I've been away for awhile.  A LOOONG while.  And I'm not even sure what to say about that, except read my other blog "Mumsaid."  mumsaid.blogspot.com    I've considered combining the two, except the concept of Mumsaid is so very different from Pattercraft.
Mumsaid is about reflecting on life and the things my Mom said.  Because whatever "Mumsaid" was a rule.  "Mumsaid" do it and that was that.  "Mumsaid" a golden life rule and So It Shall Be.  And you know what?  She was usually right.
Pattercraft is the blog to go along with my crafty self.  I so very want a craft business and have worked on it but not so much in these past couple of years.  I just don't have it in me.  I quit "Stampin' Up!" because I bought more things than other people.  I tried to use it as a launchpad for Pattercraft.  But sheesh to commit to one line of materials and to conform to one way of working was just NOT ME.  I am picky about materials.  I know what I like and I know there's more out there than Stampin' Up!  (Plus, typing Stampin' Up! and figuring out all the punctuation surrounding it is a pain.)
When I think about it, Mumsaid is where I am sad and Pattercraft is where I am happy.  One is myself "The Writer" and the other self "The Artist."  And I don't have much confidence in either of those roles.  And that very last sentence my friends, is why I've been away for awhile.

Only once in a very blue moon does true giftedness come along.

This post is about a young lady who I feel possesses skill and talent akin to that of the Great Masters, only in modern subject matter.  I know that to some that may seem a ridiculous statement to make, given that the pictures below are of Pokemon, but the Pokemon is merely an example of this girl's emerging skills.  She can draw with amazing precision the most delicate of fairies and the fiercest of dragons.  She crafted giant origami rabbits for our Easter breakfast.  (Mind you, the larger a piece of paper, the more difficult it is to control.)  She made a little fleece bunny and cat for my daughter when she was born, and managed to create adorable somethings that not only would pass government safety tests, they have SURVIVED the LOVE of a TODDLER.  In other words, the girl got SKILLS.


Somehow, the planets aligned, God heard a prayer, or SOMETHING happened to get me to attend University United Methodist Church.  (Besides marrying Tim.)  The teenagers at UUMC never cease to amaze me.  There are so very many old souls in that one little youth group that you can sense the powerful potential developing within each and every one of them.  And a pox upon those who dare to disagree.  Before church, Anna often shows me what she is working on, drawing, or otherwise creating. One morning, I spied her sewing what looked to me like rays of a sun.  Once she explained, I was even more curious.  One week later I saw it in its completion.  I am not up to date on the Pokemon population, nor can I pretend to care what happens to Ash or those annoying villains.  I can, however, recognize a well-crafted adorably ugly insect-like stuffed creature.  And this adorably ugly insect-like stuffed creature was amazingly well-crafted.  And huggable too.  And made WITHOUT A PATTERN.  No kidding.  Its name is Larvesta.  (The name kind of makes me say, "Ewww."  But her craftsmanship certainly does not.)  Check it out.

This is Anna's Larvesta.  Notice how she stitched the eyes to form a pupil.

Larvesta from an aeriel perspective.  So huggable, yet so buggy.

Side view. The "Bulbapedia" says that Larvesta is 63.5 pounds.
That's a LOT of Pokemon.

And it looks EXACTLY like the picture, slightly whorled horns and all. 

 Didn't I tell you the girl was gifted?

Guess what?

Pattercraft is going to be at the Chesterfield Earth Day event on April 16, 2011.  Here's the scoop:

We're making paper flowers out of discarded books, and perhaps some wool.  The activity will be offered at a small fee that is yet to be determined.  (I just have to pay for materials & that booth!)  I will also have my famous crayons, tags, and other lovelies for sale.  I am so psyched about this event I can hardly stand it.

Rain or shine, come play!

Check out the website for more info, including what Chesterfield is collecting for recycling.

http://www.chesterfield.mo.us/earthday.html

Cheers!

Anyone? Anyone?? Bueller? Bueller??

Ok, I LOVE.  Who's up for this?

http://ow.ly/3XcXm

Apparently, I am a Moron...

This is an email I sent to my Pattercrafters.  I feel I should make my humiliation even MORE public. 


On Jan 23, 2011, at 8:37 PM, "Pattercraft" <pattercraft@gmail.com> wrote:

> Oh my dear friends and fans...
> Just in case you didn't know, I am a little nuts.  I SOOO didn't intend on emailing stupid test emails actually TO you.  I intended on emailing myself so I could SEE whether or not all of the individual emails showed to everyone on earth, or if they just said "Pattercrafters" like I wanted.  Aaaaand I didn't THINK about, "Hey, these people will get these emails along with me.  Maybe I should try something else."
>
> It was Sunday morning.  I had three cups of coffee without food.  I have been getting like 4-6 hours of sleep because either my cat is evil or she thinks I need some much-deserved time ALONE.  (Really I think she is evil.  But I love her anyway.)  I was still in my pajamas.  The dog ate my homework.
>
> Want any more excuses?
>
> I am working on putting my crafty dreams into reality, and created a Pattercraft email address.  I put together a "Pattercrafters" group so I could better communicate my class offerings (not free), open houses (free), and workshops (free) with my fellow crafty humans and those I would like to make stuff with.
>
> So you're on it, 'kay?  (This is where you are supposed to feel all honored and loved, not secretly whispering, "Oh s#1+" to yourself.)
>
> Just don't laugh at me to my face.  I might craft up a voodoo doll of you.  (Just kidding...sort of...)
>
> Stay tuned...

I am sooo much better with paper and scissors.
 

Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration Begins January 25

Sale-a-Bration is just three days away!!
Host a $300 workshop during Sale-a-Bration and your hostess benefits increase!
Hostesses at the $300 level and up receive free Sale-a-Bration stamp set(s) IN ADDITION to the already awesome hostess benefits found in the Idea Book & Catalog.
Send an email or call to book some Patter-craftiness today!

Craft-Yer-Own Maracas for Baby

"I got the stuff, momma."

My first tutorial!  Woo Hoo!  Pattergirl helped.  She is in major teething pain right now, so the distraction of an activity with momma is almost a necessity.  She, like most all babies, just loves the novelty of new toys, people, places, food, etc.  However, new stuff can cost quite a bit, not to mention spoil a person, so every once in awhile it is just plain good to Craft-Yer-Own.  And you can never start crafty goodness too young.

Pattergirl models our milk bottles

  First, find small containers that securely close.  If they fit well in baby's hand, they will work better and be much more fun.  We used the little plastic breast milk containers that the hospital gave us.  They were so...scientific looking.  Though on child #2, I had never seen them before.  It made me feel like I was creating a specimen rather than just some lunch for my kid.  I did use them for storage, but didn't like them and soon changed to bags.  In the dishwasher they went, and ready to be put to good use.  But, let me get off of my tangent...You might use large plastic eggs, small plastic bottles, or anything else that you find safe for your baby.  Make sure your containers are clean and super dry, because you don't want any funky funk growing inside your maracas.

Dry goods from the pantry

Next, choose what will make your noise.  I used dry goods from the pantry because we have quite a full larder and in the event one of the maracas opens, I want it to be actual food going into Pattergirl's mouth.  You choose what you have available and what you are comfortable with.

Though the milk containers close securely enough to keep even grownups out, you might want to glue your containers shut to ensure the little one doesn't inadvertently eat dried mung beans or something.  My faaaaavorite glue EVER is Weldbond.  It behaves like super glue meets white school glue.  I can even allow the children to use it without worrying about them gluing their fingers (or each other) together!



Using a funnel to pour the noisemaker stuff into your containers will make things easier.  I used the measure markings on the bottles to put the same amount of filler in each container.  It is interesting how the same amount of different fillers makes different sound.  (Woo hoo cross curricular activities!  Woo hoo science!  Woo hoo nerds!  Ok, ok...back to crafty goodness.)

 Use a thin bead of glue around the container's threads, just below the lip.  This way the glue has room to ooze up a bit without actually entering the container.  If any glue oozes down after you close the lid, wipe it away before it dries.  We don't want little ones eating up dried glue, now, do we?  Heavens, no...not until at LEAST preschool.

2 kinds of rice and mung beans

Allow the glue to dry according to the instructions on the label.  That's it!  You just made your child (or yourself) a set of toys.  Now go play!








Shake...shake...shake it...shake...shake...shake it...

Shake it like a Polaroid pik-sha!

(C'mon...I KNOW you want to sing!)

Pics from 17 March 2010

Me, excited about my new logo Amanda made:

 Patterflowers in the pot Sarah painted me:

 

I feel a bit like the little engine that could. I am tagging things for the rummage sale on Saturday, and found a craft show that I might be a part of. Meanwhile, I am an art teacher, a mother, and an Independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  Sleep much? Not lately. Speaking of sleep, it's time.

What to do, what to do...

I am currently taking baby steps toward what I want to do "when I grow up," but I truly NEED to make larger strides.  The combination of a full time teaching career and Patterkids does not leave me with much time and/or energy to CREATE.  Thus, the sad, sad state of this website.  My sincerest apologies and requests for your understanding.  Stay Tuned...