Editors Gretchen Jakub Fabre Shannon Hanley

Layout and Design by Chichiboulie The Clever Kitty Head of PR Michelle Vackar

Advertising Coordinator Linda Phrakhansa Treasurer Ahmelie Skistad

autumn 2010

WELCOME

12 .... meet the editors

13 .... letter from the editors

WEAR - fashion trends

14....back to school essentials

16....the first day of school

20 .... accessories around the

world

DWELL - home décor

22 .... time to organise

26 .... getting cozy

PLAY - toys and activities

30 .... you ole softie

39 .... picture day self portrait

CREATE - crafty tutorials

36 .... hodgepodge bracelets

76 .... pumpkin seed necklace

77 .... creepy crawly marionette

TASTE - cooking fun

40 .... easy peasy weekday dinners

42 .... warm and cozy cooking

CELEBRATE - holidays and parties

44 .... party food

contents modern

handmade child

on the cover

hand knit pixie cap

by Charbridge Knits

photography by

Captured Images by

Cherise

16

26

36

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Taste

Love to cook? Want to share your home cooking experience with

others? Modern Handmade Child would love to hear from

you! MHC is currently seeking a Food editor to head up our

recipes department. For more information, please contact us a

editor@mhcmag.com.

Create

Love to craft? We’re always looking for fun

and beautiful projects to show off in our

magazine. If you’d like yours to be

featured, we want to hear from

you. More die-hard crafter? We’re

looking for someone to head up our

Tutorials department. If you think you’re

the person for us, please contact us at

editor@mhcmag.com.

Contributors WEAR........... Marissa Fischer DWELL.......... Becky Harris PLAY............. Nancy Keesling Kristi Duchon

CREATE........ Linda Phrakhansa Rosalie Zingales MEET............ Shannon Hanley CELEBRATE... Kristen Davis

CARE............ Gretchen Jakub Fabre SHARE.......... Kristie Piacine Michelle Vackar

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

2010. Al l r ights reserved. Reproduction or redistribution in whole or in parts without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.

autumn 2010

MEET - interviews

48 ... kayce quevedo - world of

whimm

54 ... sonia ortiz - neskita

GROW - child development

60 ... starting preschool

64 ... everything you need to

know before you go to

kindergarten

SHARE - by moms for moms

66 ... if you only knew what i’m

going through

81 ... starting a book club

CARE - growing up green

70...teaching children about

energy consumption

75 ... the learning corner

LISTEN - songs and music

80 ... free song - itsy bitsy spider

86 ... music picks from the mhc

staff

VIEW - from a kid’s eye view

88 ... photos taken by kids

For information regarding advertising in modern handmade child, please contact

advertising@modernhandmadechild.com

contents modern

handmade child

48

81

77

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welcome meet the editors

Gretchen Jakub Fabre is an illustrator living in northern

France. A mother of 3 children and one Scottie pup, her

days are spent chasing after one small being or another.

When not looking after her small brood, she can be found in

her studio creating- usually a mess, but at times paintings,

prints, felt objects and ―fabrications‖. A self-taught artist,

her work focuses around the world and whimsies of children

and the young-at-heart, many inspired by her own daily

experiences. Gretchen‘s illustrations have been sold worldwide to both large companies and

individuals alike. Her work can be seen online at www.chichiboulie.com and in her portfolio

www.gretchenjakubfabre.com.

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. In addition to her creative work, she is the leader

of the EtsyKids Team, which she founded in 2006. 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 www.thekittypad.blogspot.com.

gretchen jakub fabre and shannon hanley

gretchen jakub fabre and shannon hanley

letter from the editors

A fter few wonderful summer months, we

start to recognize a change in the morning

light, the days growing shorter and perhaps

mornings with a hint of chill in the air.

Everything pointing towards the arrival of

autumn.

Although I do love summer, and all of the

seasons actually, each for its own reason, I

have a particularly soft spot for autumn. I

love the coziness that comes with cooler

evenings, beckoning you to open up that

fireplace again and enjoy an evening in front

of the warming flames. The smell of autumn

air and the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot.

Apples in season again, as well as notebooks

and school supplies! It‘s all source for

inspiration and leads me to look inside to

prepare for and enjoy the colder months to

come.

We have put together this issue with that in

mind. Tips on getting ready for back-to-

school as well as recipes to keep your family

warm (and fit into a tight schedule that

inevitably comes along with school and

activities) will surely inspire you. Looking

for something to get yourself through the

cooler days? Check out our article on

starting a book club. There‘s plenty to read

so sit back and enjoy.

The Autumn 2010 edition of modern

handmade child online magazine. This issue

marks the start of a new year for us. We

have learned a lot over the past year and still

have much to learn as we go forward. We

hope you‘ll continue to join us for the ride!

Gretchen Jakub Fabre

Shannon Hanley

We love to hear from you!

Send your comments and letters to editor@mhcmag.com.

A place for everything, and everything in its place! Keep your little student organized with this

essential back to school gear.

finds by ahmelie skistad - ahmelie

Backpack This adorable backpack is made out of recycled

fabrics, so it‘s green in more than one way! Perfect

for hauling gym clothes, school papers or

necessities for a sleepover at a friend‘s house.

recycled fabric drawstring backpack by au clair de la lune

Laptop Sleeve You can never be safe enough

with your laptop. This

padded sleeve makes mobility

with a laptop even easier.

You don‘t have to carry a

large bag with you to run to

the coffee shop. Get yours in

the print that matches you!

ipad sleeve by bertie’s closet

Messenger Bag Love this bag for a little

boy! It‘s got plenty of

pockets for the necessities

for school, like legos, a

super bouncy ball and a

snack for the bus. This

would also make a great

diaper bag, and I bet your

husband wouldn‘t mind

carrying it either.

military style messenger bag by the bare tree

Laptop Sleeve You can never be safe enough

with your laptop. This

padded sleeve makes mobility

with a laptop even easier.

You don‘t have to carry a

large bag with you to run to

the coffee shop. Get yours in

the print that matches you!

ipad sleeve by bertie’s closet

Messenger Bag Love this bag for a little

boy! It‘s got plenty of

pockets for the necessities

for school, like legos, a

super bouncy ball and a

snack for the bus. This

would also make a great

diaper bag, and I bet your

husband wouldn‘t mind

carrying it either.

Crayon Roll Keep your crayons all rolled up in this

cute little wrap. Each crayon has its

own spot, and the entire roll has a

strap to Velcro it shut and keep

crayons secure. Great for kindergarten

classrooms, diaper bags or travel bags.

Get one for each spot!

crayon roll by mom n mia quilts

Lunch bag This insulated lunch bag is great for

on the go snacks and pack and go

meals. Wipe it out with a damp

cloth and you are ready for the next

use. Comes in great stylish prints

and velcros shut to keep everything

contained—ditch your brown paper

bags and make an environmentally

friendly choice!

lunch bag by farfalla gialla

Pencil Case This boxy zip top case would be great for pencils,

markers or crayons. Perfect for keeping what you

need all in the same place. You can even clip it to

your backpack or diaper bag so you don‘t need to

dig for it! zippered pouch by sew darn simple

this page: weekend blouse by 1 crown 3 tiaras, t-rex shirt by the trendy tot, twirly skirt by bridget & co, rosette headband by ivy and mae,

hoot hoodie by dig this chick, boys cord bootleg pants by little star clothing

G rowing up, the first day of school outfit

was a big thing in our house. I have vivid

memories of putting together the perfect

ensemble for the first days of school. One

year in 2nd or 3rd grade I wore a bright purple

jersey top with a matching ruffle skirt. Of

course my sister wore the same outfit, only

hers was turquoise. In the 8th grade it was

overall shorts with the perfect sea green tie-

dyed baby doll top. My specially chosen

outfit made me feel confident and ready for

what in all other respects was a potentially

nerve racking day.

The outfit worn on the first day of school is a

big deal for a lot of kids. On one hand kids

want to wear something special and cool

(whatever the current trends may be), while

on the other hand they don‘t want it to be so

trendy that five other people are wearing the

exact same outfit. Most important though, is

that they want an outfit that will provide that

extra boost of confidence.

This year instead of making the typical last

minute trip to the local department store with

all the kiddos in tow, consider saving yourself

the stress by finding their first day of school

outfits online. The handmade marketplace is

full of trendy yet completely original options

that will give your children that extra boost of

assurance that a first day of school outfit

should.

Not sure where to begin? Here are a few tips

to get you started:

Get the Kids Involved

If your child is old enough to participate in

the decision or picky enough that you want to

make sure he or she okays the outfit, save

time and arguments by doing most of the

legwork ahead of time. Search for something

you think is appropriate and pick out three or

four outfits. Then and ask him or her to

choose one of them.

Read Carefully

Since you can‘t try things on when shopping

online, be sure to read the listings thoroughly.

If the sizing or other details are vague, don‘t

hesitate to send the seller a note with your

questions. Does the outfit run big or small?

How long is that dress? Ask for

by marissa fischer - rae gun

This page: crocheted beanie cap by southern baby boutique, boys backpack by bratsacks, textured scarflet by two seaside babes, organic

cotton R2D2 hat by babbidge patch. At right: boys messenger bag by mee a bee, cat pouch/pencil case by tokyo inspired

measurements. Most handmade sellers are

eager to help and want to make sure you get

what you think you are getting. If it‘s not

absolutely clear be sure to ask.

Check Shipping Times

Finally make sure to pay attention to shipping

timelines. Some sellers make items to order,

so you need to expect to allow time for

fabrication and shipping. Other stores may

have products ready to go. If you get

shopping early, you don‘t have to worry, but

if you put things off be sure to make note of

the turnaround time so that it will be there in

time for the big day. And once again if you

are unsure it‘s best to ask. Also it doesn‘t hurt

to let sellers know in the notes section of an

order that you are hoping to have the item by

a certain date. If you need it sooner than their

estimated timeline be sure to ask them if it is

possible before placing the order. Sellers

often are more than happy to accommodate

special occasions as long as their schedules

permit.

Happy shopping!

beanie hat by charlie mai, penquin wool felt hair clip by may crimson, three striped merino beanie by natural star, wool felted scarf and flower brooch by stemellina, newsboy beanie hat by amber nee crochet, crocheted flower

hairband by aeiou kids, wool felted beret by stemellina

As the weather turns cooler and you need that extra little layer to keep out the chill, why not try looking

outside your usual shopping areas to discover a multitude of international handmade artisans, most of

whom are more than happy to ship to your home address. Maybe a special autumn knit hair-band, a

warm scarf or colourful hat. You’ll surely be pleasantly surprised at the gorgeous items you’ll find, all

from the comfort of your own sitting room.

beanie hat by charlie mai, penquin wool felt hair clip by may crimson, three striped merino beanie by natural star, wool felted scarf and flower brooch by stemellina, newsboy beanie hat by amber nee crochet, crocheted flower

hairband by aeiou kids, wool felted beret by stemellina

As the weather turns cooler and you need that extra little layer to keep out the chill, why not try looking

outside your usual shopping areas to discover a multitude of international handmade artisans, most of

whom are more than happy to ship to your home address. Maybe a special autumn knit hair-band, a

warm scarf or colourful hat. You’ll surely be pleasantly surprised at the gorgeous items you’ll find, all

from the comfort of your own sitting room. finds by laura jaquemonde - blueterracotta

Time to clean up the desk supplies and get ready for serious studying. What better way to help get organized than with a few new desk accessories. You

don’t have to head to your local shopping mall to find what you need. In fact, a few clicks online will lead you to many quality crafted items from around

the globe, all specifically made to help you and your kids keep things tidy. So many choices, and you don’t even have to leave the sofa!

big fabric and burlap box by paleolochic home décor, mini art case by play to learn, 2-in-1 cup holder by tanya

besedina, organic kids messenger bag by sewn natural, organiser basket by the spotted barn, boys crayon roll by

gifts to give, family box set by paleolochic home décor, chore board by soap star mom, altered vintage journal by

vintage paper works

finds by laura jaquemond - blueterracotta

Time to clean up the desk supplies and get ready for serious studying. What better way to help get organized than with a few new desk accessories. You

don’t have to head to your local shopping mall to find what you need. In fact, a few clicks online will lead you to many quality crafted items from around

the globe, all specifically made to help you and your kids keep things tidy. So many choices, and you don’t even have to leave the sofa!

this page clockwise from top left: pencil zipper pouch by simbiosis, princess tower organiser by besedina, personalised art box by gifts de-

fine, pretty pencils by b’spoken, kids journal by nico papergoods. right page clockwise from top left: fabric flower pencils by little cat, spiral

bound recycled notebook by ivy lane designs, hand-carved rubber stamps by studio mo, children’s chalkboard set by gribouille.

W hen the temperature starts to drop and the

days get shorter, we all get that urge to stay in

to whip up comfort food, wrap ourselves up in

wool, and turn our homes into cozy nests. Here

are some quick and inexpensive ways to get

yourself into the mood for fall. I call these

tricks "decorating switcheroos."

Switcheroo your artwork

As I listen to the constant cacophony of leaf

blowers operated by men who are decked out

like Ghostbusters, I feel nostalgic for the days

of raking leaves, when our reward was jumping

into the big pile of them after we were done.

You can hang those great leaf craft projects

your kids bring home from school, frame your

own photographs of leaves, or simply order up

a colourful print from renie britenbucher art.

Switcheroo

your

bedscape

If you use a

neutral color

like tan or

white for

your duvet

all year

round, it's

easy to

change the entire look seasonally with a few

pillow covers and a quilt or throw. Pull out that

warm wool throw and cover decorative pillows

in a mix of autumnal tones - deep red, burnt

orange, chocolate brown and yellow are perfect

hues for fall nesting. This change is made extra

becky harris - the bubb report

simple by keeping your existing inserts and

simply switching out the covers. Try a

geometric pattern like this dandelion cover

from kalla (pictured left) that will keep things

bright and will work well through many ages

as your child grows.

Kids will love this cheery needlepoint apple

pillow from jonathan adler and it does the

switcharoo for you - when you flip it over,

the back side shows part of the inside of the

apple.

For a fun

retro

modern

look, this

woollen

knit owl

pillow from

tamara beth

does the

trick.

Since we've picked a mix of throw pillows,

we'll keep the throw simple. This blazing red

mohair throw from jonathan adler is just the

right weight for an extra fall layer.

Switcheroo a throw rug

Clean and store summer jute rugs and ground

the room with something that's softer on

those wee feet. This warm rag rug from snug

as a bug rug company is perfect for straight-

out-of-bed little feet first thing in the

morning.

Your child will love to play and sprawl out

upon this cozy recycled felted wool sweater

rug from five forty. Its bright colors and

graphic pattern

are perfect for

kids. And if

they ever tire

of it, you can

give it a

second life as a

modern folk

art wall

hanging.

Perhaps your picky pre-teen desires a dash of

regency sophistication for his or her room. If

so, consider chocolate houndstooth and this

rug from jonathan adler, handwoven in Peru.

As an added bonus, when the next finicky

teen stage hits, you can reclaim it for use

anywhere else in the house.

Swicheroo anything a decal will stick to Decals can be

added to

everything from a

small bedside table

to an entire wall.

This fun decal

from graphic

spaces is

personalized and

its colors are

perfectly suited for an autumn inspired room.

Switcheroo your accent pieces.

This opens up wide range of items to pick

from. Consider changing a lampshade for

example. If you're crafty, you and your child

can give a plain white shade your own take

on fall style. Not so crafty but still want

handmade? Consider this lampshade from

drawflowers with its tones of orange and

brown.

Or take it one step further and invest in the

entire lamp like this one from an element of

style.

There is a multitude of choices for adding a

splash of warm fall colour to your children‘s

rooms. All you have to do it have a look

around and get creative. But the best thing

about fall besides all the cozy decorating fun?

Crafting is free and plentiful! A walk in the

warm autumn air and you‘ll bring home

bagfuls of colourful leaves, acorns, pinecones

and more for hours of handmade fun with the

kids.

opposite page clockwise from top left: brown and orange dinosaur baby blanket by banana bear boutique, fabric organizer basket by baffin

bags, the all star quilt by the trunk show, Olivia owl by banana bear boutique, set of 3 cloth play blocks by knit style.

rachael ashman fritsche - grandy and baa

The ideas & inspiration behind these colourful toys that are

sweeping the market

T he cute, quirky and sometimes odd soft

toys, known as ‗softies‘, have been cropping

up all over the globe in the last few years,

particularly on design websites and craft

blogs. The term ‗softies‘ (or ‗plushies‘ as

they are know in the United States)

encompasses a wide range of designs, styles

and types of soft toys.

Differentiating themselves from

mass produced soft toys, softies

are usually handmade, designed

by crafters and small independent

designers, and showcase a wide

range of fabrics and trimmings.

Unlike more mainstream soft toys,

softies can be found in the form of

anything you can imagine: from

rabbits to reindeer, dolls to

donkeys, astronauts to anteaters

and carrots to cowboys. This

amazing range of designs means that if you

are looking for a specific toy, you will either

find it somewhere or you will find a designer

who can bring your idea to life.

The popularity of these toys can be measured

by the number of craft books, online tutorials,

and craft blogs on how to make softies. Enter

dolls by hop skip jump

‗softies‘ in your internet search engine and you will be inundated with links on where to buy or

how to make a softie.

Making and collecting softies can be addictive and for many it is a passion that has turned into

successful enterprise. Three designers that are leading the softie revolution in Australia are

Fiona Dalton of Hop Skip Jump Handmade, Kate Hendersen of Two Little Banshees, and Jodie

Carleton from Ric-Rac. MHC was lucky to speak to these designers about their creations and

the huge popularity of these little creatures.

MHC - What inspires you when you are

designing your softies/toys?

Fiona - Anything and everything! I have two

young children, and they are a big inspiration.

I started making toys about 6 years ago when

my daughter was a baby. I also love children's

books, fabric patterns and textures and, of

course, the thousands of design and craft sites

all over the internet.

Kate - I think it is different every time.

Sometimes it is the fabric that just wants to be

made into a certain animal, sometimes my

children want me to make something and

sometimes it is a challenge to see if I can work

out how to make an animal, or a new shape.

Often when I am making one softie I get an

idea to change a few things to make something

completely different.

Jodie - Sometimes I think of a little story and

make the softie to fit the story. Or I can pick up

a piece of fabric and it will just scream one softies house by ric-rac

animal or another at me. Other times I'll get

an idea, like the softie tea-set and initially

decide it is too hard but it will bubble away

in the back of my brain until I give it go.

MHC - Do you think fabric choice is as

important as the design of the softie?

Fiona - I think what is great about softies is

that they can be made from anything. Having

said that, I am particularly fond of using

natural fibers for my toys - especially wool

flannels, because the weight and feel of the

fabric gives the toy a lovely substantial feel.

Plus it's natural and sustainable and all of

those

fabulous

things.

Good

quality,

natural

fibers also

mean your

toy will live

longer and

not harbor

so many

germs (wool

has

antiseptic

qualities!)

Kate – Oh

definitely. I think bright fabrics really appeal

to children (and to a lot of adults) and some

fabrics just seem perfect for different toys. I

also like to use different textured fabrics on

toys like corduroy and felt so they aren't just

interesting visually but also tactile. My

children love to sleep with toys backed with

corduroy

Jodie – Oh yes. Even though I am devoted to

making softies out of wool, I have made them

from polar fleece and cotton, corduroy, vinyl,

silk - anything. The right fabric can suggest

so much - whether a softie is warm like wool

or cool like vinyl. The right fabric can make a

huge difference. Now that I have released

some of my toys as patterns I get to see other

people’s interpretations and it’s great. I

guess I sometimes get stuck on a certain look

for a toy and then someone makes it in their

way with their fabrics and I get blown away

by the different personality they have created.

MHC - Why do you think that these little

toys are so popular?

Fiona - I think softies are popular as a

sewing project because they are quick and

reasonably straightforward to make. Softies

are very forgiving - even if they don't turn out

exactly as you'd hoped, it doesn't matter -

there are no hard and fast rules about what a

softie should look like. In the end, they have

disco bots by ric-rac

personalities of their own. It can be a very

addictive craft.

Kate - It amazes me that they (my designs)

are, but I think it is because of the bright

fabrics and (because I can't draw) they all

look slightly odd.

Jodie - Softies, whether they are funny or sad,

make people smile. Perhaps they make

people feel like kids again, I'm not sure. I

love softies and buy them regularly for myself

and friends.

The popularity of these handmade toys is

perhaps another signal to a return to a slower

pace of life, where crafted items are no

longer a poor cousin to those mass produced.

After a number of global plastic toy recalls,

safety concerns make many softies are great

choice for babies and small children. Many

Inspired to make your

own softies?

There are no hard-fast rules, so no

right or wrong. What‘s stopping

you from jumping in?

To get you started on your softie making

adventure, here are some popular websites

containing free softie patterns: Softie Making

and Tipnut.

Also, visit the blogs of Fiona, Kate and Jodie

for free patterns, patterns to purchase, softie

making tips and links to their online store.

Fiona is at hop skip jump, Kate can be found

at never enough hours, and Jodie blogs at

vintage ricrac.

If you are looking for softie books filled with

great patterns, information and simple, clear

instructions, I highly recommend Softies and

More Softies by Penguin Books .

of the popular designs made by these designers

are suitable for very young children as they do

not feature loose, moving or detachable parts.

And as Jodie from Ric-Rac told me, ‗Who

wants a pair of socks or jocks when you can get

a softie as a gift?‘

pink and green giraffe by two little banshees

left page clockwise from top left: little dog by two little banshees, ruby by made by maisie, red ted by made by maisie, ishmael’s whale by

flying star toys. this page: bunny by edward and lilly, puppies by hop skip jump, silver gull by flying star toys.

Extra Tips:

Create simple bows with small squares of fabric. Scrunch the square in the middle and tie with thread. Then attach to bracelet.

Create fabric streamers by cutting thin strips of fabric or ribbon for children. Place a dot of glue in the center of the strip and attach to bracelet.

Create flowers by layering fabric circles (as seen on author‘s bracelet). Add a small felt circle on top and attach to bracelet.

You may also purchase pre-cut felt or foam shapes (animals, letters, etc.) for younger children.

You may sew a child's embellishments for extra security after he or she decorates it.

Materials:

Elastic scraps

Fabric scraps

Ribbon scraps

Assorted buttons

Needle and thread

Permanent glue (such as

Fabri-Tac)

Create Hodgepodge Bracelets with leftover material from other crafting projects. Kids and teens can make, swap, and keep these cute and stretchy accessories.

Instructions:

1. Measure around the child's wrist with a piece of leftover elastic. Using a pencil, mark the

elastic where the bracelet fits comfortably. Trim the elastic if needed.

2. Sew the ends of the elastic together using needle and thread. If several children participate in

the craft, you can sew the elastic prior to the activity.

3. The bracelet is ready to decorate! Teens may sew buttons, jewels, and fabric scraps

independently. Younger children may dab Fabri-Tac glue (with adult supervision) to attach

embellishments.

Extra Tips:

Create simple bows with small squares of fabric. Scrunch the square in the middle and tie with thread. Then attach to bracelet.

Create fabric streamers by cutting thin strips of fabric or ribbon for children. Place a dot of glue in the center of the strip and attach to bracelet.

Create flowers by layering fabric circles (as seen on author‘s bracelet). Add a small felt circle on top and attach to bracelet.

You may also purchase pre-cut felt or foam shapes (animals, letters, etc.) for younger children.

You may sew a child's embellishments for extra security after he or she decorates it.

by linda phrakhansa - linda dearie

Create Hodgepodge Bracelets with leftover material from other crafting projects. Kids and teens can make, swap, and keep these cute and stretchy accessories.

C reating a self portrait and autobiography

helps children of all ages develop self-

awareness, artistic

expression and build

appreciation for the arts.

And with school picture

day quickly approaching,

include your preschooler

in the excitement by using

simple supplies, such as,

construction paper, glue,

markers, crayons, yarn,

string and ribbon to create

a one-of-a-kind

masterpiece.

Allow them the freedom

to choose their favorite

materials and colors. So

what if they want a green

face and purple hair? Remind them that this

is their portrait, and it can look however they

want it to look. This is sure get their creative

juices flowing. Who knows, you could have a

little Picasso in the making!

After completing their portrait, ask your child

to tell you why they selected particular colors

and materials. Continue to

ask questions about their

likes and dislikes, favorite

places, food, etc., and give

your undivided attention to

this churning little mind‘s

responses.

Once they‘ve given you

every detail, write the

information below the

portrait, and display the art

at the child‘s eye level in a

special family location. Be

sure to share the portrait

and story with other

family members too, but

most importantly, admire

the art often, and watch your little one beam

with pride! When your children‘s school

pictures arrive home, place them next to the

self portrait so that all can be enjoyed

together.

by nancy keesling - tutu cute and moore

1 16 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 package of turkey sausage sliced into nice size bites. 1 onion finely chopped 2 Tbs butter 2 carrots sliced into bite-sized pieces. 2 stalks of celery, finely chopped 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1 tsp basil Red pepper flakes and salt to taste 3 cups of brown rice

Red Beans and Rice

Cook the rice. While rice is cooking, cut the sausage into 1-inch pieces (or smaller depending upon the age of your eaters) and sauté. After the sausage has been cooked, add the garlic, onions, carrots, celery, basil, red pepper flakes and salt. Sauté a little longer until the onions are translucent and your vegetables are also the desired tenderness your family enjoys. When your brown rice is done, toss in your sautéed items above, red beans and toss together. You are ready to serve. Tip: try varying the amount and types of vegetables and sausage for more variety. You can also add black beans for more color. Be sure to drain them well to avoid adding too much liquid to the rice mixture.

michelle vackar - hi mamma

3/4 lb Italian sausage, casings removed 3 green onions, chopped 2 cups fresh broccoli florets, cooked and drained 8 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded and divided 1 pinch cayenne pepper seasoning salt (or use white salt) 1/4 cup milk 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese black pepper 2 firm plum tomatoes, thinly sliced 1 cup ricotta cheese or cottage cheese depending upon your preference

Sausage Broccoli Bake

Set the oven to 350 degrees (180 degrees C). Butter an 11 x 7-inch baking dish or a medium-size oval casserole dish. In a skillet, cook the sausage meat and onions over medium-high heat, stirring until the sausage is browned. Drain fat and transfer to a large bowl. Add cooked broccoli and 3/4 cup shredded cheese. Toss to combine then transfer and spread into bottom of prepared baking dish.

In another bowl, combine the eggs with remaining cheddar cheese, cayenne, ricotta cheese and milk. Season with salt and pepper. Pour mixture over broccoli-sausage. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and arrange the tomato slices over the top.

Bake covered for about 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake for another 15 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

michelle vackar - hi mamma

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (180 degrees C). Generously grease cookie sheets. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and eggs. Combine the two different flours together with the baking soda and salt, then gradually blend into the creamed mixture. Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts if desired. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Tip: to make these into bar cookies, press the dough into a 10x15 inch jelly roll pan and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

3/4 cup butter 1 cup white sugar 1 cup light brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 eggs 2 cups sifted whole wheat pastry flour 1 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups chocolate chips 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Combine milk and egg into the flour mixture and stir. Add the apples, pears, almonds, cinnamon and nutmeg and stir together. On the stovetop melt butter in a skillet, pour the pancake mixture into the skillet to the size of the pancakes that you desire. Try a variety of sizes from extra large to silver dollar pancakes that are a real kid pleaser. Cook until brown on one side, then flip and cook on the other side until done. Tip: try different combinations like adding1/4 cup of oatmeal. When you do this, you may need to add a little bit more milk, due to the batter being a little thicker.

2 cups all-purpose flour 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1 1/2 cups milk 1 apple, peeled and chopped 1 pear, peeled and chopped 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg Handful of sliced almonds

Apple Pear Almond Pancakes

M any of our fondest memories often

include shared meals and gatherings for the

special celebrations in our lives. While for

some, the meal planning for invited guests

can be an daunting task, it need not be so in

planning the perfect party. To make it the

easiest and most enjoyable for both host and

guests alike, there are a few things to keep in

mind:

What is my party budget and how do

meals fit into this plan?

What time of day is my event planned,

and what is the general age group of

guests invited?

What is my theme and how can the

foods be incorporated into what I

envision?

In reality, all three of these components work

hand in hand when planning the perfect

setting. The cost of the food can often make

or break your entertainment budget.

Considering the time the event will take

place, as well as the guests themselves, is a

good way to start planning the foods that will

be served and can help determine the budget.

Parties planned around meal times (lunch and

dinner) will often call for a more structured

meal plan for your guests, while those that

are planned for in between meal times can

simply offer a variety of snacks and ‗fun

food‘.

by kristen davis - mary had a little party

door sign by whimzy creations

For the very young crowd, first birthday

parties for example, you‘ll definitely want

to schedule around the little ones‘ nap

times. The time of the event and the

young age of the invited guests

themselves will certainly determine what

foods are being offered. Although the

birthday crowd in this instance may not

eat up your budget, you‘ll need to keep

their parents in mind when planning as

well and a small buffet for them can add

up quickly.

For older children, lunch is often served.

However, an afternoon get together past the

lunch hour is also a viable option. If a great cake

and ice cream are the only items on the menu, it

can make a huge difference in keeping the food

expense within your planned budget. Although,

be careful! There are many wonderful cakes that

can quickly eat up that budget if being ordered

from a commercial baker.

If you‘re hosting a more formal affair, a sit down

setting, or one where a complete meal is offered,

makes a lot of sense. When planning for the

younger crowd, as I‘m sure we can all recall, less

time is spent thinking of the food to be eaten

(with the exception of that great cake of course!),

and more time is spent being enthralled in the

excitement of the party and the playtime with

friends.

A lunchtime affair for

a young birthday

crowd still can be

easily managed if you

keep it simple. A sack

lunch provided for

little ones can be a

quick and fun way to

feed a young crowd,

and now there is a

variety of styled

boxes available, a

fabulous change from

that ordinary brown printable tags by tom kat studio

first birthday set by little one boutique

paper bag. Gable boxes, for example, are a

popular option with room enough to pack

delicious sandwiches and on-the-go beverages.

They can also be decorated with stickers and

images to carry out your theme.

A party set for the afternoon hour (typically

from 1 p.m. on), however, is generally not

expected to be a meal time event. This certainly

does not limit your options though, as there are

many wonderful ideas for the "sweets" hours to

make your party a success. One of the biggest

trends of the day is a candy buffet - a station of

candy jars dressed up to coordinate with the

chosen scheme and a little one's dream come

true! Another favorite sweet option, and a

wonderful double for a sure-to-be-loved party

favor, is decorated sugar cookies, bagged and

bowed for little ones to carry home. It is simply

amazing the detail and creativity that a baker

can express in these little treats.

Probably the focal point of birthdays from the

first planned event, nothing shouts celebration

more than a great birthday cake lit with candles

and accompanied by song. From simple to

extravagant, cakes today are more

extraordinary than ever and offer a great deal of

room for expression. From a decorated sheet

cake, to an elaborate tiered sweet, to a simple

cake adorned with a wonderful cake topper, the

possibilities are endless.

Another party favorite, and often an easy way

for little ones to enjoy cake, is cupcakes. While

cupcakes can accompany a cake when a

larger crowd is expected, cupcakes also

alleviate the time involved in cake cutting

and serving, freeing you up to participate in

and enjoy your event. From themed versions

to simply iced and decorated with wonderful

cupcake toppers, these too are a great option

for the sweets planned for your event.

Want to try your hand at baking yourself?

Not only can this often save a great deal of

expense, there is something quite special

about putting your hands together to make

the memories special for your loved ones.

Baked goods need not be fancy to delight a

little one; the time spent together is

undoubtedly what makes the celebration one

to last a lifetime.

No matter what type of food you are going to

be serving, always be sure to keep potential

food allergies in mind. Let families know

what ingredients are being used in case a

guest has an allergy concern. And above all

else, make sure that the foods planned for the

event are a compliment to what matters the

most: a wonderful day spent together sharing

the amazing celebrations in our lives!

opposite page, top to bottom: printable candy buffet la-

bels by blue sugar press, teacup sugar cookies by sugar

and flour, hedgehog cupcake toppers by paper circus this

page, top to bottom: custom cake topper by cute nation,

cake toppers by mary had a little party

interview by shannon hanley - the clever kitty

mhc: Tell us a little about yourself.

kayce: My name is Kayce, and I keep a

chaotic house in Everett, Washington with my

husband (whose name also happens to be

Kasey) and two kids. My oldest, Robbie, is

nearly eight now, and my youngest, Alyssa

(we call her Lyssie) is four.

mhc: Aside from creating things, what do

you love to do?

kayce: Creativity is a big part of

my existence, but I love to spend time

with my family, plan our “garden”

and rummage through thrift stores.

mhc: How did you get started

making things? What is the first thing

you remember creating?

kayce: Growing up, my mom used

to watch a bunch of kids during the

day for many of the teachers from our

local elementary school. She was sure

to always have art supplies at our

fingertips. I’m sure it was this which

sparked my interest in the arts.

I can remember making things with a friend

and setting up a store in the doorway of my

room. I don’t actually remember selling

anything, but even now, I think it’s just the

enjoyment of sharing my creations with other

people.

mhc: When did you decide to start selling

your work?

kayce: I quit my day job about 6 months

after having my daughter. With my health (I

have Fibromyalgia) and the two kids, the

stress became too much for my body. But I’m

also someone that needs to stay busy, so I

decided to start making a few of the many

ideas running through my head. At the time, it

was imaginative

play costumes for

the kids. I was

having trouble

finding the quality

costumes that I

grew up with (my

mom is also a

seamstress and

made our

Halloween

costumes every

year). I think it’s

essential for kids to

use their

imagination

through role

playing, and I

wanted costumes

for my kids that would last more than a few

months.

mhc: You must have had a lot of unique

costumes for Halloween when you were a

kid. What was one of your favorite costumes

your mom made for you?

kayce: The costumes I remember most are

either the ones that were a little out there, or

the ones she made for my younger brother

(he is 7 years younger than me). One of the

favorites that she made for me was the

Hershey Kiss. This was before they had a

pattern for it and even before they had silver

fabric! I remember my

mom spray painted the

fabric silver... and by

the end of trick-or-

treating, I had silver

arms from resting them

on the side of the

costume.

But I remember my

brother's costumes the

most. He had some

great costumes

including a California

Raisin, a Ninja Turtle

complete with muscles,

a hockey puck and Iron

Man (which was before

anyone even knew who

he was). She was great. She would

either make them up herself, or she would

take a pattern that was close and alter it

(normally beyond recognition) into whatever

was in our imagination. Those were often my

favorites - where she brought our

imagination to life.

mhc: What is the name of your shop?

kayce: My shop name is World of Whimm.

I wanted a name that would encompass any

crazy ideas that I might come up with. I

added the extra “m” at the end because I

liked the idea of it relating a bit to “Grimm”.

mhc: What‘s your favorite item to make,

and why?

kayce: My favorite regular item to make

is probably the crowns as I like to challenge

myself to make each one look a little bit

different. But I think really my favorite thing

to make is anything new. Summer time is

often my favorite time in my shop because

people challenge me with custom orders for

Halloween costumes. I don’t take a lot of

custom orders. It is important to me that I

maintain artistic freedom. I find that the end

result is enjoyed more by both me and the

client if I use my vision rather than theirs.

mhc: The months leading up to Halloween

must be a busy time of year for you. How do

you prepare for the costume rush?

kayce: I wish I could say that I have a

method, or that I'm organized enough to have

a plan. I really don't. I take it one day at a

time and when I feel overwhelmed, I stop

taking orders. With two kids who also have

their own costume ideas, I usually have to

allow a week to a week and a half for their

costumes, so I try to encourage people to get

their orders in early. It's always

disappointing to me when I have to turn

people down... especially when they present

me with a great challenge.

mhc: What‘s your most popular item?

kayce: All of my items are popular at one

place or another. The mermaid tails are often

one of my best sellers, and the crowns are

always a big hit. During Christmas time, all

the super hero pieces seem to sell really

well… after all, who doesn’t want to be a

super hero?

mhc: Where does your inspiration come

from?

kayce: I am inspired from everything

around me: my kids, nature, the television,

even just color combinations in a stack of

dirty clothes. You can find inspiration

anywhere as long as you are open to it.

mhc: What is your creative process?

kayce: When I’m coming up with new

items, ideas can build up in my head for

months (even years) before I’m ready to

bring them to fruition. I like to work out all

the details and issues that I might come up

against long before I bring out a piece of

fabric. Then I start sketching. I’m a visual

person so I need to have it drawn out before I

can make anything, even if I never refer back

to the sketches. Then I start the long process

of prototyping. This can take many, many

months. It’s a long process, but I love the

feeling of accomplishment when I’ve made a

truly unique item.

When I make regular stock items, like to

prepare for a show, I sew by thread color. I’ll

spend a day or two cutting out items and then

I’ll start sewing them together depending on

the color of thread I have in my machine at

the time. I know it only takes a few seconds to

change colors in the machine, but it’s my

least favorite thing to do – especially when I

have to do it often. So I could sew for seven

days and not finish a single thing, but have a

pile of completed items on day eight.

mhc: What‘s the best part about earning a

living making things?

kayce: I am my own boss. Granted, this

can also be a drawback, but if I want to stop

my day and spend time with the kids, I can. If

I want to take a week off and do nothing

around the house, I can. The flexibility has

also been necessary during those times when

I experience Fibromyalgia flare ups. When I

was working a regular job, it was stressful to

have to meet strict deadlines when my body

just wasn’t cooperating. It was also stressful

to try to get others to understand my

limitations.

mhc: What handmade item do you

cherish?

kayce: I love every one of my

Grandfather’s pots, not just because they

remind me of him, but also because they

remind me of a creative childhood. My

Grandfather used to be a gardener, but would

make and sell pottery on the side. I grew up

at craft shows and gem shows (my father sold

lapidary) and it makes me happy to be giving

my kids the same type of experience (even if

they don’t currently agree!).

mhc: Sounds like there's a lot of creativity

in your family. Do your children have

creative abilities?

kayce: My children are still pretty young

and are still exploring their interests. They

both love to draw, and my daughter loves her

"art center" where she has access to scissors,

glue, paper, pom-poms, sequins - the list goes

on. But I can tell you they are very creative.

My daughter's responses when she's in

trouble are very creative.

mhc: What to you is the importance of

buying handmade?

kayce: I love buying and giving

handmade. To me, handmade gives material

objects meaning. Having my morning tea in a

factory produced mug is okay, it gets the job

done, but when I have it in my handmade mug

by LAS Designs, it’s an experience. It’s an

experience because thought went into every

detail of it… the shape of the mug, the size of

the handle, the bumps around the outside… it

has meaning. I love handmade.

Kayce is offering 15% off your entire purchase from World of Whimm to MHC readers.

Mention this article in the "notes to seller" at checkout to receive the discount.

Custom orders excluded. Offer expires October 31st, 2010.

interview by shannon hanley - the clever kitty

mhc: Tell us a little about yourself.

sonia: My name is Sonia Ortiz and I'm

from Chile. My mother is British and my dad

is Chilean. I lived in England for a few

months when I was little, so that's how I

learned English. When I finished school I did

a couple of months of design at a local

university and although I really liked it I

thought, “There's no way I'll be able to earn

a living doing this.”

So I quit and did a BA in English Literature

and Linguistics, and then I got a degree in

English-Spanish translation. Looking back, I

have no idea why I thought translation would

be more profitable than design, because it

obviously isn't, but what can I say, that's just

me. The fact that I married a graphic

designer makes even less sense, I know, but I

love my life.

I now work from home as a freelance

translator but spend almost half of my time

creating things for my Etsy shop. Although

we still haven't had children together, my

husband has an 8-year-old daughter who

stays with us on weekends every fortnight.

She is a willing “guinea pig” for all my

children's products.

mhc: Aside from creating things, what do

you love to do?

sonia: We recently moved to a new house,

so right now I love to decorate! Actually,

almost all of my favorite activities have to do

with creating. I really enjoy sewing clothes

for my husband's daughter, for example. I

love the fact that she grows out of them and I

have to make more. I also love to make

furniture. My latest project was a big

bookshelf for my study, which I made with the

help of my husband. I think one of my few

non-creative hobbies is reading - I am an

avid reader in English and Spanish.

mhc: How did you get started making

things? What is the first thing you remember

creating?

sonia: I've been making things ever since

I can remember. As a kid I loved all kinds of

crafts (I mean, what girl doesn't?), but

probably my first serious project was a

dollhouse I made when I was about 16.

Dollhouses aren't a very common hobby here

in Chile, so I had to order almost everything

from abroad. That's when I realized it would

be wiser (and cheaper) to make the house

and furniture myself. It was so much fun! I

grew up watching how my dad made

furniture for our house and how my mom

sewed and knitted clothes for me and my

brother, so I guess I couldn't help but follow

their steps.

mhc: When did you decide to start selling

your work?

sonia: When I first discovered Etsy, my

idea was to sell clothes. However, when I

found out about shipping rates in Chile I

instantly knew I couldn't send anything by

regular mail. So that's when I decided I could

make cute printables and send them as PDF

files via e-mail. That was exactly one year

ago. I spent the following months

investigating - I wanted to sell something

nobody (or very few people) were selling, and

that's how I came up with my printables for

children. I opened my shop in October 2009

and my sales have been steadily growing.

mhc: What is the name of your shop?

sonia: The name of my shop is neskita,

which has been my Internet nickname for

almost fifteen years, and I thought it would

be a good idea to use it for my shop as well.

It's short, it's simple, and I'd like to think it's

a name people can remember.

I don't think I could've used

any other name for my shop -

neskita is just who I am.

mhc: What‘s your favorite

item to make, and why?

sonia: I really enjoy

making printables for

children, but I don't have one

particular favorite. I love to

imagine how children might

enjoy assembling and playing

with the printables, because I

remember how I used to enjoy

similar things when I was a

kid.

mhc: What‘s your most popular item?

sonia: My most popular item is my

printable paper bedroom. It was the first

product I made for my shop. I was so

convinced it was the ultimate printable for a

little girl, it didn't come as a surprise that it

was the first product I sold, and that it

quickly became the most popular item in my

shop.

mhc: Where does your inspiration come

from?

sonia: My inspiration definitely comes

from memories. It's the younger me who I

have in mind when I create my stuff. I always

try to imagine what I would have liked, and

that's how I envision and design my products.

It may sound a little self-centered, but it

really does work for me. I'm still a child at

heart, and it's not hard at all for me to

connect with the girl I once was.

mhc: What is your creative process?

sonia: Creating a new item is always an

exciting adventure. This is especially true

with my paper sets for children. I envision a

scene and take note of the essential elements

it must include, always leaving room for

extras. Sometimes my imagination goes way

overboard and I have to force myself to bring

it back down to earth, knowing that it will

eventually reach the

hands of a child who

must put it all together.

And of course, all of my

products are things I

love. A perfectionist by

nature, I take my time to

make them as simple,

pretty and interesting as

I would expect from an

item I'd be willing to buy.

mhc: What‘s the best

part about earning a

living making things?

sonia: Actually, I

don't make a living out of

this, but I would

absolutely love it if I could! I'm doing my best

to reach that point when I can dedicate my

days to making printables and nothing else.

Since I'm self-employed, I already know what

it's like to work at home, so I really wish I

could do what I truly enjoy. I hope it doesn't

take me too long!

mhc: What handmade item do you

cherish?

sonia: I love everything handmade,

regardless of who made it. I've bought a few

handmade items on Etsy and every time I

look at them I can't help but imagine the

person behind it. But I do have one favorite

handmade item. It's a sewing box made by my

dad and my brother when I was a girl. It's a

beautiful little box covered in blue fabric and

although I can't use it for its original purpose

(my sewing supplies have grown a bit), I keep

it as a treasure and love the fact that it was

made especially for me by two people I love.

mhc: What to you is the importance of

buying handmade?

sonia: I think it's got a lot to do with

empathy. I know what it feels like to make

things with your own hands, and I

understand the lovely feeling that comes

when someone else appreciates your hard

work and your creativity. To me, buying

handmade means giving the thumbs-up to

someone who, like myself, enjoys creating

things. Besides, everything that has been

made by hand has a little bit of the person

who made it. And when I buy something from

someone who lives miles away from where I

live, someone whom I'll probably never meet

in person, I feel that I do know them

somehow, that they've somehow entered my

life.

Sonia is offering a free gift with purchase to MHC readers.

Purchase any item from Neskita and select a second item (of lesser value) for free!

Offer expires August 15th, 2010.

S o your little one is starting preschool this

autumn. Congrats! You‘ve made it through

the research, selection process, interviews,

and paid the tuition. You

have worked hard on

toilet-training, mastering

the alphabet, reviewing

colors, and maybe even

started some discipline

practices, like ‗time-outs‘.

Maybe your tyke has been

in daycare, so transitioning

to preschool feels simple.

But if you are one of the

many parents who had

their ‗baby‘ at home until

now, preschool seems like

a big step. Either way, there are several things

you can do to help get his or her student

identity off to a strong start.

What is a student identity and isn’t preschool

a little young to be thinking like that?

Preschool is a beautiful time for a child to

develop his or her student identity: the value,

effort, focus, and self-esteem associated with

being a student of learning.

It‘s the part of a child that

feels proud when they learn

something new and are able

to share that new found

knowledge. It‘s the part of

him or her that focuses,

studies, analyzes, and uses

trial and error as well as

repetition, to understand

something. Up until now, that

type of learning has been

solely attributed to being a

toddler, a developing person.

Now that she‘s off to preschool, learning also

happens within a role – the role of being a

student in the classroom and that role

involves specific rules, habits, and

expectations associated with performing it.

Oh it sounds so clinical! Behold, this Crafty

Child Development Skill of the Season julie hartman - petite fish

top: felt number set by evgie

Shrink is on a mission, a mission to help

Moms with simple, easy and fun tips for

teaching a child development skill.

How do we cultivate student identity in a

Preschooler?

A student identity involves three parts:

looking like a student, acting like a student,

and feeling like a student. You can start with

this script and repeat it nearly every day for a

couple weeks before he or she starts

preschool: ―something very exciting is

happening in September (circle the day on

the calendar) – you are becoming a student!

Students have lots of fun with friends, learn

all kinds of cool things like reading books

and arts and crafts and nature. You’re going

to a school with other students to learn these

things together.”

Here are some crafty ways to help your

precious blossoming student develop his or

her identity:

Looking like a student Invite your preschooler to pick out what he or

she will wear to the first day as a student.

Then have a dress rehearsal and play student

dress-up. When they wear that outfit,

compliment how they look so much like a

student. Ask what they want to learn about

today. Offer a few structured activities to

choose from to play student. My faves:

student collage (for the tot who likes to sit

and do art), student treasure hunt (for the tot

who likes to be active and ‗race‘), and

student social (for the student who likes to be

social and show-off). While your child‘s

attention span may only allow for 5 minutes

of activity, with repetition and revisiting it, he

or she will learn the concept and gain

important student skills as well.

eco-friendly nap mat by sewn natural

Student Collage (advance preparation

required): cut out pieces of several outfits

from a children‘s clothing catalog (or print

from a website like Gap, Inc). You can even

make copies of your child‘s head to put at the

top of the outfits. Play mix and match and

invite your tot to arrange the student outfits,

using a gluestick and paper. Say, ―find the

student clothes and make a student outfit

collage of YOU as a student.” You‘ll see I am

being repetitive using the word student to

help reinforce the identity development.

Student Treasure Hunt (advance preparation

required): hide items of his or her student

outfits in different locations throughout your

home or yard. Play ―hot, cold, getting

warmer‖ when your child is near the hiding

place. When all the items are found, he or

she‗wins‘.

Student Social: put on the student outfit, grab

the student lunch bag and a small book in

hand, and go around your local shopping area

introducing your child as a student. Say, ―this

is Simon. He is becoming a preschool student

in September. We’re practicing being a

student.”

Acting like a student Any time your child is exhibiting a student-

like behavior, such as sitting quietly,

highlight that as a student behavior. In

addition, times when she is examining

something, like a leaf, or being social, or

trying something new, like riding his purple

―motorcycle‖ down a small hill by himself,

say ―when you are playing with others that’s

like being a student. When you’re looking

closely at that leaf, that’s like being a student.

When you try something new, that’s like being

a student.”

You can also invite your child to ‗play

school‘ with dolls and school items. Practice

by pretending that there is a teacher present

who guides the students in their learning

activities, that there are directions to follow,

and just like at home, sometimes students

need help to make good choices and teachers

can help with that.

Feeling like a student Being a student is an emotional experience.

Learning can be simultaneously pleasurable

and frustrating, filled with surprise and

boredom, mixed with feelings of pride and

defeat. Going to preschool often feels like

excitement, anxiety, fear, and joy, all rolled

into one. This sometimes leads to resistance,

not because of the content of the classroom,

the teacher style, or even being a student, but

simply because all of the feelings can flood

his or her young system. Shutting down or

clinging is sometimes the best he or she can

do at that moment. Giving your child

permission to feel all the feelings associated

with being a student is an important first step

in student identity. Accepting the emotional

student will create a communication freedom

that enables him or her to come home, day

after day, year after year, ready to tell you

ALL about his or her student life.

A Crafty Shrink activity? Praise your child for

each emotion he expresses. Label the feeling –

even draw a picture of the feeling and post it

on the fridge. Normalize that every student

feels the same way sometimes, and you like

that he‘s telling you how he feels.

Your child will likely spend the next 20 years

in the student role, so spending the time to

nurture her student identity is a worthy

investment. I hope these crafty tips make that

process a little more fun.

top: abc tee by petite fish, bottom: slurpy the dog

backpack by boutique id

K indergarten is often a child's first

experience with school–he or she belongs to

a large classroom, learns to count, read, and

draw, and most importantly, becomes aware

of the surrounding world. For parents,

kindergarten means letting go of their

precious baby. Moms, dads, grandmas, and

grandpas, don't fret! He or she will be in safe

and caring hands.

Before the first day of school, families may

prepare their children for kindergarten in a

variety of ways. The following tips apply to

many public schools in the United States.

Check with your local school district for the

most accurate information.

Establish a routine.

In the weeks leading up to kindergarten,

discuss schedules with your child. In

kindergarten, the teacher will use the same

schedule everyday. You can emphasize your

family's schedule, too. Create a chart together

detailing important activities such as getting

dressed, eating breakfast, or doing homework

(or another age-appropriate activity).

Visit the school.

If your child has an older sibling, he or she

may already be familiar with the school. If

your child hasn't visited the school, call the

front office for information on school tours or

kindergarten round-up. The school should

also provide you with a specific supply list.

Strengthen basic skills.

In the fall, students will practice beginning

skills such as letter identification, counting,

Before You Go to

Before You Go to

and printing their names. Kindergarten

students usually begin to read and write full

sentences toward the end of the year.

Offer support and encouragement.

Kindergarten students are young–it's normal

for them to feel frustrated during new

activities or situations. Children will be

successful in kindergarten if they feel

confident about themselves.

Meet the teacher.

Before the first day, many elementary schools

host a "Meet the Teacher" night for families.

Children may visit the school, meet their

teachers, see the classrooms, and walk the

hallways.

Look forward to kindergarten together.

Children can sense an adult's apprehension or

nerves. Stay calm and cool. Take your child

back-to-school shopping and allow him or

her to choose the color or decoration of a

folder, lunch box, or supply box.

On the first day of school, classroom teachers

allow parents to drop-off students at the

classroom and linger. Of course, tears may

shed and many hugs may occur before you

depart. Just remember that your kindergartner

will return to your arms in the afternoon with

school stories, and these stories will continue

for the next twelve years.

Linda Phrakhansa is a kindergarten teacher

in San Antonio, Texas.

by linda phrakhansa - linda dearie

I ‘m going to whisper this so get real close.

Ready? Sometimes I will think, ―When am I

going to get these kids out of this house?‖ I

hate to admit it, being a stay-at-home

work-from-home Mom, but I do, I

wish my kids away! Guilt Alert!

How awful is that? I think it for a

few moments as if it is all

sunshine, blue skies. A choir is

singing and vacuuming becomes

invigorating all because the little

feet aren‘t in the way.

I learned my lesson the hard way.

How much I missed her. How

hard I cried the first day that bus

pulled away. How empty the

house felt. How I would have

given anything to hear, ―Mom,

Mom, Mommy, Mama,

MOMMY!‖

You, too?

This is the eternal merry-go-round: the

morning routine that starts my blood boiling

because of the fights over clothes and

practicing her math and what she‘s eating for

breakfast. And then she goes to school and I

feel awful all day long. If she only knew

how much I truly miss her.

So how do we connect with our

children and tell them how much we

miss them? We say it but do they

really hear it? My little girl is

heading into 2nd grade now, so I‘ve

had lots of practice at this –

practice at connecting throughout

the day while my little one is away.

The first idea, and the most obvious

one, is lunch box notes. Take the time

to pack a little love in their lunch, a

time when they are with friends, free to

chat, and sometimes free to sit with their

emotions from school that morning.

Maybe there was a friend who didn‘t

smile back, a teacher who was a little too

firm, a memory from that fight over which

shoes to wear – that little note will do more

than you ever thought possible. Make your

own from scrap paper around the house or

buy a little set to use over and over again.

by kristie piacine - kind living designs

At our house Daddy is already gone

by the time the kids get up in the

morning but that‘s no reason not to

get the big guy involved too. My

hubby started a tradition that ran

through the entire year of

kindergarten. Everyday he left her a

note. EVERYDAY. We have all of

them. We‘ve hole-punched them

now and strung them on a string in

her memory box. It‘s so much fun to

look back at them every now and

again and remember.

On those days where I find I‘m choked up

thinking, ―how did she grow up so fast?‖ I

get out the videos and prepare her favorite

snack. When she gets home we watch home

videos of her as a baby, as a toddler just

learning how to walk, being silly with the

dog, tackling me and smothering me with

kisses. Oh, how it makes us belly laugh and

I‘ve found no better way to really hit her

over the head with my love. She watches it

and says, ―Mom you really love me, don‘t

you?‖

keepsake box by the present place

lunch box notes by kind living designs

by kristie piacine - kind living designs

If she needs a bit more because we‘re having

trouble at school with a bully or she‘s anxious

about a test, we get out the special trinkets. In

our case it‘s her favorite locket (really a piece

of junk metal) and it‘s much better than any

worry stone. Or that special shell we

pretended was a magical key to the fairy

realm last summer? That too. I‘ll sneak it into

her pocket so when she gets dressed it is

discovered. We chat over breakfast. Why I

put it there, why I thought she needed it. It

gets us talking about what‘s making her

anxious without the actual anxiety being

present and interrupting the flow of

communication. It sits in her pocket all day

long. If she feels the tiniest bit anxious she

just puts her hand in and feels it there. ―Mom,

I felt so much better. Like you were there.‖

Now that she‘s getting older, I have another

trick up my sleeve that I‘m just dying to try

out: our Mommy-Daughter journal. A special

journal that is just for us – when we‘re happy,

when we‘re sad, when we just need each

other but somehow never fit it in between

dinner, homework, softball, dance, tennis,

bedtime routines.

Lastly, we have our song. That one is really

for me. Barry Manilow, I love you, thank you

for the memories. I

remember sitting in the

back of the car, my

mother driving, me,

leaning over the huge

bench-like front seat

belting out Barry

Manilow along with

her. Our song? ―I can‘t

smile without you, I

can‘t laugh without

you….You came along

just like a song, and

brightened my

day.‖ (Was I even

buckled in back then?)

But I remember it so hand bound journal by earmarks

“Can’t Smile Without You” by Barry Manilow You know I can't smile without you, I can't smile without you, I can't laugh and I can't sing, I'm findin' it hard to do anything. You see, I feel sad when you're sad, I feel glad when you're glad, If you only knew what I'm going through, I just can't smile without you. You came along just like a song and brightened my day, Who'd've believed that you were part of a dream Now it all seems light years away. And now you know I can't smile without you, I can't smile without you, I can't laugh and I can't sing, I'm findin’ it hard to do anything. You see, I feel sad when you're sad, I feel glad when you're glad, If you only knew what I"m going through, I just can't smile. Now some people say happiness takes so very long to find. Well I'm finding it hard leaving your love behind me. And you see, I can't smile without you, I can't smile without you, I can't laugh and I can't sing, I'm findin' it hard to do anything. You see, I feel sad when you're sad, I feel glad when you're glad, If you only knew what I'm going through, I just can't smile without you

vividly, me and my Mom. Now,

it‘s my turn. I‘m the Mom and it‘s

me and her, alone from the

outside world, belting out the tune

in unison. Little does she

remember me holding her, she‘s

about 14 months old and we‘re

just spinning and diving and

twirling to Barry, me singing like

a little birdie to my baby girl.

I know I can‘t ever get back these

days. And while she‘s at school,

my little man is with me. Old

habits are hard to break. There are

certainly the days when I think,

―when do you go to school?!‖ But

we‘re building up our own set of

get-through-it routines. Perhaps

that will be another article – how

to communicate your love to your

little man now so that he can

communicate his love freely for

the rest of his life. He‘s only

three. I haven‘t got it all figured

out yet.

For my growing girl, I don‘t wish

these days away as much, but

looking to the future, I can‘t wait

until the day we dance together to

Barry – at her wedding.

by gretchen jakub fabre - chichiboulie

T he autumn and winter months are creeping

up upon us, and with them, we know that the

utility bills will also be doing some creeping,

in the upwards direction. With energy prices

on the rise, now is the time to think about ways

to conserve energy and help save not only

money, but a little bit of the planet as well.

Energy conservation is an important idea for

children to learn, but not one that is easily

taught. While

even the most

unbudging adult

can usually be

convinced to

save a little here

and there if it

will make a

difference in his

or her wallet at

the end of the

month, children

aren‘t so easily

persuaded by

this argument

and rightly so.

So how to teach your children to become

savers and not wasters? The best way to do so

is to get them involved in finding ways to save

energy around your house. If you can make it

fun for them on top of that, even better!

Here are a few ways to get them thinking

about energy conservation:

Turn it Off

Have your kids guess how many light bulbs

you have in your house and then go around

and count them all and count those that are on

at the moment. Now do the same thing with all

your other electronic devices including those

that are in stand-by mode (this uses more

electricity than you‘d think!). You‘ll all

probably be surprised at the number.

Take time to explain to them how much each

light bulb or appliance costs to use, maybe

even estimate the cost of 1 hour of usage and

show them in coins. Teach them the

importance of turning off the electrical devices

when they leave a room or when they aren‘t in

Upcycled hot water bottle cover by

butterfly garage

use. Give them an incentive to turn them off.

Make a scoring chart to award them points for

each time they shut off an unused lamp or turn

off an electronic. At the end of the week,

reward the winner with a small treat.

Keeping out the Cold

When the first chill of autumn hits, most of us

have the habit of turning on the heat, turning it

up a degree or two as the days and nights

become colder. This year, before you turn on

the heating, why not give some alternative

methods a try?

Have the kids walk around and check out all

your doors and windows for draughts.

Accompany them with a lit incense stick to

show them how to detect air passing. When

the smoke from the stick wafts, leave some

kind of marker on that door or window so you

will know that it needs attention. Then you

can either add calking or weather stripping or,

for certain doors and windows, you can make

it into a craft project and make draught snakes

or draught stoppers with the kids.

Not Just for Grandma Anymore

Before the days of central heating, our

relatives had other ways of keeping warm

during the cold autumn and winter months,

many of them very environmentally friendly

and easy too!

Making a Draught Excluder

This simple and fun project for kids is a

perfect way to introduce them to sewing as

well as teach them to conserve energy.

Materials:

Fabric of your choice

Stuffing (eco-friendly fill, rice, beans, sand)

Thread

Needle

How To:

1) Measure the width of window or door,

and add 1 inch to this length for seam

allowances.

2) Cut 1 fabric rectangle using the above

measurement making it approximately

10 inches in width.

3) With right sides together, fold fabric in

half and sew down the open long side

and across one of the open ends, leav-

ing the other end open for stuffing.

4) Turn fabric right side out, and use a

long stick, yardstick, or chop stick to

poke the corners out. You will be left

with a fabric tube.

5) Stuff the tube with the filling of your

choice.

6) Turn the raw edges of the open end in

and hand-stitch closed using small,

tight stitches.

Hot water bottles are making a comeback and

with good reason. They are very inexpensive

to purchase and easy to use. Just fill them up

with hot water, tuck them into your bed a few

minutes before turning in for the night and

enjoy a nice warm welcome. And children

love them! To make them even more inviting,

create covers for your hot water bottles by

recycling old woollen sweaters. Let your

children help select a few patterns from what

you have on hand (and are willing to cut up!)

to include them in the project. Of course,

make sure the water is not too hot for little

ones, just in case they decide to get curious.

Slippers are another easy way to keep the chill

out. We‘ve all probably heard our mothers tell

us at one moment or another that if you keep

you head, hands and feet warm, you won‘t feel

the chill as much. Well whether or not it‘s

scientifically proven, the fact is that not

walking on a cold floor will indeed make you

feel warmer. So invest in a cute pair of

slippers for every member of the family and

get your children (as well as yourself) in the

habit of slipping them on during the day and

evening. They‘ll help keep your floors cleaner

and save you on socks as well!

Add Another Layer

Another trick from our elders… add another

layer. Too many of us have gotten spoiled

when it comes to the inside temperatures of

our houses. When it‘s freezing outside, we

shouldn‘t be walking around in lightweight

clothes, but many of us do. Experts will say

that you should keep your house temperatures

between 64°F and 68°F for daytime

temperatures during the cold months (18-20°

C) and even lower at night. ―What?!‖ I can

hear many of you screaming. It‘s true. And

for every degree you lower your temperature,

you will see a percentage saved in heating

costs depending on the set temperature and

your house‘s insulation.

So now is the time to teach your children to

conserve and find other solutions. The next

time you‘re tempted to turn up the thermostat,

think twice and look at what you have on.

Invest in warm winter woollens for all the

family to keep warm and dress in layers. At

night, a cooler bedroom will allow for

healthier sleep (did you know that higher

temperatures dry out your mucus membranes

that are there to filter pollutants from the air

we breathe?). Think about woollen blankets

or natural feather duvets if allergies permit.

Not only are they environmentally friendly

and made of natural materials, but the children

will also love the loftiness of a cosy bed.

Check out these sites for energy saving tips

and games for your children:

energyhog.org

touchstone energy kids

recycle more

Clockwise from top left: upcycled lambswool slippers by wooly baby, hot pink hot water bottle cover by amanda sainsbury, merino wool

baby blanket by merino me, denim booties by me and reekie

P Q M E N E R G Y H U I B E N

C O N V P O S E M L L A Y O A

O R E A G E N E R T T Y P A T

N T O S R E Y A L W A S T E U

S A E C R I C I A T Y S A R v

E L E C T R I C I T Y T I C A

R E U S N N F K L H E S T W L

V A L E U P Q W A R M T H G E

E C O B I O S B I E I E S B E

S T H G I L C Y C L S W A R L

A W A S T L I G H T B U L B C

E L I G H U T B I E U G E B Y

E S E B W T B U O J L S Y R C

L A Y E C E S K M G I F E Z E

I G H T G R E N C E C U D E R

ENERGY POLLUTE REUSE NATURAL WASTE

CONSERVE ELECTRICITY LAYERS RECYCLE REDUCE

SAVE WATER WARMTH LIGHTS LIGHTBULB

Create a recycling center in your own home. It doesn‘t have to be fancy – a couple of boxes

or bins will do. Have one each for paper, aluminum and glass. Let your child decorate the

boxes each with a different colour or theme to help differentiate them.

Look for products made from recycled materials and teach your children to spot the recycled

materials symbol. Toilet paper, kitchen roll and printer paper are excellent examples of this.

Make this a game during your weekly shop.

Teach your child about recycling outgrown clothes and toys as well. Many places gladly

accept gently used or worn items that are no longer useful to you. Look for collection spots

in various places around town and in shopping centers.

Make it a family habit to recycle your compost. Instead of throwing vegetable peels into the

kitchen bin, make a compost instead. Organic waste makes up a large percentage of

households trash. By composting instead, you‘ll be helping reduce the amount we throw into

landfills.

Be creative - recycle old magazines into wrapping paper or fun notebook covers.

Teach your children about all the other items that can be recycled. Paper, metal and glass are

the most obvious items, but make your children aware that old batteries and electronics can

be recycled as well as many others.

Concrete ideas for implementing an eco-friendly living plan for your family

Step 3 - Recycle

Supplies:

Pumpkin seeds (roasted in

a warm oven)

Acrylic paint

Needle and thread

Aluminum foil

This pumpkin seed necklace shows traditional fall colors, but may be painted with any colors you choose.

Instructions:

For easy cleanup, spread pumpkin seeds on a large piece of aluminum foil.

Select your paint colors, and paint each seed on one side. Allow the seeds to

dry completely before turning them over and painting the other side.

When your seeds are completely dry, thread the needle with a length of thread long enough to go

over your head with 4 to 6 inches to spare. Place your seeds on a pile of newspapers or a thin

dry sponge, and push the needle down through the seeds*, one at a time. Once you have pierced

a seed safely, pick it up and pull it along the thread. Continue this process until the thread is

about two thirds filled, then knot the ends together tightly.

When you‘ve finished, you will have a true one-of-a-kind necklace for yourself or to give as a

gift! Enjoy.

by nancy keesling - tutu cute and moore

*Because you will be working with a sharp needle please be sure to supervise a child while

threading the seeds, or let the child do the painting and you do the threading.

Supplies:

foil or a small balloon

newspaper

paper mache paste

black pipe cleaners

popsicle sticks

string

black poster paint

This fall we decided to make a creepy crawly

puppet for Halloween. Charlie & Natalie came up with a spider. They wanted it to dangle,

so we made it be a marionette-type critter. They had lots of fun making it, and I’m sure

you will too!

by rosalie zingales - studio rouge

Try these options for the mache paste recipe:

•OPTION 1: 3/4 white glue to 1/4 water (or if

using a good, thick glue, like Elmers, you can do

1/2 and 1/2)

•OPTION 2: COOK METHOD: 1 part flour to 5

parts water... boil about 3 minutes and let

cool (my favorite! it's the cheapest method and is

nice and smooth)

•OPTION 3: 1 part flour to 1 part water. Stir

together.

NOTE: if you add a couple tablespoons of salt to

your paper mache it will not mold.

Instructions:

Note: This can be a messy project, so make sure your work surface is covered for protection.

1. Create a form for the body.

A ball of foil works well and is lightweight. Alternately, a

small balloon can be used.

2. Prepare your paper.

Tear newspaper into strips that little hands can manage -

about 2‘‘ wide by 10‖ or 12‖ long.

3. Prepare your paste.

Using one of the recipes at left, mix up your paper mache

paste. Pour the paste into a shallow bowl.

4. Build the spider’s body.

Working with one strip at a time,

dip the newspaper into prepared

paper mache paste. Make sure the

newspaper strip is saturated, then

hold it over the paste bowl and run

it through your fingers to squeeze

off excess paste. Stick the

newspaper strip over the body

form, and smooth it down with

your fingers. Continue to add

newspaper strips, over-lapping

them and running them in different

directions, until you‘ve completely

covered the body form.

5. Add the legs.

Before you finish putting on all of the newspaper layers,

you will need to attach the legs. Add the pipe cleaners,

one at a time, by attaching them around the ball and

securing with strips of glued paper. After all of the legs

have been secured, let your spider dry completely.

HINT: Making the last layer of mache with white

computer paper or paper towel makes painting the

spider easier., as it takes far less paint to cover.

6. Add the puppet strings.

Glue two popsicle sticks together in a cross to form the

marionette handle. Tie one end of the strings onto each leg

at the bend. Tie the other end of the strings to the top cross,

with one string for each tip of the cross and two for the

middle.

HINT: If you

attach the strings

prior to painting,

you can use them

to hang your

spider, making it

easier to paint.

7. Paint your spider.

After the mache has completely dried , paint your

spider with black poster paint.

Modern Handmade Child offers you a version of this well known children’s song, as

performed by Melonade Parade. Click here for a free download from our website.

All spiders belong to the family called Arachnids. The word Arachnid is derived

from the Greek word arachne meaning spider. In mythology Arachne was a Greek maiden who was turned into a spider after defeating Athena in a weaving

contest. Other members of the Arachnid family include scorpions and ticks.

All spiders have 8 legs. Spiders have and jaws and teeth but cannot chew.

All spiders have a spinneret that spins silk. This silk is used to make webs but also for climbing, for building egg sacs and for wrapping their prey.

All spiders have fangs and most have venom in them. Spiders use this venom to

paralyze their insect prey, but most of it is too weak to harm a human. However, there are some spiders with venom strong enough to hurt or even kill a human, such as the

Black Widow and the Brown Recluse. Tarantulas, one of the spiders we often see in scary movies, do have venom but their sting is more like a bee sting and not like the

Black Widow!

Many spiders use their webs for catching prey. The webs are sticky, and if an insect flies into it, it cannot get out. The spider will then locate the victim (or its next meal!)

through the vibrations on the web. Some spiders, called Hunters, don’t use webs to

catch their prey. They have other ways of catching a meal – some will camouflage (hide) themselves and wait for an insect to come by, while others will chase their

prey.

Spiders are important to the earth as they eat many kinds of harmful insects. They also help in the pollination of plants and are a source of food for many types of birds, fish and

small mammals.

The itsy bitsy spider went up the waterspout Down came the rain and washed the spider out

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again

On special occasions we will change venues,

getting together for a holiday party at a

members home or carpooling on a Saturday to

a local tea café.

Each of us knows ahead of time when

meetings are

organised and our

reading list is

prepared in advance.

One great way of

communicating this

is by printing the

reading list upon a

bookmark given to

all the book club

members at the start.

Additionally, blogs

are an easy way to

send updates to

members.

―I like that it forces me, or rather provides me,

with an opportunity and incentive to read

quality literature that I wouldn‘t normally read

of my own volition. I enjoy the night out and

michelle vackar - hi mamma

O ne of the most fun things I have become

involved in is joining a book club with fellow

friends. If you would have said to me a couple

of years ago how much I‘d enjoy it, I would

have thought there is just no way! A variety of

reasons may have come to my mind such as, ―I

need to take

care of the

children‖, ―I

have work that

needs to be

done‖, ―I just

don‘t have the

time‖, ―I am

tired‖, ―It is

too cold

outside‖ and

so on.

But this past

year, I joined a

book club with a group of women I know and it

has been so much more fun and rewarding than

I ever expected. We meet once a month at the

café of a local bookstore, a convenient location

for most of us coming from all areas of the city.

come home feeling intelligent and

sophisticated,‖ comments Jodi McKenna.

Deciding on which books to read can present

a challenge - everyone has different tastes in

books. But the book genre doesn‘t really

matter. Be it a classic or nonfiction,

autobiography or mystery, social awareness

or romance novel, the important part is that

you have fun and broaden your horizons.

With each book you read, you gain more

knowledge, learning while having fun.

A good idea to get started is for each member

to share a book that they‘ve enjoyed and feel

others might also enjoy reading. The ―group

leader‖ then can make the final decision on

which books make the list and in which order

they will be read.

Sarah Ronk, an Indianapolis book club

organizer commented, ―As far as selecting

books, I'm into good literature. I like the

classics but I‘m not so set in that where I like

to read them only. I found many, many lists

of book club books so I usually select the

books from them. I would also ask my

friends what books they were interested in.

There really isn't a way to keep everyone

happy, but I always take all suggestions into

consideration. For the

most part, we have

read the few books

that have been

suggested. Because

there are millions of

books out there and

hundreds of types of

books, I have had to

draw a line of what

types we read. We

don't read romance

novels -there are so

many out there that

could be a book club

of it‘s own. We also

don‘t read deep

theology/ bible study

books. Again those could be a whole different

club. The book Honey for A Woman's Heart

has been a favorite that I always go back to.

It's inspiring and motivating. The author is so

encouraging about all the benefits of reading,

reading all types of books. Some of my

favorites have been were the ones I never

thought I would read... Sherlock Holmes,

Wooster and Jeeves (British Comedy) and

coming up this summer we are reading a

classic Western, Shane.‖

Once the book has been read, starting the

discussion can at times be challenging. Of

course, there are times when we don‘t have

any trouble starting to talk about the book

that everyone has read. But just in case, get

creative! For example, an ice breaker like

playing telephone where you write

a phrase, pass it to the next person

who tries to illustrate the message

and then the person beside you tries

to translate the illustrations.

Another interesting tool to get the

conversation flowing is Table

Topics Conversation Cards by

TableTopics. These conversation

starters provide a different

viewpoint on the book and don‘t

just ask simple questions, but help

make the discussion a little more

thought provoking, or even add

some whimsy to the conversation. There are

also a variety of guides that book clubs can

use as discussion points. I have found such

reading group guides and summaries at Book

Clubs Resource http://www.book-clubs-

resource.com/guides/. Even different

publishers will have a publishers reading

group guide on their websites.

Something to keep in mind, and something I

feel is a true strongpoint of my book club, is

that if a member hasn‘t had time to read the

entire book, it is all right to admit it. The

important thing is that you are all sitting

down at the cafe, relaxing, having a cup of

coffee or tea, and just having fun together.

See next page for ideas on starting your own

book club.

Interested in starting a book club and wondering what other

book clubs have read? Here is a list of ideas to get your started:

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Muslims, Christians and Jesus by Carl Medearis

Miniskirts, Mothers and Muslims by Christine A. Mallouhi

The Sunny Side: Short Stories and Poems for Proper Grown Ups

by A.A. Milne.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Poto

Suzanna Wesley by Arnold A. Dallimore

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara

Kingsolver

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

The Ninth Daughter by Hamilton, Barbara

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann

Shaffer and Annie Barrows

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by

Michael Pollan

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Thee Cups of Tea, and Stones Into Schools by Greg Mortenson

Looking to find books at reasonable

prices?

The library is always a good place to start. If

you know you have a book coming up, you

can often request that a hold be put on that

title so you‘re sure to get it when you need it.

Many local libraries also belong to a wider

network of libraries which allows for a

greater number of available titles as well as a

larger number of each title, therefore less

competing for that one specific book!

Beyond the library, there are many other

places to look as well. Here is a list of a few

ideas:

Paperback Swap

(www.paperbackswap.com)

Amazon.com

ebay

Half-Price Books

Used bookstores

Barnes & Noble

Borders

Books-A-Million

Your local bookstore

Or, you may luck out and find your book at a

garage sale.

enhance learning through increased spatial

development. Math and reading are improved

by learning rhythms and decoding notes and

symbols. So there appears to be cross

disciplinary learning in music!

Many times though, it is hard to find a good

CD to listen to with your children. You visit

the library and select music but then when you

get home, it just really was not quite what you

were looking for. Sometimes the best music is

in your own home. For example, try exposing

your children to all different types of music

such as guitar, classical music, jazz, opera, and

much more.

We asked several moms who write for Modern

Handmade Child to provide recommendations

of music that they enjoy listening to with their

children.

Michelle Vackar: We share the earth ~ The

Bee‘s Knees | Waking Up Is Hard to Do ~ Neil

Sedaka | House Party~ Dan Zanes | Yellow

Submarine ~ The Beatles.

michelle vackar - hi mamma

M usic is as an important part of every

child‘s life as it is for adults. It is one thing that

can be taken for granted in our lives. We can be

humming a song, singing out loud with our

children, our children singing out loud while

playing, dancing, in the backyard or in the car.

Studies have confirmed that music can directly

Gretchen Jakub

Fabre: Cow

Tunes for Kids~

Brent Holmes…

very silly and

singable and all

the kids love

them from the 3

year old to 10

years old! | Henri Dès in French, these are

really cute songs and fun tunes that he sings.

If you are interested in exposing your child to

French, this is a great introduction.

Liz Murphy: We

listen to a lot of

Laurie Berkner | Mr.

Ray and Greg and

Steve... both in my

kindergarten class

and at home

Jenica Carlley: Cedarmont Kids

series | Sandra

Boynton

Rachael Ashman: Bob Marley | Bee

Gees | Cold Play | One

of our most played

CDs is the Jack

Johnson sound track

from the Curious

George movie -'Sing-

a-longs and Songs and

Lullabies for the film

Curious George' | Chopin!

What are your favorite music selections? Send us an email at editor@mhcmag.com and let us know!

Giraffes Photo taken by Stella, age 3 1/2

Adelaide, South Australia

―Stella is a very keen little photographer. She

took the giraffe photo when we were visiting

her great grandmother – her Little Big Nana

(Shirley)– in Adelaide, capital of South

Australia. Whenever we went there, we

visited the Adelaide zoo. Stella, like me,

loves the giraffes and we spent a long while

watching them. ‖

- Rachael

Mom Picture

Photo taken by Brody, age 3

Milton, Washington,USA

―One sunny afternoon as we sat out on the

back deck, I pulled out the camera to take

pictures of Brody and his sister. He had to

have his camera also, so all the pictures I

took of him were of him taking pictures, and

I guess he got some great shots of me taking

pictures also.‖

- Karen

send photos taken by your children to view@modernhandmadechild.com

Steve the Frog

Photo taken by Davin, age 5

Dickinson, Texas, USA

―Davin caught a frog and named it Steve,

then gave it a story. The story goes like this:

Steve was hopping along and came up to

Davin, they became friends. Steve told Davin

she had babies, so Davin let her go, happily

ever after.‖

- Jonie

Buckled In Photo taken by Mary, age 3

New Jersey, USA

―My daughter likes to play with my iphone

and take pictures of just about everything.

She took this one while in her car seat.‖

- Amy

contributors & staff

contributors & staff