small + friendly

Deep Thoughts

For those who know me personally, I am generally not at a loss for words.  And yet lately I feel as though I've lost my voice a bit.  The past few months have been full of big change, most of it exciting, much of it challenging.  I want to write about it all here and yet I feel as though in some ways I've forgotten how.  If rambling posts by creative mothers trying to find their way aren't your bag, please rest assured I've got an excellent Apple Crisp Recipe post coming soon!  

I recently scaled back my contributor work to make way for a return to this little space that I love so very much.  I thought between Jude going to school and less guest posting I'd be all set to craft and cook and blog up a storm.  Oh the lies we tell ourselves.  I am so very guilty of saying "I'll have time for that when ___" The universe loves to laugh at those kinds of plans.  Jude is adoring kindergarten, but it turns out having one in school and one at home is more work, not less.  Between getting him there and back, volunteering, soccer, and special events I'm struggling to find this extra time I thought I'd have.  Plus, I've needed to redouble my efforts at my "real" job.  Oh, and I have a toddler now, with his own agenda, wants, and needs.  All this to say: I love it here, and I'm coming back, but I'm still working out the kinks.  

One kink I've been struggling with is my niche, or lack thereof.  I can't tell you how many times I've told myself that I should just choose one creative endeavor and get really good at it instead of dabbling in all manner of making.  But you know what?  I love to dabble.  Deep down, I don't mind being a Jill of all trades, master of none.  At it's core creativity is supposed to be fun.  For me that means bread one day and embroidery the next.  This isn't good for "business" or "busy-ness" but it is good for my soul so I am trying to make peace with it.    

For now, Small + Friendly will continue to be a mash up of making.  And I will continue to share as much as I can.  Because here's the thing, the only thing I love more than making is inspiring others to do the same.  Have you ever wondered where my blog name came from?  I got it from a line in a song by The Deadly Syndrome (a now defunct but great little indy band, I went to college with the drummer) that says "Now you know my tricks, I over simplify a bit, and I break things down until they're small and friendly." I love breaking things down until they're small and friendly.  And so this fall I plan to bring you more of what I love, please just bare with me while I find the time to share.  And if you are so inclined I'd love to know what you like seeing most.  Sewing tutorials?  Recipes? Motherhood musings?  I know blogs aren't very conversational these days but I also know that my readers are out there and I couldn't appreciate you more, so please feel free to speak up.  You can also find my on Facebook and Instagram if you prefer to chat there.  

Lastly, I wanted to share links to my mom.me posts for this month.  This is the only contributor gig I stuck with and that is because I adore it.  It turns out, I'm a writer!  My best friend recently texted me about a podcast I would like, mentioning that the guest was a writer like me.  I laughed aloud, I'm not a writer I thought.  I'm not sure why I never felt worthy of that title, but nevertheless I've decided to embrace it.  Without further adieu, here is what I wrote this month:

Addicted to googling?  I was, until I quit cold turkey.

I fear I am guilty in perpetuating this myth.

I'm still fuming over this.

What surprised me most about having a second child.

Thanks for reading friends.  I owe you an apple crisp.  

            

Super Simple Homemade Raisins

When I was little I dreamed of someday having a pergola covered in grapevines.  I'm not quite sure why I thought it was so fancy or wonderful, but when we bought our home it already had a pergola, so I just had to plant grapes.  This is the third year that we have been able to enjoy both shade and fruit from that little vine.  Ronan loves to lay on the outdoor bed and eat freshly picked grapes by the fistful.  Overall, I'd have to say this pergola dripping in delicious grapes really is a dream come true.  

This year we have been enjoying an extra bountiful grape harvest and I was starting to wonder what to do with all that fruit!  Grape jelly isn't really my jam, but I do buy raisins in bulk.  So Jude and I set out to see if we could make our own raisins.  We decided sun drying would be really tough, because we have a serious raccoon problem.  And we don't have a dehydrator, so that left the oven.  They came out so yummy and they were so easy to make, I just had to share the "recipe" with you.  

This a great project to do with kids and if you grow your own grapes, it's an awesome way to get almost free organic raisins!  One word of warning: it does take about 12-18 hours in a low oven, so don't plan on making raisins and baking bread on the same day!  

How To Make Raisins In An Oven

1.  Wash your grapes and pull them from their stems, discard any yucky ones.

2.  Blanch your grapes in boiling water for about 30 seconds, then place them in an ice bath or rinse them under cold water.

3.  Line a baking sheet (or two) in parchment paper and spread the grapes evenly in a single layer.

4.  Bake on your oven's lowest setting (mine was 170 degrees Fahrenheit) for about 12-18 hours.  Turn your grapes at least once and check them at 12 hours, if they look like raisins, they're done!  

5. Enjoy delicious homemade raisins!!  Store any you don't eat right away in an airtight container.

Jude and I used some if ours to make healthy oatmeal cookies for his kindergarten class, he was so excited to tell his friends that he had made the raisins!  

Here's to homegrown and handmade!

Sewing for Kindergarten: Simple Fleece Nap Blanket Tutorial

Today I am participating in Sewing for Kindergarten hosted by Sewing Like Mad. A big thank you to Mie for including me!  

I had grand plans of sewing a few pairs of Morocco Pants and several Rowan Tees.  However, as the first kid/grandkid/nephew to go to kindergarten, Jude was showered with lots of awesome back-to-school duds.  And this mama was much busier than she thought she'd be once school started.  How is it that having one kid in school all day doesn't really free up ones schedule?  Luckily I was still able to squeeze in a little practical kindergarten sewing.  I made this simple fleece nap blanket with attached pillow and I've even included a handy tutorial!     

I still can't really believe that I have a kindergartener!  Jude started at our local public school a few weeks ago and so far it has been really great.  I was more than a little nervous, but Jude was super excited and so far his enthusiasm hasn't faded.  The first day I shed quite a few tears on the walk home, it felt so strange to leave him all day.  And that was the hardest adjustment for both of us, the long days.  I was very happy when I learned that they had a nap period each afternoon.  Not only did it mean he would get a much needed rest, it meant I got to sew something!  

I took Jude to JoAnn and told him he could choose any fleece his heart desired.  The wolf heads won him over instantly.  He wanted them more than robots, Avengers, Star Wars, and monsters.  It was wolf heads or bust and who am I to argue with that kind of conviction?  So we went with a Dances with Wolves motif and ended up with a pretty sweet nap blanket.  My big kindergartener even helped with the design and sewing!  This nap mat comes together quickly, rolls up small, and washes easily.  If you're in the market for a simple nap blanket, look no further.     

Keep reading to learn how to make a simple fleece nap mat of your own. 

And be sure to check out all of the awesome kindergarten sewing on the tour.

 

DIY Keepsake Charm

Like most moms I am super sentimental, especially when it comes to little baby things.  I want to keep every tiny outfit and adorable shoe, but I don't want these things to be packed away taking up valuable storage space and never really being enjoyed.  

I've been pretty good about only saving the most special items, because let's be honest, some things are just too special to part with.  The little leather shoes I made for Ronan are one such thing.  I worked hard to create them with my own hands and he took his very first steps with his feet inside them.  So when I got the chance to work with Sprout again on their 3D scanner, I knew just what I wanted to scan first.  I love the idea of making sentimental items extra special and the Sprout makes it easy.  

With the Sprout by HP I was able to get a full 3D scan of the shoe.  I used the 3D Capture platform to get a digital version of that special little shoe, it's so cool to watch it materialize on screen.  From there you can manipulate your scan and turn it back into something physical.  

This all in one desktop was designed with the maker in mind.  There are design capabilities within the Sprout workspace and you can also use 3D Builder and Autodesk Meshmixer to further edit your scan.  I even could have turned the 3D capture into a 2D image and exported it to Adobe Illustrator or Autodesk Sketchbook.  I can't tell you how exciting it is to have my beloved Illustrator on the Sprout, but for this project I couldn't resist the magic of 3D printing.  

So after a little clean up and resizing, it was off to the 3D printer.  I worked with a local printer to create a tiny version of the little leather shoe.  (Side note: Andy is awesome! He is super nice, affordable, and extremely knowledgable.  If you are local I highly recommend having him print your 3D items.)   

With my tiny shoe in hand I got back to what I do best, making.  A little copper paint and jump ring later, I had my self a very special charm, a wearable piece of nostalgia.

I love how I was able to take an old-fashioned idea, the bronzed baby shoe, and create something throughly modern.  

A big thank you to Sprout for sponsoring this post.  It is posts like these that make this blog possible.  As always all words and images are my own.  

A Romantic Getaway // Mendocino Coast

If you are looking for the perfect place to spend a few days (and nights) reconnecting with your love, look no further than Mendocino, CA.  Jason and I recently took a long overdue trip to the Mendocino Coast and it was nothing short of magic.  

We spent the better part of the first day unsure of what to do with ourselves.  Truly free adult time kind of blew our minds.  There's nothing like a little break to make you realize just how bad you need one.  Thankfully, a super cool place to stay and gorgeous scenery in every direction makes it pretty easy to unwind.   

We stayed at the Andiron Inn which is seriously the raddest.  The innkeepers are vintage collectors who have outfitted every room with the very best in fifties and sixties decor.  Each room is one half of an adorable cottage with a little deck and beautiful views.   The rooms are all themed in the best possible way.  It was my birthday weekend so Jason booked the room he knew I'd love best: Make.  It was packed with vintage craft supplies: paint by number, spirograph, bead loom, knit and crochet, you name it you could make it!  Next time we go I'm going to book Read or Write for my book-collecting writer. 

Food plays a big part in my vacation enjoyment and no visit to Mendocino would be complete without a reservation at Wild Fish.  After living in Seattle for three years my bar for seafood restaurants is extremely high.  Wild Fish does not disappoint.  We started with locally caught uni, shared a gorgeous halibut and one of the best salmon dishes of my life, followed by a blackberry torte worthy of impolite plate licking.     

Mendocino is gorgeous, relaxing, and just right for romance.  I had such a nice time walking and talking to Jason without being interrupted.  I have been with this wonderful man since he was a boy and I always savor the chance to revisit that young love, now made all the deeper by 15 years of shared experience.  We laughed hard, talked lots, and started planning our next trip before we had even packed the car.    

Visting The Mendocino Coast Quick Details:

Stay: The Andiron Inn.  I really can't say enough good things about this place.  I was seriously hesitant to share it with you because I want to be able to book a room for next time and once everyone figures out how rad it is I'll be SOL.  Did I mention that it's totally affordable?  

Eat:

• Wild Fish is an absolute MUST.  Pricey and you'll need reservations, but oh so very worth it.  
• Grab picnic provisions at Harvest Market.
• Enjoy a drink and really good crab cakes with a view at Ole's Whale Watch Bar at Little River Inn.  
• Another yummy romantic dinner spot is Cafe Beaujoulais.

Shop:

• Gallery Bookshop - one of my all time favorite independent book stores
• Honey & Ro - beautiful super hip (super expensive) shop that makes for fun browsing
• Village Toy Store - a great little toy store and the perfect spot to pick up a "Mommy & Daddy missed you gift"
• Out of This World - a super fun shop for science enthusiasts of all ages

Explore: Big River Beach is hard to beat.  We did get turned on to a pretty awesome secret beach, but you know ... it's secret.

For more pictures from our trip check out my Instagram.  Also, I'm there a lot so if you want a daily dose of Small + Friendly follow me!   

Brotherly Love Holding Strong

It dawned on me that it's been awhile since I've shared about brotherly love here on the blog.  I am very pleased to report that the delay has nothing to do with the lack of said love.  In fact, it's gotten to the point where I'm a little self-conscience and a lot superstitious when it come to boasting about it.  But what is all the hard stuff of parenting about if not to award serious bragging rights?  So when I was asked by Del Monte to share a moment when my kiddo was super, I leapt at the chance to create another installment of brotherly love.  

Jude isn't always what one would call an "easy kid", in fact I'd go so far as to call him "challenging", but when it comes to being a big brother, no one does a better job than him.  As a big brother Jude is always and without fail: patient, kind, focused, understanding, and fun.  Watching him interact with his little brother makes this mama's heart so proud.  Jude is a truly super big brother.  He watches out for his little brother, making sure he's not just safe, but happy as well.  He shares willingly and would rather play with Ronan than on his own.  Ronan, of course, loves his big brother right back. 

Sometimes I think we hesitate to brag about our children, fearing that we will make another mother feel less than.  However, I think there is great power and joy to be shared in celebrating the accomplishments of all children.  Parenting is hard, we deserve a good brag here and there!  Sharing the ways that our little ones are super doesn't just boost their self-esteem it gives us all something to celebrate and be inspired by.  Del Monte would like to encourage you to share the ways that your kids are super and they've set up an awesome sweepstakes with that in mind.  Visit sharethesuper.com to find out how you could win loads of great prizes just for sharing how your kid is totally awesome!     

Jude recently started kindergarten and for the first time he is away from his brother for most of the day.  I'd be lying if I said Ronan and I weren't both anxiously awaiting afternoon pick up.  Ronan runs into his brother's arms as he heads out of the classroom and Jude smiles from ear to ear.  Our afternoons are spent reconnecting and for this family, connection often involves food.  A shared snack is our favorite way to spend the afternoon.  Del Monte Fruit & Veggie Fusions make a great treat for such occasions.

A big thank you to Del Monte for sponsoring this post.  You can find Del Monte Fruit & Veggie Fusions at Walmart starting September 8th.  And the Share The Super Sweepstakes continues until September 18, 2015.  As always all words and images are my own.   

DIY Mini Dutch Door! A Handmade Activity Toy

Ronan is obsessed with doors and latches.  At the pool we joined this summer there is a kid sized door that separates the baby pool from the rest of the grounds.  He loves to open and close that door even more than he likes to swim.  Watching him play gave me the idea to create a super fun mini dutch door complete with latches, locks, and a mailbox.  And since I made the strong choice of marrying an very handy guy, my wacky idea became a real life toy.  

The door itself is made of plywood and it is hung on a simple two-by-four frame.  To make it extra sturdy the frame is attached to a small plywood base.  It is light enough for an adult to move around but strong enough to take some serious toddler (and kindergartener) abuse.  Most of the latches and locks are just for fun, but this is a fully functioning dutch door that can be latched and swung together or opened separately.  

Jason was able to salvage all of the wood from construction scrap, hooray for free and green! The latches, hinges, and knobs came from Home Depot and I found the mailbox on Amazon (affiliate link).  I painted the finished door with leftover paint, the gray is our exterior house color and the aqua is from the boys room.  All told this was a very affordable little project.    

Of course this would be an adorable playhouse entry, but for now I love using it as a free standing door.  Placed in front of the entry to the hall or kitchen, this little door provides so much fun and keeps him playing right where I can keep a watchful eye.  Speaking of watchful eye, I should note, if you make a door of your own, it is quite safe but you will still need to keep an eye out for pinched fingers and slammed doors.  Larger kids might be able to topple it if they are really determined.  As with most things, do not allow children to play with a toy like this unattended.        

I have lots of plans for more little details: curtains, flower pots, welcome mat!  And I will be sure to share those here, but first I'd love to know, would you like a full tutorial?  If you'd like to make your own door, but feel like you need detailed instructions I'm pretty sure I could twist Jason's arm if we get enough interest.  Please leave a comment if you'd like all the DIY details.