Spring Fair

Last weekend our local Steiner School celebrated its annual Spring Fair. This was the third year that I have been asked if I would like to share a table with some VERY talented friends in the gallery space. My contribution was smaller than I might have liked but I have been kind of busy this year with my little ones!

First up I had some needle felted tooth fairy hanging pockets. I made the first of these a few months ago when A lost his first tooth. The pocket is just the right size for a coin, a crystal or two and perhaps a letter from the tooth fairy. The beautiful roving that I used to make these came from here.

I also made some folded star lanterns and two felted toadstool houses with playmats

And here is what our table looked like . . . see I told you they were talented.

Spring Table

Winter Table

Autumn Table

Summer Table

The weather was wonderful and we all had a great time at the various stalls and activities. The maypole dance was a favourite but I didn't get a photo.

H and Dadda made a wreath for her to wear

A taking it all in

Baby L and I having a cuddle

I added this photo because I couldn't resist!

Winter Nature table

We have had a little Steiner style nature table in our home for about three and a half years now. Its a lovely little space especially on days when the clean piles of washing waited to be folded threaten to overtake the living room and I barely get to drink my tea!

I thought I would take a few pictures of our Winter table before we transition into Spring. I have taken photos in the past and love looking back on them. The changes from year to year are subtle but also somehow reflect where the children are up to.

Enjoy

This is our nature table - actually on top of a buffet unit in the living room

shhhh . . . the Root Children are still sleeping

Jack Frost, Winter sprite and some felt mice that Harper keeps putting to sleep

Sometimes this holder contains a picture - currently it is a verse that was part of a seasonal swap that I took part in last year

Jack Frost

Winter sprite with a little lantern

Craft Fair

My best friend and I have a little tradition of attending the local craft fair together each year. Each of my children have come along as babies and this past weekend it was baby L's turn. She was an awesome craft show companion. She managed to have two sleeps and when she was awake she was happy taking in all the sights. It was lovely wandering around all day with her in the carrier.

Here are a few pictures of the goodies that I bought home with me

Hand dyed wool felt, tiny glass jars with cork stoppers and acrylic? flowers

English paper piecing templates, a triangle quilting template and a toadstool stitchery

Washi tape, robot stamp,  liquid pearls, paper flowers and a new paper quilting pattern

A bit of variety that should have me happily creating as time permits. English paper piecing is new to me - something that I gave admired on other blogs. I have vision of my little girls in summer dresses embellished with hexagons and maybe even a dolly quilt. The paper quilt will be perfect for the three little boys that were recently born and who I want to give a little handmade something to. Now if only I could get an extra hour or two a day . . .

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.

Our Fairy Garden

Each year our children have a little Easter hunt. We do not like them to have too much chocolate so in the past there have been flower bulbs wrapped in colorful cellophane. Its a really lovely tradition because we then plant the bulbs (after reading The Story of the Root Children) and wait for their appearance in the spring. This year however we didn't really need any more daffodils so I thought of an alternative.

 A has recently shown an increasing interest in creating fairy gardens and homes as well as 'bug worlds' and other small worlds. We actually started to make fairy houses together when he was four from bits and pieces that we found in nature but his interest waned until spending time recently with a little friend who showed him the finer points of making a fairy garden.Since then he has been excavating a hole under the roots of the wisteria and making that a fairy home with H joining in finding treasures to add to the fairy home, so I thought I would capatalise on this interest and hide a few fairy garden accessories as part of the Easter hunt.

I made two wooden fairy doors, kind of following a tutorial found at Happy Whimsical Hearts and painted some small stones with Easter motifs.I carved a gourd that I grew two summers ago for the fairy house, some brightly colored aquarium gravel, a few plants and we were good to go.

One of the wooden fairy doors - so much fun to make!

It was a bit of serendipity but two weeks before Easter we borrowed a book called Lily and the Fairy House from the library. The children loved it (and so did I) so much so that it is now on my book wish list. Once we started our garden they wanted to make a swing from a hair ribbon just like in the story.

We made the garden nice and high so that it would be a comfortable height for the children and also dog and baby proof once baby L is mobile.

I love that over time we can add to the garden. who knows where it may take us

Fairy door at the base of the Wisteria

Easter 2012

Life is happy/crazy/busy right now. There is just so much happening each week which is nice but it also means little computer time (and I am also trying to listen to my body and go to bed earlier - frequently 7.30!!). I wanted to share a glimpse of our Easter, in more pictures than words

Teacher gifts - the felt carrot was well received

H's Easter basket

A's Easter basket

early morning chocolate

No chocolate for baby L - she got a puppy instead

New cosies i.e dressing gowns

egg hunt

finding treasures

opening treasures

painted fairy stepping stone

Easter this year was lovely. A is now old enough to remember our little family traditions that have been in place for a few years which makes things extra special.

Hopefully I will get back here in the next week to share what else we have been up to.