The Artful Parent - Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 50

This week for thee 50th week of the Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge, I read The Artful Year by Jean Van't Hul.

The idea for the book is that it is a visual treasure trove of creative art ideas and recipes for every season of the year. I enjoyed looking at the pages and reminiscing about many of the same things I did when Sophia and Olivia were younger.

In terms of getting new ideas for where the girls and I are now - this book wasn't so helpful. It is definitely written for parents or grandparents of young children.

I wish there was a book like The Artful Year, except written for parents of tweens and teens. Of course, by this time their interests are so diverse and trying to write an all-encompassing book would be a challenge.

At any rate, there was an activity that I thought might be appropriate for the girls since they are book learning more about photography this year. It's called "Nature's Colors Scavenger Hunt." The point of the activity is to take an opportunity to notice the palette of the season with color-themed scavenger hunts.

In this case, using paint chips in the colors of the season, the girls would match each color with items they find on a nature walk or around the backyard. They photograph the item next to the paint chip. This would be an interesting activity to do in the summer when all the flowers are in full bloom, gardens are filled with vegetables and herbs, and fruit and leaves fill the branches of trees.

There were also instructions for making picnic napkins that are double-sided. You need 1 yard each of 2 lightweight printed cotton fabrics, bias tape (extra-wide double fold in a coordinating color), pins, thread, and a sewing machine.

Basically, you line up the two fabrics, wrong sides together, an cut squares through both layers in the size desired. The author recommends 12"square. With the squares of fabric still layered together, attach the bias tape with pins, Sew along the inner edge o the narrow side of the bias tape, removing pins as you go. Repeat with the rest of the napkins.

There's a book recommendation by the author that I want to follow-up with: A Time to Keep: The Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays by Tasha Tudor.