Look at this beautiful present from my daughter....
Oh and look...there's another...
and yet another one!!! YAY!
There's lots, actually...enough for a tea party! These are the beautiful byproduct of 2 months worth of ceramic classes. My husband affectionaly calls this: "Stuff we'll never be able to get rid of". How can we even think of that?
Just when I was getting used to complete choas, my girls start school tomorrow. Now I must prepare myself for a different kind of chaos as we complete 4 loads of laundry, find missing pairs of shoes and socks, organize drawers, mend clothes, think of creative ways to fill lunch boxes, and feel nostalgic for a summer that is ending...
Hope your weekend was chaotic - in the most wonderful sense of the word!
In Japan, March 3 marks the annual spring celebration called HINA MATSURI. A day to honor little girls and wish for their happiness, health and prosperity.
Part of the tradition calls for displaying a family's Hina Ningyo dolls. These are exquisitely dressed dolls that represent the Emperor, Emperess and their Courtiers. Most girls receive this doll set as a present from their grandparents when they are very little. The set is displayed in homes for this occassion, and taken down immediately after.
Look at this sweet photo of these young students ogling a public Hina Matsuri display in Japan:
(Photo Credit: Junko Kimura)
My husband is 1/2 Japanese, making our girls 1/4 Japanese. So yesterday, we had our own little Hina Matsuri celebration - albeit only a fraction of the celebration that it should have been.
We took out our own little handmade Emperor and Empress. (No courtiers have been made yet, as you can see.) We dressed (played) in our finest kimonos. Then we proceeded to enjoy our very American treat of milk and cookies.
My poor husband, who is outnumbered daily in our household had to ask: "When is it NOT girls day?"
oh so true...
Recently, I created This DIY project for the ever so wonderful and always inspiring BLOESEM KIDS BLOG! Its such an honor to be a contributor to Irene's fantastic site! Lucky for me, I get to share my ideas on Bkids regularly from now on!
Well...If you've got kids, then you've got STUFF! And in our little home, we're often tripping over kid's backpacks, winter coats, library bags, robes, lunch bags, etc. (My kids seem to think they belong right smack in the middle of busy walkways!)
So I started making some wall hooks- the quirky and colorful variety to suit our personality.
Materials needed:
1) a roll of thin wire, preferably 22 gauge.
2) roll of thick wire, preferably 16 to 18 gauge.
3) white glue or elmers glue
4) scrap paper
5) wire cutter and bender
6) acrylic paint
7) washers
1. Shape the 18 gauge (thick wire) into desired form, keeping in mind to have long lower appendages. these will then be bent to form a U shape hook.
2. Use the thinner wire to run throughout the shape. This reinforces the basic form.
3. Twist 22 gauge wire around a washer and integrate this into the wire form. This will be where you can drive a nail through when attaching to your wall. placing this near the TOP of the shape works well.
4. Apply masking tape directly on top of some of the wire. This gives the papier mache something to adhere to.
5. Make papier mache paste from 1/2 part elmers glue and 1/2 part water. Dip pieces of scrap paper in the paste and cover front and back of wire form.
6. Apply 4-5 layers making sure to allow the paper to dry in between layers. The wall hook will become rock hard!
7. Using acrylic medium, paint to your hearts desire.
8. Remember the washer? Well hammer a nail through the washer when attaching your wall hook on your wall.
Here's hoping your floors are clutter-free!
