January 2010

And A Happy New Year!


The last of our children headed for home today, leaving Tim and I alone for the first time in almost 2 weeks. What a wonderful time we all had. And with the exception of a couple of broken glass Christmas ornaments, resulting from Bug's new bow and arrows, the house remains intact. (BTW... I would like to point out that Bug did not break the ornaments... his rowdy Uncles can take full credit for the destruction!)

So, here I sit, sorting through the Christmas photos, smiling at the mayhem, marveling at how tired I usually looked ;) but feeling extremely blessed. I am hopefully that everyone had a marvelous time with their loved ones.

I am taking the next couple of days to put the house back in order and do some serious snuggling with Tim. Michelle and I will be back on Monday, January 4, with lots of New Projects for the New Year!

I wish you much health, happiness and good fortune, and may we all delight in the smallest of blessings this coming year!
 

Submitted by Kimara on Fri, 01/01/2010 - 14:32
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Yarn Dolls


If you have a skein of yarn and 15 minutes, you can create a yarn doll! This is a great craft to share with young crafters, and soon, everyone will be busy creating a community of yarn dolls! Making the dolls is an "ish" thing. How tall you make your dolls will determine how many times you need to wrap the body. My dolls are 7 1/2" tall. If you want to make yours larger or smaller, just experiment until you find satisfying proportions.

Materials:
4 ply yarn
cardboard, book, lids, etc. for your wrapping board

Girl Doll:
1] Choose a book or lid that is the size of the yarn doll you want to make. You can cut a piece of cardboard to get the exact size you want. Basically, the doll will be as tall as the wrapping board you use.

2] Begin by taping or simply holding and end of the yarn at the bottom of your wrapping board. Begin wrapping the yarn around the board. For my 7 1/2" doll, I wrapped the yarn around the board 70 times. Note: Do not stretch the yarn while you are wrapping or when you remove the yarn from the board, it will "shrink" as it resumes its unstretched state. DO NOT remove the yarn from the board yet. 

3] Cut a piece of yarn around 10" long. Slide it under the yarn at the top of the board and tie a tight knot. Young children will some help making sure their knots are nice and tight. 

4] Carefully slide the yarn loops off the board. The tied section is the top of the head. Cut another piece of yarn 10" long. Keeping the yarns straight, and the tie at the top, wrap your piece of yarn around the doll's neck 2 times. This creates the head and neck. I make my head 1 1/2" long. Again, tightly tie off the thread on the front of the doll. After you have a secure knot, tie a bow. Then, tie the 2 loops of the bow again to prevent it from untying. You now have a bow at the girl's neck. 

5] To make the arms, wrap yarn around the board 35 times in the same manner described above BUT this time, tie off the yarn 1" from the bottom of the board.

6] Cut the yarn on the front of the board 1/2" below your tie. The yarn will come off the board. It will not be a series of loops like the body, but rather, it will be a long bundle of yarns.

7] Divide the bundle into three sections and tightly braid. Temporarily, tie off the other end. Basically, you want the arms to be the length of the doll. Measure 7" from the first tie and place another tie on the braid. Cut through the braid 1/2" away from this tie. Your arm braid should be ABOUT 7 1/2". 

8] To attach the arms, carefully find the middle of the doll's body and "open" it up.

9] Insert the arms in so the middle of the arm braid is centered between the loops directly under the head. 

10] Lift the arms over the dolls head to get them out of the way, and tightly tie the body directly under the arms using 10" of yarn. It is very important to tie directly under the arms so the arms are trapped securely, otherwise, the arms could slide out. Tie on the front of the doll.  After you have a secure knot, tie a bow. Then, tie the 2 loops of the bow again to prevent it from untying. You now have a bow at the girl's waist. Note: If you feel like this knot might not hold your arms securely, turn the doll over, and using a yarn needle, tack the back to the arms, making sure you do not go through the front, and tie off. Hide the thread ends in the doll's body.

11] Cut the loops at the bottom of the doll's body.

12] There are 2 ways you can finish the top of the doll. If you want to hang the doll from something, leave the yarn on the doll's head long and tie to create a loop. If the doll is going to be used as a doll, tie a bow. Then, tie the 2 loops of the bow again to prevent it from untying.

Boy Doll:
1] If you wish to keep the boy and dolls the same size, you will need to wrap the boy's body on a larger wrapping board. This is because you will be braiding the boy's legs, which uses more yarn length than the skirt. I found in making the 7 1/2" dolls, that if I used a board 9" long, it made the finished boy measure 7 1/2".

2] Continue making the doll as described through Step 11. Note: Instead of making bows on the boy, after tying secure knots, I simply cut off the extra yarn leaving 1/2" ends.

3] To make the legs, divide the yarn into 2 equal sections.

4] Braid each section separately, creating 2 legs.

5] Finish with top as described in Step 12 with a loop for hanging or with the 1/2" ends. 
 

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Submitted by Kimara on Sun, 01/03/2010 - 20:35
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Yarn Dolls


Over the Holidays our house was a constant hub of activity. Beginning with that life affirming first cup of morning coffee shared with fellow pajama wearers, to the wee hours of the night, snuggled on the couch watching a barrage of Christmas movies, the house buzzed. Michelle and her family were around for most of it... departing for home only for a good night sleep. Although the children handled the long days and chaos quite well, every once in a while 3 year old Pixie needed to find the lap of a nurturing adult, where she chilled and regrouped before rejoining the other children.

A couple of nights after Christmas, Pixie climbed onto my lap. I was sitting in our family room, happily nestled between my computer desk and felt table, chatting away. As she sat, she was fingering one of the many ubiquitous skeins of yarn that can be found hither and yon in our house. Without giving it much thought, I asked her to show me her yarn. I picked up the lid of an embroidery floss container, and began wrapping the yarn around and around as I talked. She was fascinated. Then, over the next 10 minutes, I tied here, braided there, and clipped loops until, wah lah, a multi-colored yarn doll came to life. She was enthralled! I can't tell you how many boy and girl yarn dolls I made over the next few days. Pixie began hitting my stash in the attic closet to bring me different yarns with the anticipation of yet another new dolly friend.

Yarn dolls were one of the first crafts I remember making as a child. There is something so awe inspiring to take a simple skein of yarn, and in minutes, create a doll that takes on a life of its own. If you've never crafted yarn dolls, you are in for a real treat. Young crafters will quickly join you, and before you know it, your house will be over run by yarn dolls! The directions for the Yarn Dolls can be found HERE or with our FREE Patterns. Enjoy!  

  

Submitted by Kimara on Mon, 01/04/2010 - 11:28
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Preserving Memories


When my youngest was in first grade, I converted our walk-out into a 2 room school house. For the next 10 years I ran a preschool program from our home offering children, and my family, "the best of both worlds". I'll talk more about my preschool, aptly named "Wee Care" at another time. But for today, I want to draw everybody's attention to the ceiling in the school.  

Although rather hard to discern in this picture, each fall we dipped the children's hands in paint and pressed their hand prints on the ceiling. How, you might ask. Without going into detail, think about trying to put pajamas on a ferret! Anyway, each year, each student left his or her mark on our ceiling, not only recording their growth over 3 years, but beautifully reminding me of all the little lives I had come in contact with. When I finally moved out of the house, it was very hard saying goodbye to the ceiling, especially knowing that the next owners would probably promptly paint over it.

Travel forward in time. When I moved in with Tim, one of the very first things I did was to turn the basement into a playroom. (This was accomplished when Michelle was pregnant with our first grandchild.) I had so much enjoyed my preschoolers' hand prints that I knew it was imperative that I found a way to record my grandchildren's. Tim and I came up with a wonderful idea... which I'll share next time!

Submitted by Kimara on Wed, 01/06/2010 - 09:18
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When the Cows Come Home


January, February and March are the months Michelle and I decorate. It is post holidays and before the gardens call us outdoors. Below is a post from One Generation to Another, first published June 8, 2008. We decided this would be a great time to share this because we will be doing our handprint project next week. Watch for the handprints below! 

I have a singing voice with about a 6 note range…7 if someone steps on my foot real hard. I would never dream of singing for a room of adults, but I have no problem at all playing my guitar and singing for children. I’m not sure if their hearing isn’t fully developed or if it’s because their hearts are bigger than their cochlea, but they think I have a beautiful voice. Go figure! With the exception of food, which turns the kindest child into the most ruthless critic, children have a tendency to see the best in things. Dad can be just this side of a 90 pound weakling and his children will think he’s the strongest man in the world. Mom can be toting around 20 superfluous pounds, donning a sweatshirt smeared with baby snot and a ponytail that is sliding down the side of her head, and her 5 year old son will look at her and say, “Mommy, you’re so beautiful.” Clouds fill them with awe, as do garbage truck. Children are a dream audience!

So, when it comes to decorating for children, you don’t have to have great talent, just a willingness to be bold and adventurous. When Tim and I joined households, I claimed the basement. Earlier Tim had finished a third of the basement with drywall and carpet. I had him finish another third, turning it into a library/guest room/play room…a regular multi-purpose room. I needed somewhere to house the contents of my preschool plus all my children’s toys that I had saved. So I turned the “front” part of the basement into a playroom.

My first job was to come up with a “theme”. I wanted to create a space that was cheerful and encouraged play. When my children were growing up, we had a timeshare at a resort called Smuggler’s Notch in Vermont. One of the many regional things we discovered, long before they went “public”, was Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream. Their ice cream is delicious, but we were just as enamored by their social consciousness and great imagery. To us Ben & Jerry’s was symbolic of close family times, beautiful scenery and awesome vacations. So, I decided to borrow Ben & Jerry’s motif to turn our basement into a pastoral paradise! (Visit their website and compare to our playroom!) Here are the steps I took to create our room.

1.Begin by taking a pencil and marking “rolling hills” on your wall. (This should be about one quarter to one third of the lower wall.)

2.Paint the sky using a light blue. Paint to the hill line.

3.I sponged painted over the blue with a darker blue…more turquoise.

4.Paint the hills using a light green.

5.When the green paint dries, take a pencil and mark smaller rolling hills on the green paint.

6.Using a darker green create the “foothills” by painting over the light green paint.

7.Using large pieces of paper, at least 36 inches wide, refer to my cloud pictures or ones at Ben & Jerry’s and draw large, puffy clouds. Make at least 6 using different sizes. (You’ll be able to use each cloud multiple times.) Tape the clouds on the wall in a pleasing pattern. Make sure to make the pattern random. Remember, clouds don’t “line up” in the sky.

8.Trace around each cloud and remove the paper.

9.Using white paint and a large brush fill in the cloud. Start by outlining the clouds creating swirling patterns. Keep working toward the middle with swirling brush strokes until the cloud is all filled in. It’s okay for some of the blue to show through. This gives a more authentic look to the clouds.

10.We then found an image of the cow we liked and blew up the image on our printer. My daughter was more than helpful, especially with this part! We taped the finished image to the wall, tracing the outline and spots with a pencil. Push hard and you will make a slight indentation in the wall that you can use for your outline or from the backside, color over the lines with pencil or crayons, and when you trace from the front side, the pencil marks or crayons will leave the outline on the wall.

11.Paint your cow black and white and ta-da, you’re done!

12.Add any extra embellishments to suit your fancy. We added a picket fence gate as a way of keeping the kids off the steps. And for extra fun, we turned the wall coming downstairs into a “barn”. (There’s also a cat chasing a mouse up the stairs!) Go crazy with your own touches.

There are many motifs out there that would translate well into a playroom. Although most of the images are copyrighted or trademarked, as long as you’re only using them for decorations in your house, you’re reasonably safe! For ideas look through children’s books and internet sites. Remember…it’s just paint…and children will love your efforts…even if the end results aren’t Louvre worthy! Oh, and have fun!

Submitted by Kimara on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 08:39
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Keepsake Handprints


So, last time I told you about handprints on the ceiling of my preschool and how hard it was for me to leave them. When I decorated our playroom here, I wanted my grandbabies' handprints included. I decided I was going to print them on a cloud. Then, my ever brilliant Tim, suggested we cut clouds out of plywood, so when we eventually move, we could take them with us! Smart guy, right?

To make the clouds, begin by drawing a lofty cloud on paper. My clouds are approximately 42" x 28". To make a pattern use butcher block paper or tape pieces of newspaper together. I have not included a pattern of a cloud, because to be quite honest, it is far easier to simply sketch one than to try to enlarge a pattern. If you need inspiration, look at one of my clouds in this post or in When the Cows Come Home.

After you have drawn a cloud, cut it out and trace around the outer edge on 3/4" plywood. Round the edges by sanding. (If you don't have tools to do this yourself, make a pattern, buy the plywood, and offer to make a pan of brownies for anyone that can help you cut it out! It really is a fast project.)

After it is cut out, begin by painting the front and edges a light to medium blue. After it is dry, using a large brush, paint the cloud white, using a swirling stroke. Begin at the outer edge, and work inward. It's okay to let a little of the blue show through here and there. It will give more dimension to the cloud. Use should only need one coat of white paint. I used a satin finished paint. After your clouds have dried, they are ready to put handprints on.

Here is what we do with our clouds. We have 1 cloud for each grandchild. Every year in January we add a new handprint. Since Michelle has 3 children, they have 3 clouds. Instead of putting all their handprints on individual clouds, we rotate through the clouds every 3 years, and each year all three of the children put their handprint on the same cloud. We figure we will have them do this until they are 14 years old. When they have all turned 14, we will have 3 clouds, each with 14 sets of handprints, with each sibling having their own cloud to keep. Besides taking their handprints, on the back of the clouds, we write their age at the time of the printing, and list their favorite activities, toys and color, and include their clothing size... just for fun!

Tim and I have 5 children. So far only 1 of them has given us grandbabies. We plan to continue this tradition as each child starts their own family. As you can well imagine, we will have very cloudy walls! Although clouds fit well into the theme of our playroom, you can use this same idea with any number of shapes. 

I think the grandbabies will love these when they are grown up and off on their own. What a special keepsake!

(BTW... I blobbed out the children's real names... looks a bit messy! Should have had Michelle Photoshop them I suppose but you get the idea!!!)
 

Submitted by Kimara on Sun, 01/10/2010 - 22:20
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Valentine Peonies

 

Although this little nosegay isn't exclusively a Valentine's design, made up in reds, pinks and maroons, this would happily embellish many Valentine's projects. One of my favorite late spring flowers is the peony. They are bold and flamboyant and their colors are lovely. The only problem is... their blooms don't last long. And it never fails, whenever they open to their full glory, we get a rambunctious storm, and alas, the peonies don't hold up well. So here, immortalizing them in felt, peonies can be enjoyed year round! The pattern for our Valentine's Peonies can be found HERE or with our FREE Appliques. Enjoy!

Note about patterns: We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. We offer preemptive apologies for any mistakes that may be made. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible!
http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2010. All rights reserved.

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art retains all rights.
 

Submitted by Kimara on Mon, 01/11/2010 - 09:31
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In the Land of the Pharaohs


Bug, Fairy and Pixie are learning about Ancient Egypt. When they needed a pyramid, and needed one fast, we got out the Big Bucket-O-Legos and started building. After about an hour, the five of us... Bug, Fairy, Pixie, Mommy and Gammy, constructed a pyramid we were all pretty darn proud of. When we were done, the children began playing. Before you knew it there was vegetation, the Nile, and some local animals. They were using pirates and spacemen to set to work on building a palace, but it wasn't long before Bug wandered over and said, "Gammy, we need a mummy and a pharaoh." He had already built a sarcophagus but was hoping for an authentic looking pharaoh and mummy.

Well... how hard can that be, right? We grabbed a couple of our 1 1/2" wooden people pegs, the crafting glue and a few strips of white fabric. Before you could say Tutankhamen, we fashioned a mummy and pharaoh. To make the mummy, simple cover a wooden peg with glue. Rip fabric into 1/2" strips and begin wrapping the mummy. If the glue dries as you are wrapping it, simply add more glue. Make sure you cover the top of the head and the bottom, and tut-tut, you have your very own mummy, ready to be placed in his sarcophagus.

To make the pharaoh, rub glue on the lower half of a peg. Wrap a piece of a 1/2" strip of white cloth around the lower part of his body 2 times. Cut the strip on a diagonal so the cut is on the front of the pharaoh. To make his head wrap, cut a piece of fabric 1" by the distance around his head plus 1/2". Put glue on the head following a natural hairline. Wrap the scarf around his head, overlapping in the back. At this point the fabric will be standing up straight. Place a little more glue on the back of the head and fold the scarf toward the back, making sure to leave 2 sharp points on either side of the scarf. Add an embellishment around the pharaoh's neck. We cut a necklace out of green felt, making sure we cut it so it fit around his neck, and glued it in place. When the pharaoh dries, use a fine tip permanent marker and add facial features. He is now ready to storm the castle... I mean the pyramid!
  

Submitted by Kimara on Tue, 01/12/2010 - 17:40
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Chicken Soup


If someone asked me what my favorite food was, I'd say soup. I know that's not very specific. There's hundreds, nah thousands, of soups from simple broths to creamy bisque's. But it doesn't matter to me. I have yet to meet a soup I didn't like. Okay, I take that back... there was this eggplant monstrosity I had in Stratford that made me rinse my mouth out BUT that was certainly the exception. Having said that, if pushed, and required to chose my very "favoritest", I would have to declare good old fashioned chicken soup. Here is a post from One Generation to Another first published November 6, 2007. Meet me on the other side for a "wrap up" and challenge! 

I happen to be one of those people that loves to cook. (Sure beats the alternatives like cleaning or the four letter word ironing…okay, I know ironing has 7 letters, but the root word is only 4 letters, but I digress.) Anyway, I’m not talking gourmet cooking, but rather those savory comfort foods that can soothe and console, calm and placate, not to mention gratify the palate. These are the soups and stews, breads and desserts, veggies and meats whose aromas’ fill the house with a sense of anticipation and promise. There’s nothing like coming home to the smell of tonight’s dinner simmering on the stove. When the children were growing up, it was always my practice to make twice as much as I think I needed to allow for “a small taste”, a last minute dinner invitation, or leftovers for lunch.

The other day my son, Adam, was visiting and looked over at the stove. A kettle of chicken soup was cooking. He fished out a steamy carrot, popped it in his mouth, and after doing what appeared to be a war dance as he hopped around the room fanning his scalding mouth, commented that I ALWAYS have a pot of chicken soup going. Truth be told, it’s an hyperbole to say I ALWAYS have a pot of chicken soup going, but I do often enough for it to be a seemingly ubiquitous feature of my kitchen.

You might well ask, “Why the fixation with chicken soup?” Well, chicken soup is relatively easy to make, it’s nutritious, fairly inexpensive and often considered a good remedy for colds and flues…something to do with the mucous membranes, I think…BUT my main reason for making chicken soup is the fact that, oh, probably a third of the recipes I make call for cooked chicken or chicken broth. Starting a pot of soup around noon, when I have the time, allows me choices as the day progresses. If my schedule gets crazy, a few noodles and a piece of bread can turn the soup into a meal. If time permits, I am prepared to make casseroles, cacciatore, enchiladas, or unique “throw together” meals at the last minute.

Want your house to smell “homey”? Nothing, and I’m a bit of a connoisseur on household scents…to be discussed at a later date…says “home” like the smell of chicken soup. (Hmmmm…note to self…send Yankee Candle the suggestion to include chicken soup scent in their lineup.) Anyway…chicken soup IS synonymous with home and comfort…globally. All cultures seem to have their own version. Throw a matzo ball in the middle, and you have a Jewish classic. Curry and apples enhance India’s Mulligatawny. The Greek Lemon/Egg Soup is called Avgolemono and has a wonderfully surprising tartness. It is one of my personal challenges, as this list grows to unfeasibly gargantuan proportions, to try more chicken soup recipes.

So, if you haven’t already, discover the joys of chicken soup. If you don’t see yourself as a “bona fide cook” you will be delighted to find how easy it is to make. It won’t be long before your family associates it with home and comfort and you’ll find it to be a welcomed friend in your kitchen.

KIMARA’S CHICKEN SOUP

This is my own recipe that evolved over the years. The longer the soup cooks the more flavorful the veggies and chicken become. Flavors will intensify the longer you cook so reduce bouillon cubes if you plan to let it simmer all day.

Ingredients

3 pound bag boneless/skinless chicken tenderloins or breasts*
1 gallon water
2 cups chopped celery(approximately 5 large stalks)
2 cups chopped carrots(approximately 6 large carrots)**
1 large onion, chopped
6-8 chicken bouillon cubes*
4 bay leaves
2 t. dried basil
2 t. dried parsley
1/4 t. pepper

Directions
Place chicken tenderloins and water in a large stock pot. Heat to boiling, skimming until all foam is gone. Add veggies and seasoning. Bring to boil then reduce to simmer. Cook 2 – 4 hours. Remove chicken and chop into bite sized pieces. Return to soup. Remove bay leaves and serve with noodles. Note: If you are cooking the chicken for another recipe, it will be fully cooked and ready to remove after 45 minutes. 

*Can use fresh, whole chicken. If you do, use 4 pounds to account for bone weight and skin chicken to reduce fat. Also, if using a tasty, fresh chicken, you will probably be able to reduce the amount of bouillon cubes you use. Remember, you can always add more if you need them, but can't take them out. If reducing bouillon cubes, or omitting all together, salt to taste.

**I often add more carrots since I can lose many to “tastes” and because everyone in my family loves the cooked carrots. If you plan to let your soup simmer all day, or if you like your veggies firmer, wait and add carrots in the last hour of cooking.

So, this is My chicken soup recipe. If you try to pawn off any other chicken soup on Bug, he will promptly point out that this is NOT Gammy's soup. Truth is... this IS the soup my children and grandchildren grew up on, and thus, their standard. And now, the challenge. As said earlier, I really want to expand my chicken soup repertoire. I've been to Southeastern, Chinese, Greek, Mexican, and Italian restaurants and they all have their own versions of chicken soup. So... do you have a favorite recipe for chicken soup that differs from my recipe? If so, I would LOVE for you to share it with us! And, what do you get for contributing? Well, the satisfaction of sharing with fellow readers, a link back to your blog, (if you have one) and my heart-felt gratitude! If you'd like to share a recipe, email it to weefolkart@yahoo.com. Include your name, a little anecdote about the soup, your website, and, of course, the recipe. If you have a pic of the soup, that would be great, but not necessary. Oh, yes, another reward for sharing a recipe is our cute little button that you can proudly display on your website!

(FYI... I'm really hoping someone has a killer recipe for cream of chicken soup!) Thanks in advance to everyone that participates! 

Submitted by Kimara on Tue, 01/12/2010 - 23:36
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Community Knitting Basket


Just about everyone I know knits. If they didn't know how to before meeting me, chances are I'll be teaching them. Although I am a multi-crafter, knitting is often my "go to" craft I use for television watching, chatting with friends, or waiting in doctors' offices. It's neat, easy to pack up, and if you don't have a complex pattern, easy to do while you're doing something else. 

Over the holidays many evenings were spent around an open fire, where you could hear lively conversations and the clicking of knitting needles. On one such evening, Michelle found herself without a knitting project. She disappeared into my attic closet, and she returned with a basket full of yarn remnants and a pair of knitting needles. She informed me that this was now the Community Knitting Basket. She cast on 36 stitches, and started a scarf. She had gotten the idea from the book Weekend Knitting. Now, any guest in our house that finds herself without a knitting project, will be invited to pick up the scarf and continue knitting. It doesn't matter whether you're an experienced knitter, adding fancy stitches, or a beginner, turning out row after row of garter stitch, all knitters are welcome. And, if you don't know how to knit, we'll gladly show you!

Weekend Knitting suggested making a narrow ribbon, which could be used as a "memory ribbon" of sorts, reminding us of past projects and lovely friends. We liked that idea, but decided instead to make scarves. Then, next winter, we will donate our scarves of many colors and talents to a local shelter. I'm loving this idea!

EDIT: I'm thinking it might be fun to pack a Community Knitting Bag when I go somewhere that I know there will be a long wait... like a surgery waiting room. You can't imagine how many people have said to me, "Wish I thought to bring some knitting." Then, I could smile and ask if they'd like to add a bit to our community scarf!

Submitted by Kimara on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 10:28
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Traditional Snowflakes


The 2 earliest crafts I remember making are paper chains, held together with a flour paste my mom made, and snowflakes. I can remember folding construction paper into eighths, instead of sixths, because eighths were easier to fold, and cutting through 8 layers of construction paper with those blunt end, dull school scissors. I can still remember the pain and red mark on my thumb! But I also remember how beautiful I thought the snowflakes were.

I still love cutting out snowflakes. Only today I use thin doilies AND super sharp, pointy scissors. Far easier! And, long before the movie Elf came out, we were turning the the interior of our house into our own Winter Wonderland. As soon as the Christmas decorations come down, our snowflakes go up!

Although most of you have been making snowflakes since you were knee high to a grasshopper, for those of you that need a refresher course, the directions for the Traditional Snowflakes can be found HERE or with our FREE Patterns. But be warned... making these can become addictive! BTW... make sure you get the kids involved in this craft! And do them a favor... let them use Fiskars children's scissors!

Submitted by Kimara on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 09:54
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Traditional Snowflakes


You don't need to wait for a blizzard to play in a Winter Wonderland... not if you make your own indoor snowstorm! Grab a sharp pair of scissors and doilies, and before it know it, it will be snowing inside!

Materials:
Doilies - different sizes
Transparent Nylon thread
Laminating film or clear glossy contact paper (optional)
Paper punch

1] Begin by taking a round paper doily and fold it in half. Then, fold it in thirds, making sure each third is the same size. (It is easier to fold the doilies in eighths by folding the doilies in half 2 more times BUT snowflakes have 6 points, not 8, so the purest in me want 6 sided snowflakes :) If you aren't as silly as me, 8 sided snowflakes would be just fine!)

2] Using sharp scissor, cut designs in the snowflake by removing little snips, being careful not to cut the folds apart completely. Feel free to unfold the snowflake to assess your progress.

3] You now have a couple choices. You can iron your snowflake and leave it "naked" OR you can cover both sides of the snowflake with either clear glossy contact paper or laminating film. Note: Laminating film can be bought in rolls from office and school equipment suppliers. They are meant to be used in laminating machines. I bought a roll many, many years ago, and use it for many laminating projects. I do not have a machine so I cut off a piece large enough to cover the front and back of my project. Then, using a dry iron, set on low, I simply iron the laminate on.

4] When you are satisfied with your snowflake, punch a single hole about 1 inch in.

5] Using transparent nylon thread, thread the nylon thread, through the hole, and cut off the length you desire. Tie off the other end and hang.

Use different sized doilies, cut different designs, and hang at different lengths.

Note about patterns: We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. We offer preemptive apologies for any mistakes that may be made. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible!

Our "DISCLAIMER"! We make every effort to share patterns and directions as accurately as possible. DUH, right? But we are human, although I often long for superhuman powers, and as humans, mistakes will be made. Before beginning any of our patterns, think of yourself as a Beta Tester. We do not have a staff, editors or even volunteers that are crafting our projects before we share them. YOU are the first to have a go at them. As such, other than a heartfelt apology, we accept no responsibility for mistakes made, or in an extreme circumstance, for time or supplies wasted. Please tackle our projects in the same manner that we are sharing them, with a spirit of goodwill and global friendship!

http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2010. All rights reserved.

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art retains all rights.

Submitted by Kimara on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 11:46
in

Chicken and Rice Soup


Remember... If you would like to share your favorite chicken soup recipe with our readers, just email us the recipe, along with a little something about the soup, your website, if you have one, and a pic is available. It's always so much fun to "swap" recipes with friends!

Sue, over at Happy Healthy Cooking, shared her favorite go-to chicken soup recipe with us. For those of you that are trying to reduce the amount of sodium in your diet, this soup has far less than our rather salty offering! I love the addition of the wild rice. She also uses rosemary and thyme to add sublte flavor to her soup. I can't wait to give this a try. Make sure you stop in at Sue's blog and check out all her yummy looking recipes. Thanks again, Sue!

BTW... We are in the process of organizing our recipes. Hopefully, over the next couple of weeks, they will be in a much easier to use format.... I hope, I hope :)

Here is my go-to chicken soup recipe. We love it!

This soup is very mild flavored. If you'd like, you may add a bit more salt to taste but we prefer it the way it is -- not too salty. The original recipe called for mushrooms, but I substituted carrots since Randy doesn't care for mushrooms. Be sure to use bone-in chicken breasts. They add more flavor to the soup than boneless chicken does. Plus, they are less expensive.

Chicken and Rice Soup

Yield: 8 cups
2 skinless bone-in chicken breast halves (about 1 pound)
7 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups thinly sliced or chopped peeled carrots
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup sliced celery (include the leaves)
3/4 cup brown rice (not "minute rice")
2 tsp. crushed garlic
3/4 tsp. dried thyme
3/4 tsp. dried rosemary
1/8 tsp. ground white pepper

Coat a 4-5 quart pot with nonstick cooking spray and preheat over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for a couple of minutes on each side or until the chicken is nicely browned.

Add all the remaining ingredients to the pot, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes or until the chicken is tender and thoroughly cooked. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside to cool enough for handling. Cook the soup for an additional 30 minutes or until the rice and vegetables are tender.

Pull the chicken meat from the bones, and tear it into bite-sized pieces. Add the chicken to the soup, and simmer for an additional minute or two. Serve hot.

Submitted by Kimara on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 16:00
in

Winter Gnome House

Submitted by Kimara on Sun, 01/17/2010 - 10:33
in

Gnome Snowflake Garland


The gnomes enjoy decorating their houses seasonal just like the rest of us. Britta saw the Traditional Snowflakes we scattered throughout the house, and wanted some, too! So, I got right on it for her. She loves them! If you'd like to make some snowflakes for your gnome or doll house, you can make a garland of them in no time!

Materials:
white paper
sharp, pointy scissors
embroidery floss or twine
transparent nylon thread
wide packing tape or glossy clear contact paper

1] Make circles the size you want your snowflakes. I traced around a quarter (approximately 25mm diameter) and cut them out.

2] Using steps 1 and 2 as described in Traditional Snowflakes, cut out snowflake designs. 

3] Cover front and back of snowflakes with wide package tape or glossy clear contact paper. Cut off extra tape close to the snowflake.

4] If making roping from embroidery floss or pearl cotton, make a tight braid using three strands. Make the braid long enough to span the desired length. (Make sure to make it long enough to attach to gnome or doll house.)

5] Tape one end of the braid to a table. Place a ruler behind it. Attach the snowflakes by threading a needle with the transparent nylon thread. Tie a knot. You now have 2 threads. Pierce the snowflake with your needle and pull the thread through. Insert your needle between the 2 pieces of thread so the snowflake dangles at the end of the thread with the thread looped over the snowflake.  (I demonstrated with floss so you can see what I'm doing. It's hard to see the transparent nylon thread in photos :) Tie the snowflakes to the braid or twine every 1 1/2".  Each snowflake is attached individually. Vary the length of the thread so the snowflakes appear to be falling randomly... not in a straight line.

6] Tie, tape or tack the finished garland of snowflakes to your gnome house or dollhouse. They hang nicer is the roping is taut. 

Note about patterns: We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. We offer preemptive apologies for any mistakes that may be made. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible!

Our "DISCLAIMER"! We make every effort to share patterns and directions as accurately as possible. DUH, right? But we are human, although I often long for superhuman powers, and as humans, mistakes will be made. Before beginning any of our patterns, think of yourself as a Beta Tester. We do not have a staff, editors or even volunteers that are crafting our projects before we share them. YOU are the first to have a go at them. As such, other than a heartfelt apology, we accept no responsibility for mistakes made, or in an extreme circumstance, for time or supplies wasted. Please tackle our projects in the same manner that we are sharing them, with a spirit of goodwill and global friendship!

http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2010. All rights reserved.

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art retains all right.

Submitted by Kimara on Sun, 01/17/2010 - 10:59
in

Gnome Snowflake Garland


Let's face it. It's the little things we do that make a house a home. And when we are in tune with nature, our homes often reflect the "goings on" outside. That certainly is one of the reasons houses have windows... so we feel the connection with the out-of-doors. Well, the mistress of our Gnome Home... Britta, is certainly in tune with nature, and makes changes in her home to reflect the changing seasons. And just like me, wanted a snowflake garland to dress up her house for winter.

If you would like to learn how to make your own snowflake garland to share with your gnome friends or to add a festive touch to a doll house, the directions for the Gnome Snowflakes can be found HERE or with our FREE Patterns. Enjoy!   

Submitted by Kimara on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 09:00
in

Valentines Day Give-Away

EDIT: This Give-Away is over. Thanks to everyone that participated, and a special thank you to Juile, at Prairied Point Junction for providing the materials for the Give-Away!

We weren't planning on having a Valentines Day Give-Away, but then we received an offer from Julie over at Wool Felt Central (A.K.A. Prairie Point Junction) which we couldn't refuse. For starters, she has kindly offered all Wee Folk Art readers 20% off regularly priced merchandise on all orders. How awesome is that? All you have to do is click on their cute little button up in the right hand corner of our home page and you receive 20% off. Makes building our felt stash doable! Then she said... "We'd also be happy to support another Give-Away if you perhaps have something dreamed up for Valentines Day. I bet you have tons of great ideas. You gals amaze me!"

Well, with that offer, what else could we do? So last night we "dreamed up" something special for Valentine's Day. One easy way to herald in any Holiday, is to simply set the table with Holiday themed napkins and napkin rings. Here are our go-to napkins... the old Rip and Tears. Easy and fast to make. Then, we reworked a heart motif that we had used last year for a necklace and brooch, and fashioned heart-shaped napkin rings.

Here is the Give-Away. Julie has put together kits for making 4 napkins and 4 napkin rings.

The kits include:
12" x 18" each of three wool felt colors (Red, Shocking Pink, and White)
2 skeins of floss
1 1/8 yards of the Valentine print for the napkins

Such pretty fabric and colors! The value of the kits is $16.50, and she is donating 2 kits for this Give-Away. She is so great!
 
So... what do you need to do to enter this lovely Give-Away? Simple. Write a 5,000 word essay on Existentialism in the 21st Century OR choose any or all of the following methods to enter. You get 1 entry for each method.

1] Post a comment here (be sure to fill in your name... nicknames are fine).
2] Link to us through your blog, FaceBook, Twitter, Flickr, etc. Post one additional comment for each link. Make sure to include linking info.
3] Then, head over to Prairie Point Junction, visit Julie's blog HERE, let her know how awesome you think she and Wool Felt Central are, then run back here and tell us you did, and yep, another chance to win!

The contest will run from today, Tuesday, January 19 through Sunday, January 24, at 9:00 p.m. EST when 2 lucky winners will be chosen at random. Winners will announced on Wee Folk Art as soon as winners are determined and will also be notified via email. Winners have 1 week to contact us or another winner will be drawn. Directions for the Valentine Napkins and Heart Napkin Rings can be found HERE or with our FREE Patterns. Good luck to everyone!

BTW... even if you are not interested in making the napkins and napkin rings, the fabrics would make a wonderful addition to your stash! AND, Julie will have additional kits available for anyone interested in purchasing them for themselves or as a special Valentine's Day Gift! Thanks again, Julie!

Submitted by Kimara on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 20:35
in

Valentine Napkin Rings and Napkins


One easy way to herald in any Holiday, is to simply set the table with Holiday themed napkins and napkin rings. Here are my go-to napkins... the old Rip and Tears. Easy and fast to make. Then, I reworked a heart motif that I had used last year for a necklace and brooch, and fashioned felt heart shaped napkin rings. Buying 1 1/8 yards of fabric will give you 4 18" square napkins.

Materials:
Cranberry Wool Felt
Rose Wool Felt
Off White Wool Felt
Cranberry Embroidery floss
Green Embroidery floss
1 1/8 yard Valentine print fabric
Copy of Pattern

Napkin Rings: (Makes 1 napkin ring)

1] Make a copy of the pattern and use it to cut felt as follows:
    2 large hearts - cranberry
    1 strap - cranberry
    1 medium heart - rose
    1 small heart - off white

2] Using 3 strands of cranberry floss, blanket stitch small heart to medium heart. Transfer flower design to small heart. Using 6 strands cranberry floss, embroider flower on white heart using a lazy daisy stitch. Using 6 strands green floss, stem stitch stem, and use detached chains to add leaves.

3] Attach medium heart to large heart with 6 strands of cranberry floss using a small running stitch.

4] Using 3 strands of cranberry floss, sew a running stitch along the 2 long sides of the strap. This will help it from stretching out of shape during use.

5] Following the pattern placement, pin the strap to the back heart. The strap will bow. This allows room for the napkin. Make sure the strap is right up to the heart's edge.

6] Pin the embroidered heart to the heart backing with wrong sides together. Using 3 strands of cranberry floss, blanket stitch the front to the back. Make sure you are stitching through all 3 layers when you come to the strap.

Napkins:

Follow the directions for the Rip and Tear Napkins found HERE. 1 1/8 yards of fabric will make four 18" square napkins.

Assembly:
Grab the napkin by the center and thread through the napkin ring so the bottom of the heart is pointing to the raveled edge of the napkin. The napkin ring should rest in the middle of the napkin.

OUR "DISCLAIMER"! We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. DUH, right? But we are only human, although I often long for superhuman powers, and as humans, mistakes will be made. We offer preemptive apologies for any aforementioned mistakes. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible! Before beginning any of our patterns, think of yourself as a Beta Tester. We do not have a staff, editors or even volunteers that are crafting our projects before we share them. YOU are the first to have a go at them. As such, other than a heartfelt apology, we accept no responsibility for mistakes made, or in an extreme circumstance, for time or supplies wasted. Please tackle our projects in the same manner that we are sharing them, with a spirit of goodwill and global friendship!

http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2010. All rights reserved.

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art retains all rights.

Submitted by Kimara on Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:36
in

Tissue Paper Stained Glass Hearts


Materials:
Tissue Paper (pink, red, white)
Construction Paper (pink, red, white)
Clear Contact Paper
Scissors

To create this pretty stained glass widow hangings you will need start by cutting pink, red and white tissue paper in approximately 1/2 to 1inch squares. Note: a little goes a long way.

Fold a sheet of construction paper in half and cut out a large heart. You can open the heart to check out the shape. Refold it to make any adjustments.

While the heart is still folded, make a parallel cut about 1" inside the heart. This will give you your window frame. Save the inside heart cutout to make a smaller version.

Open the heart and center it on a piece of contact paper.



Place the squares of tissue paper inside the heart on the contact paper. Be careful not to go over the edge of the window frame.

When the heart is filled with tissue paper, place a second piece of contact paper over the whole thing. Be careful not to get air bubbles.

Cut away the excess contact paper. If you leave a little bit of contact paper around the edge of the heart it will stick together better.

You can now either tape your hearts in a window or use a hole punch at the top of the hearts and hang them with string.

Submitted by Michelle on Thu, 01/21/2010 - 08:59
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Stained Glass Hearts

Here is a fun and fast little Valentine project to do with the kids... Tissue Paper Stained Glass Hearts. They are fun to make and will brighten up your window even on a gloomy winter day.

An added bonus, they can help stop kamikaze birds from flying into your window when they get spooked at the feeder. You can of course make these in different shapes throughout the year. Have fun!

Submitted by Michelle on Thu, 01/21/2010 - 09:22
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Roasted Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup


Several weeks ago I asked for special chicken soup recipes. I got a few, plus I got this email from Meghan, at A Bolder Table, with a recipe... not for chicken soup, but for another soup that sounded too delicious to pass up. When I went shopping the other day, I bought everything I need to make the soup. Think I'll be doing it tomorrow. Can't wait! Make sure you stop by Meghan's blog, A Bolder Table, look around, and make sure to say "hi". But be warned... I've got a list a foot long of her recipes I want to try. Thanks a bunch, Meghan!

I have a food blog , but I'm mostly vegetarian, so I don't have a chicken soup recipe. But, your talk of family tradition and grandma's soup makes me think of my Roasted Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup.

I make it all the time, and the secret ingredient is from my spouse's grandmother. She is Indonesian and lives in a small village on Java. She gave us a few kilos of her own grown and hand made powdered ginger. I perfected my simple recipe with her ginger, and now it is all used. The next time I make this soup I will have to use store-bought ginger. We'll see if it is just as good.

Roasted Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup

Ingredients:
peeled, chopped sweet potatoes (2 pounds? How much soup are you making? There is no definitive measurement here, so 4 large sweet potatoes might be a good place to start.)
peeled, chopped carrots (again, no measurement. 1/2 pound, maybe.)
1 large yellow or sweet onion, sliced
1 cup veggie broth
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup apple cider
water
2 TB (or more) powdered ginger (please feel free to use fresh ginger if you have it available)

Preheat oven to 375. In a large Pyrex baking dish, combine the yams, carrots, onion, veggie broth, and olive oil. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes or until a fork can easily pierce the yams and carrots. Remove from oven and let cool for 15-30 minutes.

Next, add the roasted ingredients to a blender. Add the apple cider and a few cups of water. Puree until smooth. If you have a smaller blender, you might need to break this down into two separate batches. When it is all smooth, transfer to a soup or stock pot and simmer on medium low heat for 15-20 minutes. Add more water to reach your desired consitency, as well as the ginger. Stir the soup somewhat frequently, and don't leave it uncovered and walk away. If it is too hot, it will jump out of the pot and make a mess. Be warned! Enjoy.

Submitted by Kimara on Fri, 01/22/2010 - 16:35
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Valentine Give-Away Winners

The winners of our Valentine Give-Away are JoAnn and Sarah with the posts listed below:

Yay a give away! :)
Submitted by JoAnn(fullheart) on Wed, 01/20/2010 - 10:04.
What a wonderful kit! Thanks for so many chances to win!

AND

That's very sweet, thank you
Submitted by sarah on Thu, 01/21/2010 - 11:58.
That's very sweet, thank you for the giveaway and the great idea. Now I must get fabric for Valentine's Day napkins.

Congrats, ladies. Just send your snail mail address to us at weefolkart@yahoo.com. Thank you to everyone that participated, and a HUGELY big thank you to Julie, over at Prairie Point Junction, for donating the wonderful prizes.

Submitted by Kimara on Sun, 01/24/2010 - 21:27
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Running Kitty Applique Block

A few weeks ago I share pics of our playroom. On the stairway, there is a painting of a kitty chasing a mouse... all in good fun :) When the children we very little, and low to the ground, they crawled up and down the stairs, putting them at eye level with the kitty and mouse. It became a ritual, when passing the cat, to stroke it and say "Hello, Kitty". I always knew one day I would "immortalize" our kitty and mouse by stitching them into something. Over the next few days I will share the project I made.

But for today, I am simply sharing the applique block for the cat. It is 6" tall, like most of our applique blocks, but longer. As always, this can be enlarged or reduced to meet your needs. The pattern for the Running Kitty Applique Block can be found HERE or with our FREE Appliques. Enjoy!

Watch the next few days for our mouse applique and the project I made with them.

Submitted by Kimara on Mon, 01/25/2010 - 18:54
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Koala Marsupial Bookmark ;)

We receive the most wonderful emails from our readers. Some are questions, some are suggestions, some are heart touching stories that fill our eyes with tears and our hearts with love, and some, like this one, are informative, and at the same time make us giggle. I asked Di if she would mind if I shared her email with our readers. She graciously agreed.

Hi you wonderful people, creators of such fun objects of craft to make.

I have only one small beef with your website and that is that you called our Koala a bear. I have to say that it is not a bear in any sense because it is a marsupial which carries it babies in a pouch.

Please see the bit of info about the Koala – it is a really cute animal and I had one in my gum tree in my backyard about 10 years ago until the tree it was living in had to be cut down because it was dying and rotten inside. The Koala was relocated by the local ranger to another area with healthy trees.

What is a koala?

The koala is a small bear-like, tree-dwelling, herbivorous marsupial which averages about 9kg (20lb) in weight. Its fur is thick and usually ash grey with a tinge of brown in places.

The koala gets its name from an ancient Aboriginal word meaning "no drink" because it receives over 90% of its hydration from the Eucalyptus leaves (also known as gum leaves) it eats, and only drinks when ill or times when there is not enough moisture in the leaves. ie during droughts etc.

The koala is the only mammal, other than the Greater Glider and Ringtail Possum, which can survive on a diet of eucalyptus leaves.

Excellent website with so much to learn and do. Thank you once again for your creative ideas.

And in response to our inquiry to blog about this, she said:

Yes please, do share our Koala – it is such a delightful animal but it has been know to pee on the celebrities who sometimes hold them for a cuddle.

Cheers,

Di

Now... I do want to go on record as stating that we did know Koalas AREN'T bears and that they are marsupials, but it has been so much a cultural thing to call them bears, we sometimes slip into the habit. We heartily apologize to any koala we may have offended, and rest assured, we will NOT make the mistake again!

And as an aside... if you've never made one of our Koala MARSUPIAL Bookmarks, it would make a great Easter Basket stuffer! The pattern can be found HERE or with our FREE patterns.

Thanks Di, for the information and smile. I love the Internet for making global friendships possible!

Submitted by Kimara on Tue, 01/26/2010 - 08:25
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Warm Compress Rice Bag


THIS should be a testament to how much I love you guys... I am sharing some of the most unattractive pics of myself ever! So... this is what I've looked like the past couple of days. There are only 2 photo ops of me this week... nose running or blowing nose. Okay, on second thought, I could have shared a more unattractive picture of myself... sans Kleenex! Anyway, I'm at the beginning of a cold... you know when everything aches, liquid comes out your nose as quickly as you can take it in, and you find yourself cursing the cold virus for its evolutionary ability to mutate!

So far, everything is in my head. This morning I went on a quest to find this wonderful little rice bag my equally wonderful SIL made for me several years ago. The more I looked, the more my head hurt. Finally, I decided it would be just as easy to make a new one as it was to continue this grueling quest!

So, in my weakened condition, I climbed the stairs (of course with camera thumping on my chest) and in 15 minutes, I was heating my new rice bag in the microwave, then sitting back and enjoying the warmth on my abused sinuses!

For those of you that have yet to discover the joys of a rice bag, it is simply a cloth bag, filled with rice, that you warm up in the microwave. (Some people simply put rice in a sock and tie it off.) The rice conforms to the area of your body you put it on, in my case it's usually my sinuses, but can also be used on muscles and joints. When the bag cools off, simply nuke it again, and it's good to go. (Note to self: store the rice bag in the cabinet above the microwave so I don't misplace it again!) 

These would make great spur of the moment gifts to have tucked away somewhere... who couldn't use a little extra pampering now and then? You can also put dried herbs and flowers in the bag for additional comfort and aroma therapy. They make great stress relievers. I so wanted to add some lavender to the rice, but I used the last of my supply over the holidays. I resigned myself to filling my bag with just rice, but given the relief it has brought, I'm not complaining.

If you you would like the embarrassingly simple directions for making your own Rice Bag, they can be found HERE, or with our FREE Patterns. BTW... for future reference... what is your favorite aroma therapy herb or flower to add to sachets? 

FYI... if you've ever tried to take a self portrait, you know how difficult it can be. Try doing it blindfolded! Thank goodness I have a digital camera because I have about 50 unusable pics of various parts of my body and the room!)

Submitted by Kimara on Wed, 01/27/2010 - 16:34
in

Warm Compress Rice Bag


Rice bags are a wonderful little item used to relieve headaches, sinus pressure, and muscle and joint aches. When flowers and herbs are added to the bag, they can be used for stress relief and aroma therapy. They take literally minutes to make and can provide years of relief!

Warm Compress Rice Blog

Materials:
10" square of soft, tightly woven fabric (I love using flannel)
1 1/2 - 2 cups rice (do not use dehydrated rice, like Minute Rice)
Optional: 1 - 2 tablespoons dried herbs or flowers. (Note: avoid using herbs or flowers that have a high oil content. These can become rancid, or if using it near your eyes, can be an irritant.)

1] Cut a 10" square.

2] Fold in half with right sides together. Pin.

3] Using a 1/2" seam allowance, sew around the 3 pinned sides, leaving a 3 inch opening in the center of one end. Trim corner seams to reduce bulk.

4] Turn right side out and iron.

5] Fill with rice. You may chose to add 1 or 2 tablespoons of herbs or dried flowers.

6] Slip stitch opening closed.

To use:
1] Microwave for 30 - 60 seconds. Start with a shorter time and test. The rice should be warm... not hot. WARNING: Do not overheat. It could cause serious burns!

2] Place on desired location. Remember... it should be warm, not hot!

Note: Always heat in a clean microwave. If your microwave is less than clean, like mine can be, place you rice bag on a plate or dishtowel. You cannot wash the rice bag, so once it gets dirty you need to throw it out.

OUR "DISCLAIMER"! We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. DUH, right? But we are only human, although I often long for superhuman powers, and as humans, mistakes will be made. We offer preemptive apologies for any aforementioned mistakes. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible! Before beginning any of our patterns, think of yourself as a Beta Tester. We do not have a staff, editors or even volunteers that are crafting our projects before we share them. YOU are the first to have a go at them. As such, other than a heartfelt apology, we accept no responsibility for mistakes made, or in an extreme circumstance, for time or supplies wasted. Please tackle our projects in the same manner that we are sharing them, with a spirit of goodwill and global friendship!

http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2010. All rights reserved.

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art retains all rights.

Submitted by Kimara on Wed, 01/27/2010 - 17:23
in

A Well Stocked Pantry

For dinner this past Sunday I made Chicken Enchiladas, Spanish Rice, Cornbread Casserole, and Guacamole. It is one of my family's favorites. It reminded of a post I had written for One Generation to Another, March 25, 2008. Given the fact that I'm still under the weather (but feeling much better, and I attribute my quick recovery to every one's well wishes... thank you very much :) I thought it would be a good day to do a little recycling. Hope you enjoy!

Everyone has little things they do that give them a sense of security. Maybe it’s a secret stash of chocolate or $40.00 “mad money” tucked away in a secret compartment of your wallet or an obnoxiously noisy alarm clock inconveniently located across the room. In college I had a friend that always kept a “back up” boyfriend. There is no universal “security blanket”, but rather individual needs that may appear trite to someone else, but help us breathe a little easier.

Being the wild and zany individual that I am…I find solace in a well stocked pantry! I’m not talking about having 2 cans of mushroom soup, but rather 12. There are also chick peas and mandarin oranges, water chestnuts and canned salmon. You just never know! Although this may seem excessive to some people, if I see a recipe that calls for crushed pineapple…I’ve got it. Green chilies? I say chopped, whole or frozen? Avocados…of course! Come on, give me something hard! Tarragon, cumin, sage? Yep. Yep. Yep. Rye flour, barley, wild rice…long or short? Fresh carrots, onions, celery, peppers, chives…in the drawer in the refrigerator. You see what I’m saying? I didn’t need to do any special planning when Y2K rolled around…if the world market had collapsed and chaos ensued, I could have feed a family of 16 for four or five months without blinking an eye! I require a well stocked pantry…it’s an obsession…what a shocker!

My children often tease me about it. HOWEVER, they can come over and say,

“You know what sounds good, Mom? Chicken Enchiladas.”

“No problem”, I say.

“MMMM, apple crisp sounds yummy, too”

“Okay, start peeling apples.”

No one needs to make a grocery run…you just have to forage in the kitchen. (BTW…they, meaning our teasing children, are not above pinching a jar of this or a can of that on the way out the door…saving themselves a trip to the store! “Thank you, Mom”.)

I’m not sure what prompted this compulsion. It’s not like we were deprived of food as children or ever went hungry. As newlyweds we weren’t impoverished, living on Ramen Noodles and PB&J sandwiches. And it’s not like I was Scarlet O’Hara, rooting through an abandoned garden, looking for a rouge potato, swearing, “As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again!” I think the explanation is much simpler…I like to cook and I like to feed people. OMG…I’m like Remy the rat in “Ratatouille”!

I may be a bit over the top…or more to the point…over the cupboards (where “backups” are stacked to the ceiling) when it comes to supplies but in part, that is because I have the room. I’ve had much smaller kitchens, with no back up fridge and freezer, so I couldn’t keep all the supplies I have on hand today. But I find it very interesting, when you talk to other people, what they think falls under the heading of “must have” staples. For instance, I could live without garlic powder, since I have fresh garlic on hand, but my kitchen must have dried basil, parsley and bay leaves. I could do without my jar of spaghetti sauce, but don’t take away my stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce. You can take the margarine, but I’ll keep the olive oil. I could survive with less, I’ve done it before, but I’m delighted I don’t have to.

Where you are in your life and how much time you have to spend in the kitchen, has a tremendous impact on what you’ll find stowed away in your cupboards and fridge, and what you consider “essential”. I might be aghast to find out someone does not own fresh celery, yet they might find it down right disconcerting to know I have almost no prepared foods. So, there you have it…I’m like a squirrel burying nuts in my kitchen on the off chance there will be a hard winter! Rational behavior…I think so. Do others agree? They don’t have to! And, no one seems to complain when I'm able to make their favorite meal at a moment's notice!

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

The first time my brother tasted these I had brought them to a family gathering. After he had taken a bite he asked me, “Did you pick these up at a restaurant?” “No”, I replied, “Why do you ask?” “Well, they’re so good. They taste like something you’d get at a Mexican restaurant.” I couldn’t decide if I had just been complimented or insulted! Anyway, they are extremely delicious, and given the flavor, well worth the effort!

Ingredients

1 can (19 oz) enchilada sauce (any variety)

2 cups shredded cooked chicken (I make Chicken Soup then fish the meat out!)

1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (6 oz)

1 cup sour cream

1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chilies

1 medium onion, chopped small, and sauteed in 1 T. olive oil until translucent

1/2 package powdered taco seasoning

1 package (11.5 oz) flour tortillas for burritos (8 tortillas)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 oz)

Optional toppings: chopped avocado or guacamole, green onions, sour cream, taco sauce, chopped tomatoes, lettuce, etc.

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spread 1/2 cup enchilada sauce over bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. In medium bowl, stir together chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, sauteed onions, powdered taco seasoning and chilies.

2. Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture down center of each tortilla. Roll up tortillas; arrange, seam side down, in baking dish. (Note: I fold my enchiladas burrito style by bringing the 2 sides in then rolling the tortillas. This stops the yummy inside from seeping out the ends.) Top enchiladas with remaining enchilada sauce. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Spray sheet of foil with cooking spray; cover baking dish with foil, sprayed side down.

3. Bake 35 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5 to 10 minutes longer or until hot and cheese is melted. Serve with optional toppings.

We all have our kitchen essentials…those things that we use frequently and would be lost without. It’s always interesting to hear what other people consider to be staples. Besides the normal milk, flour, butter, and egg variety staples, what do you consider to be basic and irreplaceable in your kitchen?

Submitted by Kimara on Wed, 01/27/2010 - 22:47
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Running Mouse Applique Block

This is the little mouse that is running up our stairs. The kitty had been on the stairs for a couple of years when Bug decided it should be chasing a mouse. So, tah dah, a mouse! I like to think they are in a well spirited, playful game of chase, and once "tagged", the mouse turns around a chases the kitty! (Although, personally, I've yet to see that happen... but it might!) Anyway, here is the applique of our Running Mouse. Perhaps a little plain on his own, BUT, next week I'll share something I made with the kitty and the mouse that has a bit more pizazz.

This mouse does not fit well on a 6" x 6" block... it needs to be a little longer, but the proportions are the same. As always, it can be enlarged or reduced to meet your needs. If you would like the Running Mouse Applique Block it can be found HERE or with our FREE Appliques. Enjoy!

Submitted by Kimara on Thu, 01/28/2010 - 19:27
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I Love You Tree

Last week we received this email from a reader and having received her permission, wanted to share her email and pics.

Kimara and Michelle,

I found your blog a few weeks back. At the time I was bored and I knew I wanted to craft and sew but just had no inspiration. Looking through your patterns inspired me. A dear friend of mine is getting married in February and I wanted to make them a unique gift - one that reflects who they are. They both love the outdoors and gardening, so when I saw the tree applique I knew I could put a twist on it and embroider their initials in a heart in the middle of the trunk - one of those endearing memories of love. To complete the pillow I found a wool sweater at the Goodwill with a neat pattern, felted it, and used that for the backing and frame around the applique. I just finished the pillow last night and I wanted to share it with you. Thank you for inspiring me with your whimsical patterns - I have never used or worked with felt - and now I love it! I have so many ideas floating around in my head now and I attribute that to you both, and all the work and creativity that you share with others on your blog.

A million thanks,
Michelle

We thought this was such a lovely adaptation of our Tree Applique Block, that we wanted to share. Unfortunately, Michelle does not have a blog site or we'd send you there, but wanted to share how combining your needs and inspiration with our patterns, can turn out something very unique. We also thought this could be worked into a lovely Valentines project. The initials on the tree are brilliant and speak of Love. Using an old sweater and felting it for the pillow itself is icing on the cake. Thanks for sharing, Michelle!

Submitted by Kimara on Fri, 01/29/2010 - 15:58
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Cat and Mouse Banner


Do you have a wide but shallow spot in your house that needs a little "something"? Try making a long, skinny banner to fill the spot with some playful happiness. For this banner, we combined our Running Kitty and Running Mouse Appliques, but use your imagination and our applique blocks to create your own banner! The finished size of our Cat and Mouse Banner is 20" x 7" but you can adapt the size to fit any space you'd like to fill!

BTW... Directions for the Easy Cotton Shawls pictured above can be found HERE.

(Original blog for the Cat and Mouse Banner can be found HERE.)

Materials:
wool felt piece 6" x 18" for background in blue
wool felt piece 3 1/2" x 18" for grass in green 
material for border and backing
felt pieces for appliques
embroidery floss
pattern: running kitty
pattern: running mouse
pattern: flowers and clouds

NOTE: You may notice some discrepancies between directions I am giving and the photos; specifically, when I tell you to applique and embroider . I kept changing the pattern, so the photos don't always match the directions. (Example, in the photo there are flowers appliqued on the banner before I tell you to do that.) I learned from my mistakes. I really did not want to redo the project to match the directions, so... in this case... do as I say, not as I did :)

1] Make copy of patterns.

2] Cut out cat and mouse using patterns as a guide. To make the grass, simply draw a wavy line down the length of the 3 1/2" x 18" piece of green wool felt which is being used for the grass, mimicking rolling hills, cut it out along this line. Using 3 strands of floss, blanket stitch the grass to the banner along the wavy hill edge. Sew the grass to the banner along the remaining 3 sides close to the edge using a running stitch. The running stitch will become part of the seam allowance. (Sorry, no photo of the grass by itself, but use this photo for ideas.)

3] Using photos as a guide, position cat and mouse on the 6" x 18" piece of felt. There is no template for the exact positioning of the cat and mouse. There will be 1/2" seam around the entire piece of felt so do not position the cat, mouse or flowers in the seam allowance. Using the patterns as a guide, applique the cat and mouse to the banner. Note: do not add flowers or clouds until the border has been sewn on.) (Sorry, no photo of only the cat, mouse and banner. Use this completed banner for placement ideas.)

4] To add the border, cut strips of fabric 2" wide. Pin a strip of border to both short ends of the felt banner, with right sides together. Allow the strips to overhang a little. Sew border to banner using a 1/2" seam.

5] Iron the seam flat, with the seam allowance lying on the border, not the felt. (Note: excessive heat can shrink the felt. Try not to overheat the felt.

6] Turn the banner over, and using a straight edge, trim the strips so they are even with the upper and lower edge of the banner.

7] Attach the top and bottom borders using the method described above. The strips should over hang the attached side borders.

8] Iron the seam flat, with the seam allowance lying on the border, not the felt.

9] Turn the banner over, and using a straight edge, trim the strips so they are even with the side edge of the banner.

10] Referring to the photos, and using the appliques and embroidery stitches found on the flower and cloud pattern, add flowers and clouds. Note: just use the pattern and photos for suggestions. Be creative and embellish the banner in any manner you find pleasing.

11] To finish the banner, lay the banner on the backing material, with right sides together. Pin the banner to the backing so the backing fabric extends beyond the banner. When placing pins, make sure they do not extend beyond the banner, since you will be cutting along the edge.

12] Cut the backing using the banner as a guide. Doing it in this matter instead of cutting a banner piece before hand, guarantees the backing is exactly the same size as the banner front. DO NOT remove the pins.

13] Sew the backing to the banner using 1/2" seams, pivoting at the corners. Leave a 3" opening at one of the ends.

14] Trim the corners to remove bulk and turn the banner right side out.

15] Iron the border flat.

16] Slip stitch the opening closed.

17] To hang, pin to the wall using straight pins, concealed on the back of the banner near the top.

OUR "DISCLAIMER"! We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. DUH, right? But we are only human, although I often long for superhuman powers, and as humans, mistakes will be made. We offer preemptive apologies for any aforementioned mistakes. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible! Before beginning any of our patterns, think of yourself as a Beta Tester. We do not have a staff, editors or even volunteers that are crafting our projects before we share them. YOU are the first to have a go at them. As such, other than a heartfelt apology, we accept no responsibility for mistakes made, or in an extreme circumstance, for time or supplies wasted. Please tackle our projects in the same manner that we are sharing them, with a spirit of goodwill and global friendship!

http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2010. All rights reserved.

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art retains all rights.

Submitted by Kimara on Sat, 01/30/2010 - 08:13
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Cat and Mouse Banner

We are always encouraging our readers to use our applique patterns to meet your own needs. I have a little wall with shaker pegs where I hang my Easy Cotton Shawls. I wanted a little something above the pegs... something that added a little color and a lot of fun. I crafted a banner using our Running Kitty and Running Mouse. I added a few funky flowers, and a fun, tie-dyed border, and came up with combination that I love. Bug noticed it as soon as he came in the room. All the grandbabies were "oohing" and "ahhing" over it, and immediately noticed that it was like the cat and mouse running up our stairs. Leave it to Bug to say, "Say, Gammy. You need to paint flowers on the stairs for them to be more beautiful like this." Hmmm... I think he is right!

The completed size of our Cat and Mouse Banner is 20" x 7", but can easily be adapted to fit a different space. Also, although I've included a pdf with a couple of cloud shapes and some flower patterns, let your imagination run wild and embellish your banner any way you like. The directions and patterns for the Cat and Mouse Banner can be found HERE or with our FREE Patterns. Enjoy!

Submitted by Kimara on Sat, 01/30/2010 - 13:45
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Gnome Valentine Banner


This banner was designed to fit a branch in our Gnome Home. You may wish to customize the banner to fit a preexisting branch in your Gnome Home or add an angled twig to hang the banner as is.

Materials:
Pattern
9" x 12" piece of wool felt
wool felt scraps
6 strand embroidery floss
embroidery needle

Directions:
1] Make copies of the pattern.

2] Using the pattern, cut out 2 banner pieces and 1 heart.

3] Using the pattern as a guide, place heart on the front piece of the banner. Use a blanket stitch and 3 strands matching floss to attach heart to banner. Using the pattern as a guide, embroider the banner.

4] Place wrong sides of banner pieces together. Pin in place. Use 3 strands of embroidery floss and a a running stitch, sew along the top stitching line and the bottom stitching line. This will create a casing for hanging. Using 3 strands of embroidery floss, blanket stitch sides and bottom below bottom stitch line.

OUR "DISCLAIMER"! We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. DUH, right? But we are only human, although I often long for superhuman powers, and as humans, mistakes will be made. We offer preemptive apologies for any aforementioned mistakes. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible! Before beginning any of our patterns, think of yourself as a Beta Tester. We do not have a staff, editors or even volunteers that are crafting our projects before we share them. YOU are the first to have a go at them. As such, other than a heartfelt apology, we accept no responsibility for mistakes made, or in an extreme circumstance, for time or supplies wasted. Please tackle our projects in the same manner that we are sharing them, with a spirit of goodwill and global friendship!

http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2010. All rights reserved.

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art retains all rights.

Submitted by Kimara on Sun, 01/31/2010 - 14:01
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Gnome Valentine Banner and Applique Block


What a busy time in the Thicket. Britta is bustling around readying the house for a Valentines Party she is throwing for some friends. She just finished this lovely banner with flowering vines meandering over a Valentine's heart. Although cold weather is still evident throughout the Thicket, hearts are warm with Valentine Cheer. There is no doubt that love is in the air!  

Here is a lovely Valentine Banner displayed prominently in the gnome's home. Make your own banner to share with your gnome friends or for a doll house. Haven't got either? Not to worry. The applique and embroidery can be used on any project that needs a little Loving Embellishment. The directions for the Gnome Valentine Banner can be found HERE or with our FREE Patterns. Hope you and your gnomes Enjoy!

Submitted by Kimara on Sun, 01/31/2010 - 14:03
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