Quince and Quire

Flying Books

We started a project a few years back: a book, filled with art and letters, that the kids mail back and forth to their grandparents. We call it the Flying Book. We've been through a few of these books now; the photos show our current editions, one for each child. I sewed a piece of their artwork to the paper cover.

 

Each child draws pictures and writes a few thoughts for the grandparents. Sometimes they ask questions, like, "What do you like best about autumn?" Sometimes they tell them about the art they've made. 

 

The kids often have seasonal themes.

 

Everyone enjoyed writing about and drawing birds that they see in their neighborhoods. 

Sometimes we get wonderful memories of a grandparent's childhood--as when my mother recounted a story of the time she was given a kitten as a party favor.

The four-year-old dictates to me. I like that there is simple honesty in his correspondence, and that it always ends with those most important words. I love you.

 

I love you very much. We can never hear it, or read it, too often. 


 

Mother Love

This bear needed clothes, a warm blanket and a pillow--or so I was told. You see, the seven-year-old has a best friend. The best friend just had a birthday. And this was my daughter's idea for the gift: a bear (which we bought) dressed in clothes, which we made. SImple!

Unless you, like me, are no good at patterns. How does one tailor to a furry, fat lady with a tail? 

I made a pattern from some existing doll clothes, which almost fit the bear. I kept the clothing shapes simple. And I ignored the tail, which meant no pants. 

 

A ruffle was required on the dress, naturally. 

 

My daughter, who wanted to sew much of this project herself, couldn't get the hang of moving the fabric along in time with the machine--so her job was to run the pedal (I am afraid for her future driving skills) while I stooped above her, guiding the fabric.

 

It was a good time to forget about my advanced degree, useless for this sort of motherly teaching moment. It was a good time to forget about health worries, school worries, house worries: it was a good time, in short, to shut down all the nonsense that typically exhausts me each day. 

 

It was a good time to be pleased with my daughter's generous heart and love of bright colors. 

 

And the dotty scraps we have left? They are just waiting to be made into coasters for our Moomintroll mugs. The successful completion of one skirt, one shirt, one dress, a pillow and a blanket: that was quite a good time for a coffee. 

The Green Kingdom

Like many things on this earth, it looks best up close. The details spring to life. The greens reveal themselves.

 

And, as with so many things the seven-year-old likes to make, it was spontaneous. "Let's make a terrarium!" Before I could mention research, or necessary supplies, she was gathering up the potting soil and rummaging for an empty glass container. 

 

She uprooted her solo succulent; she collected mosses from our property; she pulled tiny cones from the nature shelf. She dumped in the dirt, and with gentle hands she patted in the plants. 

 

I know there are books that would tell us how we should have done a terrarium (we'll see how the various plants adapt to their new home). I know there are colored stones and glittering sand that we could have purchased. I know that we could have tried to make a more dynamic arrangement. But why? Why not embrace what we have, and see what it will become?

The world, in miniature. The forest, cupped in her hands. The magic of making beauty: of finding beauty in small places.

Unoriginal--and happy about it

Does it get any better than snowshoeing into the sunset? I think not. We've been waiting so long for real snow outside . . .

 

. . . . that inside we were happy to be formulaic in our crafting. Sometimes the familiar is most fun. I do think it's time to do more snowflake photography!

Links

Here's a list of links, eclectic in outlook and varied in purpose--and in no particular order. Hope you enjoy! 

 

I loved this post on wonder.

And, if you, like so many of us, feel overwhelmed by all the stuff that arrived with the holidays, here's a nice post on "de-owning." 

Speaking of material things, there are so many chic houses here--and lovely photography--but it's hard to imagine myself living in them. 

I love the beauty and the ideas that went into creating this gorgeous piece of textile warmth!

These photos make me want to visit Copenhagen.

As always, this talented lady inspired me with her creative re-use of materials and her lovely aesthetic. She and Ariadne have wonderful photos of their Epiphany celebrations as well. 

I love following the progress at this incredible school in the Atlas mountains. 

The Artful Parent has a series of excellent guest posts this month; the one on painting with light is intriguing.

I hope she continues to take too many pictures of the sky, don't you? When was the last time you looked at the sky without telephone wires, a screen, or a windshield in front of you? Do it now!