I just love artful days. They, of course, don’t always happen (even when I try). And with a toddler I sometimes feel that I’m pushing or pulling too much or attempting to head off a meltdown or feeling guilty because I’m trying to clean when I probably should be on the floor stacking blocks. So I especially love and appreciate the artful days when everything just seems to flow perfectly and interesting projects present themselves.
Ours started with a teddy bear picnic on the living room floor. Maia fed them various fruits and vegetables as well as Sculpey “cookies” (which is how the Sculpey nature prints usually get used in our house).
Then our friend Tiffany came over for coffee and a chat (artful days often involve interesting people bearing baked goods!). Maia was very impressed by a couple of books that Tif’s daughter Lily had made and wanted to make her own book.
She started drawing immediately after Tif left, named everything and waited not-so-patiently while I wrote down the labels she dictated to me. She filled three pieces of paper, front and back, and then we folded them in half and sewed a figure eight binding with embroidery thread and needle. I said she could title the book and she named several letters for the title (A-M-I-D-A-K-D).
I realized afterwards that we should have assembled a blank book first, because many of the drawings were essentially cut in half by the way we assembled the book. Next time! Maia was very proud of her book and carried it around with her for the rest of the day.
After lunch we decided to try our hand at chocolate peanut butter cups, after seeing some on Angry Chicken. I’m sure hers are delectable, but I decided to find a freebie recipe, and found this simple one on All Recipes.
Yum!
Tracy said
My son is looking at this with me, and now he wants to make a book too!
Thanks – also just wanted to de-lurk to say how much I appreciate and enjoy this blog.
maya said
that’s hilarious – i saw the same post on angry chicken and made the exact same recipe from all recipes yesterday afternoon.
and they are delish!
Marie said
I am super intrigued with the “bowl of markers”. How and why are they upside down? Are they cemented in? That would be super smart if they were, always knowing where the lid was!
P.S. I have been eying those peanut butter cups too!!
Ginger Carlson said
What a beautiful day! Just makes me smile. Thanks for the sunshine.
~GInger
P.S. We keep our markers like that too – so great to not be losing the caps anymore and they last so much longer that way! Another supposed good way to extend the life of markers is to store them on their side, but I prefer the upside down method myself.
Sara said
I’ll have to ask my kids about the book idea. I think they would like to try it. Today is a half day from school. We need to fill up the time this afternoon. Bringing out some art supplies and lingering at the kitchen table sounds like fun.
Thanks Jean
-Sara
Shawn said
Wow. That book is amazing. She is so smart, mama! : )
We might have to try this, but not sure how it would go over for the two of them. We are at a stage when they fight and bicker over EVERYTHING, especially who gets the blue (or green or yellow, etc.) It can make for a serious headache.
I totally get what you mean by a day that flows without being pulled in different directions or tantrums. We had a few of those days last week, but not so much this week, so far.
I’ve been meaning to do the markers thingy … need to find that post.
The Artful Parent said
Here’s the post where I talk about making the marker holders: http://artfulparent.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/painting-with-the-toddler-art-group/
It’s a project from MaryAnn F. Kohl’s book, First Art. The marker tops are held in place with plaster of paris. We love ours!
shan said
what a great great day!! i love your blog!
i have done that marker holder many times i need to make a new one!
we will be making the book and peanut butter cups very soon!
Julie Liddle (ART IN HAND) said
Days like that make up for all the ones not like that in between! And they rarely seem to happen when we try too hard to make them happen, do they? Thanks for sharing, once again…
Rachel said
love the bk idea, jean!
jen said
neat looking teddy bear’s picnic
love the books
those chocolate peanut butter cups look so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
S. Marie said
Love the book!
I am trying to figure out how old your daughter is to help me gauge when project ideas might be appropriate for my daughter and her friends. She is 18.5 months.
The Artful Parent said
Thanks for all the great comments everyone!
S. Marie – My daughter is 2 1/2, so some of the activities and projects we do might be appropriate and some you might want to wait on. She’d probably like to draw with markers (or whatever) but won’t be labeling her drawings yet, for example.
Amy said
Jean, seeing that quilt in the first picture made me nostalgic–I have wonderful photos of Maia, Sadie, and some of the other babies spread out on that quilt when they were a few months old!
dep said
Hmm, hope that I can be a creative and full of idea, just like you. I love the book idea…