Girl Time Tidbit #5 Making A Doll's House

This summer I have had the great pleasure of watching myself create as a little girl. What do I mean by that? Keep reading and it will become clear. My daughter was inspired by a book I had purchased for summer reading. A Doll's House by Rumber Godden, this book was the inspiration for a great adventure: she began the wonderful project of building her own doll house.

At first, I began to hear hammering and pounding and all sorts of sound coming from the back porch. I realized that it was my daughter and when asked what she needed a saw for she sweetly replied," Well, to cut the eves for the roof to my doll house." To which I casually answered," Oh but of course, wait...WHAT?"

So, using the time tested tactic of diverting to a higher authority, I sent her on to her Dad, obviously. Tools of that nature are his and permission must come from the top. Being a clever man and knowing his daughter very well, he had the good sense to urge her to unite her efforts and use a much better material for doll houses...cardboard boxes, what a brilliant man!

It was a hard sell, but she complied after working pretty hard and conning her littlest brother into helping, like any good Fore-woman will do, to hold the board she was trying to saw. Finally, she decided that maybe cardboard would be a better option and really, it had already been two days and not much progress had been made on this wonderful design.

That's when it happened for me. Sometimes we forget the simple joys of our childhood. Our memories are clouded with the worry and obligations of adulthood. Then when you least expect it, a memory is triggered and you transport to the recesses of your mind to a place of joy and creativity.

There I was on my four poster bed with scissors, tape, crayons, material scraps, and found treasures, creating and sewing. The autumn sun streaming in the upstairs window of my pink carpeted room. There in that place, wonderful things were imagined and all things were possible. And yes... I was making a doll house!

Mine was smaller in scale and used only one shoebox. I created mine with the opening up so that you looked down into the rooms from the ceiling. I made little towels for the bathroom and use tinfoil for the mirror. There were curtains on every window and a golden bead for the front door handle. I used matchboxes for drawers and spools with a cardboard cut circle glued on top for the kitchen table. It even had a table cloth on it where acorn cap bowls were the table setting. In the living room there were rugs on the floor and chairs made from bottle caps and twisted wire. There was even a fireplace in the corner, which looked more like a bonfire pit than a fireplace, how sweet.

What wonderful things to remember.

I love to see the Lord bring me full circle in that way. Often it happens when I am too serious about things. If you know me well, you know I love a good surprise and this is one that caught me off guard. It warms my insides and makes me smile really big, to know that my daughter is experiencing that wonderful time of life, just like I did, called girlhood.

Father in Heaven, thank you that I have eyes to see your lessons for me. I am so grateful for the pleasures you brought to me as a child. Thank you for reminding me of my girlhood and all its sweetness.

You are a wonder to me Lord, Amen

Girl Time Tidbit #4

I just enjoyed the most pleasant afternoon with my daughter today! I thought what we did today was a good Mother/Daughter project and so of course, I have put it into the Girl Time Tidbit category!

Today, I taught my daughter to can homemade, sweet, raspberry jam! We picked the berries from our garden this year because we have an abundance of them this season. Then we wash them, and lay them on a cookie sheet and separate them to freeze. We store them in a freezer bag and just keep adding to them until we have enough for jam. We were able to make two batches today! 14 jars of ruby red goodness. We have vowed to have buttered toast with jam for breakfast tomorrow morning!

Here is the recipe~ pretty traditional~ Make sure you follow all canning directions correctly so that your jam will stay fresh and yummy for the months ahead. Here is a great resource for canning and preserving

4 c. crushed berries

6 1/2 c. sugar

1 pkg. of pectin (we use Certo liquid pectin)

This will make 7 cups

This is so yummy and tastes just like summer! Have fun!

Girl Time Tidbit #3

Well, I have promised a project to do together to enhance your Girl Time so here it is: "The Cozy Candle Lamp Shade." In our Girl Time spot on the table is a candle that we like to burn for its scent and also that warm and cozy glow that it gives to the room. My daughter and I thought that it would be fun to have a paper shade to go on our lamp to change with the seasons.

Our version here is used over a wine goblet and a very sweet size to have on your Girl Time Table! Here is how to make one for yourself:

This project is to be used

ONLY WITH A TEA LIGHT CANDLE!!!!

1. Take a wine goblet (I have found inexpensive ones at the dollar store) and place your tea light candle inside at the bottom, trim the wick to 1/4 in so the flame is not too high.


2. Now you are going to print out the pattern found on the website below. This website http://www.warner-criv.com/tools/lampbuilder.aspx allows you to put in your goblet dimensions and it will calculate and draw up a pattern for you according to your goblet size. If you would like a round shade like ours make sure to put in 1 side. I think this is a great little gadget! Thanks Warner Stained Glass!
   
3. Cut out your pattern, trace and cut shade out. Then decorate to your liking. You can simply use beautiful papers(as we did), or get really fancy and add lace and trims, buttons, even some antique costume jewelry for a little bling! Use your imagination and make it to match your decor. Or follow our example, made with two kinds of patterned color paper in pink and ivory and a heart graphic cut from some old wall paper.


4. Using double stick tape or glue, adhere edges together and place the shade on the goblet. The top of the shade should be slightly smaller so that your shade will not slip over the goblet but just rest on top. To light the tea light make sure you remove the paper shade first and then light the candle.

Now you will have that cozy warm feeling when you spend your Girl Time together. I hope that you will enjoy each other as you do this project. My daughter decorated this lamp shade-didn't she do a great job!

The Joy of Being a Girl

This past week has been an amazing journey-a real testament to the Lord! The Lord place in my heart the idea for a class about purity and teaching my girls character about 9 yrs. ago. So, with my oldest daughter, I taught a class at church called Girls Going for GOD. This experience laid the foundation for me to give the class I just taught this week called The Joy of Being a Girl-Growing in Character as a Daughter of the King! Little did I know of the blessings in store for me! We had 16 girls 5 teen helpers and 4 Queens(all of them grew up in the Great Depression) along with my team of 3. My teen helpers each had a group and lead discussion time. Our Queens shared their life stories, pearls of wisdom and God's love with us. ALL the girls loved this. Then of course we crafted something that went along with my teaching time and the lesson for the day. I spoke on: Being God's treasure, Wisdom, Character, Obedience and Purity in mind, heart, and spirit.

The word that keeps coming to my lips is DELIGHT! I cannot even put into words all the blessings that I received from this group. What amazes me is the amount of work that went into a class like this. My team was tireless and talented- I could not have pulled it off without them. The best part was having confidence to know the jobs would be fulfilled and that I could really count on them. For that I am grateful, it freed me up to do what I love, to teach and do art and crafts with the girls! Phew! was I tired but my spirit was always filled to overflowing at the end of the day. Isn't it always like that with the work of the Lord. He never promised us it would be easy but He did say the burdens would be light and our paths and purposes would be straight! AND when we follow Him we are blessed beyond measure!

The last day we had a wonderful luncheon and one of the 9 yr. olds spontaneously got up and asked if she could play a song on the piano for us. It threw me a bit and I almost didn't allow her to do it. I didn't want to squelch her desire or talent so I said she could. She bravely walked up and sat down and share her gift of music with us. I couldn't believe it, the song was just perfect for the occasion-I loved it as did all the other ladies in the room. What a treat!

We had also wanted the girls to take away a physical reminder of our time together so I made them pearl charms for purity and a key charm for obedience. So as part of our program I presented them each with a charm. Then I prayed over them and opened it up for whoever felt comfortable praying. Little by little moms shared and then...these sweet tender-hearted girls started to pray for us in thanksgiving and praise for being able to take this class and for their own moms and teachers, even my own daughter prayed for me! It just took my breath away and of course made me tear up as only a mother will do! See what I mean?! Total DELIGHT!

I am posting some pictures, but not of the girls to protect them, but of our crafts and the thank-you art I made for my helpers Enjoy! 1. The top of the box decoration 2. Yummy craft supplies 3. My sweet daughter's box 4. Thank you gift for my team mates 5. over sized bookmarks for teen thank yous!

Summer is A-Coming!

Can you smell the summer season coming? It smells to me like dirt and fertilizer and flowers and herbs too. Speaking of herbs June is a wonderful time to plant lavender and I have just the kit to inspire you mothers and daughters to get your hands dirty! Go to my website The Patchwork Heart, Co. and featured this month is my The Loveliness of Lavender Kit! It has all you need to start your own lavender plant, as well as, make a luscious silk lavender sachet together. What a wonderful way to kick off summer fun than to work side by side doing this project together!

Girl Time Tidbit #2

#2. Get your daughter involved!

Have her be in charge of gathering the materials for your craft, setting up the table, or making the tea! Let her set things up. This allows her freedom to begin to set her eye for decorating her home and practicing the gifts of hospitality. What a simple and delightful way to try new arrangements. Remember we don't always get it right the first time, so gently (if at all) guide your daughter as she learns these new skills!

At our table we usually have a pretty table cloth, lace doily with a candle lamp(this is a large candle with a shade for the top, ours is clear glass). My daughter also likes to be in charge of making the "tea tray" which she lovingly decorates with a doily, our tea cups, sugar bowl and teaspoons. I love watching her to see what she comes up with. My heart swells with joy to see her sense of hospitality and attention to detail blossoming forth. I could have told her to do all these things, but now, I get to praise her efforts! This is a wonderful and eternal way to bless her. This is a large part of "Girl Time" in our household. Intentionally making time to praise my daughters and teach them something in the process!

Next time I will share how to make a special tea light for your table!