June 30, 2010

their summer list

June 30, 2010/ molly balint

play putt-putt golf

climb to the waterfall at Rocks

make wooden animals with the jigsaw

have lunch with daddy at work

pick blueberries at andy's

make an art project with emily

have a picnic at a park

go to a concert

go to the Walters or the BMA

make a trip to Good's

pajama swims every night

go to the zoo

hike in the big woods

visit oregon ridge

climb a steep mountain

collect leaves and make a field guide to enter in the fair

paint wooden dolls

visit the McDougals

sleep out in the yard

paint rocks

eat a fluffernutter

go out for ice cream

make friendship bracelets

make a BOOK

February 24, 2010

things she loves

February 24, 2010/ molly balint

I completely owe this idea to a picture I found on Eren's photostream. It was the perfect find, not only because it was the day before Valentine's, but also because I was looking for something a little "light" for our school day that afternoon.

At Christmas I had purchased a three-pack of painting canvases for the girls and stashed them away--forgetting to put them under the tree. They were perfect for this project.

On each canvas I painted the text. That day, the girls sat at their desks and started brainstorming on a piece of paper all the things they loved...they kept their paper handy and as inspiration hit, they jotted something else down. (Can you tell what book Emma just finished reading?)

They were so into this project. It was so much fun. It kept such a positive focus. And they revisited it over and over. In fact, I still catch them pulling their canvases down from the ledge where they hang and adding something new.

I painted in acrylics. They wrote with my set of colored sharpies.

And I can't recommend this simple, fun project enough.

P.S. Click here for a "translation" of Mary's words.

December 21, 2009

decorating, naturally

December 21, 2009/ molly balint

This is one of those posts I've been meaning to share for weeks now. But I'm just getting to it this morning. A little late, I know, but maybe it will provide a little inspiration for any last-minute crafting you and your family might do this week.

Emma and Mary's 4-H club decorated a Christmas tree this year which then gets auctioned and sold for charity. This year the club decided to create ornaments for the tree that were all handmade using natural materials. The idea was inspired by the Brandywine River Museum which decorates a two story tree each year made completely of these handmade ornaments, with natural materials gathered from the grounds of the museum.

For the get-together the 4-Hers were told to gather and bring any natural materials to the meeting with them, as well as a good supply of hot glue guns! Everything was dumped into a large table and within minutes the 4-Hers were creating.

It was truly amazing for me to stand back and watch the creative minds of these children come to life. Many had never visited Brandywine, but with a table full of raw materials, they were able to come up with the most creative, amazing, inspiring ornaments. Their ideas were endless.

The tree turned out to be amazing, as you might guess. It won an award at the festival, and was one of the first to sell( for quite a good price. ) And it has inspired quite a few crafting moments here at home as well. Especially when the combine was working across the road last week, spewing corn cobs and seed into our yard....

I truly hope this inspires you to take a little walk outside and gather. You'll be surprised what little minds can come up with. Just have the glue gun hot and ready.

See the whole set of ornaments HERE.

November 16, 2009

sun, day 2

November 16, 2009/ molly balint

Good Morning, friends.

We are on day two of sunshine and I am soaking it in. It has been a wet, dreary fall so far and I'm learning to truly appreciate each sunny day, as if it were a gift.

Yesterday, I actually found myself out on the mower--mowing our grass in the middle of November. I have to say, I'm sad to see that job disappear for the winter. It is one of my favorite things--ipod on, children can't interrupt me, seeing the trail of accomplishment (mowed grass) behind me. And to top it off, the mower we use is one of those commercial zero-turn kinds. The kind that spins on a dime. I think you all know how much I enjoy a good power tool. And this, though much bigger, falls in the same category. And when you have as much grass to mow as we do, a little riding mower would take half a lifetime to get the job done.

Did I just write about riding mowers on my blog?? I'm turning into my husband....

Last week was a long one--Dan was home sick for two days, which always seems to throw everything off, even though we barely saw him emerge from the guest bedroom. And the girls and I were on house arrest the rest of the week, as my car was in need of brake repair. Let's just say, when it gets to the point of grinding, it's time to change the brakes. Thank goodness, my husband could do it, and save us the astronomical costs of repair.

Did I just talk about changing my car's brakes on my blog? I am turning into my husband...(I did refrain from talking about the frozen calipers [my new vocab from the weekend])....

We also had rain all week and by Friday the girls (and I) were suffering from a severe case of cabin fever. I could tell they had huge amounts of energy that needed to be expended, so I got them going on a project. I figured they could expend that energy in a creative form. Creative therapy, I like to call it.

creative therapy for children suffering from cabin fever

So we pulled out the iron and ironing board and my big basket of fabric scraps and began cutting out triangles for what will eventually become a little flag banner to hang above the beds in their room. Each child had a job--Mary turns out to be an excellent iron-er. And Emma traced and cut out (with pinking shears) all the triangles.

Elizabeth "sorted" the scrap basket. And Ruby laid behind me and chewed up tiny bits of fabric scraps and paper. She's such a help.

Immediately, the mood of the house changed. The girls settled down and became engrossed with their jobs. Emma, who loves a good project, began to talk my ear off. I barely spoke through the whole project except to answer a few questions, or agree with the things she was sharing with me. It seemed like all that energy was coming out through her hands, and her mouth.

It was a great way to break the week's foul mood.

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In other news, the winner of Friday's Show & Tell giveaway is Emily Preston.

Emily, please send me an email (you'll find it on the About Molly page) and let me know you're mailing info. I'll get the book out to you asap.

November 09, 2009

local craft

November 09, 2009/ molly balint

Every year, the school that my little sister attends (and perhaps Emma will attend one day, too) holds a smARTS Week. Local artists, crafters, and teachers host a variety of classes and for those three days, regular schoolwork is put on hold while the students get up to their elbows in art. Classes cover the whole spectrum of interests from nature-journaling, cake decorating, flower arranging, gospel singing, sculpture, photography, glass fusing, pottery, and so much more. It's the kind of thing an adult could get mighty jealous of, (and I've been hinting around that I'd love to see a smARTS week for adults, too.)

Inspired by Jade's Craft Hope project, I threw out the idea of offering a quilting class to the students--having them create quilts that could be given to needy children in our community. The idea was a success. There were sewing machines available, the school's music teacher was also a quilter and things were set in place.

The original plan was for me to be on location, helping with the class, but when my babysitting fell through, I found myself as the behind-the-scenes help for the class.

The students in the quilting class created two quilt tops--in quite interesting color schemes :) --and they were sent home to me to add the batting and the backing, and then sent back for them to hand-tie the next day. Most of the students in the class had never sewn before and I was given some interesting quilt tops to work with. But with a little squaring up, some reinforcing of seams, and a bucketful of God-given patience, I was able to send back their quilts, tied up in bundles to be hand-tied and sent off to someone in need.

I've always noticed in my sewing experiences that projects truly motivated by love and giving tend to go so smoothly for me. I'm constantly guilty of making silly mistakes, moving through my projects sloppily or quickly. Yet, when a project is inspired and driven by love and a giving heart, it seems that things always come together perfectly, as if my head and hands and heart are working together despite my shortcomings.

I love that about handmade work.

As I sat at my sewing machine, with the quilt draped across my lap, I noticed immediately the warmth it was providing in my very cold, farmhouse kitchen. And I could only think of the sweet little child whose lap and weary body these quilts would bring warmth to. The thought of that warms my heart.