Winter 2012 issue out now!

Winter is quickly approaching, and here at MHC, we are excited to kick off the season as we present our Winter 2012 issue! Enjoy fun winter craft tutorials, delicious and allergen-free cookie recipes, a holiday gift guide with handmade gifts for every budget, tips for living green and getting organized for the new year, and much more!

So grab a mug of hot cocoa, then simply click on the cover below to view the Winter 2012 issue!

Wishing you a warm and joyful Winter,

The Staff at Modern Handmade Child

Autumn 2012 Issue out now!

For many of us, August marks the last month of summer vacation.  It almost seems as though time speeds up in the month of August - it can be a very busy time as we try to pack in as much summer fun as we can, all while preparing for the next school year and for fall.

Here at MHC, we're ready to help with our Autumn 2012 issue!  Inside you will find some great ideas for back to school time, including a roundup of handmade fashions and tips for packing fun lunches for the kids, inspiring interviews with children's musician Laurie Berkner and sewing instructor/pattern maker Karen Krug, and some easy DIY projects.  Plus Halloween costume and party ideas (and free printables!), advice on getting your kids to sleep better, and more!  Simply click on the cover below to view the new Autumn 2012 issue!  

Your feedback and ideas are always welcome...send us an email, chat with us on facebook, or just post a comment right here!

Wishing you a fabulous fall,

The Staff at Modern Handmade Child

Create: Felt Balls (Wet Felting Tutorial)

A few months ago, while traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway, we came across some cute hair accessories that I thought the girls would be able to make. They were made of felted balls. So, to kick off our summer vacation this year, we learned the art of wet felting. 


Wet felting is the process of taking layers of carded wool (typically comes in batts or roving) and applying hot, soapy water and friction to them, which shrinks and interlocks the fibers creating felt (in our case, a ball). 


We purchased pre-dyed packages of 100% wool roving at our local craft store. Wool roving comes in a variety of colors that you could select. The only other supplies you need are hot water, dish soap, a container to hold the hot soapy water, and your hands!

Instructions:
Fill your container (we used a large plastic tub that was big enough for all of us to use) with hot water, and add about one tablespoon of dish soap to create a sudsy mixture. The wool will felt best in hot water, but make sure you don't get it too hot for your (or your little ones') hands.


Pull off a small section of the wool roving for each ball you would like to make. Take a section of roving and pull at it to loosen the fibers, then shape it into a "loose" ball. If you are interested in having multiple colors in your wool balls, this is the time that you would want to have your second or even third color of wool roving ready. Gently wrap the additional color(s) of roving around the ball. It does not need to be super tight - once you get the wool wet, it will begin to blend together.

Next, dip the wool roving ball into the hot, soapy water and begin to gently shape it using the palms of your hands (similar to how you would roll play-dough when you want to make a ball). Be careful not to press and roll too hard. Continue dipping the wool roving ball into the hot, soapy water and rolling it in your hands with a circular motion, making sure that it stays a nice round shape. You will begin to feel the wool become denser and denser as you roll. 

After the balls are fully felted, you will want to rinse them carefully to remove the soap from the wool. It takes roughly 24 hours for the wool to try. We just placed them on a plate and laid them on the counter top. When they are completely dry you can make necklaces, bracelets and hair accessories.  Have fun!

- Michelle
  Hi Mamma

Spring/Summer 2012 Issue out now!

The temperatures are rising, the sun is shining, and Spring is definitely here.  After the cold dark days of winter, there is something about this time of year that is so welcoming.  From the first buds of the season, to flowers in full bloom, there are so many moments to enjoy about this transitional season.  We have been doing some transitioning of our own, and couldn't be more excited to unveil our new design with our Spring/Summer 2012 issue!

This issue is full of handmade goodness that will surely put you in the mood for Spring and Summer - from handmade fashions for kids to fun craft projects and tutorials, from inspiring interviews to tips for living green.  Simply click on the cover below to hop into Spring!

Your feedback and ideas are always welcome...send us an email, chat with us on facebook, or just post a comment right here!

Wishing you a vibrant and cheerful Spring and Summer,

The Staff at Modern Handmade Child

We're Springing into 2012 with a New Look

Things have been a bit quiet here on the MHC blog, as we've all been taking a much needed break.  Spring is a time of renewal and new growth, so what better time of year to pause and freshen things up!  Which is precisely what we have been busy working on behind the scenes: giving MHC mag a fresh new look.  So be on the lookout for our new Spring/Summer 2012 issue in just a few weeks.  In the meantime, be sure to keep up with us on Facebook, and check out our new Pinterest page.

Create: Fa-la-la-la-la Fa-leece Hats for the Holidays

'Tis the season to break out hats and mittens and to start thinking about stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts!  This tutorial should help you cross a few of the nice people off your list.  Follow these easy directions below:

1.  Cut a rectangle of polar fleece approximately 1/2" bigger than head measurement by 16"-18" tall, depending on how long you like your fringe.  Don't worry, if it's too long you can always trim it later.

2.  Cut one 1" by 10" strip, set aside.

3.  Fold your fleece rectangle in half width-wise and stitch 1/2" seam allowance all the way from the top to the bottom of the hat lengthwise.  Don't forget to backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam.

4.  Turn the bottom edge up 2.5".  Pin in place, and stitch the edge down. I prefer to zig zag this as it allows for a bit of stretching where as a straight stitch may break when its pulled over the head.

5.  Bunch the top about 3-4" from the top of the hat.  Lay your 1" by 10" strip of fleece under the hat.  

6.  Tie the strip in a knot--double knot this.  

7.  Cut the top into fringes 1" wide.  Trim the strip to same length as the fringes.  Voila, your hat is finished.  Push the "easy" button. 

Repeat and share the hat love!

- Ahmelie
  ahmelie

Create: Brownies in a Jar

Brownies or cookies in a jar? Do I see a big question mark on your face? Yes, this is absolutely do-able, and fun as well! Adorable jars with decorative instructions are sure to be a huge hit. The secret behind it: mixing the dry brownie (or cookie) ingredients together and layering them alternately so their structures, colors and textures show beautifully in a glass jar, close the lid, add baking instructions and you have a truly lovely gift. You can get your child involved in measuring and packing each ingredient layer into the jar and choosing decorative fabric. Your kids will love putting these brownies in a jar together and giving them out as gifts! They make great thank you gifts for your kids’ teachers.

As a special treat for you, we are adding various different colored labels and tags for you to choose from so you can make these for many different occasions. Or go for a colorful mix-and-match of the different tags and labels. You can find the label and tag PDFs on our MHC Download page where they are available for free download.

Note: the pictures you see here show a pint size jar whereas the recipe is for a quart size jar. The pint size jar holds ca. a half recipe.

What you’ll need:

1 quart size mason jar, wide mouth

Fabric cut into 7 ¼ inch squares

Ribbon or twine, 18 inches

To fill each jar, you will need:

1¼ cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups white sugar

⅔ cup cocoa powder

¼ cup white chocolate chips

¼ cup butterscotch chips

Instructions:

1. Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl.

2. Take 1½ cups of this mixture and put it in the bottom of the mason jar. Be sure to firmly pack down this layer before adding the next layer.

3. Layer the white chocolate chips and then the butterscotch chips. Get most of the chips on the outside, touching the glass. Don’t worry about the middle because you won’t see that when the jars are finished.

4. Now, add the cocoa powder to the remaining flour-sugar mixture that is in your bowl. This is your final layer.

5. If you have space at the top of your jar, add more chocolate chips.

6. Screw the lid on your jar, cover with fabric and tie the fabric around the lid with ribbon or twine. Finally, attach tag or add label with the baking instructions so whoever receives these brownies in a jar, knows what to do with the mixture. To download or print the free Brownie Mix in Jar Labels and Tags, go to our MHC Download page.

Helpful tips:

• Make sure you pack all the layers down really tight otherwise you may not fit all the ingredients. Press it down firmly with a utensil that has a wide flat bottom or use your fingers.

• You can mix up the recipe: use your favorite nuts or use colored candies (such as M&Ms) instead of the chocolate and butterscotch chips. Remember that the more contrast you have with regards to the ingredients’ color and texture, the more each layer will stand out.

• If you have space at the top of your jar, you can fill it with chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts or add extra chocolate chips!

• Make sure your ingredients are not reaching their expiration date any time soon and these jars can be kept for up to 6 months. If you have nuts in the jars, then they need to be used within 3 months.

• White sugar and flour seeps down into the other layers so it is best to keep these at the bottom and put candies and nuts above.

• You can adapt this concept and use your favorite cookie or brownie recipe, just remember to include detailed instructions so the recipient knows how to put this special treat together.

• If you pack the cocoa mixture into your jar in the bottom or the middle, be sure to carefully wipe out the inside of the jar above it with a dry paper towel so that the rest of the layers will show through the glass.

• You can also give away the mixture along with a couple of squares of the baked product.

- Tali

  A Party Studio