1.3.12

sometimes life moves too fast.  but if we get in there and live it, we will be part of the moments rather than letting them pass us by.

1.2.12

i saw the light fading and told them goodbye, i'll be back in a few minutes.  i love it that they don't even question my motives.

New craft medium for a new year.

Over the last few days, my girls and I have been a little, well, obsessed with a new craft medium.  Polymer clay.  Oh, don't get me wrong - I have had it in the past and have attempted to make a few things but it has always ended up tossed aside and forgotten.  This time it might be different, however, because I have young helpers that have plans for what they make.  And I can't help but get swept up in their enthusiasm!

It all started a few months ago when Cake Boss became Lauren's favorite show.  We got rid of cable and now rely solely on Netflix streaming for all tv show viewing.  Cake Boss is available streaming, all 73 episodes of Buddy and his gang of bakers exclaiming, "this is how you do it Hoboken-style, baby!"  But I digress.  I have enjoyed watching it with them and I love the creativity factor that is upped in each episode.  Lauren informed us that when she is old enough, she plans to move to New Jersey and work for Buddy as one of his cake decorators, specifically as one to sculpt with cereal treats (aka Rice Krispies) and modeling chocolate.

That's great, but how do I encourage my 9 year-old daughter in her sculpting aspirations?  (Cuz I'm just not willing to do so with Rice Krispies and modeling chocolate - at least not yet).  I decided that Sculpey (polymer clay) was the answer.  I put together a little gift for her for Christmas, with a set of colored clay and a little project book.  She then spent some Christmas money on tools and we sat down for our first sculpting session a few days ago.

From there we gained momentum, and I have to say that it's been Grace to really go like gangbusters!  Upon seeing Lauren's first little figures, she decided to spend some of her own money on a set of clay for herself (because really, why would Lauren ever want to share with her sister?) and a bigger (and better) project book.  It's quite cute, especially for tween girls.  Grace and I did a little freehand work our first evening and had so much fun making miniature foods.  So cute and fun!  Burgers, hot dogs, cupcakes, lollipops, etc.

And now, those cute little foods are being turned into jewelry.  If you're a mom of a tween girl, I'm sure you've seen similar pieces in Justice and Claires. We are making our own instead!  In all of my crafting years this is my first time doing earrings.  Even better that my girls are totally into it, and want to be spending their time making stuff rather than watching TV.

 

Buddy, are you listening?  I have two up-and-coming cake decorators for you...I'll send them to you in New Jersey in about ten or twelve years!

New year.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.  Revelation 3:20

Thanksgiving.

So many things to be thankful for today! Wishing you all a happy and relaxing Thanksgiving!

I was hostess this year (as I have been for quite a few years), and I wanted to share a quick craft/idea to go along with your Thanksgiving table. A few years ago I made a plain table runner from a piece of muslin (cut to desired length, stitched one inch from each edge, then frayed the edges for a finished edge...a hem would have worked too). Anyway, I then traced each of our kids' handprints and wrote whatever they said they were thankful for. I also included their name and the year. The first year was rather sparse, but after 4 years it is filling in nicely! The runner is impossible to get completely wrinkle-free, but I love it. This year one kid was thankful for "love," one for "life," and one for "God and my family." Yep, they covered it all!



Again, happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Sky.

November sky in Nebraska...the only thing that makes it more perfect is when there are geese honking and flying low overhead.

Knitting, the next generation.

I have been trying to spend more time unplugged lately, so the knitting needles were pulled out this week after a long hiatus. I started working on a chunky gray lace patterned scarf for myself, and while doing so I heard, "Mo-o-o-o-m??? Can you teach me to knit?" This from Grace...how could I say no? We sat down and I taught her the basics of a knit stitch. Poor yarn choice and skinny needles equaled quick frustration for both of us! So, today we tried again with thick needles and chunky yarn and she has been going like gangbusters all day. I'm so proud of her! Less than 24 hours and she is well on her way to a knitted scarf. Of course, Lauren decided to get in on the action too so needles are flashing and clicking all over the place. It
pleases me to know that my girls are learning at the same age I did, and my mom before me.

Good tunes, good times.

Good, good stuff!  Thoroughly enjoying browsing through my favorites on this album tonight.  Browsing through memories, too.  Dancing to "The Longest Time" with my favorite guy in my dorm room, singing along to "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" with friends, sleeping at a total strangers' house in Ames after a Billy Joel/Elton John concert, and singing along at the top of our lungs to virtually every song the last time we saw him in concert here in Omaha.  Truly, if you want an amazing concert experience then Billy Joel is one not to miss.  Just wait til the encore when he sings "Piano Man,"  or rather 10,000+ concertgoers sing it to him.  Awesome.

1820.

Best. Coffee. Ever.



And yes, it is from Costa Rica. We finally used up the stash we brought home from vacation, so it was Amazon to the rescue. It has become our "weekend" coffee, otherwise we'd get through the entire kilo much faster!

And...back to crafting.

I guess this blog is titled iCraft and not iSunrise, so I thought I'd share a recent craft project completed.  Thanks to Nicole, (with props to Martha), we made some of these lanterns the other night.  So cute!  I decided to make a few more at home, since I have more jars than I know what to do with!  And we had a double sleepover last night so this made a great craft to do with all of the girls.  They painted the insides of their jars, transferred the faces onto tape, and helped peel the tape as I worked the xacto knife.  After it was dry I did the wire also.  Total supply cost was less than $10 for wire, paint, a few brushes and masking tape.  Go to the project link for complete instructions.  Ours will be out on our porch on Halloween!