Imagine Childhood : Magic & Memories That Last a Lifetime

... a cape for all seasons

Crafting for every season...

... with a little ribbon, felt and string...

... to make something warm and cozy...

... with soft green...

... and brown...

... and a little magic fitted with...

... the best of the current season...

... autumn today...

... winter, spring and summer to follow.

 The reversible hooded cape: perfect attire for fairy kings and queens everywhere...

How to make a simple hooded cape:

1.5 yards of green fabric

1.5 yards of brown fabric

ribbon (one or two colors for lining the base of the cape and the arm holes and for the draw string)

1 bamboo stick, dowel or tree branch for making the wand (some ribbon will be used for the handle)

Instructions:

Fold each piece fabric in half lengthwise.  Sew across the top of each piece (the shorter side of the "L" shape).  Once each color is sewn this way slip one "L" inside the other with the seams facing out on each side (see second image above).  connect the two pieces by first sewing the long "U" shape they now make.

Once that is done you can flip the fabric pieces inside out (just like you would a pillow case) and sew the remaining open seam together.

I opted to simply sew this on the serger and then I edged the bottom hem with some ribbon to finish it off.

To make the hood, measure down from the top seam 15-18" (this makes for a generous hood) and sew two parallel lines 3/4" apart around the width of the hood.  Open up the front seams (near where the hood opening will be) in between these two seams on each side of the hood and thread the drawstring through by attaching it to a safety pin and using that to push through the channel created by the two seams. 

If you aren't interested in arm holes, your cape is now complete!  If you would like arm holes, have your little fairy king or queen try on the cape and mark the spot on one side where the holes would need to be (around elbow level).  Once you have this marking you can fold the cape in half lenghtwise and place it on top of a cutting board of some sort.  Then with an exacto knife and a ruler cut the opening through both sides of the cape at the same time.  This insures that the holes will be in the same position on each side.  finish off the openings with ribbon edging (see 3rd and 4th photos above).

For the wand simply tie ribbon to one end leaving a little extra to flow down, and adorn with the best of whatever season you are in... flowers for spring, green leaves for summer, golden leaves for fall, icicle for winter. Pair with whichever color of the cape seems most fitting.

And if you really want to finish it of just right, take a look at these beautiful flower and leaf masks and crowns!

~Sarah

*Last time in Crafts and Activities: In the Shadows

*Current Giveaway: Zen Ghosts!

...tell me a story: zen ghosts

Crisp cool nights, pumpkins, changing leaves, and sweets galore... halloween is just around the corner!

I remember the challenge of coming up with just what to dress up as, and the fun of putting costumes together...oh, and the ghost stories!

I was always a bit timid when it came to those though, which is why I love Zen Ghosts.  Author Jon J Muth finds just the right balance of halloween fun, mystery, and just enough goosebumps to keep scary dreams at bay while maintaining a fun feeling of suspense...

Also the author of Zen Shorts, Muth tells inventive and imaginative stories accompanied by his own watercolor illustrations, that leave the reader thinking...

...and in thinking about ghoulish tales.  Every good ghost story throws in a twist or surprise somewhere to make the listener jump, which is why Zen Ghosts is so much fun to read...

...just wait until you get to the end...

For a chance to win a copy of this lovely book, simply leave a comment on this post by 12pm MST Wednesday October 27th. The winner will be chosen by random number and announced Thursday October 28th. 

*****Comments Closed*****

And the winner is... Kari who said: 

"What a beautiful talk about books! Thank you for the offer and for the opportunity."

~Jordan

P.S. We'll be back in a little while to announce the winner of last week's drawing!

 Click Here to find out who won last week's drawing!

*Last time in Book Reviews: Shadow Storybook

... barn stories: those eyes

Iggy Boo has wonderful eyes, black eyeliner makes them really stand out, he was born with it.  Boo's ears will let you know how he is feeling, forward: hello, laid back tight to his head: go away I do not want to play today...

His tail and how it swishes also lets me know how he is feeling but...

... it's his eyes that I really count on to get a read on the day.

People who work with horses talk about a soft eye, where all the muscles around the eye are relaxed.

Iggy boo has a relaxed eye sometimes but he also has a mischievous eye, a reflective eye, a get-out-of-my-way eye, a lions-and-tigers-and-bears-oh-my eye (I'm scared )... his head is usually held very high in flight mode when he is scared..

I love his reflective eye... that means he and I are going to get to the other side of two together safely...

To little ones eyes, four legged and two...

~Deb

*Last time in Barn Stories: Boo

 *Current Giveaway:  Shadow Storybook

...knowing green: hibernation

As the temperatures cool off, and the sun is getting up later and later, time appears to be slowing down.  We humans are not the only ones to feel this sleepy trend, many in the animal world are preparing to take one long and well desreved nap...

A few weeks ago I took an adventure into the world of insects and their hibernation habits, so this week I got curious about other animals and what they do to survive the cold months to come.

When I think of hibernation, I think of bears, caves and months of heavy sleeping.  This is true in some cases, like with black bears who can sleep up to 7 months in colder areas, while other bears like grizzlies wake up from time to time to grab a snack.  Also, more often then not, bears sleep in dens they have dug themselves, not caves...although they do use those when it's convenient.

What I found most exciting  though, was what happens in the process of hibernation...heart rates drop, body temperatures go down (in some cases), and some bears go from breathing 6-10 times per minute, to only breathing once every 45 seconds!  Know as "super hibernators"  bears really are quite something.

Another amazing group of hibernators are the chipmunks and squirrels. Unlike bears, they don't sleep for months on end, but rather wake up from time to time to feed from their collection of nuts and berries.

All of this made me wonder...why don't humans hibernate? I know I feel sleepy more often in the winter than in the  summer...and when the mornings are so dark like they are getting right now, I would far prefer to hibernate a little longer, than get up and go to work...

Here's to a warm and cozy slumber for all our hibernating friends this winter...we'll see you when the ground thaws... 

~Jordan

P.S. check out this great den cam set up by the North American Bear Center to see a mama bear and her cub in the wild...

*Last time in Nature: Hello Fall

 *Current Giveaway:  Shadow Storybook

 

... nature walk: oh the places we've been

From Oregon...

... to China...

... Arizona...

... Norway...

... and The Netherlands...

... to Turkey...

... Italy...

... Wales...

... Africa...

... Canada...

... New Zealand and so many other amazing places, we've seen it all through your eyes.

Thank you for showing us the world, and for sharing it with your families every day.

Whether you take photographs and share them here, or simply make time in your day for an extra few moments outdoors, you are all an inspiration.

We can't wait to see where we'll go next!

*Last time in Nature Walks: Clark County, Nevada

*Current Giveaway:  Shadow Storybook