First Finished Embridered piece- by my 6 year old janu :)

Last week, actually the week before Eid M got home work for practical life skills for the first time. She had to sew a button on the piece of fabric using cross stitch. M wanted to draw a flower around the button and the fabric was supposed to be hemmed as well.... so I thanked God for the summer break and the intro of stitching that we managed somehow ( please check this out for our first ever lesson in stitching )
For the hemming part I asked M to use her pr- learned running stitch as I think its too much to ask a poor 6year old to properly hem of all the things I dont want her to hate sewing :)

Hemming Tutorial &above Images: Miss sews-it-all

 So we started off by me folding and ironing the sides and M doing the edges with yup running stitch

 then I drew the flower with a pre cut news paper stencil-just to be sure about the size and placement.I know its not necessary  but  didnt want to take a chance on the piece of fabric she worked all morning. After a few trials on extra pieces of fabric with the pink fabric paint ( by the way its her first fabric paint activity as well) M colored the flower.

 Then with the yellow embroidery yarn she embroidered the outer edges ( again with running stitch)..This really gave our piece a neat look.

 Then came a stem and a leaf in same old running stitch and Finally "The Amazing Green Button" that her teacher gave in class with the cross stitch!!

 Here is what you get after all this hard work!!

Secret Messages on Eid ;D

This choti  Eid instead of starting the day with sawayaan ( vermicelli ) we started of with uncovering secret Eid messages 

I set up the morning table with the supplies including sheets with secret Eid messages. the trick is to write whatever u want to with a white candle

and told the lil ones to unveil their messages by painting over them with water colors 

well to my surprise it was easier for shefu to follow hahaha as all she does at this stage is Colooooooooorrrzch! and coolooorshz!! and coloorzch!!!

Miru's took a while to understand that its not about "drawing"or painting the way she usually does{ she is still in the princess phase} so it was tough for her to just Paint  the way she used to do 2 years ago, another proof "its hard to unlearn  :)

But once she got the first letter unveil she loved it so much that she wrote many many more one for everyone actually  ;)

Back to School !! yipeeee

Cant believe my little baby is so big already !!!

 

It seems as if it was just yesterday that she started preschool :)

chalk board photo prop details coming up soon :)

Easy Fossil Making for Kids

 The second activity that was initiated by "did dinosaurs have feathers" is the fossil making, that again was based on the easy technique of making a plaster cast but was a lot of fun for all three of us. The catch again was to introduce her to a little bit of science and history while building on new vocabulary. The simple molding casting activity gave us plenty of time to discuss about the earth; its layers and how it was formed, lava and volcanoes, Fossils; what are they?, how were they made? different kind of feathers and why it was difficult to find nay feathers from dinosaur time? She can never get tiered of the story of the big bang! And it is not boring at all. Especially when u see it from a 6 years old's imaginative perspective. The lava eruption could be caused by the 'thumping' of dinosaurs on yet soft earth!! We were just using our 'logical brains' and contemplating different theories { all our own, of course}
Here are the "Fossils" we dug up :)

and Here is the Process

smooth a thic layer of modeling clay in disposable container

take the objects out carefully

Mix plaster of Paris in water, making a thin even paste

pour it on the clay making quarter of an inch thick layer

leave overnight to dry/ harden

slip them out and remove the clay carefully

Tadaaaaaaa!!!

Fun with Tangram

I always love to go back and re-read old favorites cause there is always something new to learn. This time I stumbled upon "Tangram" in a book that I had read a million times already (needless to say missing it till now). Looking at the images brought back memories of the time when we were little and got it as a gift (don't think I was really interested then...LoLs). Only now that I am a mom I get to see the hidden wisdom in it. Plus 6 years of motherhood has taught me that anything introduced properly, positively and at the right time gets it due attention. Developing an interest comes with Motivation. Hence I decided to give it a try

So what is a Tangram?  It is an ancient Chinese puzzle, A square cut into 7 pieces with 3 basic geometric shapes. There are two large, one medium and two small triangles, one square and one parallelogram. only the parallelogram can be used in two different directions, by flipping over. These can be rearranged to form an end less number of shapes all with the same covered area as the original square.

Initially 2 or more pieces can be used to make other shapes, like the two big triangles can be joined together to make a square as well as a parallelogram! Though the basic rule is to use all seven pieces without overlapping to get hundreds of images in silhouettes.

 Here are the first few attempts by M

 
Make a Tangram in 6 easy steps:

1.Draw a 10x10 inch square on a mount board ( a heavy chart paper can also be used).
2.Mark the centers lightly ( red lines).
3.Draw a diagonal BD.
4.Draw another small diagonal line starting from the center of BC till the center of CD
5.Starting from point A draw a  line towards point C till it touches the small diagonal. from this point make a horizontal line till it touches BD
6.Now starting at the mid of BC draw the last small diagonal line towards the middle of AB, till the point where it cuts diagonal BD.

I have painted mine in a single color to avoid distraction but the pieces can be colored any way you like.
To rearrange the puzzle back into the square was a tough enough job for me and after a few tries I started reflecting back on the method and sequence of cutting. So to encourage her and keep her motivated I drew an extra one on a white sheet of paper.and she got the hang of it in no time. Remember the trust that "I can do it" is the best motivation ;)

Objectives
Critical and Analytical Thinking
Creativity
Independent work
New words to learn: Tangram, parallelogram,silhouette

LINKING UP WITH:

Family Portrait... A Tutorial

made by M at 2.8 years of age :) want one too??? here is a simple how to....

Step one

Grab your Materials ...

1. paper (hundreds of them, new, used, recycled)
2. pencil/crayons or markers or anything to draw with

3. Child yours or anyone Else's (that's the prime ingredient)

4. love (note the more the better)

5. praise (at least a ton)

6. Attention 2Tbsp ( don't overdo it)

Step two.

put all the ingredients together and just let them simmer in your love.

Its done when your prime Material says its done

Please Avoid.

1. Criticism

2.Taking over and telling them what to do

3.Telling them what not to do

4.Pushing and demanding for results (color "IN" the lines)

5.Labeling the end product ( if the child says its you it IS you, not a dinosaur not an elephant but only you)

Do link to me when you post your results !!! happy drawing

Block Puzzles

Here is one of M's Eid Gift that without a doubt is her favorite

The block puzzles to make pictures of her grand parents and phopho

and to entertain us with the mixed up creations

To make block puzzles

1. I made 4 cuboids by gluing together 3 pieces of cube blocks.

I believe in introducing new concepts and activities step by step so wanted to avoid the CUBE puzzle. It would have been really confusing for a 2.8 to put together a picture cut into 12 small pieces, glued to 12 different cubes on all different sides. The first time around that is a sure road to failure resulting in early disappointments. These early disappointments in ones ability can result into low self esteem. Which I am sure any parent would want to avoid. so the formula is to add on step by step.

Any way back to the tutorial, you can also use wooden blocks if available or if you can get them cut on order.

2. Then I measured the size of the blocks all put together and the size of one block that gave me guidelines to adjust my pictures on photoshop.

3. Then I chose 4 pictures. As you can see these are family pics I would suggest something that your child is familiar or close to that will help increase the attention span.

4. Then I used photoshop to adjust my pictures so they kind of fit together when overlapped

5. Print them

6. Cut and glue on them on the blocks

7. I used contact/sticker sheet to protect the final blocks just measure all around a block that will give you the required length and for width simply measure the broad side of a block. Remove the back sheet slowly as you work your way up the sides. it will take some practise and patience.

DONE.

Dress Up Fun

(Still no camera no pics ...but I know if I didn't put it down now I'll miss it like many other projects)......edited on 10 aug
Here comes the first costume I made for M's dress up chest ... its simple and fabulous .... and its a great delight to see how my lil one loved her Ballerina Tutu

Here is how to make your own

You'll need
Elastic tape (about 20" long)
Net /organza fabric 4 meters ( I used 2 colors so 2 Meters each)
Now....

1. Just measure around your lil one's tummy, and cut an elastic tape 1 1/2 -2 inches less than that2. Stitch the ends and check if it fits3. Fold the fabric till desired length (mine was 18")
4. cut strips 5" wide so that each strip is 36" x 5" . Round the ends if u like
5. Now hold one strip from the middle, slide it under the elastic and loop the ends through it and pull it down .6. Keep going with alternative color strips
7. Put on some Nice music and have fun!!!

Pencil and Crayon Holders

Finished these cuties for my cutie and a friend's a couple of weeks ago. They are high on Montessori philosophy as it has a Velcro fastening the kids as young as mine (I believe even younger) can put their pencils and crayons back with ease then roll them up and fasten with the Velcro fastening.
These are supper easy to make and a sure are a good start for your lil ones even if that are not so little any more these are also fun for kids who are ready to try there hand on sewing as it has a lot of straight lines and top stitches.

Here is the tutorial..... the first one on my blog.

To make one roll all you need

• Two 1/4 yard pcs of fabrics (matching or contrast)
  
• Matching Velcro
• 1/4 yard foam lining (or you can also uses two pcs of fabrics)
• Matching threads
• A Large button

Cut the fabrics and the lining as shown in the pic 15 1/2" x 11".The measurements are with 1/4 seam allowances all around . The measurements are for the standard set of 12 pencils each 7" long.
Now on mark a 3 1/4" line the outer fabric from the bottom edge , this will fold and make your pocket later on.
Fold the matching strip of fabric on both sides 1/4" as shown in pic.
Set Velcro (the soft/loop piece) in the middle of this using common pins.Then in the center of the upper portion stitch in your Velcro.Here I have used a length of Matching fabric to decorate (as in the one with yellow button) but you can skip it and use Velcro directly as

Then place the Inner fabric right side up on the lining and then your outer fabric right side down, put in some common pins if you like then sew all around (for a beginner mark stitching line 1/4" from the edges). Leaving a small opening on one side to turn it inside out.

Turn and Press. Top stitch the side with opening. Now fold in on the red line (marked earlier) to make the pocket. use pins if required, top stitch all around.
On the inner side mark and draw lines with tailors chalk starting from your left hand edge , first one 1/2 " the thirteen lines all 1" apart that will leave 1 & 1/2" on the other end
Sew on these lines using top stitch closing the last larger opening. This will create 13 small pockets I have added one for a lead pencil

(please note that the picture bellow only has 1/2 " left on right end).

Now set a 1 to 1/2" piece of Velcro (Hook Side) above the closed pocket , right up on the outer velcro and stitch, repeating the stitch on short edge for more security . here's a close up.

To finish up hand sew a large contrast button on the outer left edge (yeah right up on the velcro)
That's how your end product will look like

These are my finished pieces .

VARIATIONS:

• The size can be varied measuring the pencils or crayons that you wish to place in it for instances for M's chubby 4 &1/2" long crayons I used 15&1/2" x 5&1/2" (for twelve colors)

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I value and appreciate constructive feedback. So please let me know if any part of this is confusing, misleading, etc. and I will do my best to make improvements.