tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70816049210943854402024-03-13T08:03:04.354-07:00we bloom herem. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.comBlogger700125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-19461832732058927512021-06-09T17:05:00.002-07:002021-06-09T17:19:14.989-07:00tutorial :: summer fairy peg dolls In honor of International Fairy Day on June 24th, Bella Luna Toys asked whether I'd like to collaborate on a Summer Fairy Peg Doll Tutorial...You can find the tutorial here! In case you're interested, Bella Luna Toys sells copies of my first book, and they also sell blank peg dolls! How will you be celebrating International Fairy Day this year? m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-3206947265606911852020-12-02T10:13:00.002-08:002020-12-02T10:18:34.158-08:00tutorial :: angel peg dolls All night, all day,
Angels watching over me, my Lord.
All night, all day,
Angels watching over me.
(Gospel Hymn)Today on the Moon Child Blog for Bella Luna Toys, you can find a new tutorial for peg doll angels. Click HERE to see it! In July I also created a tutorial for Bella Luna's Moon Child Blog on the topic of painting peg dolls with multi-racial skin tones. You can find that tutorial m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-30324580533773756672020-11-15T15:46:00.005-08:002020-11-15T17:57:10.434-08:00tutorial:: toadstool peg dolls When Sarah, of Sarah's Silks, asked if I'd like to create a tutorial for peg dolls to accompany the launch of her new "Wooden Play Houses," I said, "Yes, of course!!" You can find the toadstool peg doll tutorial HERE in the the Journal section of the Sarah's Silks website, and you can find the playhouses HERE.If you enjoyed the tutorial, you can find more peg doll designs and patterns in mym. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-38702187585498445522020-07-16T16:31:00.002-07:002020-12-02T09:52:50.277-08:00tutorial :: crafting diversity
When
children create artwork and playthings for themselves, not only will the work
of their hands reflect imagination, but also reflect their own lives and the
people who surround them. And because our children and the people who surround
them are diverse, Bella Luna Toys and I have collaborated on this tutorial to reflect this beautiful, vital diversity.
You can find the tutorial m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-89768160970545275942019-06-13T00:00:00.000-07:002019-06-27T00:08:58.463-07:00forest fairy crafts blog tour!
Six years ago, C&T Publishing released the book Forest Fairy Crafts by Lenka Vodicka-Paredes and Asia Currie. The joy with which this book was written is contagious, and it overflows with magic.
So, you can imagine my delight when I heard that a follow-up book, titled Forest Fairy Crafts Through the Seasons, was in the works. C&T Publishing shipped out a copy to me (via m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-43103168212942992312018-03-20T05:00:00.000-07:002019-03-11T21:52:02.463-07:00spring
In Just-
spring when the world is mud-
luscious the little
lame balloonman
whistles far and wee
and eddieand bill come
running from marbles and
piracies and it’s
spring
m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-41487521979441975882018-03-06T13:45:00.000-08:002018-03-06T21:34:00.132-08:00birthday
"I mean, what is an un-birthday present?"
"A present given when it isn't your birthday, of course."
Alice considered a little. "I like birthday presents best," she said at last.
You don't know what you're talking about!" cried Humpty Dumpty. "How many days are there in a year?"
"Three hundred and sixty-five," said Alice.
"And how many birthdays have you?"
"One."
-- Lewism. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-38982700011213145782018-03-03T12:00:00.001-08:002018-03-03T15:23:49.964-08:00hinamatsuri
Let's light the lanterns on the tiered stand,
Let's arrange the peach blossom branches.
Five court musicians are playing flutes & drums.
Today is a joyful Dolls' Festival.
-- Traditional Song
Hinamatsuri is celebrated in Japan on March 3rd. For this festival, families bring out a special set of dolls dressed in traditional court costumes of the Heian period, and modern dollm. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-38095968234152824362018-02-27T05:00:00.000-08:002018-02-28T22:37:39.082-08:00book review :: stitch camp!
FTC Compliant Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book by Storey
Publishing Co. to facilitate a review, however, all opinions expressed below are entirely my son's and my own.
Last fall, this gorgeous book arrived in my mailbox, and since then, it's been living on the kitchen table in constant use. The moment I pulled it from the envelope, my 7 year old son grabbed it and m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-72745132605453708142018-02-14T05:00:00.000-08:002018-02-14T05:00:23.668-08:00happy valentines day
Who can take a rainbow,Wrap it in a sigh,Soak it in the sun
and make a groovy lemon pie?
The Candy Man...
The Candy Man can'Cause he mixes it with loveAnd makes the world taste good.
lyrics: Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley
m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-46777999108888230952018-02-12T12:00:00.000-08:002018-02-13T03:08:45.260-08:00valentine door mat
We are made
for goodness. We are made for love. We are made for friendliness. We
are made for togetherness. We are made for all of the beautiful things
that you and I know. We are made to tell the world that there are no
outsiders. All are welcome: black, white, red, yellow, rich, poor,
educated, not educated, male, female, gay, straight, all, all, all. We
all belong to this family, this m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-50868282316848962622018-02-08T17:50:00.000-08:002018-02-13T03:07:35.876-08:00tutorial :: felt heart sachet
There is only one happiness
in this life, to love and be loved.
-- George Sand
Not just on Valentine's Day, but every day, shouldn't our actions always come from a place of compassion and our words express what is good + true within our hearts? Perhaps this is why I have been stitching, sewing, knitting and felting heart shaped projects. Without stop. Without end.
m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-34777107479497995422018-02-06T04:30:00.000-08:002018-02-08T13:30:45.312-08:00tutorial :: valentine velvet hearts
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
It's the only thing that there's just too little of.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No, not just for some, but for everyone...
-- Dionne Warwick
These velvet hearts are so soft and simple. I have given them as tokens of friendship and also offered them at times when friends or their children (or my children) neededm. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-21407176698773552182018-02-05T01:30:00.000-08:002018-02-05T13:46:47.040-08:00tutorial :: peg doll valentine stamps
This little peg doll craft
is a repeat from two years ago, but these sweeties are so perfect for creating peg doll gifts and Valentines, that I just can't help pulling them out of my hat again this year.
SUPPLIES FOR MAKING A PEG DOLL STAMP
-- 1 sheet of craft-foam (this stuff)
-- Larger size peg dolls, at least
2 3/8 in tall (6 cm) like these
-- waterm. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-87596804545462440962018-02-04T00:10:00.000-08:002018-02-04T21:28:18.752-08:00tutorial :: a sweet valentine necklace
How many slams in an old screen door?
Depends how loud you shut it.
How
many slices in a bread?
Depends how thin you cut it.
How much good
inside a day?
Depends how good you live 'em.
How much love inside a
friend?
Depends how much you give 'em.
―
Shel Silverstein
I adore Valentine's Day. Some people fuss that it's a m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-47248824274706044482018-02-01T14:30:00.000-08:002018-02-01T20:31:05.709-08:00i carry your heart mitts :: knitting pattern
Dear Lovely Readers! It's finally February and time to re-post my favorite knitting pattern of all time (immodest to say, since I created the pattern, but I do love it so... hearts, valentines, soft colors, warm hands... love love love).
I have another knitting pattern to share with you very soon, plus a backlog of posts which will hopefully be rolling out like an avalanche over the course m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-1588446183727781872018-01-26T14:40:00.000-08:002018-01-26T17:08:24.517-08:00winter fruit
My mother died in June, and mostly I'm doing okay. I miss her, but am happy she's no longer suffering. And I feel strongly, in so many ways, that she's still with me. When I encounter a dilemma, her voice emerges in my head offering sound suggestions. Or I notice I'm doing something in a particular way, and remember that she is the one who taught me.
But m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-88542390183506922792018-01-22T23:59:00.000-08:002018-01-27T14:49:28.099-08:00a new year
Hello! It's January 22rd, and I am finally managing to write a new year's post. Every day I tell myself I will have time to sit down and write this post, but... you know... life. Then there's the quandary. Given the (ahem) fantastic time we've had here in the US in 2017, can I, with deepest sincerity, announce "Happy New Year"? My inner Eeyore says, "nope." The m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-63135163956388284892017-12-18T05:00:00.000-08:002017-12-18T13:41:27.650-08:00paper gingerbread house
I promised my younger son that we would make a gingerbread house. In anticipation, we got started on a less ambitious project -- a gingerbread house accordion book.
I've been wanting to try THIS tutorial on Susan Gaylord's book-craft
blog for a long time; you can find it HERE.
NOTE: The link on Susan's blog to her printable candy-design sheet is broken, so I searched around m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-91173103593228743602017-12-15T00:01:00.000-08:002018-01-02T23:43:02.996-08:00holiday gift ideas 2017
I'm a little late posting a list of holiday gift ideas. Okay... very late. Hanukkah has already started and Christmas is only 10 days away, but if you're stuck in a fit of last-minute-desperation, maybe my ideas will be helpful (she announced optimistically).
As with last year's holiday gift list post, I have to do some disclaimer-ing; most of us will agree that the whole holiday gift-givingm. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-46198433719223599712017-12-14T05:00:00.000-08:002017-12-15T00:48:55.899-08:00tutorial :: acorn necklace
A few weeks ago at a school craft fair, I saw people walking past wearing the sweetest necklaces -- acorns with golden caps. I was trailing after my little son during the fair and so wasn't able to visit the table where students were proudly selling their work, but I was determined to create a few of these baubles at home with my son.
SUPPLIES
-- Acorns and caps
-- Gold paint &m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-78074481598885908902017-12-12T21:11:00.003-08:002017-12-12T21:11:33.254-08:00happy hanukkah 2017
Happy first night of Hanukkah! In honor of the holiday, I thought I'd re-post a craft I facilitated in my younger son's kindergarten/1st grade class last year...
For more Hanukkah related crafts on my blog, you can find an acorn-dreidel tutorial HERE and a candle-making tutorial HERE.
SUPPLIES
-- Large paper (12 in. x 18 in. was available in
 m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-59916373378480650542017-11-13T06:00:00.001-08:002017-11-13T21:16:01.958-08:00booktrailer :: this is my dollhouse
If you've been visiting my blog over the past few years, you know how I feel about book trailers (didn't I just share a fantastic one with you last week? Why, yes I did!). And this book trailer I'm sharing with you today is extra scrumptious because it's about doll houses (there are even instructions for making your own doll house inside the book jacket)!
If you're a new visitor m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-39496904302251905642017-11-06T06:00:00.000-08:002017-11-06T12:15:02.633-08:00book trailer :: her right foot by dave eggers
I ran across a trailer for this book a few weeks ago and... wow. I immediately checked out a copy from the library and found the book even more beautiful and powerful than revealed by the trailer. As the grandchild of immigrants, the topic, for me, is poignant, and in light of the current political situation in the US, this book offers inspiration and hope.
In addition to m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7081604921094385440.post-4441309039664499022017-10-31T06:00:00.000-07:002017-10-31T06:00:09.944-07:00trick-or-treat!
Trick-or-treat!
m. bloomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13982592446597646598noreply@blogger.com2