Saturday, January 28, 2012

Mr. Sun, sun, Mr. Golden sun


We've had what feels like weeks of grey weather here.  When it isn't snowing, it's been cloudy and grey.  I bemoaned aloud this lack of sun yesterday and as soon as the words left my mouth I thought "we should make our own sun."  So that's what we did.


I gathered up a thrifted teak bowl, some sticks, a few pieces of old yellow and orange bed sheets, yarn, and other fabric scraps.


I gave the bowl a face and drilled holes around the perimeter, slightly smaller in diameter than my sticks.


The tips of the sticks were whittled down and glued into the bowl.  I made sure to have an odd number of "rays" so the kids could easily weave the strips of bed sheets over and under, over and under.  I taught the boys how to rip strips of fabric, a task they found especially fun.  In hindsight, I'm not sure I should have shared that tip with them, I forsee many torn bed sheets in our future.

I started the weaving out with some sheets that I had previously spun into yarn and as I started to wind, what should appear?


The sun!  I couldn't believe it!  His appearance was brief but oh so appreciated.



The boys took turns weaving from there.  My youngest boy especially liked this project and told me, very excitedly, that he no longer wanted to be a "plane driver" when he grows up, but rather a weaver.  And he wants to vacuum.  I'm not sure why he's giving me that weird look.  Or why he's apparently wearing an ascot.  He's a funny guy.


Once our sun was suitably full I delighted the kids by wrapping a string of LED's around the back.  Once plugged in, we had a glowing sun on our wall, long after the real one had gone down.



It kind of looks like an eclipse, no?

I hope the sun finds you this weekend, too.  Have a good one, everyone.

16 comments:

x vInTaGe VioLeT x said...

that is really fantastic! i love the look on your boy's face and he wants to vacum? let him!!!

Unknown said...

I love this sun! Well I think all the things you make are wonderful, but on this grey day, seeing the sun you made with your children made me smile :0)

Marilyn said...

if they shred their sheets :o they can weave them back into blankets...and any little boy who wants to vacuum should be allowed...his wife will thank you!!

Jackie Kirner said...

OOOoof! 20 thumbs up for this cheerful project....

Cynthia Nicole said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Well, Lisa and Boys - your sun is as splendid as the Real Thing!!! )which we haven't seen in a LONG time, either)! Happy weekend, sus

lynn bowes said...

How sweet! Now send Mr. VacuumWeaverPilot down here and after he vacs for me, Ed can take him to the airport and start those flying lessons.

xo

Glo said...

Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man, and if he vacuums, he's got it made

NanaBeast said...

Your account of your funny guy's new found joy of weaving, the desire to vacuum, the ascot, and especially his expression have me grinning on this grey Pacific Northwest Saturday. Thank you for that spot of sun in the middle of winter!

Sonia / COZY MEMORIES said...

oh that look ...
oh that (brilliant) sun !

oxox

Moooody Cow ♥ said...

What a fantastic idea! Lovely xx

Julie Clay Illustration said...

Brilliant, make your own Sun, I love it. I love the Sun too, you are such a fun Mum. Thanks for your little bit of sunshine. We certainly need it here, although yesterday was nice and it makes such a difference :)

Anonymous said...

Your kids are going to have WONDERFUL memories when they grow up!

Tara said...

Your sun is making me smile as much as the sun that is finally shining on us today. However, I don't know if either make me smile as much as the ascot.

Anonymous said...

He is gorgeous. Looks like the real Mr. Sun came out to sneak a peek of his competition! I can envision some clockworks on that sunny face too. Hmmmmm. Thanks for the inspiration.

Unknown said...

I love this! Thank you so much for sharing. This fellow Minnesota mom agrees that we could use some more sun (or at least some snow to go with the clouds).

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