The answer is no….I won’t post on this wordpress blog anymore, I am leaving it up until I can transfer all the links to my patterns and contact the people who have links to my patterns.

If you want to keep up with my new posts/patterns please visit my blog at its new home:

http://createbellacreate.blogspot.com/

On the left side of the page you will see a spot where you can put your email in to get email updates on my blog posts just like before or you can just subscribe to the feed.  Whatever works best for you.

Hope to see you at the new blog!

Bella

You can find the new blog here : http://createbellacreate.blogspot.com/

Hope to see ya’ll over there!

Bella

I got some great little mugs for tea for Victoria.

I love that these mugs are small and not too heavy.  They are perfect for a little one who loves to drink tea each morning with her breakfast.  The colors and the patterns on these really caught my eye while we were going through all the dishes and glasses.  They are in great condition too, it looks like they were hardly ever used at all, which is a shame because they are too cute not to use!  No worries, they will get plenty of use in our house.

My awesome new vintage apron, what a steal this one was, only three bucks! I love the pattern on this and the sweet look of the lace around the edges.  Just needs a wash and it will be ready to use.  Victoria added in the “pearls” to the photo, she said they would look good with the new apron.

I got this awesome wooden hanger with some unique writing on it.  I will have to look up what language that is in.  This will become another jewelry display for a gift for my daughter for Valentines Day.    She has been saying she would really like one after I made a couple of them for gifts and such.  I was looking for a unique hanger for hers and I found it today.  I told her it was for a project but didn’t say what.  I can’t wait to see her face when she gets hers on the holiday.  

If you find a hanger with that bottom piece that goes across, just unscrew it or cut it off and then you can use it for making your very own jewelry display.  For a tutorial for making a vintage inspired jewelry display out of a vintage hanger see my post here:

https://createbellacreate.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/how-to-vintage-wooden-hanger-jewelry-display/

I have been on the hunt for vintage items for my kitchen, mixed bowls, baking dishes, and a pie plate to name a few.  Not only was I looking for a cute and functional piece, but I wanted a good price on it as well.  I found this awesome medium sized glass Pyrex mixing bowl today and fell in love.  I love the tinted glass and the adorable pattern on it, call me crazy but it makes me smile.   Its a happy bowl lol    This vintage bowl was a steal for 8 bucks.  I have seen similar sized ones going for $16 – $20 at other stores.

So this last piece today totally made my day.  I love, love, love it.  I love the edging, I love the carving in the middle, its beautiful.  This platter is solid silver and has a nice firm weight to it.  I saw it in a bin on a bottom shelf, the edges peaking out caught my eye.  I had Victoria pull it out for me since it was so low and we both looked at each other and smiled.  She knew after seeing it that I would love it.  Like I said, she is totally catching onto my tastes in vintage stuff, even though I am kinda all over the board lol

I just need to polish this baby up and it will shine like it used to.  I don’t mind the subtle wear and tear, it gives it some great character.  I am torn though, with what to do with it.  Should I hang it on the wall for display, make it into a cake stand for birthday’s and holidays…..hmmmm.  Not sure what to do with it yet.  So many ideas going through my head.  I am just happy that I found it and that it came home with us.  Ready for the very best part about it?

Drum roll……..

This platter was marked for $4.00 and today they were having a sale with everything in the kitchen section being 50% off.  So I got this solid silver platter for $2.00 bucks.  Totally made my thrift shopping day right there!  

I am hoping to go into the country area this weekend or next and visit some other thrift stores that I have not been too.  I love going to other towns to thrift, they have unique pieces in some areas that you won’t find in others so its fun.  My husband told me I am like a kid in a candy store when I am thrifting, I have to admit, he is spot on with that one. lol

I have tried to teach her how to crochet, but she is left handed and since I am right handed it makes it kinda hard to really show her what I am doing.  I am hoping once she is a little older it will make more sense to her when she sees me to it and she will be able to “flip” the motions in her head to suit her needs.

Over the summer we got her a kit with a few different looms in it for her to try out since crocheting was not working for her and she really wanted to do another yarn craft besides spool knitting.   I am so glad we got those for her because she loves working with them.  She made some things for her dolls and for herself to practice with and then this Christmas she worked hard to make many presents for people.

She made bracelets for family and friends, belts and headbands for family and friends as well as for her dolls {she said they needed holiday gifts as well } and she made a wide bracelet/wristlet for me.  I love the wide one she did, she picked out one of my favorite shades out of my favorite organic yarn collection.  Its so soft!  I would love to have a whole sweater made out of that yarn.

Victoria picked out some vintage buttons out of my collection as well, she def. went all out to make this piece totally up my alley.  Its even more amazing since she made it all by herself.

If you have a little one or know a child who really wants to learn to crochet or knit and the motor skills just are not there yet, I highly recommend trying them out on a loom.  They are really easy to work with and there are some great beginner videos on youtube.  Victoria and I prefer the metal tools to pick up the yarn rather  than the plastic or wood ones, they just seem to work easier.  The easiest way I have found to end your piece is by using a crochet hook and then a yarn needle to weave in your ends.

Recently I have been finding Victoria working on her latest loom project when she has her TV time, she is making herself a pillow case.  For that project I am just going to wing it…..hopefully that will work lol  My plan is to have her do two rectangles that are the same size, and then I will just sew three sides together.  It seems simple, and hopefully its going to go as simple as I am seeing it in my head.

So when this unit rolled around for Victoria in Science class I was determined to make it fun for her and enjoyable.  The whole month of January is going to be focusing on Elements and Compounds in Science.  We already did a hunt around the house to find things off the periodic table that were in our every day items as an introduction to the subject, Victoria loved running around the house, looking at labels and items and trying to place them with things on the periodic table.  

For this activity you will need:

The Periodic Table Elements with Style By Basher Books {Check out your local library for this one}

A good periodic table for references.  I got my printable here: {free}

http://elements.wlonk.com/

A copy of the riddles we used, found here: {free}

 http://www.5orangepotatoes.com/blog/ptoe-activities/

When we started this unit, I had Victoria read the Periodic Table book first before we did anything else.  She loved the funny drawings and the way the elements were explained.  The days following her finishing this book were filled with her pointing out elements in our every day life with lots of excitement.  My plan for making the elements fun for her was def. working out!

I found the awesome periodic table printable while searching on Pinterest, I love that site! I have found some great homeschooling stuff on there.   The version I picked to use was the table with photos on it.  I thought that given her age, Victoria would be able to understand and relate better to that one.  They have two download versions, one with photos and one with words.  You can buy the poster sizes from their site as well.  I saved both to my computer for future use when she is in middle/high school science classes. Love free schooling printables!

The riddles I found on another site that has the riddle activity explained to you and offers the free riddle download.  There were a bunch more activities on that site that I want to check out.  Hoping to do a couple of those as well as the others I have planned this month.

Victoria went through and read the riddles, looked at her periodic table and then wrote in her answers.  As a review for each element that was an answer on the riddle activity, I had her re read that page in her book.   She had a blast doing this activity, I am so glad that I found it.  It was right up her alley because she loves jokes and riddles.

Victoria would read the question out loud and I would pretend like I didn’t know the answer.  The first photo in this group is of her saying “Its potassium Mom!!! Didn’t you know that?”  And then bursting into a laughing fit because she really thought I didn’t know that one.  Why yes dear daughter, I did know that.  What fun would it be and how much would you learn if I told you the answers before you figured it out?

For other supplemental work we will be using:

Books from our local library

Resources I have here from my curriculum

Brainpop and Brainpop Jr.  {We love these sites!}

I hope everyone is having a good weekend….this next week dance starts back up and my weeks get busy again.  I enjoyed my two weeks off of dance/schooling but I am happy its starting back up because it brings my daughter such joy and happiness.

]]> https://createbellacreate.wordpress.com/2012/01/08/periodic-table-learning-activity-for-kids/feed/ 3 createbellacreate 033 5 collage periodic table periodic 2 https://createbellacreate.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/how-to-vintage-wooden-hanger-jewelry-display/ https://createbellacreate.wordpress.com/2012/01/07/how-to-vintage-wooden-hanger-jewelry-display/#comments Sun, 08 Jan 2012 06:05:20 +0000 http://createbellacreate.wordpress.com/?p=635 True to my love affair with all things vintage and eco my husband and I made a jewelry display that takes both of my loves and puts them together into one awesome piece.  I was even able to add in a little crochet….if I was feeling better today I think I would have done a happy dance.

For this project you will need:

A wooden hanger

A drill with a small drill bit {a little smaller than the hooks that screw in}

A package of 7/8″ cup hooks {you won’t use them all}

A nail for hanging

 Pretty jewelry

Any other embellishments you might like

With a pencil mark the spots on the hanger where you want your hooks to go.  We did ours about an inch apart and then left an inch and a half on each end.

Drill into your hanger about halfway through at the spots that you marked.

Screw in your cup hooks.

And you are finished! Its so totally easy

Photo done by Victoria, she thought it was so cool that the hooks made little hearts when put together.

I crocheted a flower and then sewed a vintage button in the middle.  I didn’t sew it super tight, I did it so that I could slip a nail underneath it.

Then I took the nail I was going to use to hang it and put it threw the middle of my flower by going under the button.  This hides your nail head fabulously.

I’m in love, its so simple and so me.  Vintage goodness, eco goodness via re~purposing, with some crochet and fun.  Love, Love, Love it!

Its hanging in my bathroom {too keep the kitties away} and it just makes me smile.  I put some of my favorite piece on here to start with, I might make a second one because I have a lot of favorites.  The cameo that my husband found the charm and necklace for at different times and gave to me to make a special necklace, the awesome piece one of my BFF’s made me, vintage goodies from one of my favorite people {she is like a mom to me!} and then a few necklaces that I made.

I bought a bundle of hangers and have a few left over.  I was going to list them on my etsy store but thought I would put them for sale on my blog first.  If you’re interested in one of these jewelry displays, send me an email at createbellacreate{at}gmail{dot}com for details.  

Other goodies from thrifting:

This cool piece needs to be cleaned up and treated with some oil to bring it back into a great condition.  Once we are done with that, it will go in our hall bath as a hanging storage cabinet.

Unique vintage storage for 20 bucks?  I’m thrilled!

Victoria even picked out a piece for her dolls.

This piece was really heavy! Real wood and not sure what the metal was, but it was heavy! Victoria fell in love with this at sight.  Since we got home today she has been using it for her Monster dolls and her American Girl dolls as well.  I love that Victoria loves to thrift shop for vintage goodies as much as me.  Although the place we went to today was very large and by the end she was tired.  But when I asked her if she wanted to go back she was quite keen to go.

The monster dolls, Victoria loves these things!    She must have a thing for this type of stuff because she also loves Abby on NCIS.  She thinks she is awesome.

Tomorrow I am going to do a post for homeschooling: The Periodic Table Activity

We had such a good time with this one, I think if I had projects like this in school growing up I might have enjoyed learning about the elements more.

I love the whimsical feel of it.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous Friday! I finished another cowl last night for a gift and I love it.  Hoping to get photos today so I can post it, weather and time permitting.

Bella

Thankfully I have a cute little girl who loves details and little extra things that spice up her outfits.  I def. get to use lots of creative things and little touches when it comes to creating and crafting for her.

This ear warmer is great because without going back and re joining your yarn you are able to get a smooth finish with the top and the bottom ending in a single crochet.  No having a chain edge on one edge or having to go back and re join your yarn to do a nice finished boarder.  Makes this ear warmer work up nice and quick.  Pattern works up so quick you can easily do a few of these in one day.  I plan on working on these throughout the spring to stock up for Christmas and holiday gifts next season.

Basic Ear Warmer Pattern

US Crochet Terms

Pattern is for Personal Use Only 

Stitches Used:

Chain {ch}

Single Crochet {sc}

Half Double Crochet {hdc}

Slip Stitch {sl st}

Things You Need:

Two balls of yarn, you will be holding two strands of yarn at the same time.  I used a soft stretchy yarn for mine.

10.00 mm hook

Yarn needle for weaving in ends

Chain 50

This is the size for a grown man, if you can, the best way to get the perfect custom fit is to try the chain on over their head.  You don’t want it too tight or too loose, you’re looking for a nice snug fit that feels comfy and cozy.  The number of chains does not matter.

Being careful not to twist your yarn, join into a circle.

{I didn’t turn after any of my rounds. }

Round 1:  ch 2 and hdc around

Join with a sl st in the ch 2 space of the beginning ch 2

Round 2:  ch 2 and hdc around

Join with a sl st in the ch 2 space of the beginning ch 2

Round 3:   ch 2 and hdc around

Join with a sl st in the ch 2 space of the beginning ch 2

Round 4:  ch 1 and sc around

Join with a sl st in the ch 1 space of the beginning ch 1

Chain 5

Right now as you are doing your ch 5, your piece should look like this.

After you ch 5, turn your piece so that the ch 5 part is opposite from what it is now.

Now, do a slip stitch into the chain space where you originally joined your ch 50 together to make a round.

It should look like this:

If you find that it pulls on the bottom too much when you bring your chain 5 up and join, simply chain one more.

Round 5:  ch 2 and hdc around

Join with a sl st in the ch 2 space of the beginning ch 2

Round 6:  Ch 2 and hdc around

Join with a sl st in the ch 2 space of  the beginning ch 2

Round 7:  ch 1 and sc around

Finish off with a sl st in the ch 1 space of the beginning ch 1 and weave in your ends and you are finished!  

That little ch 5 will always be there on the inside but no one can tell when you are wearing it.  I just like the finished look you get when doing the pattern this way and I love that I don’t have to go back and re join my yarn.  Makes for less ends to weave in.

Funny thing is, I made one for my husband for the holiday and now the weather here has been beautiful…windows in the house open…jeans and t~shirt weather.  So he has not gotten much use out of it.  Now that I write this the temp will prob. drop and it will be all my fault lol

Even if your little one{s} are younger and can’t write yet, doing these are still a lot of fun.  I have some that I did when Victoria was three and four and I wrote in her answers for her.  Funny thing is, strawberries have always been on her favorites list for food since she was three.  That one answer has always been there, that and books/reading.   Things like your favorite movie/TV Show has def. changed…..she went from loving Oliva and Dora to loving Good Luck Charlie and anything Harry Potter.   I love the printable with the blue because the second sheet is for the parents to fill out and the child asks the questions.  I thought that was a pretty cute/fun concept, Victoria loved being the questionnaire.

The worksheets only take a short time to fill out but for us they are priceless because when she is all grown up we will have these to look back on from each year as a yearly journal of how she has changed and grown.  I am thinking about adding in a photo to each year as well.  One taken of the three of us, most likely from her birthday.  That way we can see how we all have changed

Links to these printables can be found here:

http://todaysmama.com/2011/12/printable-end-of-the-year-time-capsule-question/

and here:

http://ladybugsteacherfiles.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-years-writing-project.html

This month we are studying elements and compounds in Science, Victoria is reading 11 Birthdays for Reading Comp., and we are still going through the colonial times in History{we are staying in that general time period all year}.

After two weeks off with sleeping in we are both def. tired this morning from getting back into our school routine.  Looks like coffee and I will be best buds today

A little while ago I saw a link to this blog:

http://theroyalsisters.blogspot.com/2011/11/grandma-rosie-ringstutorial.html

on my awesome French friend’s site.

Check out her blog too, she is super sweet and fun to chat with and posts all sorts of great Crochet patterns

http://loisirspassion.wordpress.com/

I spent over an hour easy looking at all the awesome patterns on The Royal Sister’s Blog….I think I went a little pin happy on there too.

I have a whole list of patterns of  their’s that I want to make but started off with something for me as a little Christmas present to myself.

I made their Granny Rose Ring, pattern can be found here: http://theroyalsisters.blogspot.com/2011/11/grandma-rosie-ringstutorial.html

I rolled mine a little different.  I made it more full with more petals showing.

I also didn’t just glue my flower to the ring back.

After rolling my flower and sewing it together I put a little dab of hot glue on the ring back and pressed my flower to it.  My ring back had holes in it around the edges so I used matching thread and sewed the ring back to the flower to make it more secure.  You can find ring backs with holes around the edges online or in craft stores.  I got mine at Jo~Ann’s.

I also didn’t do the leaves.  I wanted to keep it simple.

I am planning on making another one with a thinner yarn and smaller hook for my daughter.  This one came out kinda big but its so fun and whimsical, I love it.

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Years! We are staying in and taking it easy and having some family fun.

Thinking about trying out this ring next and maybe putting a spin on it as well…thinking shells or maybe a mini bow.

http://k1sewtoo.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/picot-ring/

And I can’t wait for this pattern to be back up because I love, love, love teacups and tea pots!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/miniature-cup–saucer