our mini maypoles

Happy May Day! I disappeared for a bit because I had my biggest gal turn 7 and then I was just busy being mom, teacher, and housekeeper that I was needing to spend time away from this space. Other things were needing my attention, so that’s where my attention went. Of course, even if I’m not here, I’m instagramming because that’s much easier to do than blogging these days.

In honor of May Day, we made these simple mini maypoles yesterday with things we had already…

Materials:
2-3 strips of 24″-36″ crepe paper streamers in various colors
Scissors
12″ dowel
Hole puncher
3″ of washi tape

Directions:
Cut your streamers in half lengthwise, so that they are thinner strips. Layer them together, find the middle point, and punch a hole. Insert your dowel through the hole, fold the streamers down and wrap your strip of washi tape around the top. Tada! Give to your little one and talk about May Day and the history behind it.

A couple weeks ago, we were studying the Greek gods in Ancient History, so today we will revisit our Greek gods and talk about the Festival of Flora and how it was a time to celebrate the Greek goddess Flora who was the goddess of flowers (Hence, the name Flora). Then, we’ll probably spend some time in the garden cutting roses to bring inside the house to make it more festive inside too.

These mini maypoles aren’t exactly as grand as your traditional maypole, but all my girls like to do is dance with them anyways. Plus, this way they each get their own and hopefully it will eliminate some of that fighting. Hopefully. If I had really been efficient at planning May Day for teaching and learning, I probably would have looked up more stories on May Day, but I didn’t, so we will just have to take a trip to the library to check some out and read them sometime in May at least. If you make it to the library today, be sure to check out some stories on May Day.

Book suggestions:
The Rainbow Tulip by Pat Mora
On the Morn of Mayfest by Erica Silverman
Lily Bouquet and a Special May Day by Sue Wolfe

Enjoy the first of May friends! If you want another fun May Day project, these crepe paper floral crowns would definitely be perfect for today too!

lots of pillows

All I’ve been sewing of late are pillows. One day this past week, I just made all of these in an afternoon. I had been dying to make them for the past few weeks, but have been busy with some other things, so the first chance I got a free moment, I busted all these out. Actually, I did it on Earth Day, so I consider that to be my personal celebration for it. I used materials I already had and was quite pleased with the result. I used an old tablecloth for one, the leftovers from this pillow for another, and my faves are the color blocked ones. I have one more in my head that I want to make, but I can’t seem to find the fabric I thought I had for that.

I mainly started making pillows because our outside bench needed some, but then kept on going to add more inside. Actually, now that I am thinking about it, there are two more I want to make! You can just call me the crazy pillow lady. I think all my past 3 makes in this space have all been pillows. That probably makes for a boring blogger, but whatever, I’m going with a personal need and right now our home needs pillows. Lots of them! I guess it’s my current DIY obsession. What’s yours?

another quick pillow

Awhile back a friend gave me some of her husband clothes from South Africa and I’m finally getting around to using it, so I turned it into a pillow. I guess I’ve been on a pillow sewing thing of late, but it’s a quick way to scratch the I-want-to-sew-something-itch. I’m still stuck on the arrangement of pillows on our little bed turned couch, but this will do for now.

I’m thankful for the internet because there is always an overflow of good ideas. I love Rachel’s light solution and her amazingness of a rug. This tassel chandelier is so vibrant and I’d totally love to make a quilt like this, and this one just seems great for teaching faces and corners of shapes. What are some of your favorite ideas that are floating in the internet right now?

sweet pillows

This turquoise pillow was feeling kind of lonely or maybe there was just too much blue-green going on in this corner between the pillow, poster, table, and plant that there had to be some pop of another color. I think I slowly feel spring cleaning (and re-arranging) seeping into my veins and it started with this little pillow that took only 15 minutes to make. I checked my stash of fabric (I have way too much!) and found this cut up embroidered tablecloth, cut it up even more, picked a backing fabric, cut that up, sewed it, stuffed, and slip stitched it closed. Tada! It was an easy instant gratification project that filled a little need (for this corner).

Are you a good “pillow styler?” I am never good at styling pillows. My couches don’t have pillows because I’m not sure what to mix and match together! Though these two seem to work well together for now. I need couch pillow styling help. Anyone have tips?

Today was a slow day that involved pulling weeds and watering the vegetable garden while the girls sat out in the sun playing with their My Little Ponies. I meant to do a good house cleaning in the afternoon while the girls were resting (they’re all fighting a little something!), but I was way too tired that I kind of sat on the couch and internet surfed before getting up to make this pillow. I’m hoping everyone feels better tomorrow so we can have a little March 1st celebration! Starting it off sick would be no fun, but we’ll roll with the punches too. No biggie.

you are amazing

We went for simple Valentine cards. I went to the dollar store, saw these doilies and a bag of heart mazes, and just like that we had our cards. I knew there would already be a plethora of low-nu sweets passed around at their school, so something that would not encourage cavity growth is what we went with. The girls wrote the message and taped the little maze on and there you go! Happy Love Day to their friends!!!

They passed these out to their friends when they went to their enrichment classes yesterday. They’ve been counting down to Valentine’s Day, so once it gets here tomorrow, you can imagine the excitement that will be going on in our house. Plus, Grandmama (Ben’s mom) is in town, so it will be extra sweet for them! Things have been so crazy here of late that Ben and I have no plans tomorrow (and we both agreed to forgo any gifts). Anyways, I tell him I love him everyday and I try to make out with him everyday too, so it’s kind of Valentine’s Day here all the time!

What are you doing tomorrow to celebrate the loves in your life? This is what we did last year and I can’t believe how little Glow was!