I love this feather collection box. Made by L’Atelier d’exercices. It would be easy to use an old cigar box to make something like this....hmmm.
And these cutie pies from Ferse Verse should be on everyones list.
I would wear them on my jacket or sweater all week long.
I saw these wooden pins bird pins.Love the colors. Made by Le Petit Pig.
We had 2 rounds of egg dyeing this weekend, one for the barn's easter egg hunt and one for the family.I was assigned the last minute easter egg dyeing for the barn.
Couldn't wait.
I set up my station in my favorite window that gets the most saturated eastern light in the morning.
The light, the colors, the texture,all reminded me how fun it is to create something,anything,without a road map,or an audience in mind. I just loved the sweet frenzy of making 24 eggs as quickly and as beautifully as I could. I had nothing in the world in mind but those white eggs and the tranformation of colors and textures with the dyes.
Nothing in mind but the moment and look what one gets. Maybe those Zen guys know something.
Felt bird project from Homemade Fun
This spring we've been birding on the weekends. Our birding consists of taking a walk in the woods or the park and spotting as many kinds of birds as we can. Because the trees are bare we can find the birds and observe their behavior quite easily.
Hawks, falcons, bluejays, cardinals, warblers, sparrows,and Robin redbreast (American Robin) are a few of the birds we have seen. I have been particularly lucky to have had several encounters with a few urban hawks. Show offs. Really, they are.
Another thing I noticed (obvious but gradual) is that the more I look for birds, the more I hear their various songs.
This site from Cornell University is one of the best websites I have found concerning birds. Listening to the bird songs here is very helpful to my beginner ear. Check it out with your kids. Our cat gets a little nutty over the bird calls we play in the house.Very amusing!
I found this color chart floating around from 2006. I think it a Martha Stewart original.
One thing I like about Easter is the egg dyeing. Easter bunny or not, it's a spring ritual and a perfect way to get the family creative juices sparked.
Here's another of my favorite easter projects from Quince and Quire. Really very cute and on my to-do list.
Lastly, this old photo of my brothers and I on Easter Sunday. I think my brothers have such cool hair cuts.
How about you? Are you getting geared up for Easter? My friend Marie-Helene asked me what I'm making for Easter dinner. More on that another time. We had lots of ideas.
Apartment Therapy included me in their round up of easter egg decorating.
It's always great when they link to my blog. Here's a link to my natural egg dyeing.
Popular easter posts from My Little Hen
Egg Carton Easter Baskets (guest post on Simple Kids)
We move from red to green in the holiday mode thanks to the crafts department at Martha Stewart. It is still winter but one can start the plan for spring.
Gardens, flowerboxes, fresh rooms (yes open the windows), trips. And you?
My friend Blake made this for her son Grayson this morning and sent it to everyone. Isn't it the best? Last night I made a nice rich chocolate sauce from Cooking Fun for G to have with her chocolate milk. Make a big old jar for your loved ones. Drizzle on ice cream, make a glass of chocolate milk after school, eat a spoonful whenever. Delight in the little joys of the holiday...you don't have to make heart cards to show your love.
Follow this link to my recipe. It's part of a Paula Deen's Real Women of Philadelphia blog spot (no chocolate milk for Paula) web interview...
Valentine's day is fast approaching. I went back to review some ideas from my books Crafting Fun and Homemade Fun.Thought you might just enjoy these for fun and inspiration. One of the titles for the project is "Quick Thinking valentine's" because don't we always need to make the last minute effort tonight with our kids to pull together the valentine's for all the friends at school?
Valentine projects from my books:
1 Valentine Ice Pictures (click on that 1 to get the link.
Quick Thinking Valentine's ( as featured on Crafty Crow!)
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
We picked the last of the bounty of apples from our two apple trees this weekend. Kinda fun to climb a ladder to reach the highest ones.I spent a lot of time in apple trees as a kid. Just hung around in the tree thinking about stuff. Being up in a tree can give a new perspective on things...I wonder if that's what the birds are doing...
Anyway, Fall season is apple crisp and applesauce time. We aren't making quantities, just a quick batch for the fun and flavor of it as well as for our family tradition. If I don't teach G to make applesauce who will?
But what I really wanted to show you are the apples. They look a little odd unsprayed, all natural. Underneath that less than lovely appearance are some of the very best apples I have ever had. I wouldn't bring a basket of apples to the neighbors looking like this but they are perfectly perfect for applesauce. Next year we are going to figure out how to spray them organically. I suppose we are inclined to do this so we have less than mottled apples.
My quick applesauce goes as follows:
Cut and peel 6-8 large apples. I use this This Kuhn Rikon peeler from Switzerland. Works great.
If I'm in a hurry I add the peeled apples whole and let them cook.
Place in pot and add 1/4 cup of water
Simmer on low for twenty five minutes.
Let cool.
Here's the key step. I run the whole apples through this ricer.
I got it as a Chritsmas gift and never like to use it for potatoes. It is perfect!! for applesauce.
Sweeten to taste. I like to add about one heaping teaspoon of sugar to this quantity which amounts to about 2 full cups of applesauce. Place in lidded glass jars and eat as soon as possible.
