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Editor Shannon Hanley Layout and Design

Shannon Hanley/The Clever Kitty Advertising Coordinator

Linda Phrakhansa Treasurer Ahmelie Skistad

summer 2011

WELCOME

9 ...... letter from the editor

WEAR - fashion trends

11....embrace the overalls

14....dressing for a picnic

DWELL - home décor

18 .... accessible art

21....off the wall

CREATE - crafty tutorials

28 .... festive picnic napkin rings

52 .... memories of summer

62 .... loopy hair bows

TASTE - cooking fun

31 .... tuna & veggie pasta bake

33 .... versatile quinoa salad

36 .... frozen peanut butter

sandwich cookies

38 .... stone fruit galette

PLAY - fun activities

41 .... what? bored already?

49....backyard camping

adventure

contents modern

handmade child

on the cover

Vintage Flutter Dress

by Pretty Me

photography by

Jennifer Anderson

Photography

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MHC is looking for:

View Editor: Do you love seeing the world

from a kid's eye view? So do we! MHC is

currently looking for someone to bring

back and head up our View section.

Guest Contributors: Do you have an

article or tutorial that you think our

readers would love? Want to share a

favorite recipe or fabulous handmade

finds? We welcome your input!

See our website for more info.

summer 2011

MEET - interviews

24 ... children inspire design

73 ... adatine: crafting old world

style

LAUGH - the little things in life

30 ... things kids say

GROW - child development

58 ... independence

CARE - growing up green

45...a summer journey with

family

SHARE - by moms for moms

34 ... boys in aprons

78 ... self-serve, please

WORK

66 ... retail, wholesale,

consignment and drop

shipping...which is the best

choice for me?

For information regarding advertising in modern handmade child, please contact

advertising@modernhandmadechild.com

contents modern

handmade child

Contributors WEAR........... Marissa Fischer

DWELL.......... Kristi Duchon Kari Firak CREATE........ Angela Salmon Manni Nicole Passeier

Tali Burress

TASTE........ Margeaux Fincher Jen Dwyer MEET............ Taci Zahl Laura Jacquemond

PLAY............ Nancy Keesling CARE............ Tanja D’Lyn

SHARE.......... Kristie Piacine Hannah Cerynik

GROW...........Julie Hartman WORK........... Liz Murphy Please send all article submissions and ideas to: editor@modernhandmadechild.com Note that submissions are welcome but are not guaranteed inclusion in the magazine. Copyright© modern handmade child

2011. Al l r ights reserved. Reproduction or redistribution in whole or in parts without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.

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you looking for a way to reach a global

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Handmade Child is for you. With thousands

of readers from all over the globe, Modern

Handmade Child offers you and your

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Shannon Hanley lives on the coast of

southern Maine with her husband and

daughter. She works during the day as a

floral designer, and from home at night

as an artisan dabbling in many mediums,

from knitting and felting to jewelry

making. Inspired by the vibrant colors

and beauty of nature, she loves creating

things that are both fun and functional.

You can find out more about Shannon

and view her work online at

www.thecleverkitty.com and

www.thecleverkitty.etsy.com, and read

her blog at thekittypad.blogspot.com.

letter from the editor Ahhhh, summer. Glorious days of warm sun,

fluffy white clouds, and gentle breezes. I can

almost feel the green grass beneath my feet,

smell the fragrant flowers blooming, and

hear the bees buzzing by. Whether you fill

your days with trips to the beach, backyard

barbeques, or picnics in the park, there is no

doubt that summer is perfect for spending

time outdoors.

While spring is typically thought of as the

season for new growth, it is summer which

brings the fruits of that growth. It seems

particularly fitting, then, that the growth I

personally (and quite literally!) have been

experiencing this spring will bring the best

reward possible – a new baby! What more

joyous time of year to have a baby than

summer. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of

this new addition to our family, which is just

a few short weeks away, and look forward to

heading out with our new little one to

explore the outdoors.

Whether your children are young or old, I

hope this issue of MHC provides you with

lots of ideas and inspiration for filling your

summer days with creative fun.

Shannon Hanley

I love to hear from you! Send your comments and letters to

editor@mhcmag.com.

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fun projects, special offers and

handmade living ideas! Click on the

links below to get started.

W hile I‟m not sure what

I think about jumpers on

full-grown adults – well,

unless you have the body of

a teenager or plan on setting

out for a day on the farm – I

adore them on the little ones.

When temperatures get so

high that you‟re tempted to

let the little ones run around

in just their undies, short

overalls supply the perfect

loose fitting, cool, no-

nonsense ensemble. And

when it‟s cooler out, pant

length coveralls worn over a

tee shirt or turtle neck work

great. Here are some of my

favorite handmade overalls.

shortall in very berry berries by

overall baby

by marissa fischer - rae gun

clockwise from top left: red denim shortie overalls by ship shap, retro

giraffe jumpsuit by inretrospect, train man sun suit by pink dixie, retro

coveralls by red pajamas, retro romper by basils britches, animal

trainer jon jon by mamma jane, elephant romper by room to romp

by marissa fischer - rae gun S ummer is one of the best times for picnics.

The weather is right, the food is in season and

it‟s a super cheap, if not free, way to have good

quality family time. Here‟s some tips on

dressing the kiddos for a family picnic.

First, if you‟ll be picnicking while it‟s

warm outside make sure to pick

pieces that are made out of

lightweight breathable fabrics. I love

Little Star Clothing‟s wide leg style

linen pants. Linen is a nice breathable

fabric sure to keep your little man

cool as he enjoys the outdoors. For

the babies a thin onesie with plenty of

sunscreen is a fantastic option. I love

Too Many Suitors‟ Sly Fox one and

Rocking Horse Lane‟s Retro Cars

design.

by marissa fischer - rae gun

Second, go for designs that

are easy for kids to move in.

While skirts and dresses

might not be your first idea

when it comes to playing, as

long as the little ladies won‟t

be playing on scorching hot

slides, the loose skirts allow a

great amount of movement

and are usually made of

thinner fabrics, keeping them

cooler. I also really like

overalls which can be worn

without shirts underneath on

the extra toasty days. Styles

like Perry Finalia‟s Mod Shift

are perfect for play while

being really fashionable at the

same time. For the boys I

adore Noah and Lilah‟s

Stealthy Panther Short.

opposite page: boys linen pants by

little star clothing, sly fox onesie

by too many suitors

this page: retro cars onesie by

rocking horse lane

Finally, remember the hats. Keeping the sun out of the

little ones‟ faces will both cut down on the risk of

sunburns as well as keep their temperature down. The

Bucket Hat by Blissful Moments is perfect for shielding

your little one from the heat as well as keeping their

eyes shaded. And something that ties in all of these is

Handmade by Jenn‟s darling pinafore set. Not only is it

stunning, it‟s lightweight, allows for lots of movement

and even comes with an adorable hat.

left page: mod shift with poppy pocket by perryfinalia, panther shorts by noah and lilah, bucket hat by blissful

moments

right page: pinafore set with bloomers and bonnet by handmade by jenn

left page: mod shift with poppy pocket by perryfinalia, panther shorts by noah and lilah, bucket hat by blissful

moments

right page: pinafore set with bloomers and bonnet by handmade by jenn

kristi duchon - zuzu girl handmade

I f you have a child in your home

chances are you have an overwhelming

and constantly growing assortment of art

supplies as well, which is a great thing.

But organizing and storing art supplies

can be a confusing and arduous task.

Many people are inclined to pack the art

supplies away in a bedroom closet or

kitchen drawer to keep things neat and

tidy, like this mom initially did. But

that‟s just the thing about art – it‟s

generally not quite as much fun if it‟s

neat and tidy.

In our home we‟ve moved art supplies

from room to room over the years. But

hands down, what we‟ve found works

best is keeping the art supplies in an

accessible and focal part of the house.

The very day we moved the art supplies

from the bedroom closet to the living

room bookcase, the magic began. No

longer do I have to suggest that we “do

an art project”. The kids just do them.

Having everything visible and within

easy reach, the kids are naturally drawn

to the area. photo by kristi duchon

clockwise from top left: supply jars by raw n repurposed, pencil holder by less and more, desk chairs by jessica

johnson, storage bins by freestyle gifts

There are several things to keep in mind

when creating an accessible art area in your

home. First, where will the kids sit? The

seating should be as close as possible to the

area that will store the

supplies. It‟s really no

fun for anyone if they

have to carry paint,

glitter or beads across a

room. We love the child

size and colorful

handmade chairs and

tables from Jessica

Johnson‟s Etsy shop.

Next, how will

you store the

supplies? If the

art station will be

a focal part of a

main room, as

ours is, how do

you keep the

supplies

displayed

attractively and

suitable for all of

your houseguests

to see? We love a

combination of

clear glass jars. Colored tins or cups are also

fun, but the contents are not as easy to see.

Raw N Repurposed sells assorted jars with a

variety of tops and chalkboard fronts for

labeling. The jars in our home came from a

variety of places including our refrigerator,

Ikea, and The Container Store.

Some type of storage bin

or basket will come in

handy as well for odd

shaped supplies that

don‟t fit in jars. You can

use shoeboxes covered

in pretty paper or simple

rattan baskets lined with

fabric. We use plastic

boxes (which are

intended for

shoes) from The

Container Store.

The other

exceptional

benefit of making

an art area is the

space it then

creates to display

your child‟s art as

well. You know

all those picture

frames and

painted

flowerpots that come home from school?

Voilà! Now you have the perfect place to

display them!

photo from klt:works

kari firak - little mr moo

L ions and tigers and

bears, oh my! Whatever

your favorite animal,

color, shape or quote,

you can find wall art

for your child‟s room

that suits your style.

There are so many

creative alternatives that

allow your child to

connect with his

environment without

compromising your

vision. Some ideas are

simpler than you think,

and may already be

lurking in your home.

I love this book wall that

Kristin of KLTworks

created for her son.

Instead of choosing a

canvas or framed print,

Kristin installed shelves

and let the books

become the work of art.

Not only is it visual and

colorful, but functional!

If you already have books covered, consider

using toys. Jantine of April & May Studio

kept her color story consistent with a few

well-placed objects for the shelves in her

son‟s room. An added advantage to shelving

displays … flexibility! You can adjust the

items as you adjust the room around them.

Missing some letters from your Scrabble

game? Your dog ate the Monopoly dice?

Follow Meg Rook‟s example: retire these

classic board games and use them as playful

wall décor. Game boards can be animated and

visual for your child and nostalgic for you.

left to right: photo from april & may studio, photo from

pixiegenné, photo from line+liv, photo from babyccino kids

Esther of Babyccino Kids

included some of her

daughter‟s dresses as wall

décor. The patterns are so

sweet and, along with the

matching wood hangers,

contribute to the overall

design of the room. The

marriage of the hooks and

shelf prove once again how

design and functionality can

coexist.

Wiebke of Line+Liv shows that you don‟t need a

large space to make an impact. I love her handmade

growth chart. Keep it fabric instead of a vinyl decal

to really add more depth to the design of the room.

There is an unlimited amount of choices for your

bare walls. It‟s time to bring new life to objects you

already own, and to be creative when choosing

those you don‟t own yet. These examples show that

your child‟s room can be well designed and

accessible. Your walls will thank you!

interview by taci zahl

mhc: Tell us a bit about yourself, where

you live, your family.

rebecca: We are a family of four living in

Phoenix, Arizona. There is my husband who

is a musician and my 7 and 4 year old sons.

mhc: Tell us about your work and how

you got started.

rebecca: My website is Children Inspire

Design, and I have been selling on Etsy in my

shop Art and

Philanthropy for about 3

years. At first, I posted a

few items and got a great

response. I also brought

items to local shops,

built my own website, and

e-mailed to introduce

myself and my art locally.

My work features

recycled scraps and has

an environmental as well

as multi-cultural appeal.

Fresh Words Market is

my newest line of

products. These products are meant to

decorate the spaces in our homes that adults

and children share and provide inspiring

words and images to everyone who sees

them.

mhc: Please tell us about the section of

your website called CID Responsibility.

rebecca: CID Responsibility touches on

our mission to find and assist grassroots

organizations who, regardless of size, make a

A chat with Rebecca Peragine, owner of Children Inspire Design, about her work

big impact in the lives of children.

Organizations like peacemexico.org and

others who make it their life work to

enrich children‟s lives globally, spiritually

and environmentally. Most recently we‟ve

launched a program called “Ambassadors

Program”. We have taken our efforts to

raise money for these children‟s programs

a step further by offering our products for

fund raising. More information is

available on my website and Facebook

page, or people can contact me directly to

become an ambassador to host pilot

events.

mhc: What inspires you to create these

items for children?

rebecca: My own children are the inspiration for what I create, and they are my critics, too.

Everything I create is inspired by them. And they have no problem telling me what they do and

don‟t like.

mhc: If you could decorate a nursery today

without limitation, what would it look like?

rebecca: I am doing this – my sister is

expecting her first, and so far the room is

completely Children Inspire Design. I am

really into a recycled room, and I love to

scour vintage and goodwill shops. It will

also be based on a global theme – especially

Scandinavian, since dad is Swedish – with

lots of bright colors.

mhc: Can you describe what you feel

exposure to art does for a child?

rebecca: It is totally necessary because it

opens up creativity and expression, and

expression turns into confidence. Being

creative allows you to be a confident person.

Art is whatever you make it. Whatever you

want it to be. Art and creative expression is

absolutely vital to a child‟s well being.

mhc: As more and more creative programs

are being cut from public schools, where would

you direct parents, caregivers and teachers to

look if they are interested in sharing

supplemental creative experiences with

children?

rebecca: Cutting those experiences and

limiting funds in the school system is something

that we are frustrated with in my own family. I

would advice those concerned to look for

local enrichment classes. And if there

aren‟t ant offers, reach out to the

community as an artist, dancer, musician,

set aside an hour or whatever you can a

week to offer that creativity to the children.

Start a creative coop. Reach out to other

parents and say “This is what I want for

my child, if you want this for your child,

let‟s talk”. It doesn‟t have to cost anybody

anything.

mhc: What is your favorite medium to

work with when creating art with children?

rebecca: Paper is easy and

unintimidating, but lately clay is a hot item

in our house. With my boys, I think

because of the building and the 3-D

aspect, that‟s really what they are into.

mhc: What does the upcoming year

have in store for you?

rebecca: I definitely will be busy with

more work with the Fresh Words Market,

Ambassadors Program and Women‟s

Cooperatives. Up next is finding hosts and

supporters of the Ambassadors Program

and networking with individuals who

support our causes and fight for better,

richer lives for children.

angela salmon manni - angel fish boutique

Make your summer picnic extra special with this simple, festive kid-friendly craft!

Great for holding napkins and cutlery, these rings can be customized easily, and can

reflect patriotic and summer themes. However you choose to decorate them, these

little repurposed, recycled paper rolls make a great addition to your picnic table!

Directions:

Step 1: Measure and cut your paper towel rolls

approximately 1 to 1½ inches wide.

Step 2: Glue on the embellishments. If you are

adding a wood shape, leave a small area of the ring

unadorned. Let dry.

Supplies:

Toilet Paper Roll or Paper Towel Roll

Glitter and/or Sequins

Wood Shape or Button

Glue

Scissors

Step 3: If you‟d like to add a glittered wood shape, decorate your wooden shape by adding glue to

its surface and then some glitter. Allow to dry. Using glue, affix the wood shape to your napkin

ring in the allotted space.

Step 4: Once dry, roll up your

napkins, insert them into the

rings, and have yourself a

cheery picnic!

"We went on a trip in the car, shopping. When

we got back, I was car sick. I was just sitting

in the front seat with the door open. My 2

year old daughter, Gabby, asked, "What‟s

wrong, mommy?" I told her I was car sick

and she preceded to kiss my car and said,

"There, now your car isn't sick anymore".

- Brennen Nelson in Boyceville, WI

In case anyone is looking for a new

mealtime prayer, here's Caden's new

one, which he is very proud of: "Let's

bend our heads, and eat good food,

and don't be naughty. Amen".

- Kim in Minneapolis, MN

I asked my boys if they were going to

take me out for my birthday. My 3 year

old said no. I asked him why. He

replied, "Because I can't drive, Mom."

- Tyann Marcink in St. Louis, MO

"Oh! Don't hug me so tight, you

might squeeze Jesus out of my

heart!"

- Zanna Jones in Mobile, AL

"Girls can't have bubble baths,

cuz it's bad for their pajamas."

- Erin Hentzel in Corvallis, OR

After saying multiple times - "I've lost

my mind" my, at the time, 5 year old

granddaughter tells me: "Mama, I've

been looking for your mind, and I

can't find it."

- Lynn Palmertree in Saltillo, MS

This updated family favorite is made more nutritious,

colorful, and flavorful by adding frozen mixed veggies and tri-color corkscrew

pasta to the traditional casserole of tuna and cream of mushroom soup. Tuna

is a great light protein to serve for dinner in the summer months and kids love

the creamy texture of the cream of mushroom soup. For even more nutritional

benefit, try using pasta with added fresh veggies.

jen dwyer - puntebella

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375

degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Cook pasta according to

package directions. Drain,

rinse with cold water, and

set aside.

3. Meanwhile, in a large

saucepan cook the celery

and onion in margarine or

butter until tender. Stir in

the soup and milk. Add

tuna, frozen mixed

vegetables, pasta, curry

powder, salt and pepper.

4. Transfer to a 2 quart

casserole dish. Sprinkle

with Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 25 minutes or until

heated through and lightly

browned on top.

5. Sprinkle with crumbled

baked potato chips if

desired, and serve.

Serves 5.

Ingredients:

6 oz. tri-color Rotini (corkscrew) pasta

1 cup chopped celery

¼ cup chopped onion

1 tablespoon margarine or butter

1 (14 oz) can organic semi-condensed cream of mushroom soup

½ cup low fat milk

1 cup frozen mixed vegetables

1 (7 oz) can tuna, drained and broken into chunks

1 teaspoon curry powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

½ cup crumbled baked potato chips (optional)

Some combination ideas:

Sesame ginger dressing with multicolor

bell peppers, snap peas, scallions, and

blanched almonds

Sweet vinaigrette with dried, chopped

apricots, dried cranberries, cinnamon, and

toasted, chopped pecans

Oil-and-vinegar dressing with tomatoes,

green bell peppers, mushrooms, fresh

basil, and fresh oregano

Quinoa is an extremely healthy, grain-like seed. It‟s tender, mild, and nutty, making it a wonderful

player in summer salads. Here, it‟s paired with fresh veggies, dressing, and other add-ins.

If you‟ve never prepared quinoa before,

simply search „how to cook quinoa‟ on the

internet to find step-by-step instructions

with pictures. It‟s very easy to cook and

you can find it at most grocery stores.

Keep in mind that this is more of a

framework than a recipe. Play around and

use what you have! Pair your finished

salad with grilled meat for the perfect

summer meal.

margeaux fincher - mux originals

Ingredients (all amounts are approximate):

2 cups cooked quinoa, cooled

4 cups diced raw vegetables (ideas: bell

peppers, carrots, cauliflower, snap peas,

celery, scallions, radishes, peas,

mushrooms, tomatoes)

¼ cup oil-based salad dressing

Optional add-ins: nuts, dried fruit, fresh

herbs

Toss all ingredients together and refrigerate

until serving. Serves 6.

W e all live incredibly busy lives.

Between work, school, sports, and a million

other activities, this often affects how, what,

and when we eat. I like to think that, in the

midst of all of this busyness, we

can slow down and enjoy our

food as a family. Cooking

together brings our family

together. We learn to work as a

team, we get things done quicker,

and we reap the benefits of

delicious home-prepared foods

that are healthy and full of

ingredients that we can

pronounce.

My boys are 8, 9, 11, and 13, and

they all have a place in my

kitchen. They have been helping in the

kitchen since they could stand and climb on a

stool without falling off. If the boys weren‟t

pretending with play food, they were begging

for the real stuff. Some days it seems that all

they do is eat!

My strategy is to get them to help prepare our

food. There are many times I stuff my boys

into their personalized aprons and finagle

them into helping me prep food for our

meals. As a homeschooling mom, I like to

think that cooking and baking is a Home

Economic class that each of my four boys

need to have under their belt, or apron string.

We eat a lot of fresh whole

foods that require a lot of

chopping, dicing, slicing, and

seasoning. There‟s no reason

that kids can‟t learn how to use a

knife carefully, or how to season

the chicken sautéing on the

stovetop. My youngest likes to

help me bake muffins and use

the food processor to make

pesto. My older boys help with

salad preparation and with

seasoning meats and sauces. I

have found that my children will eat the food

that they helped prepare – they want to know

what it tastes like after they have helped to

make it.

Someday, my boys will be living on their

own, or they will be husbands and fathers. I

like to think that their future wives will be

very happy that my boys learned how to man

the kitchen. Pun intended.

hannah cerynik - the new lunch lady

opposite page: boys apron by dress baby beautiful, this page: wash your hands print by belly babies, oven mitt by

abe the punk, personalized cutting board by my cutie tootie, culinary paper keepers by jack and jane boutique

The decadent combination of peanut butter, chocolate, and graham crackers

comes together in a cold no-bake treat that is easy for kids to help make on a

warm summer day. These fun-to-assemble sandwich cookies have a candy-like

filling that you spread onto graham crackers and dip in a bowl of sprinkles.

Best of all, they are stored in the freezer so you will always have a delicious

cold treat on hand for yourself or as a make ahead dessert for guests.

jen dwyer - puntebella

Ingredients:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 (8-ounce) block light cream cheese,

softened

1 cup natural-style, creamy peanut butter

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (12-ounce) tub frozen whipped topping,

thawed

1 box graham crackers

Chocolate sprinkles

Prepare Filling: Combine the powdered sugar, the cream cheese and the peanut butter in a large bowl, and beat

with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add the condensed milk, and beat until combined.

Stir in the whipped topping. Refrigerate the filling for at least 30 minutes before assembling the

cookies.

Assemble the Cookies: Pour the sprinkles into a shallow bowl. Break a graham cracker sheet in half, and spread the

filling on one graham cracker to about ½ inch thickness. Top with the other graham cracker

half, smooth and fill in the sides with a knife. Dip all four sides in the sprinkles. Lay the

cookies between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container and freeze for one hour before

serving. Store cookies in the freezer.

Makes 3 dozen sandwich cookies.

margeaux fincher - mux originals

A galette is a flat, free-form pie. It‟s much easier to make than the traditional two-crust

fruit pie, and an equally delicious way to enjoy summer‟s succulent stone fruits. This

galette consists of a buttery crust, a chunky fruit filling, and a crunchy crumb topping.

Any ripe stone fruit you have on hand works here – plums, peaches, apricots, even

sweet cherries. I used plums in mine, and for an Asian-inspired touch, added Chinese

five-spice powder and chopped almonds to the crumb topping. However, adjust the

crumb topping ingredients to suit your fruit. Pecans and nutmeg would be delicious

with peaches, or almonds and almond extract with cherries.

Prepare the filling:

Mix fruit, flour, and sugar in a large bowl

until thoroughly combined.

Prepare the crumb topping:

Stir the flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, five-

spice powder, and almonds together in a

medium bowl. Using your hands or a pastry

cutter, mix in the butter until the mixture

resembles large crumbs. You can use a food

processor for this, but I find that, because the

amounts of ingredients are so small,

combining it by hand is more effective.

Prepare the crust:

1. Measure flour and salt into the bowl of a

food processor, and pulse to combine. Add

butter and pulse until the mixture resembles

large crumbs.

2. Add 1 tablespoon of the water and pulse

until combined. Add as much of the remaining

water as necessary to form a cohesive dough.

3. Dump the dough into a large bowl and

squeeze it into a ball. Transfer the ball to a

piece of plastic wrap and flatten into a disk.

Wrap the disk tightly in the plastic wrap and

refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 1 week.

Ingredients:

Crust:

¾ cup all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into

small chunks

1-2 tablespoons cold water

Filling: 1 ¼ lbs. stone fruit, pitted and cut into small,

bite-sized chunks

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed

Crumb topping:

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons brown sugar, packed

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder (or

nutmeg, almond extract, etc.)

3 tablespoons almonds, finely chopped (or

pecans, walnuts, etc.)

3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into

small chunks

Assemble the galette:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

Fahrenheit. Place a piece of parchment

paper on a baking sheet and set aside.

2. On a lightly-floured surface, roll the

crust into a ⅛” thick oval, flouring both

the crust and rolling pin as needed to

prevent sticking. Don‟t worry if your oval

is imperfect. Fold it into quarters and

transfer to the prepared baking sheet.

Unfold it and roll the edges in, squeezing

lightly to create raised lip around the

entire oval.

3. Spread the filling evenly

over the crust.

4. Sprinkle the crumb

topping over the filling and

bake the galette until golden

brown, about 25 minutes.

5. Cool galette on a rack.

Serve warm or at room

temperature, with ice-cream

or whipped cream if desired.

Refrigerate any leftovers.

T he first week or two after school is out for

the summer means staying up late, sleeping

in, no alarm clocks ringing, raiding the

refrigerator day and night, watching movies,

playing electronic games hours on end, and

enjoying the freedom of no homework. So

what‟s the problem? It‟s hard to imagine that

you may have already heard your child say,

“I‟m bored”, but with school being fast paced

and filled with challenging activities hour

after hour, it can be difficult to find

interesting and challenging activities for your

children at home. However, with a little

thought and planning, parents can help turn

this situation around. Here are a few

suggestions for fun summer activities to

enjoy as a family and

break up the boredom.

Plan a Picnic You don't have to travel

far to have a picnic. In

fact, you don't have to

travel any farther than

your own backyard. The

fun isn't only in the picnic,

but in the planning as well.

It is a perfect way to create

some cheap summer fun

while enjoying outdoor

games, exploring for bugs

and four leaf clovers, or

identifying birds watching

you from the trees waiting

to clean up your crumbs.

nancy keesling - tutu cute and moore

handpainted picnic table by vivy‟s closet

Plant a Garden Kids will love a reason to dig in the dirt and

what better excuse to get dirty than planting

their own garden. Gardening is a great

opportunity for learning about plant life and

how to take care of it. Children will enjoy

using planting tools and keeping thirsty

plants watered. If you start early enough in

the season, you can start the garden from

seeds. That is the ideal way to start a garden

since the kids can watch the garden grow

from the very beginning sprouts. However, if

you start too late in the season to plant seeds,

you can buy a few seedlings from a garden

shop – the kids can still watch the plants

grow. Have them keep a growth chart by

measuring the plant every two days. They can

even draw pictures of the plants as they grow.

Go to the Library

Libraries are wonderful sources of free fun

for kids. Children can check out books to

take home or read the books while relaxing in

the quiet at the library. Most libraries offer

free programs for children with readings,

crafts, or movies. Check at the front desk for

a schedule of events.

animal print apron by c cooper designs

i love books wall art by jolinne

Plan a Family Night Families don't need to go on vacations or

spend lots of money to enjoy some time

together. All they need to do is plan some fun

activities that the entire family would enjoy.

Among the possibilities are watching movies

and having popcorn parties, playing board

games or a fun game of kickball, telling silly

stories, or having a dance contest. Family

nights can be planned any night, but are

especially nice on rainy evenings when the

kids can‟t play outside.

Create a Backyard Water Park A water park in the backyard? Absolutely! If

you already have a water slide, all you have

to do is get a hose (or two) and prop them up

to spray water on it. If you don't, this might

be the time to invest in one. If you don't

want to go with a water slide, get a small

backyard pool and set up some hoses to spray

either over the pool or around it. You're

limited only by your imagination!

Plan a Scavenger Hunt You can encourage your children to explore

nature with a nature scavenger hunt, which

could include items as simple as different

shaped stones and leaves. Or you can hide

objects of your own around the yard and give

your children clues that will help them find

them.

Make Music You can create music with just about

anything that makes a sound. You can buy

cheap kazoos or make your own by covering

a clean comb with wax paper. Pots can serve

as drums, and lids can be cymbals. Empty

jugs can be used, too, to make "music." It's

easy for kids to get carried away with making

noise, so be sure to make this activity a

musical one. Help your kids learn about

music, while having fun.

diy rhythm box by itag studios

Have a Yard Sale A yard sale can have several goals: you can

get your house cleaned of clutter, give your

kids something to do, and make a little

money! You can also make this an

opportunity to teach your children a little

about economics, letting them keep the

money they sell their toys for. Don‟t forget

how much fun children have making and

selling lemonade to the shoppers who need a

cool drink.

lemonade stand by carrie marie originals

Put on a Play This activity can be as simple or as complex

as your children would like it to be. The

simplest way to put on a play is to act out a

familiar story like The Three Little Pigs,

using whatever you can find around the

house for costumes. The more complex

methods of play production would start with

the children

making up

their own

story, writing a

script, planning

the costumes

(with help

from mom or

dad),

rehearsing,

creating a

flyer, making

tickets and

inviting

friends.

Most importantly, make these activities fun

for the whole family and remember to sneak

in a few educational pointers to keep those

little minds challenged. Hopefully, you will

be bombarded with questions, and the

boredom will soon be forgotten. Have a

wonderful summer!

pig nose on a stick by whimzy creations

by tanja d’lyn - inspiring design studio

T he taste of watermelon, the sound of

laughter, and the smell of the freshly cut

grass as we go rolling down the hill to see

who will finish first – these are some of my

fondest memories of summer with our family.

The best part was not just the

experience, but the journey.

It starts off as just a

conversation, in the winter,

just before spring is on its

way. “Mom, can we go to

Canon Beach again?” Just the

name alone sparks my senses

into a whirl of emotional joy.

“Well, let‟s seriously think

about it,” I respond. And we

gather together and start the

summer journey. Family is so

important and living it

together is the best part.

Summer time, well, it‟s one of my favorite

times of the year!

The boys and I love planning for the summer

trips. “What will we bring to eat? Will you

bring the watermelon? Can I bring the dog

this time? What about tennis – is there a court

near the park?” So, the list goes on. I call it

the dreaming process. And we all need to

dream a little bit each day. So, we get the

summer journal (paper note book) out and

start up with all the brainstorming one can do

with an adventure on the

horizon.

Everyone helps with their part.

This is very important. These

simple tips will spell out success:

1. Take the kids to the grocery

store (with the list) and find the

best watermelon ever, together.

2. Have the kids help you make

the food.

3. Have the kids help you with

the laundry (picnic blanket,

clothes and towels) and fold it in their bags.

4. Write down games you can play and then

put the items you need in a tote.

5. Bring a camera, journey box and a journal

with markers, crayons or pencils.

Some years, our budget is small,

and other times it‟s big enough for

an actual overnight or week trip,

but what I have found is that how

much we spend has nothing to do

with how much fun we have. And

the most fun of all is putting it all

together on a simple sheet of

paper.

This summer, find the time to take

a break with your family. Picnics

are the perfect mini-getaway. The

best part is the dreaming of it.

Creating the journey is as much

fun as getting to the destination.

So slow down, and encourage

your family to create the journey.

Here are some fun ideas to start

your kids off in a creative way!

Make a journey box to hold all of

the things your child will collect

along the way. And how about

sewing up a fun travel art tote?

This sewing project is created

with scraps from our fabrics that

we have in the eco-art area in our

art studio. Then, when you are

back from your journey, add some

of your journey box collection to

your eco-art area, and create some

fun craft things with your

findings.

Sewing Project: Travel Art

Supplies:

fabric

thread

ribbon

you will also need:

scissors

pins

sewing machine

Directions:

1. Cut two 15 x 9 inch rectangles from

fabric, one for the outside and one for

the inside

2. Cut one 15 x 6 inch rectangle from

fabric for the pocket piece

3. Hem the top of the pocket piece by ¼

inch, and pin it to the inside piece.

4. Mark the center of the pocket piece.

Sew the pocket piece to the inside piece

by stitching a straight link down the

center.

5. To create the holding area for the

crayons, on the right side of the pocket,

stitch a straight line down every 1 inch

through both layers.

6. Cut two 7-inch strips of ribbon, and

sew them at the sides of the tote faced

inward.

7. Sew the inside and outside pieces,

right sides together, leaving a 1-inch

opening to turn the tote right side out.

8. Turn the art tote right side out, and

sew the opening closed.

Supplies:

Re-purposed box that has a lid

Tacky Glue

Paper, maps or magazine pages

Markers, crayons or colored pencils

Stickers, ribbons, and any fabric or

decoration

Directions:

1. Measure the box and draw the dimensions onto

the paper, or take the box, place on the paper and

trace around the box, directly onto the paper.

2. Cut out the paper and glue to the box.

3. Decorate the box with stickers, ribbons, etc.

Add name, motto, or title to the box.

4. Collect journey finds and souvenirs in it.

Craft: Journey Box

nancy keesling - tutu cute and moore

Let the excitement begin as the entire family gets

involved in planning, organizing and

implementing one of the most inexpensive

“vacations” you’ll ever have.

Let’s get geared up

Most importantly, pitch a tent, even if it‟s a

makeshift tent with stakes and blankets or

tarps. If you don‟t own a tent, borrow one or

check out yard sales and second-hand stores

where many treasures can be found. Even

summer nights can be chilly, so, sleeping

bags, blankets, and a favorite pillow will

make for a comfortable night‟s sleep.

Kids will also enjoy canteens, lanterns and

camp chairs making it feel like a real

camping trip. To avoid battles, each child

should have their own flashlight. This makes

them more at ease after dark and comes in

handy for making trips to the bathroom, for

making shadow puppets on tent walls, and for

reading before bed.

I’m hungry

There is something about the outdoors that

makes for a ravenous appetite. All campers

should have input as to their favorite food

and be included in the preparation. Most

importantly, keep it simple. Don‟t forget to

recycle the cans and paper goods – a perfect

opportunity to explain how recycling helps

our earth.

Whether you use a grill or a campfire for

meat or veggies, don‟t forget to have

marshmallows, chocolate bars and graham

crackers for the all time camp out treat,

S'mores.

previous page: clothes line tent by imaginative play toys

left page: quilted first aid case by heart felt crafts, felt campfire by hopewell creek designs

right page: personalized birthday invitations by magical creations

Flame-free campfire

It‟s hard to imagine a camp out without a

campfire, but if it just isn‟t possible in your

backyard, make a pretend one. Let the kids

gather small twigs, then stuff red, yellow and

orange issue paper or napkins between the

sticks to look like flames. A small flash light

can be hidden under the paper to make a

warm glow. Finally, circle the sticks with

rocks. Real or not, this makes the perfect spot

for storytelling, singing songs, telling jokes,

or playing a favorite game under the soft

glow of a lantern or flashlight.

Star light, star bright

Camping is the perfect time to notice the stars

and search the nighttime sky for different

constellations. Teach your children to

appreciate the beauty and wonder of the great

outdoors. Have fun exploring the nighttime

sights and sounds. Help younger children

identify sounds like crickets chirping,

neighborhood dogs barking or insects

buzzing. Catch fireflies in a jar. Nothing

delights a young camper more than those

little lights twinkling and flashing in the

night.

previous page: clothes line tent by imaginative play toys

left page: quilted first aid case by heart felt crafts, felt campfire by hopewell creek designs

right page: personalized birthday invitations by magical creations

A backyard camping adventure would make

the perfect party for the summer birthday boy

or girl. No rental space costs, bake cupcakes

instead of buying an expensive decorator

cake, play tag or kickball in wide open

spaces, roast marshmallows, tell ghost

stories, and enjoy the fresh air and fun in a

tent. This will surely be enjoyed by the kids,

and the parents can privately complain about

their stiff back to their friends! No summer

birthdays in your family? Consider inviting

family members or neighbors to bring a tent

and food to share for a night of laughs and

memory making. Whatever you decide to do,

keep it simple, and remember this is a night

for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors in

the comfort of your own backyard.

Happy camping!

A hhhh,

glorious

summer days.

The time of

blissful days

spent outside

– outdoor

activities,

swimming,

barbecues,

picking of the

first fruits &

berries,

laughter, joy,

delicate and

rich scents all

around, the

sun travelling

towards its highest point just as everything

else in nature is at its highest peak. The earth

is soaked with the sun‟s energy and radiating

warmth, inviting us to a season of picnics.

To actually get into the mood for a summer

tutorial (writing this article for you it is still

Spring) and to undig my summery craft idea

as yet hidden in the depth of my brain, I

search for

things that I

associate with

and that

remind me of

summer. I

close my

eyes ... birds

are chirping ...

the sun is

warming my

face ... there‟s

the soft scent

of an early

rose ... I can

hear the

laughter of

children

playing outside ... picnic ... children ...

picnic ... nature ... games played in the picnic

grounds ... children excited by the world

around them. I keep searching my memory.

And I do remember. The memory of one of

my own favorite childhood games. That‟s it!

That‟s exactly it. Your very own game of

matching card pairs.

nicole passeier - magic rainbox dreaminx

You can turn this quick and

easy craft idea into a happy

summer activity involving

everyone. It‟ll be especially

lovely if you create this game

of matching card pairs out in

nature – while you‟re out on a

picnic maybe? Just prepare

your cardstock squares to take

with you and pack scissors,

glue, pencils and pens, paper,

and a camera, as well as a bag

to hold any leftover crafting

scraps when you‟re done.

Observe, explore, discover

details, draw, sketch, be

curious, find out, show each

other, and: memorize. Especially, the

wondrous time you spent together outside

collecting all these beautiful impressions.

Each time you play with your memo cards,

you‟ll remember that special summer day –

the light, the sun, the joy and fun you had

when you created these sweet memories

together.

And if you do craft in nature, please, also

remember to be kind to Mama Earth and to

take all of your things with you when you

leave so as that your picnic-y spot remains

clean – and maybe even a little more

beautiful than you found it.

Materials:

cardstock in colors of your choice*

pictures, pictures, pictures, and ... pictures

scissors and/ or cutter

ruler

glue (stick)

pencil

felt pens, colored pencils

self-adhesive book covering foil

*if you prefer sturdier cards, simply use 2

colored cardstock squares and “sandwich-

glue” a recycled cardboard square of the

same size (from dry goods food boxes e.g.)

in between the two, then add your image to

one side.

Very quick overview of the steps:

* collect, take or draw images

* cut cardstock squares

* glue images onto cardstock squares

* cover image side with self-adhesive book covering foil

* start playing!

Some ideas:

make identical pairs of cards

choose different cardstock colors for

different categories, e.g.: brown for trees,

yellow for flowers, blue for birds, red for

four-legged animals, etc.

make pairs of cards with each card

showing a different detail of an object:

card #1 showing the bark of e.g. a birch

tree, card #2 showing the leaves of said

birch; card #1 showing the whole tree,

card #2 showing the leaves or the fruit this

specific tree carries (Ex.: oak – acorns;

beech – beechnut)

collect images displaying one item from

different perspectives

take your own pictures of nature while out

on a picnic with your kids ... explore your

local summer “wildlife” with a new eye.

Make sure to take your camera, paper and

pencils and pens with you!

choose different flowers, trees, animals,

grasses, fruits, nuts, berries, acorns,

leaves ... and draw them. At home, copy

or scan the illustrations, print & color in.

you can always add new cards and new

images to your game

Step by Step Instructions:

Step 1

Decide which type of card pairs you‟d

like to go for. Of course, you can also mix

and match the different types.

Collect your images. See box at left for

some ideas. If you like, make it a fun

summer family activity while out on a

picnic – it‟ll be gorgeous!

Step 2

Cut your cardstock squares. I found

7cm x 7cm to be quite a handy size. Feel

free to vary. Pick different colors for

different subjects, or go for one single

color. How much cardstock you‟ll need

depends on how many pairs of cards you

want to make.

Step 3

Cut your images about 6cm x 6cm or, if you‟ve

opted for a different card size, about 1 cm smaller

than your cardstock squares. Glue your images onto

the cardstock squares.

Step 4

To make your image cards more durable, and also

easier to take along for a day outside, cover the

image side with self-adhesive book covering foil.

Tip: attach the first few millimeters of the foil to

your craft mat or any other smooth surface. Hold

the piece of foil while carefully placing the card

(image side up) underneath. Now, with an even

object (a ruler e.g.), or simply with the side of your

hand, slowly press the foil onto your card while at

the same time pulling the protective paper off

further and further until your card is covered with

the foil.

Step 5

Now cut off any excess foil. It‟ll be a lot easier to

cut through the self-adhesive foil if you leave the

protective paper underneath for the cutting process.

Press the foil once again onto the image and

smooth out any air bubbles or folds with the palm

of your hand or the tip of your finger.

Step 6

Make as many

different pairs of

cards as you like.

The motifs shown at

right are: brown

card: birch leaves,

green card:

anemone nemorosa

(aka wood anemone,

windflower,

thimbleweed and

smell fox), yellow

card: hand-drawn

Japanese flowering

cherry.

Step 7

Grab your new game cards, set out on another picnic, and start playing!

A very Happy Summer to you all, dear MHC readers!

Would you like to share your own memo card ideas or photos of your card sets?

We‟d definitely like to see them. Post a comment on the MHC blog or send us an

e-mail to ideas@modernhandmadechild.com.

Caution: Safety rules. Always. Ensure that any sharp objects such as needles, scissors and

cutters are well out of reach of any small children. Be sure to supervise your children‟s use of

any crafting material.

julie hartman - petite fish

I have to come clean about something: a big

bias I have. Compared to any other time of

the year, summer is the biggest time for

education for kids. Sacrilege, given that

school is out! While most people think that

summer is a time for children to have a break,

I encourage a massive growth

spurt in learning. Don‟t

worry, I keep it simple

and fun in this article.

Yes, summer is a time

to play and recuperate

from school‟s demands.

There‟s plenty of going to

camps and the beach, pool-

time, and playing freely in the

sunshine. However, when at home this

summer, when we often hear the “Mom, I‟m

bored”, I encourage families to practice the

important life skills that sometimes get

ignored with the focus on academic skills

during the rest of the year. Behold, this Crafty

Shrink is on a mission – to help parents with

simple, easy and fun tips for teaching a child

development skill. In this article, let‟s focus

on ways to encourage your child to be

independent.

With so much time on their hands during

summer, it‟s developmentally important for

youth to have the ability to

entertain themselves

independently, with

minimal help needed

(and it helps the parents,

too!). When constructive

self-entertainment occurs,

children learn to feel

comfortable with themselves

and at peace in their world. There

are plenty of things they need help with that

are too „big for their britches‟, so to speak,

like having groceries in the house, paying the

bills, and carpooling to activities. At the same

time, there are many, many things that

children can do without (or with minimal)

assistance, and it is those opportunities that

breed the skill of independence.

Child Development Skill of the Season

With so much time on their hands during summer,

it’s developmentally important for youth to have

the ability to entertain themselves independently.

Here‟s how to cultivate the skill of

independence in your children this summer:

1. Create a self-serve activity environment

that is easy for them (and you) to clean-up

and stay organized

2. Invest in new supplies every month (from

places like www.orientaltrading.com and the

sale section of craft supply stores)

3. Make a „menu‟ for kids to choose from

4. Consider child labor

1. Create a self-serve and easy-to-clean

activity environment

A while ago, I learned about the

Montessori method of education. My

layperson interpretation is that an optimal

learning environment for children is one

that is not too cluttered, offers „stations‟ or

physical areas of focused activity, and

provides the ability to self-select what the

child wants to invest time in. When

children are able to quietly concentrate on

something that interests them, the most

learning and developing of skills can

occur. I often borrow this method in my

office when I see my child clients. So, why

not use it at home this summer? Here‟s

how:

Consider organizing craft supplies by type

and color in clear plastic bins, such as ones

you can buy at The Container Store or

Tupperware in bulk from Costco. For

instance, fabric flower petals in one

container, self-adhesive gems in another, and

the pom-pom balls are not in the same

container as the popsicle sticks, etc.

If your containers are stackable, your

children can bring the containers they need to

their project space and return them easily.

Make a rule of “only one project at a time” to

help children learn the skill of simplicity. As

we all know, when we get overwhelmed, we

tend to feel less comfortable and at peace

with the task at hand.

2. Invest in new supplies every month

No need to break the bank on this one.

However, children‟s brains thrive on a

combination of repetition and novelty. An

important and often delicate balance, indeed.

So to make it do-able, commit to buying

some new supplies to offer in their play space

(novelty), as well as some old staples they

use frequently (repetition), and organize

them in a refreshing way.

Here‟s how:

Keep in mind the

„themes‟ your child is

currently into, and buy

some things from within

those themes. For

instance, if your child is

into making castles in his or her

sandbox or building lego scenes,

buy new supplies in those categories, while

organizing the older items differently to make

them feel new.

Consider purchasing craft or activity „kits‟

and place the kits (unopened) onto a shelf in

a way that is easily seen and grab-able.

3. Make a ‘menu’

Part of being independent is being able to

scan your environment and your brain for

ideas of things to do. However, it‟s especially

hard for kids to scan their brains for ideas

because their brains aren‟t yet developed into

categories and memory storage and retrieval

systems as well as the brains of adults are.

Thus the summertime focus on skill-building!

So, do it for them, in a menu divided

similarly like a restaurant‟s menu:

Using a 3-ring binder and dividers (with

tabs), make sections, such as “arts/crafts”,

“games”, “ways to help/make money”,

“nature activities”, etc. In

each section, write down

ideas that you have or

that your child brings up

in the car or that another

mom mentions she did

with her kids. Sometimes

even ads on TV or some of

those do-it-yourself shows

will offer ideas, too.

Consider tearing out pictures from magazines

(or printing from online ones) that offer ideas

or „how-to‟ activities. The pictures in the

binder will grab your child‟s attention. I

recently saw a cool „how to‟ with great

photos for a simple way to make bean bags,

and an associated game to use with them, that

any kid over age 6 could do independently. I

tore out the tutorial, and using a glue stick,

adhered it to paper, used a 3-hole punch, and

placed it in the „game‟ section of my binder.

Or, when you‟re at the park, take a photo of

your child kicking the soccer ball, print it (no

need to use fancy photo paper, regular will

Summer is a joyous time for children

and families...make it an educational

one as well.

do) and put it in the binder under „games‟ –

next time he‟s bored and looks through the

binder, he may just grab the ball and head

outside to practice his kicks.

4. Consider child labor A way to highlight independence is the

ability to use one‟s own hard-earned money

to purchase something of self-interest,

whether it be a piece of candy, a toy, or

hosting a pizza party with a friend. With so

much time often available over summer, it

offers a good opportunity to create ways for

your child to earn money. Please keep in

mind that the goal of the „job‟ is threefold:

(1) to earn money, (2) to practice being

independent, and (3) to feel comfortable and

at peace doing something by themselves.

Often, the task may not even be particularly

important or helpful, but hey, if it

accomplishes the 3 goals, it‟s worth it in my

book. The key is to design „jobs‟ that require

minimal assistance. So offer tools, simple

step-by-step instructions that are easily

readable and understandable, as well as short

in duration (i.e. 5 minutes for every year of

their life). Here are some common ways for

kids to earn money, outside of their regular

chores:

using a hose, wash down the deck, water

the plants, rinse the car, wash the dog,

clean the outdoor toys, wash out the

trash cans, etc.

gardening, such as pulling weeds, raking

(or picking up) leaves, planting seeds,

using child-proof scissors to dead-head

flowers or trim plants, etc.

Baking/cooking preparation, such as

peeling the carrots, de-seeding the

cucumber with a spoon, tearing old bread

into cubes for home-made croutons,

spooning the premade cookie dough and

placing on cookie sheet, etc. Even if it‟s

nowhere near mealtime, they can

accomplish this anytime and store it in the

fridge for later.

Organizing, like putting the receipts into

categories, lining up all the DVDs in

alphabetical order, putting the books on

the shelf from tallest to shortest.

Summer is a joyous time for children and

families. Consider using these Crafty Shrink

tips to make it an educational one as well. Your

child‟s independence will pay off in so many

ways… and maybe give you some extra peace

too. And please email me with any success

stories… I‟d love to hear from you!

Crafty Shrink is an article written for Modern

Handmade Child Magazine. Authored by Dr.

Julie Hartman, a licensed clinical psychologist

with a specialty in children. She is also a proud

mother and owner of Petite Fish – swimmingly

good attire for little fishies.

In our household, summer means picnics, beach

days, and sundresses! Every year, I update my

daughter's closet with new outfits, and I love

making her hair accessories to match. These

loopy hair bows are great for beginners and can

be easily customized to match any outfit. Make

the bows big or little, use one ribbon color or lots

of different colors – play around and enjoy, and

watch your daughter's face light up when she puts

this in her hair!

tali burress - a party studio

Supplies:

Grosgrain ribbon - 3/8 inch wide, total length: 64 inches (the 64 inches will be divided into 5

strands that measure 8 inches in length and 4 strands that measure 6 inches.)

You can mix and match the ribbon - they can be all one color or lots of colors! Be creative

with your ribbons and have fun with it.

Fray Check

Needle and thread

2x double prong alligator clips, one lined, the other unlined. (One will be used for the bow

and the other will be used as a tool.)

Hot glue gun

Embellishments such as a button or rhinestone for the center of the bow.

Directions:

Step 1

Select your ribbon. I

have used red

saddlestitch, white with

red saddlestitch and red

with Swiss dots.

Step 2

Cut your ribbon and treat all ends with Fray Check

to prevent fraying.

For a double layer, medium sized loopy bow, you

will need 5 strands that measure 8 inches and 4

strands that measure 6 inches. Your finished bow

will measure approximately 3½ inches.

Step 3

Stack the five strands that measure 8 inches, then

fold over in the center. Make sure your Swiss dots

are facing towards each other as shown in the photo.

Put your needle in the center of the fold. Do not

push the needle all the way through! You need to

stop when the ribbon is approximately halfway on

to the needle.

Step 4

Fan the ribbon, taking care to keep the strands

evenly spaced out. Take your time with this to get

the ribbon exactly where you want it. It helps to

hold the bottom of the needle with your dominant

hand and then slowly move the strands around.

Then, use the unlined double prong alligator clip to

keep the strands in place. Keep the needle in place.

Step 5

Start folding each strand. Take

the end of each strand and turn

it upside down before placing

it on the head of the needle.

This is called an inside-out

fold and will give you nice

loops. There are other ways to

do the loops – the important

thing is to be consistent. Be

sure to make each loop the

same way.

Step 6

Once you have folded all the

strands, you‟ll have a pretty

flower shape. Use your needle

and thread to sew the center

securely – I usually have to

pull the needle through about

4 to 5 times. Then, cast off.

Step 7

Repeat the above steps with

the shorter threads of ribbon.

You‟ll notice that it is easier to

fan out the ribbon when you

only use 4 strands.

Step 8

You now have two loopy

flowers.

Step 9

Sew the smaller top layer onto the larger bottom layer,

or alternately, you can use hot glue. I have used both

methods and after breaking several needles, I have

become a huge fan of the hot glue method! Once the

layers are stacked, add the embellishment to the center

using hot glue, and attach the bow to a partially lined

hair clip using hot glue. I like to put the bow upside

down, apply the glue to the top of the clip and then

turn the clip upside down and press it onto the bow.

Make sure you hold for 10 seconds so that it is secure.

I love playing with different colors and using lots of

different ribbons. With regards to printed ribbon, I

prefer very simple styles – Swiss dots, saddlestitch or stripes – but that is a personal preference.

You'll quickly develop your own style!

TIP 1:

For an even bigger bow, add a third layer created from 6 additional 9-inch strands of ribbon.

TIP 2:

It is useful to have a mat for the hot glue gun. Special mats are available at the craft store

and are found alongside the glue guns and sticks. Alternately, you can use an old ceramic

plate but you will need something to rest your gun on to protect your work surface.

If you‟ve never used a glue gun before then have a small glass of water handy. If you get

some glue on your finger then dip it in the water!

TIP 3:

Lining your own alligator clips is easy to do and enables you to perfectly match your clips to

your bows. Hop on over to our blog for a tutorial!

S elling online and in brick and mortar

boutiques can be a very confusing endeavor.

How much do I charge? Can I keep up with

demand? What terms should I accept? Will it

be worthwhile? These questions (and many

more) will be twirling around in your mind as

you determine which direction you should

take your business. Will you make mistakes?

Sure. We all do. Should you use each

mistake as a learning experience?

Absolutely!

These

mistakes will

only help you

to continue to

focus your

business goals

and find

working

relationships

that are

mutually

beneficial. As I take a look at each way to

sell, I hope that you will gain a little more

understanding of the benefits (and

challenges) of each.

Retail

Whether you have your own brick and mortar

boutique or an online shop, selling to the

public offers the most autonomy and also

incurs the most risk. You are ultimately

responsible for every aspect of the business,

from advertising to displaying your products,

as well as determining pricing and new

inventory. Often when selling this way, you

can offer a very personalized or one of a kind

product. You have the ability to

set your own prices and get

payment immediately as customers

purchase your products. You also

get to interact with your target

customers in a more intimate way,

getting to know what they like and

are willing to spend money on. It

can be very exciting and

empowering. It can also be quite

overwhelming. You are the one

who owns the products and the one

who is responsible for your inventory when it

doesn‟t sell. Many times, sellers who want to

make a living from their creations use this

method of selling along with one or more of

by liz murphy - daisy creek designs

by liz murphy - daisy creek designs

the other methods to connect with target

customers in other areas.

Wholesale

Selling wholesale requires sellers

to be much more aware of their

bottom line. What price can you

afford to sell your product for,

ensuring that you cover expenses

and make a profit, all while

staying within the price range of

other sellers? You get to make

decisions about what types of

products you offer, whether it is a standard

design or custom work (or both). Typically,

you set your price based on cost of materials

and time, multiplied by two (for your profit),

and that is the price per item that you will be

paid by the retailer. Often times, they sell the

item for double what they have paid. This is

where it is important to be aware of what

price you are selling your items for online.

Retailers expect that you are offering your

items in the same range as they will be.

Consumers are smart! If they see an item in a

boutique that they like, they can very easily

search online for it. If they can find it

somewhere

else for a

considerable

discount, they

will side step

the retailer.

This will

eventually be a

lose-lose

situation when

the retailer

can‟t sell your product and doesn‟t want to

purchase more.

Approaching retailers can be scary. You are

putting yourself and your products out there

and may come across a few or many retailers

who are not interested. Do not be

discouraged! Retailers are in the business to

sell, and typically, they want a new and

unique product that no one else has. Be

confident, follow these tips and most

importantly, remember that if one retailer

Cost of the brick and mortar space and/or online website (including fees to online market places). Payment

happens when customer purchases.

Traditionally, retailer pays 50% of the retail price. Seller sets the wholesale price. Payment comes on delivery or

on a payment plan.

Retailers will take a fee of 20-40% off the price that you determine. Payment typically comes once a

month.

Online retailer gets a percentage of the price that you determine.

Payment comes when each item is sold or once a month.

You determine how your items are displayed and placed in your brick and mortar store or online shop.

The retailer determines display and placement of your items. You have little or no control over where the

items are located in the store.

The consignment shop determines display and placement of your items.

You have little or no control over where the items are located in the

store.

You have little or no control over where your items are located on the website or how often they promote

your item.

You determine price—typically costs multiplied by 4.

You determine price—typically costs multiplied by 2.

You determine price to accommodate your costs and profit plus the percentage you are paying

to have your items in the shop.

There are no minimums when you are the seller.

You determine minimums—typically a certain quantity or dollar amount that makes selling at a discounted

price worthwhile.

You can determine, along with the consignment shop, a minimum

quantity that you would like to have available for sale.

Items can be sold one at a time.

You are responsible for all marketing and advertising.

Retailer is responsible for all marketing and advertising.

Consignment shop is responsible for all marketing and advertising.

Online retailer is responsible for all marketing and advertising.

You are responsible for adding new products to sell.

Retailer is responsible for contacting you to get more products into his/her

store.

Typically, you are responsible for checking back and making sure your

items are well stocked.

You are responsible for getting your products photographed and

available for the online retailer.

You are responsible for any products that are lost, stolen or damaged.

The retailer is responsible for any products that are lost, stolen or

damaged.

Typically, there is either a percentage of responsibility or the

consignee is not paid for lost, stolen or damaged items.

Not applicable.

Cost of the brick and mortar space and/or online website (including fees to online market places). Payment

happens when customer purchases.

Traditionally, retailer pays 50% of the retail price. Seller sets the wholesale price. Payment comes on delivery or

on a payment plan.

Retailers will take a fee of 20-40% off the price that you determine. Payment typically comes once a

month.

Online retailer gets a percentage of the price that you determine.

Payment comes when each item is sold or once a month.

You determine how your items are displayed and placed in your brick and mortar store or online shop.

The retailer determines display and placement of your items. You have little or no control over where the

items are located in the store.

The consignment shop determines display and placement of your items.

You have little or no control over where the items are located in the

store.

You have little or no control over where your items are located on the website or how often they promote

your item.

You determine price—typically costs multiplied by 4.

You determine price—typically costs multiplied by 2.

You determine price to accommodate your costs and profit plus the percentage you are paying

to have your items in the shop.

There are no minimums when you are the seller.

You determine minimums—typically a certain quantity or dollar amount that makes selling at a discounted

price worthwhile.

You can determine, along with the consignment shop, a minimum

quantity that you would like to have available for sale.

Items can be sold one at a time.

You are responsible for all marketing and advertising.

Retailer is responsible for all marketing and advertising.

Consignment shop is responsible for all marketing and advertising.

Online retailer is responsible for all marketing and advertising.

You are responsible for adding new products to sell.

Retailer is responsible for contacting you to get more products into his/her

store.

Typically, you are responsible for checking back and making sure your

items are well stocked.

You are responsible for getting your products photographed and

available for the online retailer.

You are responsible for any products that are lost, stolen or damaged.

The retailer is responsible for any products that are lost, stolen or

damaged.

Typically, there is either a percentage of responsibility or the

consignee is not paid for lost, stolen or damaged items.

Not applicable.

isn‟t interested, there will

be more that will be.

#1 – Be Prepared. Have

samples, order forms,

catalogs and/or business

cards with you. Know

what you are willing to

sell at a minimum to

consider them as a

wholesale customer and

how you are willing to let

them pay (up front, prior

to delivery, at delivery or

net 30, which means they

have 30 days to pay).

#2 – Be Patient. Even if

you have an appointment,

remember that many

retailers are doing all the

day to day operations in

their store, including

selling to customers.

Make sure that they

realize that you are

willing to wait and

discuss a possible

working relationship in

between what they need

to do. There is nothing

worse than giving the

impression that you are in

a hurry.

#3 – This might seem obvious, but dress

appropriately. Avoid going to new stores in

your “run around town doing errands”

clothes. You are there to show them your

products and although your work may speak

for itself, you still need to leave them with a

good impression.

#4 – And lastly, leave

the kiddos at home.

Running a business

allows us to have a

flexible schedule and

time for our families,

but going out to get a

new retailer is work.

Children require a lot of our attention and can

be a distraction when trying to communicate

effectively with others.

Consignment

Selling your products through consignment is

very similar to wholesale with some key

differences. In a wholesale situation, the

owner of the retail store is paying you for

your products and then they own those

products. In a consignment situation, you are

paying them a fee (typically between 20-40%

depending on what you agree upon) to place

your products in their store, use their

advertising and connections to get customers

in the store and display and maintain your

items. You, subsequently, get a higher

percentage of the profits, but you are also

taking a higher risk. You are still the owner

of the products – you are the one responsible

for paying for the expenses, as well as, in

many cases, keeping

track of how often you

need to replenish stock.

The other main

difference is when you

will receive payment.

Typically, shops

specializing in

consignment options will

pay the consignee once a month, like an

employee would get paid.

Approaching a consignment shop can be just

as nerve racking as approaching a wholesaler.

Although many of the tips are the same,

when entering into a consignment situation it

is important to consider these points:

#1 – Does the shop get good traffic? Is it in a

good location?

#2 – Do your products fit well with what they

are already selling?

clockwise from top left: mini hang tags by california craft,

japanese masking tape by pretty tape, pillow boxes by lilith

evy, custom printed hang tags by junghwa by amy stewart,

rainbow candy striped bags by baker‟s bling

#3 – What is the percentage that they expect

to be paid and does that fit into your budget?

#4 – And lastly, how do they communicate

with you when they need new inventory? Do

they call or email or do they expect you to

check in person?

Drop Shipping

With the increase of

online shops, this

type of selling is on

the rise and there can

be some distinct

advantages. Drop

shipping is when an

online retailer would

like to add your

products to their

website – they take

care of getting the

customer to their “front door” and you

provide them with photographs or samples of

your items. Like consignment, they get a

percentage of the final sale, anywhere

between 20-40%, which is negotiated at the

time you start your working relationship.

Some online retailers want what is called

“blind shipping” where after the customer

places the order, the online retailer will send

you a copy of the invoice. You will then

package the merchandise as if it were sent by

the online retailer. Since the product is not

made until the order is placed, the

merchandise is still yours until you mail it.

Which brings me to the topic of payment. In

some cases, online retailers will send

payment (typically

through a site like

PayPal) as each sale is

made, which will

include the set

percentage to you and

what they charged the

customer for shipping.

Other online retailers

will negotiate to pay you

once a month, similar to

a net 30 wholesale

arrangement.

As you can see, each platform for selling

your products has its advantages and

disadvantages. Regardless of the one that

you choose, you need to feel comfortable

with your business relationships and the

amount of the profits that you will be

retaining. You may decide that one way to

sell is the right way for you, or you may find

that you enjoy the benefits of doing all four –

the choice is yours!

Adatinė was started by two friends and neighbors, Elena & Ieva, working separately but creating together, inspired by Lithuanian textile tradition. Discover their vision of children’s fashion: natural, simple, comfortable and stylish.

interview by laura jacquemond - blue terracotta

mhc: Tell us a bit about yourselves, where

you live, and how you came to

work together.

adatinė: My friend Elena and I (Ieva) are

from Lithuania (Eastern Europe). We met

twelve years ago whilst studying at Vilnius

Academy of Arts. We were brought together not

only by the same studies, but also our hobbies:

growing plants and making crafts. We were

sewing, knitting, crocheting, and later also

weaving after we got the weaving equipment. It

was given by my grandmother who is now

ninety years old and still weaves herself every

day.

After some time we realised that we could

create more things than our families or friends

needed. Elena was the one who discovered

Etsy. Last summer, she became a mother and

currently has no spare time, so I now work

alone in Adatinė. Elena will be creating for

Adatinė again as her child is getting older

and she has more time.

mhc: Why did you name your shop

Adatinė?

adatinė: Adatinė means “pincushion” in

Lithuanian, our native language. It is a useful

thing and also an inspiring partner for the

Muses to come.

mhc: How do you run a shop together? Do

you divide the work such as creation, photos

and marketing between you two or do you

both work on everything? Who takes your

beautiful photos?

adatinė: From the start, the two of us

worked separately from our own homes, but

we had common ideas and fabric that we

used. We have chosen linen, which has very

long traditions in Lithuania, as the main

fabric.

mhc: I see that you have clothes for

kids, accessories for adults, and deco

items. Which product sells the best? Do

you each have a favorite product to

make?

adatinė: In the beginning, we were

only sewing clothes for children and

accessories for women. After half a year, I

tried to introduce my own hand made

toys, which turned out to be very

successful and at present, this is what I

spend most of my time sewing. I‟m not

sure why, but at first I created the toys for

adults, though children also like to play

with some of them. Mostly, I like creating

animal figures and people, specifically

creating figures of men.

I do not have a favourite character.

Possibly the toys I most often create are

foxes and hares. The first fox toy I made

was for my son nine years ago. I like the

double character of foxes; I find them not

only very clever and sometimes insidious,

but also very intelligent and sensitive

animals. The felted hares drown in their

melancholy; one can say everything

without pronouncing a word, though the

last hares that I made have totally

different characters. They are so greedy!

They keep their trophies in their hands

(i.e. tomatoes, apples or a carrot) and do

not wish to share with anyone. That‟s how

they are…and I cannot do anything at all

about that. They dictate the conditions.

mhc: Where do your ideas come from?

What‟s your your inspiration?

adatinė: My inspiration comes accidently

and rather frequently. My head is full of

ideas: some of them are followed by new

ones, some stay, some leave and so on. Very

often, I‟d wish to have four pairs of hands

and at least 26 hours in the day to make

everything I wish to do.

I make everything myself – from the drawings

to sewing to taking pictures of the finished

product – and this takes a lot of time. Also,

sometimes my work is interrupted by such

incidents as injured fingers. As I embroider

toys myself, the needle pricks all over my

fingers, and I am therefore forced to take a

break or do something else.

mhc: What do you do when you are not

creating?

adatinė: I am very sorry that even though

I put a lot of time and energy into my work in

Adatinė (I have no free time at all), it is still

not possible to make a living from it. So, I

also work for a magazine and write articles

about contemporary architecture and

construction.

mhc: Why is handmade important to you?

adatinė: Craft work is very important to

me. I am one of those people that do not feel

good if they are not making something. I knit

even while reading a book to my daughter.

mhc: What are your plans for the future of

Adatinė?

adatinė: You ask about plans…you

probably know that the dreams you share

with others, often do not come true. Therefore

I will only smile and say nothing about them.

mhc: Thank You, Ieva!

“The world doesn‟t revolve

around you, you know.”

<smirk> “If everyone

thought that way, then we‟d

have a world full of selfish

people, wouldn‟t we?”

<double smirk>

That‟s me, talking to my 8-

year-old daughter trying to

teach her the importance of

putting others first. Never

mind that I‟m probably

bullying her in the worst way

into thinking of others. Eek.

*Note to self: work on that

please!

As humans, we are innately

born with the desire to serve

our own needs. As adults we

realize that to truly feel a

„lightness of being,‟ to indeed

serve our soul, we need to

think of others in every

instance. No doubt about it, in

a moody fit, I will get lost in this page: family rules sign by barn owl primitives

opposite page: morning boost herbal tea by spirit horse herbals

my long list of „life isn‟t fair‟, completely

forgetting that I‟ve got little sets of eyes on

me. Completely forgetting that I am just one

being among many, who are all too aware of

life not being fair. An instant redirect: calling

a friend who needs a listening ear, pulling my

children in close to whisper “do over”, or

texting my husband a quick „love you so

much‟. Simple small acts like these can make

my day turn around. Just imagine how you

would feel if your small act was serving the

poor in a third world country! I can only

imagine the joy in my heart.

In my desire to teach my children to always

think of their impact on others, I focus

intently on always using the double-check

system:

1. Are you going to benefit from your

decision?

2. Are others going to benefit from your

decision?

If the answer is yes and yes, then we give it

one big thumbs up.

So, let‟s play this game, shall we? Take any

parent. Anyone. Get up, take care of all

children‟s needs first. Then get yourself

together. Oops, throw the dog in there. Or the

cat. A turtle, too… Drive to work thinking of

the laundry lists of to-do‟s. Make a few

phone calls while in the car (sadly, we all do

it), park the car – let the other driver have the

best spot even though you were there first.

Smile, think of how to say everything as

nicely as you can to everyone you encounter.

Nod your head, fill out your reports, be kind

to the guy that cuts in line when you‟ve got 5

minutes to spare for a hot dog before your

next meeting… OR let‟s say you stay at home

by kristie piacine - kind living designs

and run a business at the same time. OR

you‟re a schoolteacher. OR you are a nurse. It

is all the same, different but the same. All of

us are experiencing a life that doesn‟t always

seem fair, but are doing our best to smile

through it.

What happens though when too many of

those days pile up and we neglect ourselves?

When we keep pushing back the notion that

something that is good for me, and no one

else, is not good at all? Of course, we‟re not

speaking of my desire to never clean again so

I make a rash decision to finally do

something for myself – a cleaning lady that I

can‟t afford. No, I‟m talking about the little

things that cost little to nothing that are truly

self-serving only.

breathe sign by oh dier,

home and ask your husband all about his day,

while you paint your toes. You‟ll feel better.

4. Grab a piece of paper and a pen. Jot down

the first 10 people you can think of who need

your love and support. Tackle contacting the

first person that day. Follow through with the

rest throughout the week. Talk about

uplifting!

This Summer is going to be the „Summer of

Self-Serve Please‟. Think of it, that

delectable, ribbon perfect vanilla with

chocolate sprinkles – pure pleasure for just

you. No one else is eating it. But when you‟re

done, just that five minutes of pleasure (yes, I

devour my ice cream!), brings one back to a

place of yes, no problem, how can I help?

We‟ve satiated the tiny monster who says,

“What about me?” in a very simple way.

Some thoughts when you feel that monster

appear:

1. Stop, breathe and count to ten. Then

whisper, “Do over” out loud. Funny how

saying it out loud makes you feel like you

can readjust that much easier.

2. Go outside and find the first beautiful

flower in your yard that catches your eye.

Who cares if it is a fistful of weeds – if they

are bright, beautiful sunny yellow dandelions,

give them a place to feel special. It is

amazing how being nice to a weed can perk

up your day.

3. Stop. Look down. How do your toes look?

Need a pick me up? Decide then and there

that tonight you will hop in the car, play your

own music on the radio and sing out loud.

Walk right into that store and pick out the

first color that makes your heart sing. Come

polka dot vases by owl creek ceramics, personal

journal by making this home

5. Braid your hair. You‟ll feel younger.

6. Put on a little reggae. Chop up some fresh

fruit. Drop some in a glass of ice cold water.

Sit for 5 minutes. Pretend you‟re at the beach.

It will melt away faster than you know.

7. Close your eyes and imagine everything

being taken away from you. Wow.

8. Stuck in the really thick muck? Take a

nap. It‟s ok.

9. Did you get to take a shower today? Brush

your teeth? Comb your hair? Sounds silly, but

if you ask stay-at-home Moms that question

they‟ll tell you ten times over that they are

lucky to do that once a day. If you get to do it

without little thought – then think on it now.

Lucky Ducky!

10. Lastly, and this one is one of my

favorites: promise that you will buy yourself

one indulgence the next time you go grocery

shopping. Hide it. Go to it when that monster

appears.

Summer is a time for laughing, playing,

being together and not having to do anything

to enjoy it. Find out what brings you the

simplest of joys and practice it. Be it. Just be

sure to do the double-check rule – two

thumbs up? Yes! flower bobby pins by black cat mima

let the sun shine in print by slide sideways