greenclogs

covered in paint

We're all about the freezer paper stencils right now. With some gifts that need to be given and some blank tshirts calling out for something a little more fun, we've been up to our elbows in textile paint, freezer paper and X-acto knives. Gunnar has turned into a master image cutter, while Annika is a stippling fool. We have a few more of these on our list to finish tomorrow and then we turn our attention to packing and some summer purging of stuff. 

Oh, there's also a lot of this going on.

Nothin' like some puppy lovin' to make the world a happier place. Now if only the cats felt that way, too.

First of all, thanks for the craft space love! The sewing machine and the cutting mat have taken their rightful places on the table and have already been put to use.

We had a cousin birthday party yesterday, which meant that we got to try another freezer paper stencil tshirt. This time we designed our own for the birthday girl. It was a fun and easy gift that she seemed to like.

I can only show action shots of the other completed items of the weekend. Fair warning - there are many plastic weapons ahead. We don't allow them in our home, so the kids are all over them when we're with the cousins. Why is that?

Gunnar's new shirt - puppy design by Anna Marie Horner as seen on house on hill road as an applique. Annika has one too, in a different color.

Annika's new outfit. The top is a short sleeved shirt with elastic at the cuffs. I'm more thrilled with it than she is, but it's growing on her.

Off to clean house and move the rest of the stuff to the craft space. The dining room table may see the light of day yet!

all you need is love

Yesterday I attended a baby shower for a cousin from the branch of the family that can purchase anything they want. Knowing that she would literally be showered with all of the gifts from the registry and then some, I decided to go for unique and practical. I've had the Pointy Kitty pattern all cut out and sitting in my basket for months now, so I finally decided to conquer his little pointy parts and make him for her the baby.

I amended it slightly, skipping the stripe on the back (ran out of time) and embroidering the eyes and nose since it's for a baby. I love this little kitty now that he's done, but I've never had such a hard time stuffing anything as much as that little tail. I used a chopstick to do the best I could without poking a hole in the fabric. Any tips from others who have made it? Because according to my children, I have two more of these in my near future.

Also checked off on the "try this" checklist were freezer paper stenciled t-shirts. They're not 100% sure that it's a girl, so I went more unisex with the designs and color.

This is moving from the "try this" list to the "do often" list. It was such a fun and rewarding project that I know will get a lot of use. The mommy to be was so happy with all of it.

I was astonished by all the stuff at this baby shower - all the gadgets that people think are necessary to child rearing. There are some things that definitely make life easier. After all, the bouncy seat was the only thing that allowed me to take a shower when Annika was a baby. But as I watched all of this, I wondered if those things are all on the market because people need something to give to new parents, something different and hopefully useful. Or maybe they help people who are walking into the world of babydom to feel like they're armed with the tools they need for success in something new and so different from anything they've ever done.

As we walked into the party, we filled out a card with our words of wisdom for the new parents. I filled mine out but after watching her become dwarfed and overwhelmed by all these things, I wanted to go take it back and write a new one. My real advice to the new parents?

All you need is love.