Wordless Wednesday

How does your garden grow?

I snapped this picture a few weeks ago, trying to capture the hawk in the middle-right section of the tree, but my lens wasn't quite powerful enough to snap the picture I wanted.  Little did I know I'd be using this photo as a reference shot, after Irene stormed through.

The entire tree is dead and sticks up above the others.  Enter Irene - with upwards of 50 mph winds, and there's going to be some natural pruning taking place.

So, yesterday, I snapped this picture of the same tree, minus the hawk and half the upper part of the tree.

And then I inspected the fallen branch a little more closely...sigh...

So, how does your garden grow?  Mine isn't growing so well right now.

Schooltime!

We are into our 2nd week of school so I thought I'd share about our school year.  Quintin is in 4th grade, Elle is in 1st grade and Colin is in pre-k.

We are again using My Father's World curriculum and are beginning our first year in their 5 year plan.  Last year we did Adventures in My Father's World and this year it will be Exploring Countries and Cultures.  Hosting Artem this summer gave us a taste of the Ukrainian culture and country - so the kids are ready for more!

 HANDS ACROSS THE WORLD!

Wordless Wednesday - Airshow

Shade...

Stretching fabric over a frame - hedgehog applique

I am in love with the applique blocks at Wee Folk Art.  As soon as I saw the little hedgehog pattern, I knew I had to make it for Elle.  Before I could even start it though, I had to figure out how I was going to display it.  I had first thought I'd make a pillow, but I really wanted it to hang on her wall.  To hang it, I didn't want the expense of framing it.  I started researching stretching fabric over a frame.  Most websites I found used a canvas art board, with a 1" or 1.5" side.  I had found one website that mentioned stretcher bars.

When I got to the craft store, I found the stretcher bars, for the size I needed, were considerably cheaper than the canvas art boards.  The thing I like about these stretcher bars (see below) are you buy 4 sides so it can be whatever size you need.  I wanted my final project to be square, so I bought four 9" bars. 

Their notches and grooves made it easy to connect them.  I only needed the outside corners to be square - the inside corners didn't join perfectly, but it didn't matter because the fabric would cover them.

The hedgehog was easy and quick to stitch up - and lots of fun!  Elle loved observing my progress.  After I finished the 6x6" piece, I used a blanket stitch to stitch the applique onto a purple gingham.  I used a felt sheet (9x12) to back the fabric.

Using my dad's staple gun, I attached the fabric to the stretcher bars.  There are plenty of websites to show you how to attach it at the corners (I didn't take pictures of that).

And here's the final project (from Friday's post).

And, here it is displayed in her room. 

Sneak Peek

I've been working on some projects around the house.  My mom made Elle this quilt a few years ago and I finally have hung it in her room - it is gorgeous!

And Elle's love of Peter, her hedgehog,

inspired the embroidered piece in front.  I found the pattern at Wee Folk Art, but needed to search for inspiration how to display it. 

I'll share a little more next week, how we finished the piece and then a picture of her room, all gussied up! ;)

Have a great weekend!

Rain, Rain (don't) Go Away!

We've had a pretty wet August and the kids have been enjoying playing in the rain!

Wordless Wednesday

Backyard

I hung out at my parents' house the other night while Q was a few blocks away at soccer practice.  I took my time enjoying the backyard and getting some pictures around their house.