Miciah's Creations

Miciah loves to make things, and she's getting good at it.  For Elijah's birthday she asked him what he wanted, and he said a koala stuffed animal (he asked us, too, but we said no.  He's already got something like 8 of them).  So she made one.  Herself.

That's her own design.  Her own sewing - hand and machine.  ...  Too cool.

While she was at it, she also made him a small decorative pillow with fringe.

You know.  Just cause.

Let me also make this clear:  I give Miciah no guidance on these projects of hers - it's all her.  But I do supply her with material to work with.  Years ago when I realized art was something Miciah loved, I asked my artistic cousin what I should do.  I know how to keep a tomboy happy and engaged, but an artsy child?  What the what?  She advised me that the most important thing was to keep giving her supplies.  She'd figure it out.  So that's what I've done.  Occasionally I hook her up with an expert, but normally I just keep her supplied with paints and cloth and pens and pencils and paper (SO MUCH PAPER!) and stickers and buttons and yarn. 

Then, as part 2, I never ever get upset when she's actually USED those supplies, even when I feel she's used too much of something or gone through a particular thing too quickly.  I just buy her more.  Creation takes practice.

(Also, if anyone has some of this stuff just laying around, we could give it a good home!  ...  Shout out to those who already have:  Thank you Laura and Lisa and Angela.  I use the scrapbooking stuff sometimes, but Miciah CREATES with it!)

Miciah did an art class for 5 weeks, and she loved it!  Here are my two favorite pieces that she came out with:

Each day they'd focus on an artist doing a particular style and try to re-create it.  If you can't tell what this one is based off, then I'm sorry.

Check this one out!

How cool is that!  This one seems easy enough to re-create, if you'd like.  Crayons glued to the page and then a hairdryer to melt the bottom halves.  (The discolored parts in the picture are where the wax has fallen off.  I should have taken the picture right away when she brought it home.)

The other day Miciah was in a rare time out.  While in her room for an hour she created a Treasure Hunt play set for Teancom.  No joke.

That's a WORKING treasure map.  She hid the pieces of the set around the toyroom and then gave Tank a map to find them.  Tank was convinced that the map was some ancient document.  (To anyone concerned:  No, we didn't let Miciah burn the edges.  Rob did that part.)

A cool "telescope":

And this is like a little diorama (is that what they're called?):

Here's the back of it:

Fun, no?  She said she just went to our world map and wrote down names.  Gives it a fun Old Travel Stickers on Luggage feel.

Also of note:  The diorama is made out of a ziplock bag box that we were recycling.  That girl can create with anything.  ...  And I wasn't even aware we'd given her labels.  Clearly we did.


I am in awe of Miciah.  Her creations are cool, and her thoughtfulness is amazing.  Know what I would have said if Elijah asked me to make him a stuffed koala?  Actually, I'm quite sure you already know what I would have said.  :)  No, of course.  Or maybe I would have said, "Call your grandma.  She does stuff like that."  And while the treasure hunt set is within my skill range, I wouldn't have thought to make it.  My boys are lucky to have a sister like Miciah.