Lasso The Moon

Raising a Man

If I am honest with myself, I'll admit that I don't want to raise a man.  I don't want him to get taller than me.  I don't want him to get stronger than me.  I know there will be a day--because his Heavenly Father created him to lead--that he'll pull away from me and assert his independence.  And I don't want it, I don't want it, I DON'T WANT IT!

But it'll happen anyway.  And even though I don't want it, part of my job is to help him get there.

So, when his grandparents brought him a real sling shot (!) from their trip to Colorado, I knew I had a decision to make.  I could hide it in the pantry and give him some crayons instead, or I could help him learn how to use the potentially deadly weapon thing. 

We came up with a set of rules:

1. no shooting toward the house, toward a car, or toward any living thing.

2. only use when a grown-up is with you.

3. only use acorns unless dad is around to supervise using rocks.

With that out of the way, I decided to channel my nervous energy into a craft project.

I grabbed a pizza box and a marker, googled "8-point buck" (because the only deer I could picture was a cute little fawn), and sketched out a target. 

I cut out the shape, cut slits in the bottom, and added cross pieces to make it stand.

I gave him one of my green bags as an ammo pouch, and when it was full of acorns, he was ready to hunt.

The mighty hunter with his trophy.

He had fun. 

No one got hurt.

In fact, I shot the target a couple of times, and it was really fun.

I know this is just one small step in his journey toward manhood, but I feel like it was a giant leap for his momma.

And as much as I don't want him to grow up into a full grown man, I do feel honored, privileged, even awestruck that I get to watch him do it.

 

 

How to make a pennant banner, pt 2 (the making)

Are you ready to turn this...

...into this?

If you haven't made your template yet, here's the tutorial for that.

OK!  Let's get started.  Here's what you'll need:

fabric or clothing to up-cycle

pen

flag template

scissors

self-healing cutting mat

rotary cutter

clear grid ruler

iron

sewing machine

optional: bias tape maker (or store-bought bias tape will work just fine)

The first step is to make a general design plan. I knew I needed 4 triangles from each of 3 dresses to make 12 flags.  It helps to have a bit of a design plan so you don't cut too many.

If you are making your banner out of recycled clothing,  remove any linings or bulky pockets that might be in the way. 

Turn your piece inside-out and lay it as flat as possible on your cutting mat (right sides together).  You may need to cut the side seams to make this work.  If you had to cut away any part of the fabric surface (like around a zipper) make sure that side is facing up so you can see to work around it. 

Next, use your marker or pen to trace around the template directly onto the fabric.  I don't pin this, because that causes distortion, and this way is much simpler.  The marks will be inside the seam allowance.

Don't move the fabric!  While you have it laid out, cut along the lines with your rotary cutter, using your ruler as a straight edge.  You should be cutting two layers.  Don't separate them.  Just carefully pick them up, and lay them aside.  The right sides are already together, and the triangles are already lined up perfectly. 

Repeat with the rest of your fabric.  Keep each pair of flags with their right sides together.  Even though you used a template and rotary cutter, each pair will be slightly different, and you don't want to try and rematch them later.

Stack all of the triangles together next to your sewing machine. 

Leaving the top of your flag open, sew a 1/4 inch seam allowance around each.  Back-stitch at the beginning and end of each flag.

To save even more time, don't cut the thread between flags.  Just start sewing the next one at the end of the this one, and cut them apart later.

Soon you'll have a whole string of inside-out flags.

Cut them apart and stack them up for the next step.

Now, being careful not to cut through the stitches, clip each flag as shown here.  This will eliminate some of the bulk inside the point when you turn them right-side-out.

Carefully turn your flags.  Use a chopstick, knitting needle, dull pencil, or other blunt thin object to turn the point.  Iron them flat, and trim the little points at the top even with the opening.

Now for the binding.  If you bought your binding, you can skip this step.  Otherwise, cut 1-inch strips of fabric that measure at least two feet longer than your finished banner.

If you have a bias tape maker, pull the fabric through and iron as you go. 

If you don't have a bias tape maker, you can still make your own binding for this project in any size.  Simply fold your strip in half lengthwise (wrong sides together), and press to make a crease.  Then unfold your  strip, fold the edges in along the crease, and iron again.  Done!  So simple.

Now, over to the sewing machine again. 

Stack your flags in the order you want them to appear on your banner.

Starting at the very end of your binding, fold it over and stitch closed for about 12 inches.  I use a longer stitch length for this, a 4 on my machine.

Next insert the top of your first flag into the fold of the binding and sew into place.

Continue sewing all of your flags into place.  I like to leave about an inch between flags, but this is a personal preference.  When you run out of flags, sew about 12 inches of plain binding at the end for hanging.

Take your banner off of the sewing machine and trim so that the ends of the binding are even.  Then use this little trick to make a loop for hanging:

Fold over about 1 inch at the end of the binding.

Loop the binding around to make a basic knot, but leave the end folded when you pull tight. 

The raw ends are hidden inside the knot, and the loop is perfect for tacking to your walls.

And there you have it!  I love this style because there are no raw edges, and the banner is completely reversible.  No front and back! 

Make one today and come back to tell me how it went!  Leave a link in the comments so we can all see what you made!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to make a pennant banner, pt 1 (the template)

A couple weeks ago I got a request from a client to make a pennant banner (or bunting) out of some old dresses she'd been saving. I thought it was a great idea, and I'm guessing that she probably isn't the only one out there who'd like to have a reusable keepsake like this one. 

So.  This tutorial will take you through the process of making your own.  They really are very straight forward and fun.  The skill level is beginner to intermediate.

The first thing you'll need to make is a cardboard template. 

I made a template for a flag that was 5x6 inches, but you can adjust the tutorial to fit any size flag.

Supplies:

cereal box (for the cardboard)

pen or thin tip marker

clear grid ruler

scissors

Start by drawing a horizontal line with the ruler.  This will be the base width of the flag.  Mark the starting point, the ending point, and the exact center of the line.  I marked my line at 0 inches, 5 inches, and 2 1/2 inches.

Then, line up your base line with one of the horizontal lines on your ruler.  Adjust your ruler so that the straight edge intersects with the center mark on your base line.

Measure out the exact length you want for your flags, and mark it on this line.

Mine was 6 inches.

Now, connect the starting and ending marks of the base line with the top mark of this new line to make the sides of the triangle.

This is the finished size of your flag.  But we're not quite done yet.  We still need to add seam allowance.  Line up the edges of the triangle with the quarter-inch line on your grid ruler.  On my ruler these lines are orange.  Mark 1/4 inch seam allowance around the entire triangle.

Notice at the tippy top of the triangle,  I measured 1/4 inch from the point and drew a line across.  This is not totally necessary, but it will save a little time trimming the point, and it makes for a more professional-looking template.

Now cut out your template (outside the seam allowance) and you are ready to roll!

You might want to just jump in without waiting for the second part of the tutorial, and of course that's fine.  But I've made so many of these that I might just have a hint or two that could save you some time and headache.

Stay tuned for pt 2: "sewing your pennant banner".

How to make a yo-yo.

A customer asked me to make her some yo-yo rosettes out of some Lilly Pulitzer dress scraps.  If you have never made one,  grab a piece of fabric (about 6 inches square) and follow this little tutorial to learn how.

First, make yourself a template.  I used a cereal box and a small bowl from the kids' play kitchen.

Then use a ball point pen to trace the circle directly onto the fabric.  I mark on the underside of the fabric, but the edges will not show in the end, so it really doesn't matter.  Cut out your circles.

Next, thread a needle with about two feet of sewing thread.  Knot both ends together so that you are sewing with a double strand.

Hold your circle with the "wrong" side facing you.  Fold down the edge about 1/4 inch and start sewing with quarter-inch stitches.

Continue stitching all the way around, until you reach the beginning again.

Pull stitches tight to gather the yo-yo into itself.  Be careful not to pull so tight that you pull the knot through your stitches.

Make a couple of stitches accross the center of the yo-yo and tie a small knot to secure.

And there you have it!

You made a yo-yo! 

Sew a whole bunch together and make a coverlet, or sew a button into the center and attach it to a headband.

What will you make with your yo-yos?

Tune back in next time to find out what else I made from these Lilly Pulitzer dresses.

Paint a Neighborhood - Kids and Art

I started a new "art course" with my kids this week.

We are using this book that I got at a library sale last year:

You can get your own here:  Paint a rainbow And join us as we work through the book.

Our first lesson was about vertical brush strokes.

I got out some supplies that we already had around the house.

Again with the brown grocery bags.  I'm getting a couple every time I shop.

I like to limit the colors used at any one time.  For this project we only used "warm" colors.  Red, pink, yellow, orange, etc.  That way when they decided to experiment with mixing, the colors still look pretty.

The first step was to make vertical lines on the paper while holding the brush perpendicular to the paper.  Practice a couple times with the dry brush.

Then add paint.

When your neighborhood is blocked out, use a dark color to tap on some flat roofs.

Then, when the paint is completely dry, use a felt tip marker to draw in windows and doors. 

Emma's:

Ethan's is more conceptual, but he did every step:

And mine. You know I can't resist a craft project:

Keep track of all of our "art class" projects in our new category "Kids and Art".

If you try any of the projects for yourself, let me know!  I'd love to see your take on it.

xoxo, Anna

 

 

 

Junkadoodle Flea Market

A couple times a year, my favorite junk store in Dallas rents spaces on its front parking lot for others to come and sell their own junk.  It's the Junkadoodle Flea Market, and I've been finding treasures there for at least 8 years.

There is a wide variety of vendors, so I always find something great.   The prices are usually very reasonable.  It's not on the website yet, but there was talk at the shop of doing the next one on November 5.  So stay alert!

And until the next one, stop by the store if you're local.  You will not be disappointed.  Bettyann, the owner, fills her shop with the eclectic, the witty, the shocking, the kitchy, and the just plain wonderful.  And be sure to read some of the tags on the items.  They are handwritten with wonderful tongue-in-cheek humor.

4402 W. Lovers Lane, Dallas, Texas  75209
Mon. - Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun. 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

We can't wait to go back!

A Quilty Link

Just popping in today to point you to a quilting blog I just learned about, Piecemeal Quilts.

Sandi is relatively new at quilting (2003) but her blog is full in information, history, design, and great ideas on the subject. 

Here's the post she just wrote on Log Cabin Quilting.

And at the very end, you might see a familiar name...

Here's what she wrote about my style of log cabin contruction:

Here’s another version that uses bright, saturated colors, by Anna at Lasso The Moon. You can see photos of the finished quilt in her Flickr photostream, but I really like how this photo of the blocks shows the variety of colors. What I find interesting with these blocks is that she used two colors in each block, but built one color around a center of the other color.

And here's the link to my original post on the process of improv log cabins.  Thanks for the mention, Sandi!

VrooooMMmmm

 

No time to chat!  I'm too busy making stuff to stock the shop for the holidays.  These felted sweater cars for girls and boys are now in the shop.  Hurry.  They go fast.

lassothemoon.etsy.com

Spinster

Recently I had the opportunity to drop in on a local homeschool co-op and do a hand-spinning demonstration.

They are studying vikings and wanted a little insight on the process of spinning wool into yarn.  I haven't written much about this subject here in the blog because I haven't done much spinning, dyeing, weaving, or knitting since my kids were born.  But this was a chance to pull some of that out of its storage boxes and get back into it...if only for a couple days.

When I first met the class, I introduced them to the steps of wool processing by reading them this book.  The illustrations are hilarious.

I then showed them how to card the wool (comb it out) and spin it on my drop spindle. 

My drop spindle is made from a dowel, a rubber grommet, a screw eye, and two cd's. 

Then I let them touch and feel several types of animal fibers: wool, alpaca, llama, silk, camel, mohair, and angora.  They picked out a color of wool and then we gathered around the spinning wheel.

I let a couple of the kids try out the wheel, but it really is harder than it looks.

I let them each turn the wheel while I spun the wool they'd selected.  I folded it over on itself so they could take home a piece of handspun yarn. 

 

My favorite moment was when these two girls picked up my drop spindle and worked together to spin some "fluff".  

I had so much fun.  It made me miss teaching in a classroom setting. Maybe I'll get back into it when Ethan goes to school next year.

Felted Sweater Wreaths

Made up some pretty little wreaths for the fall/winter season.

They are made from recycled felted sweaters, and strung together on a copper wire frame.

The frame comes together to make a hook for hanging.

So simple, so fun!

Find one for yourself here!

Linked to:

Thrifty Decor Chick