Hooping it Up

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Sorry. That was lame lol. The girls made some really nice embroidery hoop art pieces at their sewing class last week. The projects called for lots of new techniques for them. They drew their designs on paper and cut them out to trace onto fusible web. They ironed that to the fabrics and cut and ironed the pattern pieces to the their background material. They used a tight zig zag stitch to embroider detail as well as hand sewing some buttons for the Archie dog. He figures prominently in many family art projects. We heart Archie!

How to for similar fusible project we want to tackle here

Zigzag tute here

Wise Man collage

Posted on January 9, 2018 by Kim Halloran-Fry

I was so pleased with the collages the children made for the Epiphany, even if we didn't make them prior to nor even ON the Epiphany since we had a full weekend. Sometimes they are actually in a better frame of mind after we have discussed and we carry on the season as long as possible anyway. Bottom line? Whenever you create a beautiful thing is the right time. (pssst – you can still do this. : ))

We discussed the traditional names of the Magi – Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar and the spiritual significance of the gifts they brought. Gold was a fitting gift for a King. Frankincense was connected to priestly ritual and indicated diety. Myrrh was used for annointing and foreshadowed His redemptive death. We talked about gifts we can present to God today. He has no need for material things but we can offer our good attitudes, our charity to others, our peaceful resignation to His will – all every bit as precious.

Then we gathered old scrapbooking paper and created these collages based on this tutorial. There is no pattern given so we just got the gist of it and made makeshift templates from spice lids and so on.

note: A wonderful tradition, which was common in the part of Germany where we lived, is the chalking of the doors with the new year's number and the intials of the Magi. If you've never heard of it this article explains.

as they grow

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Kim Halloran-Fry

One thing I loved so much during the preschool years were our Montessori trays, self-contained activities presented on a wooden tray complete with all the materials needed. Truth is, I loved dreaming up Montessori trays, but my days were not chock full of empty hours with which to put them together. There was also a good deal of tray straightening and supervision required once they were created.

A mom asked me for more thoughts on this next stage of home learning and family life with no littles underfoot. This would be one of the new and different dynamics. Little people become bigger people who still love their projects. They can now print a tutorial and gather their own materials. In fact, you might stroll out from the laundry room or office and find a scene like this one.

Oct 2017 pumpkin donut web (1 of 1)

Now instead of demonstrating and directing and overseeing I am invited in to admire and give a few pointers, or better yet, to not give a few pointers. I love to hear their thoughts about what worked, what didn't work as well, and how they might do things differently next time.

PS though? There is still some straightening up to do after. ; )

the two best tools for homeschool moms

Posted on October 2, 2017 by Kim Halloran-Fry

It wasn't the most expert job ever but the girls' first go at designing and making doll clothes 'all by ourselves' was fruitful in so many ways.

When I caught wind of what they were working on my mind began rapidly populating a syllabus with lessons about seam allowances and finished edges and a dozen related points before I caught myself. An article from years ago by homeschooling pioneer Jessica Hulcy came to mind. She was a leader in hands-on, thematic studies. She would probably have lesson plans for this right? There should be plans. Thorough plans. And supplies. And lots of books. No doubt, as time goes on, we will indeed explore all the above. Right now, though, I am reminding myself of the time that wise woman said that the best tools she could equip homeschool moms with were a gag and handcuffs, for themselves, for just such moments as these. The idea is that there are few things better than personal experience to instill a need to know and to light the fire of their imaginations. Sometimes the best gift you can give a child is discovery, complete with the freedom to make many imperfect preliminary steps.

Gathering all the materials myself and preplanning a foolproof unit might have resulted in a picture-perfect project the first time around. For so many reasons we are off to a much better start now. Now, they are curious: Why do you sew on the wrong side of the fabric? How do you get the seams to go on the inside? what happens if you leave the cut edges raw? What makes the dress go on easier? Now, they are curious and motivated. Now, they can't answer those questions fast enough.

What they needed most here was not a dress but an experience, a series of connections that could explode into dozens of other possibilities. They got that.

There will be more experiments. They will come out a little better every time. Their competence and creativity is amazing and before we know it we will be coming to them for tips, just like we go to their brothers and sisters for their areas of expertise. This, after all, is the real goal for us – not just to impart to them what we know, but to watch it mingle with their other life experiences to become something new and different altogether.

Sept 2017 sew web (1 of 3)

first solo stitching

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Tess took her first sewing class away from home this month. She made a notebook cover with pockets and ribbon tie. Her overall impression was that there was a lot of pinning, cutting, and ironing involved and it was worth it.

Following this success she and her little sister are enrolling in the full semester course starting soon. It is so very exciting for me to see which directions each child goes creatively and to be able to accompany them on their way.

button trees

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Kim Halloran-Fry

All finished. Our October project with the neighbor girl was button trees. They basted the felt trunk onto the cotton backing and then sewed the buttons on in criss-cross fashion. The backs are not beautiful. They did not knot and restart each button because the stitching was doable and knots and rethreading was…not. But hey, for 6, 7, and 8 year olds I was impressed.

To finish we (the me part of we) trimmed and glued the fabric to the inner hoop. This is the same technique you use for framing patterned fabric or tea towels etc. with embroidery hoops.

Story Stretchers – Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Years ago when our adult sons were small we had a couple volumes called Story Stretchers. (here and here – they are a PENNY today. Still find that stunning. I saved so long to buy books pre-amazon days) Like the outstanding Five in a Row volumes that would come later they took a children's book and created activities based on the story's location or language or illustrations. We haven't done full-out units in a while but I always find some element in a story we can build on a little. Once you work through Five in a Row you just start to see all sorts of potential rabbit trails inside a book.

We read Joseph Had a Little Overcoat last week. I love this book and like the best picture books there is so much happening in the illustrations that goes over children's heads but is totally engrossing for the grown-up reading. Shortly after we got the book the little girls ran through the knees of a couple pair of leggings. This is a rather regular event. Tough girls, we have. Before we tossed them we talked about Joseph and looked to see if there was potentially some more life in them.

Cotton knit headbands are a favorite of Tess and Alannah right now since they don't pinch behind the ears and can hold back heavy hair. (and don't crack in half when small people overextend them…) When I looked at them they were seriously just a tube of t-shirting. For a dollar or two a piece? So before tossing the trashed leggings we cut a tube off across the tops between the waistband and legs. Quick work to turn right sides together and sew a seam, leaving a bit for turning. You don't really even have to bother with a seam if you fold the band when you put it on or cut it into a strip and tie it instead.

Not the world's most glamorous tute. Just a little practical 'stretcher.'

these came from pants like these…

Now if someone can point me to some girl proof leggings I'd be a happy woman. : )

a sew-sew project

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Sewing books have been on and off the shelves for months now but today we actually got the sewing machine set up. First time in this house. We moved in 11 mo ago so don't be too impressed. I have a copy of Absolutely A-line and thought it might be a good first dressmaking project for Moira, not to wear, but to make for the little girls. In many respects it was that, but the caveats shared on Amazon do apply.

The pattern is very simple. There are four pieces to cut out and the written instructions are straightforward. There are no illustrations showing how to lay out the pattern pieces however. (no guidance re:right side up etc) If you have sewn before you can wing it. It's a great base pattern to teach someone else to assemble a garment. For $2 used, the paper templates are cheaper than you could buy at the fabric store. I would not try it for your own first sewing project without an experienced seamstress available. And this folks, is how we keep our amazon credits nice and low around here – discourage you from purchasing lol.

The measurements given were pretty accurate. I went a size up for Tess because she has gone through a few sizes in the past year. It's pretty roomie right now but I expect it won't be by summer's end.

I worked up this first dress and made enough mistakes to feel confident helping Moira make the second one tomorrow.

today

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Kim Halloran-Fry

Today…..

…it was too cold and wet for big boys to run outside. This was a shame all around.

….we decided to try to get to homeschool bowling…and ended up being the only ones who went. But it was ok because,

…B made me smile reciting "Jack Be Limbo, Jack Be Quick" in the car very sincerely

…hot cocoa was mixed with peppermint tea versus water. This will happen again. : )

…bits of felt and thread skip from room to room

…we learned hands-on about the stages of candy making – soft ball to hard crack.

…there was watercoloring, and some tears over smudges on watercolored projects and assurances that more watercoloring practice would make for an easier go of it

…Abbie unwrapped lots of candy kisses for cookies going to her big brothers.

…and wanted to know what "hold your horses" meant

….we made this centerpiece.

I tried to find the original post from Pinterest but it only linked back to this blog where I have yet to track it down. It has been a most pleasant search however. Gorgeous blog!