Learning New Things

I am working on my project for the "Modern Mini Challenge" over at Ellison Lane Quilts.  Jennifer has been doing a blog series on Mini's so we can find our inspiration - there are some wonderfully talented folks out there in blog-land!

This is my first "quilt".  However, as you may be aware, I am a free spirit when it comes to design, so I have to admit that my mini will be functional.  Not as in "it hangs on the wall and looks pretty" kind of functional, but as in a "hey, that's way cool - what do you mean it hangs on the wall?!!" kind of functional.  Confused yet?

OK, I'll reveal a little bit about my project on this post, but I want to wait until it's done to reveal the whole shebang (mainly because it's not finished yet!).  Prior to being sidetracked into this challenge, I was working on a "Quiet Book" for my children.  So every page had "something to do".  That bled over into this quilt a little bit.  

These adorable aliens can go INTO the house and space ship.  Yep, those bits are not just for looks, they are actually pockets!  Yay for keeping kids busy!!!  

(Speaking of keeping kids busy, has anyone seen my third alien?  I think someone toddled off with it....)

I admit I am no professional.  I am probably going to be crazy enough to try to make another one of the space ships.  I learned a bunch while doing this one.  First off, I learned how to make buttonholes with my new (to me) sewing machine!

Not excellent, but it'll do for the kiddos.  (Thread snapped in the middle of sewing.  grrrr.)

I had some fun trying to figure out exactly how to make the space ship.  I added the ric rac with itty bitty French knots to add a bit of color.  I like how it turned out!

I also got to "play" with Peltex.  It's really neat stuff (of course - it's made by Pellon!).  It is a thick stabilizer with heat-activated adhesive on both sides.  It makes the aliens (and space ship) sort of stiff but flexible - like spongy cardboard!

Typically, after I put something together I look at it and think of all the embroidered bits I can add.  I was not sure about the Peltex, because it is so thick.  However, it was surprisingly simple to sew through - even by hand!  

Here are some of my house windows.  My original design has a porch, too, but I'm working on that.  I love that I can sit and do a bunch of hand-embroidered details on this project.  Makes it relaxing, fun, and doesn't feel alien to me (ha!).

I only have until March 5th to finish it up, but I'd better get cracking - especially if I want to re-do the space ship with all of my new found knowledge!

Modern Mini Challenge

I'm entering the The Modern Mini Challenge over at Ellison Lane Quilts.

In Jennifer's own words: "The Modern Mini Challenge is a 5 week series that kicks off with some seriously inspiring work from some super talented bloggers. Spark your creativity with ideas and inspiration from some amazing mini quilts and mug rugs."  Want to join me?  Check it out at Ellison Lane Quilts.


Yep.  I'm going to do it.  I'm working on a mini right now.  And I'm going to finish it.  And I'm going to enter it.  And I just might win (stranger things HAVE happened).  I love a challenge!  And I'm doing this to prove to myself that I can.  And I will.  


I'm going to do it. 


I'm putting it in writing - you all will hold me to my word, won't you?  

Thanks - you're the best!!!!
 :) Caren  

Aliens on the Brain

I'll admit it.  I'm a little boy-crazy.  In a crafty sort of way.  Yep, I love my boys to pieces, and I love "making stuff" for them.  My 5 year old Spunky is such a creative little guy.  I bounce ideas off him continually.  He's got great input into my creations.  He named this one (below) "Salien" (because he's got what looks like a sun on his face).

We were discussing aliens a couple nights ago and he had "a great idea!", so he drew me an alien.  It was so stinkin' cute!  He described every part of it, from the shape, to the eyes, "then there's a mouth, and another mouth, and stripes like a zebra, and this one squiggly stripe goes all the way up to his second mouth!!!".  And yes, I do know that he was stalling because he didn't want to go to bed, but those are the moments I cherish...

So, yeah, I've had aliens on the brain.  Here's how I created 3D aliens from the pictures: two scraps of quilting cotton (Spunky picked the fabrics), and an old t-shirt.

I am no good at free-hand copying, so I used an iron-on embroidery pen and some freezer paper to make a transfer, and after I transferred it, I copied over the lines with my fabric pen.  It was my first time using this method and it worked beautifully!

Sprout saw me taking pictures of the aliens and made a bee-line over to investigate.

He started TALKING (ok, babbling, but who's to say the aliens can't understand?  Never know, maybe he was speaking their language?!!).

He was so excited he even gave me the nose-crinkle that I adore!

Spunky got home from school and was thrilled.  Now if I could only figure out how to make antennae that are kid-friendly, I'd be a super-hero momma!

Blessings,
:) Caren

Homemade Valentine Cards

This is Spunky's first year in school.  He's my eldest, so I'm learning a lot of new things.  Like, for instance, did you know that there is a "100 day celebration"?  That's this week for us.  I had never heard of such a thing.  Apparently they want to celebrate 100 days of learning, so everyone in my son's kindergarten class is to bring in 100 of something.  It's a big deal to be able to count to 100.  (We're doing fruity O's cereal, left over from our fruit loop garland at Christmas).

Valentines Day is February 14th.  So I just found out that my son has to bring Valentines cards for EVERYONE in his class.  Yep, all 27 of them.  We'll say it is "to celebrate all of our new friends".  I'm not sure why Valentines is such a big deal, but it is.

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So I have been scouring the web looking for free printables (there are some great ones out there), but then I thought - hey, I'm creative - these don't need to be complex - just make some!  So I did just that.  (Most of the ones pictured here were free downloads I found on Skip to My Lou and Bunnycakes).

I've got issues with traditional Valentines.  First of all, my son does not "get" puns.  He doesn't "get" jokes, either, for that matter.  He's just not there yet.  Second, this is marked as the holiday of "love".  Love is not exactly politically correct in the schools - I mean, we are to love one another, but we can't actually say that because it comes straight from the Bible.  Third, what's up with "conversation hearts"?  Some of these poor kids can't even speak English, they're just learning to read the correct way, and then this holiday comes along and throws them cryptic and incorrect spelling?  Talk about confusing!

So what's a mom to do?  I don't want to go overboard on the "crafty" end (a kindergartener making 27 cards by hand?  yeah, right - guess who would be finishing THAT project!!!)  So lets just keep it simple!  Here's what I came up with.

A simple picture (mine were Tombots - a free font), with "Happy Valentines Day".  We'll probably throw a sticker or two on them.  Perhaps some glitter (if I decide I'd like to go completely insane).

"these MINE!"

Oh, and I have decided that I'm going to type out the kids names.  See, my son's class is extremely diverse in culture.  So there are about 20 kids with names I had never heard of.  The teacher actually "practices" saying some of them with the class so they can pronounce them...

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I love that Spunky's  class is multi-cultural.  Seriously, I have absolutely nothing against people from other nations.  I'm just a momma thinking about practicality.  Can you imagine how long it would take my five year old (who hates writing) to spell out "Abdoulamohamman"?!!! We'd be working on that one all night.

And just so you are not confused, yes, this is my daughter.  I know this post is about my son and his class, but he was at school while I was planning this post (and getting the Valentines ready), so Sunshine and I decided to "play".

Have a very happy Friday!
:) Caren