks.  Quiet time was filled with melting wax and cutting out the shapes.  

Stamping "color" and signing her name provided the perfect just-before-bedtime calming activity.   She's feeling proud of all her work, as well she should.   Now I need to go out and get them some red and pink crayons as a Valentine's Day gift.

Felt Hearts

Last year I decorated a corner of our living room with hearts made from crayons melted on wax paper.  I loved them more than I anticipated--the way they caught the light, the way they spun slowly around.  

But I knew that they were not going to survive a baking hot cross-country drive without melting into a giant mess in the back of the truck.  I also wanted something that could be used from one year to the next.  My solution came in the form of felt:

They may not be translucent but they are bright and cheerful and spin around in a fascinating way.  Plus they were super easy to make, especially since the Old Peep needed something to do with her hands one evening during her visit :-)

Wall Calendar

We have had plans to frame some prints by Jay Ryan and hang them in the living room but have yet to do so, thus leaving us with a big empty space on the wall.  In December I went to Crafty Wonderland and treated myself to a calendar of prints by Nikki McClure.  I knew it wouldn't work for our everyday calendar as there are no real spaces for writing appointments and activities.  But it would fill that blank wall rather nicely, don't you think?

Santa's Seamstress

Papi Chulo's not the only one busy crafting away this year.  I've been doing a little bit too.  A little bit.   Less than I might have hoped for but enough to satisfy the desire to show our love and appreciation with something handmade.  Granola for the teachers, glittery play dough for the kiddos, and napkins for the families.  The napkins were a particularly rewarding project for me.  A year or so ago, I made napkins for all the families based on a pattern from MGM.  The leftover fabric was stashed away until I came upon it halfway through December and had an a-ha! moment.  I could make kid-sized napkins to match the grown-up ones AND use up some of those scraps that fill up an entire tupperware bin in my closet! 

There was even enough for matching bags, because, you know, being coordinated is important.

Fairy Tree House

Santa's Master Carpenter pulled through this year.   Earlier in the autumn, I spotted this and began to covet it on behalf of the girls.  When I proposed getting it for them, Santa's MC said, "Pshaw!  I can make that!"  I didn't doubt his skills, although I did wonder about his lack of workspace and busy schedule.  He wasn't going to be deterred by either of those.  So with the help of a generous and fully equipped carpenter next door, Santa's Master Carpenter set to work each night until he finally had this:

Well done, Master Carpenter.  This one is a keeper, most definitely.

 

Santa's Workshop

Just a peak at what's happening in Santa's workshop:

That elf has been working hard crafting this mama's Christmas wish for the girls.  It looks awesome, they are going to have so much fun, and he's a rock star.  Can't wait to show you the finished product!

Candy Houses

That garland of paper gingerbread men was just a prelude.  Funky B's preschool hosted a holiday party at which there was singing, a little play, art projects, and candy houses to decorate.  The girls smeared frosting on the graham crackers and then added candy wherever they could.  They worked diligently while one seat over a classmate approached the whole project a bit differently.  One smear of frosting for the house, one for me,...  I can't say that I envied that mother's afternoon but boy that kid was in heaven!

A few days later we gathered with friends for a gingerbread house party.   Days prior  Papi Chulo and I helped with the baking and construction of the houses so that the kids could just decorate away.  Again, the girls tended to the task at hand while eight other children licked icing off their fingers and sugared themselves up with an assortment of candy that would make a Halloween bag envious.  

We now have four candy houses sitting in the dining room and at the rate we are going (one piece of candy a day) there'll be treats in our house long after the snow melts away in Minnesota.

Inspired by the Source

...the Paper Source, that is.  It may not surprise you to know that I love that store.  I walk in there and it's all eye candy for me.  Fancy paper, adorable notecards, stamps, pretty things.   Mmmm.  Just thinking about it makes me smile.  I've avoided the actual store this season, but did get a bit inspired by their catalog

One look and I thought, "I can do that!"  And I did.

Then I saw something along the lines of this:

Not bad for someone who had a hard time getting motivated this year.

Ten Chairs

I do so appreciate the votes of confidence regarding my re-upholstery skills.  I am here to report though that just days after I posted about the yellow chairs I went and bought a new table and chairs.  I know, shame on me for bagging out on a crafty challenge.  But!  But you see, I have long been coveting a bigger table, something that will seat more than just the four of us.  My dream table is a big ol' wood table with long benches on each side.  Nice and wide and sturdy.  Of course my vision includes crusty bread, olives, glasses of red wine, bowls of fresh fruit, and a stone fireplace at the end of the cavernous room in the french country farmhouse where this table resides.  Like something you might find here.

Did you hear that record scratch?  Yeah, no farmhouse, no stone fireplace, no benches.  But we did happen upon a good-sized wood table with six comfortable chairs during a late night perusing of Craigslist.  And so now I have a yellow tabletop propped against the wall, four chairs taking up the hallway while pretending to be a schoolbus, and a bolt of sparkly vinyl.  Know of anyone interested in a project?  I have a dining room table to set.

 

Picnic Blanket

Last week we made a valiant attempt to see a concert under the Air Force Memorial.  Sadly, an afternoon shower got some of the sound equipment wet and the show was cancelled.  We decided to go ahead with our picnic, if only so I could lay out the picnic blanket I had made.  The bottom piece was a Goodwill find.  I pulled fabric from my stash (yahoo!!), pieced together some strips, made some bias tape, sewed on straps, and put it all together.  My appreciation for quilters deepened immeasurably during this project. 

Of course, as I was finishing the blanket Funky B asked if someday I would make her a quilt, adding, "Then I could wrap myself in your love."   This kid should write for Hallmark!

There's another concert under the memorial tonight.  We have plans to go there with some dear friends.  Cross your fingers that the skies will remain bright and blue!