GUESS WHERE 'LIL DIGGER WENT THIS WEEK?

'LIL DIGGER, THE WOODSTOCK LIBRARY'S SUMMER READING PROGRAM MASCOT, WAS SPOTTED IN TOWNE LAKE THIS WEEKEND.  CAN YOU GUESS WHERE HE IS?

MEET 'LIL DIGGER

'LIL DIGGER IS WOODSTOCK PUBLIC LIBRARY'S MASCOT FOR THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM, "DIG INTO READING".  OUR CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN AND HER HUSBAND TRANSFORMED OUR TRAIN INTO A FRONT END LOADER.  IT IS MADE OUT OF PLYWOOD, PAINTED YELLOW AND LOOKS AWESOME!  

I AM TAKING 'LIL DIGGER AROUND TOWN, TAKING PHOTOS OF HIM AT DESTINATIONS THAT THE CHILDREN WOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH, AND THEN WE WILL DISPLAY A PHOTO EVERY WEEK AND LET THE CHILDREN GUESS WHERE 'LIL DIGGER VISITED THAT WEEK.  THEY GET TO CHOOSE A LITTLE PRIZE.....A STICKER,  ERASER, ETC.  I WONDER WHERE 'LIL DIGGER WILL SHOW UP NEXT?

2013 SUMMER READING PROGRAM DISPLAYS

The Woodstock Public Library usually has a train in the children's area but this summer it has been transformed into a front end digger!  The theme of this year's summer reading program is Dig Into Reading.  Linda, the children's librarian and her husband Al built and transformed the train one weekend.  There are even books in the front loader.  The kids have loved it!!!

They also made the Jackhammer for the adult summer reading program theme of Groundbreaking Reads.  He made the jackhammer out of plywood and painted it silver, adding handles and rivets for a finishing touch.  And of course you need a hard hat to go along with it!  Come on out and join the adult summer reading program at the Woodstock Public Library!

SHRIMP TACO SALAD

I found this recipe for SHRIMP TACO SALAD in this month's Good Housekeeping magazine.  The magazine first attracted my attention because it only cost $1.49.  Where can you get a magazine for $1.49 these days?  Next, the pasta salad on the front cover looked so beautiful and when I made it the next day, it tasted even better than it looked.  I also wanted to try the salad above. It was just as delicious with such a nice blend of flavors and textures that just all seemed to align.  Included in this salad is fresh avocado, grilled zucchini, grilled corn, grilled shrimp, watermelon, Fritos, cilantro and a wonderful lime hot sauce dressing.

Ingredients

• 3 ear(s) fresh corn, shucked
• 2 medium zucchini, thinly sliced on an angle 
  
• 1 pound(s) (large) shrimp, shelled, deveined 
  
• 1/4 cup(s) extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoon(s) (from 2 limes) fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon(s) cayenne pepper sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1 avocado, thinly sliced
• 2 cup(s) (about 12 ounces) watermelon, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 3/4 cup(s) corn chips (such as Fritos), crushed
• 1 cup(s) fresh cilantro leaves

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Directions

1. Prepare grill for direct grilling on medium.
2. Grill corn 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly charred, turning occasionally. Grill zucchini 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly charred and tender, turning over once halfway through. Grill shrimp 2 to 4 minutes or until opaque throughout, turning over once halfway through cooking.
3. In small bowl, whisk together oil, lime juice, pepper sauce, cumin, coriander, and salt.
4. Cut kernels off ears of corn. Arrange zucchini and avocado on platter. Top with corn, shrimp, and watermelon. Salad can be made ahead to this point and refrigerated, covered, up to 4 hours. To serve, sprinkle with corn chip crumbs and drizzle with dressing. Top with cilantro.

NOW THIS WAS A GOOD BOOK

If you liked THE HELP and DRIVING MISS DAISY, you will like this book.  I can't remember the last time I actually yelled out loud at a book and then cried at the end.  It tears at your heart how cruel and unjust some people and situations can be.  Check it out at your library and see if you like it as well.

SAIGE'S NEW TOP

This is a new top designed for Saige or any American Girl Doll.  I want to make the sleeves more flared and the lower part of the tunic a little wider to look more like a '70s top.  I made the white skinny jeans from a Liberty Jane pattern.

AMERICAN GIRL DOLL PUPPY & DOGGY BED

I've been testing out different accessories for the American Girl Dolls that might be fun and somewhat easy for young girls to make.  Here is a little puppy and his doggy bed that I made out of an up cycled TIDE detergent bottle.  I just cut the bottom off, and hot glued fabric bias binding around the rough edges.  I made a little pillow and stuffed it with polyester fiberfil.  I found the little doggy pattern on a german website with all the instructions in german.  But all you really need is the pattern.  The next one I make I think I will shorten the little doggy so he will fit better into the bed.  All in all, I think he would be cute and fun for an American Girl doll lover to play with!  This craft would be too difficult for a child because there is a lot of sewing, but the dog bed might be a possibility.

American Girl Doll Fire Pit

Today I made a fire pit for an American Girl Doll.  I found a candleholder at Goodwill that I spray painted bronze.  I made the fire out of felt, stitched it up and stuffed it just a little to give it form.  Then, I hot glued pebbles around the fire and added some sticks I found in the yard.  I found this idea on Pinterest.  I think it is the perfect accessory for your dolls to pretend that they are making Smores!

American Girl Doll Knitted Halter Top

I just finished making the "Sunshine Halter" knitted halter top pattern sold by Liberty Jane patterns and designed by 123 Mulberry Street. It was so easy and quick to knit up.  And, it fits the American Girl doll or any 18" doll perfectly!  I changed the pattern slightly by making an I-cord to tie around the neck instead of the braid that was called for.  I picked up this cute yarn at my local Goodwill in a huge bag for only $3.93 for 15 skeins!

Now, I'm off to make another one.............

BENEATH THE SURFACE - Teen Summer Reading Program 2013

I never quite know how my ideas will turn out.  But, I'll have to say this one turned out exactly how I imagined it.

Our Summer Reading Program at the library starts the end of May.  The theme for the Teen Program is "BENEATH THE SURFACE".  I thought it would be cool to make a mermaid tail looking like it was diving into the water.  It's makes you wonder what she looks like and what IS beneath the surface.

I decided to make my mermaid's tail out of paper mache.

I've found that the easiest thing to use to make paper mache is wallpaper paste and old newspapers.  I bought this paste from Home Depot about 6 years ago and it's still going strong.  It cost about $5. and I imagine if you were to make your own paper mache out of flour and water, you'd have to buy about $5. worth of flour anyway.  It's easy to clean and no mold.

I started by forming the shape I wanted out of chicken wire.  (from Home Depot as well)  I wired the edges together, bunched it together at the top just below where I wanted the fin to start and formed it in the shape I wanted.

Then, I started tearing paper and dipping into the wallpaper paste.  Cover the entire surface with the paper mache and be sure to smooth down the edges.  To quicken the drying process, I sometimes use a hair dryer.

Mermaid tail completely covered with the newspaper paper mache.

I next use Gesso (from Dick Blick) to paint over the newsprint.  The gesso will keep the newsprint from bleeding through your top coat of paint.  It is not mandatory, it just gives you a nice base to start painting on.

Here are the colors I pulled out from my watercolors and acrylics.  I also found this package of glitter from the Dollar Store.  I knew it would come in handy sometime.

And here it is after I completed painting the tail.  It has glitter sprinkled on it randomly and just glistens.  I used mostly watercolor paint.  I rubbed slightly to blend the colors and when I did, I noticed that the outline of the chicken wire started to show through.  That was perfect, because it looks like scales.  Yea for surprises!!

I painted a little sign to  add to the top of the bookcases "Beneath the Surface" out of scrap cardboard.
I hope you'll try paper mache sometime.  It is so much fun and it is a very cost efficient way to make props for the library!