Father's Day Keepsake Frame

With Fathers Day approaching 

we wanted to find a simple way to express our love!

Here is what we came up with and 

wanted to share....

A sweet way to say I love you to the father's (or papa's :) in your life!

An "I love you because..." picture frame. 

To create you will need

A frame

Photos that capture his fabulousness

Dry erase markers

To begin...

gather few of your favorite photos that capture the love.

Secure them onto a piece of paper, add your I love you because....
and put in your frame.

If you feel inspired, gather up some goodies from nature and glue on to decorate.

Use your dry erase marker to write on top of the glass...

and let the love pour out!

The best part? They can write fresh love notes to him daily!

Looking forward to hanging these up in the home ~ where he can continually be reminded of how great he truly is!

Here's to the good men in our lives!

(really hoping he doesn't peek at the blog before Sunday. shhh.... ; )

With Love 

~ Shanti ~

A Special Guest Post and Our All Spunk No Junk Link up Party!!

Welcome friends...

Please help us welcome our special guest poster, and friend 

Rachel from At the Butterfly Ball!

 Hi Twig and Toadstool Readers! Thanks so much for having me here Maureen and Shanti!  What fun to have you guys back blogging, I have enjoyed your creative, colorful, little spot in bloggyland from the very beginning and I was sad to see you leave last year! Welcome back!!

Today I wanted to share with you an easy little tutorial on how to make Comets! Comets are really simple throwing toys that are a lot of fun for all ages!

To start with you'll need the following supplies:

• A small rectangle of fabric (mine is about 12 inches by 6 inches or 30cm by 15 cm)
• thread 
• needle for sewing or a sewing machine
• ribbons (4 or 5 ribbons about a yard or meter long each)
• Comet filling (I used popcorn, dry rice or beans also work well!)
• adhesive tape or straight pins

 Now lets get started! Take your rectangle of fabric and fold it in half with the right sides together:

 Then take your ribbons placing them as I did in the picture below and fasten them. I used tape because it was what I had on hand...

Fold the comet back in half, remember to make sure the pretty side of your fabric is on the inside! and that the ribbons stick out past the end (in the picture below the are going to be sewn in on the left hand side of the rectangle). See the faint marker lines I made to show you where to sew? Leave the long tails coming out of the other end of the fabric(on the right hand side in the picture below). You aren't sewing that side shut yet because you'll need to turn the comet right side out when you've sewn it and then you'll need the opening there to fill it!

 Here is our comet sewn together on two sides. Where the ribbons are I sewed over that seam 3 times since it is going to get a lot pulling and tugging and I wanted to be sure everything was secure!

Turn the comet right side out and fill with your popcorn (or rice, or beans...)

Once it is filled (loosely so you can still have room to sew it shut easily.) fold over the top to the inside as shown in the picture below:

Pinch the sides neatly together and sew it up. I just top-stitched across the top with my sewing machine...

Yippee!! Your comet is finished and ready for play!

Now for some fun, grab a few kids and head outside to play with your new toy. Children love playing with comets. They are very easy to throw. The long ribbon tails are perfect for holding on to and swinging around before launching your comet.

 They are also easy to catch. They are feel soft and very little children can learn to catch with them easily because of their long ribbon tails, plus they won't bounce or roll away if they do hit the ground...

And especially important: the ribbons look really pretty fluttering through the air while the comet sails on it's way!

They really are fun for all ages!

Thank you Rachel for sharing such a fabulous tutorial and joining us here at Twig and Toadstool! 

Now it's YOUR turn to share your creativity!

Every Monday we are going to host our new "All Spunk No Junk"

link up!  Please link up your crafts made with beautiful materials...think cloth, wood, wool, nature items, vintage, handmade.

We want to share all the beautiful crafting possibilities with each other.  Each week we will pick one craft to post on the side of our blog for one month.  Thank you to all who link up and help us spread the word about our new linkeroo!

(I do have a button in the works...hopefully by next week it will be up on our sidebar as well)
Thank you to everyone who shares with us this week!!!
xo maureen & shanti

Mama Nature Giveaway & Bare Foot Tutorial!!

Who I am: I am simply free-spirited, intuitive and imaginative. I support our local Farmer's Markets.  I am a newly discovered community artisan! I believe in creating physically and spiritually. I want to inspire people to take whatever idea I share and make it their own and make it personal to them.

What I create:  I have been creating for my family the past year and it wasn't until recently that I felt very encouraged by my friends and community to branch out and sell some of my creations. Things I create for my family: garden art, felt toys, polymer dolls and jewelry, knitted clothing (my favorite being the little red riding hood), upcycled patch-work clothing, quilt mandalas, illustrations for there bedroom walls, and stories that teach real value. Yes, I am a busy lady and I always try to involve my children in what I do! Most people may think being this busy might make life more complex but for me and my family it actually brings a simplicity and balance! It exercises our self-sufficiency, self discipline, self-awareness, self-discovery, our heart, our family's quality of time and of course our creativity. I'm so thankful for the opportunities I've received in my life and I'm even more thankful for the supportive people in my life!

"Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture your heart..."

Native American saying

What inspires me: Three things that inspire me: my children, my community and mama nature. I don't think you can get any more simple than that! My favorite musician is Jack Johnson and we start nearly every day listening to his music and allowing it to ground us and prepare our hearts for the day. I also have been a member of his All At Once Community for a couple years now. Other things that inspire me: my heritage & home, this community, waldorf, and wildlife

What is my crafting space like? Space is so important. It's nearly a source of inspiration itself! A majority of my art doesn't happen in my home - it happens outdoors or in our community! Occasionally, in the evenings or early morning I will construct a new felt creation. And my family has been very supportive in giving me quiet time for a couple hours Tuesdays and Thursday evenings. This is when I blog, craft and reach out to people outside of our home.

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP THIS SEASON?

      We have been taking notice of the barefoot weather! For this activity you will need body paint or face paint, a paint brush, barefeet and a creative imagination! It is amazing what you can do with something as simple as lines and colors! We also attempted to identify and paint animal tracks! The print my daughter is wearing in the this picture represents a bear foot - no pun intended - ha ha.

MAMA NATURE - GIVEAWAY

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs.

Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do it.

Because what the world needs is people who come alive."
-my grandma/Robert Henri, The Art Spirit

Facebook // Etsy Shop // Blog // Pinterest

For an official entry please comment below. For additional entries please like my facebook page and leave a comment below telling me that you have done so! For more entries you can choose to either share my facebook page, follow my blog Mama Nature or heart my Etsy shop! Please leave a comment for each entry!

The winner is #18
Mary
(the giveaway ends next Saturday at midnight)

Thank you Mama Nature for sharing your story, your passions and your creativity with us all!
xo maureen & shanti

The Post on How I Lost Weight and Gained a Bit of Myself Back!!!

This is my journey of transformation.  I had a friend liken it to me coming out of a cocoon...and trust me, I was wrapped up quite tightly in my cocoon for years and years and years!!!
I have to admit that writing this post is painful...it's painful to see these pictures, and to remember the person I was...but, I think it's a story worth sharing...so here it is!
*(insert deep breath here)*

This was me...and while I always tried to have a smile on my face

I was SO unhappy inside...

I have dealed with being overweight for a long long time.  My weight fluctuated from being 10 pounds overweight to 70 pounds, (at my highest weight).  I can blame this weight gain on all sorts of things, from being depressed, having low self esteem, to having babies, to just not giving a damn anymore.

I had tried losing weight before...usually with minimal success...and then it would always come back, (sometimes with a vengeance)!
For me my weight was like this layer I could hide behind...it was like I was pleased with being a victim...with putting everyone else first.  Taking care of myself wasn't even ON my list of priorities!

I hated having my picture taken...I couldn't believe I actually looked like what I saw...

One day it clicked though...I was disgusted with myself, at 5'4" I was 201 pounds...I didn't like myself, or my life...something had to change and fast.
 I remember it was Boxing Day, and I knew I wasn't going to wait until New Years Day to do something about it!  I started by cleaning my cupboards...I threw away every bad piece of food in my cupboards...all the chips, white pasta, sugary treats...and then I cleaned my fridge, and I mean sparkling clean...I needed a clean slate. 
The next day I went shopping and filled my cupboards and fridge with healthy food...fruit, vegetables, quinoa, lean meats...and then I started to exercise.
 At first I couldn't run more than 10 feet...I would just alternate between running and walking.
 After some time though, the amount I could run increased...it was slow to start, but I kept at it, (at least every other day).  I also invested in an ipod shuffle...it was amazing how music motivated me to keep going, (especially in the dead of winter)!  
As I gained some confidence and starting to lose weight, I decided to do the unthinkable...I signed up for a 5km run!  I still wasn't even running 5 km, but I thought it would be a good goal to work towards. 
By the time the race rolled around I was 30 pounds lighter...I ran my heart out, and I made it to the finish line!  When I crossed the finish line I cried and cried...months earlier I couldn't run 1km, and here I just finished 5!! 
For me exercise was THE key to being successful.  I also allowed myself treats every now and then...trust me...I don't do well with deprivation...there was chocolate involved every step of the way!
When my weight loss stalled, I decided to join Weight Watchers online...I found this helped hold me accountable, and it also helped me lose another 30 pounds.

This is me now...to say I'm happier is an understatement!

I also kept running, and by the end of summer and I went from a size 18 to a size 9/10!  Losing weight also helped me find the confidence to change other things in my life that weren't working, and some of those things were hard to face. 
My children's father and I separated, (as over the years we had grown very far apart), and I had to face the challenge of dating again, and taking care of our home all by myself.

I started making myself a priority in my life...started dancing again...went out without mother guilt...all huge challenges. 
The wonderful thing was that my children have witnessed firsthand the gift of transformation...they have witnessed happiness and self love in action, and I think they will ultimately reap the rewards by having a happy and balanced mother heading the ship!

I have managed to maintain my weight loss for over a year now...I'm down to my last 13 pounds until I reach my goal weight.   One of my tricks to keeping weight off is that I weigh myself almost every single morning.  I find this helps me better understand my body rhythms, like when I gain water weight, and I notice immediately if my weight starts to climb up.  I know this method wouldn't work for everyone, but for me I find it holds me accountable.  I also LOVE reading fitness magazines...especially Oxygen...I liked reading stories of people who were my size, who transformed themselves...to me it makes it all seem doable and it inspires me!

One of my treats for losing weight was a tattoo that I have wanted for years and years...

 Since I started this journey I've lost about 60 pounds...I feel amazing...I have newfound energy and confidence and I feel like an inspiration!  I actually have people coming to me and asking me "how did you do it?" and that's an awesome feeling!

I lost weight and gained SO much more...

Losing weight is hard...if you are on this journey I applaud you...if you are thinking about it,
I support you fully!  The journey for me will never end, but it has opened up a door to this world that is FULL of possibilities...and for that I am grateful!

with love
xo maureen

Ps...there is ONE day left to enter our giveaway for a $20 US credit to ziezo
and THREE days left to enter the giveaway for a hand knitted elephant or 5 knitting patterns from  mamma4earth
Please click on the word "giveaway" to enter.  Enter by leaving a comment below the posts and please support our sponsors. 
If you can't afford to buy anything at the moment, leave them some encouragement and keep them on your wish lists!

Felted Rainbow Rocks

The girls recently returned from a visit with their Oma and Opa with these beautiful, smooth river rocks.

We have wanted to try felting rocks and these ones felt just perfect ~ so we gave it a go!

Creating the felted rocks turned out to be easier than I expected and the results were lovely. 

They have such a nice weight and feel... thinking would make great gifts for little ones (or big ones ;). 

To create you will need

Rocks

Wool roving

Felting needle (optional)

Hot water

Soap 

~ To begin ~

Pull off a chunk of roving that is about three times the length of your rock.

Tear it into strips.

 Lay the strips side by side ~ slightly overlapping them. 

Pull off another chunk of roving and tear into strips. 

Lay the strips on top, going the other direction.

Be sure your layers are thick enough so that none of your rock will peek through.

Put your rock at the bottom of the roving and begin rolling it up...

folding in the sides as you go.

Soon your rock will look something like this.

Take your felting needle and poke it into the roving, focusing on places where it is loosest.

This part of the process isn't necessary, but seems to help keep it from falling apart when it hits the water.

Give your roving wrapped rock a generous squirt of dish soap and 

immerse into hot hot soapy water.

Gently toss between your hands, dipping back into the water and tossing some more.

After it seems to be holding together fairly well, begin to rub (and as my daughter says "pet") your rock, adding more soap and water as needed.

Finally when the felt feels tight and smooth (it seems to take about ten minutes or so), rinse it under cold water.

 Then lay it out in the sun to dry.

There you have it!

Our new little rainbow rocks found their way to our gnome home

and seem to find many other imaginative homes throughout the day!

"Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,

                                                    The lovers, the dreamers and me
                                      La, la la, La, la la la, La Laa, la la, La, La la laaaaaaa".

With Love

~ Shanti ~