And by “Every room” I meant the living room… July 3, 2008

and by “see the floor” I meant patches of promise. Job well done me!

I have never been a softie, plushie, stuffie kind of gal. I appreciate the skill and creativity that goes into designing and making them but they’re not my thang. I did however make a little scrap monster that often gets mistaken for an owl for my oldest when he was a baby, about 6 years ago now. My second (and last) baby has just discovered the little guy and has taken to carting him around and chewing on his little limbs.

I love him in all his wonkiness. He’s velvety, sassy, and just the sweetest little peanut if I do say so…

The little guy doesn’t have a name yet and we need your help. We’re going to have a Name Me Contest! Leave your suggestions in the comment area and my boys will pick the entry they think best suits the fuzzy dude. I will send the winner a little prizey something, give you a shout out on this post (the hits will JAM your site), and we will think of you with flowers in our hearts every time we call to the the little monster! You in?

edit: We’ll take suggestions until Monday night and announce the winner Tuesday.   You guys are cracking us up!

The Right Tool for the Right Job June 24, 2008

This is one of my catch phrases as a mom. I always feel proud of myself as I use it to depart a lesson on say patience. I often put off art projects with the kids because we don’t “have the right tool for the job!”. No styrofoam printing yet because we are still waiting for that rubber brayer to fall out of the sky (or freecycle). We talk about it in terms of math and science thinking. I use it ALL the time.

Typically, I do not follow this rule in the slightest. I tear off store tags with my teeth (once it is home and paid for, of course) and use paint brushes for the glue knowing full well I’m not going to rinse them and they will end up as frozen evidence of my neglect, to name just a couple.

I am the queen of jimmy-rigging. I am only now going to tell you that the number of helpful people at my son’s school who went to open the car door for my son only to shockingly find themselves a few steps away from my car holding my door handle firmly in their grasp, door still firmly shut is greater than 1. I am telling you now because after months and months of the spit and muscle technique we took it to the shop. edit to say a big Thank You to the Auto Shop for making me feel less like a lazy fool. My five year old ripped the “fixed” handle off the car today. Turns out that new handle they “ordered and installed” was a big ineffective dollop of super glue. I choose lazy-lite over shady & illegal every time!

Today my first born suggested we do an art project together so I braved the “craft room” (I’m still sitting on those “before” shots because I’ve yet to achieve the “after”) thinking we’d do Anna Marie Horner’s animal silhouette project. I grabbed some cardboard, felt, modge podge, paint brush, and vintage patterns. I then realized this was going to be a project “inspired” by her project because it needed to be done fast and by me and a 5 year old. So we downloaded some simple silhouettes from the internet, just google imaged it, and started to cut out the shapes. I then hit my first roadblock. I have 2 pairs of tiny tiny scissors, perfect for scherenschnitte even. They have been swallowed by the craft room and I am hoping they will turn up (not in my foot) when I do my big clean. So I went ahead with my clunky fabric cutting scissors even though I knew I DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE RIGHT JOB. While my son worked on his puma, color pencil, glue and felt creation (as yet unfinished) I worked on this:

It’s not finished either. I had planned to add some old text and maybe another couple of layers to it but all the white bits that are ever so obvious at the hands and wings (if you click, you will see) are bumming me out. I think I am going to have to stop thinking of myself as a “free spirited” crafter and own up to being disorganized and a touch lazy. (edit: To all my potential employees who may be perusing this as part of the hiring process, let me just say that, PROFESSIONALLY, I am organized to a fault (almost) and am full of pep. Lastly, I would like to say, “pick me!”)

And before you analyze me too deeply, Dear Reader, via the big swoop going down in the collage, let me say that I am on day 3 of being housebound with a ridiculous summer cold. A cold I am trying to pretend isn’t strep throat but will go get the right pills for the job tomorrow!

(Has anyone noticed I am an avid over & mis user of parenthesis? ) My husband said this post is too self critical. I am leaving the house tomorrow, sick or not!

Low-Tech Wall Art June 6, 2008

I’ve been coveting the wall art stickers that are everywhere these days. Etsy has some that are more reasonably priced than the big mod sites. I particularly like this, this and this. Search, “wall sticker” on etsy and you’ll be busy for a good hour sifting through them all.

I also want to try the fabric silhouettes found at Anna Maria Horner and Ohdeedoh. I should start a summer list of projects to hold me accountable.

But here is a low tech wall treatment I made about 7 years ago, when I still had access to a laminating machine. I dream of owning a massive laminator. One year the kids in my first grade named our class The Laminators, true story. Maybe I could get rummage tattooed on one wrist and laminate on the other.

I cut fade proof paper into different sized circles, wonky is a-okay. Then I layered them and feed them into the machine. I made two panels that were originally used as curtains in our computer/craft room in our last apartment. Then when my big guy was born I used them for his nursery and here they are pictured in my little guy’s nursery, that he never took to. The one that is in the process of being switched back into a craft room, it is taking WAY too long. I put some grommets in the top to hang it and it’s held up incredibly well.

Fun, cheap and a smidge tacky - the project, not me!

Paper Dolls for All My Friends! May 26, 2008

I’ve been feeling sorry for the people that land here by googling “boy paper dolls” and then they get a story about me calling 911 on my scary computer or my friend and her mean ukulele. So here are a few sites stumbled upon, searched out and/or suggested to me that may be of use to those, like me one day long ago, who google “Paper Dolls for Boys” and hoped to actually find some!

I’m sorry I still have nothing for those who found my site by typing in “The dum bum Elmo game” and I don’t even want to know. I’m also coming up empty for the folks who were looking for the “Jesus walking on water paper doll”. What is the strangest thing people typed to found your site?

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My favorites are not the traditional flat paper dolls our grandmothers played with but rather some pretty fierce 3-D dudes with attitude. ReadyMech is a favorite in our house.

The scarier the better.

The same guys behind ReadyMech make some super cool paper pin-hole cameras available for download here.

And speaking of scary. Haunted Paper Toys has some amazing free downloads.

was a big hit and so were .

And here is a site for some 3-D paper animals.

My favorites are the bat and the bunny .

And for inspiration, Tiny Buildings creates some amazing structures using re-purposed business cards.

Something else that we’ve done in the past that has been fun is to cut up photos of people from magazines and then mix and match their features. We usually stick our creations on popsicle sticks and have paper doll puppets. Wish the photos were not stranded on old computer. Will update one day.

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Check out the link from Angry Chicken that Lisa from A Spoonful of Sugar left in the comments of another post. Also found through Angry Chicken, The Toymaker but don’t click unless you have a lot of free time on your hands, so very fun.

If anyone has any more interesting links for paper dolls and/or paper crafts please leave them in the comment section, Thanks!

Birthday Cape May 9, 2008

We went to a birthday party at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston a few weeks ago. I heard a lion roar for the first time, impressive. This creature was less than impressed with us.

Photo look familiar? I moved this photo into this post, where it belongs!

The party was for a little boy who loves animals so I made him a disco zebra cape. Oh how I love the birthday cape. It’s relatively cheap, easy to make, and is usually a hit with the little ones.

I slapped it on my own little monkey boy to try and get a good photo of it, instead I highlighted the wonkiest bit. I’ve had more success using a thinner velvet for the tie but I am a sucker for orange.

My favorite thing was the packaging. I’m not big on wrapping paper. I used a french bread bag from the night before. I’d like to say it stems from an environmental perspective (and I’m all for repurposing, yeah earth!) but mostly it originates from being disgusted at the price of wrapping paper and gift bags.

Recognize that bow Melissa?

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I made a cape for my eldest son for his first birthday. My measuring failure has turned out to be a good thing because A.) This has been the best flying-out-behind-you-as-you-run-down-the-hall cape (sorry downstairs neighbors!) and B.) because he still uses it today and he’s almost 6!

Then:

Now:

Someone wants their own cape! Coming soon little one…

Hot Tips, Get Cha Hot Tips Here! May 7, 2008

I actually won an online giveaway!!! I left a comment at This Handmade Life (check out her thoughtfully written blog and her etsy shop) and received this bundle of beautiful cards with a spring theme. I took the photo from her site as my cards have all been mailed out!

Edit: And how could I have forgotten the cool fabric stash from Mellisa at Yummy Goods? who will forever live in my memory as my FIRST win. I also plan for her current give away to be my THIRD win, I’m just sayin’!

Pondering Ponteuf is one of my favorite Etsy sellers. Are these not the perfect pants for a fairy birthday party??? (hint hint K.) I got a similar pair of her board shorts for my little one and I’ve been racking up the compliments. I only wish I could say that I made them myself! Dropping Etsy into conversations with new people is my new litmus test ok, it’s the sad way I try to make myself feel more hip. If you use the word hip, it’s a done deal you are not.

And if you are looking for the perfect Mother’s Day Card A Favortie Design has made it:

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of this fabric from MJ Kido’s etsy shop. I heard about her over at True Up which is a dangerous site if you have a fabric addiction (and I’m sure many of you do).

My friend Megin has a new blog, Labels are for Jars, that is worth a read. Here’s an excerpt from one of her posts talking about her son, aged 5, “He’s of a different ilk, this boy. He walks to the beat of his own drummer. He sees the world through different eyes. I think he’s very free, in many ways. He chooses what he likes freely, he follows his passions freely. And luckily he’s found a way to develop these passions free (or in spite of) many of the societal norms thrust (HARD) upon boys.”

I enjoy discussing education and mothering with Megin and I look forward reading more of her chronicles. Click the link. She’s out to change the world, one post at a time!

What are some of your new finds?

Crafty, I said Crafty, Right? May 4, 2008

I’m getting ready for my little one’s 2nd birthday and I’m in a reflective mood. Mostly about him but also about our family of four and even a little bit about just me.

After I had my first son my world became much smaller in many ways and my heart much bigger. I say the latter bit because a. it’s true and b. it makes me feel less guilty for saying the former. I didn’t make much of anything craft-wise the first year or at least what I previously considered craft. After being inspired by Get Crafty and many amazing craft bloggers, I started to look around my cozy little world and realized that there was so much creating happening in our house (just a tiny part of it mine).

I’m hoping Paper Dolls for Boys is a place where I can expand my world/community a bit and hold high the art of being a crafty mom. And here’s the ugly truth bit, I’m hoping it will inspire me to do more with my second son. As we live by the schedule of my first born, now in school, I’m finding it challenging to find time to create art and fun projects with my little guy.

Since I claim to be crafty in my tagline but have produced little to no evidence, I dug up these kid/mommy projects from the past.

This puppet theater was a big hit with the playdaters. My eldest and I painted the wardrobe box (freecycle) and sewed the Thai silk curtain. My big guy (who was then my little guy), operated the pedal. My favorite thing about this puppet theater was the unbreakable mirror I glued to the inside at little eye level so he could see the puppets and himself as the puppet master. I think I finally cut this up and put it out to recycle a few months ago. It was a little hard but I kept telling myself it’s to make room for new projects.

Dinosaurs in space? Yup, we got ‘em. We made the helmet out of a milk jug and tin foil. We cut a piece of the red webbing that holds the tangerines in the crate for the mask. We also crafted a control panel from a shoe box and scraps and an air tank from water bottles. The dino part was super fun, just cut a straight line up the back of a thrifted shirt and cut and stuffed spikes from an old t-shirt. Last step is just sew the shirt back up with the spikes in the middle. How that’s for a tutorial? I’m going to try it with a hoodie next.

At the Science Museum, all geared out.

I’m not the first to make a tangerine crate bunkbed and I wish I could remember the blogger that inspired me 5 years ago to make this one. It’s still getting much love in the playroom and has held up surprisingly well. If I got a tattoo of a glue gun would you promise to get one too?

As I was making felt doggy ears for the party, I realized that I haven’t really made anything that wasn’t birthday related (either for my own kids’ parties or as presents) for a long time. Too long. I feel a quilt coming on, not the baby clothes quilt I’ve squirreled away pieces for and not a quilt for the boys to snuggle but a quilt for our bed. I’m thinking greens.

This week I’m going to challenge myself, even with crazy birthday prep, to engage my little one in 2 1 fun projects this week. Suggestions welcome.

Quilt Goodness April 12, 2008

I struggle with stuff.

I enjoy the hunt for new treasure, the surprise of finding. Conversely, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by my “stuff” and like I am not treating the things I already have very well, as they get lost in the sheer volume. I often dream of a spartan loft that showcases a few key pieces but it’s not who I am. All this to say, that I’m trying to reconnect with my current stuff instead of finding the thrill in the not yet obtained. This is funny following my last post, I know, but that was DAYS ago!

Day 1: Quilts in the Closet

One of the benefits of coming from a southern family is quilts. I was fawning over some quilts on ebay but decided instead to dig my quilts out of my closet and give them some sugar. A couple of puffs on my inhaler later, I was reunited with these little babies. My goal is to carefully launder them and use them (it’s tough in a household filled with full on dust mite allergies which is why they were in the closet in the first place). I’m not a hardcore utilitarian but I do believe the quilts should be used and in doing, create memories for my boys that connect them to their past. I have strong memories of using the basket pattern quilt on camping trips in our old VW when I was a kid.

I want to thank my Granny and Great Aunts Nancy and Nellie for these beautiful quilts. My Granny made a couple of them and I think Aunt Nancy and Nellie’s mother made the others. My Granny grew up on a farm raising 4 kids and working hard, she never learned how to ride a bike but took a plane to Thailand (in 1969) to meet me when I was born. She had guts and grace. Aunt Nancy and Nellie were big time Tar Heels fans. Didn’t miss a game that I know about. Aunt Nellie was funny as hell and Aunt Nancy was tough as nails and they took good care of each other and of us. One of my favorite memories was eating homemade cheese straws watching Miss America with them at Myrtle Beach.

It’s such a lovely day, I wish I had a clothesline to drape these over…

This shot reminds me of Ikat fabric:

The camper quilt, it’s green striped wool backing will forever remind me of my brother and I sleeping on long car trips. Remember back before carseats and rules? Before we got the VW, my dad used to put a mattress in the back of the LTD for us to sleep on during our drives to see our grandparents.

I’ll try and photograph some of my parents wonderful quilts when I visit them this summer. Maybe they need me to take a few off their hands. I’m a helper.

Sick Day Paintfest March 31, 2008

This book is one of my favorites:

Don’t Move the Muffin Tins by Bev Bos

The Internet is a Jumbled Ball of Yarn, but in a Good Way March 29, 2008

I seem to be on an envy kick and I’m going to pretend it’s a new thing.

I’ve got letterpress envy. I’ve been exploring all things letterpress on etsy and ebay. (I feel like Dave Letterman, “Oprah, Uma…”)

There is a shop called Sweetbeets on etsy that sells these eco-friendly cards I’m swooning over.

I bought the #2 card for my little guy’s upcoming second birthday (I told you I was birthday crazy) but when it came in the mail I immediately tucked it into the pile of treasures waiting to be framed. I’ve enjoyed talking with the artist, Lisa, through etsy conversations and she’s been generous enough to share her letterpress story with me. She has blogged a bit about the printing process here. She also has another site, mod eco kids, which I devoured in a late night computer binge.

Maybe you are all better at finding YOU time than me, but lately I’m all about the ‘3am just got up to pee let me check the computer’ times. I’m not saying it’s great for my general attitude the day after, but I still savor those dark, quiet moments alone.

While trawling modecokids, I came across bookhou design -so inspiring!

Check out this kid goodness:

I hope my summer includes making 2 quilts, inspired by her design, with fabrics picked out by the boys. Oh, and saving up to buy that mobile!

Arounna Khounnoraj, who is half of the bookhau team, also has an amazing kid craft oriented site. This plaster relief project has cut to the front of the line of the projects-to-be waiting impatiently in my craft room.

You’ll be surprised to discover that I was thinking this would be a perfect craft for my oldest’s summer birthday party! Ancient Egyptian artifacts anyone?

Here is a short letterpress documentary that’s interesting and informative (but if speaking so crisply is a prerequisite for being a good presser, I’m in trouble):

If you have any expertise in the art of letterpressing I’d love to hear more about the process. Unfortunately, I know my loyal reader (mom) and frequent commenter (aka, total stranger) knows diddley squat about it. But if you happen to NOT be my mom and you DO know a thing or two about L.P.ing, as I imagine all the cool kids call it, shoot me a line.

Hi Mom, how’s my punctuation?