Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Fabric Gift Bags


Fabric Gift Bags
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann
This year I made fabric gift bags rather than using wrapping paper. I have quite a bit of fabric that doesn't seem to get used, so for Christmas and Sophia's birthday so far I've been making these bags.

Some of the fabric I used for Sophia's birthday bags came from clothing we no longer wore. Thought these bags would have special significance and memories. Sure enough, they were recognized right away.

I also sell fabric bags in my shop (made from new fabric). Please visit my shop (Harvest Moon by Hand) at http://www.harvestmoonbyhand.etsy.com.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Mom in the Prayer Shawl I Made for Her

I crocheted this shawl for my mom since she is always cold. She can wear it around her shoulders when she's sitting up and moving around.

It also is long enough that she can put it over herself and use as a blanket. The yarn is incredibly soft and warm.

The shawl is 125 chains long using a size K crochet hook. I double crocheted the shawl until it was wide enough to go from my shoulders to mid-back.

The fringe is knotted in every other chain along the length and sides of the shawl. I did not fringe the top (along the neckline).

The shawl took 5 skeins of Angel Hair yarn.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Finished Sensory and Memory Quilt (for my Dad's Christmas Gift)


Finished Quilt

Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

I made this quilt for my dad who has Alzheimer's Disease. It is a sensory and memory quilt.

The fabrics have different textures, and the pictures are ones that he picked out that are meaningful to him. The back is a very soft fleece.

Gave it to my father today (December 27th). Was a couple days late because of the big snowstorm. Anyway...he opened the box and looked at the quilt, and immediately started recalling memories and sharing stories about some of the pictures.

He cried when he looked at other pictures. "I've had a good life," he said.

There are more details about the quilt at my Flickr site here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/picturesbyann/4207842423/

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas Eve Traditions

After the girls sang in the church choir on Christmas Eve, we came home and had dinner.

After dinner, they make reindeer food. This is something they look forward to doing. Sophia peeled and cut up carrots to put out for Santa's reindeer.

Olivia (and later Sophia) took oatmeal and added sugar sprinkles to it. The oats give the "reindeer energy to last the rest of their flight" while the sugar sprinkles give the reindeer a quick pick-me-up.

The girls know not to put TOO many sprinkles in the reindeer food. Otherwise, Santa's reindeer will have a lot of energy fast...and then have a "sugar crash." They wouldn't want that...so they showed some restraint with the sprinkles.

This is Olivia adding sprinkles to her bowl of reindeer food.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Cranberry Salsa


Cranberry Salsa
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann
Each year I make some homemade food items to give to others. This year, I made a cranberry salsa with cranberries, granny smith apples, fresh cilantro, jalapeno peppers, apple juice, and probably some other ingredients I'm forgetting at this moment.

It's a rather sweet salsa - yet has some punch to it thanks to the jalapeno peppers. It's delicious with chips, or on top of cream cheese and crackers.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Girls Making Lemon Honey Jelly

This is the first time that the girls and I have made jelly. Have always made jam. Was happy that it turned out.

The jelly is made with lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and honey from the beehives in the backyard.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Stockings for the Horses

I hand-embroidered little dala horses and put them on Bailey's and Hoss' stockings (they are the pony and miniature horse).

All of the pets have Christmas stockings. Seems like I am making stockings every year.

The stockings are now all hung by the woodstove. There's very little room left wood timbers next to the woodstove. Hopefully no more animals find their way to the farm in the next few years. Otherwise, I'll have to think of another way to display the stockings.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Las Posadas Meal


Las Posadas Meal
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann
December is a fun time here...and probably one of the busiest. We celebrate a lot of different holidays including St. Lucia Day, St. Nicholas Day, Las Posadas, Winter Solstice, Christmas, and New Year's Eve.

Today, we read about Las Posadas, and then had tacos and nachos for dinner. Last year, during the Home Ec class I taught, the girls did a more in-depth study of Las Posadas. We made chicken enchiladas last year which we all enjoyed.

Living in a rural area in a northern state, there are not any Las Posadas activivites going on. It's too bad...I know the girls (and I) would enjoy seeing what a real-life version of Las Posadas is like.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Girls with Gretel and Tree

Each year, the girls make a gingerbread creation. Last year, they each worked on a separate project. Sophia made a gingerbread house and Olivia did the gingerbread tree.

This year, they worked together on a gingerbread tree. Sophia was in charge of the frosting (which Olivia finds difficult to do); and Olivia was in charge of decorating the tree with little candies.

When the girls were done, I was ready to take a picture. Gretel wanted to get into the picture with the girls.

Perhaps Gretel was hoping for some frosting if she posed nicely for the picture. (I think the girls did give her some when I stepped into the kitchen.)

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Window Stars at Church

I was asked to make some stars for the windows at church. This is one of the windows. There are another 10 stars on the other window.

All the patterns are different on this window - just like snowflakes are different from one another.

Window stars - in a variety of colors and patterns - are available in my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Purple and Blue Window Stars for Winter Solstice

These window stars were sent to Italy for the Seasons Round Exchange. They are made from a special type of paper that allows the sunlight through and provides almost a stained-glass effect.

The blue star is folded 6 times per point (or 48 times total) to make the star pattern.

The purple star is folded 6 times per point (or 30 times total) to make the star pattern.

I've been making the window stars for over a year, and each new pattern and color (or color combination) that I make I'm as equally as exciting about as the first star I made.

More stars in a variety of colors and patterns are available in my shop (Harvest Moon by Hand).

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Looking at Gifts from St. Nicholas

The girls woke up at 4:21 a.m. to see what St. Nicholas brought them. They were so excited with what they received this year.

There's a little wooden statue of St. Nicholas in the center of the table.

Friday, December 4, 2009

St. Lucia Program


St. Lucia Program
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

The girls and I have gone to the St. Lucia program at the local church now for a couple of years.

This year, they served breads, cookies, punch, and rice pudding with lingonberries.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Pile of Dyed Wool


Pile of Dyed Wool
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann
Taught a class to a group of homeschooled children about needlefelting. They each made a Christmas tree ornament using sheep wool.

This is selection of wool that the children chose from to make their Christmas ornaments. I like the vivid colors of the wool.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Seeing the Minnesota Orchestra


Minnesota Orchestra
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann
This year I've tried to integrate more classical music and field trips to the Minnesota Orchestra into the girls' homeschool curriculum.

Today, we went to see "American Salute" at the Minnesota Orchestra. This was a performance for school children, so the conductor explains a bit about each piece and points out some interesting things to listen for in the pieces.

The girls are looking forward to their next trip to the Minnesota Orchestra.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Learning How to Sew a Dress

This is the dress I'm making for Olivia's First Communion which is January 10th. Originally it was scheduled for November 22nd, but Sophia had emergency surgery to remove her appendix. So, it was re-scheduled.

At this point, the pieces are cut and everything is pinned together in this picture. Have been working on hand-sewing on clear beads near the bottom of the dress (there are flowers and the beads are in the center).

Sophia also is making her First Communion, and has a similar dress (the beading and floral pattern is a bit different.)

I've never sewn a dress before, so it will be interesting to see if the dresses turn out. (Note in late-November: They did turn out...and the girls love them.) Now Sophia and Olivia want me to make them MORE dresses. They are convinced I can sew anything.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Trio of Blue and White Snowflakes

This trio of blue snowflakes are some of the more recent Christmas tree ornaments I've made. The idea was from a tutorial I saw on another blog (wish I could remember which one it was so I could provide the link).

Basically there are 2 layers of felt cut into circles. In my case, I used blue and white (to represent water and ice). On the white felt, I drew a snowflake pattern.

Then I sewed along the snowflake pattern on a sewing machine. I had the white felt facing up (to see the pattern). White thread was in the bobbin and blue thread was on the top (so there would be a contrast on each side).

After I was done, I took a scissor and cut the hanging threads. Then I trimmed close to the sewn lines to reveal the snowflake pattern.

They were fun to make. I'm going to make more snowflakes in a variety of sizes so the patterns could be a bit more elaborate...and that there's some variation in size.

My goal this year for Christmas is to have it be more of a homemade one...one filled with special memories that will sustain my daughters not only this year, but for many years to come.



Saturday, November 7, 2009

Giveaway - 50 Custom Thank You Cards



Harvest Moon by Hand’s sponsor, UPrinting.com, is giving one lucky reader a pack of 50 custom thank you cards with envelopes, all for free!

UPrinting cards are made from high-quality paper and cardstock and will surely bring holiday cheer to your friends and family. You can upload your own digital picture or use one of their images to create your own cards.

For hosting the giveaway, I receive 50 thank you cards from UPrinting.com; and am so excited to be able to have cards printed with one of my favorite pictures.

If you enter below, you have a chance to choose one of your pictures to have made into thank you cards as well. You could use these for your own use, to give someone as a gift this holiday season, or perhaps you want to create thank you cards for your business.

The specifics:

Prize: 50 7"x5" (folded to 3.5"x5") custom thank you cards with plain envelopes

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the U.S.

Eligibility: Limited to U.S. residents due to shipping costs. UPrinting.com is hoping to negotiate better shipping rates soon.

Register to Win By: November 14th. A winner will be chosen by Harvest Moon by Hand using random.com on November 15th and will be emailed that day.

To enter Harvest Moon by Hand’s giveaway sponsored by UPrinting.com, please leave a comment below. Make sure you include your name and email so there’s a way to contact you if you win.

For Bonus Entries:

Please leave each in a separate comment, as each comment is an entry.

1. Follow Harvest Moon by Hand's blog (you may want to do this anyway to learn about upcoming giveaways). Leave a comment here letting Harvest Moon by Hand know you are a follower. If you are already a follower, leave a comment anyway, as each comment is an entry.

2. Blog about this giveaway with a visible link back to this posting and comment here with a link to your post.

3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment(s) with a link to your tweet(s).

4. Follow Harvest Moon by Hand on Twitter. Comment back here with your Twitter link. Existing followers just leave your Twitter link here.

5. Post this giveaway on your Facebook page (put "Facebook" in your post below).

6. Become a Harvest Moon by Hand Facebook fan. Comment back here with your Facebook name. Existing fans just leave your Facebook name here.

Good luck!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Two Lilies


Two Lilies
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann
Sometimes it's just the little things that can make one's day. After the girls and I went to the Minnesota Orchestra, I took them to the Como Conservatory in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The lilies were at the Como Conservatory in the sunken garden display. The whole room smelled beautiful, and was such a mood lifter.

The girls literally would stop and smell the flowers. "This one smells pretty, Mom!"

Taking some time to smell the flowers...to relax...to enjoy the moment. These are all things I need to do - especially as a parent and caregiver.

The visit to the Como Conservatory was a good reminder of that.


Giveaway - 16" x 20" Rolled Canvas Print


Harvest Moon by Hand’s sponsor, UPrinting.com, is rolling out a giveaway – 16x20 rolled canvas. Rolled canvas prints are perfect for home decor, photo prints, and signage. One lucky reader is eligible to win a free 16 x 20 custom rolled canvas.

The specifics:

Giveaway Prize: (1) 16x20 Rolled Canvas http://www.uprinting.com/Artist-Canvas.html for One Lucky Winner

Size: 16x20 rolled canvas

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the U.S.

Eligibility: Limited to U.S. residents due to shipping costs. UPrinting.com is hoping to negotiate better shipping rates soon.

Register to Win By: November 14th. A winner will be chosen by Harvest Moon by Hand using random.com on November 15th and will be emailed that day.

To enter Harvest Moon by Hand’s giveaway sponsored by UPrinting.com, please leave a comment below. Make sure you include your name and email so there’s a way to contact you if you win.

For Bonus Entries:

Please leave each in a separate comment, as each comment is an entry.

1. Follow Harvest Moon by Hand's blog (you want to do this anyway to learn about upcoming giveaways!). Leave a comment here letting Harvest Moon by Hand know you are a follower. If you are already a follower, leave a comment anyway, as each comment is an entry.

2. Blog about this giveaway with a visible link back to this posting and comment here with a link to your post.

3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment(s) with a link to your tweet(s).

4. Follow Harvest Moon by Hand on Twitter. Comment back here with your Twitter link. Existing followers just leave your Twitter link here.

5. Post this giveaway on your Facebook page (put "Facebook" in your post below).

6. Become a Harvest Moon by Hand Facebook fan. Comment back here with your Facebook name. Existing fans just leave your Facebook name here.

Good luck!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Handmade Envelopes with a Twist

This was for a swap on Swap-Bot. The goal was to create a series of 5 or more handmade envelopes of descending size. Each envelope contained a slightly smaller envelope.

The smallest envelope contained a small gift. In this case, I enclosed a foreign coin and stamp - for the recipient's son who collects foreign coins.

Five of the evelopes were made from wallpaper that was in a wallpaper sample book. The other two envelopes were made from scrapbooking paper.

This Christmas things are going to be a bit tight. So, I've been thinking about different ways to creatively package smaller gifts.

My daughters saw me making these envelopes and both thought it was "really cool!" Good...because at least one of the gifts that each of them receives this year will be packaged this way.


Giveaway - 18" x 24" Poster Print



Harvest Moon by Hand’s sponsor, UPrinting.com, is giving one lucky reader an 18"x24" poster print.

I also receive one poster from UPrinting.com for hosting the giveaway; and am so excited to be able to choose one of my digital pictures and have UPrinting.com enlarge it to poster size.

If you enter below, you have a chance to choose one of your pictures to have enlarged as well. With the holidays just around the corner, this would make a great gift for someone.

The specifics:

Giveaway prize: (1) 18x24 poster print for One Lucky Winner

Size: 18" x 24" Poster

Paper: High Gloss; Semi Gloss

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the U.S.

Eligibility: Limited to U.S. residents due to shipping costs. UPrinting.com is hoping to negotiate better shipping rates soon.

Register to Win By: November 14th. A winner will be chosen by Harvest Moon by Hand using random.com on November 15th and will be emailed that day.

To enter Harvest Moon by Hand’s giveaway sponsored by UPrinting.com, please leave a comment below. Make sure you include your name and email so there’s a way to contact you if you win.

For Bonus Entries:

Please leave each in a separate comment, as each comment is an entry.

1. Follow Harvest Moon by Hand's blog (you want to do this anyway to learn about upcoming giveaways!). Leave a comment here letting Harvest Moon by Hand know you are a follower. If you are already a follower, leave a comment anyway, as each comment is an entry.

2. Blog about this giveaway with a visible link back to this posting and comment here with a link to your post.

3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment(s) with a link to your tweet(s).

4. Follow Harvest Moon by Hand on Twitter. Comment back here with your Twitter link. Existing followers just leave your Twitter link here.

5. Post this giveaway on your Facebook page (put "Facebook" in your post below).

6. Become a Harvest Moon by Hand Facebook fan. Comment back here with your Facebook name. Existing fans just leave your Facebook name here.

Good luck!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Miniature Art Kits in Altered Matchboxes


Altered Matchboxes
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann
These are six of the most recent altered matchboxes that I made. They are each hand-painted and decorated; and then filled with 20+ items.

They are small (the 32 count matchboxes), but it's surprising how much actually fits in them.

My daughters love when I make one for them. They are like little art kits full of possibilities. They can make collages, artist trading cards, embellish notecards, or make pictures with the contents.

These miniature art kits/busy boxes are available in my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand.


Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Thanksgiving Stars...and Being Thankful

These are the newest window stars I made for Thanksgiving and autumn. I made them for a monthly challenge on HandmadeMN (the theme is "Thankful for...).

Here's the link to vote (it's free and takes only a few seconds):
http://etsymn.blogspot.com/2009/11/november-challenge-thankful-for.html

The window stars are made from a translucent paper that is cut into small pieces, folded multiple times per point, and then glued together to create the star.

The stars are available in my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand, at http://www.harvestmoonbyhand.etsy.com.
Something to think about today:

What is one thing that you are thankful for?



Monday, November 2, 2009

Olivia in Headdress


Olivia in Headdress
Originally uploaded by
Pictures by Ann
This is the headdress that she wore for Halloween. It's from the carnival museum in Mobile, Alabama.

Now that Halloween is over, the girls can use the headdress and mask for play. They enjoy dressing up, pretending, and creating their own stories/plays. Am interested in seeing how they use the headdress in play.

They could spend hours each day playing - creating stories with rather involved plots and characters. Having a variety of costumes, fabric, and miscellaneous items (open-ended toys, essentially) gives them a wider range in their play. They are not limited by what the costume or item dictates.

I continue to be fascinated with how they transform everyday items into their stories and play.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Lit Pumpkins for Halloween


4 Lit Pumpkins
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

The girls and I drew and carved the pumpkins one afternoon. We had lots of fun.

This was the first year that Sophia was able to carve her own pumpkins. At 8 1/2 years old, this is an important milestone. Now, not only can she draw what she wants her pumpkin to look like, but she can carve it as well.

Made roasted pumpkin seeds later. They were very good!

More pictures from the pumpkin carving afternoon are at my Flickr site.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Handmade Books


3 Handmade Books
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann
Made this trio of books for a challenge on Etsykids. The challenge was to create an object(s) that focused on birds and/or owls.

These books are handmade using cardboard from food boxes (e.g., cereal boxes, pasta boxes), decorative paper, ribbon, postage stamps, yarn, and stickers.

My daughters love little books that I make for them (they are only 3 1/2" x 5" with about 8-10 pages in each book. They can fill them with short stories, pictures they draw or cut out from magazines, and things they collect outside (e.g., leaves, feathers that have fallen on the ground).

They are available in my shop. Please see my Flickr profile for the link to my shop.
They are available in my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand.


Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Girls at the Minnesota Orchestra

Saw the "Percussion Spectacular" at the Minnesota Orchestra. This was the first visit for the girls to the Minnesota Orchestra, and they really enjoyed it.

It was such an engaging performance that the girls and I will remember for a long time!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Etsy Promo Packs


Etsy Promo Packs
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann
I create promo packs each month with a variety of business cards and samples from Etsy shops.

Shops send me their cards and samples, I put them into packets and then send them out to customers.

It's a great way to let potential customers know about your business.

I assemble promo packs around the middle of each month. Contact me if you're interested in including business cards and/or samples for your Etsy business.


Monday, October 12, 2009

Sophia with the Pumpkin She Grew


Sophia with Pumpkin
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

Each year, one of Sophia's projects is to grow pumpkins. This year, she was very happy with the harvest. There are lots of pumpkins - not huge ones, but lots of them.

This is one pumpkin that she liked and brought up to the house to decorate for autumn.




Sunday, October 11, 2009

Fabric Stuffed Pumpkins

Made these two pumpkins for a swap on Swap-Bot. They are made with six pieces of cotton fabric that are machine-sewn together.

They are stuffed with wool from sheep I raised. The stem is felt that is hand-embroidered together and stuffed with wool.

I have other fall and winter items for the home in my shop (Harvest Moon by Hand). Please visit the shop at http://www.harvestmoonbyhand.etsy.com/.


Saturday, October 10, 2009

Beehive and Honey


Beehive
Originally uploaded by
Pictures by Ann
One of the three hives here at the farm. This hive produced 36 pounds of honey.

This year the honey was a very light color. It's very sweet and flavorful thanks to the apple, pear, cherry, and plum trees on the property as well as raspberries (red and black).

Neighboring farms also have raspberry patches, clover, and alfalfa growing which helped make the honey so sweet this year.


Friday, October 9, 2009

Learning about Cells

Learning about cells this week for science. Had the girls look at a thin piece of transparent onion skin under a magnifying glass first.

Then, I had them place a thin section of onion skin onto a slide. They put it in their microscope (it's a child's microscope...nothing fancy) and could see the cells of the onion.

It was actually very cool. Brought to life what we were reading about skin and cells.


First Snowfall


Snow on Pumpkin
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

This was the first snowfall of the season.

Just had brought some pumpkins up to the home to decorate for autumn...and then it snowed overnight.

There's still a lot to be done outside to prepare for winter. Am hoping it warms up soon!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Hand Embroidered Sandman Doll

This is a Sandman doll that I made recently. It is made with fleece and felt and is incredibly soft to the touch.

He wants to help a young child fall asleep at home; be a travel companion in the car; or comfort someone who is sick or at a doctor or dentist appointment.

Every part of the toy is hand-embroidered - there are no loose parts. The face, stars, hands, and moon are all blanket-stitched onto the doll. The Sandman is then hand-sewn together using the blanket-stitch around all the edges.
He is stuffed with sheep wool - from sheep that I raised on my organic farm. The Sandman measures about 7 3/4" x 4" wide - a perfect size for small hands to hold.

The Sandman doll is availabe in my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand at http://www.harvestmoonbyhand.etsy.com.



Monday, October 5, 2009

Sophia with Jumbo Bubble

Took a field trip to the Minnesota Children's Museum. There was a section where children could make large bubbles or play with bubbles in a little pool.

Sophia chose to make the huge bubbles. This was one of the larger ones she was able to make. Olivia enjoyed playing with the bubbles in the pool.

It's such a simple activity, but one they enjoyed doing for quite a while.


Sunday, October 4, 2009

Measuring Green Beans

Am freezing green and yellow beans so we can enjoy them in the winter.

Olivia was cutting the ends off of them (practicing her cutting skills), and kept out some of the long ones. This was was over 7 inches long!

I try to integrate math lessons into daily life whenever possible. I think it's important for children to understand the connection between what they are learning in books to real life.



Thursday, October 1, 2009

4 Pink Stars for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month


4 Pink Stars
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann
These are four of the stars I made recently. They are made for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (in October).

I make the stars by hand-folding small squares of paper, overlaying the folded paper, and then gluing them together to create different patterns. One star, for example, is folded 11 times per point. With 16 points that 176 folds to make the star.)

The stars measure approximately 7 1/2", 8", 10", and 12" in diameter. They look wonderful in groups or individually.

The stars are available at Harvest Moon by Hand at http://www.harvestmoonbyhand.etsy.com.

I also entered this set of stars in HandmadeMN's October challenge that is in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please take a moment and vote this item at: http://etsymn.blogspot.com/2009/09/october-challenge-save-ta-tas.html. Thanks for your support!


Monday, September 28, 2009

First Miniature Horse and Pony Show


Ready to Go Home
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann
Sophia and Olivia are with Bailey (the black pony) and Hoss (the brown miniature horse). They and their horses are dressed up after competing in the Costume Class at their first miniature horse and pony show.

In addition to the Costume Class, they competed in a lead-line class for children 12 and under. Hoss did a jumping competition and jumped over all the jumps with the exception of one (the one that all the miniature horses couldn't do). Bailey also did an obstacle course.

Sophia won two red ribbons (2nd place) and Olivia won a third place and fourth place. They were happy to have won ribbons and completed their first show.

It was a long day...started at 10 and didn't end until after 5. It was a hot, sunny day in the 80s. We were all ready to go home by the end of the day.


Friday, September 25, 2009

Olivia Learning About Vocal Cords

As part of a science lesson for the day, Olivia blew up the balloon and then let the air go. The neck of the balloon wasn't able to vibrate because there was a tube in it.

The experiment shows the difference between being able to vibrate and make sound (like blowing up a balloon and then letting the air out which makes a sound) and not being able to vibrate and making no sound (which is what Olivia was doing).

This was a very hands-on way to learn about how the human body works. It's simple, but was very effective for the girls to understand something that could have been quite confusing if they just read about it.


Thursday, September 24, 2009

Sophia Checking Her Pulse

By putting a small amount of play dough and a toothpick on your wrist, you can watch the toothpick move back and forth (it's a very small movement).

The girls then exercised for a bit to get their heart rate up and blood flowing faster. Did this again and you can see the tooth pick move faster.

Pretty cool - and very visual - way to learn about how blood moves through the body.


Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Christmas Ornaments and Legacy Gifts


Bluebird Star Ornament
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann
Saw this ornament on a blog and wanted to make my own version of it. Made two different ones for a Star ornament swap on Swap-Bot.

I enjoy doing embroidery - both for my shop (Harvest Moon by Hand) and for pleasure. It's not something that I did when I was a child or teenager; it's a skill I learned in recent years on my own.

When I make items from wool felt for my shop - like toys and Christmas ornaments - I always make an extra one or two for my daughters. My goal is that they have a collection of items that they can use on their own Christmas trees when they are adults and toys they can pass along to their own children one day.


Monday, September 21, 2009

White Snowflake Stars

It's still fall, but I'm looking ahead to winter already for Harvest Moon by Hand.

Made four different sizes of this window star pattern at the suggestion of a customer.

They are a change from paper snowflakes that are folded and cut. These window stars let the light through thanks to the translucent paper that I use.

The stars range in size from 6" to 14" in diameter. They are folded 80 times each to create the pattern.

They are available as a set in my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand, at http://www.harvestmoonbyhand.etsy.com.


Friday, September 18, 2009

Making Math Tangible

To help Olivia visualize the math problems she's doing, I suggested she use some shells. It makes math so much easier for her.

It's nice to hear her work through her math lesson ("If I have three sea shells and I add one sea shell, I have FOUR sea shells!").

Having natural math manipulatives is important too. Rather than having children count with plastic items, it is as easy to use small pebbles, acorns, twigs, or other items found in nature. Fall is a great time to find beautiful, colorful leaves.

Go outside for a fall nature walk, and bring bags to collect the treasures that can be used during math. Children love discovering items outside on walk which only adds to the excitement when they use them during math.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Simple Natural Toys for Children

I made a variety of gnomes for my Etsy shop, Harvest Moon by Hand. This trio is in autumn colors, and are made from wool felt and stuffed with wool from sheep I raised.

They do not have faces because then children can use their imagination to give the gnomes "feelings" based on what they are playing.

My daughters love to have toys that are more "open ended." I find that their play is more imaginative when the dolls or toys like these gnomes.

I also include hand-embroidered toys that I make on the nature table so the girls can play with natural elements (e.g., pinecones, stones, sticks) and the toys. It's amazing what stories they can come up with given a few simple, natural items.

The gnomes are available through Harvest Moon by Hand at http://www.harvestmoonbyhand.etsy.com


Saturday, September 12, 2009

Using Fabric Dye Sticks During an Art Lesson

During the homeschool art lesson today, Sophia is using fabric pastel dye sticks to create a design on cotton fabric. After the design is done, it is heat set by an iron.

The girls enjoy the art lessons and activities that we do together as part of homeschooling.

Art was a class that I always enjoyed in school - especially in junior high when I learned and developed my skills in many different forms of visual arts (e.g., calligraphy, rug making, pottery, drawing). It's great seeing my daughters enjoy art as much as I did.



Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Win $20 in My Shop - Facebook Giveaway

I'm giving away $20 towards any purchase in my shop on Etsy.

Just go to my Facebook page for Harvest Moon by Hand for more information.

Become a fan of Harvest Moon first so you'll have a chance to win!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Rainy Day Activity Book - Button Flowers and Insects/Birds in the Garden

Finally finished this 16-page activity book. These two pages show some of the activities in the book. The page on the left is for children to practice their buttoning and color matching skills.

The page on the left has six removable insects or bird. Children can play and create stories with them as well as rearrange them on the flowers.

Although originally created for children, this book also would be appropriate for those with Alzheimer's Disease or who are undergoing occupational therapy.

The pattern for this book is available in my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand.




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Sunday, August 23, 2009

Fabric Covered Button Thumb Tacks

Olivia has a new corkboard in her room and I wanted to make some pretty thumbtacks for her. Her favorite color is blue, so I made her a set of thumbtacks.

These are an extra set I made for my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand. I made fabric-covered buttons and then affixed them to a tack. They are 3/4" metal buttons covered with 100% cotton fabric.

More sets of thumb tacks will be added soon.



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