Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With Strings...

I typically don't make a big deal about Valentine's Day.

However, this year, inspired by this delicious twine (and needing a little break from painting), I sent a few valentines out to some special friends and family.

Brown paper packages tied up with strings.

Now for that silver white winter that melts into spring...

Book Review: Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch on Amazon

My favorite Valentine's Day read is "Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch" by Eileen Spinelli. The story was written in such a way that it is both simple and full of depth. The illustrations complement the story so well that I cannot imagine the story without them.

Synopsis:

Mr. Hatch is a sad man. His story begins with a description of him,

"Mr. Hatch was tall and thin and he did not smile."

The story continues by describing his daily schedule, which never varies and is dull and grey. The illustrations that accompany this first part of the story are done in washed-out and grey tones which reflects the lack of color and light in his life.  (The character very much reminds me of Harold Crick in Stranger than Fiction, a delightful movie).

One day, Mr. Hatch receives an unexpected package from the postman. He opens the box to find a heart-shaped box of candy and a simple note attached: Somebody Loves You.

This small thing, a simple unexpected gift, makes Mr. Hatch smile. From here, color seeps into the pages of the book and Mr. Hatch's life.

I won't give away the ending of the book. But suffice to say, it will give you that 'warm fuzzy feeling' that Valentine's day is all about.

Enjoy!

Another Little Project Gone Out of Hand...

As the cardboard house and Christmas present have shown, I tend to take a simple idea and go a little overboard with it. (Okay, let's be honest, way overboard).

This month's out-of-hand project was a complete redesign of the playroom.

As soon as she began walking, our daughter started taking over the living room. To contain the chaos in a room with a closable door, husband and I converted our office into a playroom. Which basically meant just taking our stuff out and putting her stuff in. Until recently the room donned blue-green walls and plain white curtains that the previous owners left to us. I have been itching to redo it for some time.

So... I thought the first step would be to upgrade the storage in the room; a small Rubbermaid tub as a toy-box and bookshelves is fine for a toddler with teething toys and blocks, but not-so-much for a little girl with art supplies, puzzles and dress up clothes.

When I realized that replacing storage in the room meant unscrewing the child safety straps holding bookshelves to the wall, I thought it was a great opportunity to spruce up the paint in the room. (You see where this is going- it is my own little "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" moment...)

Being the designer I am, I didn't feel just an accent wall would be fun enough for a play room. I mean, this was my opportunity to go crazy with a room! So I started playing with options in Photoshop. I drew my color palette from the Target Itso Polka Dot bins (love, love, love them), and my first renderings played with the idea of oversized dots on the wall.

Too plain.

Then I looked at some options of vinyl wall decals. When I saw this Ohdeeoh room tour with the city skyline, it reminded me how much I adore the illustrations of Laura Ljungvist.

I had my inspiration. 

Paint Swatches and Laura Ljungvist books.

I sketched up elevations of the walls and begin painting.

This is just a sneak-peek photo. I am still working on the long wall cityscape, and some finishing touches in other areas. To be continued!

Interactive Backdrop?

Little Tomato's big Christmas gift this year was a 'labor of love' from mom.

{Any suggestions on what to call this would be welcome! At the moment I will call it an interactive backdrop.} 

I envisioned this project when I saw these fabulous felt playhouses on Etsy and a blog. Since Miss M already has a cardboard play house, I envisioned something that would coordinate with her house and would be an interactive play and learning experience. I sketched out a design and began working...

The project is essentially a PVC pipe frame which is 5'-6" x 5'-6" in size with a fleece sleeve which slips over the frame. The sleeve has appliqued scenes on both sides which were made to be interactive.

Side A: Vegetable Garden

• The tree has velcro attachments which allow three-dimensional felt apples to be picked from the tree. I will also be making lemons and oranges to attach in the future.
• The vine has velcro attachments which allow three-dimensional felt tomatoes to be picked from the vine. I will also be making eggplant and cucumbers to attach in the future.
• The corn stalk husks are pockets for corn cobs. I have not been happy with my attempts at making the corn out of felt, so I plan on purchasing this fabulous pattern... and learning how to crochet in the process!!
• Part 2 of this project (I ran out of time before Christmas!) will be to create dirt rows to lay in front of the garden for root vegetables. I found some great examples here and here to use as a guide.

We hope this will plant the love of gardening into our little girl before spring, so she will be a seasoned pro in the garden next year!  

Side B: Night Forest

• The pond has a pocket in the water to place fish.
• Pillow logs and flame were made to place in front of the nighttime scene for a campfire. 
• Part 2 of this project will be felt marshmallows with holes in the center to place on dowels for roasting and felt chocolate bars and graham crackers to make the perfect mess-free smores!

Next year, we plan on including the little one on our camping adventures, so during the cold winter months we will have plenty of practice telling fireside tales and snuggling under a blanket at her pretend campsite! 

Happy Holidays!

No Bake Cookies

 There is nothing quite equal to listening to holiday music with a fire in the fireplace

while making sweets with the family to get one in the holiday spirit! 

No Bake Cookies:

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups of sugar

1/4 cup of cocoa

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1/3 cup margarine or butter (converts to 5 tbsp in butter terms)

1/3 cup chunky peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 cups of instant oatmeal 

Instructions

Stir sugar, cocoa, milk and margarine/ butter over medium heat until it bubbles. 

Boil and stir for an additional 2 minutes, then remove from heat.

Add peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. 

Stir until melted.

Drop mixture onto waxed paper and refrigerate until cookies set. 

Enjoy the deliciousness.

Happy Holidays!

Vala's Pumpkin Patch

Vala's Pumpkin Patch: New Farm Animal Band
Cow and Donkey lead the musical medleys and Rabbit leads the harmonizing corn.
"9 Corn" got forked! The three little Pigs get into the grove banging on pails & cans.

I have always celebrated the fall. There is something about the crisp scent in the air, the vibrant and vivid colors of nature, the introduction of caramel apples, bonfires, s'mores, and hot chocolate... it is hands-down my favorite time of year.

When I was a child my family made an autumn tradition of visiting a local pumpkin patch. What began as a modest pumpkin farm with hayrack rides has transformed through the years into a smorgasbord of fall family activities. From their haunted house and corn maze to their bunny village, petting zoo, train rides, pig races, animatronic storybook village and farm animal band- just to name a few! Here is a sneak peek of Vala's Pumpkin Patch!! 

Vala's Pumpkin Patch: Bunny Village
Complete with bunny-sized schoolhouse,  water mill, stream, houses and barns.
And a bunny scarecrow!
Includes a sign stating that this was provided by "Rabb-i-tat for Haremanity."

Vala's Pumpkin Patch: Petting Zoo
Feed the goats, llamas, camel and goose. I was a big fan of this sweet little llama. 

Vala's Pumpkin Patch: Scarecrow Band and Ogre!
One of the first animatronic features added to Vala's, the Scarecrow Band! CD available at the Big Barn Shop.
The joke-telling Ogre.
Photo opportunities are endless. One of my favorites: the stocks!
Stocks are complete with a "Trouble Makers, Malcontents and Lollygagers" sign.

The Little Things

I count myself blessed to have the opportunity,

every day,

to see life anew through the eyes of a child.