dana lee designs

Meet Zoey

With a drawn face, some googly eyes, a few accessories and a little glue, little "Zoey" has come to life.  Time to snuggle up with a bedtime story.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear...

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around,

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, show your shoe,

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, that will do!

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs,

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the lights,

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say good-night!

I'm sure we'll be reciting this rhyme many times around here once this little cutie has been stuffed, sewn, given a face, outfit and accessories.  This is actually a first grade class project.  Teddy bear body parts are cut out of felt and sewn by parent helpers and/or the teacher.  Older children can do the sewing with supervision and a little help.  Stuff the bear's body, arms and legs, then sew them on.  Here's the fun part:  the kids get to personalize, dress and accessorize their own bear with all sorts of goodies.  The clothing need not be complicated either.  Strips of fabric in different lengths and widths can simply be wrapped around and glued or tied for a skirt, wrap or scarf.  The basic shape of a shirt and pants can be cut from fabric and glued right on.  A length of ribbon or lace trim can become a belt or headband.  Add buttons and rhinestones and you've got a keepsake teddy bear that truly was made by the child.   

Winter Beauty

The ice storm we had this week made for some beautiful photos, especially when the sun tried to peek through.  And although I'm very ready for spring, looking at these make me realize winter is wonderful in its own way.  I love the changing seasons here in the Midwest.

 

It's the Simple Things

Sweet and simple things to do with your kids to celebrate Valentine's Day.....

• Cut out paper hearts and make a collage on paper or tape them on your windows.
• Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter for cookies, sandwiches, cheese, pancakes, etc.
• Dress up in all red, pink or both.
• Punch holes in Valentines from friends, tie to yarn or ribbon to create a mobile, and hang on the wall or from the ceiling to enjoy them a little longer.
• Take turns at the dinner table finishing this sentence, "I love_____because_____."
• Form a big heart shape on the floor by lining up stuffed animals or dolls.  Take a picture and hang it in your child's room.
• Read a book from this list.
• Hug your children and say, "I love you," often.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day! 

Some new stuff

Trying to sew more lately.   I managed to squeeze out 2 new headbands today.  So many ideas, but so little energy these days.  We've had some crazy winter weather here this year (tornadoes, ice, snow, 70 degrees & sunny - sometimes all of that within a few hours!).  Just longing for more daylight hours, and the chance to enjoy the outdoors EACH day.  That usually gets me going.

Aprons, again.

I've been thinking about them...again.  A friend sent me the following:

The History of APRONS 

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so may purposes.

REMEMBER:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool.

Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

Time to give thanks

Hoping you're enjoying the changes of the season where you are.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Apron Love

I seriously need to make myself an apron.  I've been admiring them all over the sewing blog and flickr world, plus I think I would be inspired to cook more.  This one was donated to a preschool silent auction and also included a matching hot pad & headband, a "Fairy Cookbook" and some cooking utensils all wrapped up and titled "Little Girl's Baking Set".  I will definitely make more.  I know of a few little chefs who would love a set of their own for Christmas.  Trying to make this year a handmade holiday season since I took this pledge.

Pretty Paper Pouch

If you have school-age kids, then you know how quickly a harmless stack of papers can turn into a gigantic heaping mountain of a mess.  It multiplies exponentially and pretty soon it takes over a basket, then a table (or in our case - a storage trunk) and then the entire room!  Help!  Well, I decided that it would help if they were at least filed vertically in one spot instead of strewn across every horizontal surface they could find.  So I set out in search of an office supply type of wall mounted mail/file organizer.  No such luck.  I found those ugly plastic things, none of which I wanted to hang in my kitchen.  Then I thought baskets might work, but it wouldn't be easy to find the right size, shape and color.  Plus, nice baskets can be expensive.  It finally dawned on me that I should just sew something using some of my favorite fabric.   I just dove right in trying to beat the clock before the paper pilers got home from school.

I ended up with this fabric wall pouch hung at kid height with enough room for a hefty stack of papers and a couple of library books.  I really like the way it looks.  I just hope it does it's job - and no more lost papers that are "supposed to be signed and turned in today!"

 

It's that time of year again.....

I'm starting to get ready for the fall craft shows.  I've been doing them a few years now and I learn something new from the whole experience every year.   This year I want to simplify.  I've always tried to have an interesting booth with different heights and displays, but this time I just want a simple, modern and organized look.  Most of my merchandise is very colorful and small in size; headbands, key fobs, pouches, coasters, bracelets, etc.

I decided to order these natural canvas storage boxes in different sizes from Ikea.  I'm liking the clean lines, but I'm worried about it being monotonous.  Any suggestions out there?  I'd love to hear your display ideas.