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Editor in Chief Shannon Hanley Copy Editor & Proof Reader

Nicole Passeier Layout and Design Shannon Hanley/The Clever Kitty

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Treasurer Ahmelie Skistad

winter 2011

WELCOME

7 ....letter from the editor

WEAR - fashion trends

9... layering

14.... little rocker

16.... editor’s picks: cozy caps

and toasty toes

DWELL - home décor

18 ....celebrate...decorate!

34.... editor’s picks: deck the

halls

SHOP

23 ....holiday gift guide:

handmade gifts for every

budget

CREATE - crafty tutorials

36 ....snowed-in apples

72 ....christmas pillow covers

74 ....lost mitten snowman

contents modern

handmade child

on the cover

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Little Woodsman Long Sleeved Nostalgic

Graphic Sleep Gown by

Nostalgic Graphic Tees

Elizabeth Horton Design

Holiday Gift Guide

23

14

36

winter 2011

MEET - interviews

40 ... lemon tree studio

59 ... hailey bugs closet

EXPLORE - the outdoors & travel

46 ... travelling with children,

part 1: planning your trip

TASTE - cooking fun

53 ... hearty carrot & potato stew

54 ... weeknight lasagna

56 ... brownie pudding cake

58 ... overnight steel cut oats with

apples and cheese

GROW - child development

65 ... good deeds

CARE - growing up green

70 ... warm and fuzzy all over

For information regarding advertising in modern handmade child, please contact

advertising@modernhandmadechild.com

contents modern

handmade child

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

DWELL.......... Kari Firak CREATE........ Nicole Passeier Tanja D’Lyn

TASTE.......... Jen Dwyer

EXPLORE...... Rachael Ashman MEET........... Taci Zahl CARE........... Tanja D’Lyn

GROW.......... Julie Hartman

Please send all article submissions and ideas to: editor@modernhandmadechild.com Note that submissions are welcome but are not guaranteed inclusion in the magazine.

Copyright© modern handmade child

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

48

64 53

46

40

Shannon Hanley lives on the coast of

southern Maine with her husband and

two daughters. She works during the day

as a floral designer, and from home at

night as an artisan dabbling in many

mediums, from knitting and felting to

jewelry making. Inspired by the vibrant

colors and beauty of nature, she loves

creating things that are both fun and

functional. You can find out more about

Shannon and view her work online at

www.thecleverkitty.com and

www.thecleverkitty.etsy.com, and read

her blog at thekittypad.blogspot.com.

letter from the editor The day before Halloween, as we peered out

the window to see a thick coating of freshly

fallen snow, I could see the excitement

sparkling in my 4-year-old daughter’s eyes.

―It’s winter!‖ she exclaimed. My first instinct

was to explain that no, it was not yet winter,

and was indeed still fall, but then it dawned

on me…while she was very enthusiastically

looking forward to winter, I was not.

As adults, when we think of winter, all too

often we think of the stress this season can

bring, whether it be our heating bills, extra

social obligations for the holidays, or simply

all that extra time spent shoveling snow and

scraping frost off windows. But children,

well, they think of all the fun things to do in

winter, like building snowmen and sledding,

snuggling together and sipping hot cocoa to

stay warm, and all of the special celebrations

throughout the season.

So, this winter, I encourage you all to let go

of the stress and chaos that tend to come this

time of year, and instead, try to view the

season through a child’s eyes: full of

excitement and wonder. Though this may

sound simple, I know that for many of us, it

is easier said than done. But if you can do it,

you will find the season filled with so much

more joy.

Shannon Hanley

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

editor@mhcmag.com.

modern handmade child sponsors - click on the ads to be brought directly to the shops

by marissa fischer of rae gun

E ven though most people

would think winter was no

time for thinking about sun

dresses (unless it is to pine

after warmer weather or

prepare for a tropical

getaway), winter is actually

my favorite time to wear cute

little dresses. For me, a lot of

the current dress styles for

adults are a little too short for

my comfort level, but with a

pair of dark tights or leggings,

I‟m more than happily to don a

cute little dress. Then, all I

need is to top it off with a

cardigan. What I am talking

about is layering.

When it comes to dressing

kiddos, layering can be a

mama‟s best friend. If you just

think a little outside of the

box, layering can really help

you stretch out the lifetime of dragon classic short sleeve tee by kasia bear

some of your favorite articles of

clothing. Whether you are

reluctant about retiring your

daughter‟s favorite skirt that

threatens to reveal her little tush,

or you just want to cut down on

the clothing budget, layering is

for you.

It is no secret that kids grow.

Sometimes they grow so fast that

it can be frustrating as well as

wearing on the wallet to keep up.

As you go through your little

one‟s closet I want to challenge

you to re-evaluate the items as

potential layering garments.

Whether the problem is that it

seems obviously too small or that

it‟s a thin little garment in the

cold of winter, looking at them as

components to a layered outfit

may give them a second life.

Bottoms

If it‟s a matter about length, girls

can easily throw a pair of dark or

thick tights or leggings under

shorter dresses, skirts and even

shorts. Items that may seem a

little inappropriate take on a

completely different look when

the legs are completely covered girls legwarmer leggings by lillipops designs

up. Winter is the best time to do

this since, if something is tempting

to be too short, by the time the

warmer weather rolls back around,

you are almost guaranteed it will

be un-wearable.

Don‟t think you can only stretch

the life of bottoms with girls. Even

little boys can get away with

layering. If their pants are up

around their calves but fit

everywhere else, consider

throwing them over a pair of long

johns or tall socks. With the layer

underneath, the look will have a

purposeful euro flair.

With both girls and boys, just

because something seems too short

or is out of season doesn‟t mean

you have to pack it away. Look at

the shorts, skirts or whatever pair

of bottoms you‟re considering and

think of what you can put under it

to make it work in winter or

stretch the use a little longer.

Tops

The most common way kids grow

is up. Most of them can fit the

width of their clothing long after

the length stops being appropriate. organic cotton soy jersey shirt by soul role

When shirts get too short a quick layering fix

perfect for cooler weather is to throw it over

a longer sleeve top. As long as the shirt

underneath is tighter fitting than the outside

garment, this can work for regular tees, tanks

and even shirts with interesting sleeves.

Short shirts can also help you make more of

those cute summer dresses that your little one

may outgrow before the weather warms up

again. While it‟s natural to layer the shorter

shirt under the dress you should also consider

throwing a cute shirt on top. When thrown on

top, funky tees or cute solids can make a

simple dress look like an interesting skirt.

Whether the top goes under or over, with a

pair of leggings or tights you‟re able to

stretch the life of these dresses just a little

further.

Tweaks

Sometimes, even with layering, things are

just too small. Some articles of clothing that

seem done for may receive a second chance

from a little tweaking. If you don‟t plan on

saving it for a younger sibling or passing it

on to another family, and if you are willing to

take a little risk, you may be able to get a

little more wear out of that favorite garment

of yours.

One option for those with basic sewing skills

would be to sew a small panel to the bottom

of pants or skirts that are too short. You don‟t

need to do much more than sew a straight

stitch in most cases. For the little girls, a

small panel or ruffle of cheap cotton can be

added to the bottom of your favorite tops to

either make them into dresses or just longer

shirts.

opposite page:

funky lime zebra

pillowcase dress by

lil lainey bug

this page, top: green

floral onesie dress

by lilypotamus

(erikafaz)

this page, bottom:

nautical hand-dyed

infant creeper by

eight baby legs

Finally, even if you don‟t sew, onesies that are just too

short can have the bottom part cut off to leave you with

cute shirts that will last a little longer. You can also try

this trick with tights, just chop off the foot part and you

will have some cute leggings. When cutting garments,

though, keep in mind that different fabrics stretch

differently with a raw edge. Because of this, the first

time you try it with a new type of fabric, make sure you

use a garment that you won‟t be too upset if it doesn‟t

turn out. Also if you sew at all, you can always stitch the

edge to minimize fraying (if it is a stretch fabric, zig zag

stitches will probably be your best bet).

I hope that I have given you some ideas to help you

stretch the life of your little one‟s favorite wearables.

Winter is the perfect time to try out the rocker look. It’s more about

dark colors, blacks and grays, that are easier to find in the colder

months, and it works perfectly with layering (think leggings, long

sleeves under tees). Plus it gives you an excuse to let them keep their

hair messy or wear their tutus out of the house. To keep it playful and

child-like, throw in bursts of colors like hot pink, green or orange.

Winter is the perfect time to try out the rocker look. It’s more about

dark colors, blacks and grays, that are easier to find in the colder

months, and it works perfectly with layering (think leggings, long

sleeves under tees). Plus it gives you an excuse to let them keep their

hair messy or wear their tutus out of the house. To keep it playful and

child-like, throw in bursts of colors like hot pink, green or orange.

clockwise from top right: royalty hand printed tee shirt by

ultra ripe, codie cowboy shirt by escargot kids, appliquéd

guitar hoodie by posh tot designs, pirate tutu costume by

kirra’s boutique, wild child onesie by babies rawk,

upcycled guitar tee shirt by dandelion dream

(tinytwistcreative), argyle legwarmers by knotty baby wear

by marissa fischer of rae gun

caps, clockwise from top left: ribbed pixie bonnet by

sweet km, the flower hat by my kids lids (katiesegel),

knitted pixie hat with snowflake by kiddo designs,

cloche hat with eco felt flower by teeny bunny, winter

wonderland baby wool hat by soria moria

toes, clockwise from top right: grey cord birdy boots

by pogi babies handmade, ibex long hand knitted

socks by rg socks, heirloom hand knit alpaca baby

booties by morning light farm, felted wool slippers by

wild rose herbs

picks by shannon hanley of the clever kitty

by kari firak of little mr moo

Get out some of your comfiest quilts and

make s‟mores…I can almost smell the

campfire!

If you are not in to the great outdoors,

perhaps a tea party theme would be more to

your taste. From sewing your own napkins

and tablecloth to using grandma‟s china set,

there are so many ways to create a sweet

environment for your guests. And don‟t

forget the wide brimmed hats! Let the party

goers design their own with your scrap fabric.

It is also a great excuse to bring some flowers

inside, placing a bud vase on the table.

D o you find it difficult to choose a theme

for your child‟s room? Are you happy with

your vintage theme, but you just cannot

forget that jungle wallpaper you fell in love

with? Don‟t worry! You have a chance once

every year to put those other themes to good

use. Turn your backyard into a circus, your

living room into a train station, or your

dining room into a tea party. I‟m talking

about birthday parties! Opportunities to bring

those old themes back to life in a way your

child will never forget.

A camp out

birthday party

can be really fun

for you and for

your child. You

can throw a

camping party

indoors or out,

with a real tent or

a makeshift one

out of blankets.

These A-frame

tents are so

inviting, and even

include stakes

differentiating

each campsite.

Hang lanterns

from the ceiling

or tree branches. by kari firak of little mr moo

photo credits: opposite page: crave photography , this page: gina lee photography

There are some decorations that you can use

for any theme. Making a fabric bunting is just as

easy as sewing your own curtains. They are so

pretty you might want to keep them up year round.

I love the vintage look of this bunting from Dottie

Angel, using fabric remnants. If you don‟t have

fabric lying around, try to make your own tissue

garland as Jesyka of Visual Vocabulary did.

Inspired by Confetti System, these tassels will

surely add glamour indoors or out.

It can also be fun to concentrate on a color scheme

alone. Rainbow parties are so popular right now.

Annie Kershisnik Blake of Annilygreen had the

fabulous idea of using food to decorate the table. It

photo credits

this page, left to right:

visual vocabulary, dottie

angel.

opposite page: annily

green

is convenient and delicious, too! And come

on, those boxes? Simple, but oh so effective.

If you aren‟t into the rainbow look, there are

some super creative themes using a single

color. How about „Pretty in Pink‟? Or try

yellow for a „You are my Sunshine‟ theme.

Whether it involves animals, colors, song

titles or just the time of year, there are endless

possibilities to create an unforgettable birthday

party. Each event is a chance to create an

environment that you weren‟t able to in the

nursery. And if you don‟t like it? It can all

come down at the end of the day. Party On!

We love

to see the world

from a "kid's eye view" and

are excited to announce that the

View section, which showcases photos by

children, will return to Modern Handmade Child in

Spring 2012. In addition to photographs taken by children, we

now also welcome pictures of artwork (in any medium) created by kids for

our new and improved View section. If you have a photo taken by your child or a

picture of your child's artwork to submit, please contact our View Editor, Catherine

Way, at view@mhcmag.com. Please submit all images as jpegs, and be sure to

include the artist's name, age and a title with a few lines about their work. The View

theme for the Spring issue will be GREEN.

Holiday Gift Guide

clockwise from top

left: paper spin tops

by nanisimpresa,

dino crayons by posh

paper creations,

nature inspired yoyo

by simple loving

family, crayon roll by

my little reverie,

lavender scented play

clay by mama k’s,

wooden ribbon ring

by blackbeary

mountain, felt tic tac

toe set by page by

page 2, gnome finger

puppets by love a

little, japanese

braiding friendship

bracelet kit by cool

tag

clockwise from top left:

doll quilt by quietude quilts, felt

sandwich set by tate’s tastees, stripey

snake wooden pull toy by armadillo

dreams, upcycled wool toy sleeping

bag by pogo shop, felt finger puppets

by cheryl a smith, board bus by board

games, ramses cat plushie by janie xy

clockwise from top left: dax macro creature by mr. sogs, baby doll cloth diapers by baby doll

diapers, custom photo i spy bag by those greathouse women, transportation matching game by little

sapling toys, super hero bunny doll by murdock design, wooden xylophone toy by smiling tree toys,

mushroom wooden bowling set by mud hollow (muddyfeet)

clockwise from top left: dax macro creature by mr. sogs, baby doll cloth diapers by baby doll

diapers, custom photo i spy bag by those greathouse women, transportation matching game by little

sapling toys, super hero bunny doll by murdock design, wooden xylophone toy by smiling tree toys,

mushroom wooden bowling set by mud hollow (muddyfeet)

clockwise from top left:

wooden workbench with

tools by a summer

afternoon, manzanita

classic building set by

manzanita kids, my

dolly molly rag doll by

bits of me, custom

wooden fairy market by

the enchanted

cupboard, rainbow

playsilks by bright life

toys, doll bed with

bedding by girl doll

beds, teddy bear by fifi

stitch

clockwise from top left:

springtime playscape by

asher jasper, cherry wood

trike by jules tatum, zooguu

fugu plush by zooguu,

wooden play kitchen and

fridge by heartwood natural

toys, pet shop card table

play house by miss

pretty pretty,

modular

wooden

doll

house

deluxe

kit by

mod

playhouse

left to right: mini embroidery

hoop wall art by butterfly

alley, hanging paper

christmas decorations by

bookity, joyeux noel pillow by

jennifer lyons, wood ornament

christmas decorations by

event design shop, snowflake

wall and window decals by musterladen, believe mantle banner by any

occasion banners, little village advent calendar by marabara design

left to right: mini embroidery

hoop wall art by butterfly

alley, hanging paper

christmas decorations by

bookity, joyeux noel pillow by

jennifer lyons, wood ornament

christmas decorations by

event design shop, snowflake

wall and window decals by musterladen, believe mantle banner by any

occasion banners, little village advent calendar by marabara design picks by shannon hanley of the clever kitty

Here’s a sweet, easy and quick

winter & Christmas decoration

for you –―snowed-in" Christmas

apples showing a sparkly red or

bright green motif of your

choice. I have made these

apples two times already in the

past few years, however I don't

recall where I first got the idea

from ... Still, these sugar-coated

apples look so adorable as table

decoration and are super

easy & quick for kids, too, that I

definitely wanted to share this

with you. Hope you will enjoy

them just as much!

by nicole passeier of magic rainbow dreaminx

Materials:

Apples (sparkly deep red or bright green ones for an extra-lovely effect)

1 egg white (should do for at least a handful of apples)

Icing sugar

Grease-proof or baking paper

Pastry brush

small sifter (optional)

by nicole passeier of magic rainbow dreaminx

Directions:

Step 1: With a pencil, draw simple winter

or Christmas themed shapes onto your

grease-proof or baking paper. You will need

one template per apple, two if you are going

to decorate the apple on two sides. Heart,

star, bow, boot, Santa beard, simple Santa

shape, candle, tree, candy cane, snowman ...

all are great. Play around a bit. Just make

sure that your motif size fits nicely onto

your apple. Cut out and double-check your

motif size by holding it against the apple.

Step 2: Separate your egg into egg white

and egg yolk (keep your yolk to use up later

for scrambled eggs, or for any vegetable or

pasta bakes). Stir your egg white slightly

with a fork until you have a smooth texture.

Step 3: Rinse your apples and dry them

with a towel. Place your paper motif onto

the apple, and apply a thin layer of egg

white onto the apple with your pastry brush.

Gently, brush over the paper motif, and be

sure to hold the paper template down

closely at the rims – you don‟t want any egg

white to sneak underneath your template.

Now, carefully remove your finger from the

template. The template should now be

sticky enough to stay stuck (note: this can

be a tricky sticky thing!)

1

1

2

Step 4: Place the apple onto a plate or

onto another piece of grease-proof paper.

Let the egg white dry for a few moments

(ca. 5 mins).

Step 5: Time to cover the apple deep

with icing sugar – on top and all around.

Use a sifter if you like to distribute your

sugar evenly. The egg white works as

sort of “natural glue” for the sugar, so the

sugar will remain stuck on the egg white.

If the egg white still absorbs too much of

the sugar (i.e., the sugar dissolves and

loses its white color), let the egg white

dry a few moments longer. Then try

sugaring again. Let the apple sit for

another few moments.

Step 6: Finally, slowly and gently

remove the paper shape off the apple. It

might be useful to have some flat and

pointy object at hand (a small vegetable

cutting knife, e.g.) to help you lift off the

paper as you want to keep the sugar

coating intact and in place. Et voilà: your

“snowed-in” Christmas apple! Let the

apple dry completely before placing it on

your table, plate or window sill for

decoration, or before giving it away as a

little gift.

Step 7: Repeat for as many apples as you

wish.

A Very Merry & Happy Christmas and a Radiant Winter (Summer) Solstice to you all, dear MHC readers!

Would you like to share your photos of your Christmas apples? We’d love to see them. Post a comment on

the MHC blog or Facebook page, or send us an e-mail to editor@modernhandmadechild.com.

5

5

Some Ideas & Notes:

place your apples on a dry & smooth

surface, e.g. a plate or a saucer

glue a name tag around the apple‟s

stem and use apple as a place card

cut letter shapes out of the paper and

have the apples display someone‟s

initial(s)

if you would like to decorate several

apples with the same motif, it might

be helpful to first make a motif

template out of card-stock or card-

board, and then trace your shape

onto the grease-proof/ baking paper

if you want to eat the apples later on

into the season (or after the

holidays): go ahead and do. Just

rinse them thoroughly under warm

water before taking a bite to scrub

off not only the sugar, but most

importantly the egg white. Of

course, you can still peel the apples

after having rinsed them!

Caution: Safety rules. Always. Ensure

that any sharp objects such as needles,

scissors, cutters and knives are well out

of reach of any small children. Be sure to

supervise your children‟s use of any

crafting material.

A Very Merry & Happy Christmas and a Radiant Winter (Summer) Solstice to you all, dear MHC readers!

Would you like to share your photos of your Christmas apples? We’d love to see them. Post a comment on

the MHC blog or Facebook page, or send us an e-mail to editor@modernhandmadechild.com.

6

interview by taci zahl of pish posh style

mhc: Hi and thank you for welcoming us

into your shop! Please tell us all about you,

your family, hobbies, and of course your

work.

shelly: Hi,

my name is

Shelly and I

am a wife to a

fabulous man,

a mama to

two little

peanuts and a

friend to

many! I run a

wee little

*handmade

goods* shop

on Etsy,

Lemon Tree

Studio, that

brings me much crafty satisfaction. My

creative side loves sewing, jewelry making,

digital scrapbooking, and thrifting. My girly

side loves to SHOP, and my mama side loves

to snuggle with my little ones and travel to

fun places with my family.

mhc: When did you open your shop and

what did you have in mind?

shelly: I opened my shop on the morning

of Valentine's

Day in 2008.

I had no solid

plans ... just

started out

making a few

paper goods,

but I was too

nervous to

list anything!

So, I waited

until the

following

month before

I really

gained some

confidence in

selling my items. I think I made my first sale

within a week or so of starting ... then there

was no looking back!

mhc: Please tell us about the items you

currently sell.

Every project is better with a little something from Lemon Tree Studio! Whether

embellishing a hair bow or bag with one of the Fresh Picked Fabric Flowers, or adding

a bright burst of lemony, vintagey POP to your scrapbook with digital elements, every

project is cuter with something special from Lemon Tree Studio. Mommy to a princess,

Shelly knows pretty and special...Enjoy!

and hair adornments -- I really like to switch it

up and create a variety. Really, the only thing

that has had a huge following and longevity in

my shop, are my *Fresh Picked Fabric and Felt

Flowers* and the *Digital Clip art*.

shelly: I really have a huge mixture of

things that I have previously sold and

currently sell at Lemon Tree. I have made

everything from shower curtains and

handbags to scrapbooking embellishments

mhc: Do you follow a work schedule or do

you create when the urge strikes?

shelly: I so WISH I could follow a

schedule! But being a stay-at-home mom

comes first, and most days are filled with a

semi-routine – nothing is ever set in stone. I

am a "create-when-the-urge-strikes-and-the-

kids-are-tucked-in-bed" kinda gal. That

means lots of cramming at naptimes and

sewing until the wee hours of the morning. I

have 4 spiral notebooks that are scattered

around the house --- when an idea strikes, I

make sure to jot it down as a future ―to

create". Of course, there will always be

bigger "to create" lists than time. Can

someone please add 8 more hours in a day?

mhc: Everything is so happy and bright.

The first time I visited your shop I was struck

by the lovely digital flower collections. Can

you tell us about how that came about?

shelly: I originally created the digital art

so that I could make holiday cards for family

and friends. I started by reproducing my

original mixed media art into prints. They

started to sell, and then there were many

requests for more of a variety and, as they

say, the rest is history!

mhc: What types of things can you tell us

(sellers and buyers) about selling with Etsy?

shelly: I get asked this a lot, and I am

super flattered that people think I have some

great and magical answers to selling on Etsy,

but ... it really has been trial and error for

me. I think that the most successful sellers

follow these simple "must do's":

must treat your customers like real

people: be kind, courteous and

professional

must be ready to spend a LOT of time

and energy in your shop (creating,

taking pictures, editing, listing,

answering convos, shipping, etc.)

must have AWESOME pictures of your

listed items

must have a variety of items in your

shop to appeal to many different buyers

must be continually re-inventing

yourself and staying up-to-date on the

latest and greatest

must treat your loyal and repeat

customers like GOLD

mhc: I'm totally curious to know what

your own house looks like. Can you describe

it for us?

shelly: Our home looks so formal on the

outside: bricks, stone and lots of pavement.

BUT, on the inside ... be ready for color,

color, color. Almost every room is touched

with bright and cheerful tones. We even

turned our formal dining room into a

playroom for the kids - and it's the furthest

thing from formal now! I love to buy vintage

furniture and home décor and give it a fresh

new look or upcycle things into something

fresh and unconventional. I adore turquoise,

it is by far my most favorite color ... so there

are oodles of turquoise spots in our house.

mhc: What

are some things

that inspire you?

shelly: I am

really inspired

by lots of

things ... vintage

textiles, the

outdoors, books,

magazines,

online surfing ...

my 4 year old.

She is a constant

source of a

sparkling

imagination and will often tell me outlandish

ideas that really strike a creative cord with

me. Sometimes, she loves to *work* right

along side me ... and, I love her fresh and

innocent view of the world.

mhc: Can you share a favorite quote with

us?

shelly: I love the quote, "Creativity is

allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is

knowing which ones to keep". I even painted

this quote on one of my old studio walls. It

totally resonates with me because there have

been many times that I have wanted to stop

making something because of a little "mess

up" ... but, I kept going and it always turned

out ok. Some of those pieces have even been

some of my most

favorite!

mhc: What

are your future

plans? And

which sites can

we find you on,

blogs, Pinterest,

etc.?

shelly: I just

want to try to

continue to keep

Lemon Tree

Studio a place

where people want to visit and shop. I love,

love, LOVE doing what I do. So, I hope to

help keep the handmade revolution alive!

I do not currently have a blog or participate

in any networking sites, but I do have a few

boards over at Pinterest (come follow along):

http://pinterest.com/shellibelli/.

Special offer for MHC Readers! All digital art in Shelly’s Etsy shop is Buy 2 Get 1 (of equal or lesser value) Free!

Simply purchase any 2 clip arts, then enter your choice for the freebie along with the code “MCHREADER” in the notes to seller box at checkout.

offer expires February 29, 2012

P lanning an overseas holiday as a single or a couple is easy. Choose a country, list all the

places you want to see, factor in lots of lunches, dinners and drinking and then squeeze it all in,

some days at a frantic pace. Or other days you can sleep late, spend hours sipping coffee in a

Parisian cafe or sit in the sun, the waves gently lapping at your beach bungalow door.

Travelling with children is a whole different ball game. Children are not so good at letting you

spend hours wandering around an art gallery or at letting you drink half the night away in a new

and exciting city. However, it is not all bad, and exploring the world with your little people can

make a holiday a truly memorable experience. With some careful planning, you may even get

the chance to enjoy it!

Plan Your Destination – the 10 hour flight rule: When we planned our overseas holidays, we

started by looking at where we can get

within a 10 hour flight time (the „10 hour

flight rule‟). We have set this flight time

limit while our kids are small (currently 1

and 5 years old) and will extend it as they

get older and as I am able to cope with the

idea of more time stuck on a plane with

them. Although we had wanted to travel to

Europe from Australia, we decided that with

a 21-month-old, a 9 hour flight to Hong

Kong was a much better option than 22

hours of potential terror.

by rachael ashman fritsche of grandy and baa

In Australia we are lucky as our 10

hour flight rule puts a whole lot of

Asian countries within easy reach,

but sadly it means that Europe and

the US don‟t make the cut. Asia

may not be an easy destination

when travelling out of the US, but

consider all the amazing options

closer to home before setting your

heart on a trip to Bhutan. From the

East Coast of the US, Europe and

North Africa are easy flight times

and some wonderful cities fit into

the 10 hour rule (New York to

Berlin, Germany is about 8 hours).

European cities are great for kids,

and countries like Spain are set up

for little ones with the much loved

afternoon siesta perfect for a

napping toddler.

If you have older children, or are

prepared to give it a go with the

little ones, of course you can ignore

the 10 hour flight rule, go crazy and

choose an exotic far off destination.

Anyone fancy New York via Sydney to

Timbuktu? If you have children in the

„danger-zone age‟ (12 months to 3 years), and

you are taking a long flight, they may need a

break (and most likely so will you). Friends

of ours recently flew from Sydney to London,

and their 2 ½ year old spent practically all of

the 22 hour flight walking the aisles of the

plane (with a parent), refusing to sit down

unless it was done forcibly at take-off and

landing. My friend says it was the worst

experience of her life so far. Just something

to consider if your heart is set on destination

Bhutan…

Of course, there are a lot of factors other than

flight times to consider when choosing your

destination. Are you looking for an adventure

holiday, a resort holiday, a „visiting family

and friends‟ holiday or a bit-of-everything-

holiday? Grab some brochures of possible

destinations and guide books from the library

or book store, and get reading. Involve the

children in your decisions, weighing up the

pros and cons of each destination. Or you can

start by checking out current airline sales and

let that inform your decision. We recently

travelled to Japan after seeing some greatly

discounted airfares on sale. Although Japan

was already on our list of places to go, being

able to save thousands on airfares meant it

jumped to the top of the list.

Book your Flights – the early

bird…: Making advanced bookings can save you lots

of money, so keep an eye out for early bird

fares for long distance flights. On the flip

side, short haul flights are sometimes heavily

discounted closer to the departure dates.

When tickets are a great price there can be

catches, so make sure you look out for things

like the number, and the duration, of

stopovers. I have had some bargain flights

before that have left me with layovers in

multiple cities, blowing a 22 hour journey out

to about 40 hours. Twelve hours at Vancouver

airport is not a lot of fun with small children

in tow…. Booking a slightly more expensive

direct flight that does not have multiple

stopovers may be a much wiser decision,

especially if your children are young.

Personalised Laundry or Storage bags by Kesaia

Things – great for packing colouring books,

picture books, small toys and snacks for

entertaining your kids during flights.

summer is generally very expensive (for

flights and hotels) so you may want to

consider the benefits of travelling in Spring

or Autumn (Fall), which weather wise are

generally much more pleasant than summer.

Of course, winter can be great, too, especially

in milder climates. Consider Northern

Australia where the day time winter averages

are over 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Be sure to book a cot if you are travelling

with a baby under 12 months (most airlines

will not supply a cot if the infant is over 12

months). At peak travel periods, you need to

book early if you want one of these seats.

You will also want to ensure that babies‟ and

children‟s meals are available and noted on

your booking, and pack plenty of snacks. We

Make sure you shop around for your flights.

Check the big, reputable websites

specializing in discount flights, but make sure

you check those prices against those

advertised on the airline websites –

sometimes the airlines are cheaper or they

can be if you call them. Also, call travel

agents or visit their offices and get quotes

from them. Some airlines let you hold seats

without paying – a good idea if they are great

prices but you just need to check a few more

options. Keep in mind that children younger

than 2 years old fly free but you do pay all

the taxes, so make sure you factor that in as

they can be $300-$400 depending on your

destination.

Consider traveling during non-peak times and

the shoulder periods. Travelling during the

Nappy/Diaper Bag by Billy Button Creations – a

great sized bag for long flights with plenty of

room for all the bits you will need.

Playtime Purse by Pocket Carnival - a lovely

purse for your small people to keep their foreign

coins. Original Pocket Carnival illustration

printed on organic cotton.

have requested an infant meal in the past only

to be told that they have forgotten. If I had

not packed an enormous „picnic‟ our long

flight would have become a nightmare with

one very hungry toddler.

For a long flight (Australia to New York),

consider adding a stop-over half way. Our

friends that recently flew from Sydney to

London with a 3 and a 5 year old stopped

over in Hong Kong to give everyone a break.

On the return from London to Sydney, they

again stopped in Hong Kong, this time giving

the kids the much anticipated treat of a visit

to Disneyland.

If you are very lucky and can swing it,

Business Class cabins are generally very

child friendly, although cot facilities may not

be available. I must admit that Business

Class, with its wide, comfortable seats, is a

far more pleasant way to spend 10 hours with

a baby on your lap than cramped into the ever

shrinking Economy seats. Saving frequent

flyer miles and upgrade points and moving

into Business Class (First Class in US

domestic travel) can really make the journey

pleasurable. But if, like us, most of your trips

are spent down the back of the plane, don‟t

fear – it is not all that bad.

Plan your Hotels: Forward planning here is highly

recommended, as this can be an area of huge

savings. When choosing a hotel, keep in

Zipped Purse with Red Retro Screenprint Design

by Podnip – lovely little zip make-up bags that

have a million uses when travelling, from

keeping foreign change, to first aid kits to

holding a little cars and bits for small people.

Rainy Day Nappy Wallet by Chickadoo Lane –

every world travelling baby needs a stylish

nappy wallet just like this one! For changes on

the go, this compact nappy wallet will fit easily

in a handbag or day pack.

mind what you want it for. Is it a resort style

holiday? Is it an action-packed get-away

where you simply collapse at the end of a

long day, or do you plan on spending a lot of

time hanging out at the hotel? Make a list of

the facilities and services you want in a hotel.

Location is important here so make sure you

have a good map of the city or town you are

visiting. Some hotels may look out of the

way, but if they are on top of a subway

station, it makes it close to everything. Or if

the hotel is right in the middle of the hotel

strip, it may not have many dining options

other than expensive in-hotel restaurants.

When you have narrowed down your

requirements, your location and your price

range, visit sites like www.wotif.com to see

what is on offer at your destination. This

gives you an idea of the variety of hotels and

what their discounted prices are like. Wotif and

other similar sites now allow you to book

months in advance. Read some hotel reviews

to get a sense of what people are saying,

keeping in mind, though, that some review-

writing addicts are a little crazy. Visit more

reputable sites like Lonely Planet or

Frommer's for up-to-date reviews of hotels.

Armed with a short list, including the prices

noted on sites like Wotif, I visit the individual

hotel websites to see what prices they are

quoting. I then contact the hotels directly

(most large hotels have an email address and

English speaking staff). If you are looking to

book a cheaper local hotel, you many need to

Custom Laptop Bag by Bobishi – a gorgeous

laptop bag for taking on the road.

Vinyl Passport Covers by Sparrow Bee – passport

covers for the whole family! Makes it easy to find

them in your bag when you are on the move.

arrange this via a hotel booking site or a

friend or contact in the country, as you may

not find staff that speak English well enough

to understand your email or telephone

requests.

For our recent holiday I contacted a number

of 4 and 5 star hotels directly and was offered

some excellent discounts, up to 45% off the

rack rate and around 25% cheaper than

www.wotif.com. Keep in mind that these

really good deals are often non-refundable,

and you are not able to change the dates.

(Your Travel Insurance will be able to assist

if your holiday is cancelled or postponed due

to a claimable reason.)

If you are looking at 4 or 5 star hotels,

consider booking a more expensive Club or

Executive Room as it generally includes

breakfast and evening canapés/light supper.

Some Club or Executive Lounges do not

permit children but the staff will happily

assist you in preparing trays of food and

drinks to take back to your room. We have

found that booking a more expensive Club or

Executive Room works out cheaper than the

non-Club rooms when you add in the

breakfasts, free wireless broadband, health

club access and the drinks and snacks at the

end of the day. I personally recommend the

Intercontinental Hotel group here, as they

provide very competitive room rates,

excellent service and some have fantastic

Club Lounges. This group includes Holiday

Inns, Crowne Plaza, and Intercontinental

Hotels (visit www.ichotelsgroup.com for

more information).

Dachshund Tissue Holder by Edward and Lily –

everyone needs tissues and why not take this

little friend with you?

Coming in our next issue:

Part 2: Planning Your Itinerary and Packing

It just isn’t fall until you

have had a crisp cool day

with a warm stew waiting

for you when you come

home at dinnertime. Serve this nutritious dish with cornbread topped with honey butter. For the

honey butter, simply place 3 tablespoons of butter in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of honey. Let sit

at room temperature for 30 minutes, and stir before serving.

Save yourself some time — leave the skin on the red potatoes for extra flavor and nutrients.

Serves six.

Directions:

Add all ingredients to Crock Pot and stir well. Heat on high for 6 hours or until meat

separates easily with a fork and potatoes are tender.

Ingredients:

1 pound stew meat

4 carrots, peeled and chopped

8 red potatoes, cubed

3 green onions, chopped

1 cup chopped yellow onions

½ envelop Lipton onion soup mix

1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes

by jen dwyer of puntebella

Have you discovered no boil lasagna noodles? They are right there on the shelf next to the

regular ones. They are not more expensive, they taste just as good (I actually prefer them) and

they turn the task of making lasagna into a joy. You just layer and go. No more fussing with

boiling water and breaking soggy noodles. This recipe is also lighter than your average lasagna

because it calls for ground turkey instead of ground beef and uses low fat cottage cheese instead

of ricotta. Add a fresh green salad and some crusty garlic bread to make a weeknight feel like a

special occasion.

This recipe makes a large 13 x 9 inch pan, but for small families you can divide it into two 8 x 8

inch pans and put one in the freezer or share one with a friend.

by jen dwyer of puntebella

Directions:

1. Crumble and brown the ground turkey, cooking completely.

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in the cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, and half the

mozzarella.

4. Spray the bottom of a 13” x 9” baking dish with cooking spray. Spread some sauce in the

bottom of the pan.

5.*Place a layer of noodles; you may have to break some so that they fit across the bottom of

the pan. Layer half of the cooked turkey and half of the cheese mixture; spread evenly. Add

some more sauce and sprinkle some mozzarella.

6. Repeat step 5 from the * for a second layer. Top with a final layer of noodles, the rest of the

sauce and sprinkle some mozzarella on top.

5. Spray some foil with cooking spray, and cover the lasagna. Bake for 50 minutes or until

bubbly. Allow it to cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

Ingredients:

1 box no boil lasagna noodles

1 pound ground turkey

2 eggs

1 (15 ounce) container low fat cottage

cheese

4 cups shredded mozzarella

½ cup grated parmesan

2 jars marinara sauce

by jen dwyer of puntebella

This simple recipe makes the whole house smell so wonderful; it’s perfect for a winter evening at

home. Kids will be intrigued by the way it is made. The boiling water mixture is poured over the

cake batter and the baked cake comes out on top of the pudding, making for an interesting study

in kitchen chemistry. Of course, only adults should handle the boiling water mixture.

Make it festive: serve with peppermint or mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Makes 8 servings.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, ¾ cup granulated sugar, ¼

cup cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Add milk, melted

butter and ½ teaspoon vanilla; stir until smooth. Stir in

chocolate morsels. Spread evenly in an 8” X 10” baking dish.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together remaining ¾ cup granulated

sugar and ¼ cup cocoa powder. Gradually stir in boiling water

and remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla. Carefully pour mixture over

batter in the baking dish.

4. Bake for 40 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 ¼ cups all-purpose

flour

1 ½ cups granulated

sugar, divided

½ cups unsweetened

cocoa powder, divided

2 teaspoons baking

powder

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cups milk

3 tablespoons butter or

margarine, melted

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla,

divided

1 cups semi-sweet

chocolate chips

1 ¾ cups boiling water

Directions: Place oats and water in a medium saucepan, bring to

a boil. Boil for one minute; remove from heat. Add

apples and cinnamon sticks, then cover. Leave to

rest overnight. The next morning, remove cover and

heat on low, stirring frequently until warm. Add

brown sugar and honey, adjusting amounts

according to taste. Place in serving bowls and top

with a tablespoon of shredded or a couple slices of

sharp cheddar cheese.

by jen dwyer of puntebella

Steel cut oats have a bit of a nutty taste to them and a wonderful chewy texture, not mushy like

instant oatmeal. To achieve this great texture, you start with a coarser grain, so it takes a while

to cook. That is why I love this recipe – all the waiting is done while you sleep. Before you go to

bed, boil the oats and water, add the apple chunks

and let it all soften overnight. The next morning, just

reheat and sweeten to taste.

In this recipe a little protein is added with sharp

cheddar cheese, which tastes great with apples and

gives even more staying power to this light yet hearty

breakfast.

This recipe makes about four servings. It can also be

stored in the fridge for up to three days and divided

into single servings, heated one at a time.

Ingredients:

1 cup steel cut oats

3 cups water

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled

and cubed

2 cinnamon sticks

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon honey

Sharp cheddar cheese, sliced or

shredded

mhc: Hi Stacey,

thanks for agreeing to be

featured in our Meet

Section – we are so

happy to have you!

Please tell us about

yourself.

stacey: I am a

stay-at-home mom with

three amazing kids. I

love to sew and cook

and occasionally bake,

though my baking skills

are lacking a bit, and I

prefer to make it only if

it comes from a box. I

have recently moved into

interview by taci zahl of pish posh style

Sweet sassy style is what you'll find when you take a cyber step into Hailey Bugs

Closet. Etsy boutique owner Stacey Mann combines fantastic fabric and

professional sewing skills to dress up her cutie-pies and yours! Read on to find out

what inspires all the adorableness in her shop, and be prepared to cross a lot of

items off your Christmas list!

pattern designing as well, which I have found

that I really enjoy and has given me the

ability to reach out and meet new people. I

also dabble in photography, mainly of just my

own kids, but I have found it to be quite

enjoyable.

mhc: How did you start selling?

stacey: About 3 years ago my husband

lost his job, and with his new position, my

boutique spending income went WAY down.

My mother-in-law had purchased a beautiful

Janome for me several years before that

which had been collecting dust. So I went

online one day and read tutorial after tutorial

on how to make a skirt. I bought some fabric

and whipped it up. I saw how happy my little

girl was with her skirt and was proud that I

had made it for her. Though I was very much

afraid of the stigma of ―handmade‖ – when

people would ask where she got it and she

told them, I blushed. To my surprise women

at church began asking if I could make them

pillowcase dresses like the ones my daughter

was wearing, and I agreed. This helped push

me to start advertising on Craigslist and then

eventually I moved to Etsy. I was VERY

nervous at first to have my items out there,

but the response I got was amazing and

strangers encouraged me to keep selling.

mhc: Handmade children's clothing and

products are so trendy. With so many shops

specializing in boutique clothing, is that at all

discouraging? And if so, how do you handle

that?

stacey: I haven’t found it to be

discouraging at all to be honest. I have

become online friends with several other

boutique owners on Etsy, most of whom sell

children’s clothing, and have even begun an

online sewing circle with 22 amazing women!

We encourage one another and bounce off

ideas, as well as talk about home life and

raising children and husbands, lol.

mhc: Tell us how much time you spend

working on items for your business? How do

you balance it all?

stacey: It really depends on the week.

With holidays approaching I will spend a

little more time with orders. I probably put

about 15-20 hours a week sewing and

another 4-6 with promoting, packing, listing

items etc. I have 3 kids, one in

High School, one who started

Kindergarten and one who is

home with me, so depending on

their schedules and homework,

some days I get more done. I try

to focus on working when I just

have my youngest home, that way

when the others get home we can

do homework, have meals, read

and play together before bed. If I

need to work in the evenings my

husband will watch the kids so

that I can sew.

mhc: I noticed you have been selling

patterns for a while now and are also

collaborating with other shops. Both are signs

of a very busy shop – congrats! What can you

tell us about these changes?

stacey: I have so many ideas for clothing

running around in my head, and when I

couldn’t find patterns for some of the things I

wanted to make, I sat down and started

sketching and checked out some books at my

local library....LOVE the library!

The first pattern I ever made was for my

pillowcase dresses when I first started. I

didn’t even know about PDF's back then, and

I HATE paper patterns with a passion. I

made the decision to sell the patterns when I

realized I wasn’t going to be able to sew as

much as usual with school starting this fall

for two children and several other big life

changes. This way, other people who wanted

to make something in that style could. I also

began offering DIY kits. This came about

because I would post pictures of finished

items, and people would ask where I got the

fabric, etc. I am a fabric hoarder and decided

since a lot of women only need a 1/2 yard of

one print and 1/4 yard of something else, that

it wasn’t very cost effective for them to order

full or half yardage from multiple sellers. So

when I purchase my fabric for a certain

garment, I buy enough to make 4 to 6 others,

and I sell both the finished product and the

fabric so people can make it themselves.

I began working with a few other shops –

several of them liked my pictures and asked if

we could do some stuff together. Now I am

working with other pattern designers as well

by adding some of their stuff to my pictures

and adding links to their shop. It has been a

great way to meet wonderful sellers out

there!

mhc: In your words, what are some of the

benefits and rewards of sewing for your

children?

stacey: My kids help pick out a lot of the

fabric I use to make their clothing. I buy it

and put it up on my shelf, and when the time

comes to whip up something, I let my

daughter show me what she likes. It gives me

that time with her, and she is always so

pleased and happy that she was a part of the

process.

I also do embroidery for my kids and they are

always so proud to say that their mommy

made it for them. I love the idea of being able

to make something really special that is

just for them and no one else. My daughter

has several OOAK dresses that have been

made especially for her, and I don’t resell

those styles. It is also funny to watch her

as she plays ―sewing‖ with her dolls!

mhc: You have told me before that you

are a fabric hoarder, and with so many

amazing fabrics out there, who can blame

you? Tell us some of your favorite

designers and prints.

stacey: Oh, this is tough. There are

SO many out there which I just absolutely

adore for various reasons. One of my

faves is Moda – they typically have a

vintage feel to them. For novelty prints, it

is hands down Michael Miller. He has so

many great prints and also makes some

that are great for boys. I also love Henry

Glass and Tanya Whelan – anything floral

really catches my eye! Oh, and Joel

Dewberry – I have been known to

purchase his fabric and sit on it, NOT

wanting to cut into it. I have been doing

that with the Aviary 2 line he came out

with earlier this year!

mhc: Do you have a favorite color

combination, fabric, trend, etc. that you are

really into at the moment?

stacey: I LOVE pink,

and right now I am

really into anything with

pinks, lacey white and

pony or zebra print – I

like to mix in something

a bit fun and funky. I

also love red with aqua

and find that my fabric

stashes have a lot of

these colors in them.

mhc: Can you talk

about some of your

upcoming plans, goals,

etc. for your shop?

stacey: I have

several new patterns in the works, one is a

skirt using scraps or those adorable charm

packs I am always drawn to but since I don’t

quilt, I buy them and try to figure out what to

do with them later, lol.

I also want to really expand

into the DIY and pattern

portion of my shop, continue

to help the women I have

become close with in my

sewing circle (who use my

patterns and make finished

products) with their shops

and directing traffic to them.

I will continue to have

finished items in my shop, but

just not as many. I am

enjoying the creative side of

coming out with new designs,

and I love seeing what others

make with something I

started. I am planning on

making something simple so that young girls

wanting to learn to sew can, with the help of

their moms, too. Maybe a little bag or

something. I did this with my own oldest

daughter, and it was a lot of fun.

Stacey is offering 10% off of your purchase from her Etsy shop!

Use coupon code MAGAZINE at checkout to receive the discount. offer expires December 15th, 2011.

by julie hartman of petite fish

G reetings to my favorite mug of hot

cocoa! I‟m dusting off my woolly hat and

preparing for chapped lips. As the days get

shorter and the temperatures drop lower, we

are reminded that „tis the season for more

Child Development Skill of the Season

candy than usual, more „sick days‟

than usual... and lots of giving. So,

behold, this Crafty Shrink is on a

mission – to help parents with

simple, easy and fun tips for

teaching a child development skill.

In this article, let‟s focus on ways to

encourage your child to give not a

present, but an action... the gift of a

good deed.

In last year‟s Winter Issue (2010), I

wrote about ways to foster the skills

of Gratitude in our children. Moved

by the lesson, several readers wrote

heartfelt emails, offering words of

gratitude in return. I sought to honor

another inspiring skill that

correlated with the season of giving.

Well, last week, my family enjoyed

a brief trip to Lake Tahoe, nestled in the High

Sierras. Patches of snow had already formed,

that sweet smell of pine was in the air. In our

hotel room, my toddler was boorishly

insisting that he have the Tyrannosaurus Rex

that my nephew, Lars, was coveting.

kindness matters hand painted wooden block by beth’s craft room

My sister and I could foresee the meltdowns,

when all of a sudden, Lars gave it to my

son... and smiled. My sister announced

proudly, “Lars, you did a Mitzvah!” After

seeing the sense of pride in my nephew, I

inquired about such a curious word. Without

knowing much about the cultural roots per se,

the Hebrew word Mitzvah means „good

deed‟. And the topic for this year‟s Winter

issue was born!

What is a good deed?

A good deed is a form of giving. The gift is

an action as opposed to an object. And a good

deed is unique because the giver experiences

an instant gift in return – a sense of pride,

satisfaction and community. Ranging from

the good deed of sharing your toys to

volunteering at a homeless shelter, mitzvahs

are free, timeless and can be done by anyone.

So, let‟s get started on a crafty way to teach

good deeds to our kids this season.

Examples of common good deeds that

children do:

Share toys

Offer a bite of their food

Hold the door open when your arms are

full

Offer a hug when someone is upset

Pick up your hat when it falls to the

ground

Make you laugh

Put away toys, even when they don‟t

want to

Say sorry

Trade crayons because a friend wanted a

different color

cuff bracelet by crow steals fire

scatter kindness wall decal by vinyl phrase craze

How to teach the skill of good

deeds:

This activity is borrowed from Lars‟

preschool. I am embellishing it with

my own spin. Consider engaging all

members of the household to create a

Good Deed Chain.

Materials:

Paper & Pen

Stickers

Tape

Large bowl (or equivalent container)

To facilitate the activity, catch the

first few good deeds your child does

naturally. For instance, let‟s pretend

your child just gave you a hug. Make

a big deal about it by remarking,

“You just did a good deed.” After a

while, ask, “What do you think is a

good deed?” Depending on your

child‟s age, he or she may be able to

guess, but either way, define it for

them. “A good deed is doing

something nice. It makes you feel

good when you do it. It is like giving a

present with something you DO for someone

else.” Then, recall the few good deeds your

child just did and ask, “Did it make you feel

good to do it? That was a good deed.”

Next, tell your child that every time a family

member does a good deed, you are going to

write it on a piece of paper and put it in a

bowl. At the end of the day, you will link

each piece of paper together and make a

chain. You will then hang that chain up on the

wall to show all the good deeds everyone has

done. The chain also shows how one good

deed creates more good deeds (a symbolic

representation).

Crafty Shrink Variations:

For ages 2 - 4:

Keep it simple. Developmentally, it can be

difficult for this age

group to think

outside of

themselves for very

long. They are

more in the ego-

centric cognitive

stage. So give

„credit‟ to even the

smallest things, like

giving the dog a

treat (which you

supply) or putting

the pillow back on

the couch (that he

or she just threw on

the floor).

For ages 4 - 11:

You can also make

it a bit of a family

competition. One

day the chain may

be 14 links (which

is 14 good deeds),

like the one

pictured here. The next day, aim to „out-do‟

yourselves and make 20 links.

For Adolescents:

Consider adding an opportunity for them to

learn and practice being an entrepreneur.

Suggest a model that is similar to a walk-a-

thon fundraiser at school in which participants

raise money by

collecting donations

for walking a

predetermined

distance or course.

Your youngster can

solicit „pledges‟

from loved ones and

donate his or her

earnings toward a

family outing, such

as pizza night or the

movies. For

example, Aunt Lisa

might offer $5 for

10 good deeds

while Nana might

offer $10 for an

additional 20 good

deeds. This goal can

be achieved in a

day. A „fundraiser‟

model will require

your child to be

assertive, creative in

initiating fresh good

deeds, as well as a sense of pride for raising

money through actions that feel satisfying to

do. For more sophisticated teenagers, suggest

that his or her earnings go into a savings

account for college.

kindness begins with me print by the staker store

This season, as

we huddle inside

the warm

indoors,

celebrate the

warmth

generated from

random acts of

kindness. The

act of mitzvah

will bring much

cheer.

Please email me

with any success

stories… I‟d

love to hear

from you!

Crafty Shrink is

an article written

f o r M o d e r n

Handmade Child

M a g a z i n e .

Authored by Dr.

Julie Hartman, a

licensed clinical

psychologist with

a specialty in

children. She is

also a proud

mother and owner

of Petite Fish –

swimmingly good

attire for little

fishies. mixed media print by june pfaff daley

by tanja d’lyn of inspiring design studio

and cold and not at all very fun,” I said as I

smiled and looked at him. I took a deep

breath, gathered my children around the bell,

and prayed for the families living on the

street in the cold.

Wiping my face and rubbing my hands

together in the warmth of my mittens a smile

arose from my face, more real now than

before – it had a glow of appreciation and

shined a little brighter. „My family got it!‟, I

thought to myself. And it inspired me and

reminded me of why we truly were here.

The purpose of understanding human needs –

giving each other support and help. Not for

beating our last year‟s fund total.

It is a funny thing when you realize that what

you have is pretty good. Maybe standing in

the cold winter weather is tough to do for 30

minutes, but, it will leave you feeling warm

and fuzzy all over knowing you helped

someone in need. Building true warm fuzzies

in your family‟s heart will be the best gift

received this year.

T he cold air whipped through my face as

my scarf blew up from the puff of wind

mixed with rain. Hugging myself, I squeezed

my arms around my shoulders, breathing in

the cold air around me. I could feel the tips of

my fingers starting to pinch like tiny needles

pricking my skin. My eyelids, heavy, barely

blink as I try to look happy forcing yet

another smile that seems frozen to my face.

Ok, so this does not paint a warm and fuzzy

picture yet. However, I know without a doubt

that what we are doing will make a difference

to other families in need. Every Christmas,

through our Church, our family takes turns in

supporting our community by ringing the bell

and collecting donations for the Salvation

Army. Each year we try to see if we can

collect more than the last. Although we are

only out in the cold for 20 to 30 minutes (we

live in the North West), we are certain to feel

the discomforts of the elements of winter.

“I wonder how it would feel to live out here

every day”, my son said. “That is a good

question”, I replied. “I think it would be hard

This year instead of the all too often hectic, ―Bah Humbug‖, and stress filled celebrations, find

ways to reach out to others, create fun projects at home, and learn to live within your means.

Whether your family has been hit by the economic hard times or not, many others have, and it is

time to gather together and share the true meaning of ―Holiday Giving‖ and being thankful for

what we have. Sharing a ―living green‖ lifestyle with others is as simple as sharing our green!

Here are some creative ways to share the spirit of holiday with your neighborhood or

community.

Participate with your family in community service: Bake cookies for a retired home in your area.

Ring the Bell as a family for The Salvation Army.

Donate food to your local food bank.

Make stockings and fill them with candy and fruit for a local family shelter

Invite a neighbor or family in need to dinner or church.

Collect blankets and jackets from your local area and participate with a local church,

school or shelter to share these with families living on the street.

Create a budget for spending on holiday gifts: Make your holiday cards this year.

Sew and create and bake home made gifts.

Write a story or poem or music to share with others.

Buy used gifts instead of new. I found a wonderful drum set for my son last year

through our local church.

Trade services or barter for things you might need for the holiday.

Buy or make gifts that are creatively up-cycled and totally green.

If your favorite Christmas sweater has outlived its life as a garment, let it live on as

home décor! Your sweaters of Christmas past can become pillow covers for

Christmas yet to come with this easy tutorial. by tanja d’lyn of inspiring design studio

into

Materials:

old Christmas sweaters

iron-on interfacing

thread

½ yard of coordinating fabric (for the back of

pillow cover)

Directions:

Step 1: Cut a 17-inch square from the sweater front.

Step 2: Cut a 17-inch square of the interfacing, and iron

onto the back of the sweater piece.

Step 3: Cut out two 17-inch by 10-inch pieces from the

coordinating fabric.

Step 4: Fold over and stitch a ¼ inch hem along the edge

of both back pieces where they will overlap.

Step 5: Pin the back pieces to the sweater piece, right

sides facing. Your hemmed edges of the back pieces

should be overlapping in the center.

Step 6: Stitch around all 4 sides with a ½ inch seam

allowance. Turn inside out and insert your pillow form.

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Anyone who has children, and lives in a snowy climate, knows that there are always

lost mittens. No matter how careful you are, and how much you try to keep the pairs

together, inevitably, you end up with a box full of random single mittens. But don’t

throw those mittens out...upcycle them into these fun snowman ornaments!

by tanja d’lyn of inspiring design studio

Directions:

Step 1: Cut a 5” length of ribbon, rickrack, or cording. Form into

a loop and sew to top of mitten. TIP: turn mitten inside out and

cut a tiny opening at top, then insert ribbon loop into the opening

and sew it down.

Step 2: Using buttons, googley eyes, puffy paint, etc., decorate

your snowman or monster-doll, as you like, to create a unique

ornament.

Step 3: Tuck the thumb inside, then stuff the mitten with fiberfill.

Sew the bottom opening closed.

Step 4: Tie a ribbon scarf around the middle of your snowman

(tightly to create two sections), then stitch or glue down to secure.

TIP: you can use a rubber band to cinch in the middle, then tie the

scarf on over the rubber band.

Now hang your snowman (on the tree, on a door, etc) and enjoy!

Basic Supplies:

single mitten

fiberfill

thread

hot glue or fabric

glue

Supplies to decorate

your snowman, choose

any you like:

rickrack

ribbon

cording

scrap fabric

buttons

beads

craft googley eyes

puffy paint

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