Baby Cradle project

Today, we made a cradle with the daycare kiddos. It was super easy and a lot of fun!
We followed the plans found at www.kidscanmakeit.com/WW0001.htm.

I estimate that the overall cost was $15.00. This cradle is STURDY! This is not plastic piece of junk that will break in 5 days leaving you out 40 bucks.

Adan cut out the wood and sanded, and the kids and I assembled it. The kids ranged in age from 3 to 11 and all had a great time.

Backyard Bird Watching for Babies

Okay maybe not just for babies. Everyone can enjoy backyard bird watching. Even cats! I built some nifty little bird feeders for our yard. Easy and inexpensive to boot!

Sorry, pics are dark and slightly blurry.. camera is on it's way out!!

NOTE! In the second picture, a black capped chickadee is present. In the third, a tufted titmouse.

First, head over to Lowe's or your neighborhood home improvement store. Pick up a 10' length of 3/4 diameter copper pipe. Ask the friendly associates to chop it into 3 roughly equal pieces. Pick up 3 end caps in the appropriate diameter. Get some copper tube glue. Mine was named Goop. Next head over to your local dollar store and grab 3 small plastic plates and 3 small bowls. The bowls will sit on the plates so you want to make sure there will be room around the bowls. Think tea cup and saucer.

Very simply, glue the bottom of the plate to the top of the end cap. Glue the bottom of the bowl to the top of the plate. Let dry. Mine took 48 hours to dry. Go stab the copper pipe into your grass. Top with end cap-plate-bowl. Fill with bird seed and sit back and enjoy your feathered friends!

I also recommend that you purchase a bird guide. We picked up 3 different ones at our local barnes and noble book store. I really love the book that is categorized by color. It is simple enough that even my children and day care children can search for the birds we see at the feeder. We have put the feeders right in front of the window, and put 2 little chairs for easy window watching. We even found a few sets of children's binoculars for those times when you need a close up look!

Lucy can name several birds by sight. Her favorite birds are the black eyed juncos. The juncos don't eat from the bird feeders; they eat from ground under the bird feeders. She makes sure to spread out bird seed all over the lawn when she feeds the birds!

Knitted Shag Rag Rug

I am knitting a shaggy raggy rug for the day care quiet area. It is a huge stash buster. I am using up old knit cotton fabric from the "fabric closet" and some mystery content brown yarn as a base. I plan to update with pictures as I progress.

The pattern is really easy. I believe the finished product will be approx. 36" wide, but will update with true dimensions when done.

Size 8 long needles (I am using 2 circular needles because they are longer.
strips of knit fabric 1" wide, 3" long. Stretch can go either way, but i am using the stretch along the length.

To knit in fabric strips, lay a strip in between your needles. Half the strip should be hanging down the back of your work, and half hanging down in front of your work. *will add pic soon* Knit one. Flip the fabric strip hanging down the back of your work to the front. Knit one. Repeat.


Cast on 89 stitches.

Row 1 and every odd row K across
Row 2 and every even row k 1 then knit in fabric stitches across


I am knitting this in stripes!




Back of rug



Front of rug after 10 rows. Looks more like a fuzzy green caterpillar right now

Update!! 3/20 This rug pattern came from a book called fast and fabulous low sew bathroom projects by Reader's Digest. This rug is neither fast nor very fun but i feel committed now. DARN IT! I am currently only working on this rug as i wait to pick up kids from school so I do MAYBE 2 rows per day. My goal for April is to finish this dastardly piece of no fun knitting so i can move on to something i might not hate.

New pic for ya! Please ignore my messy dining room table, and my shoes. I stood on a chair to take a pic from above. Yes, my tape measure is missing inches 1 - 3. I burned them with the iron. I don't like beginnings. The rug currently measures about 25 inches wide by about 9 inches long. After 6 weeks. I rock.

Rain Gutter Book Shelves

Large Finished Rain Gutter Bookshelves

I am redesigning my day care quiet area.... The before has a small book case, a crocheted rug, and 2 pillows. Everything was made by me and looks okay but i need spectacular :D

The new quiet area will have 4 pillows, a knitted shag rag rug, and rain gutter book shelves mounted on the wall.

Rain Gutter Book Shelves:
These were super easy to make. Just head over to the local Lowes/Home Depot and grab a piece of vinyl rain gutter. It came in 10 foot lengths. I cut mine into 4 pieces that were 2 feet long and 2 pieces that were 1 foot long. You also need to brackets per piece and 2 end caps. Once it is all cut, just screw the brackets onto the wall and then slide on the gutter pieces and end with the end caps. You can glue the end caps on but i chose to leave them unglued so i can take it all apart for cleaning.

they came out super nice. I think i will be putting some up by the kids beds as soon as we get the bunk beds built!




Quiet Area Before


Quiet Area Before



Large Finished Rain Gutter Bookshelves



Small Finished Rain Gutter Bookshelves