I had never heard of Dotee Dolls until recently. The concept is from a woman who lives in Australia. Since she started making these and posting a tutorial about how to make them, they seem to be popping up everywhere I look. So...I thought I'd try my hand at them.
This doll was made for a woman who lives in North Carolina who is participating in a Dotee Doll - Fairy Theme Swap on Swap-bot. I sent this one to her, and I will be receiving a Fairy Dotee Doll from another woman.
Swap-Bot is a great way to connect with others throughout the world. Currently, I'm hosting four swaps on Swap-Bot. See the links to the right if you'd like to be a part of the swap.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Learning the Color Wheel
I signed up for an artist trading card (ATC) swap on Swap-Bot that focused on insects. As a result, I made some extra ladybug cards in the process since the favorite insect around here is the ladybug.
Both Sophia and Olivia were adopted from China, and the ladybug has a special meaning to families who are adopting from China. (The Chinese adoption myth is that ladybugs are a sign of good luck and it is said if you see a ladybug your referral will be coming very soon.)
As I was thinking about what to do, I thought it would be fun to make ladybugs in different colors. The ATCs ended up being two-part. The cover, as shown in the picture, is of two ladybugs.
The top level of the card has a door that opens to reveal what happens if the two ladybugs collide.
The girls LOVED these cards. It was a good review of primary and secondary colors for my daughters. It's visual. And it's something that they can immediately remember when asked, "What color does red and blue make?"
More information about the ladybug series - including how they were made are on my Flickr site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/picturesbyann .
This site - at http://siblings.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/ladybugs-part-2 - has some more information about the significance of the ladybug to those in the Chinese adoption community as well as information about how the ladybug is considered to be good luck in many other cultures.
There are many cultures that believe if you are to kill a ladybug then it will bring sadness and bad luck. There are those that believe the ladybugs give good luck when you have one land on you or if you catch one.
This site - at http://www.celticbug.com/Legends/Lore.html
- has information about legends about ladybugs around the world as well as how to say the word "ladybug" in different languages.
Both Sophia and Olivia were adopted from China, and the ladybug has a special meaning to families who are adopting from China. (The Chinese adoption myth is that ladybugs are a sign of good luck and it is said if you see a ladybug your referral will be coming very soon.)
As I was thinking about what to do, I thought it would be fun to make ladybugs in different colors. The ATCs ended up being two-part. The cover, as shown in the picture, is of two ladybugs.
The top level of the card has a door that opens to reveal what happens if the two ladybugs collide.
The girls LOVED these cards. It was a good review of primary and secondary colors for my daughters. It's visual. And it's something that they can immediately remember when asked, "What color does red and blue make?"
More information about the ladybug series - including how they were made are on my Flickr site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/picturesbyann .
This site - at http://siblings.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/ladybugs-part-2 - has some more information about the significance of the ladybug to those in the Chinese adoption community as well as information about how the ladybug is considered to be good luck in many other cultures.
There are many cultures that believe if you are to kill a ladybug then it will bring sadness and bad luck. There are those that believe the ladybugs give good luck when you have one land on you or if you catch one.
This site - at http://www.celticbug.com/Legends/Lore.html
- has information about legends about ladybugs around the world as well as how to say the word "ladybug" in different languages.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Artist Trading Cards
I've been working on Artist Trading Cards recently which has been so much fun. This is my first embroidered card. There are two...one went to Australia for a swap for fantasy creatures (for Flickr's ATC Beginners group); and the other one went to my oldest daughter who loves unicorns.
This card is embroidered, and is the standard ATC size (2 1/2" x 3 1/2"). The unicorn pattern is a free one that I found on the internet. Thought it was a cute one.
Other cards I've done include collage and needlefelted. Visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/picturesbyann and look under "ATC Cards - Available and Traded" for what I've made so far.
If you trade cards, there are generally always some available. I've been making cards weekly so new ones are always being added.
Having two daughters who I homeschool, I'm always looking at things from an educational standpoint. ATCs are great in terms of learning about a variety of things.
The most obvious benefit is creating art and seeing art made by various artists. Both Sophia and Olivia are learning more about collage and how to combine different elements to make them work together in a eye-pleasing collage. They see such a wide range of artistic styles by looking at the cards I've received.
ATCs are an excellent way to learn about geography - U.S. and world. I've sent and received cards from many different states as well as countries (including Finland, U.K., Switzerland, Germany, and Australia).
They're a great way to connect with others who you would never connect with otherwise. I've met other women who homeschool, have children with special needs (both my daughters have special needs), have visited or live in countries I've been to, who live in the same state as I do, or enjoy the same types of crafts.
Off to make some more cards now!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
First Rhubarb Pie of the Season
Although Sophia and Olivia had already harvested the first rhubarb of the season last month, today was the day to make rhubarb pies. 3 of them. 2 standard 9" pies, and one miniature pie.
The pies needed 9 cups of chopped rhubarb. That's quite a bit once you start chopping.
I make pie crusts from scratch...an old recipe from my Grandma...that uses lard, flour, salt, sugar, and water. Instead of all-purpose flour, I used a trio of flours today: all-purpose, whole wheat, and bread flours.
Although the pie was fine (thanks to a Betty Crocker recipe), the crust wasn't as light and flaky as it is normally. So much for trying to make something a bit more healthy. Next time it will be back to the unhealthy (but tastier) pie crust.
In addition to the rhubarb, the strawberries are producing this year which is great. Fresh from the garden, organic strawberries. The flavor is incredible!
It looks like it will be a bumper crop for the raspberries this year. Over half of the raspberries are transplanted wild ones that Sophia and I planted last year. (They were next to the road that kept getting mowed by the township mower...or eaten by people walking their dogs.)
Looks like we'll be making lots of raspberry jam this summer...a favorite one that we enjoy all winter long.
Summer is a great time for the girls in terms of homeschooling. There are so many hands-on lessons that they are able to do - especially related to gardening, nature, and science. Home economics and cooking is a big part of summer as well as they learn the old-fashioned skills - like canning - that they can enjoy now and as an adult.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Pears Starting to Grow
The pears are beginning to grow. This picture was taken on June 21st...the start of the growing season. There doesn't look like there are as many pears this year.
Unfortunately, there were two major wind and hail storms (the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend and May 31st). The pear and plum trees were both full of blossoms. After the wind/hail storm...very few remained.
I'm grateful, though, that some pears and plums are growing. Fresh, organic fruit straight from the tree can't be beat.
Unfortunately, there were two major wind and hail storms (the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend and May 31st). The pear and plum trees were both full of blossoms. After the wind/hail storm...very few remained.
I'm grateful, though, that some pears and plums are growing. Fresh, organic fruit straight from the tree can't be beat.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Father's Day
One of the gifts my father gave me early on was the encouragement to try new things...and to ask for help when I needed it.He raised bees when he was a child and teenager; and then went back to beekeeping as an adult.
Once I moved to the farm, he gave me his beekeeping equipment, hoping to pass along the hobby.
I tried it under the guidance of a beekeeper for a year. After getting repeatedly stung in my knee and watching it swell to an unnatural size...I realized that, perhaps, beekeeping is best left to people who REALLY know what they're doing.
After a hiatus from having bees, they have returned to the farm now and are being managed by a professional beekeeper. He knows what he's doing. He does this in exchange for having about 4 or 5 hives on the back part of the property. We get the honey when the season is done (from our hive).
So, the girls and I walked out the other day and looked at the hive (from a distance). The bees were busy flying in and out of the hive. They're busy and work...and it is fun to have bees again at the farm.
In the fall, hopefully the girls will have the opportunity to see the harvesting and processing stages...then they'll see the full circle (or cycle) of beekeeping.
I'm grateful that my dad gave me his equipment...and the encouragement to try new activities and develop new skills. Even though I'm not able to the beekeeping by myself...I have tried many things - new things - in the past year. I can thank my dad for being a great role model and inspiration as I challenge myself in new ways during the next year.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Monarchs are Back
June 1st marked the first day that we spotted a monarch here in Minnesota.
Since then, the girls have been looking for eggs on the bottom of the milkweed leaves to see if there are any.
This year we are planning to go out more often and look for eggs and caterpillars, so we can raise more monarchs.
It is such a fascinating process to see them move through the stages from caterpillar to butterfly. Visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/picturesbyann to see more pictures of the caterpillars in various stages of growth and the release process.
This evening on our nature walk, we spotted two more monarchs! A nice way to end the day.
Since then, the girls have been looking for eggs on the bottom of the milkweed leaves to see if there are any.
This year we are planning to go out more often and look for eggs and caterpillars, so we can raise more monarchs.
It is such a fascinating process to see them move through the stages from caterpillar to butterfly. Visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/picturesbyann to see more pictures of the caterpillars in various stages of growth and the release process.
This evening on our nature walk, we spotted two more monarchs! A nice way to end the day.
Waldorf Inspired Window Stars
I've been making these window stars for some time now. Each new pattern is a challenge to try, and such a joy to see completed. Each of the stars are created by folding very small pieces of a special translucent paper multiple times. Some of the stars have required 18 or 19 folds per point.
My daughters enjoy seeing the stars on the windows at home...especially when we are homeschooling.
The stars provide color and beauty on days when it seems a bit darker...especially on the days when it is raining and snowing. When it is bright outside, the suns rays just seem to radiate through the stars.
More examples of the stars can be seen at my Flickr site at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/picturesbyann . Look under the "Things I've Made" section.
These stars and many others are available at http://www.harvestmoonbyhand.etsy.com/ .
Needlefelted Alphabet Set
This is a set of alphabet cards that I made for my daughters who are learning how to read and spell (the older one) and identify letters (the younger one).Both are hands-on, visual learners. The four picture cards on the corners are either ATCs or ACEOs that are available (the top 2) or traded (the bottom 2).
Each card is the standard ATC/ACEO size (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") and is made with 100% sheep wool. The letter and background are both needlefelted with a single barbed needle onto a white wool base.
The girls have watched me make needlefelted ATCs (and tried their hand at making their own which is a different story). So, I started by making the A, B, and C cards one night. The next morning, they saw the cards and were so excited.
I said, "If I made the entire alphabet so you could put the letters together to make words, would you like that?"
"YES!" Sophia (the older daughter) said.
To Olivia I said, "You could put all the letters in order when you sing the ABC song. Would you like that?"
"YES!" she said.
So, I began working on the needlefelted alphabet set. This was a great way to use the many colors that were in the wool bin (I was surprised at how many different types I had as I was making the cards).
Now that they're done, the girls used them yesterday when they were "playing school" together. I could hear Sophia ask Olivia what each of the letters were...and she used them to create words to teach her sister. "This is how you spell 'cat' ... C - A - T."
They are learning...even when I'm not teaching them. It made me smile.
*****
For families/teachers/home educators, individual cards and the entire alphabet set that look like these are available in my Etsy shop (http://www.harvestmoonbyhand.etsy.com/).
For those who enjoy trading ATCs, if you are interested in trading one of your cards for a needlefelted one, please email me.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
A Blue June Sunrise on the 7th
One thing I love about living in the country is the sunrises and sunsets. This one was just so blue. It was so different from the other vivid oranges, yellows, and reds that I commonly see.
This view is looking west...so actually the sun is rising behind me.
This view is looking west...so actually the sun is rising behind me.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Family Traditions
The Tooth Fairy has been making rather frequent visits here this year. This marks Tooth #6. With each visit, the set-up is a bit more elaborate.
Sophia has prepared a snack for her Tooth Fairy, Flossie. On the plate are lavender cookies. She has juice and water to drink (in the cup and pitcher respectively) as well as a couple of chunks of sugar cube ("for extra energy").
The tray was brought up to Sophia's room and placed next to her bed. She wrote a note, placed her tooth in a box for Flossie to find, and arranged some items around her nightstand so Flossie could see them.
The thrill in the morning of having Flossie visit is so memorable. With "fairy dust" sprinkled on Sophia's hair and clothes as well as all around the eaten food and nightstand...plus a few coins from Flossie...it is something that is talked about all day.
Sometimes Flossie even leaves notes and handmade cards for Sophia. She keeps every one of them right on her nightstand.
Sophia has prepared a snack for her Tooth Fairy, Flossie. On the plate are lavender cookies. She has juice and water to drink (in the cup and pitcher respectively) as well as a couple of chunks of sugar cube ("for extra energy").
The tray was brought up to Sophia's room and placed next to her bed. She wrote a note, placed her tooth in a box for Flossie to find, and arranged some items around her nightstand so Flossie could see them.
The thrill in the morning of having Flossie visit is so memorable. With "fairy dust" sprinkled on Sophia's hair and clothes as well as all around the eaten food and nightstand...plus a few coins from Flossie...it is something that is talked about all day.
Sometimes Flossie even leaves notes and handmade cards for Sophia. She keeps every one of them right on her nightstand.
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