penguins in socks, in the snow

IMG_0584
Originally uploaded by lakbdesign/fergusandme

caroline says: "bored? got penguins? (or any small stand up type stuffed animal) got old socks? then snip, snip, snip until you've created some freeform clothes for them . . . cool.

iSandwich

 

via Make and Craft Daily

weirdly, this seems to be inspiring that hungry feeling. and, the bitten apple is clever.

foodie friday will be back as foodie saturday, for kids, tomorrow

amy perrotti's lovely valentines

 

images copyright amy perrotti, via AmyPerrotti.etsy.com

as soon as you get a look at the lovely valentines on etsy, you won't ever be happy with those old sponge bob or transformers ones again, especially since the very talented illustrator Amy Perrotti has put together these compilations, ready to snip and give to all your kids favorite people (or to give to all your favorite people -- why should kids have all the fun?).  i discovered Amy's valentines while looking for some things for my own family (shh! don't tell caroline she'll be getting something sweet from Amy's shop for valentines day . . .), and i figured they'd make a great lead in to a few posts about gifts for valentines day, and loving gifts in general.
and even better, Amy is a north carolina girl -- support handmade, and local, at that!  you'll never want to look at a mass produced box of valentines again.  and check out Amy's blog at AmyPerrotti.blogspot.com

 

 

north carolina artist patrick dougherty's stick structures

 

image credit finn mcrae, via the junior society 

isn't this AMAZING? reminds us a lot of where the wild things are. every child that i've shown this to has been nothing less than captivated . . . it brings me an instant memory of being four years old, and building a secret "house" in the warm, long grass near where i lived ~

 

image credit rob cardillo, photo via the junior society 

north carolina based artist patrick dougherty weaves these incredible structures from sticks and saplings, creating each one in harmony with its site  . . . see more here 

and, we're thrilled that patrick is working this spring on an installation at the community performance center on main street in rock hill, under the auspices of winthrop university ~ we will be able to experience this for ourselves!  can't wait! (thanks to our friends at the junior society for sharing this)

fergus in the blogosphere

thanks to Ann at Scottish Terrier and Dog News for blogging this photo of the inimitable fergus . . . but we wonder, why does no one understand the hair?!  wild and woolly, always best.

Freebie Alert : Printable Mini Valentine Banner!

Freebie Alert : Printable Mini Valentine Banner!
from and sweet talented amanda at kindovermatter
we'll be making this one tonight:)

harry and guinevive visit hong kong

harry and guinevive are excited to see the hustle and bustle of hong Kong.  guinevive has dressed in her best, and is sporting a pink feather "fascinator" in her long brown hair.  harry has popped on his dapper yellow morning jacket, and sports a blue plume in his lapel.  watch out for those trucks, harry and guinevive! (by caroline)

 

or, this post could also be captioned, "how The Make-it Book, c. 1928, took over our Sunday", and i have a feeling, many Sundays to come.

The Make-it Book, an old how-to book of the "busy children are certainly staying out of trouble" genre, resurfaced at our house last week (i think it was purchased at an estate sale last summer, but its precise provenance is lost to the mists of time) and was promptly set upon by caroline and teddy, who found any number of excellent time devouring projects to get started on (remember, this book was published in 1928 (by rand mcnally!) when children's lives were bereft of travel soccer, ipod touches, and tv; a time when beribboned and pantalooned youngsters presumably had all the time in the world to make a horse and cart out of vegetables, or a houseboat floating on corks, or any number of other delights) ~~ after some negotiations, we agreed to start out with clothespin dolls, as described in the book.  caroline got to work, and the result today was the charming couple harry and guinevive (she made that one up), who, we have decided, will travel the world on exciting adventures, mostly roaming afar from their delightful yellow house in Washingline, DC.  First stop, hong kong. so, these are their travels, to be updated every monday. i think we're going to call it mondays with the Make-it Book.  it's a return to old fashioned pastimes, maybe. definitely better than sponge bob. we'll post how-tos on making your own clothespin dolls, like harry and guinevive, later today :)

Tiny Thing Conversion Factory: Pandas to Gnomes (1)

Tiny Thing Conversion Factory: Pandas to Gnomes (1)
Originally uploaded by Mochimochi Land

apparently i have become obsessed with flickr. today's find, mochimochi land, is unbearably cute. wish i could knit better. and she sells knitting patterns (like dumbledore, i do so love knitting patterns) on the website at mochimochiland.com/shop/.

IMG_3580

IMG_3580
Originally uploaded by tinyevilhog

for my fellow scots reading this, i've spent entirely too much time over the last couple of days looking at tinyevilhog's wonderfully evocative photostream; definitely not time wasted -- you should look, too.

Dodo teatowel - designed for Pallant House Gallery

Dodo teatowel - designed for Pallant House Gallery 
by jane foster, and available at clothkits

adorable! i think we need this.

pola heart

pola heart
Originally uploaded by renée anne // artist illustrator

isn't this fun, with valentine's day coming up and all? ~having recently tracked down a bunch of polaroid 600 film (from a dentist's office, who knew?!), i might have to do this. i like the pink wall idea, too -- very valentine-y and sweet. also a good project for my eleven year old? xlove it.