modern handmade child - winter '09

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Gift Guide 10 ideas to reduce the stress Fabulous selection of recipes for your holiday baking Handmade holiday shopping ideas

description

Winter '09 issue of Modern Handmade Child, a seasonal online magazine helping families to embrace the handmade way of life. In this issue: the latest seasonal fashions for kids, handmade holiday decor, gift guide to help you find the best handmade gifts for any budget, lots of crafty tutorials and projects, yummy cookie recipes, ideas for eco-friendly living, and tips for keeping the hectic holiday season meaningful and stress-free.

Transcript of modern handmade child - winter '09

Page 1: modern handmade child - winter '09

Gift Guide

10 ideas to reduce the stress

Fabulous selection of recipes for your holiday baking

Handmade holiday

shopping ideas

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on the cover

Christmas hat & mitten set by

tip top applesauce

photography by Shelly Baisa

Editors Gretchen Jakub Fabre Shannon Hanley Tyann Marcink

Layout and Design by Chichiboulie The Clever Kitty

Advertising Coordinator Linda Phrakhansa Treasurer

Ahmelie Skistad

autumn 09

WELCOME

6 ...... meet the editors

7 ...... letter from the editors

WEAR - fashion trends

8......dressing up like the good

old days

10....wearable gifts kids will love

12....keeping warm while looking

cool

SHOP

15 .... holiday gift guide: gifts for

every budget

DWELL - home décor

26 .... deck the halls

PLAY - toys and activities

32.....an active imagination -

giving the best gift

CREATE - crafty tutorials

36 .... making applesauce

ornaments

38.....recycled wreath

39.....15 minute sassy skirt

43.....mommy & me mittens

MEET - interviews

46 .... nadezhda horn - green

thread shop

51 .... donni webber - fairyfolk

Follow modern handmade child on Twitter, and become a fan on Facebook!

contents modern

handmade child

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26

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Contributors WEAR........... Marissa Fischer DWELL.......... Michelle Nicholson

Kristi Duchon PLAY............. Kimberly Gachnang CREATE........ Nancy Keesling Nicole Pankratz

Rozzi Hamilton MEET............ Shannon Hanley CELEBRATE... Kristen Davis Kristi Duchon TASTE.......... Jenica Carlley Nicole Pankratz CARE............ Gretchen Jakub Fabre

Lisa Delzer SHARE.......... Kristie Piacine Tyann Marcink Kathleen Gordon-Ross EXPLORE....... Tyann Marcink WORK........... Liz Murphy

Please send all article submissions and ideas to: [email protected] Note that submissions are welcome but are not guaranteed inclusion in

the magazine. Copyright© modern handmade child 2009. All rights reserved. Reproduction or redistribution in whole or in parts without prior

written permission is strictly prohibited.

autumn 09

CELEBRATE - holidays and parties

56 ... handmade stocking stuffers

60 ... invitingly handmade

TASTE - cooking fun

66 ... cookie exchange

72 ... a duo of delicious drinks to

keep you warm

CARE - growing up green

76 ... slow food for kids

80 ... eco friendly gifts

SHARE - by moms for moms

84.....la petite artiste

87.....simplifying the holidays

92.....room party 101: tips for

classroom parties

EXPLORE - the outdoors & travel

96 ... surviving the holidays with

family

WORK - business topics for moms

101 . creating an online presence

this holiday season

VIEW - from a kid‟s eye view

104...photos taken by kids

For information regarding advertising in modern handmade child, please contact

[email protected]

contents modern

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welcome meet the editors

Gretchen Jakub Fabre is an illustrator living in northern

France. Her work focuses around the world and whimsies

of children and the young at heart. 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 www.gretchenjakubfabre.com.

Shannon Hanley lives on the coast of southern Maine with

her husband and daughter. She is an artisan dabbling in

many mediums, and 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.

Tyann Marcink is an artist, photographer, and writer living

west of St. Louis, Missouri. She precariously balances her

family and work while keeping clean clothes and fresh food

ready for her husband and three boys. Her quilt clips and

other nursery decor have been sent worldwide, and her

photography is carried at a local art store. Her children's

items can be seen online at www.littleelephantcompany.com

and her photography at www.marcinkdesigns.etsy.com.

gretchen jakub fabre, shannon hanley and tyann marcink

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by gretchen jakub fabre, shannon hanley and tyann marcink

letter from the editors

The winter season is a time of year rich with

traditions. Whether your family celebrates

Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa, chances

are there are customs that your family has

passed down through generations. Maybe

you have fond memories of baking Christmas

cookies with your mom, attending a

community Karamu, or lighting the family

menorah. No matter what holidays you

celebrate, there‟s no better time of year to

celebrate the tradition of handmade.

For as long as people have been alive, they

have been making things by hand. With the

advanced technologies available today, it

would be easy to let the handmade tradition

go by the wayside. But instead of this sad

fate, something amazing is happening -

modern technology is enabling handcrafters

to share their work with a worldwide

audience in a way that would not have been

possible in the past.

We at modern handmade child see the value

of the creativity and skills involved in

making things by hand that have been passed

from generation to generation, from family to

family. Using today‟s technology, we are

able to introduce people to these values, and

help you to incorporate handmade living into

your life like never before.

This holiday season, instead of shopping at

the usual big box stores selling mass

produced goods, why not reconnect with the

small artisans who make handmade possible.

Together, we can keep the handmade

tradition alive.

Have you taken the handmade pledge?

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T here was a time when a part of the

Holiday routine included mothers and

grandmothers painstakingly slaving over

sewing machines and needles and thread to

hand make beautiful, often coordinating

outfits, to help their children celebrate the

by marissa fischer - rae gun

wear dressing up like the good old days

festivities. Women would seek out or draft

the perfect pattern, take a trip or two to the

fabric store to pick out just the right fabrics,

and then spend hours upon hours piecing

together one-of-a-kind creations to adorn

their little ones. The result would be unique,

high quality, dresses and ties made with love.

Unfortunately, most of us these days just do

not have that kind of time.

While today‟s moms can hardly find the time

to mix up a batch of sugar cookies let alone

dedicate days and days to building their

children‟s holiday get ups from scratch, they

don‟t have to settle for the limited selection

found in the big box stores. Thankfully the

handmade revolution has made it possible for

today‟s families to enjoy the same handmade

goodness that past generations took for

granted. Not only does buying handmade for

the holidays guarantee that your little ones

will not be wearing the same thing as

everyone else, but because many sellers

happily take custom orders if you want your

kids to coordinate without being matchy

matchy, you‟re in luck.

scarlet dandy a-line dress by mette

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clockwise from bottom left: super hero set by world

of whimm, ice cream tutu by lexi lou designs, tiger

ears by cuckoo boo, personalized chef hats by stitch n

love, star bellies khaki pants by hullabaloo boutique

M ost people don‟t think of giving kids

wearables for the holidays with a realistic

expectation that the kiddos will really love

the gift. Don‟t get me wrong, I‟ve got no

problem with padding the space below the

tree with things the little ones need, but I

want to challenge people to think outside the

box this year. This holiday season think of

making a dress up chest that your kids will

enjoy all year long.

Whether your child has an unnatural ability

to watch the Incredibles on repeat until you

pretend like you lost the dvd just to give

yourself a break, knows every word in the

latest Fancy Nancy book and longs for the

day she can don her own boa and tutu, or

lives and breathes all things cute and furry,

the handmade community has just what you

need to make a dress up chest perfectly suited

for your little one. Here's a few tips for

making the perfect dress up chest for your

family.

by marissa fischer - rae gun

wearable gifts kids will love

This holiday season think of making a dress up

chest that your kids will enjoy all year long

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clockwise from bottom left: super hero set by world

of whimm, ice cream tutu by lexi lou designs, tiger

ears by cuckoo boo, personalized chef hats by stitch n

love, star bellies khaki pants by hullabaloo boutique

Make it Personal. Think of what your child

loves: books, movies, activities, etc. Does your

daughter have a love for all things princess?

You might want to look for a princess dress or

crown to put in the chest. Do your kids love

being in the kitchen while you cook? How

about a little apron filled with wooden spoons?

Does your son rope imaginary hogs and ride

pretend horses all over the house? What about

a cowboy hat or star studded pants. The

possibilities are endless.

Savor Variety. Be sure to get a good mix of

different types of items in the chest. Have

some costumes, some accessories, and even

some tools. Remember little details can be a

great platform for an imaginative adventure.

Finally remember that your chest can be a tote,

a tub, or whatever fits your family‟s

personality. So what are you waiting for? Start

thinking of how you can assemble the ultimate

catalyst for feeding your little ones‟

imaginations and consider giving them

wearables they‟ll love this holiday season.

This holiday season think of making a dress up

chest that your kids will enjoy all year long

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by ahmelie skistad - ahmelie

keeping warm while looking cool

L eg warmers aren‟t just for girls

anymore. Whether they are knitted, sewn,

argyle, or polka dot, they are definitely hip

no matter the age or gender. Traditionally

worn by dancers, designers have totally

broken out of the dancing box with bold

patterns and colors and new ways of

wearing them. For a fresh new look, add

leg warmers to a shorts or capris outfit,

layer them under a skirt, or do a flipper-roo

and use them as arm warmers for your son

to wear with his favorite t-shirt.

The baby version of leg warmers are often

aptly called crawlers. They protect your

adventurous baby‟s knees and legs while

providing warmth as she scoots around,

exploring her new world. Designed to rest

at the upper thigh, they are great for any

diapered diva or dude‟s changing pleasure.

No more tugging on tights, dealing with

snags or continuously having to snap those

hard-to-reach inner leg areas that always

seem to pop open on active kids. baby whales legwarmers by crawler covers & more

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Feeling adventurous? If you want to make your own leg warmers, you’ll find some handy step-by-step directions on www.ehow.com. DIY

layla legs stripes by layla legs

When Kim Hanks had her 4th child, a little

girl named Layla, she started making

fashionable items for her to wear. Kim says

leg warmers “are the latest craze for keeping

your baby's legs fashionably warm. Although

many Moms purchase them for babies, they

are also loved by teens and fashion friendly

women.” When she came across Etsy about

a year and a half ago, she fell head over heals

in love with it and set up her shop at

www.outoftheboxx.etsy.com, where she

began selling her „LaylaLegs‟. Kim is

releasing 75 new styles of leg and arm

warmers this winter, so you‟re sure to find a

pair to suit your child‟s individual style.

left: birdie diaper cover and matching baby leg

warmers by bushel and a peck co.

right: grey baby leggings by itzy bitzy baby

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Holiday

Gift Guide Grab a hot cup of tea and settle in. Take a few moments to browse through the following pages where you will discover a wide selection of wonderful gift ideas for the holidays this year. All are handmade, and with such a large choice of products and price ranges, you’re certain to find something for every child on your list!

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Holiday Gifts for under $10 Whether you are looking for hair clippies or jewels, artwork or accessories, check out handmade selling sites where you will find a multitude of gifts to fit the small budget. Perfect for stocking

stuffers!

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Adorable and affordable

top row, left to right: owliver the owl tote by everyday

celebrations - $18.50, classic wooden toy saw by pretty

dreamer - $24, snowflake tee by plum tree studio - $24,

beginning sounds flipboard by tootsie bear - $14

bottom row, left to right: lotus tea box jumbo blocks by

tiny giraffe - $24, nathan crochet earflap helmet by

beberagz - $15, screen printed tee with paints by daisy

creek - $18, floral delight ribbon headbands by zuzu girl

handmade - $18

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Adorable and affordable

top row, left to right: owliver the owl tote by everyday

celebrations - $18.50, classic wooden toy saw by pretty

dreamer - $24, snowflake tee by plum tree studio - $24,

beginning sounds flipboard by tootsie bear - $14

bottom row, left to right: lotus tea box jumbo blocks by

tiny giraffe - $24, nathan crochet earflap helmet by

beberagz - $15, screen printed tee with paints by daisy

creek - $18, floral delight ribbon headbands by zuzu girl

handmade - $18

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clockwise from bottom left: felted high top baby shoes by the clever kitty - $27, limited edition animal alphabet

poster by kaching design - $48, paisley peasant dress by noah and lilah - $26, how does your garden grow

canvas wall art by paint me a picture - $37.50, 3 little dresses watercolours by chichiboulie - $40, baby’s first

prima tutu filled with flower petals by tutu cute and moore - $30

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dwell by michelle nicholson - flirty bird

deck the halls

of school, the visit to Santa to put the official

requests in and, my favourite, decorating the

house with all the Christmas decorations.

Today, preparing your house for Christmas can

be considered an art form which can stretch the

already super stretched Christmas budget. To

have a beautiful festive house does not have to

leave you with an empty pocket and nothing

left to purchase gifts. Involving your children

in making your own decorations will not only

save you money, but it will make your holiday

more meaningful and memorable. A large clear

vase brimming with traditional red and green

paper chains, a handmade silver paper angel,

and some collected pine cones for your table's

centrepiece will be much more of a talking

point than the expensive flashing centrepiece

from the leading department store.

You can find little, inexpensive craft kits that

encourage your children to be creative. From

simple kits that toddlers will be overjoyed to

stick and paste with, to more involved kits that

will mesmerise older children for hours, there

are many options for all skill levels.

C hristmas Day has to be one of the most

exciting times of the year for children, young

or old. Opening presents, seeing family that

they may not have seen for a period of time,

not to mention all that yummy food to eat.

Sometimes, as parents caught up in the busy

Christmas period, we can forget that the lead

up to the actual day can be just as exciting as

the actual day. The count down to the last day

yarn wreath by knock knocking

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Even if you aren't the creative type, you can still enjoy beautiful handmade

items. On the facing page you will find 25 inexpensive handmade Christmas decorations to make your home beautiful this Christmas. Starting at just a mere $1.75, these items are sure to make you merry. Top Row Pick up a few reindeer baubles to brighten your tree from paper and string bulk or a string of hand cut natural garland

from nature’s cabinet. Sweet hand felted acorns from kim’s etsy boutique will be a tiny surprise among the branches of

your tree. Paper snowflakes would look great on the dinner table from end of the day crafting while this stunning yarn

Christmas wreath from knock knocking will welcome all your visitors.

Second Row Colourful recycled paper baubles from artsy rubbish are sure to brighten wherever they hang, as will these felt

stockings from rikrak. Hoping for a white Christmas, try these window decals from verdigris dye to add a little bit of

the white stuff to your festivities. Bauble wall decals from elephannie will add holiday cheer to your children‟s doors,

and this snowman from the cottage cupboard will make the whole family smile.

Middle Row

A classic yarn wreath from knock knocking, along with this tall snowman from the north forest help signal the

upcoming celebrations, and santa’s cookie plate from serendipity crafts will prove a big hit with the kids. Sparkle

green baubles from darling gifts look great on the tree or in a tall vase, and this gorgeous Christmas lighting from like

deco adds a bit of glitter to any room.

Forth Row Such sweet robin ornaments from snowy side drive! A cheery Christmas cushion from asmus home interiors adds a

burst of colour to your sitting room, especially when combined with these bright Christmas stockings from rikrak

hanging from the mantel. For your holiday meal, try these Christmas napkins from me 2 designs and hang red and

green bunting from snow fish for something extra special.

Bottom Row A woodland deer moss terrarium from green briar brings the outdoors in and provides festive greenery in a compact

form. Christmas tree ornaments from snowy side drive and this simply elegant Christmas angel from glass and garden

will decorate the boughs, along with these Christmas star lights from like deco. Top it all off with a nativity scene

from walking bear studio.

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by kimberly gachnang - tootsies bear

an active imagination - giving the best gift

play

H ow does the joke go? Toddlers are more

interested in the packaging than the gift

inside? Well as it turns out, those toddlers

are on to

something!

Creative,

open-ended

play is about

much more

than just

playing. It

offers

children a

chance to

practice

many brain

boosting

skills that

will serve

them as they grow, as well as later in life:

skills such as imagination, vision, patience,

problem solving, creativity, cooperation and

many more.

In her book Playing to Get Smart, Betty

Jones, Ph.D., urges parents to understand that

children and adults who are skilled at play

with both things and ideas, have the power,

influence and

capacity to

create

meaningful

lives. They are

more receptive

to ambiguity

than those who

are stuck in

the way things

are or were.

The American

Academy of

Pediatrics'

2006 Report

on the

importance of play emphasizes that all

children need free, undirected play for

creative growth, self-reflection and

decompression. It works because, with no

princess meets frog paint kit by goose grease undone

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Blocks and Manipulatives

Providing children with blocks of all kinds,

including Legos, Lincoln Logs, cardboard

bricks and accessories extends the play to

help children learn about spatial

relationships, math concepts, architecture and

balance. From plain wooden blocks to

elaborate Lego systems, children have the

freedom to create anything they wish. Blocks

can be a house, a street or a whole city. A

zoo. A fort. A castle. Small wooden or plastic

people and animals can be added to further

develop scenarios. Even pictures of people,

animals, or buildings taped to wood blocks

will spark a child's imagination.

predetermined outcome, the focus isn't

achievement, allowing children to focus on

creating something based on inner

inspiration. It encourages trial and error,

which allows children to pause and wonder.

Children enjoy making choices themselves,

and open-ended play fosters initiative and

self-direction.

Creative Art

Of course just giving a child paper and

crayons or markers is a start toward

encouraging creativity, but the possibilities

are endless when it comes to materials that

can be used to create works of art. The focus

isn't on the project looking like anything in

particular when finished, but rather the

process of creating it. Paints of all kinds, as

well as clay and doughs, are all perfect

materials for open-ended play.

Collage is another easy place to start. For

smaller children not yet ready for using glue,

tape a piece of clear contact paper to the

table, sticky side up, and let them cover it

with collage materials. Older children can

handle the glue themselves (hint: even large

puddles of glue are a learning experience).

This activity can be adapted to any season or

holiday by varying the colors and/or shapes

of the materials provided.

critter abc blocks by tiny giraffe

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Be prepared for a rainy day and let your child’s

imagination run away with him or her.

natural items such as sticks, leaves,

pressed flowers

paper that can be crumpled, rolled,

cut and glued

ribbon buttons

sequins felt

feathers beads

fabric stickers

foam shapes stickers

poms poms wiggle eyes

popsicle sticks ric rac

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Manipulatives are well suited to growing with a

child. They can start with large fabric and

wooden blocks and giant Lego type blocks as

toddlers and advance their way up to Lego sets

that contain hundreds of pieces that they can

use to build anything their imagination can

dream up.

Dramatic Play

Children engaged in dramatic play have many

opportunities to develop social emotional skills,

cooperative play, imagination, self help skills,

compromise and self-confidence. When

allowed to create play scenes, from playing

house to cops and robbers, children are given a

chance to imagine themselves in various roles

and work through sometimes complicated

social situations.

Play food, aprons dolls, and household items

can let children work out family dynamics,

develop caring attitudes, consider gender roles

and how boys can take care of babies and

girls can go off to work. Providing dolls that

don't do specific things or are specific

characters lets children use them in many

ways. A child might be inclined to play with a

Madeline doll by acting out scenes from

Madeline books or movies. A baby doll can

be incorporated into any scene the children

think up. A

colorful

scarf can be

a cape, a

skirt, a

dress, a

blanket. Not

only does

the play

promote

creativity,

but the

choice of

props can too.

So the next time you are out choosing a gift

for a child, why not think in terms of its uses

and creative value and give your child the gift

of imagination.

royal crown by world of whimm

recycled tee shirt mask by nue to me

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T here is just something about the winter

months that makes me want to sprinkle

everything with a little bit of cinnamon.

While cinnamon is a very

common and everyday spice that

we use in a multitude of recipes

and projects all throughout the

year, for some reason during the

winter months it seems to take

on a particularly special role. Is

it the warm feeling it gives us

when our world is full of snow

covered streets and freezing

nights? Perhaps. But what is for

certain is that for many, the

sweet and spicy smell of cinnamon

instantaneously conjures up thoughts of

winters and holidays gone by.

As a child, I can remember my mother

allowing us children to help her make

delicious goodies with her in the kitchen

during the winter months and Christmas

season – many of them, of course, containing

a fair amount of cinnamon. Whether it was

create making applesauce ornaments by nicole pankratz - lil boo & co

making oatmeal raisin cookies, hard

cinnamon candy or even mixing up fresh

holiday potpourri, cinnamon was a staple

ingredient.

One particular recipe though, always

made a huge impression on me –

Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments.

When we made those ornaments, I

knew that winter was officially here.

We made batches to give away to

our classmates, batches to hang on

our Christmas tree and even batches

to hang on gifts that we handed out

over the holiday season.

Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments have been

a very common winter adornment for many

years in households all over the world, and

this year with my own children helping me in

the kitchen, we plan to make many batches of

these delicious smelling winter ornaments for

all of our friends and neighbors. After all,

who wouldn‟t want that sweet and spicy

fragrance of cinnamon wafting through her

own house?

cinnamon tree ornament by zviolet

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Ingredients:

1 cup cinnamon

1 Tbsp ground cloves

1 Tbsp nutmeg

1 Tbsp allspice

1 Tbsp ginger

3/4 cup applesauce

Directions:

In medium bowl, combine cinnamon, cloves,

allspice, ginger and nutmeg. Add applesauce

and stir to combine.

Work mixture with your hands for 2 to 3

minutes or until dough is smooth and

ingredients are thoroughly mixed.

Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness and cut

out using cookie cutters of various shapes. We

use all sorts of holiday cut outs including

snowflakes, gingerbread men, stars, Christmas

trees and jingle bell shapes.

Use a straw or pencil to make small holes in

the tops of the ornaments – the holes will later

be used to string ribbon through to complete

the ornaments.

Place cutouts on an ungreased cookie sheet and

bake at 150 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately

70 degrees Celsius) for 1 hour.

Remove ornaments from the cookie sheet and

bake directly on the oven racks for another

hour and a half.

Let cool on parchment paper then string

ribbon through the holes of the ornaments.

Creative tips:

For extra sparkle, mix decorative glitter into

the recipe.

Make your own shapes by trimming the

dough with a table knife following around

patterns you've cut from cereal box

cardboard.

After cutting out shapes, use a drinking straw

to create holes for jewelery or ornaments.

Use toothpicks to make smaller holes for

threading. Leave in dough until dry and

remove.

For a wall hanging, thread a colored ribbon

through the shape.

For a brooch, decorate with fabric paint and

glue a metal clasp pin to the back (available

at craft stores).

Important note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this activity. These are NOT for eating!

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by nancy keesling- tutu cute and moore

recycled wreath

L ooking for a festive way to recycle your

holiday wrapping? Familiar with children

who want to “help” when you least need

it? Why not keep your kids occupied while

you are completing your “to do” list by

giving them the opportunity to be creative

with your leftover pieces of gift wrap, tissue

paper, or ribbon?

Kids will love making this upcycled wreath

to give to grandparents, aunts and uncles or

for their own bedroom door. Not only will it

keep your little ones and their imaginations

actively engaged, but it also reinforces the

benefits of recycling. Try adapting the theme

to suit the season for an all-year fun activity.

Materials:

Sturdy paper plate, to avoid frustration

and a limp wreath

Gift wrap, ribbon, tissue paper scraps,

cotton balls, yarn, etc.

Glue or glue stick

Directions:

Cut out the center of a paper plate. For a

perfect circle, trace around a CD or a smaller

plate.

Cover a portion of the plate with glue at a

time, and give your child the freedom to

create the wreath to his or her liking.

Use a paper punch or cut a small opening

1” from the edge of the plate on what is to be

the top of the wreath.

Thread a ribbon through the opening and

knot the ends together for a neat little hanger.

a slightly more sophisticated wreath, made by rolling

wrapping paper, by haru

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by rozzi hamilton – rozzi‟s sweetpeas

15 minute sassy skirt

Create a fun skirt for your

little girl in no time at all.

Choose a variety of

coordinating prints to add

even more sass to your

skirt!

Materials:

Fabric

3/8” wide elastic

Rotary Cutter & Mat or

Scissors & Ruler

Sewing Machine

Needle

Thread

Please see page 42 for information on

measuring and cutting your fabric.

1. Cutting out Fabric Determine the sizes needed and cut out your

3 rectangles of fabric for your Yoke (a), Body

(b) and Trim (c).

2. Attaching Yoke to Body

Gather one long edge of the skirt body

(largest rectangle of fabric). You can do this

by hand-sewing a basting stitch or by

stitching a long running stitch with your

machine.

Hint: a double row of basting stitching will give you

a more even gather.

2. 1.

Page 40: modern handmade child - winter '09

2a. Attaching Yoke cont’d

Pull the threads on one end to

gather the fabric and adjust to

fit the long edge of the

yoke. Right sides together,

pin yoke to body. Set your

sewing machine to straight

stitch and sew the yoke to the

skirt body. Finish edge with

zigzag stitch or serge edges.

3. Attaching Trim

Create the trim by folding remaining

rectangle of fabric in half lengthwise,

wrong sides together, and iron. Sew this

to the bottom edge of the skirt

body. Zigzag or serge the seam to finish.

2a.

3.

Page 41: modern handmade child - winter '09

When you try out any of our projects or crafts, be

sure to take photos and send them with your stories

to [email protected],

and you could be featured in our next issue.

You will now have three rectangles sewn together. Next, fold the pieced rectangle in half, right

sides together and stitch the open side creating a tube. Zigzag or serge the edges to finish, then

iron your seam flat. This will give you a tube with a top (the unfinished edge) and a bottom (the

trim).

4.

4. Creating Casing On the unfinished edge, you will

create the fold or casing for the

elastic. Turn under 1/4" of fabric

on the unfinished edge and

press. Make a 1/2" fold again so

that the unfinished edge is tucked

inside what will become the

casing. Sew a straight stitch

around, leaving a 1" opening to

insert your elastic. (Length of

elastic is determined by

measuring your child's waist and

subtracting 2”).

With a safety pin attached to one end, thread the elastic through the casing. Stitch the ends of

the elastic together with a tight straight stitch, back stitching several times to reinforce the

elastic connection. Sew the opening left for the elastic closed with matching stitches.

4.

Page 42: modern handmade child - winter '09

METHOD 1 Yoke (or smallest rectangle): measure your child's waist and multiply that measurement by

1.5. This will be length of the yoke.

Body (largest rectangle): Width will determine the fullness. For moderate fullness, measure

your child's hips and multiply by 2.

Trim: Cut to the same length as the body piece.

Drop: Measure the length you desire for the skirt by starting at your child's waist and

measuring down to where you want the hem to fall on her body. The combined length of all

three fabric pieces (yoke + body + hem + seam allowances) should be equal to the total length

with the yoke and hem being the smaller numbers.

*Be sure to add in your seam allowances on all fabric pieces.

METHOD 2 Pre-calculated measurements including seam allowances of 1/4"

Measuring your fabric - two methods to determine the length & width of the fabric rectangles

Size 18-24 Months:

Yoke: Cut 1 4" x 21" rectangle

Body: Cut 1 6" x 35" rectangle

Trim: Cut 1 3" x 35" rectangle

Elastic: 15” of 3/8" wide elastic

Size 2 T: Yoke: Cut 1 4" x 22" rectangle

Body: Cut 1 6.5" x 35.5" rectangle

Trim: Cut 1 3.5" x 35.5" rectangle

Elastic: 16” of 3/8" wide elastic

Size 6-12 Months: Yoke: Cut 1 3.5" x 20" rectangle

Body: Cut 1 5" x 34" rectangle

Trim: Cut 1 3" x 34" rectangle

Elastic: 14” of 3/8" wide elastic

Size 12-18 Months:

Yoke: Cut 1 3.5" x 20.5" rectangle

Body: Cut 1 3.5" x 34.5" rectangle

Trim: Cut 1 3" x 34.5" rectangle

Elastic: 14.5” of 3/8" wide elastic

Page 43: modern handmade child - winter '09

by shannon hanley – the clever kitty

mommy & me mittens

treated to be washable). Those with a dry

clean only label are sure to full nicely. Be

sure to also look for a large sweater with

wide sleeves, as it will shrink considerably

during the fulling process.

Step 1: Full the sweater. The quickest and

easiest way to do this is in your washing

machine, using hot water and plenty of

detergent. You may need to run it through

two cycles, but it really depends on the

particular sweater and your washing machine.

Dry the sweater in your dryer using a hot

setting.

Step 2: Make the patterns. Trace around

your toddler‟s hand, leaving a little wiggle

room. Add a quarter-inch seam allowance to

the edge, and cut out. Repeat with your hand.

T here is no doubt that wool is great for

keeping you warm, and when it is fulled or

felted*, it is even warmer. These easy

matching mittens for you and your toddler

will be sure to keep you both extra warm this

winter.

All you need to make this easy set of

matching mittens for you and your toddler is

an old wool sweater and some thread. Not all

wool sweaters are alike (some have been

*Although commonly called felting, the technical term for the process of shrinking woolen fabric or garments is fulling.

tip: Placing the sweater in a zippered

pillowcase before fulling will help cut down

on the fuzz that ends up in your washer and

dryer.

Page 44: modern handmade child - winter '09

tip: If you want to do any embroidery on the mittens, now is

a great time to do it. It’s much easier to stitch a design

before the mittens are sewn together.

Step 3: Cut out the mittens. Place the pattern for your

mittens on the sweater with the wrist opening at the bottom

hem, and cut out. Repeat for your toddler‟s mittens, placing

the wrist opening at the sleeve hem.

Step 4: Sew the mittens. Once felted, the wool doesn‟t really have a

right or wrong side, but if you‟ve done any embroidery it will, so

make sure to put the right sides facing. Stitch two mitten pieces

together around the outside edge, using a quarter-inch seam. Repeat

for the remaining mittens.

Turn right side out, and you‟re done!

tip: The felted wool is thick and can create a bulky seam, but you can

trim the seam allowance down a little bit to make the mitten more

comfortable. Clipping the curve where the thumb meets the hand also

helps to make that area more flexible. To do this, simply make a

couple of snips, running perpendicular to the seam and just to it (see

above pic, far right).

Page 46: modern handmade child - winter '09

meet nadezhda horn - green thread by shannon hanley - the clever kitty

mhc: Tell us a little about yourself.

nadezhda: My name is Nadezhda Horn.

I was born in Eastern Europe but spent the

majority of my youth in Australia where I

graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion

from Royal Melbourne Institute of

Technology. In Australia, I worked as a

fashion designer for an evening wear

company, designing beautiful dresses. One

day, accidentally, I bumped into a US Navy

Deep Sea Diver and fell in love. Now I‟m

very happily married with two wonderful

children and a dog. We presently live in

California, enjoying sunny weather.

mhc: Aside from creating things, what do

you love to do?

nadezhda: I love to spend as much time

as possible with my husband and children.

We love the outdoors. We love to fish, hike

and camp.

I also adore anything vintage. Some of my

weekends are spent at antique stores and

estate sales. It feels like a treasure hunt every

time.

mhc: What is your favorite vintage

treasure you've bought, and where did you

find it?

nadezhda: An old piano. I would like to

give credit to my mother-in-law for finding

this „treasure.‟ We bought it from a retired

piano teacher. It‟s beautiful and fills our

house with great melodies every day.

Page 47: modern handmade child - winter '09
Page 48: modern handmade child - winter '09

visited, so she gave me sewing lessons. She

taught me all the possible seams, ways to

finish edges, proper pressing techniques and

tailoring. I still refer back to those lessons

every time I sew. She always has been a

perfectionist, so the first thing I made was a

perfectly sewn and pressed bag.

mhc: Sounds like your grandmother was

quite a knowledgeable seamstress. Do you

hope to pass the

skills you've learned

onto your own

children and

someday,

grandchildren?

nadezhda: Absolutely! Anyone

who wants to learn

is welcome.

mhc: When did

you decide to start

selling your work?

nadezhda: As a

baby, my son had

very sensitive skin. I

tried my best to buy

good quality cotton

mhc: How did you get started making

things? What is the first thing you remember

creating?

nadezhda: From the time I can

remember, I wanted to be a designer. From a

young age I was sketching, painting, knitting,

crocheting or sewing. I first learned to sew on

my grandmother‟s old treadle machine. The

TV was out of question in her house when I

Page 49: modern handmade child - winter '09

blankets and clothing for him and only used

mild detergents to wash them. There was not

as many companies back then making

organic cotton baby clothing, so the idea for a

label was born.

mhc: What is the name of your shop?

nadezhda: Green Thread - my husband

came up with it, and I thought it reflects our

product perfectly.

mhc: What‟s your favorite item to make,

and why?

nadezhda: That‟s a very hard question

to answer, because all of my items are unique

in their own way, and I love something about

each one of them.

mhc: What‟s your most popular item?

nadezhda: „Homegrown‟ blankets. I

think it‟s because they are made from

beautiful organic cotton, grown in Texas,

USA. The fabric quality is fantastic, and it‟s

also a great way to support our local

economy.

mhc: What‟s the best part about earning a

living making things?

nadezhda: Exploring the creative

boundaries and a feeling of pride in each item

produced.

mhc: Where does your inspiration come

from?

nadezhda: As a child I used to collect

greeting cards, because I loved the

illustrations on them, and still do. So I often

flip through my old collection looking for

print inspiration. Also children‟s fairytales

and stories play a big part. Right now „Little

Red Riding Hood‟ is a popular tale in our

house, so you might see some items

influenced by that theme in my store. At

times, inspiration comes from fabrics, where

I try to visualize the best design for them.

mhc: What is your creative process?

nadezhda: I broke it down into steps:

reviewing inspirational work

deciding on a color palette

choosing fabric

brainstorming by doodling

refining and pushing my ideas further

getting feedback from people (and children)

around me

executing the final design

Page 50: modern handmade child - winter '09

mhc: What handmade item do you

cherish?

nadezhda: With my addiction to

vintage, we accumulated lots of fantastic

examples of handmade items. Although the

one that I hold dear to my heart is my

engagement ring. This 1940‟s ring does not

hold a big diamond, but it‟s priceless and the

most cherished, because it was given to me

by the love of my life, and it once belonged

to his greatly loved and missed grandmother.

mhc: What to you is the importance of

buying handmade?

nadezhda: Craftsmanship and care put

in producing each item. While discovering

new designers, you will always get one-of-a-

kind items as individual as you are, and made

with love by someone who loves what they

do. Handmade items are hard to discard and

often turn into keepsakes that you will

cherish for years to come. You can be proud

knowing that you‟re supporting small

businesses, new ideas, freedom of design and

vision. There is nothing better.

Nadezhda is offering

15% off

your entire purchase*

Just mention this article in the ‘message to seller’ box at checkout,

and she will send a revised invoice or refund for the discount amount.

* custom and wholesale orders excluded, offer

expires May 1, 2010

Page 51: modern handmade child - winter '09

donni webber - fairyfolk by shannon hanley - the clever kitty

mhc: Tell us a little about yourself.

donni: My name is Donni Webber. I am

Mom to two sunbursts of joy… K is my

precious flower fairy. She is almost 6. I love

her curly brown hair, the freedom of her

imagination and her deep, sweet innocence. T

is 2. He is my blond, blue-eyed teddy-bear

boy. My husband is from New Zealand. He is

my love, my very best friend and the one who

keeps me grounded as I tend to go off with

the fairies now and then. He was a

professional Rugby player and coach. His

rugby has taken us to live in so many

beautiful places. We have lived under the

yellow sun in South Africa, amongst the

emerald moss in Ireland, dabbled our toes in

the silvery streams of New Zealand and even

slept with the fairies in the bluebell forests of

England. When our daughter arrived, we

knew it was time to settle down, and we

chose to pursue the American Dream. We live

in Los Angeles and have fallen totally and

utterly in love with the diversity, opportunity

and friendship given to us by the City of

Angels.

mhc: Other than your current home in LA,

which was your favorite place to live?

donni: I have truly loved all the places

I've lived in. If I had to choose my favorite,

I'd have to say South Africa...I grew up there

during a time of radical transformation, and I

am so proud of what my country has

accomplished. The very first time I voted,

when I was 18 years old, was for the

inspirational Nelson Mandela. It was a very

exciting time for me, being a part of the

rebirth of a nation...the Rainbow Nation!

Page 52: modern handmade child - winter '09

mhc: Aside from creating things, what do

you love to do?

donni: Being a mother is such an honor,

and I feel truly thankful to my husband for

working the long hours he does to allow me

to be a stay-at-home mom.

Growing up in South Africa, I had a

wonderful childhood. My mother‟s natural

style of parenting was very in line with

Waldorf philosophies. She ignited a magic

and love of nature that I have found so very

valuable in my adult years. I strive to provide

this same nature-inspired childhood for my

own children.

Through them, I am

constantly awed by the magic

of childhood. I try to fill their

days with enchantment and

creativity, while always

being a soft place to rest.

There are daily challenges,

some I do well at, some, not

so much, but I am ever so

grateful that I get what a gift

these children are.

Sometimes I long for more

time to myself so that I can

craft to my heart‟s desire, but

then I quickly remind myself

that this time, when my children are so

needful of me, is precious and fleeting. There

will come a time in my life when I have all

the hours in the day to craft, and I know I will

look back on these special days with an

overwhelming longing to relive them.

I write a daily blog called The Magic Onions,

www.themagiconions.blogspot.com, where I

chronicle the nature and Waldorf-inspired

activities and crafts we do together. It is a

wonderful way to record these precious days

and the fun we are having. I have been

happily surprised at the following it has

received and have found great support from

others in the blogging world.

Page 53: modern handmade child - winter '09

mhc: Do you know of any great resources

for anyone wanting to learn more about

Waldorf Education and philosophies?

donni: I am so very excited to be sharing

a Waldorf Education with my children. It is a

learning philosophy that educates the whole

child, integrating arts and academics and

encouraging the development of each child's

sense of truth, beauty and goodness. I love

the sentiment that Waldorf Education creates

a well rounded child - head, heart and hands.

There‟s lots of great information on Waldorf

Education at the website 'Why Waldorf

Works'.

mhc: How did you get started making

things? What is the first thing you remember

creating?

donni: My craft is needle felting. I enjoy

creating magical children‟s toys made from

natural materials that inspire creative and

imaginative play...dolls, play scenes, fairies,

gnomes...all handmade from wool.

Needle felting is an amazing process. I start

with wool roving and, with my sharp, barbed

needle, I poke the loose fibers thousands of

times until the desired form is achieved. It is

very labor intensive, but I find it therapeutic

and relaxing…the slow, deliberate poking

motion, the crunching noise as the needle

enters the wool, the gorgeous colors in front

of me…it is such a wonderfully creative

activity.

The very first needle felted item I made was

for a Christmas present for my daughter last

year. Having rediscovered Waldorf

Education, I wanted to give her handmade

toys made from natural materials. My friend

introduced me to needle felting, and I caught

the needle felting bug in a big way. I needle

felted ALL of her, and her brother‟s,

Christmas presents! It was the most

rewarding thing I had done in a long while,

especially on Christmas morning when I saw

their utter delight in my very own, handmade

creations.

mhc: When did you decide to start selling

your work?

donni: I loved the needle felting process

so much that I continued making needle

felted toys until they spilled out of every

drawer in my home. My husband suggested,

in an effort to reclaim his house, that I try to

sell them, and that is when I found Etsy. I

opened my Etsy shop in March 2009.

mhc: What is the name of your shop?

Page 54: modern handmade child - winter '09

donni: My shop is called Fairyfolk. It is

named for the fairies and gnomes that I make.

mhc: What‟s your favourite item to make,

and why?

donni: I love making the Flower Fairies. I

love to look at a particular

flower and see how I can

turn wool into its

likeness, and then

make a little fairy

who symbolizes

that flower‟s

particular

essence.

mhc: What‟s

your most popular

item?

donni: My Felted

Acorns have been very popular. They

are wonderful little additions to home décor

and help bring the magic of nature indoors.

My customers have enjoyed choosing the

colors that suite their homes. My Felted

Acorns are such fun to make, too. I felt the

acorn part from colored wool. The caps come

from Mother Nature herself! In the fall, when

the acorns are falling, my husband takes us

up into the mountains, and we become a

forest family, foraging for acorns caps. It is a

fun family activity… seeing who can collect

the most, who can find the biggest acorn cap.

mhc: What‟s the best part about earning a

living making things?

donni: I am still totally amazed that

I can make things that people

want to buy. I feel honored

with each and ever sale.

mhc: Where does

your inspiration come

from?

donni: My

inspiration comes

from my children.

They have such fertile

imaginations, and I am

constantly awed by the

freedom of their spirits.

mhc: What handmade item do you

cherish?

donni: We love to go to garage

sales...there is something thrilling about

finding a treasure amongst the tables of dusty

kitchenware and boxes of forgotten trinkets.

We found my most cherished handmade item

Page 55: modern handmade child - winter '09

leaning against a wall at a garage sale one

morning. It is a framed needlepoint scene of

animals in the forest. There is a beautiful big

tree and, gathered all around it, are the

sweetest forest animals. There is a fox, a

bear, a skunk, a bunny, a mole and so many

others. It is enchanting. It hangs in my

daughter‟s room, and we gaze at it often,

making up stories for all the animals. I know

how much work someone put into making it,

and I just can‟t believe that someone else

gave it away for a couple of dollars. I just

wish I could let the person who gave it life

know how much we truly cherish her

creation.

mhc: What to you is the importance of

buying handmade?

donni: I am hoping that we are on the

cusp of a new era, a collective movement

away from the frantic, shiny, plastic longing

for more, bigger, better. My family and I have

opted to take a step sideways, toward a

simpler, calmer, more handmade life. It takes

longer to bake a loaf of bread, but there is so

much joy in the baking that is missed if we

had not taken the time. The flour on my son‟s

nose, the smile on my daughter‟s face as she

bites into the warm, buttery slice she has just

helped me bake. We have come to realize that

the reward is in the human love that has gone

into something handmade, a love that is

tangible and magical and infuses our souls.

Blessings and magic!

Donni is offering a

Free felted acorn with any purchase*

Just mention this article in the

‘message to seller’ box at checkout,

and she’ll include it in your package.

* offer expires November 30, 2010

Page 56: modern handmade child - winter '09

H ow does one begin to build a handmade

stocking? Well, with the stocking of course.

There are innumerable options when shopping

for a stocking. Fortunately, it‟s something that

you only need to buy once, and it can be used

for many years to come. If you are crafty, this

is a great project to do with your kids. With

just a little felt, some glitter, glue and maybe a

few embellishments, you can make your own

stocking that will be cherished for years to

come.

If you‟re not quite so crafty, turn to the experts.

One of our favorites is by Rikrak. These felt

stockings are made of ecospun felt, which is

made from 100% post-consumer recycled

plastic bottles. They are not only adorable, they

are also fully customizable.

Once you‟ve settled on a stocking, it‟s time for

the fun part. Let‟s fill it!

handmade stocking stuffers by Kristi duchon - zuzu girl handmade

celebrate

Twas the night before Christmas,

when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

And filled with handmade goodies

from just about everywhere!

Page 57: modern handmade child - winter '09

Stocking Stuffing

Now you need to choose the bulk of the stocking without

breaking the bank. There are endless possibilities out there,

so we‟ve broken it down to some of our favorite handmade

items for you.

If you have a large stocking, consider these non-treated,

chemical-free wood blocks from the Tiny Giraffe Shop.

They come as a set of six, 1-1/4 inch blocks featuring

numbers 0 through 9. The set pictured depicts classic zoo

animals, but the company offers dozens of other options to

suit your child‟s taste.

Essential to every stocking is a “topper.” This is a large item

that will reveal itself from the top of the stocking on Christmas

morning. It is also an easy way to fill up some space if you

have a large stocking and are on a tight budget. A new plush

doll is a great option to sit on top of the stocking, like the

sweet little pirate bunny we found at Bit of Whimsy.

For older children, toys like sidewalk sensations‟ non-toxic,

washable sidewalk paint is, well, a sensational idea. And at

only $3.00 a set, it‟s affordable too.

What little princess wouldn‟t be thrilled to find a fabulous

floral wand poking out of the top of her stocking? There are

many options out there, but we‟re somewhat partial to the fully

customizable fairy princess wands at zuzu girl handmade.

Stocking Toppers

Page 59: modern handmade child - winter '09

Lil‟ B Designs creates whimsical yet practical handcrafted products like their Roll.n.Go™

crayon roll. They come in a variety of colors and fabrics and are suitable for children of any

age…and some adults too! They are also makers of Lil Scribblers™, unique recycled crayons

for hours of Christmas morning fun. Small wooden cars from Happy Squash Toys are the

perfect size for stockings and for tiny hands. They are hand-crafted and finished in a variety of

bright colors. At only $4.50 each, these are a sure hit with parents as well as little drivers.

Stocking Treasures

No one wants to be disappointed when arriving at the bottom of a stocking, so why not hide a

little bling there? A special little trinket or treasure fits perfectly in the tiny toe of the stocking.

No matter what you choose to fill your child‟s stocking, they will know it‟s filled with love. If

it comes from the heart, it is sure to please. And a little candy never hurts!

fabric bead bracelet from annie and olive; crystal flower matryoshka hair

clippie from enna design shop; personalized necklace from daisy chains.

Page 60: modern handmade child - winter '09
Page 61: modern handmade child - winter '09

T he first sight of a wonderful party to come,

an invitation sets the stage for your special

celebration. Today‟s choices offer such a wide

selection that one can easily find the

perfect invitation well within a

variety of budgets. Whether

you make them yourself,

have them printed at the

photo shop, or enlist the

help of a wonderful

artist to help you set

the stage, the choices

are practically

limitless.

It used to be that the

photo invitations you

could have printed at the

local drugstore or photo

shop were quite bland. Not the

case anymore! Stores now offer a

huge variety of cute alternatives, making this a

viable option to announce an upcoming affair.

Have a favorite photo of your little one? It‟s as

simple as uploading pictures from your

computer into the template of your choice and

placing your order. Sometimes within as little

as an hour you can have a package of

personalized invites ready to send, all with the

click of a button. Another great option is one of

the many online shops specializing in

photo cards. With an even greater

selection of designs, some even

custom made, the process is

just the same. This is an

especially nice alternative

for distant relatives you‟d

like to include in the

announcement, as it

provides a current photo

of your loved one, a

memento in itself.

Another option in setting

the stage is creating the

invites yourself. Party supply

stores offer a wonderful selection

of pre-made cards and envelopes

making the task easy. It‟s as simple as

decorating the card to coordinate with your

theme and preparing them to mail. For

something even more unexpected, why not

enlist the help of the celebrant, in particular if

he or she is older and able to cut and paste. Not

invitingly handmade by kristen davis - mary had a little party

for something even more unexpected, why not enlist the help of

the celebrant...

Page 62: modern handmade child - winter '09

only does this help build excitement for the coming event, but children thoroughly enjoy having a

hand in the process and letting their creative juices flow. When choosing the handmade route,

quantity is one important point to keep in mind. An intricate design can become quite tedious

when made in large multiples.

Handmade cards offer many possibilities that make them a wonderful choice. Themed parties are

great fun and are easily announced with a thoughtfully crafted invite. Imagine cut out paper dolls

that unfold with the party details for a tea party or princess soirée. Or a decorated space ship cut

Page 63: modern handmade child - winter '09

out from folded cardstock and adorned with

glitter for a space themed event. Imagine a

hint of what‟s to come with an eye patch

included for a pirate themed bash or perhaps a

folded bandana for a western affair - the

possibilities are endless.

Office supply stores or your local craft store

will offer a wide array of envelopes or, if need

be, these are simple enough to make. A

fantastic resource, too, is your local

scrapbooking store. Not only will you find a

vast selection of beautiful themed papers,

many stores also offer a workshop area which

allows you to use the tools needed to make

both invites and envelopes as well. The

novelty of a handmade invite is sure to spark

the imagination of both celebrant and guests

alike!

Make your own envelope

enlarge template to size needed and

photocopy onto cardstock of your choice

cut along solid lines then fold along

dotted lines

cut open slit in bottom part of envelope

fold in sides and tuck top

into opened slit

decorate as desired

Page 65: modern handmade child - winter '09

clockwise from top left: winter snowflake long-sleeve tee by molly caroline designs, turkey thanksgiving t-shirt by my

duck duck goose, custom birth print by trendy peas, dinosaur friends by caroline soer designs, custom wall letters by

candice n katie’s art, note card set by the english pea, appliquéd minky pillow by southern sassy pants

Page 66: modern handmade child - winter '09

taste cookie exchange jenica carlley - pumpkin‟s boutique

Now what starts with the letter C? Cookie starts with C! Let's think of other things

that start with C. Oh, who cares about the other things! ~ the Cookie Monster

O ne of my favorite things about the

holidays is cookies. Chocolate chip

cookies, oatmeal cookies, shortbread

cookies, sugar cookies – I love them

all, especially around the

holidays. And what is the only thing

better than homemade cookies? Lots

and lots of homemade cookies!

A cherished tradition my daughter and I

have started in the past few years is to

have a cookie exchange (or cookie

swap) with all of our friends. Each

invitee makes six dozen of her favorite

holiday cookies, and we each go home

with six dozen cookies in many

varieties. Now, six dozen may sound

like a lot, but many recipes already

make three dozen, and it is easy to

double the batch. pdf homemade cookie recipe pack by t.r. brown

Page 67: modern handmade child - winter '09

I like to send out my invitations about a month

in advance, to give everyone plenty of time to

check her schedule and buy the

ingredients. Make sure you include the rules

or suggestions you want your guests to

follow. Here are some wording ideas:

A little sugar and a lot of fun, we’re having a

cookie exchange, so please plan to come.

It's the time of the year when the best cookies

are made. What fun to make extra in order to

trade!

In all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday,

come join us for some relaxation, friendship

and fun.

The rules:

1. Please bring six dozen homemade

cookies. Try to bake your cookies 2-3 days

before the exchange so they will transport

well.

2. Please bring copies of your recipe to hand

out to attendees.

3. Arrange your cookies in a basket or platter

and bring a container to carry your cookies

home.

I like to use a long table covered with a festive

tablecloth and décor. I serve only drinks,

such as tea, coffee, cider, eggnog and

water. This makes it a casual party with less

prep for me, the hostess, and less stress for

the guests. Plus, that way all the food focus is

on the wonderful cookies. I play holiday

music and encourage everyone to dress for

the season. I also try to find a time that

doesn‟t compete with all the other holiday

plans my guests might have. That might be

the end of November before the rush or on a

weekday morning, depending on your group.

In my circle of friends, we make it a kid-

friendly event. I host it on a weekday

morning near the beginning of

December. My daughter and I choose the

recipe well in advance, pouring over all the

books on hand. Then we shop for ingredients

and, of course, bake them together.

O ne of my favorite things about the

holidays is cookies. Chocolate chip

cookies, oatmeal cookies, shortbread

cookies, sugar cookies – I love them

all, especially around the

holidays. And what is the only thing

better than homemade cookies? Lots

and lots of homemade cookies!

A cherished tradition my daughter and I

have started in the past few years is to

have a cookie exchange (or cookie

swap) with all of our friends. Each

invitee makes six dozen of her favorite

holiday cookies, and we each go home

with six dozen cookies in many

varieties. Now, six dozen may sound

like a lot, but many recipes already

make three dozen, and it is easy to

double the batch.

What is the only thing better than homemade

cookies? Lots and lots of

homemade cookies!

lavender cookies greeting card gift set by southampton creations

Page 68: modern handmade child - winter '09

Once the guests have all arrived, displayed

their cookies and had a chance to chat, it is

time for the swap. Each guest takes the

container they brought, goes around the table

and takes 4-5 cookies from each platter, until

all cookies are divided.

Try some of these ideas to make your

exchange extra special:

1. Have each guest bring some non-

perishable food to donate to a local

charity.

2. Have each guest tell the story behind their

recipe before the swap. Maybe how they

chose the recipe or how they burned the

first batch.

3. Have the guests e-mail you their recipe

before the party and make a little book for

everyone to take home.

4. Give away prizes for the best seasonal

outfit, the best cookie story, the prettiest

display, etc.

No matter how you do it, your cookie

exchange will be sure to become a holiday

favorite every year!

top: cozy mitten and sweater set cookies by

something sweet shoppe bottom: ginger molasses cookie recipe by

recipes by k e cookies

Page 69: modern handmade child - winter '09

Frosty’s Colorful Cookies

1 ¼ cups firmly packed light brown sugar ¾ cup Butter Flavor Crisco 2 Tbsp milk

1 Tbsp vanilla 1 egg

1 ¾ cups flour 1 tsp salt ¾ tsp baking soda

2 cups red & green M & M‟s

1. Heat oven to 375° F. Spread foil on countertop to cool cookies.

2. Place brown sugar, shortening, milk and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat at medium

speed with electric mixer until well blended. Add egg, beat well.

3. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Add to shortening mixture; beat at low speed just

until blended. Stir in M&M‟s.

4. Drop dough by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart onto un-greased baking sheets.

5. Bake one sheet at a time for 8 to 10

minutes for chewy cookies or 11 to 13 minutes for crisp cookies. Do not over bake. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove

cookies to foil to cool completely.

Mocha Crinkles

1 1/3 cups firmly packed light brown sugar ½ cup vegetable oil ¼ cup low fat sour cream

1 egg 1 tsp vanilla

1 ¾ cup flour ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 tsp instant espresso or coffee granules

1 tsp baking soda ¼ tsp salt

1/8 tsp ground black pepper ½ cup powdered sugar

1. Beat brown sugar and oil in medium bowl with electric mixer. Mix in sour cream, egg

and vanilla. Set aside. 2. Mix flour, cocoa, espresso, baking soda,

salt and pepper in another medium bowl.

3. Add flour mixture to brown sugar mixture; mix well. Refrigerate dough until firm – 3 to

4 hours. 4. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place powdered

sugar in shallow bowl. Set aside. Cut dough into 1-inch pieces, roll into balls. Roll balls in

powdered sugar. 5. Bake on un-greased cookie sheets 10 to

12 minutes or until tops of cookies are firm to touch. Do not over bake. Cool on wire

racks.

recipe provided by jenica, pumpkin‟s boutique recipe provided by jenica, pumpkin‟s boutique

Page 70: modern handmade child - winter '09

Amish Ginger Cookies

3/4 cup butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1 egg

1/4 cup unsulfured molasses 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1-1/2 teaspoon baking soda extra granulated sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. In a mixing bowl, beat together butter and 1 cup sugar until creamy. Add egg and

molasses; beat until combined. 3. Add the remaining ingredients and mix

until well combined.

4. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and roll in the extra granulated sugar. Place balls on

ungreased baking sheet. 5. Bake for 5 - 7 minutes until barely

turning brown.

6. Allow to cool for 1 minute on baking sheet and then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

recipe provided by tammy, t.r. brown

Page 71: modern handmade child - winter '09

Chocolate Peanut Butter Crisp

Balls 1 (18 ounce size) jar of peanut butter

2 cups Rice Krispies cereal 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup chocolate chips

1. In a double boiler over low heat, melt chocolate and set aside.

2. In a medium sized bowl, combine all other ingredients. Blend well until mixture

forms a dough.

3. Roll into 1-inch balls. Using a toothpick or fork, dip the balls into the chocolate until well coated. Place onto a cookie sheet lined

with wax paper.

4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

holiday variety sugar cookies by sugar cookie couture

recipe provided by tammy, t.r. brown

If you like the two recipes on this page, you’ll love Tammy’s pdf cookbook of

over 400 homemade cookie recipes!

Page 72: modern handmade child - winter '09

T here‟s nothing better than a cup of

something hot in your hands when it‟s almost

freezing outside. Whether you‟re all bundled

up at home, peering through your window as

the snow falls outside or on your way to a

hometown football game, these recipes for

delicious hot drink mixes will be a sure way to

keep you cozy during the cold winter months.

And since they are dry mixes, they are also

perfect for gift giving this holiday season.

Fireside Coffee Mix

Yield: 6 1/2 cups dry mix

2 cups non-dairy coffe creamer

1 1/2 cups hot cocoa mix (you can use the

homemade recipe or a simple store bought

cocoa mix)

1 1/2 cups instant coffee granules

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions:

Combine all ingredients, mixing well. Store

in an airtight container.

For 1 cup of coffee:

Spoon 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon of

coffee mix into a cup. Add 1 cup boiling

water. Stir until well blended.

Hot Cocoa Mix

Yield: 4 cups of dry mix

2 cups of non-fat dry milk powder

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup powdered non-dairy creamer

1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Measure all ingredients in a large bowl.

Whisk together until evenly blended. Store in

an airtight container or package as individual

servings to hand out as gifts.

a duo of delicious drinks for keeping warm by nicole pankratz - lil boo and co

Page 73: modern handmade child - winter '09

To Make:

Spoon 3 to 4 generous tablespoons of hot

cocoa mix into a mug, add boiling water and

stir.

Gift Giving Ideas:

The recipe makes enough for four gift-size

portions (about 1 cup of dry mix each).

Each portion can be measured into a small

plastic bag and tucked into a cup or mug. Add

some mini marshmallows, candy stick stirrers,

and a spoon to the cup for a complete package.

Wrap each filled gift cup in cellophane and

don't forget to include a tag with the

instructions.

holiday hot chocolate tee by winney and bea

Page 76: modern handmade child - winter '09

care slow foods for kids by gretchen jakub fabre - chichiboulie

Page 77: modern handmade child - winter '09

S low Food? What is Slow Food? Some of

you may have heard the term, but remain

unsure about its meaning. Some of you may

never have heard of it at all. But for all of us

concerned with our own health and the health

of our environments, it‟s something to think

about.

slow food is good, clean and fair

The Slow Food movement began in Italy in the

mid 1980s with the belief that everyone has the

“fundamental right to pleasure and

consequently the responsibility to protect the

heritage of food, tradition and culture that make

this pleasure possible.” - www.slowfood.com

Slow Food is good, clean and fair food and

encourages people to recognise the strong

connections between plate and planet.

Slow Food is based on the following principles:

That the food we eat should taste good

That it should be produced in a clean way

that does not harm the environment, animal

welfare or our health

That food producers should receive fair

compensation for their work.

With the incidence of child health problems

ever increasing, Slow Food principles are

something we should all consider and pass on

to our children. But how can we do that? It‟s

not as difficult as it may seem.

Grow your Own

Growing your own food is a wonderful

project for kids. Don‟t have a large garden?

Don‟t worry. Many things can be grown in

pots. Think tomatoes, green beans, lemon

trees even. Growing your own food not only

teaches kids where our food comes from, but

it also gives them the opportunity to learn to

care for their plants and thus their

environment. And what pride they will feel

when their first crop of cherry tomatoes

makes its debut on the family table!

Buy Local and In Season Strawberries in December? Not something

we should be seeing in most regions. Buying

food out of season is something many of us

have gotten used to, and we now expect to be

able to buy what we want when we want it.

But if we stop to think about what is behind

this, we soon discover that it‟s best to buy

foods in season. Buying summer foods in

winter and winter foods in summer means

that those items have travelled a long way to

get to the shop shelves. This transporting has

the dual impact of contributing to polluting

our environment and providing fewer

nutrients in the food.

Page 78: modern handmade child - winter '09

Winter in-season vegetables Avocados

Belgian Endives

Bok Choi

Broccoli

Broccoli Rabe

Brussel Sprouts

Cabbage

Celery Root

Cauliflower

Chestnuts

Jerusalem Artichokes

Kale

Lettuce

Parsnips

Salsify

Winter Squash

Sweet Potatoes

Turnips

Winter in-season fruits Bananas

Blood Oranges

Clementines

Cranberries

Grapes

Grapefruit

Kiwi

Oranges

Passion Fruit

Pears

Persimmons

Pomegranates

Pomelos

Tangerines

Satsumas

Easy Winter Vegetable Soup

A super simple soup sure to warm you up on cold winter

days. And yes, a way to get your kids to eat brussel sprouts,

too!

4 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped

4 carrots, peeled and chopped

1 lb brussel sprouts, trimmed

6 c organic beef broth

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tbsp olive oil

1) Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat.

Toss in your chopped and trimmed vegetables and let

cook, stirring, for a few minutes.

2) Pour in beef broth and let cook, simmering for 20

minutes or until vegetables are tender.

3) Add minced garlic and let cook 5 minutes more.

4) Ladle out and serve with toasted crusty bread.

There are no set proportions to this soup so feel free to add

and subtract as you prefer. But no cheating, you must leave

in the sprouts!

Page 79: modern handmade child - winter '09

you‟ll get a delicately flavoured mash and a

change from the ordinary.

Buy Organic Whenever possible, choose organic foods.

Not only will this reduce your exposure to

fungicides, pesticides, and chemical

fertilizers, but you will also indirectly let

others know that you don‟t want others

(neighbours, community, farmers) to be

exposed to those things either. It is taking a

step in protecting your family and your

environment.

Get Cooking

Once you have started to incorporate some of

these ideas into your daily routine, it‟s time to

get cooking with your kids. Kids love to

spend time in the kitchen, and it can be a

moment of true family interaction. Teaching

your kids how to cook is giving them the

basics of a wonderful lifelong habit and skill.

Start with easy recipes that they will be

happy to taste knowing they made it

themselves. By teaching children the joys of

cooking, you are also helping them to avoid

the fast food trap and starting them on their

way to healthy living.

By shopping locally, we are helping to

promote items that are in season. It is

something we can all do and something that

will make an impact. Take your kids to the

local farmers‟ markets for a wonderful

experience and fabulous fresh food. Don‟t

have a farmers‟ market? Supermarkets label

food sources. Point these out to your children

and prefer those items that come from local

producers. In doing so, you are helping to

support your local growers and thus your

local economy. In return, you receive

produce that is fresher and contains more

nutrients for your family. You are also

helping to reduce carbon emissions that come

from shipping food long distances.

Learning to eat with the seasons has the

added bonus of opening up a wider variety of

tastes that children (and grown ups) may not

be exposed to otherwise. Children will learn

from an early age to be familiar with

vegetables that they may not know, and a

wider variety of food sources equals a wider

variety of nutrients. Ever wonder what to do

with celeriac? Try it the next time mashed

potatoes are on the menu. Cook it along side

the potatoes, mash them both together and

For a list of local farmers’ markets by state

http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets

To find out more about Slow Food, you can visit

their website at www.slowfoodusa.org

Page 80: modern handmade child - winter '09

by lisa delzer - chubbas „n boop

I t‟s the season for giving. Everywhere you

look, you can see advertisements telling you to

spend more money. But, that line of thinking

isn‟t in synch with those of us trying to consume

less and make better choices about where our

money goes.

I sometimes feel conflicted this time of year. I

feel like a lot of the „green movement‟ is moving

away from over-consumerism - away from

overspending and over consuming. At the same

time, I also really love giving presents. Who

doesn‟t!

Living an eco-conscious life does not mean you

shouldn‟t go out and buy gifts for your friends

and family. We all love finding that perfect little

present for those special people in our lives and

watching them open it up. But, we can avoid

getting caught up in the “buy more” mentality.

The backbone of living an eco-friendly lifestyle

is Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. So, how do we

apply these principals to gift giving, especially

gifts for our children?

Page 81: modern handmade child - winter '09

Reduce.

Do your kids really need that huge mound of

presents? We hear it all the time, but when it

comes to giving gifts, less definitely is

more.

When you look back on your own childhood,

can you remember every single gift you

received? I can‟t. But there are a few very

special presents that I will

always treasure.

Why not start a new tradition

that limits the amount of

presents each person in your

family receives? Then think

about each gift carefully and

make sure the gifts you give

matter.

Reuse.

Consider the long term when

making your purchases. Think

about quality. Will your gifts

be able to be used for many years, or will they

break and need to be replaced?

Heirloom quality toys are a great investment

because they last and can be passed on

through the generations. Not only does this

create special memories from generation to

generation, it has the added benefit of fewer

toys in landfills.

Another way to reuse is by visiting second-

hand shops while doing your present

shopping. Many such shops specialize in

gently worn items and can save you money

while protecting the environment from more

waste. I often find beautiful dresses for my

daughter in excellent condition while out

thrift store shopping.

Recycle.

Upcycling is a hot new trend, and many

handmade selling venues such as Etsy

feature items made from recycled

materials, from clothes to toys and

everything in between. If you are

crafty, you can even make something

yourself. Children love handmade gifts,

especially when it is made by mom or

dad. So, why not go the extra mile and

buy or make things from recycled

materials.

Don‟t forget to think about how you

package up your gifts. Saving and reusing

your wrapping materials for next year will

help reduce waste, but why not try cloth gift

wrap that can be used over and over again?

Remember, it is the small things that add

up. Eco-friendly gifts make a big difference,

not only to the environment but also in the

message they send to our children.

Reduce

Reuse

Recycle

Page 83: modern handmade child - winter '09

1. Books. Buy good quality stories about

nature that will teach your children the

importance of taking care of mother earth.

2. Dress up Clothes. Scout your local

thrift store (or your own closet) and put

together a dress up box. You don‟t need

“costumes” – kids are pretty dang happy with

old dresses, men‟s shirts, and fun hats. But, if

you do want to purchase some costumes,

check out jillybeanskids

3. Lessons. Or other special activities that

your children will get excited about. Not

only will these lessons have less impact on

the environment than a plastic toy, they help

our children learn and grow.

4. Donations. Make a donation to an

organization in honor of your child. You can

make a nice card and tell a story about how

he or she is helping the baby animals or other

children in the world. Pick a charity that is

about something important to your

child. This can become a family tradition

that will teach your son or daughter the

importance of giving, while letting him or her

feel like he or she is a part of something that

matters.

For a list of charities, check out this website:

www.charitygiftcertificates.org/charities.html

5. Anything handmade. Whether it is

something you make yourself, or something

you buy from a talented crafter or artist, your

child will appreciate the thoughtfulness

behind the gift. Handmade gifts made out of

recycled materials make it even more special.

five eco-friendly gift ideas by lisa delzer - chubbas „n boop

Do you have some eco-friendly living ideas you would like

to share? We‟d love to hear them! Send them to us at

[email protected].

Page 84: modern handmade child - winter '09

share la petite artiste kristie piacine - kind living designs

T hey say necessity is the mother of

invention. It was necessary to dive in and

clean up around the house, both inside and out.

Who knew that what I would find was one of

the best gifts I‟ve ever given for the holidays.

Sentimental. Personalized. Eco-friendly.

Inexpensive. JACKPOT!

As a parent, I just couldn‟t help myself. The

pile. It just kept

growing and

growing. Every day

my children would

bring home artwork

from school. “Mommy, I know what a circle

is…look!” said my son after a few weeks of

preschool. “Mommy, we studied Van Gogh

today, aren‟t my sunflowers lovely?” beamed

my 1st grader. How could I toss any little bit of

it in the trash? Each drawing, cutout, collage

was a reminder of how he sticks his tongue out

while learning how to use scissors, how she

hums little songs as she colors. They were my

babies‟ masterpieces, not trash. Eventually,

though, that pile started to mock me – it was

small at first, but before I knew it, it had taken

over my dining room table.

The collection of artwork spanned four years.

What? How? I‟d stare at it day after day and

never get the courage to tackle it, too afraid

that I‟d go through it and end up with the same

pile. What was the solution? I kept telling

myself to wait for the day when I would turn

into the frantic cleaning machine and would

have an unbiased

eye and clean

through it with a

minimalist‟s

approach. Yeah, right.

The holidays were coming up, and I was at a

loss for the perfect gift for the grandparents. A

do-it-yourself girl at heart, I had just about

created every personalized gift imaginable. I

was running out of time, and to be honest,

didn‟t have it in me to get crazy-crafty

anymore. I stared at the pile and finally it

dawned on me. A Club-of-the-Month. An Art

Club-of-the-Month. I called my daughter into

the room and told her about my idea. She was

The holidays were coming up, and I was at a loss for the perfect gift for the grandparents

Page 85: modern handmade child - winter '09

beyond excited. “You mean they get

to belong to my art club? I get an art

club?!”

It took an afternoon to sort through the

pile and determine who would get

what. Not only did we tackle gifts for

the grandparents, but also close

friends and relatives who we knew

would appreciate the gift. Once we

decided on the pieces, we took out a

notebook and made a list, measuring

each piece so that we could present

the first masterpiece framed. Some of

the gifts were being mailed, and we

didn‟t want to purchase bulky boxes

and packing materials to ship the

larger sized artwork. An easier

alternative was to select 8

1/2” x 11” pieces,

which left us

with options

to purchase

traditional

frames or

the clear

magnetic

pockets that

would instantly

transform the artwork

into a fridge-friendly masterpiece.

After a quick trip to the local craft printable colouring pages by melloheads

We weren’t simply giving them one piece of artwork, we were

giving them a whole year’s worth of artwork: a mini gallery of her

childhood creations

Page 86: modern handmade child - winter '09

we could have imagined. Her pride in her work

and sense of self-esteem grew in abundance.

Even better, she experienced a new way of

communicating with her relatives and friends:

the written letter, the power of words, the

excitement of a package in the mail. She and I

didn‟t just shop

among the crowds

of consumers in

Target, but walked

up and down aisles

talking about our

loved one‟s tastes,

what we thought

each piece of

artwork stood for,

evenfiguring out

what frames and

mattes to use

included a great

math lesson.

In the end, I conquered that pile. I fought her

hard for those special pieces I couldn‟t give up.

It also dawned on me that most of the pieces

we‟d pass on would make it her way again.

The excitement of knowing that one day, 20

years from now when we‟re sitting around

celebrating MomMom‟s birthday, we‟ll look

through pictures and piles of correspondence

and find her membership card. On that card

will be my grown daughter‟s kindergarten

handwriting and it will cause my heart to burst.

store, we had chosen the poster board mattes

and different framing options. All that was left

was to create the piece that would tie it all

together. We weren‟t simply giving them one

piece of artwork, we were giving them a whole

year‟s worth of artwork: a mini-gallery of her

childhood

creations. We

needed a

membership card.

I made a template

and printed

several out on

cardstock. She

filled in the

blanks, again

creating a piece to

be treasured, her

kindergarten

handwriting so

full of hope and

wonder.

That year, many tears were shed during the

opening of presents. I‟m not sure if it was the

gift or the way my daughter couldn‟t contain

her delight in being „la petite artiste.‟ The first

month‟s masterpiece was delivered. and every

month thereafter we slipped a new piece of

artwork in the mail, accompanied by a little

note from the artist.

This gift gave so much more back to her than

La Petite Artiste with her grandparents

Page 87: modern handmade child - winter '09

simplifying the holidays kathleen gordon-ross - tiny stitches

B udgets are tight, and so are schedules.

We all intend to have meaningful holidays,

but how do we obtain it?

Surprisingly, it does not

mean we have to buy

our child the latest and

greatest toys, blowing

our budget with just one

purchase. Nor does it mean we have to go to

every party, to bake and decorate 1,000

cookies and 10 gingerbread houses to deliver

to the neighbors or to buy gifts for every

Tom, Dick, Harry, Mary, Sally and Jane we

come in contact with during the year.

Keeping things simple is a challenge for me

and something I struggle to achieve year

after year, especially during the holidays.

Here are five basic strategies I am trying this

year. I hope that they will help you identify

spots in your holiday routine that are not

adding to your enjoyment of the season, so

you can cut them out entirely, or just cut back

a little.

Strategy #1 – Organize what is important

Take fifteen minutes and ponder what you

want this holiday to be. What would your

ideal holiday consist of? Would it be to spend

more meaningful time with your children? Or

provide memorable experiences for your

entire family? Maybe you want to spend

more quality time with extended family and

friends? Or help your children focus on the

spend more quality time with

extended family

Page 88: modern handmade child - winter '09

true spirit of the season rather than on making

out wish lists and writing letters to Santa?

Turn the elements of your ideal holiday into

short phrases or statements and write them

down. These ideals will help focus your

holiday plans and decide whether or not

something is worth your family‟s time,

money or energy.

Strategy #2 – Curtail the family “do” list

Sometime this month, before things start to

get busy, have a dinner conversation with

your children about what they want to do this

holiday. With your older children, talk openly

about your desire to have a more meaningful

holiday this year and to

cut out the things that are

not making the family

holiday perfect.

Have a list already

prepared of the activities

you typically participate

in during the holiday (i.e. traditions, parties,

school/public concerts, plays). Then tailor the

conversation to the ages of the children in

your family. You may even want to talk with

them one on one over a cup of hot chocolate

or while you are in the car running errands.

The ultimate goal is to find out what is really

important to them, and what is the one thing

that has to happen for them to feel like the

holiday is special.

As a parent, this is an eye opening

experience. This conversation alone will help

you know what really matters to your

children. Knowing what needs to happen and

what can instantly get cut will hopefully

eliminate stress, right then and there.

Strategy #3 – Think creatively

Look for activities you can piggy back,

accomplishing multiple goals with one

experience. If

your family loves

to spend time

baking holiday

treats, use those

treats as

neighbor, teacher

or co-worker

gifts. If there is a

family you really

want to spend

time with this

holiday, invite

them to

experience one of

your family

Move the timeline of some activities from December to a less

stressful month.

Page 89: modern handmade child - winter '09

traditions or join them on one of their

traditions.

Move the timeline of some activities from

December to a less stressful month. A

tradition in our family is making gingerbread

houses. We used to decorate them the first

weekend of December, but we now do them

the weekend before Thanksgiving. This

slight change has worked well, and it still

makes a great opening to the holiday season.

Another holiday activity

that can be moved is the

family card. Some years

the task alone nearly sent

me over the edge, getting

the picture, writing the

letter and addressing,

stamping and stuffing the

envelopes. My cousin

figured this out years ago.

She sends out a family Easter letter each year

instead of the traditional Christmas letter. It is

much less stressful for us to send the holiday

cards after the New Year than feeling forced

to cram it in during December.

Outsourcing is a fantastic way to creatively

approach the holidays. Outsourcing is not

always the least expensive route, but when

time is money, and you are able to, it may be

more beneficial. For example, you can

purchase tubes of sugar cookie dough to roll

out and decorate versus mixing the dough

from scratch. Or you could have a dinner

party catered or held at a restaurant rather

than hosting and serving it yourself.

Take advantage of gift wrap options and even

ship directly to the recipient, which is fast

and economical since you are shipping once.

Many sellers offer this option even if it is not

advertised, so be sure to discuss it with them

prior to making your purchase.

Do not get paralyzed by the

“but I could do it myself” mind

trap. Even though you could do

it yourself, it does not mean

that doing so will make your

holiday better. Chances are that

there are plenty of areas within

your holiday plans where

outsourcing would save you time

and headache, allowing you a better, calmer

and easier holiday.

Strategy #4 – Take control

This holiday belongs to you and your family,

so do not let outside influences that are not

supporting your efforts to achieve a less

stressful holiday creep in and take over.

Outsourcing is a fantastic way to

creatively approach the holidays.

Page 90: modern handmade child - winter '09

Take control of your gift giving list. Make a

list of who you need to purchase for, and

stick to it. Can you get one family gift for

your brother, his wife and three kids, rather

than purchasing five individual

gifts? Is your family ready to do a

gift giving rotation or to draw

names? Do you need to do

individual gifts for your co-

workers, or would a case of

potted poinsettias or a large

basket of fruit in the office break

room convey the needed

sentiment?

Take control

of your

holiday

budget.

Over

spending,

either

from not

paying

attention

to the

budget or feeling obligated to

purchase more than we can afford, is a major

cause of holiday stress. Know exactly how

much your budget is for each gift and stay

within the limits. Save receipts and write

down each purchase and who it is for, along

with what it cost so you know exactly where

you stand.

Look for ways to cut costs. Consider trading

baby sitting with a friend so you can both get

your shopping finished without paying for a

babysitter. Barter with friends or neighbors

who offer a service you need. Or consider

creating coupon books, which are a great way

Consider trading baby sitting with a friend so you can both get your shopping finished without paying for

a babysitter.

Page 91: modern handmade child - winter '09

to provide a personalized gift of time that

your friends and family can enjoy all year.

Take control of your schedule. Fill out a

calendar with all of the

activities and events from

your family “do” list. Do

not be distracted by last

minute invitations or

requests that are not on

your “do” list or that do

not support achieving

your ideal holiday. A

perfectly acceptable

response is, “Thank you

for the invitation, but I am

sorry we cannot

participate as we have

previous plans.”

Strategy #5 – Make

conscious choices

Focus on the fun, the

enjoyment and the little

pleasures of the holiday.

Live in the moment of each new day, of each

new experience this holiday, and you will

find your holiday is more meaningful. When

you are mentally and physically present for

each special holiday experience, enjoying

each moment, you will find that stress does

not enter into the experience.

Is it possible to completely eliminate holiday

stress? I truly hope it is for you, but for me,

I am ready to acknowledge that while I may

not be able to eliminate all of my tendencies

to stress during the holidays, there are many

things I can do.

I can do a better job of taking control and

staying in control of my holiday. I can talk

openly with my husband and children about

their hopes and expectations and make

accomplishing them our priority. I can make

the conscious decision to focus on the fun,

and not the stress of the season, and let go of

the stress.

May we each find ways to achieve a more

meaningful and enjoyable holiday, ways that

are closer to what we each believe is the true

meaning of the season. That is my holiday

wish for you.

Focus on the fun, the enjoyment and the little pleasures of the holiday.

Page 92: modern handmade child - winter '09

share room party 101: tips for classroom parties tyann marcink - little elephant company

E ager little faces follow the parents‟ every

move through the classroom with keen

interest. It is party day at school, and each

student knows that at some point in the next

hour he has a very good chance of reaching a

sugar high.

Nearly every child is familiar with classroom

parties, which are usually focused around a

holiday or a season, but not every parent

party helper is aware of what is expected

from the short parties by the students.

A Room Party is a brief, normally an hour or

less, time of organized chaos within a

classroom for the students to celebrate. Many

of the themes that a party may be focused on

are Halloween, fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas,

winter, Valentine‟s Day, spring, Easter, or

even the end of school.

Having a small party in the classroom is a

way for teachers to observe a specific holiday

or season that the class has been learning

about. As the students discuss and read about

specific celebrations, a momentum of

anticipation builds, and a party is a release of

that energy.

There are three main components to a Room

Party – a craft, a game and a snack. Although

not always economically feasible, the fourth

component is a take home treat bag filled

with candy and small prizes.

Before planning out the different components

with a group of parents, be sure to check with

the teacher about classroom limitations of

food allergies, physical restrictions, and space

Page 93: modern handmade child - winter '09

confines. Because of space constraints, some

teachers may allow only a couple of parents

to attend and run the Room Party versus

letting all available parents into the

classroom.

After each component has been agreed upon,

do not hesitate to meet again with

the group of parents to pre-fill treat

bags or to precut any portions of

the craft. Just separating the

different pieces for a craft into

individual bags for each student

will cut down on time consuming

chaos during the party.

In addition, once the planning is on

a roll, do not be shy about

requesting that other parents

contribute to the party. Many

parents may be unable to attend the

party but still desire to be involved in some

capacity, so having these parents contribute

the drinks, plates, napkins or parts of the treat

bags or crafts is an excellent way to include

them.

Most importantly, focus on the students‟

enjoyment of the time and be flexible. Have a

plan, but always be ready to tweak an activity

if necessary.

Crafts When deciding on the perfect craft to reflect

the theme of the party, be aware of the

students‟ ages. An age appropriate craft will

go much smoother than a craft that is a bit too

difficult, with the parents completing the

craft for the students. Also keep in mind that

the craft should not take a whole of time to

construct. The children are

very aware that it is a party,

after all, and there is a lot to

do in a short span of time.

Games Game time is an excellent

outlet for the students‟ pent up

energy. Whether the games

include relay races or require

thought processing, do not

hesitate to plan several games.

Have a couple definite games that the

students will play, and then have some

additional games that can be played at a

moment‟s notice. Many times students are so

excited and wound up that they may finish a

game or even the craft in much less time than

was anticipated. This is where the back-up

games would come in handy, to round out the

remainder of the party time.

Have a plan, but always be ready to tweak an activity if necessary.

Page 94: modern handmade child - winter '09

Snacks Homemade goodies for the snack used to be the

highlight of the party snack time. However,

double check with the school rules on

homemade foods. Many schools now require

that all food shared in the classroom be store

bought. Don‟t let this be a setback for an

amazing snack though. Options include

cupcakes or cookies from local bakeries or

grocers, as well as assembling the snack during

the party.

Treat Bags Treat bags are terrific post-party reminders to

the students on how much fun they had.

Various candies and chocolates, themed pencils

and notepads, bouncy balls, stickers and

activity books are a few of the diverse options.

The order in which the party proceeds is

usually up to the organizing parents. However,

always be sure to hand out any treat bags at the

end of the party and have the students place the

bags into their school bag immediately. But,

most importantly, have the treat bags sealed

with tape or a sticker, and instruct the students

not to open the bags until they are home. This

will avoid any arguing amongst the students

about favorite candies or treats.

A memorable classroom party is a great

achievement in an elementary student‟s mind.

Here are a few activities that are kid-tested to

be unforgettable.

Bendy Legs Spider Hats

Materials:

Black construction

paper or cardstock

Pipe cleaners

Wiggly eyes

Red yarn

Staplers

Glue

Preparation:

Pre cut for each student a 3 inch circle and

(18) 1 inch strips from the black paper. *Hint:

Have the local copy shop cut the strips in

advance. They can slice an entire stack of

paper at one time at a minimal cost, saving

quite a bit of time. Then staple a pipe cleaner

between two strips to create the bendy legs.

How to do it:

1. Glue the wiggly eyes and a small piece of

yarn to the circle to create the face.

2. Measure with two strips of paper around

the student‟s head and staple together

according to the proper size.

3. Staple the spider head on the front.

4. Staple four legs on each side of the band,

making sure the flat edge of the staples are

on the inside of the hat.

5. Bend the legs in any direction for a crazy

looking spider hat.

Page 95: modern handmade child - winter '09

Mixed Up Dress Up

Materials:

Various costumes and accessories

Preparation:

Lay out each costume and accessory across one end

of the room so that each piece is readily available.

How to play:

1. Divide the students into small groups of 5 or 6.

2. Designate one child in each group to be dressed up.

3. At “go,” one student from each group will run across the room to the array of costumes and

accessories and choose one piece.

4. Child brings the piece back to the designated child and helps him to put it on.

5. The next child in line for each group retrieves a second piece, and so forth until every child

in each group has retrieved a costume piece or accessory and placed it on the designated

child for each group.

Gather the dressed up children for a quick picture and repeat until every child has had an

opportunity to get “dressed up.”

“BAM” Sugar Cookies

Materials:

Sugar Cookies

Frosting

Sprinkles

Chocolate chips

Other candies (i.e. M&Ms)

Bowls

Spoons

Preparation: Separate sprinkles,

chocolate chips and candies into

several bowls and add spoons to

dish out the treats onto the

cookies.

1. Spread frosting over the sugar cookies.

2. Let students decorate according to their sweet tooths.

3. Savor the delicious candy and cookie combinations.

Page 96: modern handmade child - winter '09

explore 10 tips for surviving the holidays with family by tyann marcink - little elephant company

A lthough family gatherings can often

create a little tension, it‟s the routine of

gathering together and sharing life that

creates the lasting family memories.

Stress during the holidays is probably

unavoidable, but there are several ways to

help diminish it and make the events more

relaxing for everyone. Here are ten common

stress points and ideas on how to diffuse the

stress before it grows:

1. Too many places to visit

Families grow and suddenly there is not just

one home to visit, but several. Michelle

Eubanks, mother of one, doesn‟t do family

visits all on the same day. “It is too much

stress on all of us. We do one family on one

day and the other the next day.” Spacing out

visits is a way to make everyone‟s day a bit

more relaxed, allowing you to enjoy the day

without thoughts of when you have to be

moving on to the next.

Another helpful tip is to make sure to focus

on your immediate family. “We always make

it a priority to have our own traditions and

family time first, then we spend the rest of

the time with the extended family,” says

Michelle.

2. Lack of space for larger families

Choosing a location for your gathering can be

stressful. Many families‟ ideal location would

be large enough for all the ages to spread out

and each have his own space, but often no

one member in a larger family group has a

Vacation home in Branson, Missouri

decorated for Christmas.

Page 97: modern handmade child - winter '09

place big enough to accommodate everyone.

It has become popular for some families to

gather at a vacation home. Meeting in a

neutral spot can not only offer more space but

has the added bonus of diffusing a lot of

tension. The kitchen is no longer just one

woman‟s domain, but now belongs to all of

the cooks in the family. As an added bonus,

there is no mad cleaning for several days

before family arrives, as the vacation home is

ready for guests. Your holidays can become

more relaxing and focused on

family since the distractions of

work and home are gone.

3. Too much to prepare

All these guests need to eat!

Try some advanced prep work

or better yet, share the work

when it comes to feeding the

family. “I do a lot of prep

work the night before,” offers Jill Brewer,

mom to three. “And ask everyone to bring

something.”

Amber Eads, mother of two boys, agrees.

“What we do to get ready is to prepare

everything we can beforehand so that it

doesn‟t take forever to get dinner prepared.

We also have all the families coming over

bring something so not just one person is left

to do everything.”

4. Keeping young children amused

Children don‟t always appreciate the

wonderful conversations we adults look

forward to during the holidays. So “pack a

backpack with toys and activities to occupy

the kids,” contributes Gussie Schmitz, mother

of one with another on the way. Pack it with

“something new that the kids haven‟t seen yet

or haven‟t seen in awhile” adds Laura

Schaefer, mom to two with a third on the way.

It‟s a sure way to keep them occupied while

you get on with the chit chat.

5. Sudden meltdowns

We‟ve all lived through it. The

toddler (or older child)

meltdown, and it‟s not

something we look forward to

reliving. Many meltdowns can

be avoided with a little

planning. Jennifer Nolen,

mother of two boys, does her best to “make

sure to always have the kids well rested and

take drinks and snacks.”

Sometimes something as simple as a change

of pace will avoid a tantrum, so to break up

the scenery, mother of two Jeanetta Stowe‟s

solution is to send the children outside.

“Playing outdoors is a good idea, so if it‟s

cold, be sure to bring warm clothes and

jackets for the weather. Kids get cabin fever

too quickly.”

I do a lot of prep work the night before, and ask everyone to bring

something

–Jill, mother of 3

Page 98: modern handmade child - winter '09

6. So much to clean-up

“Lucky for me, my family is very informal,”

says Jill Brewer. “We all think that the most

important part is the time we spend enjoying

each other. So, we use paper plates, plastic

forks, and plastic cups. Clean up time is cut

way down.”

Using a Sharpie® or other marker to write

names on plastic cups will help everyone to

keep track of his cup and reduce the number

of plastic cups that are thrown away. For

recycling, designate a specific wastebasket

for the plastics and another for aluminum

cans.

7. What to do after the food Family ties strengthen when family spends

time together. This is an excellent time to pull

out the favorite board games and decks of

cards or sit down for a small craft or other

activity. Jennifer Rocha, mom to two boys,

decorates gingerbread cookies with her

family to relax. “When family gets involved

in being creative, they usually don‟t have

time to bicker with anyone.”

Have each family bring a stash of games so

there is plenty of variety for all ages and

personalities. Games help to teach basic skills

This Fold.n.Go Art Folio™ by DINE.n.DOODLE

is ideal to toss into backpacks or purses. One

side holds a few crayons and a piece of chalk,

and the other side is interchangeable with a

small chalkboard or a notepad.

Try packing small portions of carrots,

crackers, and fruit slices in little

sandwich baggies and bring in a fes-

tive reusable lunch box like kotibeth’s

Page 99: modern handmade child - winter '09

like taking turns, colors, math, and thought

process. Shy personalities will have a chance

to step out of their shells and shine through

role-play games like Charades, while loud

personalities will be able to practice toning

down their voices to not tip off another team

in a game like Pictionary.

8. Who got what

“When do we open presents?” is many times

the first sentence uttered by the kids after

saying “Hello.” The shotgun start for ripping

open the gifts can be fun and crazy at first,

but it soon becomes chaotic and weary for

parents trying to keep track of the new toys.

Help keep things organized and create a

larger sense of appreciation by following

Jennifer Rocha‟s tip to take time opening the

gifts. “I mean really taking time. We let one

person open one gift at a time and everyone

watches. We let the kids play with each new

toy before they can open another gift. We can

sometimes start opening gifts on the 23rd and

not be done until late Christmas evening.”

Keep a small note pad and pencil nearby to

note each child‟s new gift and who it came

from so thank you notes can be sent out in a

couple of days. Becoming a lost tradition,

thank you notes are much appreciated by gift

givers. Whether it‟s a snapshot of the gift in

action with a scrawled “Thank you” on the

back of the photo, or a lengthy handwritten

Everything is

included in the kit, even the leaves.

However, the sun catcher is even

better with the real thing, so first take a

walk outside to find some spectacular

leaves.

Make a leaf sun catcher from a craft kit from Smart Bottom

Page 100: modern handmade child - winter '09

note, be sure to send the notes in a timely

manner.

9. Going home

Departing can be just as stressful as any other

time during a family gathering. After making

the rounds of hugs and kisses, the children

still need to be pulled away from games or

scooped up from a nap with Grandpa in the

rocker. Kids need to be rounded up and new

gifts must be found and packed away. So be

sure to make leaving easier by picking a

departing time and sticking to it, and

remember the small things that will comfort

your little ones. “We always make sure to

bring „blankie‟ even though she only uses it

at bed time,” adds Gussie Schmitz. “It comes

in handy after a busy and tiring day.”

10. Reflecting

Don‟t forget what it is all about. Chaos may

reign for a few hours or days, but as long as

“everyone remembers that it is about making

happy memories, the kids and spending good

quality time together, things go so much

smoother,” comments Jill Brewer. “I often

think that people really forget about what it

really is about. It‟s about the good times with

each other. As long as everyone is happy and

fed, that is the important part.”

For the sleepy heads on the way home, tuck a small

pillow behind their necks to make the ride more

comfortable. Try this adorable kitty cat neck pillow

by Paula and Erika. All of the details are

embroidered on the face, so there are no worries

about loose parts.

Search for a holiday vacation home

at one of the popular vacation

rental sites found online

Search results can be refined by location,

size, and amenities of the homes and

condos. Many home are very affordable, but

the best ones go fast and are often reserved

9 to 12 months in advance for the popular

family holidays. So don‟t put it off until the

last minute, another tip for reducing holiday

stress!

Page 101: modern handmade child - winter '09

work creating an online presence this season by liz murphy - daisy creek designs

W ith the holidays quickly approaching,

crafters and artisans are busy making new

products and listing them online. But with so

many online marketplaces popping up all

over the internet, it can be difficult to know

which venues are most suited to your

business needs.

One main consideration when choosing an

online marketplace is cost - cost of

membership and cost to list product. Most

sites, such as Etsy, 1000 Markets and Craft Is

Art require only an email, username and

password to join, whereas Handmade

Catalog charges anywhere between $4.95 to

$12.95 per month depending on the level of

membership.

The cost to list an item and the fees

associated with selling products are what

really set these venues apart from each

other. Selling an item on Shop Handmade,

with sponsorship, costs nothing to list and

only 3.5% for PayPal. In contrast, ebay

charges a combination of the insertion fee,

the final value fee and a variety of listing

upgrades, making it quite difficult to

calculate the final cost of selling.

Another important consideration when

choosing where to list your products online is

site exposure. Some sites, such as Etsy, ebay

and Artfire, clearly have reputations as places

to go when looking to purchase items directly

from the seller. They have a strong online

presence, and future customers regularly visit

these sites in search of the perfect product to

meet their needs. Typically, advertising on

your end helps to guide new customers to

your shop in particular when listing on less

well-known sites.

Finally, consider the type of support or

networking opportunities each site

offers. Chat rooms, forums, teams and

promotional tools are just some of the ways

sites are helping sellers get in contact with

new customers and other sellers. Such

contact and teamwork is essential in building

an online presence and developing a

customer base.

Page 102: modern handmade child - winter '09

Membership Cost to List Length Of

Listing Payment Source

Support &

Networking

Number of

Photos Types of Products Exposure Control of Shop

Free 5.5% commission

+ .50 No time length Amazon

Organized by

markets 4 per item

Handmade, food, earth

friendly Established site

Can organize items by

category

Basic is free

Verified - $12 a

month

Basic - 12 listings at a

time

Verified - unlimited

No time length PayPal Social promotion

tools

Up to 10 photos

per item

Handmade, design/

media,

Supplies and vintage

Established site Banner and avatar

Free

3.5% commission

Special add ons

.15 to .75 each

No time length PayPal Automatic UPS

shipping rates 1 per item

Handmade, crafts, art

No commercial or mass

produced

New site

Customizable

Can add multiple

options and create

coupons

Free

Store option -

starting at $15.95

a month

Combination of insertion

fee, final value fee and

listing upgrades

10 days, 30 days

or “Good Until

Cancelled”

PayPal, ProPay,

Moneybookers,

Paymate, credit card

through an internet

merchant account

Chat rooms and

discussion boards

1 included per item,

more are available

for an additional fee

All types including

commercial and mass

produced

Established site

Banner only

Store option also

allows logo, additional

text, picture boxes,

store colors, store

pages (customization

on some)

Free .20 plus 3.5%

commission 4 months PayPal

Forums, chat rooms,

teams, virtual labs,

connections to

Facebook and Google

Analytics

5 per item Handmade, supplies

and vintage Established site

Banner, avatar and

can now modify order

of listings

Basic – up to 50

items

Standard – up to

250 items

Professional – up to

1000 items

$4.95 / mo.

+ 15% commission

$7.95 / mo.

+ 10% commission

$12.95 / mo.

+ 5% commission

No time length PayPal None 1 per item Handmade and supplies New site Banner

Free 3% commission No time length PayPal Forums 1 per item Handmade, supplies,

items made by kids

Moderately

established site Avatar

Free Free with sponsorship No time length PayPal None 1 per item Many categories of

handmade products New site Avatar

Whether you choose an online marketplace because of cost, ease of membership, exposure or the control you have over the look of your shop, the chart below will provide you with the information

you need to choose which ones are best for you to create an online presence this holiday season and throughout the year.

Page 103: modern handmade child - winter '09

Membership Cost to List Length Of

Listing Payment Source

Support &

Networking

Number of

Photos Types of Products Exposure Control of Shop

Free 5.5% commission

+ .50 No time length Amazon

Organized by

markets 4 per item

Handmade, food, earth

friendly Established site

Can organize items by

category

Basic is free

Verified - $12 a

month

Basic - 12 listings at a

time

Verified - unlimited

No time length PayPal Social promotion

tools

Up to 10 photos

per item

Handmade, design/

media,

Supplies and vintage

Established site Banner and avatar

Free

3.5% commission

Special add ons

.15 to .75 each

No time length PayPal Automatic UPS

shipping rates 1 per item

Handmade, crafts, art

No commercial or mass

produced

New site

Customizable

Can add multiple

options and create

coupons

Free

Store option -

starting at $15.95

a month

Combination of insertion

fee, final value fee and

listing upgrades

10 days, 30 days

or “Good Until

Cancelled”

PayPal, ProPay,

Moneybookers,

Paymate, credit card

through an internet

merchant account

Chat rooms and

discussion boards

1 included per item,

more are available

for an additional fee

All types including

commercial and mass

produced

Established site

Banner only

Store option also

allows logo, additional

text, picture boxes,

store colors, store

pages (customization

on some)

Free .20 plus 3.5%

commission 4 months PayPal

Forums, chat rooms,

teams, virtual labs,

connections to

Facebook and Google

Analytics

5 per item Handmade, supplies

and vintage Established site

Banner, avatar and

can now modify order

of listings

Basic – up to 50

items

Standard – up to

250 items

Professional – up to

1000 items

$4.95 / mo.

+ 15% commission

$7.95 / mo.

+ 10% commission

$12.95 / mo.

+ 5% commission

No time length PayPal None 1 per item Handmade and supplies New site Banner

Free 3% commission No time length PayPal Forums 1 per item Handmade, supplies,

items made by kids

Moderately

established site Avatar

Free Free with sponsorship No time length PayPal None 1 per item Many categories of

handmade products New site Avatar

Whether you choose an online marketplace because of cost, ease of membership, exposure or the control you have over the look of your shop, the chart below will provide you with the information

you need to choose which ones are best for you to create an online presence this holiday season and throughout the year.

Page 104: modern handmade child - winter '09

view photos from a kid‟s eye view

An Exciting day! Photo taken by Sierra, age 5

Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

“Sierra grew this sunflower on her own. She

planted the seeds inside during the late

winter, and by the time spring came the

sunflower had started to grow. Sierra took

such good care of it. The day the sunflower

opened up, she was so happy and proud of all

her hard work she just had to take this

picture!”

Planting the Spring Garden

Photo taken by Noah, age 2

Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA

“We have quite a few raised beds in our

backyard and try to grow as much as we can

in them. Noah loves to help in all

aspects...planting (as seen here), watering and

especially eating! Not too many of the

berries actually make it into the house!”

- Sherri www.noahandlilah.etsy.com - Jocelyn www.thelittlelovebug.etsy.com

Page 105: modern handmade child - winter '09

The Parking Lot

Photo taken by Paige, age 4

Corning, California, USA

“After we landed in Germany, Paige asked

if she could take some pictures with one of

my cameras. She took this one while in the

stroller looking for Morfar's car (that's

grandfather in Norweigan). In this photo,

she was able to capture her daddy's

silliness!”

Baby on a Fence Photo taken by Jordan Fae, age 3

Long Island, New York, USA

“We were in Pennsylvania for a family

function and decided to take a hike by the

local waterfalls. I set my camera down to

look at the scenery...Jordan picked up my

camera (while she thought I wasn't looking

but was through the corner of my eye). She

set up the doll and shot the picture. I am a

photographer, and my Jordan Fae is always

interested in what I am doing.”

- Carrie www.apronsbypunkyfae.etsy.com - Liz www.daisycreek.etsy.com

send photos taken by your children to [email protected]