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All in the family

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Joan Hawleyis the Quilting Editor here at CraftGossip.com. But long before I knew her from here, I knew her from her adorable, easy and SEW functional sewing patterns. I took a class from my local quilt shop back in the spring, used my first Lazy Girl Designs pattern, and fell in love. Since that class, I’ve made several of her patterns, including the Runaround Bag, pictured here being modeled by my happy daughter, as well as the Wonder Wallet, seen here:

And I’m posting it here to let you know that this is a PERFECT project for a beginning or experienced sewer, kid or otherwise. The patterns are all short and straightforward and most involve nothing more complex than sewing in a straight line. My daughter is only 3 years old and has already asked, more than once, when she can get her own sewing machine so she can make her own bags herself instead of “borrowing” my machine. Your kids could whip up dozens of Christmas gifts based on the patterns, ALL of which are functional. Even boys and men will appreciate and use the Wonder Wallet, which is full of pockets and can be made in virtually any fabric; women will appreciate the handbags, all of which allow room for individual design and decoration.

 

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Reflecting on the Past Year with Kids

I’m in deep denial about the fact that new year is almost upon us again! It’s been the fastest and the longest year at the same time, and I can look back and see some good things as well as some things I wish had gone differently.

Doing a year in review with your kids — whether in the classroom or at home — is a good way to capture some of their memories and the things they really liked about the year gone by.

There are a lot of different printable year in review worksheets you can use if you want to make this super easy. Here are links to a few (often part of larger posts about NYE celebrations with kids that are worth a read, too):

  • Teach Beside Me has lots of fun printables fro the end of the year, including a year in review that covers favorite memory, funniest memory and the best book they read, among other topics.
  • NurtureStore‘s version has space for a self-portrait and prompts like favorite toy, best day out this year and future dream job.
  • Remember favorites, their “best idea” of the year and have room for setting goals for next year with this one from The Keele Deal.
  • The year in review from Yes We Made This has room for drawing or writing and includes things like something they learned, a memory they made and a place they visited.

Of course you could pretty easily make your own year in review for the whole family to do that asks questions based on what you most want to remember. (Favorite video game? Best friend? Favorite family memory?)

And if after the year in review you’re ready to look ahead a bit, Mrs. Merry has new year’s resolution printables to inspired kids to look ahead and set goals for things they want to try. You can totally fill this one out as a grownup, too.

[Photo: Mrs. Merry]