Play blueberries

We had a busy morning. Hazel and I made banana blueberry pancakes for breakfast and then it was off to Founder's Day, our town's celebration of when it was founded and basically all the schools and local organizations day to fundraise with raffles, games, and food. Hazel had a blast.

A simple "homemade" toy to make. Hazel loves blueberries and she loves playing with her kitchen toys. As I looked at an empty carton from blueberries I came up with this. Buy wooden unfinished beads (I bought two different sizes for variety) and paint them blue then put in a cardboard blueberry container.

Unfinished beads in container

To paint them I put them in a gallon plastic bag and poured some of Hazel's tempera paint. Then sealed the bag and shook and rubbed. Then dumped them onto wax paper to dry. Very easy and little mess. Try to make sure they aren't touching so you won't have any stick together.

Drying "blueberries"

Finished Product

We had a discussion about not eating them since they can be choking hazards for small children. I think I got it through her head that they cannot go in her mouth since they are pretend blueberries. Another easy kitchen craft is to buy the wooden eggs at a craft store (Michaels AC Moore, etc.) and put them in a cardboard egg carton. I saw this at Hazel's school and loved it. I saved an egg carton and put the eggs I had already bought for her in. I need to buy more to have a full dozen though. At the school she loved taking them out and putting them in.

Welcoming Fall Free Printables!

I have been working on some autumn decorations and of course with fall comes Halloween. Hazel and I made some frames and I printed some autumn quotes to put in them. We will mail them to our family (my family lives in three states and the closest to us is 2 hours away). I taped the sayings in so they can easily be replaced with a picture if the person we give it to would like.

Supplies for one frame

I found these wooden frames on clearance at Michaels for 49 cents! I had some "silk" leaves and we just modpodged them on to it. Hazel found this very easy to do.

For some of the others we painted them (Hazel loves painting) in fall colors. I only gave her yellow, orange, red and brown paints. Then we stuck fall stickers on them. We had some with sayings and some foam ones. We tried a few without paint, but the painted ones came out much better.

The final frame we did was a larger one which was $1 at Michaels. I had bought this before I found the ones on Clearance. We modpodged tissue paper squares on to it then after it dries put on a sealing coat of ModPodge. After it dried we added some stickers.

Supplies for tissue paper frame

Finished tissue paper frame

Painted with stickers

Leaf frame with yarn apple in front

Yarn pumpkin

As you can see I also have made some yarn apples and pumpkins from Make and Takes blog. And I made some banners. I made a Happy Autumn one with witch hats on the back. (I'm hoping to share these with you once I figure out how to post a pdf file here.) If you do make this, remember to do the back in reverse. I made this mistake late last night and had to fix it this morning.

Trick or Treat Witch Hats

Trick or Treat Ghost Banner

Finally I did a trick-or-treat ghost banner like paper dolls we use to cut out. Again, once I figure out the pdf files on here, I will provide you with the banners and the autumn phrases.

So begins my fall decorating. Enjoy your weekend!!
I think I figured it out. Let me know if this works or doesn't!
Autumn Phrases  Welcome Autumn Banner
Witch Hat Banner  Ghost Banner

Rainy Day = Tea Party

Something to make me smile

Ok, I have discovered two new to me fabric stores. I'm so excited to have some place besides Joann's to shop! One is near Hazel's school so next year when she will be going by herself I will have some place to visit often.

Hazel's newest tea set

Since I made Hazel the needle felted tea set, she has wanted to have a tea party/birthday party. Her birthday is still several months away (new year's eve), but I have been looking for fabric in the theme I want so she is getting excited for it. And we celebrated my birthday last month and my sister's this past Saturday and went to a friend's 5th birthday party, so she has birthday on her mind.

So this morning she set up a tea party in the living room. Of course it required two baskets of fruit and vegetables to serve with the tea cups (we used both felt and plastic). She also invited the Dish and the Spoon to join us.

Our Guests

Her set up after the party

After getting a sore back from sitting on a foot rest, I asked her if she would like a real cup of tea. So we made a pot of chamomile lavender tea with a bit of honey in it. I added milk to hers and used my good china cups to make it special. She claimed the tea tasted like chocolate, but only had a few sips. But she enjoyed it. I remember these tea parties with my mom, so I want to have special ones with her.

Taking a sip

She wanted cheese with her tea

Our set table with candles lit

We are working on some fall crafts to share, but it has been hard to get Hazel to stay on task for them. Hopefully we will have some tomorrow for you. In the mean time check out:
1) Make and Takes Little Apple Favors I want to try this one later today!

2) I {heart} nap time Halloween Crafts {Lifestyle Crafts}
3) I {Heart} Nap Time Free Printable for Halloween 
4) FamilyFun Magazine Tree sculpture  great nature craft!!

Tea for Two

Tea for Two

So after playing around with the tea cups from my needle felting book, I decided to experiment and make a tea set. I bought more blue, but of course it didn't match the first blue, so I made new tea cups and saucers. Then I used a similar technique to make the teapot, but made it bigger and made a lid for it. After getting the tea pot to a point of something I liked, I only had enough of the blue for a plate, so I made a plate of cookies. If I make it back to the store, I'll get more blue to make a sugar bowl and creamer, but for now Hazel is happy with her new tea set.

My Inspiration and Technique Guide

Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Tea Pot Lid

Tea Cup and Saucer

Tea Pot

Hard to Say Goodbye and Some Other Links I've Been Trying

Simba playing in his younger years

Yesterday, we buried the ashes of our beloved Simba. I first got Simba as a kitten in 1994. He is the first cat I can say was truly just mine. Steve of course adopted him and they loved each other right away, but I had from 1994-2006 alone with him. Yesterday we finally got around to buying a plant in his memory and burying his ashes underneath it. We are also making a stepping stone to honor him to place next to it. It is still curing and then I'll paint it and seal it, so pictures will come at another time. We had to put Simba down at the end of July. He was in too much discomfort to keep him alive anymore.

Simba "helping" sew a quilt

Simba was the best cat I had ever known. He loved to be with people and loved to play. He would greet me when I came home and follow me around and sleep with me every night. When Steve and I decided to start a family we adopted a kitten, so Simba would learn to share our attention before a baby arrived. He accepted Pumpkin pretty quickly. At first he followed her around and would meow at her whenever she did something against my rules. It was rather cute.

Simba and Pumpkin (as a kitten)

Simba and Pumpkin getting some fresh air

Simba at Dawn

Simba was at first afraid of Hazel and kept his distance, but in the end he would let her pet him and would come to cuddle even if she was with us. I think some of it may have been he was too slow to get away anymore and just wanted some love.

When I was beginning to quilt I took a class on watercolor quilts and made this wallhanging depicting my favorite cat doing one of his favorite activities, looking out the window. It hangs over our bed now, so we know Simba is always with us.

Okay, enough of the sad stuff. On a positive note I won a blog contest. Sew Happy Geek had a wonderful contest for her third blog-iversary, and amazingly I won. I am getting one of her patterns and all the fabric to make the quilt top. Now to figure out who to make it for. I can't wait to get the package.

Here are some other blogs/ideas I have been playing with:
1)  From The Enchanted Tree -- Bendy Dolls
2) From Living, Loving, Learning Naturally -- Ice Cream for Breakfast! I tried this recipe this morning using frozen mixed berries instead of the banana. I really liked it. Hazel didn't seem to eat it and Steve did not give me his opinion. We had it over waffles. I personally thought it was a fun way to jazz up the waffles instead of syrup. I used skim milk and couldn't tell.
3) From Poet in the Pantry -- Brownies to Heal the Soul. Haven't tried these yet, but trust Carrie's (and her family's) opinions. She also has a PB Fudge recipe that looks delicious.

How about you--any good ideas to share?