Painted twigs and pipe cleaner wall art.

Hi everyone!

It's me, Leslie from Pink Stripey Socks.  It's craft time again, and this month's craft was inspired by my love for sunny weather, typography, and pipe cleaners.  Lately, Chuck and I have been going to the park a lot.  We live in an urban environment, so he's always tickled pink to see living, green things.  Two weeks ago the dandelions were in their full fluffy white splendor, so he spent the afternoon crying "bubbles, bubbles," as he ripped them out of the ground and blew their seeds everywhere. (Sorry city gardeners.  He knows not what he does.)

Anyway, while he blew his "bubbles," I found myself hoardinig scavenging for sticks.  After seeing Ginette Lapalme's bright and colorful painted sticks, I kept wanting to make my own version.  Here's my super easy, kid-friendly painted stick craft:

Materials:

- Sticks

- Pipe cleaners  

- Yarn

- Scissors

- Glue

- Paint

- Paint brushes

- Mod Podge and foam brush (optional)

Directions:

1.  Collect some sticks.

2.  Play around with your sticks and see which ones best make a frame shape.  Then, practice bending your pipe cleaner letters.

Notes:

-  You could always write out the words on paper first and use your handwriting to guide you. I ended up just going for it and practicing with a bunch of pipe cleaners first to see what looked best.

-  Make sure to leave extra pipe cleaner bits in the beginning and end of each word.  You'll use those bits to attach your words to your frame.

I needed more pipe cleaner in the front and back of each word to attach the words to the frame

3.  Paint your sticks.  After painting them, coat them with a layer of Mod Podge to protect your paint job.

4.  Use pipe cleaners to connect all four twigs together in a frame shape.  Then, attach your pipe cleaner letters to the frame.  Tie a bit of yarn to the top of your frame so that it can be hung.  Use glue to secure any knots.

Tada!  Now you have your very own piece of colorful artwork.

Thanks for taking the time to look at this craft.  If you try to make your own painted stick wall art, I'd love to see your handiwork.  And if you want to check out more of my crafty (and crapty) adventures, you can always check out my blog:  Pink Stripey Socks.  See you next month!

Meet May's Mama.

Each month I will be interviewing one babywearing mama with a set of interview questions.

One mama per month.

Ten questions.

I'm hoping to spread the babywearing love and show you the amazing babywearing options that I haven't yet mastered.

:)

 

 

 

 1. What is your name, how many children do you have/ages? 

Kasey, one beautiful 18 month old daughter

 

 

2. When did you start babywearing? 

From the moment my daughter was born.

3. How did you hear about it? 

I had seen some parents using backpack-like carriers out and about and knew it was something I wanted to do.

4. What is your favorite carrier/wrap? Why? 

I couldn't possibly choose - they're all so different! I tend to love SHORT HEMP WRAPS the best though, so I'd have to say either my KKD MERLIN or DIDYMOS NHIndia. That being said, I couldn't do without my toddler TULA or WCRS for quick ups and downs.

 

5. What is your favorite thing about babywearing? 

 The closeness to your babe is a given, but the greatest benefit aside from that is the freedom it gives you to use both of your hands and get things done while keeping your baby happy and safe.

6. What do you want people to know about babywearing? 

It's a lot more comfortable and easier to do than it might look! Just be warned, it's addictive! Once you start and realize how much easier it makes your life and how much happier your baby is, you won't be able to stop.

7. What is your favorite carry/position? Why? 

Since my daughter is bigger, we enjoy a variety of back carries - anything from a simple RUCK to a full on DOUBLE HAMMOCK. When she's wrapped well, I don't even notice her weight!

 

8. If you could say one sentence about babywearing, what would it be? 

Babywearing is as natural as giving birth.

9. What wrap/carrier would you love to have? 

I would love to try a PAMIR, just to see what all the fuss is about.

10. Eating and drinking while babywearing: yes or no? 

Absolutely! I would have missed countless meals when my daughter was a newborn without it!

 

 

Validation.

I don't know what I am- a craft blogger- a mommy blogger- a lifestyle blogger...

I really don't know.

But I blog about my children.

Lately, not so much.

But my blog is most definitely about my children.

About my family.

When I first started writing, Sedric was "Hubby", Taylor was "The Girl", and Warner was "The Boy".

A reader wrote me and said that she had a hard time reading my posts.

Something about not taking me seriously when I say that I love "Hubby".

Something about her wanting to vomit even more so than if I were just talking about him using his name.

So I gave her rude advice some thought.

And decided to stop blogging in fear.

The following week, I wrote a post introducing my readers to my real family.

I also made the decision to blog under a pseudo last name.

While I don't blog to make a name for myself like most bloggers do, I knew that I would need my last name to be out there to keep up with my peers.

To work with companies.

To contact sponsors.

Having a daughter makes me aware of what I put out there.

Had I started blogging when she was much younger, I am sure I would have done what other people do-

Announce her full name in a birth announcement or birthday invitation.

Post her name often and constantly blog my last name; making it easy for anyone to know her full name.

Today, when I asked her about her day at school, she said that it was iPad day- a day when they get iPad usage in class.

Today, her friends decided to look themselves up on Google.

Being in third grade, most people thought it was funny to type their names into a search engine and see any kind of results.

My daughter however, knowing that her mother is a blogger, immediately turned red and suggested another thing to look up online.

She told me her eyes got watery and that she was so nervous that her friends would see her in a diaper, or read something embarrassing.

Of course, as she's talking, I'm thinking of the much more personal things I have written about.

She told me that one of her friends typed her name before she could get them to search for something else.

And then she thanked me.

She didn't explain what was found online.

She didn't continue her story telling me how she felt.

She simply thanked me.

"Oh my God, Mom. Thank you so much for not blogging my name. Or whatever you did. Your blog didn't pop up and I looked all nervous for no reason. My friends don't even know about your blog! Can you believe that?! Nothing popped up! Seriously, Mom, thank you!"

I knew that one day, someone would look her up.

I had no idea that that someday would be so soon.

Or in a classroom setting.

Or that the person searching for her would be her best friend surrounded by her peers.

I had no idea that any of that would happen, obviously.

But I anticipated the day of the search.

And I did everything I could to ensure that her name is free from my site.

Sure, I'm sure there are things that have slipped over the years- a photo of a school award somewhere- a comment from a family member that mentions our last name- something.

I'm sure of it.

But it isn't something that her friends came across.

At least not today.

If you write about your children, you have every right.

As a parent, you are ultimately responsible for their online presence.

Or lack thereof. 

You have the ability to stop right now.

To stop using their name.

Or to stop using yours.

 You don't have to.

But there will be a time when your child looks up their name.

In the very least, please make sure that they will be happy with what they find.

Just some advice from a mama who got the ultimate validation today.

Happy day to you, sweet friend.   

The dining room- post #832.

Okay, I know... I post about my dining room all the time.

The room went from THIS to THIS.

 Then I posted my DINING ROOM INSPIRATION.

And finally... the room is done!

Disclaimer: I centered the chandelier above the table after taking these photos.

I knew that if I didn't snap pictures right then- this post wouldn't happen.

At the time, the baby was napping, the floors were freshly mopped and drying, and the table was free from homework and piles of random mail.

You understand, right?

The room seems so much bigger now.

Brighter.

And we are not perfect- we eat together during every meal, yes- but sometimes we watch TV while we eat.

Loud giggles from Funniest Home Videos playing on Netflix.

Giggles with food in their mouths.

We are not perfect.

But in this room, we are so very happy.

Mismatched chairs found on local buy/sell/trade Facebook group.

Gold glitter banquet seating found on Craigslist.

(You can see in the above photo that our cat Bella adores the new seating arrangement.)

Mason jars are inside of a vintage hanging spice rack.

"Lady on a scale" figurine was my husband's grandmother's- it was in her bathroom and I told her I loved it. She doesn't speak English, so she handed it to me as we were leaving and kissed my cheek.

So sweet.

And that owl cookie jar has been on my wishlist for years.

We frequent yard sales, thrift stores, and antique shops, and after years of searching, Sedric got it for me a few days ago for Mother's Day.

Swoon.

I know my taste is different- I love our old counter tops and mismatched decor.

It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it will be so nice to look back on this room one day.

Seeing a highchair in the corner of the room.

And several kids cookbooks on the shelf.

This room is so special.

The heartbeat of our home.

Thank you for visiting today, sweet friend.