Buzzmills

A Diaper Clutch and Baby Clothes...

Last week was Henry's last day of preschool.  It was also, as it turns out, our last day at the one and only preschool we have ever been. 

Violet began at this small one room Montessori school operated out of the teacher's home when she was 2 1/2.  We had just moved to Maryland a year earlier.  Henry was still an infant (only three months old) and we were in the throws of first time home ownership (only three months in as well!). 

Over the next four years we watched both of our children grow and learn.  We learned a lot of parenting and teaching skills from their teacher.  We watched the other kids in the class grow too and became close friends with them all.  We became friends with their teacher and her family.  And, as the years passed their teacher's oldest eventually became our babysitter!  (Yeah we played that pretty well!)

But, next year Henry will be heading off to a new and different preschool for his last year before Kindergarten as his teacher just had a baby this Spring and has decided to close her school.  We are sad to say goodbye to our friends and teacher and honestly, a little bit nervous to see what a new school will bring.  But, luckily for us, she also happens to live just around the corner. 

Anywho, while Henry made her a shrinky dink thank you gift, I wanted to make her one last little handmade thank you too.  Something for her, but also, how could I resist making something for little baby too, right!

I started with the something for her.  A diaper clutch made using this tutorial as a guide, mine was a little bit smaller, I added some fusible interfacing between layers and a wrist strap and a faux button.  The fabric is leftover from my own 241 tote.

I wanted this clutch to be useful to tuck in some wipes and diapers and maybe a couple of other odds and ends, but not babyish.  I wanted it to be something that she could use post diapers as well. 

I hope she likes it, I'm thinking about making one for myself (someday...)

Ps...did you see my little caterpillar photobomber up there? 

To tuck inside I made a simple little changing pad.  Laminate on one side and cotton on the other with a double layer of flannel tucked inside for a little bit of padding...

And then, of course, the something for baby.  Back in April, I had Henry's class over to our house while their teacher was on maternity leave and we all worked together to make the new baby some stenciled onesies.  I also whipped up a divided basket (forgot to take pictures!) to tuck them into and a few burp cloths to go along with the onesies but, since I was trying to keep paint where it should be an giving direction I didn't end up making a onesie that day myself.  So, instead I made a little cloud appliqued shirt and a pair of baby pants to match...

(Fabric, up up & away skinny laminx and double cloth cotton)

A nice little thanks for everything gift...

(And, while I was at it I thought I'd play a little baby gift catch up because these pants are just too cute and whipped up another belated baby gift for another friend!)

We've been so lucky to have this teacher and this school as part of our early education years.  It's been fun for me too because I've had the chance to be in the classroom with the kids and create fun preschool projects with them...

Plus, I think that their teacher may possibly be, after four years, the recipient of the most handmade gifts from me!

Ha, ha, ha!

And, before I leave why not share Henry's first and last day pictures! 

He looks so much older doesn't he! 

Have a great day!

Whale Circle Skirt Dress (mini tutorial)...

A while back I spotted and then purchased some super cute whale fabric at Joann.  It was seriously just too cute to resist, but I wasn't really sure what I was going to make with it so I only got a yard.  As soon as Violet saw it she fell in love with it and was eager for me to make her something. 

And then it sat and sat in my pile of "to makes" until last weekend.  We were on our way to Annapolis for the day to meet up with a friend of mine who was visiting from out of town and I just happened to have a bit of time in the morning before we headed out.  I also happened to have a new tank top in Violet's size that matched the whales perfectly. 

And so, I whipped up a quick little dress...

This dress was so simple to make and, aside from tedious task of ironing the hem of a circle skirt (seriously circle skirt hems are so long!) it was quick too.Simply...
Start by making your circle skirt.  I used Dana's tutorial to make my pattern, which I actually already had from this dress and I added about three inches to the length. 

Once my fabric was cut I sewed my two skirt pieces right sides together along the sides with 1/4" seam allowance and finished the seams with a zigzag stitch.  Next, I folded the hem 1/4" toward the wrong side, pressed and folded 1/4" to the wrong side again, pressed and sewed the hem.  I also sewed a zigzag stitch along the top, unfinished edge, of the skirt.

Next, I had Violet put on the tank top and pulled the unfinished skirt over the tank top to see where I wanted the placement of the skirt to be.  We both liked the "empire waist" look.  I carefully pinned the skirt to the shirt and, without poking her, removed the "dress".  I marked where the top of the skirt was on the tank top while it was pinned then I checked to see where the marks were in relation to the bottom of the tank, 7".  I measured up 7" from the bottom of the tank top all the way around and cut the bottom half of the shirt off. 

Now I had one unfinished skirt and one cropped tank top. 

I sewed a gathering stitch along the top of the unfinished edge of the skirt and gathered it gently to make it the same size as the shirt bottom.  With the unfinished edges of the skirt and shirt aligned and the right sides facing I sewed the skirt and shirt together with a 1/4" seam allowance. 

After the two pieces were sewn together I sewed around where they were joined again this time using elastic thread and a 3/8" seam allowance.  The elastic thread allows for a bit of stretching at the "waist" and also brings the tank to the bodice more instead of having it simply hang. 

And that's it!  In likely less than an hour you've got a super cute and comfy summer sundress!

Of course, since it's a circle skirt it has full twirling potential too!

It was a beautiful day in Annapolis, we stumbled across a corvette show, got to watch a family of ducks cross a busy street and had a great visit with friends! 

Plus on our to the our car we were treated to a man playing the glass harp...amazing!

Have a great day!

Why to Nurture Creativity in Children...

First, a "warning", this is a bit of a tongue in cheek post.  I am not an expert in childhood development (or anything really). 

I am simply speaking from experience.  And, with the knowledge that many others out there who do know what they are talking about know that creativity in children is beneficial for so many reasons.

Today is our first day of summer vacation, no more school for either child.  No camps/no classes on the schedule.  Just summer, and I am totally cool with that.  (Except for the messy house part.)

We spend a lot of time around here working to create little creative nooks for the kids, both indoors and outdoors. 

We typically have a well stocked supply of crafty things.  Those crafty things, for the most part, are easily accessible to Violet and Henry.  Often times this means that there are glittery messes and paper scraps to clean up...

But, those creative nooks and crafty supplies are why I am happy for an unscheduled summer.  Because, when I'm not looking they are crafting up hats and houses and costumes and many more things I can image.  They are writing stories or telling stories with their toys.  They are weaving flowers and making art. 
And it's happening all without me!

And, that's it, the tongue in cheek part. 

Work to nurture creativity in your children and you will have peace.  Maybe only a moment.  But you will have your own creative time.  You will be amazed and inspired by what they've made all on their own.  You will enjoy hearing their stories as a "fly on the wall". 

Of course, I am excited about the adventures and crafty things we will do together this summer as well! 

I also realize that this is only day one of summer.  There will be tantrums and disagreements.  There will be messes (I'll just close my eyes to those.)  It won't all be fantastic. 

But, today I am happy to let them wear their jammies and happy for another unscheduled summer running around in bare feet.

Shrinky Dink Sun Catchers...

As I mentioned yesterday Violet and Henry each made their own little gift for their teachers too.  Just a little something to say thank you.

You can't beat a fun "throwback" craft and shrinky dinks might just be my favorite one of them all. 

I drew a heart on a piece of paper for Violet to trace onto her shrinky dink paper and then she filled in the rest...

Henry and I worked together to trace his hands onto the shrinky dink paper and then he wrote his name in between them and colored it in. 

He liked the sentiment that Violet wrote on hers so he chose the same.

We added a string and tiny suction cup, because let's be honest without them they are just shrinky dinks, but once you add the suction cup voila! A suncatcher to hang in the window!

A small token of their appreciation to their teachers, a little thanks from the kids to two teachers they have loved having very much!

And, now that summer is here we will soon be on our way down the road for a couple of road trips, are you heading on a road trip this summer?  Stop by Inner Child Giving for Have a great day!

Pinwheel Zippy Pouch...

Seriously, I can't believe how quickly Kindergarten flew by!  Obviously, there were moments while we were in it that didn't feel quite fast, but in hindsight it flew by and just like that I've got a first grader! 

Violet had such a great first year of Elementary school.  There were a few bumps in the road, but she was so lucky to have an amazing teacher to help guide her through them.  And, of course, some new best friends too!  I loved listening to all of the stories about this friend and that friend at the end of each day.  It was so interesting to watch her "learn the ropes" of school. 

I was co-room parent this year for Violet's Kindergarten class and at the end of the year we helped to organize a gift for their fantastic teacher.  The main part of the gift was a gift card, because, you know, everyone loves a gift card!  But, to make it feel a little less "gift cardy" (you know what I mean?)  I made a fun little zippy pouch to tuck the card in to...

The pouch is made using Anna's zippy wallet tutorial.  She posted last week about the snappy manicure wallets she made for teachers and I had thought about making one of those but then wasn't sure I'd have the time to run out for nail polish to pop into it so I decided on the zippy wallet instead.

I think it's pretty perfect for summer time trips to the pool, movies, errands, ice cream shop, beach...

The pinwheel fabric (children at play, by sarah jane) screamed summer fun to me.

I made the key fob extra long so that it would be comfortable to grab onto and use as a handle for when you need just the bare necessities to carry around with you...

The key fob also makes it perfect for adding a carabiner and clipping it onto a pool/beach bag...

I totally fell in love with the tiny size of this little wallet when it was finished, I'm thinking about making one for myself!

Anywho, a useful, handmade touch, just a small way to make a gift card a bit more personal.  And another way to show our appreciation for all of the new things our children learned this year and for the patience, love, and kindness that she showed toward our children.  Yay for AMAZING teachers!

And, just because it's fun to see the changes over a year...here is Violet's first and last day of Kindergarten photo...
Violet and Henry made their own gifts for each of their teachers as well...but I'll share them later this week.

Have a good day!