Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Inspired by Summer

The glorious summer garden flowers actually inspired me to add to my ever increasing scrubbie selections on Etsy and when Etsy Bloggers asked us to share a summer craft, I chose these flower scrubbie sets.  They come as a set of six as shown in these photos, and also in sets of two.

For those of you who crochet, here's a quick how-to for the flower scrubbies:
Cut 8 yards of nylon netting into 3" strips.  You'll get quite a few out of 8 yard pieces in two colors.

With a J or K hook, Ch 3, join with slip stitch.
Row 1:  Work 6 sc in loop.
Row 2:  Work 2 sc in each sc.
Row 3:  Work 2 sc in each sc.  Join with sl st.
Row 4:  Ch 3, skip next sc, sc in next sc around.  Finish off.

For anyone who crochets, it's super simple!  With a little expert help it's even a great beginner project.  Enjoy!!



Monday, August 1, 2011

Summer Time in Bookworm Gardens

The Magic School Bus welcomes young and old alike to fabulous (and free) Bookworm Gardens located just a couple of miles from us near the University of Sheboygan Campus in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.  My dear neighbor and her darling daughter accompanied me on a sweet visit last week.  The school bus can be "driven" by the children.  They can also open and shut the doors, read a copy of the book inside and even look through a kaleidoscope at basket of flowers as the young man in the photo is doing.

Bookworm Gardens was conceived by a local landscape designer and master gardener and is constantly expanding due to a huge contingency of volunteers and community support.  More than 25 children's books are illustrated in individual garden settings and thanks to generous individuals, corporations and public service groups, more is being added.  Several stone pillars hold copies of laminated books that children can read or parents or volunteers can  read to them around the gardens.

They can read Is Your Mama a Llama? in both Spanish and English, and enjoy Jack and the Beanstalk near a metal and natural bean stalk in front of Hansel and Gretel's cottage.  The cottage also serves as a visitor's center.  My neighbor couldn't resist sitting in Papa Bear's chair. It was vacated by Papa Bear as he and Mama Bear try to coax Baby Bear out of a tree.

So many more books are illustrated that it will take several more visits to experience them all.  If you're ever in the area, don't miss Bookworm Gardens!
                                                                  Is Your Mama a Llama?

                                                             Jack and the Beanstalk
Goldilocks and the Three Bears