Tree Forts and Friends

Abby and Isaac who really are truly the best of friends, our 10 and 12 olds respectively, have built themselves a tree fort. 

They even have a pulley with a basket to summon their little sister when they need a snack.   I love looking out the window from the kitchen seeing them together, often working on their academic work.   Now to just keep encouraging them to build some short side rails......

Warm wishes, Tonya

Also, Two Little Seeds if having a giveaway for two of my knit gnomes. 

Make Your Own See Saw

After being inspired by this project in The Children's Year, my husband built this last evening in under an hour using found materials.

Warm wishes, Tonya

A Handmade Holiday

I have several projects to share today.

The first is a very simple playing card holder. I knit mine with worsted weight yarn and size 6 needles, cast on 14 stitches and knit every row until rectangle measured 9 1/2 stitches. Cast off.

Then I chose to personalize it by needlefelting the recipient's name. Be sure to do this before you stitch up the sides. Then you could either finish it by crocheting the edges or by hand sewing (the blanket stitch would look nice). I added a loop to attach a handmade button. This would also make a good project for children to make.

I will be making one for each member of our family except Abraham as finding a full deck of cards in our home seems to always be a challenge.

And now some ideas from others~

First, this pattern from Joy - A Play Knife Sheath.

And this wonderful post from Our Journey 'Round the Mulberry Bush about their whole family working together to make a Handmade Holiday.

Here is a tutorial to sew up some cloth napkins using your scraps.

Also, tote bags make a wonderful gift for nearly everyone on your list. With people more thoughtful about caring for the earth, a reusable and washable cloth bag would be a practical gift.

Here is a link for one pattern.

Here is a tutorial for some very simple, smaller bags. These would also be a great alternative to gift wrap.

Here is the page at this blog for the Handmade Holiday - be sure to visit the participating blogs and if you would like to be added or if your link isn't working, just let me know.

Please share in the comments your ideas and links or email me this week. (naturalearthfarm@netzero.net)

Warm wishes, Tonya

Birch Bark Vase Cover

Our irises are in full bloom now and they are plentiful around our pond.

We also have lots of birch trees which we selectively harvested for our toys and we also use the bark for various projects.

I cut a piece of bark to fit a recycled honey jar and hot glued the seam - super easy.

Warm wishes, Tonya