Slow down , you move too fast

Slow down, you move too fast, you've got to make the morning last
Just kickin' down the cobble-stones, lookin' for fun and feelin' groovy

Feeling groovy

Hello lamp-post, what's cha knowing, I've come to watch your flowers growin'
Ain't cha got no rhymes for me, do-it-do-do, feelin' groovy

Feeling groovy

I've got no deeds to do, no promises to keep
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me

Life I love you, all is groovy 

Feeling Groovy - Simon and Garfunkel

Do you know this song? I have heard it in the past but recently heard a new to me version by Renee and Jeremy and I love it! So much of the lyrics resonates with my life at the moment.

In an effort to slow down I have drastically cut down on screen time. Luckily we dont watch TV but I was finding that in the evenings when my little people were tucked up in bed my precious evening hours were being consumed with the computer - Pinterest, Facebook, reading my favourite blogs, Ravelry - I am sure you get the picture. There are so many amazing, generous, loving people out there with tempting patterns, words of wisdom, free tutorials and ideas that would leave my brain spinning.

In my absence from this space and even from catching up with some of my favourite blogs (sorry friends) I have focused on finding a healthier balance and use of my evening time. More time for sleep, my hubby and my crafts makes me a much happier person and Mama all round.

Spring is in full swing here and the last month has flown by in a blur of busy times. I am trying to get out more with my children when I can to spend time in the garden and the older two really enjoy , planting seeds, watering and the anticipation of all the good things to come. Baby L is expanding her little world and is enjoying the feel (and the taste) of the earth.

Birthday Fairy

H and I have been busy creating a gift for our little friends 3rd birthday. Once again I made a little wooden fairy and a felt teepee. This time we also made some largish fabric leaves upcycled from a pair of velour pants that meet an unfortunate fate whilst the wearer was climbing a tree!

H is increasingly interested in the sewing machine as well as any hand sewing I attempt and less easily distracted playing with the pins in the pin cushion. The leaves were a perfect project as they did not require too much concentration or accuracy and were very quick to make. In fact there was a third really large leaf that incorporated one of the original pants pockets but that was instantly whisked off by H as that pocket makes an excellent place for small felt chicks to sleep!

I think that I can now call this my official go to gift for three year old's as I have now made it three times - four if I include the set I made for H's 3rd birthday.

H wanted the fairy to have a sleep in the teepee. Sleeping must have been on her mind this day.

Happy birthday Miss B we hope that being three is a wonderful adventure

The Mitten - a story set

 A little while ago (last year in fact!) there was a how to article in this issue of Living Crafts. It was on how to make a story set with wooden animals and was based on the story of The Mitten. I instantly knew that I would be making this for my own children because I love the Mitten story and also happened to have a copy of the Jan Brett book that I picked up at an op shop a few years ago.

Full of enthusiasm I carefully cut out the wooden figures and then popped them into a little basket with some sand paper ready for those quite moments, when the children are happily playing outside and I am all caught up with the washing and weeding and the million other little jobs that fill my time to be done so that I could hand sand those pieces. Well weeks and months passed, life was busy, it was a new year with a new baby and still the pieces waited. I did manage to do little bits here and there and then in mid May this year I decided that I really did want to get this project done so that A and H could play with it while it was winter.

So I got sanding, then added some simple detail with the wood burner tool. The article suggested painting the figures with a wash of watercolour paint but I loved the natural beauty of the wood so my next stepo was to seal each piece with some home made beeswax wood polish. H helped with this and loved the process. Then all I had to do was make a giant mitten.

Well I got it done and right before our household became very sick with colds, ear infection and asthma. Needless to say that it was very handy having something new to distract the children with and they both requested the mitten story many times.

I love that the mitten laces up. H loves it too

It feels so good to complete a project especially one that has waited so long. I am on a bit of a UFO (unfinished object) kick at the moment so hopefully I will be back soon to share some more.
Do you know the story of The Mitten? Do you have a favourite winter story?

Play Food

My niece recently turned three and I wanted to give her something handmade. My own little three year old loves making cups of tea for me in her play kitchen and so I thought that some little felt tea 'accessories' might be well received.

Both the tea bags and cakes were super easy - I didn't use patterns I just winged it and I was happy with the results - but best of all my niece enjoys them.

My own two little people really liked the tea bags and even though we don't have much in the way of play food I am now committed to making another set of tea bags.

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

Bird feeders

H and I have been noticing recently that our garden is being frequented by a stunning pair of Rosella's. So the other day I saved some bread crusts so that we could make some bird feeders for our feathered friends. They are quick and easy to do and best of all can almost be entirely by the children. A and I have made these a few times over the years and he loved remembering as he was guiding his sister this time.

The feeders are simply the crust slice that I cut into two pieces and poked a bit of a hole with the point of a knife. I then set them aside to dry overnight.

In the morning I made a wool loop on each piece of crust.

 We spread them with peanut butter

and then sprinkled them with some bird seed mix.

then we ventured out to find some spots around the garden to hang them

and wait for the birds to find them.

I was not lucky enough to get a picture of the birds eating their yummy treat but 24 hours later there was not anything left. The Rosellas did visit and also a wattle bird and some currawongs.

After we were done hanging the bird feeders it was the perfect time to fly a kite and run around.