Imagine Childhood : Magic & Memories That Last a Lifetime

... weekend zen

xox

~ i.c.

... saturday links

Fall is most definitely in the air! Here are a few things that caught our eye this week...

- Great info piece on how telescopes work.

- Check out this beautiful way to photograph the Northern Lights that also helps scientist study them.

- Love these art projects for all the fall leaf collections! 

- This fall craft is just too cute!

- Amazing photo of an elephant at night, award winning too!

- We got lost in this amazing nature video, we suggest you do too... 

 

Happy Weekend!

xox

~ i.c.

 

. . . diy trick-or-treat bag

Pretty soon. . .

. . . all the ghosts and goons. . .

. . . will head to the streets. . .

. . . to. . .

. . . trick. . .

. . . or treat.

So, shouldn't they have their very own custom Jack-O-Lantern trick-or-treat bag?  We think: YES!  Not only are these bags cute, but they are also useful.  With individualized glowing emblems, they can help you find each other in the dark.

 

DIY Jack-O-Lantern Trick-or-Treat Bag

Materials:

• Scrap fabric (at least two different types, one solid and one patterned)
• Needle and thread (or sewing machine)
• Felt
• Glow sticks

With your orange fabric doubled once, fold it in half again.  Begin cutting the first quarter arc of a circle with a radius of approximately 5"-6" (you could make a larger one if you'd like a bigger bag, this one is roughly 10"-12" when complete).  When you get to the apex of the curve, take the section you just cut and fold it over on itself.  Use this as a pattern to cut the rest of the circle.  It doesn't have to be perfect, pumpkins aren't perfect circles in the real world so they don't have to be here either.

When you have your circle cut, keep it folded in half and cut of one of the ends with an curved stroke (see image above).  Unfold the fabric and you should have two identical layers in the shape of your trick or treat  bag.  Place one of these pieces on the fabric you are using for your lining (it could be more of the orange or you could line it with a simple muslin like I did).  Use it as a template and cut two more identical layers.  Sew around the edges of the lining (but not the opening) and set aside).

Decide on the shape you would like for the cut-out and trace it on to the center of the front of your bag.  If orientation is important to you, make sure to draw carefully so that you won't have any pencil lines on the fabric once you cut out the shape.  When you have your shape cut out, pin a piece of your accent fabric behind the opening and top stitch around the edges.  After you have finished sewing, turn the piece over and trim the excess accent fabric so that you have an equal seam allowance all the way around the shape.

Put the right sides together and sew around the edges (leaving the top open).  Turn this piece right side out and place it inside the sewn lining (keep the lining inside out).  Sew around the top edge starting just after the shape in the front and ending just before it so that there is an opening in the top front of the bag that is roughly 1.5".  Use this opening to turn the bag right side out and push the lining inside the bag.  Hand stitch the opening finish the edges, but don't sew it closed (this is the pocket for the glow sticks).

Cut a 2" wide strip of felt to your desired  handle length.  Fold it over and sew along the long edge and one of the short edges.  Using a pencil, start turning the fabric right side out starting at the short end that is sewn closed.  When your handle is turned out, sew the open end shut by hand.  Cut two pumpkin leaves (I drew a simple paper template and used it to cut my leaves).

Sew the handle ends to the outside of the bag on either side making sure to only go through the top layer of fabric and not the lining.  When the handles are secure, place the leaves over them and use a few stitches to secure.

When the lights go out, drop a glow stick in the pocket and head out for a night of trick or treating!

~ Sarah

P.S. Don't forget to enter to win a copy of our book in our current giveaway!

*Last time in Crafts and Activities: Handmade Costumes

. . . a year in the life of a book: gratitude and a giveaway

One year ago today this book spread its wings and flew into the world. . . and what a journey it has been.  When you work on a project like this, you have an idea of where you would like it to go and what you would like it to do.  Even so, it's still completely surprising and utterly amazing every time you see it begin to do those things in the real world. Each time I get a photo of a child with one of the projects, or receive an email from a parent or teacher who is using the book, I'm floored. I feel so lucky to get a chance to interact with their lives. . . to be a small part of their adventures, of their imagination.

So today, I thought I would share a few highlights of what has made me smile uncontrollably all year long.

{.: Boat Making via Outside Kids :.}

{.: Mapping Activity via A Natural Nester :.}

{.: Archery Activity via Comida y Olas . . . LOVE the added mask! :.}

{.: Earth House construction via Sew Liberated :.}

{.: a few of the lively crew from the San Diego Children's Discovery Museum event :.}

Oh, I just can't get enough of these kids. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing.

And now, on to the party favors! To celebrate our book turning one, we're giving away 5 copies of Imagine Childhood: Exploring the World Through Nature, Imagination, and Play! Simply leave a comment on this post to enter to win.  Winners will be chosen by random number and announced next Thursday 10/24.  Giveaway closes 9am on 10/24.

We have some winners in our giveaway! So without further adieu, the winners are...

Alison who wrote:

"Keep up the good work - so much wonderful inspiration here!"

Kim who wrote:

"What a lovely book- A perfect addition to our home :)"

Heather A who wrote:
"We love your products and love reading the blog regularly. This book would be a stellar addition to our home. Happy Birthday and congrats! Thank you for offering this giveaway."

cc who wrote:
"I would love a copy of your book! I really enjoy your seasonal catalogues. Thank you."

Roxy who wrote:
"Oh, I have lusted after this book for the longest time and it has just never quite made it into our hands. Would love to have a copy of this inspiration." 

Thank you so much to everyone who participated, the comments and Birthday wishes still have us smiling!

 

~ Sarah

*Last time in Books and Stories: One Plus One

. . . barn stories: harvest time

There are rainbows on the ground. . .

. . . and up in the air. . .

. . . which means one thing: harvest time is here!

Time to celebrate the fruits. . .

. . . of this year's labor.

Early last spring these sweet chicks arrived and recently started laying.  This fall they are producing with abundance and we are making all sorts of lovely treats with their eggs, particularly my very favorite recipe for carrot cake.  Sweet with honey and rich with walnut oil its spices are the perfect complement to the fall weather. . . oh, and there's nothing quite like a cake made with eggs from your own hens.

Cake Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups honey 
• 2 1/2  cups flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups walnut oil
• 4 eggs
• 3 cups shredded carrots
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Frosting

• 1 cup butter
• Two 8 oz package of cream cheese
• Honey to taste

 

Directions:

For the cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the honey, eggs, carrots and oil in a large bowl. In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients together. With a spatula fold the the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Pour the batter into two buttered and floured 8" cake rounds. Bake 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool completely before assembling the cake.

For the frosting: Let the butter and cream cheese come to room temperature. Then mix together until creamy. Add honey slowly to taste, if the frosting is not thick enough, you can add more cream cheese to thicken.

 

To sweet rewards, and labors of love.

~ Deb

*Last time in Barn Stories: Early Snow