dana lee designs

Snow Day Hot Chocolate Shop

 

School is canceled and it's dangerously cold outside.  Everyone has cabin fever, and you've run out of ideas to keep the kids busy.  What to do?  After seeing the idea here and and in the Dec./Jan. issue of this book, we decided to make our own Hot Chocolate Shop!  So many areas of learning going on.  Incorporate art by making a sign.  Reading and writing practice came into play here, too.  Math was used by making some play money and counting change.  There was also dramatic play by our cashier, hot chocolate maker, and of course, customers.  They had so much fun!  This would also be a great center for the preschoolers, or theme of the week.

In the sidebar are some books I found that would be great to read together while sipping your hot chocolate.

I Scream, You Scream

Some last shots of summer.  Actually, this is the door of our preschool class.  What kid doesn't like an ice cream cone?

Betcha can guess the theme of our class.  This bulletin board will come down soon, though, to be replaced with something more fall like.  But wouldn't this make a cute kids playroom theme?  Oh, the possibilities are endless!

Painting Rocks

Gather a few interesting rocks, get some paintbrushes and pour kid-friendly paints into an old muffin tin,

and paint away!  Even better if you have a quiet, cool spot outside in the shade.  And a friend (or sister) to paint with.

Trying to squeeze in some last minute summer-time activities before school starts in one week!

 

Happy end of summer to you!

Fabric that's yummy enough to eat

I don't know why, but I get extremely giddy with a new stack of fabric.  I like to arrange it in different ways - by designer, buy color, etc.  I like to feel it, lay it all out and imagine what it could be.

Yes, I admit, I sometimes buy fabric with no idea what I will do with it, but I must have it for it's pure beauty.  I think what amazes me most is thinking about the designer, the artist, who sits with their sketchbook and with some inspiration and the creative juices flowing creates shapes and patterns and color combinations so beautiful and inspiring.

It starts with the idea, and through all the stages the artist goes through to have that image replicated on a piece of fabric - something tactile that is meant to be touched and held or worn against your skin is simply amazing.  You can't do that in an art gallery.

Guess what I'm sewing...

 

 

 

 Yep.  Aprons.  Ten of them.  They were so fun to work on!  The cutest girl's theme party place called Girlfriends & Giggles ordered them for a little girl's birthday party and plans to use them for future parties.  They're all reversible and just slightly different using four coordinating fabrics and various ribbons, trim and ric rac.  I'm loving the citrus-y color combo, too.  Makes me want some lemonade!

A Fresh Start

For anyone who has wondered where I've been, I'm back.  And for anyone visiting for the first time, Welcome!  I am ready to share again with you the creativity and inspiration I find all around me.  It's in the fabrics I sew, art (especially kid art), nature, family, friends and food.  For now, here's some pics from around my backyard of things that are inspiring me this summer.  Does anyone else love outdoor umbrellas?  Especially eye popping colors.  Yeah, mine's just dark blue, but I still love the feeling it gives.

 

Anxiously waiting for some yummy strawberries to grow.  What's taking so long?

 

Our little garden friend guards the japanese maple.

 

My favorite annual to plant are impatiens.  Pinks, purples and white this year.

Hope you're having a colorful summer, too!

Finally!

I can't believe it took me so long just to make myself a simple little apron.  I made Jean and Maia's mother/daughter aprons which were very fun to make.  They turned out cute and look even cuter on them.  So I just kept sewing.  This Ginkgo print on linen is delicious.  I purchased it a while ago from the awesome designer Lara Cameron's shop.  I only bought roughly a fat quarter, and didn't know what to make with it to do it justice.   While looking for fabric for my apron, I pulled it out from my stash, held it up and around my waist.  Yes, the perfect size for an apron.

 

And how about this waistband?  I had some other linen I cut an extra long strip from, folded it in half lengthwise, and sandwiched the apron in between.  Since I like raw edges every now and then, that's how I left them.  Super easy.  Wore it around the house all day today..... now if I could just wear it out.....

An Artful Life Interview

I'm a big fan of Jean Van't Hul's blog The Artful Parent where she shares creative kid's projects and ways to be artful with your family.  I'm so flattered to have been interviewed by her recently.  You can read the interview today, if you're interested, and also get the chance to win this little girl's apron and headband set.  Thank you, Jean!  Have a great week everyone!

Spring Birthdays

We love Spring at our house.  Not just for obvious reasons, either.  Everyone in our house has a Spring birthday! So for about 6 weeks, we're constantly celebrating.  One of our traditions is to hang the birthday kid's banner and leave it up for about a week.  It's usually hung in the living room for all to see.

They're pretty big, too.  I used banner paper, so they're about 3 ft. wide by 5 ft. long.  I used acrylic paint and sometimes a Sharpie, going over a rough pencil sketch.  I never even erased the pencil lines.  I like it like that.  Each one was painted the night before each child's 1st birthday, with lots of love.  Not much thought was put into the design.  I just drew what felt right, inspired by each child's personality.

 

They're starting to show their age - a few ripped corners, a little bit of birthday cake smeared here or there (the banners, that is).  And that's okay.  We love them anyway.  How many more years can we hang these?  I don't know, for as long as the kids love them.  And they do love them.  I can tell by the squeals of excitement when they come out of hiding for a year. 

 

Happy Easter!

Hope you have a beautiful Spring weekend!