As you can imagine, we are in a season of life where we read a lot of books on a couch, on a bed, in the hallway on the floor. I love to read, as does my husband, so this activity brings all of us a lot of joy. Its actually what encouraged us to begin homeschooling earlier this year!
A while back I had the idea to build on the stories we read at home by creating new activities for our children. It encourages me when I see our children think and create without the need to purchase more stuff. If you’re new around here, or simply can’t remember ;) our four children are 5.5 years old, 4 years, 2.5 years and 5 months.
Once we’ve read a book together, new ideas quickly form: can you draw the characters, build a similar fort, pretend you’re playing in their home? My kids love this style of play, and, truth be told, so do I.
I thought it would be fun to apply this for my own creative pursuit with my favorite childhood book Madeline. I decided to embroider her home with all it’s glorious vines and golden windows :)
On the left is my inspiration, on the right is my finished embroidered design:
Stitching is the perfect craft for me, especially right now. I know I’ve talked about this before, but it’s worth it to say it again: let your creative projects change as your life changes. We are constantly growing — at least I hope we are :) Having a craft I can easily pick up (and set down) is very helpful for me. Embroidering, for example, allows me to create because it’s something that easily fits into our routine at home.
Also worth noting, I’ve acquired the skill needed to step around a basket of washed laundry in order to sit down in the afternoon and spend a little bit of time on myself ;)
So with the Madeline house, I studied the original illustration above and then drew with pencil on embroidery cloth. Nothing fancy. My pattern isn’t perfect. I absolutely love how it turned out.
I’m also reading a lot, which quite wonderfully helps me think in new ways. It’s refreshing to read for even 20 minutes at the end of the day, if only to take my mind off the basket of washed laundry I stepped around to put this post together :)
How about you — are you reading anything good? Here’s a book list if you’d like to take a peek at what I’ve been reading.
In pursuit of creativity, I’m cheering for you to start (and finish) something new!
Dear Maggie…what a wonderful surprise to hear from you this morning! I absolutely LOVE the Madeline piece! Your reading with your babies took me back to my own Mom reading to me when I was a little girl and we lived in the farmhouse out in the country in Michigan. I am testimony at 83 years old, that your children will never forget the reading by their Mom, just like I will never forget my own Mom’s reading.
I still say a prayer for each of your family members each morning as I am on my porch for time with God. I am so blessed to have you for family and then to hear from you today makes my day!
Love,
Grambarb
Reading is a very special pastime, of both my childhood and current. I always look forward to your comments. Thank you GramBarb :)
I loooooove your Madeline house, and I love the beautiful way you share the love and encourage so many. You are such a blessing
This makes my heart swell. Thank you mom!
[…] favored project was when I embroidered Madeline’s house. Madeline is one of my favorite childhood stories, and both of my daughters love the books too. How […]