A little artsy

DIY Feather Headdress

2013-09-19T14:24:00.002-07:00

Hello lovelies!! I'm Shio, born and raised Native American gal, who loves being a momma to her 3 little sweeties, married to her love, crafter, blogger at SWeetnessaboos, homeschooler, & etsy shops owner; all while living in the beautiful Southwest!!

Today's tutorial is super easy and SUPER LOVELY!! I was so excited to share this tutorial because all things native inspired are huge in fashion & home decor right now!! And of course with it being fall weather now, it seemed to be the perfect kind of headwear/headband to craft!

What you'll need:

Step one// measure your head or your child's that you are making this for. cut the FOE (fold over elastic) the same size as your head.

Step two// take the FOE and shape it into a circle making sure that the ends overlap each other about 1 inch, then hot glue it in place.

Step three// cut out two 1x5 inch pieces of felt

Step four// A. gather your 3 feather pieces (if they look like the bottom fluffy one have no fear, i will help you shape them to look like B.)

C. turn the feather upside down and snip the feather from one side at an angle

D. flip the feather over and do the same to the other side

Step five// arrange your feathers across the felt, then hot glue them down.

Step six// take your FOE headband piece and lay it across the felt & feathers, then hot glue it down.

Step seven// glue down 2nd piece of felt over FOE and feathers

Step eight// put a line of hot glue in the center, straight across the felt. then lay a strand of sequin ribbon over the glue. once glue is set (cool), trim off excess of sequins. if the sequins on the ends are not fully secure just add a tiny bit of hot glue to set.

Step nine// if the back of your button looks like this, then get your pliers out and snip that excess piece away. (this will help so that the button lays flat when glued)

Step ten// add a good amount of hot glue to your button and glue it to the center of the felt & sequin ribbon

Now wait for your glue to set and admire your lovely new feather headdress headband! I told you this was easy, and best of all there was no sewing required!!! There are so many ways you can customize this to fit your needs, or likes by changing the colors or by adding sew on gems instead of a button!!

I am so happy with how lovely this turned out!! If you make this you def have to share pics with me via instagram: @sweetnessaboos!

If you want to see more DIY's or keep up with me & my family, come visit me at Sweetnessaboos!!

Thanks so much for having me!! xoxo!! -Shio

a good cause + kid's art + fashion

2013-08-12T07:27:00.001-07:00

" My brother and I started umano in 2011 in Athens, GA. We decided to go on the road this summer and we're very fortunate to have had a lot of success going city by city and door-to-door sharing our story. On the road we've sold more than we ever imaged, including our first order from a major retailer. In LA we met with the founder of TOMS and we are excited to collaborate with TOMS on a co-branded collection and a joint Giving Trip. Here's a video of our first meeting with TOMS All of this means we will be able to empower even more kids. To date, we have given just over 1500 backpacks full of school supplies to kids in need and our goal is to give 10,000 more in 2014."

website here

FRAMED HAND PRINTS.

2013-06-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

Is there anything more adorable than little baby hand prints? I really don't think there is. They are one of the most precious things and totally something you don't ever want to forget, am I right??

Today, I have a fun, easy, fast little project to help you capture those sweet little hand (or feet) prints! So if you are looking for a last minute Father's Day gift, or birthday present, or just a super easy project to do one afternoon, this would be perfect!

My favorite part about it? It is sentimental but can be coordinated with any decor at any time or even coordinated with the seasons if you so desire simply by changing the background! Brilliant right?? Plus I do love all the layers in the piece. It brings a certain level of interest to the project I think. So without further ado, I present to you, Customizable Framed Hand Prints!

SUPPLIES

Picture frame with a mat (complete with glass or plexiglass)

Patterned paper or photo

Paint

Paint brush

Masking Tape

Pen (Archival is best... especially for something you want to last awhile)

INSTRUCTIONS

Let's start with the hard part... the hand prints. I highly recommend applying the paint to your child's hand with a brush instead of dipping it in. You will get a lot less paint on the hand and therefore achieve a better hand print than the alternative.

The easiest way is to put a little dab of paint on a piece of paper or plate, apply the paint to your child's hand, then quickly push their hand DIRECTLY ON THE GLASS. That's the fun part really... the hand print is right on the glass. This is what allows you to change the back ground out whenever you would like.

Be careful as you push their hand though because the surface of the glass is a little slick and their little hands can slide, smudging up the print. If you do happen to smudge it up, you can always clean the glass and start over! (Sorry... no pictures of the actual printing process... I was lucky to get my two year old to work with me let alone get a photo of it!)

Now, while your hand prints are drying, cut down your paper (or photo) to fit the mat. I used an 8x10 mat with a 5x7 opening. To get the part of the pattern on the paper you want in the opening, put a small piece of masking tape on two sides, hover the mat over the paper until you have it where you want it, then push the mat down into place.

Once you have the paper in place, tape all sides down completely. You want to cover all the edges so there will be no bubbling or movement in the paper.

Using your archival pen, write a little message including your babies name and the date somewhere on your mat. I wrote my children's names, ages, and the date along the bottom edge of mat opening.

When your hand prints are dry, put the frame back together! Glass first, with the hand prints on the inside of the frame so nothing can happen to them (like being scratched or rubbed off), then the mat, and the back of the frame.

Ta-da! Simple as that... to change the background, quickly pull the frame apart and replace the paper! Easy as that!

And there you have it, super adorable, simple way to archive and display those precious little hands (and feet, of course!)

yummy recipe.

2013-06-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, I'm Kelly. Lover of all things tactile, obsessive nail biter and believer that there can never be too many ruffles. Also, Mama to Quinn + twins, Avery & Rhys, creative director & blogger at Westover Manor.
Where I share my style, show off my little ones and talk a bit about life and design.

This is about the easiest summer meal or side dish you can make!

I used it as a side with chicken and a fruit salad and called it a night.

The twins just loved this tasty summer meal and Quinn even snuck a few extra handfuls after being excused from the table.

INGREDIENTS /

-Orzo Pasta

-Grape Tomatoes, halved

-Zucchini

-Sliced Olives

-Garlic Flavored Olive Oil

-Fresh Grated Parmesan cheese

-Salt to taste

RECIPE /

Cook the pasta per package directions. Grill the zucchini in a pan with olive oil and salt. In the last two minutes add the tomatoes. (or leave them whole & uncooked like I did)

Drain & rinse the pasta in cool water to stop the cooking process and cool it off, then lightly coat it in garlic olive oil. Add the zucchini, tomatoes, olives & a good bit of parmesan cheese.

Toss it all together. Sprinkle the top with a bit of parmesan cheese to make it pretty and serve.

*I imagine this would also be tasty with some Italian dressing instead of just olive oil.

Yum Yum!

Happy summer mealtime cooking!

just love //

kelly

mess & worry.

2013-05-06T18:27:00.001-07:00

Hi! My name is Emily. My husband, Zac, and I started CoupleJones.com. We are so excited to visit A Little Artsy today! We have been married for almost 10 years and have 3 crazy little girls and a new puppy. We both love design and art - he is a designer and I am a stay at home mom and photographer. I write a little and photograph a lot.

It's my "thing" to worry. It always has been. Since I was little, I worried about the silliest stuff. I was kind of one of those kids that was 8 going on 40. So when it comes to letting our girls be outside and be messy, I have to be honest and say that it's not something that comes naturally to me. Silly...I told you. I was always a very tidy kid. Zac is the opposite. He grew up outside and in the dirt. He is an artist and likes for the girls to be able to try things and get messy. And while that's not naturally my thing, he's convinced me and I'm doing my best to go with it. I may not always be the one that thinks of things, randomly, like opening a can of house paint and letting the girls have the freedom to paint a bird house with whatever brushes we can find, but I'm doing my best to be a good cheerleader when it happens. We are going to raise some country kids.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the "good" living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather rambling about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television, and more while watching life. I would have gone to bed when I was sick, instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment, realizing that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's" and more "I'm sorry's"

. . . but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute . . .

look at it and really see it . . . and never give it back.

— Erma Bombeck

Zuckerman.

2013-05-04T11:38:00.000-07:00

The artist today is one of the most incredible modern day photographers I have seen. His work is absolutely stunning... breathtaking... modern... basically I love it! Andrew Zuckerman has a series of books, my two favorites, Creature and Bird, are not only incredible masterful pieces of artwork but a fabulous source of color inspiration. Seriously... they are so fun!!! I highly recommend checking them out!

wallpaper // bed // table // armchair // blanket // artwork

I chose the marked lovebirds from the Bird book because of the intense color, youthful feeling, and incredible detail (but it was so hard to choose!!) The modern feel of the stark white background in the images help to create a hip contemporary space. The simple black and white finishes and geometric patterns allow for the artwork to be the dominate feature in the space. Throw in a few accents of brilliant blue and turquoise to add in a sense of youthfulness and we've got a super fun little boy's room!

I actually put together two different boards for these photographs... the first one I liked but didn't love. I woke up this morning kind of obsessing over how much I was not loving it. So I put this one together and this one... this second one, with the few industrial and metal touches, I am completely in LOVE with.

stool // rug // light // blanket // sofa // table // pillow // artwork

Which one do you like better? Option one or option two? How do you feel about the industrial touches? Do you love it?

PS... Have you entered this week's giveaway for the most adorable pair of baby shoes???

so fun!

2013-05-03T13:40:00.002-07:00

Summer is coming which means those fabulously HUGE rubber balls have returned to a Walmart near you... ringing up at a seriously incredible price, they are almost a must have for any little child out there (that doesn't live in a tiny one bedroom apartment... don't know if I would recommend bringing a ball the size of you child into a one bedroom place... just saying). So since every child needs one of these fantastical balls, what would be better than sending a child one IN THE MAIL!!!

It is true my friends, these glorious balls can be sent, with no trouble, through the USPS mail system! Oh can you imagine the face when that gigantic goodness shows up on the doorstep?

So what did I do? Sent some to my little nephews of course! Took some Sharpies (my FAVORITE!!) and wrote them a sweet little message...

Drew a big box for their names and addresses...

and off they went! Just like that...

A few days later those boys were in for quite a treat in the mail!

How fun would that be right? To not only get a package, which is one of the best things in the world, but a huge ball in the mail?! Do you know a small child that would just die if they got one of these in the mail? I'm itching to send a few...

paul.

2013-05-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

Every time I see this painting I think of the friendship between those two sisters. Do you think they're close? I do... I daydream they are the bestest of friends... doing everything together, daydreaming, playing dolls, helping with housework, caring for their siblings, exploring the outdoors, picking flowers. I just know they will be close the rest of their lives... at least I hope so.

artwork // crib // chair // lamp // wallpaper // quilt // print

Inspired by this fantastic, loving, painting, I wanted to create a space that would be wonderful for a pair of sisters... not too feminine and trying to avoid your typical girl colors, I focused on the greens and yellows found in the painting. By incorporating the floral illustrated print and floral vintage kantha quilt a girlish quality was brought into the space. The mix of textures found in the iron crib, rattan Queen Peacock chair, and punched aluminum pendant help to keep an ethnic and bohemian style while the graphic wall paper helps bring in a modern feel as well as an additional sense of femininity. Add in an white wrought iron bed for the additional sister and you have a darling space perfect for sisters to build a lasting friendship!

spring recipe faves!

2013-04-09T21:36:00.001-07:00

fruit salad // chicken & rice casserole // cilantro & ginger hummus greek salad // tilapia & green beans // pesto zucchini salad

Hi ya, I'm Kelly. Mom to Quinn + twins, Avery & Rhys, designer, creative director & blogger at Westover Manor. Where I share my style, show off my little ones and talk a bit about life, love and design.

This time of year always gets me in the mood for salads. Just coming out of Winter with carbs galore, soups, and warm creamy somethings... my body is just screaming for a good spring salad with tons of fresh fruits and veg. I don't know about you but I earned a big fat F for soup making this winter - even though I stocked up on Organic Chicken Stock at Costco - It's still sitting in my cupboard feeling unloved. I feel the need to redeem my cooking score this Spring by staying more in tune with the season, and my body. These six recipes are some that I absolutely love and some that I'm dying to fall in love with this spring.

just love

// kelly

Are we connected?

monet.

2013-04-08T11:13:00.001-07:00

artwork // print // chair // garland // curtains // leather pillow // floral pillow // chandelier // rug

Oh this room... I think I am going to dream about this marvelous space tonight. The room is inspired by Claude Monet's The Boat Studio on the Seine, a bright impressionist painting full of color and light. It was the perfect piece to create a classy and sophisticated space with a slight ethnic bohemian touch.

My goal for the space was to create a fresh sophisticated feminine feel reminiscent of the beautiful flowers found in nature. The muted colors and black accents help to subdue the bright and youthful colors in the painting allowing for a sophisticated and classy interior to be created. The fun touches of texture found in the throw pillows and shell chandelier along with the ethnic curtains help to add a layer of free spirited bohemian style perfect for a young girl's room.

I would love to see this room with the artwork filling an entire wall, HUGE, like as big as it can get... 56"x 42". Add a few accents of those gorgeous paint colors and some white furniture. Oh the possibilities... What do you think? Where would you like to see this inspiration used? a living room... office... bedroom?

a Juicer Giveaway.

2013-04-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to give to start the week off with a fun giveaway for you all! I've collaborated with a group of fabulous bloggers to bless you all with an Omega J8004 Nutrition Center!

Not into juicing you say? What about making fresh salsa, homemade pasta or your own peanut butter? The possibilities are endless with this little gem and can't imagine a more perfect prize as we are entering the season of fresh produce and veggies!

mandatory entry: leave a comment below letting us know a meal or dish you prepared that didn't turned out as planned.
(basically a recipe you butchered or one that left you disappointed)

for EASY additional entries: use the rafflecopter below!
(additional entries are a great way to increase your chances of winning this awesome prize)

take the cannoli // the vanilla tulip // bits of splendor

take heart // a little artsy // from the natos

living in yellow // wild and precious // coconut robot

the style hatch // the honey pot // finding beauty in the ordinary

my little mustache // life chasers // cupcakeMag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

printable seed packets.

2013-03-20T18:15:00.001-07:00

I am so excited. The time is coming, spring is coming... which means the time is coming to plant! Oh I can't wait for all things green and fresh... flowers... herbs... fresh vegetables and fruit... I'm DYING for something green! Plus don't you think there is something magical and creative in growing something?

So, in honor of that wonderful time of year I put together this little herb garden kit, complete with a free printable for the labels, for a few friends of mine. It has all the seeds in one place to plant a fabulous, delicious, aromatic herb garden! Throw in an adorable pair of gardening gloves, maybe an apron or pair of rain boots and you have yourself the perfect little spring gift!

SUPPLIES

Paper cutter (or scissors)

Glue Stick

Stapler

Seed packets

Small flat pack glassine bags (3-1/4" x 4-5/8")--You could totally use brown kraft paper or cello if you wanted to! (My bags came from here)

Labels

INSTRUCTIONS

Begin by printing the labels here and cutting them out. Each label has the name of the herb and a small description on the front and the growing and harvesting instructions on the bag. The printable includes labels for sweet basil, cilantro, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and thyme.

Take each label and fold them in half so the title is on one side and the instructions on the other.

Time to fill the bags! Pour a few seeds into each glassine bag. Be sure to keep your seeds labeled so you don't get things mixed up. Once they're in the bags it is pretty easy to get them mixed up.

Fold over the top of each bag twice (so you don't have any magical escaping seeds) and staple to keep it closed.

Add a little glue to the folded label and attach it to the bag! You can always staple the label as well if you would like. I didn't want to see the staples though so I chose glue.

Ta-da! Tiny little packages of seeds. Tie them all together with some trendy baker's twine, stripes of fabric, or a great piece of trim and there you have it!! An adorable little packet of seeds perfect for a small little container herb garden! What do you think?

Download the printable labels HERE.

Avocado Mac & Cheese.

2013-03-14T05:34:00.003-07:00

Hi schooners! It's me. Mary Beth. I write and photograph for Annapolis & Company, a blog that records our story about transplanting from the coast to way out here in the midwest. Plus, bubbles over with bits and pieces of creativity and inspiration. I hope you'll come say hello! I am committed to finding the creativity in the everyday. And there is nothing like getting in the kitchen to feed that creative need in my soul. I enjoy every part of it: shopping for ingredients, washing the produce, chopping up fresh herbs. It's all apart of the experience. As a mom, I'm always on the lookout for kid-friendly meals that are healthy and use fresh produce.

Enter, Avocado Mac & Cheese.

People. It's like the perfect comfort food, with all the extra benefits of protein, fiber, omega-3, etc. Avocados + limes + cilantro + pepper jack cheese = family friendly lunch or dinner. Enjoy!!!

//AVOCADO MAC & CHEESE

Ingredients: 10 ounces dry elbow macaroni
2 cloves garlic,
minced 2 avocados,
peeled and pitted
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Salt and pepper,
to taste
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
2 cups shredded Pepper Jack cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh avocado chunks, for garnish,
if desired Directions:

1. Bring water to a boil in a large pot.
Salt the water and add in macaroni.
Stir and cook until Al Dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

2. While the pasta is cooking, make the avocado sauce by placing the garlic, avocados, lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper into a food processor or blender. Process until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

3. To make the cheese sauce, place butter in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat. When butter is melted, whisk in flour to create a paste. Whisk in milk until smooth. Stir with a wooden spoon until the sauce starts to thicken. Add in Pepper Jack cheese and stir until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy.

4. Place macaroni in a large bowl. Pour the avocado sauce over the macaroni and stir until well coated. Add the cheese sauce and stir until macaroni is coated and creamy. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve warm. Garnish with fresh avocado chunks, if desired. Note-the lime juice keeps the avocado from browning. The mac and cheese is best eaten the first day, but it is still good the second day. The pasta may turn slightly brown, but not bad. If you want a milder flavor, you can use Monterey Jack or White Cheddar Cheese.

Recipe originally posted on two peas and their pod.

Want to see more recipes, DiY's, and a few schooner tales???

Come visit us at Annapolis & Company! We would love to have you.

diy hearts.

2013-03-08T17:14:00.000-08:00

Hi schooners! I'm Mary Beth and I blog over at Annapolis & Company about our new life in the midwest. We're lovers of rainy days, starbucks coffee dates, weekend adventures, and anything stripy and nautical. I hope you'll come say hello!

Today we're talking DIY simple. Real simple. I am a novice seamstress, at best, and this was one of my first projects I ever did! There are several tutorials out there for this one, but I have included my method below using old J Crew sweaters for my coordinating fabric. I love the texture and cozy it adds to a basic concept. Want to make some of these darlings too???

What you'll need:

Plus...

// a sewing machine

// iron and ironing board

// and something hard you can iron on, like a piece of wood.

{Never used Heat n Bond before? You can find it here.}

Step One: Print out your image you are using for your appliqué, or free-hand one.

Step Two: Cut out your image.

Step Three: Cut your fabric to slightly larger than your image cut-out.

Step Four: Cut heat n' bond to the same shape as your fabric.

Step Five: Make sure you place your heat n' bond with the bumpy and glossy side facing up and backing your fabric. {This is the side that, when heated, will make it adhere to your fabric.}

Step Six: Iron your fabric to the heat n' bond on a low heat setting, on top of a hard surface, such as a piece of wood {as shown here}. You want it to be completely bonded to the fabric.

Step Seven: Trace your image to the back of your fabric, wrong side facing you, if you are using an image where direction matters.

Step Eight: Cut out your image now.

Step Nine: Peel the backing of the heat n bond away from your fabric. There should be left a glossy surface on your fabric.

Step Ten: Arrange the placement of your appliqués onto your article of clothing.

Step Eleven: Run a top stitch around your appliqué. I keep my machine on the slowest setting it will go, so that my stitching can be as accurately close to the edge of my appliqué as possible. I also love my triple stitch setting on my machine, which is the stitch shown above. Looks professional and gives instant texture! And I used a zig zag stitch for this J. Crew, chunky, sweater material below...

Simply adorable, no?

Want to see more DIY's, family friendly recipes, and some schooner tales thrown in? Come visit our family at Annapolis & Company!

Pollock inspiration.

2013-03-07T05:42:00.000-08:00

artwork // table lamp // dream catcher // rug // blanket // ottoman // rocking chair // print

Jackson Pollock... one of the first artists I remember learning about as a kid. How fun is his artwork? How freeing and bright and perfect for a child's room??

The goal for this space is to create a bright, airy, fun, freeing space that allows a child to be themselves. Through the use of white furnishings and bright colors, an energetic space will be created. The organic and detailed Pollack will be balanced by the simplicity of the rug, blanket, and simple colors. Add in a little bohemian flair with the minimal dream catcher and a wonderful, youthful, bright space will be created.

The best part though of this fabulous room? The amazing Space Kid print from Couple Jones we saw earlier this week right here. The digital download is available for a fabulous price with ALL proceeds being donated to Compassion International. How amazing is that?! Couple Jones has started doing an incredible thing here... be sure to check out more information about their initiative HERE and you can purchase the print HERE.

share the love.

2013-03-05T18:19:00.000-08:00

Hello, my name is Emily and my husband and I created CoupleJones.com. We love A Little Artsy so much and we are so thankful for the opportunity to share a little of our heart today with you. We are a small blog...we are just one little family. We're not the smartest or most original people around. I'm probably not going to accomplish great, renowned things that make me famous in this life.

I used to think I was too insignificant to really help anyone. There was a time when I felt like I was unsuited for any kind of ministry at all. But last summer, as I was in my car on an average day, a phrase popped into my head and it's never left. "Let's do something good" repeats in my head a lot. In the last year, I have felt that phrase pressing on my heart more and more. I felt like the Lord was showing me that if I step forward, even in small steps, with the faith that He will walk along with me then I can make the world around me better.

Since then, I've started realizing that simple, little acts of love can start ripples and affect people in ways that I would have never thought. There are so many small ways that we can love and encourage the people around us without tons of time or money, a huge gesture or a grand effort on our part. We don't need to be famous or powerful to leave behind a legacy of encouragement. Smiling, saying hello, writing happy notes - all these things are actions I can take even on the roughest, craziest day with the girls. And somehow, any little effort I make always ends up refreshing my spirit as well.

Andi So this is our little attempt at doing something good in this space. Today we have added this print to our shop. It is an 8x10 pdf download of an original illustration that Zac created. We are asking just $8 for the download and 100% will go to Compassion International to help them in their mission to rescue children and their families from poverty. We are hoping that you will join with us and give just a little so that, together, we can share the blessings that we've been given with those who are needing our care in this world. We can so easily reach out and uplift and encourage these children who are struggling.

Have you heard of Compassion International? It's a pretty amazing organization. Compassion works to free children and their families from the devastating effects of poverty. Some quick facts from Compassion's website:

About 5.6 million deaths of children worldwide are related to under-nutrition. This accounts for 53 percent of the total deaths for children under 5.
More than 140 million or 25 percent of all children in developing countries are underweight and at risk from the long-term effects of malnourishment.
Nearly 15 percent of babies in developing countries are born with a low birth weight compared with only 7 percent of babies in industrialized countries.
More than 6 million children die from malnutrition each year.
Worldwide, 161 million preschool children suffer from chronic malnutrition.
Already 923 million people worldwide are undernourished, and there are more than 9 million deaths related to hunger each year.

Sources: www.wfp.org, www.unicef.org, www.who.int, www.un.org

For more information on Compassion and their mission, please visit their website.

http://www.compassion.com

Please help us by downloading the Space Kid print from our SHOP, and Pin and share and Tweet your little hearts out and let's see what happens if average people do what they can to work together to help others.

All photos taken by Andi Mae Photography

party.

2013-02-28T20:12:00.002-08:00

why hello. my name is Dawnelle. i am considered many things, mother and wife are at the top of the list. but you must not forget lover of sharpies, chief nose wiper, avid obsessor of texture and fabric, bohemian lover, interior designer, laundress, and the best book reader ever. i write over on Just Dawnelle about my sweet family and my life... what i think, feel, love, believe, do and obsess over.

One of the activities we did at Christopher's party this weekend was stringing dyed noodles to make necklaces or garland. Well... I got to thinking... I should make a garland with Christopher's name on it that he can hang in his room. How fun would it be for him to see something that he made hanging in his room each day??

I won't lie, it was rather interesting helping Christopher string the noodles. But seeing the excitement in his face and hearing him giggle when he crawled into bed and saw his garland hanging there in his room made all the work totally worth it!!

The garland was unbelievably easy to make... There are two different parts to the project but really if you keep at it you totally could do the entire thing in a day.

I used these instructions to dye the noodles. I used rigatoni noodles because they are large, columnar, and have a huge hole allowing Christopher to string them very easily. A few other tips you might want to remember... the longer you let the noodles sit in the food coloring the darker and more intense the colors get. I let mine sit for probably 30 minutes or so in the dye, flipping and shaking the bag every so often to make sure the color was evenly spread.

Once you have you colored noodles, it is time to string your garland! Are you ready??

Supplies

Dyed noodles (you could totally use really big beads honestly... the noodles are just fun because they're super cheap! We're talking like $2 for more than enough for a garland)

String

Hole Punch

Letters to spell your desired word (I don't have anything to cut the letters out for me so I simply printed them and cut them out by hand.)

Instructions

Punch holes in each of your letters. You want each letter to have two holes so that they will hang straight and flat.

Cut your string so it is the length you would like the garland to be.

Begin stringing your letters onto the string. I would recommend stringing the letters from the front down and then back up through the second hole. This makes the string along the letter in the back not the front. Trust me... you'll want it that way...

Center your letters so they spell your word in the center of your string.

String your noodles onto the garland on either side of the word keeping the number of noodles even on both sides.

Once you have strung your desired amount of noodles, hang it up!! Enjoy it!! Let your baby feel proud of his hard work!

And there you have it!! Super easy right?? So... is this super cute or just super tacky? I can't decide... Christopher loves it though so I think it will stay up for awhile for him. There is something special in letting your child see his work and be proud of creating something I think.

The triangle garland was made using by sewing a bunch of triangles together to create a garland for decorations for Christopher's party. I thought it looked super fun in his room so hopefully it has a new home!

recipe love.

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click the image above to download the recipe. this recipe was also part of t h e s p r e a d , (a monthly subscription based meal plan) last october. we are in the middle of making some exciting adjustments (including donating a portion of the proceeds to world vision) but will be back up and running before may! i get excited just thinking about it.... feeding a family is a BIG job and i love the thought of being able to help others. you can head here for more deets or send me an email. before you go, i'd love to know what your fam bam's favorite food is, in the comments below! <3 . rae r a e {vp & mom} ARMOMMY

baby food.

2013-02-26T05:41:00.004-08:00

Hi guys, I'm Kelly. Lover of all things tactile, obsessive nail biter and believer that there can never be too many ruffles. Also, Mama to buddy roo + two, designer, creative director & blogger at Westover Manor. Where I share my style, show off my little ones and talk a bit about life and design.

Today I want to talk about homemade baby food. It really is as simple as one, two, three... and yet it is such a huge commitment. Mostly because of the clean up, plus you have to keep coming up with new concoctions to tempt their rapidly growing taste buds.
Which is why I am content in making their very first foods at home and then purchasing the fancy concoctions from the store.

Thus far I've made all three of my babies first foods from scratch. I wanted to be sure that they were getting the best of the best for their very first introductions into solids.
And the best way I knew to do that was to do it myself.
Steam, Puree & Serve.
One, Two, Three.

And oh good golly, it is just so much fun to watch them learn and grow. My twin son took to solids like a champ. The spoon is a non-issue for him. My twin daughter has a harder time. We now have to put her solids in a squeeze tube - or buy the organic squeeze tubes - and serve them to her that way. She'd rather suck her food than chew it.
All things in their own time...

just love // kelly

peanut butter granola

2013-02-22T20:14:00.001-08:00

Hello schooners! I'm Mary Beth, a homeschooling mum to 3 by day and a freelance photographer/Anthropologie sales associate by night. I love finding the creativity in everyday life...and celebrating it on Annapolis & Company. I hope you'll join me!

I'm thrilled to be back here at A Little Artsy to share a favorite staple around our house: Peanut Butter Granola. If I can whip up a healthy snack from scratch in under 15 minutes, I am so there. And this is one such snack. It's perfect for breakfast or on-the-go. For little fingers. For lazy weekend mornings. And...I'll let you in on a secret: it will make your house spell divine...think warm peanut butter.

All you need are 5 simple ingredients...

//Peanut Butter Granola ingredients:

1/4 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups old-fashioned oats

directions::

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lay parchment paper down on cookie sheet and set aside. Combine peanut butter and honey in a pot and stir constantly until melted, over medium heat.

Stir cinnamon and vanilla into peanut butter and honey mixture. Add oats and stir until oats are completely covered in peanut butter mixture {sometimes I add a little honey if it seems dry}. Spread out oats mixture onto prepared cookie sheet and bake for 7-8 minutes until granola is slightly browned. Let cool until granola is crunchy. SO yum. And SO simple.

We drank hot chocolate with ours...on a rare, snowy day in Oklahoma...

If you would like to see more schooner tales and recipes, come follow along with me at Annapolis & Company. Thanks for having me, Casey!

Falling for Friday Link.Up

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1 // 2 // 3 // 4

bobo choses. white walls. better life bags. dinos

love

Rules of the Road //

1. Please be kind, follow blogging etiquette and follow along with all three hosts via GFC, Blog Lovin', Facebook, Twitter, Instagram... your call!

We just don't want you to miss any of the goodness!!

Kelly at Westover Manor
Dawnelle at Just Dawnelle
Casey at A Little Artsy

2. Please link to a specific post, not your main URL.
3. Lets make it a party! Click around and visit 2-3 other blogs!
Be sure to let them know you stopped by.
Let's make some new friends!
Because, really... who doesn't love a new blog friend, right?!
4. Grab a button and link back to the party so we can spread the love around!!
(Text links are great as well!)
5. Please keep linked posts related to your finds for the week.
No giveaways, or link parties.
6. Give us a shout out via twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest...
The larger the party the more fun for everyone!!!

This Friday!!

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This week A Little Artsy will be teaming up with Dawnelle from Just Dawnelle and Kelly over on Westover Manor to bring you "Falling For Friday", THE place to come link up all the fabulous things you are totally obsessing for each week.

Whether it be some brilliant new handmade goodness, a totally inspirational blog, an incredible project, or a little video that made you practically pee your pants... whatever it might be... we want to see it! We all love sharing those things that just make us drool, so consider this your formal invitation to join us THIS FRIDAY right here on A Little Artsy for a super fun party!!

Be sure to grab a button and share the love around!!

heart pillow.

2013-02-19T20:03:00.001-08:00

hello lovely! my name is rae and i own a company with my mom called ARMOMMY. i have 4 kidlets and created armommy to give every mama access to helpful products and fresh designs, as well as fantastic recipes, DIY's and DIWY's (do it with youngsters) via our blog. hope you stop by! (picture by stacy jacobsen of my no. 3, tilly!)

teaching kids to use a needle and thread opens up a whole new world of creativity. plus it's fun, inexpensive and a great boredom buster! if you haven't done a ton of sewing together, making a pillow is a great place to start. using different fabrics and cutting various shapes makes them easy to customize to their personalities, living spaces or even as a gift! last week i spent sometime with my neice, ellie (5 yrs.) making a heart pillow. here's the supplies we used: fabric (we have some fun options on etsy), fabric scissors, needle and thread, colored pencil, thimble, pillow stuffing, a few pins. 1. cutout your shape from two pieces of fabric and place right sides (patterned sides) together. pin in place. 2. using the colored pencil, draw a line for your child to use as a guide as they stitch. thread the needle (i doubled the thread and tied the end so ellie couldn't pull it through) and get them started! 3. hand over the needle and have them sew all the way around using a running stitch, leaving a 2 inch opening. 4. fill with stuffing. 5. once stuffed, tuck in the raw edges and close using a whip stitch. now it's ready to use, cuddle, display or gift! wasn't that fun!? hope you enjoyed. if you know of any fun sewing project ideas for kids, please share in the comments below! it's been r e a l . can't wait to see you again on a l i t t l e a r t s y or armommy! xo . rae r a e {vp & mom} ARMOMMY

western.

2013-02-19T06:01:00.001-08:00

why hello. my name is Dawnelle. i am considered many things, mother and wife are at the top of the list. but you must not forget lover of sharpies, chief nose wiper, avid obsessor of texture and fabric, bohemian lover, interior designer, laundress, and the best book reader ever. i write over on Just Dawnelle about my sweet family and my life... what i think, feel, love, believe, do and obsess over.
This is so out of the box for me. I typically steer so far from anything western feeling and especially cowboys, but I couldn't help myself with Frederic Remington. His idealized American Western themes, so full of action and adventure, would be so fabulous in a little boys room!

artwork // garland // cowhide // armchair // mobile // bedding // throw pillow // map

My goal was to create a room perfect for a growing young boy that had a sense of the American West adventure with a little modern twist. By mixing geometric elements such as the bedding, pillows, and mobile with the action packed artwork and the organic cowhide rug, the western feel is able to be subtly accomplished. The world map helps to add to the sense of adventure while the bright colors and simple patterns add a sense of youthfulness.

fingerprint love.

2013-02-14T05:50:00.004-08:00

Valentines Day hit me yesterday. Like hard. And now we are in the thick of love mode around here. I wanted to create some simple valentines with the schooners without spending any money and using what I had on hand. It's no secret I love neutrals and black and white...so we came up with these sweet valentines and dare I say? I love them.

All you need are some willing thumbs, a black ink pad, paper, and some letter stamps.

Sweet thumbprints and childlike handwriting {mum helped her}...does it get any more valentinesy??? We gave these to some loved ones along with these raspberry muffins...just perfectly fitting for the holiday.

Happy Valentines Day to you all.

Love,

us and the schooners