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

Rainy Day Activity Book
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

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.

Fabric Covered Button Thumb Tacks

Fabric Covered Button Thumb Tacks
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

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.

Canned Peaches

Canned Peaches
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

Finished canning two crates of Colorado peaches. They are so good this year - full of flavor. This is one fruit that Olivia could eat at every meal.

Sitting in a Tree Watching Bailey

Watching Bailey
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

The girls are in the tree watching Bailey eat. This is another one of their favorite climbing trees. They also like the two apple trees in the backyard.

This tree, though, gives them a great view of the miniature horse and pony eating.

Bailey (the pony) and Hoss (the miniature horse) were adopted from the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation, and were delivered on Thursday, August 13th.

Bailey was bought at a horse auction when she was a baby and has been in foster home after foster home. The last one she was at in northern Minnesota the other horses in the herd ate her mane.

Hoss was from a neglect situation. He and another miniature horse came to the MHARF. The other mini was blind in both eyes and had a brain tumor. Apparently the owner did nothing about it.

We are so happy that both Bailey and Hoss are together as part of our family now; and are grateful for the work that the MHARF does on behalf of horses.

Snowflake Ornament

Snowflake Ornament
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

This is another Christmas ornament I made that is available in my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand.

The design is stitched on white 22-count Aida cloth. It is hand-stitched onto two layers of blue felt.

The design itself on the aida cloth is 1 1/2" x 1 1/2". It is hand-stitched onto two pieces of dark blue felt that is 2" x 2".

There are four different designs that I made using either light blue or dark blue floss. All are sewn onto dark blue felt.

Storm Clouds and Summer Produce

Storm Clouds
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

One of the reasons I like living in the country is the open space. This is the view looking east one morning. There have been a series of storms recently.

On Monday, there was a severe storum, but most of it was south of here which was a relief. Watched the weather report until almost 11 p.m. due to the threat of a tornado and high winds. Ended up getting a lot of lightening and thunder, and some rain.

This storm was all rain - things are definitely green around here now. The corn across the street is well over six feet high. The trees are loaded with plums, pears, cherries, and apples now. Days filled with canning and preserving the summer fruit is right around the corner.

Halloween Garland of Stars and Pumpkins

Halloween Garland of Stars & Pumpkins
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

This is my entry for the July Craft Challenge for the Halloween Year Round group on Swap-Bot.

I made a 9 foot Halloween garland using ribbon (for the garland itself), kite paper (for the 5 translucent origami stars), cardstock for the 4 pumpkin outlines, and 4 vintage image stickers on different colored printed paper (scrapbook paper). The stickers feature a jack o'lantern, cat, and owl.

Here's how each component is represented:

~ A Jack O' Lantern - There are 2 Jack O'lantern stickers

~ A Piece of Printed Page (No size requirement, no subject requirement. Can be from a book, newspaper, scrapbook paper.) - Each of the stickers is on top of patterned paper

~The Shape of a Star - There are 5 stars that are made with translucent kite paper. Each point (of each star) is folded 11 times, and then glued to another point. So, to create one 6-pointed star, I needed to do 66 folds. With 5 stars...that's 330 folds.

~ The Date "October 31st" - The date is handwritten on the ribbon in permanent blank ink.

This is available in my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand.

Cecropia Moth Caterpillar

Caterpillar in Hand
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

The Master Gardeners were at the Washington County Fair and had an interesting display with different caterpillars and plants.

Both Sophia and Olivia were fascinated with the cecropia moth caterpillar. This is one that I remember seeing when I was growing up - but much larger - in our backyard. I liked how colorful it was - all those little red and yellow bumps on its body.

Sophia wanted to hold the caterpillar and feel it walk on her hand. Olivia was more than content just watching the caterpillars eat leaves.

Garland of Translucent Origami Window Stars

Garland of Translucent Origami Window Stars
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

Vote for this item to win the HandmadeMN's July challenge (Circus is the theme). Visit HERE and then scroll down. Vote for "Harvest Moon by Hand" and this entry. Thanks!

A little about this item: Each star is folded 18 times per point. With 8 points per star, that's 144 folds per star. There are 6 stars on the garland which means there are 864 folds to create this garland of stars.

When I think about the circus, I think of bright, cheerful colors. Immediately, the window stars came to mind.

Wanting to do something different - something I had never seen before done with the window stars - I created a garland of them. Hanging between two pines in the backyard, the sun illuminated the pattern in each star as they waved in the breeze.

If you are interested in purchasing this item, please visit my shop HERE.

My daughters came up to see what I was doing. Both responded with, "WOW! That's really pretty, Mom." That's always nice to hear.