I'm a featured crafter on HeartHandmade!

I just got the loveliest email telling me that I am a featured crafter on HeartHandmade! HeartHandmade is a fabulous blog that showcases artists of a wide variety of handcrafted products. Please stop by and read my interview there!

Boo Boo Bunnies from Jul's Sew Crazy

I love, love, love getting packages in the mail - and we were super excited today to receive our package from Jul's Sew Crazy! We had ordered some Boo Boo Bunnies, to be part of a gift for an expectant mommy in the family, and I have to share them because these are the best-quality bunnies I've ever come across. Boo Boo Bunnies are cloth, usually terrycloth, shaped into a bunny with an opening to tuck an ice cube into, which you can then hold on an ouchie. The cloth absorbs any drips from the ice as it melts, and it's cute and cuddly and emotionally soothing for little ones.

First off, HOW CUTE ARE THESE?!?! We ordered one each in pink and purple. They are very generously sized and shaped, so even though they are perfect for small hands, they're also a good size for an adult - and you know you wish you had a boo boo bunny when you step on a LEGO in the middle of the night. I love that these are bigger than the bunnies you get at retail stores typically. And, as you can see, the faces are completely embroidered and very nicely done - my pictures are awful but they have little mouths and whiskers under there! And the best part?

LITTLE EMBROIDERED TAILS!!!!

A rubber band holds the shape in place, which is covered by the ribbon. My only wish would be that it was sewn/tacked in place instead, something I'll probably do before mailing off as a gift. There was also a cute card enclosed with a little poem about the Boo Boo Bunny, which was a sweet touch.

Jul's Sew Crazy has a bunch of Boo Boo Bunnies and other gorgeous embroidered items in her shop on Etsy. Boo Boo Bunnies sell for $5.00 each and come in a variety of colors - a great price for the little one in your life!

Go Green! Raising Greener Kids

Spring is an ideal time to start teaching young kids about being just a bit more environmentally conscious, and to learn some simple earth science as well. So, for our first Raising Greener Kids blog post, I'm going to suggest a simple activity for some easy, green Spring fun.

Growing plants is a great learning experience - even the youngest child can grasp basic concepts of earth science, the greenhouse effect, and the basic task of caring for a living thing. This project can be done with a group of children for easily under $15 - so consider inviting some friends over to join the fun!

What you'll need:

• Clear plastic cups - at least 16 ounce size is preferable
• Potting soil - we use Miracle Grow Moisture Control with plant food incorporated into it
• A small shovel (optional)
• Seeds of your choice - some good starting seeds to work with are marigolds, sunflowers, or green peas. These are hardy seeds that have a high bloom rate, begin growing quickly so your child can see the results of their work faster, and are difficult to accidentally ruin.
• Rubber bands that will fit around the cups
• Plastic wrap
  

Depending on the age group you're working with, talking about the basics sometimes helps - just that plants need soil, water, sunshine and care to grow. We suggested the use of clear plastic cups as it allows the child to see the plant as it is growing, and the cups can be washed and reused for later planting. Have your kids fill the plastic cup halfway with the soil, without packing it down tightly - you'll need to leave some breathing room for the roots to expand downwards. Place a few seeds into the top of the soil. If you're working with a larger seed like a sunflower, only put 3-4 seeds in the cup to prevent crowding as they grow. Gently cover the seeds with a light layer of soil - your cup should be just under 3/4 filled at this point. Lightly water the soil with 3-4 tablespoons of water - soil should be damp to the touch but not saturated. Cover the top of the cup with a piece of plastic wrap, securing it around the rim with a rubber band. Place the cups in a warm, sunny spot, only watering again when soil becomes dry to the touch - usually every three days or so - the plastic wrap creates a greenhouse effect, keeping valuable moisture in the container.

When plants start to sprout and form at least one full set of leaves, remove the plastic wrap. Continue to water every few days as needed, just a few tablespoons at a time at most. When plants start to reach about 2" tall, have your child brush the blooms gently with their hand to encourage strong stem growth.

If you have room, once the plant becomes about 6" tall, you can transplant it to an outdoor garden, or move it to a bigger pot.

Our son LOVES this project - he's going to be five soon, and this is our third year at the indoor potting project - a little later in the season I'll post pictures as we move ours out to the garden!