Just because

While I try very hard to finish a project before starting a new one (or else end up with too many UFO’s), I also like to have a few little things on the go and at different stages so that if I get a spare three minutes I can squeeze in a little handwork.

 

These little ladybugs were a ‘just because’ project. Tutorial found here. Perfect as a little project with no deadline. Perfect just because. 

 

 

H watched the entire process over the space of a few weeks and as soon as the first one was done she took it off to our little felt playscape to settle in and wait for the other one to be done.

 

Perfectly sized for H's little hands

I'm joining up with Nicole on Frontier Dreams for Crafting On.  Please check out her wonderful blog!

Homemade birthday goodies

A little friend from playgroup celebrated his 3^rd birthday this weekend and I found little pockets of time in the days before hand to create a gift.

 

H was very interested in the process and while she couldn’t really help she sat beside me as I sewed and talked about her little friend.

Our gift to our little friend was a magical cape and a matching crown made with some handmade felt that I dyed using food colouring. I hope that he enjoys many hours of play.

Finger painting fun

H and I made some finger paint yesterday. I have to make an effort with this one to do messy activities because even though she loves painting (with a brush) and other forms of art she does not like getting her hands messy.

excited to help

 I have always made finger-paints for my children using basic ingredients from the pantry – I like to know what’s in it! This was my first time of adding sugar to the mix and as the paint dried it stayed lovely and glossy

 

Here is the recipe that I used to make homemade finger paint

¼ cup cornflour

1 ½ tablespoons sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

1 Cup cold water

Food colouring

 

Simply add all ingredients into a saucepan and stir continuously over medium heat until the consistency changes. I then divide the mix into as many colours as you want and then add the food colouring. The best thing with this kind of recipe is that little people can be very involved in making their own finger paint. H loved mixing the colours

the neatest finger painter ever

And we have plenty of paint left for another painting session with big brother A after school

Rainbow needle felted faries

In the last week of being pregnant with baby L I was bitten by the needle felting bug ( it was great because it helped to distract my mind from the fact that the baby was overdue). I wanted to make a mobile for the baby that I was waiting to meet and as I played around with the roving these little fairies / angels came into being.

I ended up making eight of them in rainbow colours (of course) using beautiful roving from here and here.

The roving used here was from Fiona Duthie

wing detail

Even though all the needle felting was done before baby L arrived they are still sitting in a little basket on my work table as i am unsure how I should string them up and I have not had time to play around with them. I am hoping to have some time in the coming weekend.

This fairy is the Indigo Inspirations rainbow roving

This eighth fairy / angel is not part of the mobile - I was just having too much fun