Autumn is here

The leaves have begun to fall and turn colors.  Today was the first day that it was truly noticeable, at least to me.

I mailed off one swap package last week and the person received it, so I'll be posting about that soon.  Also my library has started back up craft time for preschoolers, so be on the lookout for Tuesday Tot Craft Time.  I plan on mailing my Halloween swap packages by Monday, which means that soon I can share what I've been making this month.  I can't wait to share everything.  Happy crafting everyone!

Juice Pouch Lunch Box

Last week a friend asked me to make a rainbow colored juice pouch lunch box.  She wanted to buy one for a belated birthday present.  So last weekend I made it.  Each juice pouch is stuffed with a layer of batting to help insulate it.  She also wanted a ribbon that had to do with gardening, but she wanted me to use something from my ribbon stash.  What is funny is that the person who it is a gift for saw it yesterday and asked me how much it would cost to make one for her, lol.  She is going to be surprised when she gets one soon.  

It has been a long time since I sewed anything, so it felt good to dust off my sewing machine and make a few things.  I did make something else, but its for the Halloween swap (you'll have to wait to see what it is).

Projects from Class

Last Thursday I taught a juice pouch notebook class at the East Branch of the Somerville Library.  It was a full class (15 kids), and everyone walked away with a juice pouch notebook.  I made an orange Kool Aid one.  Then 5 of the kids stayed longer and made paper beads to add as a tassel on their notebooks.  Four of the kids were girls, and they wanted to learn how to make paper bead bracelets.  So I did a mini demo of how to make them, and sent them home with supplies.  My demo bracelet is in the above picture.  Here is a past blog post that shows what the bracelet looks like when finished.  That particular bracelet was made as an example for another class at the other branch of the Somerville Library.  One of the kid's brother asked if he could have it, and how could I say no?  :)  

What's Happening ;)

I had a great time teaching at the Somerville Library in MA.  The kids were great.  Five of the kids wanted to make paper bead tassels for their juice pouch notebooks while the others left after their notebook was finished.  I showed them a few things that you can make using paper beads, and 4 of them wanted to make a bracelet.  For some reason I packed the left over bracelet threads that I had from a previous class, so I was able to give them supplies and show them how to make them.  I hope that their bracelets turned out well (they took the supplies home with them).  

I also wanted to show two of the pictures that I took this morning.  The first one is a morning glory leaf.  I love that it looks like a heart.  The 2nd is the tile floor from a store that I was in today.  I like the pattern.  It could easily translate into a quilt.

I am still busy making Halloween swap items.  I can't wait to show them to you, but it'll be a few more weeks before I can do that.  I also need to work on a juice pouch lunch box, because it is due on Sunday.  Sunday starts my first day of working with the middle school kids at church.  I'll be volunteering every so often through out the school year in their room.  I'm going to miss working with the elementary kids, but  it should be fun this year.  I know most of the girls already.

In other news, I've lost 20 pounds since July.  I quit drinking soda and eating junk food.  Today I am starting another detox week (I did one in July). All I'm eating are fruits and vegetables, and drinking only water and caffeine free tea.  Occasionally I can have fruit juice, but it counts as a serving of fruit.  It is a little hard, because I need to do a lot of cooking and prep work.  However it helps clean out my system a bit, allows me to loose weight easier, and I will probably loose some extra pounds during this week.  Last time I lost 6 pounds during detox week.  I still have 20 more pounds before I'm at my first goal weight (I have 3 goal weights - the 1st one is good, the 2nd is great, and the 3rd is my pre-baby weight).

Somerville Juice Pouch Notebook Class this week

On Thursday I will be teaching a juice pouch notebook class at the Somerville Library in MA from 3:45 - 4:45.  It is for ages 8 and up, with a maximum of 15 kids.  The kids will learn how to recycle juice pouches, bind a notebook, and make paper beads (for the tassel).  It'll be a lot of fun.  The above pictures are of the juice pouches about to have the sticky straw part removed.  I use De-Solv-It to remove that stickiness from the front, but you can also use Goo Gone.  The insides are cleaned within a week (mostly the same day) after the juice pouches are drunk.  

The above picture is after I had cut and folded the pages of the notebook.  Five folded pages equals a 20 page notebook.  The next step is to assemble the notebook using paper clips, and then hole punching them.  I do all this before hand because I find that the class runs much smoother.  Many adults have trouble using my hole punches on these notebooks, so I do it before hand for the kids.  Then all the kids need to worry about is learning a new book binding technique and making paper beads (which is optional) to use as a tassel.  What is nice about these notebooks is that after they use up all the pages, they can unbind the notebook, insert new paper, punch holes, and rebind it.  Thus recycling this recycled notebook.  Even the paper is made from post consumer recycled paper. 

Here is my little bucket complete with 29 ready to make juice pouch notebooks.  Even though the class is for a maximum of 15 kids, I like to have extras available so that they have more choices.  Also depending on the size of the class, they can make a 2nd one if they want to.  Now all that is left is to thread all of the needles and cut paper triangles out of magazines for the beads.

Photos

Even though I can't share all the fun Halloween items that I've been making this month (not until my swap partners get their stuff in the mail), I can share some of the photos that I've taken recently.

Blocks that my 4 year old set up.

My husband fishing my oldest son's mini golf ball out out of the water. 

His name is Steve.

We went mini golfing this weekend.

My steps.

The spiders are back.

My halloween decorations are out.

Episode 39: Kevin McMullin & Atlantic Green Energy

This is episode 39 of my local access t.v. show called "It's Easy Being Green."  My guest is Kevin McMullin from Atlantic Green Energy.  He talks about using solar power in your home, schools, library, and even on boats using such products as K Shields and solar blinds.  Atlantic Green Energy is a New England company.  Their website is http://www.atlanticge.com/. 

Shhh... Making Halloween Swap Items

I have been very busy knitting, painting, and glueing things for two Halloween swaps that I am in.  I have 4 swap partners and I am co-running both swaps.  I wish that I could share what I'm working on with all of you, but I don't want my partners to see what I'm making them.  One swap is an ornament swap.  Since only 4 people signed up for it, we all agreed to make something for each other.  The other swap is larger and has more requirements.  I have 2 partners in that swap, but one of them is also in the ornament swap with me.  To get in the mood I have already decorated my house with Halloween items.  Yes, I live in the house where there are already Halloween decorations on the lawn, lol.  I haven't sewed in a few months, but I am getting the itch to start sewing some Halloween items soon.  I've been sharing some of my Halloween crafting research on my facebook page.  You can always join to see what I might be making.  The link is on the right hand side of my blog or just look for textiles4you on facebook and on twitter.  

8 Rainbow Cork Elves

Here are my rainbow cork elves so far.  I can't wait to have the whole rainbow completed. 

I made this little guy last night.  I just had to take a picture of him next to this plant, because of the similar colors.  I'm starting to run out of corks with blank spaces on them (for the faces).  However now I have a few more people who will save corks for me.  I don't drink alcohol, so all of my corks are donations.

ATCs

The other day I was inspired to draw some more ATCs (artist trading cards).

This one is called "The Last Burst of Light."

Watercolor paint & black ink.

This one is not my usual style, but it needed to be drawn.

It is called "Clinging Chameleon."

Watercolor paint & black ink.

I recently did an ATC trade with knityoga (ravelry name) who lives in England.  This is the ATC that I received from her.  Isn't is cool?  I love that she did embroidery / string art on an ATC.

She also sent me 2 fabric postcard that she had made.  I sent her 3 ATC's, 2 originals and 1 photo copy of one.  Some of mine are hard to give up/trade, so I made copies of them on card stock.

Yes, More Cork Elves

I've been busy making more cork elves.  This time with smilie faces.

I finished knitting the red one's hat at the Farmers' Market yesterday, which is where this picture was taken.

Here is the yarn that I have been using:  Bernat mosaic acrylic yarn: Calypso.  I want to make the whole rainbow of cork elves.