Imagine Childhood : Magic & Memories That Last a Lifetime

... saturday links

 

Here are a few things that kept us curious this week.

- This art is beautiful, unexpected, and in a petri dish.

 - Great article on outdoor playtime

- So we're going to go ahead and toot our own horn here, DIY Crests and Patches are the coolest!

- This is just too cute!

- The mystery of the moving rocks in death valley is finally solved!

- Just plain tired of the ol' PB&J? Try these fun new lunch box solutions!

- Dissecting flowers 101.

 

Happy weekend!

 

xox

~ i.c.

. . . back to school crests and patches

When I was a kid, I loved anything that seemed official.  Real tools, leather notebooks with strings that wrapped around them, magnifying glasses, those melted wax seals that "kings and queens" got to use, I coveted them all.  I wanted to be a girl scout just so I could have a bunch of patches (although I never did end up becoming one), and if I'd had my own personal crest?  I would have probably blown a gasket.

Going back to school each year is an exciting time for kids, but it can also be a mixed bag of emotions ranging from joy to perhaps a bit of anxiety and fear.  If your little guys are shy like I was, the thought of meeting so many new faces and trying to find your new place in the midst of them can be a bit overwhelming. But, over the years, I've found that a little boost in confidence can go a long way.

Something as simple as handmade patches. . .

. . . for each accomplishment and strength along with a crest to show all their hidden super powers. . .

. . . could do just the trick.

 

Back to School Crests and Patches

Materials:

• Scrap fabric
• Felt
• Needle and thread (the more colors of thread, the better)
• Permanent marker or fabric marker
• Paper-backed, iron-on adhesive (optional.Can be found in any sewing/ fabric store)

Do the activities from the "With the Kids" section below to come up with the patterns for your crests and patches. 

Cut out your crest shape.  I chose to make a simple shield shape, but you could make an ornate option if that's what is calling to you.  Felt is a great option for this as it does not fray, but any sturdy fabric would do. 

Cut out the shapes you would like to add to the crest and glue or sew them in place. I like to sew things down as it tends to last through multiple washes better (or glue and sew).  That said, if your little ones aren't up to sewing just yet, they could glue them on and you could tack them down later.

To make the patches, cut circles of felt at about 1.25" - 2" in diameter (whatever suits your preference).  With a different fabric, cut circles that are roughly 1/4" smaller than the felt circles you cut. Ask your little guys to draw on these with a permanent marker (or a fabric marker if you have one). Using contrasting thread colors, sew the drawings onto the felt discs (see image above).

If you would like to make the patches and crests iron on, put the face side of the patch down and place the iron on paper on top of it with the shiny side up. Iron on the paper until if feels secure.  Peal off the shiny paper and your patches are ready to iron onto backpacks, jackets, or anything else you can think of.

 

With the Kids: Talk to your kids about their favorite activities.  Ask them what they love to do and what they think they are good at. Make simple drawings of these things on the fabric discs. Discuss the school subjects they might be a bit apprehensive about.  Talk about fun ways they could start to form a better relationship with those subjects and draw encouragement patches that they could earn as they build their confidence and excitement in each area. Crests are full of symbols and meant to tell stories.  Ask your children what stories they would like to tell and what images they would like to use. Do you have a family crest already? Take the opportunity to learn a little more about your own family history. Does your crest give you super powers?  Ask your children what strengths their patches and crests will give them.  Perhaps they will help them become super mathematicians, scientists, writers or artists.  Or maybe they'll just help break the ice with a new group of friends.

 ~ Sarah

*Last time in Crafts and Activities: Back to School Fun

 

... handmade gatherings: a winner!

Handmade Gatherings are with out a doubt joyful, heartfelt, and forge connections that linger long after the guests have all gone home.

 But an unexpected outcome of such gatherings is a new awareness, one of impromptu meetings filled with wonderful new friends, and wild offerings.

One such gathering happened not so long ago on a trail high up in the Rocky Mountains. This little wonder hopped out on the trail to grab a wild mushroom at the same time we were hiking by. Unfazed, she sat munching not two feet from my camera lens. 

The gathering was short, but meaningful none the less. Oh yeah, and filled with cuteness!

 

~ Jordan

 

P.S. We have a winner in our Handmade Gatherings book giveaway,the winner is Tammi who said:

I love her books! Thank you for the recipe. :)

 

Thank you to everyone who participated!

 

* Last time in Books and Stories: Handmade Gatherings: Free Recipe + a Book!

. . . back to school breakfast

It feels a little crazy to say it, but the days of lazy summer mornings are just about gone. We can hear the school bells ringing, and I think I have the perfect thing to ease that sometimes difficult transition to full schedules and busy days.

 Starting with fresh ingredients like. . .

 . . . peaches, raspberries, and warm ginger-infused maple syrup. . .

. . . along with an easy as can be, low-sugar family recipe. . .

 . . . back-to-school mornings are looking pretty bright!

I was introduced to the concept of a Dutch Baby (yep, that's actually what they are called), by my husband's family many years back. I sat watching skeptically as they whisked the simple ingredients together. "There's no way that will be as good as a pancake", I thought! I was wrong, oh so wrong.

Dutch Babies are the perfect morning food. Simple and versatile, you can top them with anything. Combine that with the milk and the eggs in the dough and you have a well-rounded meal that will shake off the summer haze and get your kiddos ready for the classroom!

Classic Dutch Baby with Ginger Infused Maple Syrup and Fresh Fruit:

Ingredients: 

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup flour (your choice, but we used unbleached white)
• 4 Tbs melted butter
• Sliced fresh ginger
• Maple Syrup
• Fresh seasonal fruit
• Creme Fraiche (if you're going for greatness)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Whip the eggs with the milk until quite frothy. Slowly add the flour to the egg and milk mixture. Whisk in 3 Tbl of the melted butter. Distribute the remaining 1 Tbl of melted butter in a 9" X 12" baking dish. Pour the egg mixture into the dish, place it in the oven and bake for 15min, or until puffy and golden brown at the edges.  Serve warm. While the Dutch Babies are baking, warm up a 1/4 cup of maple syrup with a few slices of ginger. Top with syrup and fresh fruit, yogurt, or creme fraiche, or a little bit of cheese and a slice of bacon.

 

With the Kids: Let the kids pick out their favorite fruits to put on top. Ask them to measure and mix the ingredients together. Recount the greatest summer adventures while chopping up the fruit. While mixing, talk about what the school year will bring, and all the things they are looking forward to. If your oven has a light, sit outside the oven door and watch the Dutch babies rise, so fun!

 

Enjoy!

 

~ Jordan

 

*Last time in Recipes: Homemade Gatherings: Free Recipe + a Book!

. . . nature walk: alaska

This week's lovely nature walk comes to us from Alaska. There Stephinie and her family enjoyed hiking through the stunning lanscape and capturing the beauty of the delicate wildflowers all along the way.  Thank you Stephine for sharing this wonderful trip!

If you would like to contribute to our weekly Nature Walk series, you can learn more about submitting photos here, or you can also visit our Nature Walk Group Pool on Flickr to add your adventures to the collection.

Thanks again Stephinie for sharing!

*Last time in Nature Walks: Sacagawea Peak, MT