Suncatchers

One day at the farmers market there was a retired preschool teacher who had set up a children's arts/crafts booth.  She had melted down an assortment of glass bottles for the kids to make into suncatchers.  Each child picked a bottle.  On one side they painted a masterpiece and on the other they glued colored tissue paper.  She didn't even mind that they mixed the paints!

Even though the youngest didn't make a suncatcher (he just painted on a paper), by the time we left they all three had paint from head to toe!  Creating AND mess-making...what more could a kid ask for?!

I hung them together on the back patio and now every time there is a breeze I can hear them clang together gently and it is one of the best wind chimes I have ever had.  It was actually quite a lovely end to the week.  Hope you all have a great weekend.

-Jen

Present From My Brother

For Christmas our family does a handmade or thrifted gift exchange.  This cuts back on a huge amount of shopping and stress, but I also have a wonderfully talented and creative family (for the most part!) so there are some pretty amazing gifts exchanged.

                          

This past year my brother made me the coolest hanging candle lanterns, so I just had to share them.  The vases/cups are thrifted and the beads were from his wife's stash.

I love that each one is different!  And they are really beautiful when they are lit up at night.  (That's my brother in the photo below.)

These days we've had lots of warm spring nights to sit out on the patio and enjoy them.  Thanks Bro!

-Jen