mother's day 2010 issue of modern handmade child

modern handmade child Editors Gretchen Jakub Fabre Shannon Hanley Layout and Design by Chichiboulie The Clever Kitty Advertising Coordinator Linda Phrakhansa Treasurer Ahmelie Skistad This issue’s Contributors Shannon Hanley Gretchen Jakub Fabre Jenica Carlley Joy Ribisi Beth Lemon Linda Phrakhansa Kristie Piacine Julie Hartman Please send all article submissions and ideas to: editor@modernhandmadechild.com

Note that submissions are welcome but are not guaranteed inclusion in the magazine.

Copyright© modern handmade child 2010. All rights reserved.

Reproduction or redistribution in whole or in parts without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.

contents mother’s day 2010 WELCOME 4......meet the editors 5......letter from the editors SHARE - by moms for moms 6......celebrating mothers 20 ....oh, the things kids say 32 ....rocks 36 ....self-expression

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EAT - special treats for mom 8....breakfast in bed CREATE - crafty tutorials 10 ....homemade body scrub 26 ....mirror keepsake 29 ....lunchbox love SHOP - buy handmade 13 ....baby shower gift guide 30 ....mother’s day gifts GIVE - exceptional acts of kindness 21 ....showering moms with handmade goodness PLAY - toys and activities 40 ....color your own cards 42 ....puzzles and games

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welcome

meet the editors

gretchen jakub fabre and shannon hanley

Gretchen Jakub Fabre is an illustrator living in northern France. A mother of 3 children and one Scottie pup, her days are spent chasing after one small being or another.

When not looking after her small brood, she can be found in her studio creating- usually a mess, but at times paintings, prints, felt objects and “fabrications”. A self-taught artist, her work focuses around the world and whimsies of children and the young-at-heart, many inspired by her own daily experiences. Gretchen‟s illustrations have been sold worldwide to both large companies and individuals alike. Her work can be seen online at www.chichiboulie.com and in her portfolio www.gretchenjakubfabre.com.

Shannon Hanley lives on the coast of southern Maine with her husband and daughter. She works during the day as a floral designer, and from home at night as an artisan dabbling in many mediums, from knitting and felting to jewelry making. Inspired by the vibrant colors and beauty of nature, she loves creating things that are both fun and functional. In addition to her creative work, she is the leader of the EtsyKids Team, which she founded in 2006. You can find out more about Shannon and view her work online at www.thecleverkitty.com and www.thecleverkitty.etsy.com, and read her blog at www.thekittypad.blogspot.com.

letter from the editors by gretchen jakub fabre and shannon hanley

In France it is called la fête des mères while in the United Kingdom it‟s known as Mothering Sunday and in the United States, Mother‟s Day. Whatever it is called and whenever it is celebrated, it is a special day set aside to honor those women without whom we would all be lost.

When a woman has her first child, she enters the world of motherhood, and her life is changed forever. Gone are the carefree days. In come the constant thoughts, worries at times, and questions about our children and family. Should I do this? What if I do that? What if I don‟t do that? And we do this while juggling our family life, our personal ambitions and most importantly our children‟s education.

It can be overwhelming to be sure. And yet somehow, on most days at least, we manage to pull it off.

Here at Modern Handmade Child we thought it natural to produce a special issue on this occasion. Did you know that nearly the entire staff here at MHC is made up of mothers, all working on a purely volunteer basis? Mothers who balance children, work, home and creating on a daily basis. We think that's pretty extraordinary, and certainly cause for celebration!

So join us this spring as we celebrate motherhood, the handmade way.

Gretchen Jakub Fabre Shannon Hanley

You too, my mother, read my rhymes For love of unforgotten times, And you may chance to hear once more The little feet along the floor - Robert Louis Stevenson

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.

- Mildred B. Vermont

She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she doesn’t take them along.

- Margaret Culkin Banning

The phrase “working mother” is redundant.

- Jane Sellman

Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeing chilly.

Ambrose Bierce

by jenica carlley - pumpkin’s boutique coupons for things like a night off from the dishes or cooking, some free baby sitting, a house cleaning, or even a nap is a great way to show Mom that you care.

Moms always love to get breakfast in bed. Make her something special like Banana Split Pancakes or a Hawaiian Omelet. For a personal touch, draw mad tea party postcard set by a fanciful twist her a picture, add a other‟s Day is a holiday dear to the flower in a vase and take it to her on a hearts of most of us. It celebrates the love and tray. Breakfast in bed can set a relaxed tone support that our mothers give to their families to the entire day, and make Mom feel like a every day of the year. How will you celebrate princess! your mother this year?

Of course, don‟t forget the best present – tell Gifts to make Mom feel appreciated don‟t her you love her and appreciate all she does have to cost a lot. A coupon book filled with for her family all year long.

M

Look what we found! These delicious recipes and more on MrBreakfast.com

Hawaiian Omelet (3 servings) * 6 eggs * 1/2 cup small pineapple chunks * 1/2 cup cubed ham * 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese * 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese * 6 tablespoons water * salt and pepper -- to taste Beat together eggs, water, salt and pepper.

Thinly coat your skillet with vegetable oil spray. Heat on medium high burner.

Pour egg mixture into pan. When eggs are almost set, sprinkle half of the omelet with remaining ingredients.

Fold other half of omelet over filling.

Continue cooking until cheese melts, about 2 minutes.

Cut omelet into 3 wedges and serve.

Banana Split Pancakes (16 servings) * 2 cups Bisquick Original baking mix * 1 1/2 cups milk * 1/4 cup chocolate-flavor syrup * 1 egg * 1/3 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips * 2 medium bananas -- sliced * 2 cups sliced strawberries * Whipped topping -- if desired * Chopped peanuts -- if desired * Additional chocolate-flavor syrup -- if desired * Maraschino cherries -- if desired Heat griddle or skillet; grease if necessary.

Stir baking mix, milk, 1/4 cup chocolate syrup and the egg in medium bowl until blended (batter will be thin). Stir in chocolate chips.

Pour batter by a little less that 1/4 cupfuls onto hot griddle (because chocolate chips will sink, scoop batter from bottom of bowl for a more even distribution of chips). Cook until edges are dry. Turn; cook until golden brown.

Serve with bananas, strawberries, whipped topping, peanuts, chocolate syrup and maraschino cherries.

by joy ribisi - sweetland retreat top it off with some ribbon and a sweet label, fill with your body scrub mix, and you're ready to gift-give. Consider a gift for the mom-to-be and bring a baby food jar filled with a relaxing body scrub to the next baby shower you attend.

Most of the ingredients you will need for this project are already in your kitchen cabinets. Edible ingredients also make the scrub safe in case they get in the hands of children.

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aking your own body scrubs is an excellent way to not only save money but to also customize your scrub to suit your daily desire. Salt and sugar body scrubs are easy to whip up in any size batch, so creating a special mix for a specific occasion is a great way to treat yourself to something new.

Body scrubs also make wonderful gifts for friends and family. Grab a small ball jar and

Scrubs consist of two base ingredients: A granular exfoliant and an oil. There are many options for both and all is up to the user's preference.

Choose at least one granular exfoliant: Salt: Sea Salt, Kosher Salt, Epsom Salt, or Table Salt Sugar: White granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar, or Natural Cane Sugar Coffee: Try regular or flavored coffee

Choose your moisturizing oil: There are many types of oil to choose from.

Grape seed oil is one of the best as it has very little fragrance and is light on the skin. Olive oil and avocado oil are also great options.

Baby oil dries the skin and would not be a good option for body scrubs.

Mix your base exfoliant with enough oil to turn the grains into a course mixture. You want to be sure to add enough oil so that the consistency of the mixture becomes slushy, but the degree of slushiness is up to personal preference.

Now it's time to add your fragrance. The options are almost limitless. With all of the deliciously scented essential oils in the world, you can create your own mixtures of fragrances daily! If you would like to keep the scrub natural, omit the use of essential

Flowers and herbs have many healing properties: Lavender: promotes healing and relaxation Orange peel: uplifts your mood Comfrey: exfoliates and helps heal minor skin irritations Ginseng: helps energize and increases circulation Chamomile: promotes calming effect

oils. Herbs and flowers make a beautiful addition to body scrubs and will be a welcome sight in your shower, as well. The flowers and herbs also add a second level of exfoliant to your scrub.

To add another level of fun, flavor, and exfoliation to your body scrub you can also add other ingredients such as glitter, chocolate chips, pumpkin, oatmeal, herbs, and so much more. Creating custom body scrubs is an easy and inexpensive way to introduce a fun craft to your next girls' night gathering!

Some fun Mother’s Day facts: Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948) was the founder of Mother's Day in the United States. It was her own mother's idea, and Anna carried it out. President Wilson proclaimed Mother's Day to be on the second Sunday in May in 1914.

The estimated number of mothers in the United States in 2004 was 82.8 million.

Approximately 4.3 million women have babies each year. Of this number, about 450,000 are teens, and more than 100,000 are age 40 or over. August is the month with the highest number of births, with 369,316 taking place that month in 2005. Tuesday is the most popular day of the week in which to have a baby, with an average of more than 13,169 births taking place on Tuesdays during 2005.

Jayne Bleackley is the mother who holds the record for the shortest interval between two children born in separate confinements. She gave birth to Joseph Robert on September 3, 1999 and Annie Jessica Joyce on March 30, 2000. The babies were born 208 days apart.

Elizabeth Ann Buttle is the mother who holds the record for the longest interval between the births of two children. She gave birth to Belinda on May 19, 1956 and Joseph on November 20, 1997. The babies were born 41 years 185 days apart. The mother was 60 years old when her son Joseph was born.

The odds of a woman delivering twins are 1-in-33. Her odds of having triplets or other multiple births are approximately 1-in-539.

Many of the sweaters worn by Mr. Rogers on the popular television show, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, were actually knitted by his real mother.

Modern moms average 2 kids versus 3.5 kids to moms in the 1950s and 7-10 kids in the 1700s.

Preschoolers requires mom's attention once every 4 minutes or 210 times a day!

It’s a

left to right: elephant baby long sleeve t-shirt by b siebold sutdios $17, transportation set - eco-frie commute - fiddle fab learning lovey by mama burkeheart baby $14, mod cars quilt by blue elep

a Boy!

bubble $20, porcupine and p illustration print by kim endly wooden toys by imagination kids $28, morning a may i $29, backyard friends cloth baby shoes by phant stitch $95, alphabet mobile by bugga love $45

It’s a

left to right: ginger blossom apron knot dress by a joyful butterflies with flowers fine art print by baby chick designs $2 pacifier clip by cuckoo boo $9, handpainted wall letters b rae gun $29.50, stacking rin

Girl!

vision $40, angel baby doll by squishy bee $17, pink 25, mini monkey flap hat by cite fuzz $30, pink elephants by candice n katie’s art $21.95, peek-a-boo dress by ngs by mama made $60

clockwise from top left: ellybo eco-friendly hat by mad about colour $28, minky boo bo mobile by pink perch $90, little bear softie $25.95, little baby bunny ears beanie by cat

y elephant plush by ecoleeko $40, newborn baby stocking oo rice bag baby by sarahsewta $8, monkey see monkey do e by little and big k $19.75, baby booties by funky shapes for stitches sakes $15, hoot’s hungry canvas wall art by ta and nenny $126

Every day since Valentines day, my son Isaac, age 4, tells me "I have a secret!" and quietly whispers "Happy Valentines day!" and wraps his little arms around me.

- Karen in St. Anthony, ID My daughter Sam (5 years old): “Mom, what if someone called Santa the "f-word.”

Me (nervous): Uh, what's the "f-word” Sam, leaning in and whispering: “Fat” - Rachel in Chicago, IL After trying to explain to my kids that daddy does not babysit when I am gone, my older two kids (Logan-age 6 and Madelyn-age 4) still insisted that when daddy was gone I was “just the mom because that is what you do everyday - you have to take care of us because you are our mom”, but when I am gone and daddy is home with all three of them he is babysitting them.

Tonight we had burgers, fries, green beans and grapes for supper. Long after everyone else is done, Baran is still sitting at the table trying to get the rest of his meal down.

When I told him to take a bite he said, “I can’t, it’s too ornery.”

- Ahmelie in Madison Lake, MN

My son always says, “Daddy you still my best buddy?" When I ask him if mommy is best buddy he says, "No. You need to find your own best buddy.”

One winter morning, after a good while of outdoor play, I told my two year old daughter it was time to go back inside. And of course her reply was “No, 2 more minutes!”, which has been one of her favorite things to say for awhile now. So I gave her 2 more minutes, then I told her that her “2 minutes is up”, to which she replied “No, 2 minutes is down!” I had to conceal my chuckles at her reply, while also wondering how anyone ever learns the English language. After all, that would seem a perfectly logical response!

- Mandi in Harrisburg, PA

- Shannon in South Portland, ME

- Lindsey in Dardenne Prairie, MO

T

shannon hanley - the clever kitty

hrough modern technology, we are able to instantly connect with other like-minded individuals, whether they be in our own backyard or halfway across the world. For me, that means others who share my love of handmade. The handmade community online is a place like no other, with people reaching out to others who they may not even know.

One shining example of this warm community spirit is the Etsy Baby Shower.

and she would miss having a baby shower for her first child.

“It was just one of those posts that made you stop and think how lucky you are to be near your friends and family,” June recalls. “That‟s when the seed was planted, and I started a thread asking if anyone would be interested in donating some gifts for the moms-to-be on Etsy, so we could hold a „Virtual Baby Shower‟.”

Just before Christmas in The idea caught on instantly, 2006, June of Ficklefaerie and just as soon as she had was reading the Etsy forums posted the idea, June had 5 when she noticed a post expectant moms and lots of from a girl who had said she replies from people wanting Baby Naomi with her blanket from was lonely, having a baby, to donate gifts. “There were mywoobie.etsy.com and her hubby was no strings attached. It was overseas. She was also far away from her out of the kindness of their hearts that the parents and friends. She was sad because she gifts were donated. Even the shipping was didn't know anyone where she was living, free to the mom.”

When June started that first Etsy Baby hosting it. Jessica had Deniz had both Shower, she had no idea it would take off like participated in the shower prior to taking on it did, and still be going strong three years the hosting of it. Jessica had been a donating later. “At one point we had 40 moms in one shop for every shower since March 2007. shower, along with 3 sets of twins. I even “The only shower I missed since it's included adoptive parents and babies. That inception was the Jan 2007 shower because I shower I had to wasn't an Etsy gather over 170 member yet! I was gifts to be able also a receiving to send each mom in 2008 for mom 4 gifts per my August 2008 baby. No matter baby.” how many babies we had, Although Deniz we always had had only been a the gifts come donating shop for in.” In her two one shower, she years of hosting “hated to think of the shower, June it not happening was able to again. It is such a “I love to participate in giveaways, and this was a great way to meet and wonderful event. make a new or expectant mom happy. Being able to get awesome become friends feedback from the moms letting me know how much they loved my Generous shops with people she bags was priceless.” - Tatiana - BabyMeBags.etsy.com sign up to donate otherwise would handmade gifts, never have met. (many donate “A few of them I still get pictures from and multiple gifts, and/or have donated to have been able to see the babies turn into multiple baby showers) to new/expecting toddlers and reach the terrible 2's.” moms they have never met. Just thinking about it puts a big smile on my face!”

In 2009, June's Etsy shop, Ficklefaerie, really started to take off, leaving her with less free Over the past 3 years, over 200 new moms time to organize and host the shower. In have received gifts from a countless number October of that year, Deniz of Decorative of Etsy shops. Often the donating shops will Labels and Jessica of Bugga Love took over work with the receiving mom to create a

It‟s clear that being a receiving mom for the Etsy baby shower is an amazing experience, but participating in the Etsy Baby Shower as a donating shop can also be very rewarding. Not only is it a great way to share your products with new moms, but also a great way to get involved in the handmade community.

After discovering the Etsy Baby Shower in the Etsy forum, Sue of Irish Hooks and Yarn decided to participate because, “it seemed a good way to promote my shop and it‟s also a great way to network on Etsy. Last fall, I also noticed that several of the Etsy shops that I had made purchases through (especially for crochet patterns) were among the participants.”

"My husband and I were both blown away by a pair of felted high tops that we received from The Clever Kitty. She emailed and asked what colors I would like, we picked out brown and green stripe which is the color of our baby's room. They are so amazing! I can't wait to see them on our baby!!!" - Jen - sneakapeek.etsy.com

custom gift, which adds even more of personal touch to the event. Aleshia, whose daughter is just a few weeks old now, recalls one of her favorite gifts, a dress made by Jessica from A Stitch In Tyme. “My husband played football at Purdue University so she made me a little swing top dress in their school colors. It is a little too big for my daughter right now but I think it will fit when football starts back up in the fall.”

Beccijo of The Enchanted Cupboard comments,

Baby Owen with his blanket from cuddlebaby.etsy.com

“I really enjoy making my toys and love that Etsy has given me a way to share them with the world.” She saw the Etsy Baby Shower as another great opportunity to share her toys, and had told herself she would take every Due Dates: opportunity that the universe sent her way.

May 1, 2010 to August 31, 2010 may be

Want to be a Mom for the Spring & Summer 2010 shower?

It‟s evident that not only have Deniz and Jessica done a great job hosting the shower, but have thoroughly enjoyed it as well. For the Fall 2009 shower, Jessica and Deniz organized a Chat and Trunk Show for all of the Etsy Baby Shower participants. During the chat they highlighted the donating shops, and chatted with both the shop owners and the Moms who had received gifts. Of course no baby shower is complete without a few games, so they came

eligible to receive gifts in the Spring/ Summer 2010 Etsy Baby Shower!

Requirements for participating: 1. You must have purchased at least 5 items on Etsy 2. You must be willing to provide a photo of your gifts to us for our Flickr album. We may also ask that you spread the baby shower love through whatever other social media you might participate in currently.

burp cloth gift set donated by lindaskraftykreation.etsy.com

up with several riddles describing a certain item from a donating shop, and the first one to find the item won a prize. Deniz recalls, “I just remember the excitement in the chat room when we announced we would be playing a game soon. You could feel it, even though everyone was just typing words on the screen.” Jessica really enjoys seeing the pictures from the shops and moms. For the Winter 2010 shower, “we've asked for the moms to share pictures/birth stats of the new babies for us to put on the blog...I love seeing all the new babies.”

inform shops and moms about this event and recruit their participation. Without that forum thread, which accounts for 45-50% of our participating shops and moms, I am concerned that the Etsy Baby Shower will not survive.”

Deniz adds, “There are so many wonderful generous shops who donate beautiful gifts, and so many grateful new and expecting moms who deserve to be showered with gifts for their little bundles of joy, it would be a shame if the Etsy Baby Shower didn't exist to match them up.”

Want to be a donating shop for the Spring & Summer 2010 shower?

Donating Etsy shops must be willing to donate a gift(s) free of charge, including shipping, to the mom(s) they are assigned. In return, we will help to promote your shop through Etsy and our blog! In the Baby Noah with his recycle tee by past we have included any shop that makes baby birdandbean.etsy.com items. This is not a team event and you do not have Up until now, the Etsy Baby Shower to be a member of a team to donate a gift for this hosts have always used the Etsy shower. Everyone is welcome!

forums as a place to gather shops and moms. Jessica comments, “Etsy has always supported this effort in the past through Storque articles, gift guides, and allowing the forum thread, but sadly, for the Winter 2010 shower Etsy closed our forum thread citing the rule on solicitation. It seems we will no longer be able to use the forums to

If you want to participate, please email etsybabyshower@gmail.com with the following information: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Your name, Etsy shop name, and email address How many moms would you like to donate to?

Do you have a gender preference for your gift(s)?

What country are you in?

Can you ship internationally?

beth lemon - lemon cadet

Mix the tradition of profile portraiture with the modern look of etched glass to create a keepsake to be treasured forever. These silhouette mirrors are the perfect way to preserve the likeness of your little ones in a timeless and classic style.

Supplies/Materials contact paper sharp scissors glass cleaner mirror and frame or decorative mirror glass etching cream disposable paintbrush rubber gloves profile photo glue stick sticker letters or numbers (optional)

Instructions 1.

2.

3.

4.

Clean the mirror.

Use the glue stick to adhere the photo to the top of the contact paper (or you can trace around the image).

Cut around the image using as much detail as possible. Leave about 1” around the image to allow for the spread of the etching cream.

If you can, remove the photo from the contact paper. (This is not necessary but it will be easier to wash the etching cream off if you do.) Peel off the back of the contact paper and place the stencil on the mirror. Cut a strip of contact paper to place at the bottom of the image for a sharp edge. Press down to seal the edges. Use a paper towel so that you don‟t get any oils from your hands on the mirror, which will prevent the etch from working properly.

*For a nice touch, you can add the year or even your child‟s name with sticker letters. Be creative! There‟s a lot you can do with text.

Follow the manufacturer instructions for the time you will need to allow the etch to do its work. Set your kitchen timer. Open a window for ventilation or put the mirror outside (if the weather permits).

7. When the time is up, quickly rinse the product off the mirror. Peel the contact paper off under the water and throw it away immediately.

8. Dry the mirror, clean up your mess and put the mirror in your frame. Beautiful.

6.

5. Put on your gloves and goop the etching

cream on with the brush, making sure not to leave any open spots. Throw away the brush. Remember, this stuff can etch glass. It can also eat away at your skin so keep it away from kids and pets. *For a non-toxic variation, use glue and flocking powder or glitter. Itâ€&#x;s not as crisp but itâ€&#x;s equally pretty. Make sure you peel off your contact paper stencil while the glue is wet and before applying the flocking powder or you risk peeling your flocking off the mirror.

download and print these sweet notes to put in your child’s lunch box

What mother doesnâ€&#x;t love a fresh bunch of flowers to brighten her day? Personally, I donâ€&#x;t know of any! But sadly fresh flowers fade, their beauty is only ephemeral.

So this year, why not try a new twist on an old classic?

How about a gorgeously fun flower brooch or perhaps a delicate flower pendant? Flower shaped scrubbies for her daily beauty regime or a simple bouquet of fabric flowers.

All guaranteed to last while reminding the receiver of your love for her for months and years to come.

Top row from left to right: live in color - 5 piece flower facial scrubbie set by incoloration, large floral berry bowl and saucer by vessels and wares, chrysanthemum flower vintage necklace by zara taylor.

Middle row from left to right: red and pink gingham bunch. flower plushies (set of three) by la pomme, nuno felt scarf with flowers by ava original, once upon a time long fairy necklace by fleur fatale.

Bottom row from left to right: Pale blue blooms vase by ceramica botanica, multicoloured tulips giclee print by jane caton, reclaimed wool flower pin by the june bride.

This page: party poms by party poms.

kristie piacine - kind living designs

T “We had a total of three Mother‟s Day gifts to make and with the economy the way it was, we needed to be frugal.”

he question was: “What are we going to make the Grandmas and MomMoms for Mother‟s Day this year?” The three of us, our sandy-blonde hair (Ok, mine was more brown, but we won‟t go there) all tangling and mixing together as my children insisted that we all have our faces as close as possible to the doodle page we were using to write down our ideas.

They were pretty creative. “How about it we build her a birdhouse and we paint it all different colors and we take a fake birdie and we glue it on there so other birdies wouldn‟t feel so lonely and then maybe that birdie can have a hat so that the rain won‟t get on her head….”

You get the idea. Wonderful ideas, but a bit elaborate. We certainly could do all of that, but I wasn‟t about to get out the handsaw, and we were working on a limited budget, after all. The birdhouse alone would cost more than I hoped to spend. Add to that the paints, the fake bird, and so on. We had a total of three Mother‟s Day gifts to make and with the economy the way it was, we needed to be frugal.

I glanced up at my husband who was just starting to dig away at the soggy March earth. My hubby, being a do-it-yourselfer, was pained to spend the money necessary for a pre-built backyard playhouse, and despite knowing it would take him months to dig at the hill to create a flat surface, build the frame, finish the house, then paint it, we were building our own playhouse for the kids.

At that moment, he threw a huge rock from the pile of dirt. We had tons of them. Our rock pile was up to my knees. Gigantic ones that we could use to line our flower beds and stick in our turtle tank for Mr. Rollins. There were over a hundred of them at least and he was just getting started.

It turns out our yard would be a farmer‟s nightmare, more full of hard rocks than actual earth.

What were we going to do with all those rocks? They couldn‟t stay.

Rocks and three-year-olds don‟t mix. Dumping them over at the creek seemed the most logical response.

And then it hit me: A rock garden - made of mother earth, made for our mother‟s, created by the precious hands of my children and to boot, deliciously inexpensive!

I shared my idea with the kids and they were instantaneously hooked.

Painting rocks? Yes! hand-painted nature rock by vivid home

Paint your own rocks for a simple creative project with your children.

Supplies: Rocks - preferably flat Acrylic Paint Brushes Acrylic Varnish Directions: Wash and dry your rocks to remove any dirt and dust. Choose your design or theme. You can either plan it out on paper or just go for it and paint!

Once paint is dry, apply 1-2 layers of acrylic varnish to protect your creations.

Be sure to allow each layer to dry completely before applying the following layer.

Mother’s Day Ideas: Hope Cherish Love Family Hugs Smiles

Comfort Children I love you

Trudging up to the pile, I explained to the kids about color palettes and how we wanted to make the rocks look pretty and coordinate in design. We talked about how calming it could be to tend a garden and how wonderful it would be that our MomMom would see her beautiful rocks every time she took care of her flowers. I set them free in the rock pile with two rules: find flat rocks with room enough for a handprint and find other rocks that were big enough for us to write a word on them.

Armed with random acrylic paints from my craft stash and my favorite black sharpie marker, we started planning our designs and color schemes. It was great to see their imaginations go to work: planning stripes on one, stars on the next, imagining swirly designs and most importantly, discussing what words came to mind when we thought of our favorite women.

After painting the rocks, we used the sharpie marker to write our words. We ended up with Faith, Joy, Love, and Hope as well as two rocks that read, “We Love You!” The final step was to use a spray sealant to keep the falling rain from washing away our hard work.

It took a whole afternoon to complete the one set so we‟d have to do it again. And here I will have to admit that getting them to focus for that long didn‟t happen again. With only so many weekends before Mother‟s Day it just wasn‟t possible and so MomMom is still waiting on her set – bound to be a surprise for this Mother‟s Day. And of course, I‟m still waiting for my rock garden. While it would be a great surprise for their father to help them create one for me, I know how special will it be for us to make my own set all together. pebble bluebird pin by willis rock shop, for the birds painted beach rock by cat seyler smith, inspirational beach stone by the path unwinding

12-inch hanging wall letter by bobs and bits, pretty green birdie art print by chichiboulie, cloth play blocks by knitstyle, butterfly step stool by tots only

julie hartman - petite fish

(“no, Lars, it‟s not okay to paint your belly.”).

M

petite fish signature onesie by petite fish

other‟s Day – a time to celebrate the joy and honor of motherhood. When moms get breakfast in bed and extra “I love yous”.

And we should be honored! Child development specialists across the globe highlight mothers as a sacred source of security, warmth, and knowledge. A resource as valuable to kids as water is to survival.

But, those accolades come with a heavy responsibility.

Mothers are the primary teachers of important life skills, like tidiness, manners, sportsmanship, and healthy self-expression

Behold, this Crafty Shrink is on a mission! I help Moms with simple, easy and fun tips for teaching a child development skill. In honor of Mother‟s Day, where kids often make cards for Mommy, let‟s talk about the skill of healthy self-expression: the valuable ability to share a part of yourself in a constructive way. One of the best forms of self-expression is creation - the act of creating something, anything, whether it‟s writing down feelings, drawing a picture, or by feeling good about yourself when you produce something handmade.

What then is a good way to nurture your child‟s self-expression skills?

We all love our kids‟ artwork - illustrations like swirly blue lines that represent a „fish‟ or even large scribbles that are in fact your entire family! Hang these pieces up in a public space in your home as displaying them shows reverence for your child, like attaching your child‟s heart to the fridge door with a magnet. Ask your child to show his or her creations to guests, give one as a gift, or scan

that painting and add it to a mug via someplace like www.cafepress.com. Then, when you use it for your morning coffee, announce (within earshot of your tot), “look at this creation. It took patience. Molly feels happy and proud when she paints.”

But to truly hit the point home, have handmade work featured by others in their bedrooms. Why the bedroom?

The bedroom is the children‟s domain, a place that contains all things relevant to them.

Their bedrooms grow with them. Favorite dinosaurs go away when robots become the new obsession. Glamour images replace the beloved pony posters. Clothes continually rotate in their closets as their sizes change.

Their bedroom space is, in shrink terms, “an outer expression of their inner worlds”. By placing keepsake items created by others and that will stay no matter what the current trend in this space, you are allowing parts of their bedroom stay the same and represent a constant that helps ground them when so much change is going on.

don‟t fret. Handmade keepsakes are the consummate form of self-expression, and they abound on the market today.

Go an extra step and discuss the feelings associated with exhibiting a form of selfexpression . Whether designing your baby‟s nursery or adding to your tyke‟s room, here are some ideas I‟ve incorporated in my own son‟s room that are easily adaptable:

Children‟s bedrooms are “an outer expression of their inner worlds.”

That painting by Nana is a perfect example, but if you don‟t have a resident artist in the family (besides your own children, of course)

1) Replica of a Matisse painting done by his grandmother. I say, “Your Nana painted that with her hands, paints, and a paint brush. She had a lot of fun doing it. What a positive way to express herself.”

2) Cigarbox guitar made by his father. I say, “Your Daddy constructed that guitar using his hands, a box, wood, and a saw.

He felt happy when he made it. He had a lot of patience when he got frustrated sometimes.”

3) Necktie made by his aunt. I say, “Your Auntie Lisa sewed that necktie for you using fabric and thread. She felt proud of herself.”

4) Alphabet cards (bought from Etsy). I say, “A nice lady made those pictures with her

hands and her computer. She felt joy about sharing those with others.”

5) Giraffe clock (bought from Fair Trade Artisan). I say, “A man made this with metal and paint. I bet he felt excited when he figured out how to make the clock work.”

6) Felt appliqued onesie. I say “I made the fishbowl on this onesie with felt. I felt love and peace when I sat at my sewing machine.”

So, to all you mothers out there, reinforce the significance of self-expression by having handmade items surrounding your child.

Then, talk about it, point them out as special, and when your child is old enough, invite her to select handmade items from your local gift store or craft fairs. Introduce her to the people who made the crafts. Encourage her to ask questions. And, by all means, beginning when they are old enough to hold a crayon, encourage them to express themselves.

Then, frame it in their bedroom.

Crafty Shrink is an article written for Modern Handmade Child Magazine. Authored by Dr. Julie Hartman, a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialty in children. She is also a proud Etsy mother and owner of Petite Fish - swimmingly good attire for little fishies.

top: canvas picture frame by I’m not spoiled designs bottom: modern baby quilt by bulabean

Download these images to color in yourself and give A little something special from you to your mother.

download and print these fun activities to do with your children!

Find your way through the maze. Arrive at the field of flowers to bring home a fresh-picked, beautiful bouquet for your mother. Best use a pencil, it’s tricky!

Have fun with your mother today and hunt for words together. See how many you can find from the list below. Then make up your own list!

Caring Children Comfort Family Flowers Forever Happy Hugs

U P I C F S E L S F S

G N I L I M S N M Y O

R E G O V I Y T I L R

E R O N M F R P Q I C

F D O M I O L I P M P

S L F U F R C O O A O

D I O M E E A T V F H

E H O W P V H C K E U

U C U S E E U Q I N U

A S M B R R G R S U S

R E R S E S S I K E C

Kisses Love Mother Mum Smiling Special Unique

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