My new camera is so damn cute, I just had to make it it’s own little camera cozy. I used to think these things were called “camera cases” but a quick look around Google showed me I was just wrong. They are in fact called camera cozies. The idea behind this camera is that it’s small enough that I can carry it anywhere, but I don’t want it to get all banged up in my bag so that’s why it needs its own little case cozy.

I got this awesome polka-dot fabric and some fleece to match at the fabric store the other day, so I was all ready to dive into this project today. I started off by drafting a pattern based on my camera’s dimensions. I kept forgetting to add in one side of the camera or another though, so I had to make a gazillion drafts. Then I had to figure out the seam allowances which was hard because I didn’t know how much the fleece was going to bulk up the case. I ended up just guessing, but it turns out I guessed wrong. More on that later.

Cutting the fabric out went pretty smoothly.

Next up came the sewing. I don’t even remember the last time I had my sewing machine out and I was making this project up as I went along. This picture pretty much sums up the process because I spent the next two hours sewing impulsively, realizing I’d screwed up, ripping seams out, thinking really hard, sewing again, finding another screw-up, ripping a seam out, and so on and so forth.

But then finally I was done and it had all worked out! Here is a picture with my camera in the cozy:

And here it is all fastened shut:

My camera is all tucked away inside, well-padded and no longer getting scratched. Yay!

Wyatt and I made a couple of lacing cards this morning as we were putting together lunches and eating breakfast. I drew the pictures, he colored them and then I cut them out and punched the holes in them. I thought they were pretty cute, but he was only marginally interested in them.

I really try not to push my crafty pursuits on him when he’s not interested, but I have to admit that it can get a little frustrating when I come up with something that I think will be a really fun activity for him and he’s lukewarm on it. I wonder if all crafty moms have this problem, or if it’s his age or if I come up with really lame activities.

Last September I tried to do a photo per day project, but I was thwarted by what I later found out was a case of mono. I’ve wanted to do one ever since, but one thing or another kept me from beginning. But here we are on May 1 and I’m starting again.

Today’s photo is of my latest project: photo organization. I am doing a modified version of a system that Stacy Julian outlines in her latest book Photo Freedom. I’m currently working on sorting my old photos into categories. I bought a really cool four drawer card catalog off Craigslist a few weeks ago and I’m putting them into those drawers separated by tabs. This is my “People” drawer.

I’ve had a couple of questions about the supplies I use in the bento boxes I pack for myself and for Wyatt, so I thought I’d do a quick post on the various pieces I use.

For my bentos, I use my Mr. Bento. My husband bought it for me for Christmas from Amazon.

The bento lunch boxes I use for my son’s preschool lunches were purchased at Ichiban Kan. I am lucky to have a store just a few blocks from my house, so I got them there. I believe that they used to have the boxes on their site, but they appear to be sold out at the moment. It sounds like they may be getting some more in stock in the next few weeks.

Some of my most used tools are my Wilton silicone baking cups. I got mine at Michael’s with a 40% off coupon, but you can also find them online very easily. These are great because you can keep wet things away from dry things so crackers, bread, etc. don’t get soggy. They also make a cute, cheerful presentation and they’re great for a kid who doesn’t like it when one kind of food touches another. The bento containers I use are almost exactly the same height as these cups, so as soon as you put the lid on the food is trapped inside of them. They rock.

I use regular cookie cutters from our cupboard to cut Wyatt’s sandwiches out. I’ve been collecting most of these for years and they’re from all over the place. I did buy a set of mini animal-shaped cookie cutters especially for Wyatt’s lunches though. They’re great for cutting cheese, tofu and the smaller pieces of sandwich left-over after I cut the bigger heart or kitty shapes. Cutting food into shapes is flat-out the best way to make a lunch cute.

Finally, I’ve been assembling a collection of Japanese bento accessories for the last few months. Some of them are from the Ichiban Kan store by my house and some were sent to me by my friend Lisa in a care package. In the picture above you can see a sample of some of my stuff. The pink thing in the top left is a condiment container complete with a yellow spreader. I use it for butter in my lunches. Wyatt is dying for me to send it full of catsup in his lunch. Below that are some tiny little bottles. They’re intended for soy sauce, but I use them for lemon juice too. Below that are little food picks. Don’t let these go down into your garbage disposal or you’ll be sorry. And the pack on the right side contains anti-bacterial food dividers. You’re probably most used to seeing green ones separating the wasabi from the California rolls in take-out sushi boxes. I think veggie ones are particularly cool, and I find myself saving them for special occasions which I have to admit is totally weird.

As far as tips for packing a bento, I bow down to the superior talents of Biggie over at Lunch in a Box. Go there to learn everything you need to know about packing a lunch for yourself or your preschooler. Just don’t get too depressed by the fact that her son appears to eat everything. I find my options are much more limited because of my son’s pickier eating habits.

This weekend I made these button flowers that I saw on the artsy-crafty babe site. They’re so cute I want to eat them. I haven’t quite decided what I’m going to do with them yet. I’m thinking I’m either going to turn them into pins like she did or maybe make a bunch of magnets. Mostly I just want to put them in a big pile and sit around staring at them, but I don’t think that would be the best use of my time.

Wyatt has been asking for a paper wallet like his dad’s for a while now, so I decided to just whip one out for him. He chose red paper of course and when he finished he immediately filled it with discarded cards from his dad’s wallet.

He’s pretty thrilled with it. He keeps asking to go to the grocery store (or “the grocer’s” as he says) because he wants to pay for everything with the “money” in his new wallet. The check-out ladies are really nice about it and “scan” his card each time and he’s so proud. It’s all very cute.