Playsilks for Children: Not just a simple piece of cloth.

Do you remember being a child and running free in a field with the wind all around you? Think about being on a swing and feeling the wind rush past your face as you pump to get as high as you can. The urge to run, skip, hop, and stand still in the breeze is inherent to a child. You might say it’s their job to be curious about the world and find joy in experiencing it. Our job’s as parents, educators, and care givers is to support that desire and to encourage it. It is our job to instill a sense of wonder so that further development can take place. Growth is then stimulated in terms of gross motor (physical), emotional, intellectual and spiritual development.

Playsilks are a simple piece of cloth to adults. Something that at first glance is pretty but not as flashy as a video game or other electronic device. I would encourage every family with pre-school and/or young school age children to own a playsilk for their toy box/dress-up area. Playsilks are colorful, soft to the touch and are light as air as you float and soar like a butterfly or eagle. Stimulating a child’s visual and tactile senses is a positive and beneficial thing to do as a parent. Playsilks also offer a world of creative opportunity. The cape, wings, veil, skirt, shawl, or other object the silk transforms into is the basic activity you want to happen. You want your child to take a simple object and project a world of fantasy onto it in order that they may rework situations that brought them conflict or anxiety. You want your child to grow those neuronal pathways in their brains and to develop the ability to problem solve as they interact with the outside world.

Yes, Playsilks might be only simple cloth…but to a child it’s a wonderful adventure to maturity. Bring home a playsilk for your child today!

Find Playsilks at Etsy here by Searching "Playsilk EtsyMom"

I am the founding member of the Street Team for mothers with small children at home called EtsyMom Search EtsyMom at Etsy whenever you can, Thank you.

I earned my Master of Science in Art Therapy at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfok, VA
I have worked with children, adolescents, adults and geriatrics in the field of Art Therapy. I am also a mother of 3 small children.

Find more posts about Art Therapy here.

I heart handmade too!

Do you ETSY?

"When an object is made with care by loving hands, it becomes more than merely a thing. Call it magic or something else, but I think it takes on a bit of spirit from the artist who made it. It has a story, a snippet of soul."

This was written by an amazing Etsian, Jen...a virtual Friend of mine...It is what I truely feel!

Definitely go check out more of her post!

Or her shop

Baby Friendly Beads

Trapunto

Sisters hands made 5 years ago???
I made this when Emily (now 7) was 2 and Ellie (now 5 1/2) was 3 months old. The technique is called trupunto and I learned about it by watching HGTV...do you think Alex Anderson has any idea how she has changed my life??? I will be buried with this as it is such a wonderful part of my textile journey...and it's my babies! Plus how do I choose to give it to one daughter over the other??? I have another one prepared to make for Sara...with all 3 hands of the girls but time is fleeting...good thing these can be made later in life...all you need is to capture their hand prints now...so precious! I have imagined doing one for each year of a child's life...maybe the grandchildren...or maybe it will be Sara...who knows.

I was commissioned to make this next one for a friend after she saw my creation of the girl's hands.

This posed some unique problems but I think I worked through them. She had 3 kids 2 older with quite large hands and one little one about 2 years old. My Sister's hands was all done by hand while I nursed and the baby took naps...but this one was done both by hand and machine and I love the echo quilting that was able to be consistent throughout the piece.

Now before you get all overwhelmed...this is not so difficult to make. This can be simplified and made with the kids with brown paper bags from the grocery store! Trace the hand and then use a 1/16 hole punch to punch holes along the drawn line...not too tight...then thread a plastic needle or yarn needle and thread some yarn or floss onto it...then allow your preschooler or older child to stitch along... leave an opening for stuffing...then close it up and trim away the excess paper!!! Here is an example made into a Gingerbread Woman...i wrote on the back of this one all the memories of the year and it hangs up on the Christmas tree every year...the kids love to read about the year we moved into the house! This can be made in an afternoon...looking for more boredom busters? Check out my other posts about painting the deck...and Threadibilities!!! Inspire, create, grow with your kids!!!

Chickadee Hair Quilt!!!

Wow, this is what i worked on all last night.
EtsyMom is a Street team of Moms at Etsy.com and this is part of what we are all about!

Whimzy Pinzy inspired me to get off my tush and work with Chickadeebeads button that I bought a few weeks ago! I really love the idea of using someone else's creation to then create a new item...kinda like a round robin in the quilting world. Well this one will stop at HappyHouseQuilts.etsy.com and be available for YOUR enjoyment and fashionista days! I love the rouching and the simple designs...the hand dyed fabric worked perfect too!
Click here to see it at my shop!

Threadibilities(tm) Kits Coming Soon to Happy House Quilts!

What could be better to hear than your 12 year old saying to someone out in public..."Oh...my barrette? Thank you , yes, I made it myself!!!"

It's all about the Threadibilities(tm)!

I am just so excited to get these kits to Happy House Quilts at etsy.com and to the craft fairs this fall!!! They are designed by *me* a Master's Level Art Therapist specifically for teens and tweens! This is the age group that is bursting at the seams with creativity and energy to find some way to sublimate! These kits will inspire, bring self esteem and encourage open dialogue with parents while crafting together. These kits will also foster life skill development, social interaction, basic sewing skills and problem solving!!!

Did you know that most teens refuse to answer direct questions from a parent (duh...yes!) but did you also know that if they are engaged in an activity of some sort...dare I say a crafty experience???...they are more apt to feel safe to open up a dialogue and discuss many difficult topics!!! Craft with your kids!!!

Immediate gradification is the goal with any child or young person, these Threadibilities(tm) kits will keep them on their toes but allow for completion in an afternoon or less depending on the level of creativity the individual wants to put into the craft!

Perfect entertainment for a sleep over party or activity at a birthday party. A perfect present for a week of good behavior or a good report card, or maybe just the right thing to do for a girl and her friends one Saturday afternoon!

Going to a birthday party? Come on over to Happy House Quilts to find some great ideas for gift giving or to decorate the outside of a present!

New product line Quilt Clamp(tm)

This is a new product line for Happy House Quilts but keeping with the pracical and fashionable nature of the shop, I just had to share!

I love these and they are the first of many. I struggled with whether to paint them too but figured they work fine and it's all about the embellishment so feedback and comments are welcome.

Contest!

Can YOU help me figure out what to do with this creation and suggest a name? It's about 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter and sits 3/4 inches(2.5 cm) high, it is made with ombre green wired ribbon. I have some ideas but need more...LOVE it and thinking of listing it when it "Becomes" something important.

Contest rules...

Leave a comment and the winning suggestion will win something cool...
FREE thank you cards or a felt clip...we can negotiate depending on your situation...if you have boys you wouldn't want the clip, kwim jellybean?

Thanks for playing!

Inspiration needed!

This bead is intended to be put into a hair quilt in the next few weeks. I really love the look and the delicate nature of glass. My oldest daughter's favorite color is yellow so this is so lovely. Quilting to me is very much like stained glass work and I thought that including this object would really make a new piece shine! This bead is so beautiful and came from Chickadeebeads at etsy. She sells beads and buttons for knitters and jewelers and who knew she would ever sell a button for a Hair Quilt? Looking forward to getting some creativity time soon!

Coming soon to an etsy near you!!!

I just love the look of black and white and I was thrilled to find this floral print in black and white and have been so excited to make something with it!!! Check with Happy House Quilts at Etsy as these should be available just after the holiday! If you have to have one sooner just let me know by leaving a comment!

The pink French clip Hair Quilts (tm) are also coming soon and I included them in the photo as they all seem to look good together!

I feel so blessed by God to be able to make what I love and share it all with everyone that appreciates it. Thanks so much for coming by...blessings to you on this Sunday!

Feeling creative...new slides, art clips and more felt clippies!!!

Preparing for the fall craft fair season and doing some custom orders for etsians. Enjoy the pics and please feel free to leave a comment!!!