Kids Can Sew Fashion Show

This year the kids all took a class with Laurie Davis and her new business, Kids Can Sew. Each of them learned how to thread a sewing machine and bobbin, cut patterns, sew straight lines and then curved lines, make hems, casings, make elastic waistbands, and more. She really encouraged them to be creative.

Last night was their Fashion Show. They were to model one or more items they created during this sewing year.
Amber is fashioning her denim skirt, a peasant blouse, and matching hair scrunchy (you can't see it). She also made a matching peasant blouse for her bear.

Evyn's modeling his black shorts, which began as pants. The pants were completed, then washed, and then shrank. So, they became shorts. He also shows his work with knit material, his green shirt. That collar really gave him a go-around, but he got it!

Ian is sporting his knit yellow top. He used all the yellow material, so scrounged green fabric from Evyn to make the collar.
Evyn really got into the spirit of things. Ethan is not seen on the runway because he moved too fast and I just couldn't take the photo fast enough. But, you can see his outfit in the photo below. He modeled his flannel night shirt and camouflage shorts (which you can't see, but he is wearing them beneath his nightshirt.

This is Laurie Davis (mom to their friend, Aaron), and the Bartlett kids after their runway performance. It was a great experience. The boys have decided they might sew again, but only at home. Amber, however, has asked to take the class again this coming school year.
The graduating Kids Can Sew class.

Plarn and other things

In the spirit of being "green" and recycling and helping the environment and making gifts, I have embarked on a new crafting adventure. I'm reusing plastic bags and making plarn. I found a pattern for a crocheted market bag and I thought the idea was both hilarious and resourceful. In the spirit of creativity, I'm giving it a go.

As Evyn has broken either his toe, toes, or foot, he lent a helping hand for a couple bags, and then meandered away. Amber has also stepped forth and helped open some of the pieces. I've decided to make a white/off white ball, a brown/beige ball, and a green ball. I have less green bags than I do anything else, so that may just have to be for creative accent when the time comes.

I need about 60 bags prepped before I can begin the project. I lost count on how many I've cut up. I think between 30 and 40, but who knows? This shall be interesting.

On another note, Daryn's been bit by the creative bug as well and made a beautifully hand-crafted chair for the front porch. He plans on doing another, as this one is a bit narrow. Geared for smaller people, it's 16 inches across. The next will be 19 or 20 inches across.


This brings us to some of our hopeful summer projects. Well, for Ian anyway. He's beginning a new curriculum next year and I think summer would be a great time for him to do the first couple carpentry projects. Maybe with help from visiting Grandpa? We are hoping. He needs a separate bookcase, a light box, and a supply box. He also needs to work on a carpentry merit badge. I thought these projects would work perfectly together. Even if they are assembled, he can complete them later as assigned. I know they will take more than a couple hours each, and I'd like him to do a good job.

Well, back to the kitchen and my boiling chicken and my ball of plarn.

Finishing one ... Beginning another

School year, that is.

We have nearly completed our school year. We have not taken any holiday breaks or other breaks and we are still at it. Very late start last year. The goal is to begin mid-August this year, take a break in December, and maybe a day here and there, but who knows.

Amber and Ethan have completed their requirements for the year. Ethan will resume sixth grade in August, and when he completes it, we'll round out the rest of the year with something else so he can begin 7th grade the following year. This puts him on track with his peers, and hopefully he'll have made a firm foundation and be more solid for the following year's curriculum.

Evyn finishes math today with his final exam. He has one week remaining in language and then he's completed his school year. I'm relieved he ends before the dance recital. No one needs to be working on school work during recital season. It's too difficult!

Ian, on the other hand, has about 2-3 weeks left in English/Grammar/World Lit. It seems there are 180 lessons for older kids vice the 170/171 the younger kids are assigned. He's also playing catch up as he neglected to complete some of the written assignments, which are now just beginning to trickle in. I found out he'd been skipping things and it had all snowballed on him. Of course, this doesn't just effect him, it effects me. I'm the one that has to preview and mark up all these works so he can move on to the next step. Easier when done in smaller doses when they were due, rather than all at once when trying to get other things done for other students!

I have Ethan working on scouting belt loops and pins, and activity pins/badges. He is behind in getting them done. I thought Daryn would have been able to work with him this past year, but little was done and I want him to be able to finish it all up so he can possibly move up during the
Blue and Gold ceremony in February. At this rate, that won't be happening. My goal is to really work with him this summer and crank out as many as we can.

Right now, sadly, Amber has no summer plans. Last year she had dance opportunities, as well as Yarn Camp at the local yarn shop. But, to date, there are no classes for her age group being offered at the dance studio, and the lady who held Yarn Camp last year, is not coming back or doing anything with the shop. She and I may have to just do something on our own. I'm thinking I want to learn how to dye yarn. We'll do our experimentation together! In the mean time, she can finish her knitting projects this summer, and she has several going!

She lives!

Thumperette lives! Yea! I called the Wildlife Rehab Center around 1 p.m. and asked about her status. She was gaining weight, getting bigger, and not wanting to be handled. They released her yesterday. We are all thankful.

He is a Her!

Turns out our little visitor was a girl and she was renamed Thumperette by Evyn at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

It was a very nice place on Bainbridge Island. I stick by my original assessment of the man I spoke with originally. He's not extremely polite or even encouraging in the least. He is the president out there. I expected better "customer" service. However, the lady we dealt with primarily at the desk was extremely helpful and she apologized for him, stating he's lost so many, and it always makes him so sad.

But, my "in my head" response was, don't take it out on the folks who are trying to help and bringing in the animals, because J. Q. Public does NOT have the ways or means to care for orphaned wildlife.

At any rate, it seems she is probably ready to be released into the wild already. As our neighbor refused to let it be released in its original habitat, the man, Mike, said they had no choice and would have to take her.

So, we left our cottontail female bunny there in what we hope are capable hands and I'm glad we did not have her go to the Humane Society, because I seriously doubt they would know how to take care of her.

The kind lady noticed Thumperette had been making night poops, and we told her she'd apparently eaten the carrot piece we left yesterday. She said that was good. Probably the reason she shouldn't take the milk is because she's weaning and no longer needs it and was transitioning to undigestible foods, like the carrots and grasses. They were going to help her through the transition and then let her go. So, she may be back in the wild by mid-week. Time will tell.

Hare today ...

Wanted to try and get at least a couple shots before little bunny goes where it belongs ... wherever that may be.
As you can see, it really did not like getting fed. The only reason I posted this particular shot is because I thought the photo was too darn cute. I am not squeezing the bunny at all ... for those who have concerns about that.
This was taken just before being put back into the tank for the evening.

Amber was our wonderful photographer (for the shots where the bunny is in my hands).

And so now we have a bunny

Yup, that's right. A bunny. Our friend's dog got out the front door and found a nest of little bunnies and got all but one of them. Their neighbor, and our other friend, found one bunny had escaped and she found it near her fence. She tried to take it to the vet, but they wouldn't take it.

Amber and I were on our way downtown to hear some flute music when we passed our friend and she pulled over and rolled down her window. So, I stopped, backed up, rolled down my window and she asks, "Would you like a bunny?"

So, she told me the story.

Let me tell you, it was not easy getting Daryn's consent! He was VERY set against it, but I told him it was a matter of this little one living or dieing. So, the boys cleaned out their old tank, and Amber and I went and picked up the bunny after the little concert, which, incidentally, was TERRIFIC.

The bunny did not eat last night or this morning, but we did some talking with another friend who was in the same situation last year, with four little bunnies. She recommended going to Del's Feed Store and talking to the worker there, who has taken care of several wild bunnies with a great success rate and returned them to the wild. Well, that person no longer works there (of course). But, I got some kitten milk and a little bottle. The bunny wouldn't take it.

Now what?

I took the kids to dance, and on the way stopped at Rite Aid and purchased a dropper. When we got home between classes, I managed to feed our little guest a dropper of kitty milk.

I don't know if it's possible, but the bunny does look bigger today than yesterday. At least it seems a bit more perky. We'll wait until it's 4-6 weeks old and then we'll release it into the back yard, we hope.

Haven't taken any photos yet. Bit hard to feed and take photos. I'm trying not to let multiple little hands touch this little one ... just for its sake. It's hard when all four kids want to hold it and cuddle it and take care of it.