Window Shopping... Via the Net

I've been back and forth over what to do with my playroom/home school room windows for a while now.  And then I came across Kaffe Fassett.  Maybe you're already familiar with him and I'm just slow to catch on to what the rest of the world already knows.  But I am completely undone.  I can not believe the colors and patterns and saved about 35 different prints and variations on my Esty favorites, but have finally decided on this:

Sprays Brown

I'm thinking it should go with about any other color I decide to throw in the room with it.  Now to just measure the windows.

On top of that, I've been spending way to much time on Etsy, overall.  But I just can't help it.  First, Made sent me there because of these way-too-cute things.  (She has turned February into boy's month and has had so many wonderful guest crafters blog.) But Alice in La La Land watches are just the sweetest thing I've seen in a long while.

Way fun!

Then while I was over in Etsy, I remembered my saved up favorites which included all the Kaffe Fassett fabric.  Let me show you which one first introduced him to me:

Asian Circles in Tomato

I've been kind of gleaning fabrics for a while now so I can start purchasing to make a quilt for Eliana... this is the flowery one with which I'd like to tie everything else together.  (I have a bunch saved under favorites... because I'm not going to buy fabric for this quilt until I make Diego's.)

All the others are Alexander Henry:

Yui Kokeshi

Indochine Children Fans

Ohinasama

Kitty Kokeshi

And...

Meow Meow Chow Mein

And then to end my window shopping trip, I stumbled upon a new site.  Oh My! Handmade Goodness describes themselves as "a community for independent children's retailers & the hip parents who support them."  I wanted to be a hip parent tonight... but remembered I was only going to be a window shopper for the night.  Fortunately for me, they're brand-spanking-new and they are celebrating with a give-away!  Which you should go and sign-up for yourself... 'cause they're giving away this cute stuff from Sarah + Abraham and Olliegraphic:

Okay, it's time for me to stop the window-shopping 'cause it's one in the morning! 

My Little Valentine

Diego's first Valentine's Party was this Thursday at his preschool. I was excited because I love Valentine's Day and I always enjoyed making valentines as a kid. I was certain that I wanted Diego to have the experience of making them for his classmates. I wasn't sure what sort of project he should make though. I knew that I didn't want him to bring food of any kind (because every time it's his turn to bring snacks kid-who's-allergic-to-everything's mom always glares at me) but, I didn't have any other ideas. Then I ran across this at The Long Thread and knew it was perfect! I actually remembered making something similar when I was a kid and knew everyone would love them.

I found the silicone heart muffin pan at Target that she used for her project, but it was $10 and I didn't know if I wanted to invest that much money into it. So, when I walked over to the cheapy section and found what looked like silicone heart ice-cube trays for $2.50, I thought, "Perfect!" and bought them instead. Lesson #1. If it doesn't say silicone, it probably isn't. Lesson #2. Ice-cube trays aren't really meant to be used in the microwave. Lesson #3. Don't try to complete a project like this in the last 45 minutes before you're supposed to leave for school.

After the first tray melted onto the turn-plate, I decided to fill all the hearts on the second go around. The second tray did much better except for the fact that towards the end of the melting process, my microwave over-heated and stopped working. Fortunately, the crayons were melted enough by that point that they were okay. I pulled the turn-plate out and put the whole thing into the fridge to speed the cooling process. (I still haven't tried to see if the microwave is working again.) We were 15 minutes late to school and I didn't have a shower, but I think they turned out pretty cute. Diego signed his name on the back of all 14... his little hand was tired by the time he was done, but I think it was important to for him to do it himself.


When I picked him up he was excited. He had candy in his bag that he made. (Do you see all of the stickers he used? Most of the other kids used about 5... talk about a sticker-hog!) He was ready to eat it the second I picked him up, but I made him wait until we got home and put Eliana down for a nap.

Then we went through all of his valentines together. Now, I was prepared for some store-bought valentines... I am a teacher after all. (But every single one? Really? And they were all signed by their parents. Good grief!) But this one here, took the cake. It read: "You're a glittering princess, Valentine!" When a three-year-old recognizes that there's something wrong with a valentine... it's seriously wrong! "I'm not a princess! I'm a big-boy!"

And just to prove it: "Rraaahhhrrr!"