Xmas Ideas!!

Our Tree!
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

My folks are here to make mudpies with Sophie, so I finally have time to sit and write. First, a really lovely idea from Angry Chicken that I plan to make this holiday season- I don't know a kid, or list-addicted adult (like myself) who wouldn't enjoy a simple handmade book.

On to our tree: when folks here in the Keys ask about our Christmas tree, I go into a long-winded detailed explanation of this bizarre bugnet tree we first made two years ago. We had the tree on the bow of our boat, so it needed to be weatherproof and make a statement in the marina, where boaters compete for best holiday boat decor. We rocked it with this idea.

The "body" is just green tent fabric, leftover from my old job at Outward Bound. You could use any sturdy green fabric, sewn into a cone. It's stuffed with old sheets and some quilting at the top. I stuck a long stick into the quilting to give it a point. Then I wrap about 150 minilights around it, top down (otherwise they don't drape around it properly). Our last touch is a bit of no-see-um bug mesh, also from work, and a bit of a local joke (the bugs are terrible at Christmas time). The mesh gives it a nice muted effect, like a veil. You could clearly leave this off, but we love it. I also have a long strand of green ribbon I got on sale last year, and wrap it around the outside. (Safety note: don't leave the tree lit and leave the house, please?)

Last year we put it up inside the condo. High up to avoid newly-standing babies. But this year we got to have some fun with it, as Sophie is just at the age of appreciating the holidays. I want the tree to be for her, so this year's "ornaments" were made by cutting characters from the dustjackets of her children's books (I always take the jackets off, they're just cumbersome). I used a gluestick to glue them to a similar weight paper (this keeps them from curling), and then sewed them with a needle and thread, onto the netting of our tree. That way she can't pull them off! We have a few other ornaments- drawings by little friends that we've laminated with packing tape, a tiny stocking or two, and some hand-painted mahogany nuts I need to drill and string in a garland. The "presents" underneath are coconuts Sophie and a big-girl friend painted last week.

Have fun making your own tree! Other gift ideas from the Rudderless/Mudpie/Grummy family are up on our "big blog."

Soap "Paint"

Soap "Paint"
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

A redux of Sally's bathtub paint idea. We enjoyed it immensely!

Everyday Art

Sophie people
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

Less a project than an impromptu art idea- we received a package with that offwhite thin packing paper inside. I used blue painters tape to affix it to the wall, at Sophie's height, and then she stood with her back to it while I traced her head and shoulders. She directed me to add eyes and beards and noses and hair to each "person." We had a great time and she's still coloring all over it two days later, talking all about her family as she works. Some folks wouldn't attach paper to their walls, as their kids may end up drawing on other, unmasked walls. I'm lucky that mine doesn't try to do that- be your own judge of such a scenario! Also fun- we lay the bubble wrap from the same package on the ground and hopped on it to make "firecrackers." Mail can be so much.

Flower, stick, potato prints

Flower, stick, potato prints
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

An easy Sunday morning art experiment! We have some flowers in the house that are on their last limbs, and half a sweet potato that I'm too lazy to roast. Solution: baby print making! Sophie had a great time with this, and I couldn't resist making some marks myself (on another paper- following the rules!). This would be a ton of fun for a large-scale project, with a bunch of kids. Have each bring a different plant/veggie/household item (toilet brush? plunger? sponge?) and lay out tempera in shallow trays or paper plates. I usually use old takeout containers but couldn't fin any today. Sophie had the idea for painting with the stick, and then managed to paint herself in the process. The finished product is just beautiful and will make great gift wrap/holiday cards/photo backing, whatever you please!

I do apologize for being so slow with the updates. Both Sally and I have had some big things happening these past few weeks. Hopefully soon boats will be sold, dogs will be better, and the interminable exhaustion and morning sickness that comes with my discovery will fade away, leaving more time for art. My heart goes out to Harley, Sally- we'll make a dryer lint pendant and hang it in her honor! A project for later today. I also have to start on holiday cards- more on that soon.