ART IS YOU PETALUMA 2014 Workshop List

Wowza!  I can't believe the wonderful workshops that will be at ART IS YOU Petaluma next year!  The only downer is that I waited too long to take Tracy Verdugo's SACRED MARKS class and it isn't offered this time. Still, there will be plenty to choose from!

See the list of workshops here.  Registration opens on January 1!

The ART IS YOU retreats offer such a great time!  2014 will be my fourth year. 

Here I am back in September with the lovely ladies who make it all possible:

Of course, I would like you all to come and join me in Petaluma.  But, there are ART IS YOU retreats in Mississippi and Connecticut and Australia as well!  Lots to choose from!

Hope to see you in 2014!

24 Hours of Happy

I keep a playlist of songs in my phone that I reserve for those moments when I need a happiness boost.  One of my "happy" songs is Pharrell Williams' HAPPY.  I can't listen to it without having my spirits lifted. My friend Anna shared with me that Williams has the first 24 hour music video.  Drop in any time you want and see a dancer dancing along the streets of L.A. to "Happy." 

This is making me happy today:

LINK



(I'm just bummed I didn't get to be in the video.)

Sew Amazing Indeed!

I think you all know that I have been without a sewing machine for a few months now.  All my big plans for sewing Christmas gifts went out the window. I love my basic little sewing machine but the repairs were going to be $130.  I kept putting off repairing it each month until I could pull together the money.  My mother found a new Brother on sale for not much more than a repair would cost and got it as my Christmas present. It just came a few days ago and is sitting under the tree. As if things couldn't get any better...

I entered a contest with SKIP TO MY LOU in conjunction with "Melly Sews."   It was their Sew Amazing giveaway. Want to see the prize package?

Mouth-watering, isn't it?  I have wanted a serger for years. And $600 would buy a lot of fabric!  However, with over 47,000 entries, I didn't think any more about it.

I got an e-mail this morning saying that I WON!!!  I WON!!!  Christmas came early this year!  In the form of a prize package worth somewhere in the region of $1300!

My church bazaar will be next Fall and I can't wait to see all the things I can make with this prize package.  Everyone is getting homemade sewn gifts from me in 2014!!!

Thanks so much to one of my long-time favorite blogs, SKIP TO MY LOU.  What a gift!

Taking Time for Creativity

This is such a busy time of year.  I feel lucky that I managed to finish Noodlebug's Advent calendar. Since I sell Barefoot Books in addition to my regular job, my weekends get pretty full.

(P.S. Barefoot is having a pretty spectacular flash sale right now!  See details on my Barefoot blog.)

I decided that Noodle and I needed to go do something special together.  We are lucky to have the Charles Schulz Museum in our own backyard.  When I saw that they were hosting a class called "How to Draw with You Child" aimed at younger children, I jumped at the chance to take it.

So, on Black Friday, we spent the day in a class with Joe Wos learning how to be creative together.  He taught us that if we know the alphabet, we can use letters to make all kinds of pictures. 

(a little disappointing to watch the dad in the background completely focused on his phone.)

Noodle thought that Joe's story about how the tortoise got his cracks was pretty hilarious.

 

We left the class with lots and lots of pictures and even a few made by Joe himself.  Noodle was especially amazed by how Joe used the letter's of my son's name to make a picture of a tiger. It is now hanging in my son's room.

Here is an example of a picture we drew using letters.  Noodle's picture is on the left and mine is on the right. Pretty good for a 5-yr-old!

It was a really special time together and much much better than running around wasting money on things we don't need. I hope we can find more classes like this to do together!

Advent Calendar Finished!

I finished Noodlebug's Advent Calendar!  Just in time.

The above photo is a little blurry but you can get an idea of what it looks like.  Each drawer holds a charm to be hung on the tree. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out except for the fact that you can see the threads showing through the linen. But I can live with that. 

I learned how to do this project from Amy Powers' CRAFT HAPPY class.  It is the only crafty thing I have done in months!!!

The embroidery technique was pretty easy and I love how it looks.  I put Noodlebug in charge of filling the drawers with charms. 

 

He was very excited to hang the first charm yesterday!

It was a lot of work pulling together all the materials and putting it together but I'm happy with it. I try to do one homemade gift for Noodle each year and this will be this year's gift.

Homemade Advent Calendar in Progress!

I actually found some time to make something! I have been taking Amy Powers' class over at Big Picture Classes but haven't been able to make one single project.  Until now.  I am determined to finish a homemade Advent calendar for Noodlebug before December 1. 

Progress is being made:

Hopefully, I will be posting the finished product soon!!!!

Advent Calendar Idea

I have been really frustrated trying to find an Advent calendar for Noodlebug this year.  We did a wonderful Playmobil calendar with woodland creatures last year.  The year before that, I tried a LEGO Advent Calendar and was really disappointed.  What do criminals and crime labs have to do with Christmas?

In Amy Powers' Big Picture class, we are making homemade calendars but I haven't gotten very far with mine.  In the meantime, I have a backup plan.

We are huge SPARKLE STORIES fans in our household. So, I was thrilled to hear they are coming out with an audio Advent Calendar.  We'll be able to listen to a story a day for Advent. Plus, they will have a companion printable coming out on December 1.

(photo borrowed from and owned by Sparkle Stories)

Get your own subscription to the SPARKLE STORIES audio advent calendar here.

(I received no compensation in ANY FORM for this post. I just love SPARKLE STORIES!)

Where I Have Been

We are trying very very hard to save enough money to take Noodlebug to Disneyland for his birthday in May.  Since money is always tight, this isn't easy to do.  I started selling Barefoot Books on the side (I already work a full-time job) to help save some extra money. Since this is a busy time of year for retail, I have been trying to do events on the weekends.

I had my first Home Party last weekend:

I'm still trying to figure everything out.  I have always wanted to own my own children's bookstore and this is way of partially fulfilling that dream. I love the company and I love the books. But I am still trying to get my business off the ground and figure out how everything works. It is keeping me busy.

I also started a new Sunday School program at my church which required completely reworking the curriculum and classroom.  We are using the Montessori-inspired Godly Play program. That launched two weeks ago.  It is going well so far but has taken up any free time I had left over.

I haven't been able to do a single Life Book lesson since May which is such a disappointment. I am also currently taking Amy Powers CRAFT HAPPY class but haven't been able to do a single one of her projects either. I have all the materials to make an Advent calendar but haven't started yet. Maybe this weekend.

It is really hard that I don't have the time or energy to create anything right now but I'm hoping for some time for myself over the holidays. I could use a break!

Clothespin Dolls for Halloween

I have recently become enamored of clothespin dolls.  There are so many things you can do with them!  I painted a bunch for trades for ART IS YOU.  Now, I have made some for my son for Halloween.

I got the inspiration for Pinterest and I wish I could remember where I saw them. The woman who  painted them did a much better job.  Still, my little guy seems happy with them!

I am also busy starting a new Godly Play program at my church. This is a Montessori-inspired Sunday School program for children 3-6.  Of course, Montessori- and Waldorf-style materials can be very expensive.  My friend and I have been trying to craft the materials for this new program on a budget.  Instead of buying gorgeous, hand-carved figures for the lessons, we are making clothespin dolls. See? Endless applications!

TINY PRINTS Deals! : Day Five

Every year, I get my Christmas cards from TINY PRINTS because I think they have the best selection of cards. I also use them for Noodlebug's birthday invites.

This week, TINY PRINTS is having Five Days of Deals in preparation for the holidays!

Today's Deal:

50% OFF ALL TRIM OPTIONS!

I love how the special die-cut edges on these cards make them stand out!!! So pretty!
This offer is good until midnight tonight. No code needed!!!

Go here to order.

 (I am a Tiny Prints affiliate and customer!)

TINY PRINTS Deals! : Day Four

Every year, I get my Christmas cards from TINY PRINTS because I think they have the best selection of cards. I also use them for Noodlebug's birthday invites.

This week, TINY PRINTS is having Five Days of Deals in preparation for the holidays!

Today's Deal:

50% OFF PREMIUM DOUBLETHICK MATTE PAPER UPGRADE

OR
 

FREE PEARL WHITE SHIMMER PAPER UPGRADE

I love the nice thick DOUBLETHICK paper. So durable!

This deal is good until midnight and you don't need a special code!

Go here to order.

(I am a Tiny Prints affiliate and customer!)

TINY PRINTS Deals! : Day Three

Every year, I get my Christmas cards from TINY PRINTS because I think they have the best selection of cards. I also use them for Noodlebug's birthday invites.

This week, TINY PRINTS is having Five Days of Deals in preparation for the holidays!

Today's Deal:

25% OFF CIRCLE CARDS!

I especially love these because they turn into ornaments!!!  I'm seriously tempted to order these for MY Christmas cards.

This deal is good until midnight tonight. Use Code: DEAL1023

Go here to order.

(I am a Tiny Prints affiliate and customer!)

TINY PRINTS DEALS: Day Two

This week only, TINY PRINTS is offering one-day flash sales on a variety of products. I use TINY PRINTS for our Christmas cards every year and for Noodlebug's birthday party invitations.

Today's Deal:

 

These tri-fold cards are so pretty and perfect if you have a lot of photos you want to include.  This deal ends today at midnight!!! Use code DEAL1022 to get the discount.

Go here to order!

(I am a Tiny Prints affiliate and customer!)

TINY PRINTS Five Days of Deals!!!

Every year, I get my Christmas cards from TINY PRINTS because I think they have the best selection of cards. I also use them for Noodlebug's birthday invites.

This week, TINY PRINTS is having Five Days of Deals in preparation for the holidays!

Today's deal is all about their new clear holiday cards:

I think these cards look so cool!  They will definitely stand out from everyone else's.  Now through midnight TONIGHT PST, you can get 25% off these cards if you use the code: DEAL1021

Go here to start shopping!

(I am a TINY PRINTS affiliate and use them for all my card needs!)

Attempts at Clean(er) Eating

I have been trying really hard to offer healthier options for my family.  We do really well with my son's lunches.  I get lots of inspiration from 100 Days of Real Food and Weelicious for that. But I need help preparing healthy meals QUICKLY for dinner.  I was so excited to buy this book. Clean eating?  Yes please! Busy Family?  Check! 

 

 I attempted my first recipe last night.  I decided to try the Pecan-Crusted Chicken Tenders with Yogurt Dill Dip. 

(image source)

Mine didn't turn out quite as pretty as the above picture but they were delicious!!! I already had all the ingredients on hand and the whole thing took me about 20 minutes.  And it was a family-pleaser! My 5-yr-old ate about FIVE of them. And the dipping sauce is so delicious.  It would be perfect for dipping veggies in.  We paired this with a garden salad and it was a great meal.

I'm feeling inspired!

(I receive no compensation in any form for this post and all opinions are my own.)

CITRUS LANE Review: October 2013 5-Yr-Old Gender Neutral

We have been subscribing to Citrus Lane for a few months now and I have really been enjoying the boxes.  This is a subscription service for kids 0-5.  It has given me the chance to discover new products that I wouldn't have known about otherwise.

We changed our subscription from "Boy" to "Gender Neutral" this month.  Here is what is in the October box:

The first item in the box was a blue/green "Dreamz to Go Octo" from Cloud B. (makers of the Dream Turtle)  This is very cute and my son was charmed by it.  It projects stars and fish on the walls and can light up in either a blue or green color. It automatically turns off after 45 minutes. While I love the nightlight idea, my son has never used a nightlight and this seems a little young for him. Still, I doubt he will give it up . Retail price: $19.95

The second item was some BOPS organic chips. I love finding new organic snack options so I am looking forward to trying this one.  Retail price:  about 75 cents

The third item was a harmonica from HOHNER KIDS.  This is a really nice harmonica. Much nicer than the cheap one I bought at Pier One awhile ago.  The sound is really nice.  Retail Price: about $10.00

The fourth item was a copy of LADYBUG magazine. I love kid magazines like these.  This one is especially for ages 3-6.  A print subscription would be 9 issues for $33.95 or about $3.75 per issue.  It also came with a coupon code for three free digital issues.  A value of about $6.

Retail value of the box:  $40.45

This wasn't my favorite box.  Probably my favorite item is the harmonica.  The nightlight is adorable but felt a little young for my child.  The magazine is nice but we don't have a digital reader so we won't be using the free digital issues. Still, it is always fun to get a box.  Can't wait to see what November brings!!!

If you would like to order your own subscription, follow this link for $10 off!

CRAFT HAPPY

If you have read this blog for awhile, you know how much I love Amy Powers.  I love her sweet aesthetic and all the little worlds that she creates.  So, I was so excited to see that she will be doing a new course with Big Picture Classes:

I decided to splurge and join the class.  If you sign up today, you can use the code "HAPPYHAPPY" and get $15 off.  But the discount ends today!!! The class starts on Thursday.

Go here for more details.

ART IS YOU Recap

I only got to take one class at ART IS YOU this year but it was a good one!  I decided to try something new and took a mixed media book-making class with Sharon Payne Bolton.  This is an example of some of Sharon's pieces:

When we arrived, we found this at each of our places:

Sharon thought of everything and even had an apron for each of us to use.  For a modest kit fee, everything was included.  There were tables throughout the room filled with vintage ephemera, photographs, papers, fabric, paint and more.  The first day, we spent the whole day collaging each page  in the book. The second day, we finished up all the pages and then bound the book together.  Mine was kind of fat.

Some people just chose items without any particular theme in mind.  I decided to make a little meditation book that included a reminder of my blessings as well as my hopes for the future.

The best part of ART IS YOU is hanging with these ladies:

I always try to volunteer in some small way because I just enjoy mixing with such wonderful people each year.  Here is some of my ART IS YOU bling:

I also managed to get some trades done:

Noodlebug kept sneaking them out of my workroom while I was trying to finish them.  He gave me an amazing compliment when I told him he could have some to play with.  "Mommy, these are better than Power Rangers!"  Whose heart wouldn't melt when a 5-yr-old boy says that about clothespin dolls?

I'm not taking another class this year but I will be volunteering tomorrow and attending their wonderful Art Trunk show tomorrow night.  I snuck around into the other classrooms yesterday and I'm already planning on what to take next.

ART IS YOU is a giant mixed-media retreat that takes place each year in Stamford, CT, Nashville and Petaluma.  The dates for next year are already set.  Will you join me in Petaluma?

ART IS YOU Petaluma 2013

Tomorrow is the kickoff of this year's ART IS YOU here in Petaluma. I'm so excited.  This year, I'm taking a two-class with Sharon Payne Bolton called "Between the Pages."  We are going to be making our own artist books and I'm so excited!!!

(Image Source)

I was also going to take a class with Cathe Holden but it got cancelled.  I'm so bummed about that!  I'm still planning on volunteering at the Registration desk so, if you are coming, you may see me there.

I'll also be at ART TRUNK and this Saturday we have the wonderful Halloween and Vine show. It's going to be a big weekend in Petaluma!

I had great plans to do something special for trades but I may not get them done.  I'll post photos if I do.  I'll give you a recap when it's all over!

"Sesame Street" and Cookie Monster

I dearly loved Sesame Street when I was a child.  In fact, I loved it so much that I ended up making it a part of my Master's degree project!  I am so happy that Sesame Street's legacy continues on and that my son has been able to enjoy it as well.  I worry about the day when he will feel too old for it.  But right now, he still loves it at age 5.

My favorite character was always Cookie Monster. When I got the chance to participate in a live chat with Cookie Monster, I jumped at the chance.  We all got to ask Cookie questions about everything from his eating habits to life on Sesame Street.  It was so fun!

Season 44 of Sesame Street premiered on the 16th and we are already enjoying it. I especially appreciate their focus this season of teaching children about self-regulation. A very important skill for preschool and Kindergarten!  The first episode focused on jealousy and recognizing your jealous feelings and figuring out how to deal with them.  The second episode was all about respect.  My son is on the bigger side and can sometimes have trouble with pushing in moments of excitement.  He and I watched Rosita deal with her own issues with pushing and how she learned to control herself and realize the importance of safety and respect. 

We are also loving the new segment this season called "Cookie's Crumbly Pictures."  This segment parodies famous movies and reinforces this season's self-regulation curriculum.  The first episode was a James Bond spoof which was probably even funnier to my husband and I than to our son.  Cookie had to learn to be patient and wait for COMPLETE directions before being able to enter the villain's secret lair.

To read more about season 44 and its focus, go here.

And Cookie's latest music video, "Me Want It (But Me Wait)" will have you dancing all day today:





(I was not compensated in any form for this post and all opinions are my own.)

A Visit from the Tooth Fairy

Noodlebug lost his first tooth! It has been really wiggly for about a week so I knew I better get busy with preparations. Luckily, I bought this adorable tooth fairy pillow years ago in preparation for this big event:

(image source)

I bought it on Etsy from Melody Miller and it is so adorable. Big enough to cuddle with the perfect pocket for holding treasures like a tooth!

To make this event a little more special, I decided to craft a special fairy door just for the Tooth Fairy.  I bought an unfinished dollhouse door from Hobby Lobby along with a doorknob kit.  I painted the door and glued on the doorknob and told Noodlebug that since his tooth was really loose, I would mail the key to the Tooth Fairy right away. It's a good thing I did!  He and I installed the Tooth Fairy door next to his bed last night:

Although I plan on the Tooth Fairy giving Noodlebug $1 coins in the future, we decided a first tooth was pretty special.  The Tooth Fairy brought him a $2 bill that my grandfather had given me.

I think we are going to leave the fairy door up. I have a feeling more teeth are going to follow.  It is held up by a few Command strips so I'm not worried about it damaging the wall in any way.  Plus, it makes for easy access for the Tooth Fairy!

Citrus Lane September 2013: 5-yr-old Boy

We got our Citrus Lane box today and it was a fun one. Even had something for me!

The add-on this time was an Aden + Anais blanket. We used the muslin wraps A LOT when Noodlebug was a baby. I tell people all the time that I continue to find uses for those blankets even though he is 5 now.  This time, I ordered a Dream Blanket as an add-on.  Noodlebug is quite the aesthete and loves comfort.  He immediately wrapped up in his new blanket:

We have another Dream Blanket for the car that is perfect for cold Winter mornings.  I was hoping this one could be for the other car but I'm not sure he will give it up. This blanket was about $31.  The retail price is usually about $49.95.

Here is a look at the other goodies:

1. We always love getting books in our boxes!  One of the hints this month was a Charley Harper picture and I was hoping our book would feature Charley Harper but this one featuring Alexander Girard is also charming.  Retail price: $16.95

2. Two Bamboo Cars from Hape Toys --We have had many HAPE toys over the years. I love their sustainable focus and these cars will be fun.  Retail price: $6.99 each

3. 3.4 oz Peaceful Bubble from Episencial--We are HUGE Episencial fans and were out of bubbles so this came at the perfect time!!!  Retail Price: approx $1.50

4. Something for mom!  Nail color from JULEP in a fun Fall color.  Retail Price: $14.00

Approximate value of box: $46.43

I thought this box had some really fun items in it and I can't wait to try the nail color.We are so enjoying Citrus Lane and I hope they start offering boxes for older children!

Fall is in the Air

My very favorites season is Fall. When the air gets crisper and the leaves start changing color, I get reinvigorated.  I have been pining after this sign for a long time.  A little out of my price range right now but isn't it adorable?

(from Barn Owl Primitives)

As I wait for Fall to officially arrive, I am already making plans.  I have decided to host our first annual Pumpkin Carving party. I'm gathering ideas from blogs and Pinterest and trying to decide if 18 families are too many to invite.  (There are just too many great people I want to spend time with! What a nice problem to have!)  I also need to get Noodlebug thinking about a Halloween costume so that I have time to make one. On that note, I also need to get my sewing machine fixed. I think I broke the bobbin holder.  I really miss my sewing machine!!!

I find myself craving Starbucks' Salted Caramel mochas and I'm dying for the weather to get colder so I can break out my new Evy's Tree Lizzy!  What are you excited about this Fall?



(This post contains NO affiliate links)

KIWI CRATE Sneak Preview and a Sale!

If you are regular reader of this blog, you know that we have been fans of Kiwi Crate for several years now.  It is one of the cheaper subscription boxes for kids that I have found, the projects are great and almost all the materials are included in every box.  (so wonderful for a busy parent!)

In our last box, we got a little sneak preview of the excitement to come!

SEPTEMBER

Noodlebug has REALLY been into art lately so this should be a fun crate!

OCTOBER

We love all things glow-in-the-dark. Can't wait for this one!

NOVEMBER

When the weather gets colder, it's the perfect time for a little fireside storytelling!

I am an affiliate for KIWI CRATE and they are offering a special promotion right now.  If you order a monthly subscription, 6 month subscription or 12 month subscription, you can get $5-$20 off plus free shipping depending on what package you order:

Save up to $20 on a new Kiwi Crate subscription (that's 2 months free) plus free shipping!

It's going to be a fun Autumn!!!

Plein Air Painting

I was ill over Labor Day weekend and needed to find a way to keep Noodlebug occupied. We have had some fantastic weather so I thought it might be fun to set up an outdoor art station.  We pulled out the tabletop easel that I had gotten from Discount School Supply:



I filled up a recycled tin can with brushes and set out a bunch of washable Crayola paints.  Since I know how fun texture can be, I also put out some textured rollers and brushes that I found at Discount School Supply:



I grabbed an old disposable food tin and filled it with paint for the rollers.

I started stocking up on products from Discount School Supply after we took some art classes at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. I asked the teachers where they found all the cool supplies and paints that they used and they always said "Discount School Supply!"

Noodlebug has always loved to paint and he has rediscovered that love since starting Kindergarten.  He has currently been working on a series of tiger paintings.  With a gnome thrown in for good measure.  I think he really enjoyed being outside in the fresh air.  And it didn't really matter if he made a big mess with the paint.  I'm tempted to just leave the whole setup outside for when inspiration strikes him.  Maybe next time, I'll join him.

(There are a few affiliate links inside this post to direct you to the exact products that we used.)

School Theme for 2013

This is our theme for this year's school year:

First Day

I fell behind on my back-to-school posts because ran into an emotional barrier. This process of starting Kindergarten has been a lot more difficult for me than I anticipated. I'm trying to focus on the fun and excitement and I'm trying to start some new traditions but part of me isn't dealing well with my baby growing up. AT ALL.

The night before the first day we held our first School Year's Eve dinner.

I found this printable banner online but I can't remember where I found it!  If it's yours, please let me know so I can give you credit.

I let Noodlebug choose the menu and he told me he wanted my homemade enchiladas with rice and beans.

The morning of the first day, Noodlebug woke to a new backpack and a schultüte. These cones are traditional in Germany for the first day of 1st grade but I thought we'd do it for the first day of Kindergarten.

I simply rolled a piece of posterboard into a cone shape and cut off the uneven edge. I closed it with clear packing tape.  I tried to use a ribbon border but it didn't turn out well. I glued some tissue paper to the inside of the cone and gathered it up with a ribbon. The cone contained some school supplies and a few small treats like some LEGO minifigures.

There are a zillion free printable "first day" signs online but I fell in love with this one from a kit from Hallmark.

It comes with signs for every single school year.  I'm hoping I can pack it away where I can find it every year!

The first day went off without a hitch and I only cried a little bit.  I took the day off from work so I could both drop him off and pick him up.  It made me sad realizing that I may never do another drop off or pick up.  School hours don't really fit with my work schedule.  I want so much to be a stay-at-home mom but it will never be possible.  That will always be a source of pain for me.

For now, I'm just looking forward to getting home and hearing about his day. 

Citrus Lane August 2013: 5-Yr-Old Boy

Hooray! We got our August Citrus Lane box. I think this was a really good one!

FabKids is a subscription clothing service similar to StyleMint.  It automatically bills you $39.95 for a three-piece outfit each month.  In this month's box, we got a code for a free outfit but it automatically subscribes you to the service. If I don't want to continue, I'll have to remember to cancel.  Retail value:  $39.95

We love Annie's Organics! This is going in my son's lunch!  Retail value:  about 88 cents

An adorable pirate puzzle from Barefoot Books. I am very familiar with this puzzle because I am a Barefoot Books Ambassador!  We love their products!!!  Retail value: $14.99

I love carrying hand wipes like these in my car.  And I love that they are alcohol-free.  Retail value: about $4.50

These Ouchies Jr. "band-aids" feature images from Jon Scieszka's TRUCKTOWN book which we own and love.  Adorable!!!  Retail value: $5.00

This cute travel activity book comes with high quality Faber-Castell markers. My son started using it right away!  Retail value: about $10.00

I loved this box. I thought it had great variety.  I can't wait to try all the products.  Approximate retail value of box:  $75.00

I'm not sure if I'm going to redeem the oufit because I haven't had much success with websites that do subscription clothing services. Still, it's a neat idea.