Category Archives: Stuff to make

Potholder Mania!

Posted in Kids, Stuff to make by

Remember these? Potholders are a childhood summer camp classic, along with gimp bracelets and popsicle stick God’s Eyes.

My friend Addie, age 10, (whose hennaed hands are pictured here) reintroduced me to the joy of potholder production. I bought a kit from Harrisville Designs and a big bag of extra cotton loops. (Times have changed since the seventies: no more polyester!)

My six-year-old and I are planning to make a box by stitching together five potholders with embroidery thread. At our rate of potholder production, supply is likely to outweigh demand–at which point we’ll be doling them out to every living relative.

Fabric Easter Eggs

Posted in Holiday, Recycled materials, Sewing, Stuff to make by

These fabric eggs–ok, in this case, lumpen footballs–come from a pattern posted by retro mama. Mind you, her eggy creations aren’t in the least lumpen, and she seems to have mastered the ladder stitch (that maddening little stitch!).

(I like these house ornaments on retro mama, too. Could imagine making a more disheveled version myself.)

If you have some fabric scraps, leftover cotton or polyfill, this is a fun, quick project with an upside:  no endless egg salad.

Happy chocolate bunnies and matzo ball soup, everyone!

Add some clutter!

Posted in Stuff to make, Things to see by

What’s not to love about the Eames? But, what I really love about this recreation of their living room–on exhibit at LACMA and posted on co.design–is how much stuff they have.  After years of living in small spaces and reducing clutter (do not ask my daughter about the great Barbie purge of 2011), clearing surfaces, and minimizing in general, I am ready to gather some stuff (take that Real Simple!). There is an art to curated clutter and it starts with things that you love. In the past, when I happened upon some little thing that caught my eye, I would ask myself, “but where would I put it?” and pass. I plan to take some inspiration from this lovely lived-in room and follow my fancy a little more. Hurray for Charles and Ray!

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Posted in Boston, Kids, Things to see by

If you want to see some real drama–of the falling-to-the-floor and writhing-in-agony variety, just mention the words “art museum” to my kids. They love art, but art museums–not so much. We managed to go to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston through bribery (chocolate-chip cookies) and by bringing an extra kid (our fun cousin Lucy).

It was well worth the cookies. The just-opened museum extension by architect Renzo Piano was stunning (with emerald green bathrooms), the courtyard a midwinter tropical oasis, and Sargent’s “El Jaleo” as startling as ever.

The museum offered not just one but three art projects for kids. We made embossed drawings, painted watercolors, and constructed crowns, shields, and swords in the museum’s new art room. We went home happy and with arms full of art.

Super easy felt slippers

Posted in Kids, Sewing, Stuff to make by

My daughter and I made these slippers in one (chilly) morning. They were so simple and fun to make. I’ve attached instructions here, but the process was really simple. We created a pattern by tracing her feet, then cut the felt with an extra half inch around for the seam. The soles are two pieces of wool felt with a double layer of batting for warmth and comfort, and the upper is a double layer of felt. The hearts were my daughter’s embellishment–I like how she put them off to the side.

To make these you will need: approximately a quarter yard of wool felt for the soles, and another quarter for the uppers, some batting, and thread. It is important to use good quality wool felt, such as Wollfilz (available from Purl Soho in an array of gorgeous colors).