So here in Ann Arbor, Michigan the Fairies have taken over the city and given quite a bit of magic to families around town.  The Fairies appear to inhabit any home that installs a door for them.  We created some DIY kits for you to create some of this magic and lore for your own home.  My own girls delight in leaving messages and tokens for Fairies and especially love the Fairy responses (my favorite are the reminders that Fairies like things neat and tidy!)

I snapped this photo last night before serving dinner.  The kids had already started doodling on it .  We save the chalkcloth tablecloth (2 yards of chalkcloth to cover the table) for special occasions to keep the idea fresh.  It’s the one thing that will bring everyone to the dinner table quickly.

Tip: have extra cloth napkins at the table to use as erasers.

Our website might be shiny new, but we’ve been crafting and sewing for years. We got a class going on right now at 212 Arts in Saline MI http://www.twotwelvearts.org/artfab.af.html with my favorite of fabrics: Mexican oilcloth.

I may be just a sucker for the quick fix of throwing a couple yards of oilcloth over my table to spice up its look, but who doesn’t love a fabric that wipes clean, is waterproof and is insanely bright and festive looking?

Oilcloth has more body than regular fabric, doesn’t fray and can be easily sewn into a nice-looking project by the most novice of beginners. Don’t even want to sew?

Cut the oilcloth into 13 x 16 squares for place mats, or one large square for a splash mat. Line a box or drawer with it –or go ahead just throw it over your table. Dinner!