Thursday, January 29, 2015

A Dalmatian Hat....all sizes available

This original pattern was posted on Repeat Crafter Me
A new hat!  This Dalmatian hat is available in all sizes.  The hat shown is sized newborn. 
$20.00 includes shipping. 
Head over to my Facebook page: Like the page and share with your friends.
Message me on the J.C. Marie HandCrafts page so you don't miss any new offerings.
If you have an idea for an item or want something specific crocheted or knit, please contact me and I will see what I can do. 
Thank you so much,
Blessings, Joann Collins

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

The Story of Stained Glass

 We have enjoyed our study of the Middle Ages. We are starting to wind down and head into the Renaissance era, but before we did I wanted to do one more art project. 
Trying our hand at stained glass art was fun last week. Today we made "stained glass" luminaries.

 The book, The Story of Stained Glass, was just the right length to read aloud before starting our craft.  It gave us the history of stained glass, the purpose of stained glass and how making stained glass has changed over the centuries.
All you need for these luminaries are:
plain jars
Mod Podge
tissue paper
foam brushes
 The first step is to make a design by cutting up and arranging the tissue paper.

When you have the tissue paper ready, start slapping on the mod podge onto the jar.  
Arrange the tissue into its previously planned design.
 Kim had a plan, and that was to have a nice big
"k" on the front of her jar.

Luke's candle looks like a Syracuse basketball inspired luminary.
We made luminaries in the past:
You can see Halloween luminaries  and 

Monday, January 26, 2015

I would like to invite you to visit my new Facebook Page.

My signature earflap hat with braids and a pompom  $20.00 includes shipping  many colors available
Please check out my new site: J.C.Marie Handcrafts Everything offered on this site is made by myself. (well I do get some great help from my hubby and kids when needed ) We have very cute earflap hats and warm mittens. Scarves and kitchen sets consisting of pot holders, dishrag and a hanging dish towel. The fully lined reversible totes I have made are becoming very popular. Some items posted are complete and ready to go...others need to be ordered ahead of time. (I do h...ave 10 kids) so if something says available now--don't wait to order it. it is probably the only one I have. I have found a wonderful soft and warm baby yarnl And we seem to have babies babies everywhere. Make sure to order soon enough so that I can get some cozy baby aghans made.
Message me to talk cost, colors and types of yarn or type of cloth for the super new tote bags.
We greatly appreciate your orders. It helps to be able to pay a bill or get some needed groceries . Thank you, and may God Bless You all!! Joann Collins
Everyone loves these tote bags.  5 pockets, fully lined, completely reversible generous size
$25.00 includes shipping
 child's size ear flap hat  $15.00
 baby girl cozy ear flap hat
$15.00
 a fun newborn Christmas hat

 A puppy hat...all sizes available.  price depends on size
 This pretty and soft baby blanket is ready to ship out.  It measures 29 inched by 30 inches.
$25.00
This is part of my kitchen sets,  Two double sided scalloped pot holders...2 dishcloths and a hanging dish towel.   I will sell this incomplete set for $15.00 (I can add to this set if wanted)  A full set is $25.00 this includes shipping.


Sunday, January 25, 2015

A Week In Review:January 18-January 24

The week started out with a holiday..but not for our little school. 
 We did read about Martin Luther King Jr. and then made some artwork to honor the day.
My printer was broken so we made some old fashioned copies.  We used pencil to darkly scribble on the back side of the picture.  Since I am no artist...I held the paper up to the computer screen to make the first copy.  We then turned our pattern over and traced the lines...transferring the image onto the watercolor paper.
Using watercolors, we fingerprinted many different colors on the dove of peace.
Our final artwork.
Gracie made the beautiful "stained glass" heart.  You can see the other kid's stained glass pictures over here. 
Our art wall is getting pretty full!
Learning about the Middle Ages has led us to stained glass.  There are some fun projects in the back of this book which we will be doing this next week.
While big brother Mark was gone for a few days, Luke built this ship all on his own.  He even put it in the middle of the floor for Mark to see when he came home late at night. 

Playing Monkey Math.  We are working on the times tables and Kim is on the 8 facts and Luke is on the 7 facts.  This game makes review a little more enjoyable. 
I found it on this site which has many other fun math games.
Mark's 15th birthday fell during this week...Kimberly made him an oreo cake all by herself.
 

Worksheet completed with a branch pencil
We have been using many picture books for the study of the middle ages.  These are some of our favorite books.

Two of our favorite short chapter books of the week.

Kim's read aloud is The Knight at Dawn.  A Magic Treehouse book.
She read 2 chapters for me a day.
Luke found this book set in the middle ages.  He also reads 2 chapters a day to me.
Reading comprehension 
I have jumped on the bandwagon and am using a spiral notebook as a planner for each child.  It is working great.  You can find out more about this system at Amongst Lovely Things. 
An impromptu science experiment.
Kimmy ran out and scooped up some snow and came in a made measurement.  It's funny because both Kim and Luke thought that the water melted it would measure higher than the snow. 
They were surprised by just how mistaken they were. 

This week Kim began....
and finished her own tied quilt.
Everyone had fun with this book.




Luke made a catapult to join his trebuchet....weapons of the middle ages.
 

Grace's stained glass project..
 
Kimberly still has it.  She is on the cover of the Earth's Birthday Project spring catalog.  This picture was from our painted lady butterfly release in 2012.
This week we finished Toys Come Home.  It was very well received, especially by Luke and Kim.  In some parts we laughed out loud and at other parts we were very sad.  But it encouraged some great discussion.
The read aloud with the Mark and Grace (and Kim and Luke because they can't stand to be left out) is The Thief Lord .
We are all enthralled with this exciting book.