Spring! Oh, Spring!

Oh, it is that time of year again!  I don't get crazy about much but spring, oh spring!  Planting season. Play in the dirt season.  It's like I walk into the local nursery and get high from a combination of all the oxygen emitting plants and the possibility of another season of growing our food and having fresh cut flowers.  Really, I should not be aloud to go to Home Depot this time of year unchaperoned.  

And you know what's so awesome this season?  I had several plants go to seed out of pure neglect last fall at the end of the drought. Because we were still in a drought all winter I didn't think much of it but guess what?  I have around 11 basil plants--in fact way too many to manage myself so when they get a bit bigger I will be sharing them with friends!  Plus I have close to 4 dozen zinnia seedlings and a few other little surprises growing.  

Another awesome thing about this season?  I have a little helper to sit next to me, eating Cheerios, dancing to the Beach Boys and pulling leaves off my newly planted begonias.  Ah, spring is good!

DIY Kid's Felt Board

I really like this project because it's one of those awesome projects that can be as simple or as elaborate you you have skill/time/desire.  You can add and make more pieces or you can stick to the basics.  And the truth is the little is going to love it either way.

Here's what you will need:

1) An art canvas or board (I used two 14x11 canvases)

2) two paint stir sticks (if you are making a larger board using canvases

3) Felt--you will need one large piece at least 27"x19", a second smaller piece about 14x22" for the back and then a few smaller pieces in varying colors

4) fabric scraps in various prints--I used a mix of some vintage and new scraps from my stash

5) scissors 

6) staple gun

7) fabric glue (I recommend Beacons Fabritac)

I chose to use two art canvases for two simple reasons.  First I already owned them so I didn't have to spend any money. Second, the two together made the perfect size to rest on the floor in front of little bit and give her plenty of room to work her creative magic.  But mostly it's because it's what I had to work with--if you have a board left over from a project that would work great too!

I measured and cut the felt for the front of the board first. Then I turned the canvases over and using my paint stir sticks as a brace stapled them to the back of the frames.  You can see below it creates a nice, stable connection for the two canvases.

Next I wrapped the felt around the front of the board and securing it to the back with the staple gun.  After that I took a second piece of felt and glued it over the back to conceal the the staples and keep it safe for little baby hands.  

Here's a shot of the back of the felt board. after I covered it.  

And here is the front.  I added hand embroidered felt grass to the bottom to add some detail and charm.  I also wanted to make a few felt animals for the board so thought the grass would make it more fun to play pretend.  

To make the alphabet I cut out each of the letters in fabric and then in felt and glued the fabric to the felt. I had originally planned to sew them together, but When I tried one, it some of flattened and made them weird.  Plus it would have been a VERY tedious process.  So instead, glue :)

I also created a set of primary colored shapes, a few animals and a few hand sewn flowers to make it fun.  Maybe I will add of few other things as she grows--as set of numbers maybe and a few more animals.  

I am so excited for little miss to start playing and learning and enjoying this new little project.  And the best part is I can move it from room to room so we can take the entertainment with us around the house!  

Tuesday Crafties

I am so excited to share this project with you today!  I know it's a day late, but I think it's worth it.  But first with a little story.  A few weeks ago at the library we discovered the felt board.  It was nothing special, you can see it below along with a very cute baby playing on it.  

See?  Nothing too special or inspiring, right?  But after I saw how much fun she was having on it I realized I could totally make a felt board at the house. Once the idea of the felt board got in my brain, it took on a creative life of its own.  Here's what I came up with:

I made it with material I had around the house and used scrap fabric and felt to make an alphabet, made a set of shapes in primary colors and a few flowers and animals to make it special.

Want to make your own?  Stay tuned--I'll have a how to post up tomorrow!  

Some Photos of Our Recent Adventures

Here are a few pics from our recent comings and goings...

The weather has been beautiful and we have been going on play dates at the park.

I finally got a hair cut.  Won't let it go that long between cuts again.  Eek!

Our first plane ride--momma did it solo and it was a success!

Grandmas sends the silliest and cutest outfits in the mail!

New spring shoes.  Don't pay attention to the lack of polished toes.

Spring fever means bright colors.

Spent a rainy day taping up art work trying to decide what to frame and hang.

We are learning to color.  It might be this mom's dream come true. 

We are lucky to have a really nice public library.
Three whole walls of board books and a felt board.  Baby heaven.

I have been waiting 10 years for red jeans to come back in style and probably
15 years for tight roll jean to come back and all in one season!

Speaking of things looked forward to...I bought this jean skirt with little
heart buttons the day we found out we were having a girl.  Dream come true.

How has you week gone?  

A Little Trip to the Old Hood

A few weekends ago we made a quick trip to Indy to visit friends.  It was a great weekend letting little miss get to know her Indiana family and getting caught up with dear friends.  One night we spent the evening cooking and hanging out with our old next door neighbors Jack and Chels.  Chels is the amazing owner of Plundered Patina.   

In addition to being a vintage scavenger Chels happens to be the best cook I know.  She made this amazing homemade lasagna with fresh basil and roasted tomatoes from their backyard garden.

Little miss loved hanging out.  But she is pretty happy anywhere she can munch on some O's.

We had such a great time hanging out, telling stories, drinking wine and eating delicious food!  And we were so glad that A got to meet two very important people to us.