It’s a bustling week over here at the Cottage, and we are still learning how to do life well amid busyness. :) Husband and I were away for a weekend getaway for our anniversary (or rather, the past three anniversaries, dated in June – ha! That’s how far behind we are, and how difficult it’s been to get away.) and had one of the best times together we’ve ever had! I can’t wait to go through my pictures of our time in lovely Savannah.
But for now, here’s a little DIY for you and your favorite little person.
Zoe and I did this project together back in November when she was sitting low and recovering from her tonsillectomy. She wasn’t well enough to run around and play, but the days got long just sitting on the sofa and looking at books.
While a movie can be a good idea sometimes, I do tend to be a little old-fashioned, and I want my daughters to know how to do things like cook and sew and some of the other lost homemaking arts of today. This was one of the first sewing projects we did together, and we both enjoyed it very much.
So, inspired from my sister Ervina, who did a similar thing for our sister Claudia’s wedding, we did a little Button Hoop Art.
The hoop arts that are trending right now are so fun, I think. So vintage, so clever, and such a unique art that can be so varied.
So one quiet day, this is what we did.
Supplied needed:
- wooden hoop (found in sewing departments of craft stores, size your choice)
- cotton or muslin fabric
- needles & thread
- scissors
- pencil for marking
- assorted buttons of choice
Because Zoe only has three letters in her name, we used her name instead of a monogram. Olivia wants me to do this with her too, and then I’ll do her initials.
So, step one: write the name or monogram on the fabric, leaving allowance for the hoop. Be sure to stretch the fabric tightly in the hoop.
[Next time, I’d also leave more space between the letters. I used various sizes of buttons, and the letters of the name quickly crowded into each other.]
Step two: teach the favorite little person how to thread a needle.
Because this was her first time working with a needle and thread in a real project, I kept the thread fairly short so as to minimize the risk of tangling. :) That did result in many needles having to be threaded, so she and I did it together, trying to have 2-3 needles ready so we could keep going with the project.
Step three: begin sewing buttons on the penciled pattern.
These buttons were an assortment of vintage & new buttons. Zoe’s Nana gave her the pink/blue/green ones that came from the dollar bins of Target, and they were the perfect pop of color!
[yes, those are pajamas :) ]
Zoe and I took turns, each sewing a button at a time. Doing the whole project by herself would have been too overwhelming for her (she’s six), but if we kept trading then she really enjoyed it. It took probably two hours or so, but it was a special time together.
After the buttons were all sewed on, I took off the hoop and spray painted it, just for fun.
This is the finished product that now hangs in her bedroom, along with her one-year canvas photo and the lovely “Happy Girls” canvas from Aimee Weaver Designs.
Other options with this:
- When I do this project with Olivia, who is 4, I may make this a hot-glue gun project instead of a needle & thread project. :) Her patience levels aren’t quite long enough for this, but the glue gun (one of the low temp kinds) would still be fun for her and teach her how to follow patterns and have the pleasure of a completed project.
- At Christmas, draw the outline of a Christmas tree and use bright buttons for “ornaments.”
- Use a small floral patterned or colored fabric for the background, and solid color buttons for the monogram (i.e. aqua fabric with white buttons)
- Your ideas? :) I’m sure some of you have done similar projects, and I’d love to hear about it and see links!
Happy Hump Day!
How cute is that! I love the idea! I am the same way about movies and electronics- they are okay, but the kids are SO much more creative when I limit their time on them and get them to do other things instead. They are happier, too. I have kind of told Kierra that if we keep homeschool next year and she can read fluently enough to read recipes, I will teach her how to cook and bake- hopefully getting her to the point that she can cook simple things on her own. And maybe the next year get her started on the sewing machine with simple projects. She is excited about that and brings it up often. Who knows how it will all happen, but that’s kind of what I am shooting for.
I am confused by the “providing she’s a girl” comment. I realize your little man is too young to have the patience/ability at this time but do you not think that he would like to have art he made with his momma? Maybe a tractor with button wheels? I am certain that my six year old son would love the project, love the time with me, and feel proud that he did it. Just like his sister.
I think any way we can find to spend more quality time with our children (no matter their sex) the better. I know my husband lives for weekend breakfasts where he has more time to allow them to help him in the kitchen…yes my husband is the family cook. He loves it. It is how he relaxes, my father does beautiful needlepoint to relax and I was going to show him this so he can some up with a fun project to do with his grand-babies. ~oh. and both my father and husband are “men’s men”, they both do construction, both hunt and fish to provide food for their families, and have NEVER been mistaken as “girly”.
My apologies from coming across wrongly, as was not my intention. I agree with you wholeheartedly in every point! I have various family members in the arts and love their passion for the finer things, and my husband is a great cook also. I was thinking a girl for this exact name or monogram, but you’re right – it could be done in various colors for either gender in a variety of ways. I’m sorry for the misunderstanding!
Sooo cute and FUN! I like the idea of hot glue for the 4 year old with little patience. My 4 year old might do well with the thread . . . but then there’s the 3 year old who has to do EVERYTHING and more than that 4 year old does. :) You are such a good mama. I just want to follow in your footsteps. And yes, like Shelly Smucker mentioned in the FB comments, this looks like a sewing project that *I* could actually attempt. :) Annnnd . . . I can’t wait til you get to those weekend away pics!! Wish you were here. It’s gonna snow again. Or so they say!
I love this idea…think it’d be great to do with my little lady! Thanks for the idea!
Cute as a button!! *smile* I love how you made her recovery time intentional and special!
This is so precious. I remember doing little cross-stitching stuff when I was young and I felt sooo utterly cool. :) Yay for mamas who pass on the arts.
This is a really cute idea. I may refer my sister to look at it. I will never do it because I hate buttons. Isn’t that weird? I don’t like to wear them or look at them. They don’t bother me on other people’s clothes but I just don’t like them. My Mema used to have a jar of random buttons (she would have thought your idea was just the best thing!) and I couldn’t even look at the jar. My sister still teases me about buttons!
I’m so jealous that you get to spend so much time with my favorite little children. You are the best mom ever. If my mom hadn’t been so cool I would with you were my mama. Haha. :)
I love you. Don’t tell Erv, but i’m secretly so excited about her having a bebe, so you & jan-jan can come up super duper fast!! YAY!
What a cute idea! I’m totally with you on wanting my daughter to know how to sew- even my son! It’s becoming a lost art! My Vesper is only two, but she and I have been working on those “sewing” cards where you lace a shoe-string through the holes around a picture on a card. She’s getting better each time and I can’t wait until she’s big enough to start really sewing! Some of my best memories with my Nana involve sewing projects :)
This is a really cute idea and I am amazed that Zoe had enough patience to do it all in one sitting! I’m sure it helped that you traded off and maybe that she had to sit still more then, but two hours is a long time to do a new skill and especially one involving fine motor skills! I think she is going to have detail talents like her mama when she grows up!
What a great idea! I think my boys, ages 5 and 3, would love this! This goes well with the Courduroy looses a button story.
What a great idea to use it with the Courduroy story! I love that!
i think even i, your none sewing friend, could do this one! ;))
That looks beautiful and very creative :)
Catherine Vargas
Vintage Girls
http://www.vindiebaby.com