Busy Bees

One afternoon not too long ago this Mama needed to keep Miss H out of the house so that Baby L could get some much needed and sometimes elusive day sleep time. We headed outside and I suggested a walk in the little park that adjoins our house. We wandered downhill towards the large Casurina tree and while playing with the seed pods that we fond there an idea began to form in my mind. These pods make the best bees. This not an original idea rather one that I have seen in various places over the years and I cannot point you to a source. Perhaps it is The Nature Table book.

When we got back to the house I crept inside to get a few things and then we were all set to sit outside and enjoy some sunshine and make bees.

Our supplies : Scissors, wool (yarn) in brown and yellow, tulle, Casurina pods and sticks

The process is simple - wind the pod in the yellow wool and then tie off.
Cut an elongated oval from the tulle and roughly pleat with your fingers.
Cinch in the middle and tie the tulle on using the tails of the yellow wool.
Add the brown and tie a few knots.
Cut brown wool to desired length and then tie onto a stick and viola a simple little bee puppet perfect for flying around the garden.

These bees were so popular with H that she asked to make more so we had some to share with our little friends.

 

The bees also make a great addition to our seasonal nature table or as story props.

H in action telling me a little story about the bees visiting all the flowers in all the gardens

I will note that after a few days of play the knots on the original bees were beginning to loosen so I added a drop or two of PVA glue to keep them from unravelling and so far that seems to be working well.

Needle - ing

  My little H has been quite a keen observer any time I do any kind of sewing and for some time has asked to do needle-ing (that is sewing with a needle). For a tome she was happy to poke pins into a pincushion, then she progressed to threading pieces of felt onto a button that was attached to a ribbon, then sewing on some plastic canvans and her interest was still strong. So two weeks ago after a lovely morning at playgroup we called into our local craft shop to buy a hoop. H choose red - her current favourite colour - and we also (thankfully) got one for A as well to prevent arguments.

 The next day we put together this little basket with some Hessian in the hoop and some pre cut lengths of crochet cotton wound onto a card and a large blunt needle.

 H was keen to start and soon got the hang of which side she needed to poke the needle - she was repeating it to herself (very cute). I did tell her to do little steps with her needle but other than that and a bit of initial help in holding the hoop and sewing at the same time this was all her own little project.

And because baby L was asleep I got own my own hoop and we happily did some needle-ing, side by side together for about 20 minutes (which of course in the word of a three year old is a very long time).


My project is a bit of a long term one that has been on the go for over three years YIKES (on and off - well O.k more off!!) Its a quilt for A that I am hand quilting and its very nearly done. Hopefully I can share the finished quilt soon.

This was such a magical little project sharing my passion with one of my children. Hope we do more soon.

Toasty warm

Autumn fading, winter comes

Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs,

Cold red noses, cold red cheeks,

Warm woolly socks for icy cold feet,

Gloves and coats and hats for all!

Now King Winter, you may call. 

author unknown to me.

 

 

A recent finished project - wrist warmers / fingerless gloves to keep the little ones warm on frosty mornings. 

 

 We have had a few strong frosts since I completed these and I must say their little fingers do seem warmer though I am sure that they do not suffer from cold fingers as much as their Mama does.

 I am working on a pair for me and have set myself a goal of having them ready for when school resumes next week. 

The last few weeks . . .

The last few weeks have been whizzing past - lots of things to keep me busy and also some big decisions to ponder and make. Here is some of what has been occupying my time

Lantern walk at playgroup

Baby L is roly poly and very active

Winter = more frequent asthma for both H and A

A little backyard fire bucket to celebrate the Winter solstice

complete with sparklers and marshmallows

Teaching needle felting to a wonderful woman's group that I am a part of

Baby L has started solids - so a bit of extra cooking and a whole exciting adventure

A work in progress that H helped me with

New hairstyles for H - she has discovered that she likes ribbons

My boy who is enjoying spending time in the kitchen - he is looking so grown up!

another one who is growing too quickly

A new needle felted mobile for Baby L

Busy happy times for sure.

My girls in their Rainbows

 I finished the rainbow tunic that I was working on for H a fortnight or so ago - not much chance to sit and upload the photos hence the delay. This is the tunic that was to be an Easter gift then a birthday gift (mid April) and was finally a 'here you go I finished it' gift!

These photos were taken on the morning of the first day that H could wear her tunic. She loved matching baby L. The skirt is a lot fuller that the one that I made last winter but I think it works well and as H discovered when we arrived at our playgroup that day the fullness means that she can pull it up to make some pretty neat wings - heheh.

The pattern is "Bloom" by Georgie Hallam but I worked the skirt without the lace work making it the perfect no thinking knit for me.

sweet siblings

Pony sensory tub

 H received some little plastic toy ponies for her birthday.She is probably a bit young for this type of toy and they were sitting about unused. Then one night via pinterest I saw a sensory tray that incorporated similar small ponies and I wondered if H might enjoy that.

 It was simple enough to put together using bits and bobs from around the house - the ponies (of course), a silicone cupcake form, some shells and pompoms along with the rice in a round container.
 

I coloured the rice using rubbing alcohol and food colouring - the instructions are easy to find if you Google. I have also, in my past life as a pre-school teacher coloured rice without the rubbing alcohol with good results i.e colourfast and without the nasty smell. 

H was a little unsure at first. She is usually reluctant with new textures. We do have another larger rice tray that we set up under our shady wisteria in summer but it been a while since the children have played with it.

She carefully scopped up some rice into the shells so that the ponies coud have a drink.

Then H said they needed plants. After a quick trip to our own Aladdin's cave better known as the spare room I was able to give her some (artificial) green leaves. H then carefully planted these in the rice.

Next H raided her brothers blocks and added two castle towers so that the treasure could be safe at the top. She even asked her Dadda if he might make some smaller towers for the ponies : )

All up I think H played with the tub for a little over half an hour which is a good for her age and it was also a language rich activity. This is not the type of play activity that H does on a regular basis but it was a nice change