two straight lines

OK, how ridiculously cute is this-- Lucie modeling her new Cozy Cocoon.  Swaddling made easy.  I bought this today at our local natural parenting store-- Tree City Diapers.  We absolutely love it.  So simple.  A sleeve of jersey, just snug enough.

Since I'm on an itty-bitty break, I thought I'd re-post a few of my Easter projects from last year.  Enjoy.

 

I posted pre-Easter about Bunny Parts, but never updated with the completed Bunny Bean Bags that I made for Elliot's basket.  They were inspired by this bunny fabric that I got from Kitty-Craft, although the fabric did not end up making an appearance in the final bunnies.  I had technical difficulties and ended up topstitching the cream wool felt bunny tops to felt bottoms in colors coordinating with their ears and eyes.  As Elliot is fond of saying now..."there... much better..."

 

What's that green blob in the background you say?  That is our "cabbage"-  a.k.a.- a plastic ice bucket from JoAnn's mod podged with green tissue paper.  I originally was looking for an enamel bucket that I was going to embellish, but no luck finding it around here.  This will do for now, and we may make a paper mache cabbage sometime soon.

Elliot seems quite pleased with his little bunnies, we even had a 3AM game of Bunny Toss last Saturday night when he decided he was "all done" with sleeping.  I got several bewildered stares when I told people I was making Elliot bunny beanbags for his Easter basket.  I guess a loud blinky toy would have been more useful.  Seems for this toddler, the simpler the toy, the better.

 

Since I'm on an itty-bitty break, I thought I'd re-post a few of my Easter projects from last year.  Enjoy. 

It's beginning to look a little more like Easter around here. Elliot and I did this super easy-- and toddler friendly-- craft that involved cutting pretty strips of tissue paper and sandwiching it between contact paper, then cutting them into egg shapes, hole-punching them and threading them onto a ribbon for an instant easter garland. We hung it in the transom window above our front door.

 

And there are bunny parts all around as I make Elliot bunny bean bags for a bunny toss game I am going to put in his basket.  More on that later...

Lucie Brown Russell
born 3-24-07, 6:24 AM
7lbs. 5oz., 21.5inches

Oops, missed.

There you go.

These are me at 38 weeks.  Thought I needed to document that I actually was pregnant since I don't think there are any pictures of me this time around.  This is my first attempt at a self-portrait.  Definitely must be a learned skill.  Today I am 39 weeks, 5 days, and starting to feel some stirrings.  Have a feeling there is something on the horizon.  That's why I went to bed at 10PM and am now up and reading blogs at almost 1AM.

As soon as I finish the last few bits of the nursery-- and of course I have this baby-- I am starting a new project (just what I need, right?).  I have been reading a few books relating to Waldorf education and decided to get Elliot a playstand as sort of a "big brother" gift, figuring he'll need plenty to occupy him in the coming weeks, and hoping to encourage creative play.  After some research, and deliberating about whether we should start from scratch and design one ourselves or purchase one,  I decided to buy an unpainted model from Little Colorado- actually choosing the two playstand combo (scroll down for the unfinished models) as well as buying four jumbo clips.  My plan was to use the two playstands as is, and then have my father-in-law help me build a canopy that I liked better than their arch design.  I also plan on painting it a sort of buttermilk white.

It arrived yesterday and to my surprise included the arch canopy that I had decided not to purchase.  I informed the company and they are letting me keep it for free, which I am sort of thrilled with, because it makes it a much more usable height for my very tall 3 year old, and is certainly a nice option to have.  I built it during preschool today, and we already had a great time playing in our "cave"- covered with a big blanket, even eating our lunch in there.

My plan over the next few months is to trick it out with the help of my little man, and wondered if you all have any suggestions for me.  I think I will make a variety of covers, little curtains for the sides so it could be a puppet theater, maybe some sort of mat or floorcloth for the bottom, etc. I figure this will be a good way to combine a creative outlet for me with time and attention for Elliot, since clearly there will be less of each soon.  Of course, I picture things like a kitchen and potting shed, and he is imagining fire stations and caves, but surely there is time for all of it.

The quality and construction of this stand is really great, so I recommend Little Colorado highly.  I shopped around and many of the Waldorf toystores carried this one, and found the prices direct from Little Colorado as good as any, so I figured I had a better chance of getting it quickly from them.  I also love to see small businesses make a larger profit for themselves.  I think this will be a great toy because it can serve so many purposes.  It would also make a fabulous mini-toyroom if you have limited space.  This could go right in a family room with a few toy bins under each side and some playsilks thrown over the top.

If you or a family member are handy, there are a number of great sources out there for playstand plans.  I'd love to see a more modern design.  This one is really simple and functional, with smooth finishes and safe hardware, which are the most important factors, but it seems there is a ton of room for innovation.  Check back for progress on ours.

 

I just found a really beautiful and new-to-me blog: http://olivelse.typepad.fr/-- Enjoy!

An odd little crop popping up here at our house.  I finally made a tackboard for over my sewing table out of some heathered brown wool from Haberman's.  A bit of a splurge, but I've never made one from wool, and this board is quite large (3' x 4') so nothing I had at home would work.  It is finished off with a strip of Robin's Egg Blue cotton at the bottom.  The tacks are made from simple t-pins and some yummy variegated yarn, hand-tied with some linen thread.  I love the way they look like little sprouts.

What, you're not sitting around hand-tying tacks?

A fun little Work-In-Progress: Mary Jane Mobile

Feeeling a little better about the world today.  My husband was kind enough to take Elliot away for the night to my in-laws cottage.  I made some quick curtains for the nursery, did some baby-proofing, and now am trying to work up the energy for some cleaning before they return.  Nothing like a little decorating to cheer a girl up.  Thanks for all of the kind words.

Sorry for my absence lately.  I am being pulled in many directions right now, and it seems that it is this little place that has to give a little.  As I prepare for my new baby in about three weeks, I am also going through some difficulties with Elliot.  I guess three is the magic age for us, no terrible two's here, just some really trying three's.  He takes all I have to give and more, and it scares me to death that soon I will have to give to someone else.  Is there any left?  I'm not sure.  We've set up a life here with very little support system, and I'm really feeling it right now.  Struggling with my own perfectionism, and comparing the Mother I thought I would be with the Mother that I am. 

And missing my own Mom terribly, for the support she could give me, as well as the place she would have in the lives of my kids.  And knowing that someone else I love very much is needing her even more than me right now. 

So for now, be patient with me.  Some of you are owed emails, I'll try to get to it.  My family needs me right now.  I'm thankful to have this place to come and hoping some of you can understand.