Keeping Busy Making Cards

Greeting cards by my 13 year old daughter.  She just used construction paper, cut into shapes and glued down.  I love the colors, shapes and negative spaces.

These are also by my daughter.  She used colored pencils.  I really enjoy the variety in these cuties!

Circular Weaving at Ginter Botanical Gardens

On a recent visit to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens we saw these wonderful circular weavings hanging in the children's garden.  No doubt a fun activity for kids, all I could think was "I want to do that!".  The large ones are on hula hoops.  They had some on wreaths too.

This one was on a much smaller ring.  I have no idea how long they will be there, but I am inspired to grab my scrap bag and get started.  Now where did I put that old hula hoop?



Easy Kid Projects

 My son and I did this several years ago (he was probably 5).  I had some scrap fabric laying around (imagine that!).  He arranged the fabric squares and I simply stitched them down with him on my lap.

 He enjoyed arranging the fabric and then later playing with the finished blankie.

This little cutie is by my daughter (again several years ago-8 years old?), sewn from scraps.  I love him!  The fabric actually looks like he has a mustache!

A Really Neat Fundraiser

A few years ago, my kids' school did a funraiser that involved putting their artwork on a variety of items.  Mugs, pillow cases, boxes etc. were all choices as well as fabric squares.  I ordered the fabric and finally got around to finishing them.  Part of the reason it took me so long is I was waiting for the school to do it again, so I would have more squares to work with!

Well, it became apparent that this was it.  So I asked the kids to pick out fabric from my stash that they would like me to use to frame their art.  I sewed them separately in case they wanted to hang it in their rooms.  I pieced the borders and then sewed, right sides together, around the edges.  No interior stitching so I can actually stuff each one and make them pillows later on, if they want to.

Kids Sewing Projects

On a recent weekend, my kids decided they wanted to sew something. My daughter, 10, designed the owl. She is fully capable of sewing it herself, but she ran out of steam so I assembled the pieces.

My son, 7, drew the griffins on fabric and then I sewed around them. He helped stuff. I try not to pressure my kids into sewing. I wait until they are ready to work on a project. Hopefully this approach will lead them to view sewing as a fun hobby (not something Mom made them do!).

Inspiration-Kid Art

Now, I may be biased, but I love my kids' artwork! The vibrant colors and energetic expressions! I can just see the snowman as a quilt. I don't normally think of orange and pink together, but it works with the Statue of Liberty.

I want a pillow with this guy on it. He makes me smile every time I look at him.

The leopard among the leaves and this jellyfish would be great as applique.

The colors of the blue sky and the yellow leaves- I can almost feel a cool autumn breeze. If you ever need something fresh to inspire you, take a look at an exhibit of children's art. They are so uninhibited with colors and forms. A trip to a modern art museum might inspire you the same way.