Blogtoberfest day 6

I'm always conscious that my kids spend a bit of time staring at the box on the school hols. Luckily I am happy for them to spend all day in front of this box:


This allows me time to practice crochet and create silly nonsense like this! Piggy for fun, quilted checker/chess boards for school fair.



Kids didn't get to the peggies yesterday, they were too busy with the chicks. Plenty of time still left in the hols for crafty pursuits. They are loving baking at the moment, but the damn oven in the new house is CRAP so results vary.

xx

Clippety-Clips

The BB kids go to a small, community school here in Canberra. We have our annual Spring Fair looming, and I have been making things for the craft stall.

I am working on some fabric board games, namely checkers and chess, as well as some knight's tabbards for dress-ups. These are fiddly and taking f o r e v e r... however the hair clips I have been inspired to make have been whipped up lickety split.


I have attached them all to cards to make them easier to display and am quite happy with them, especially as I have never done these sorts of things before. I hope that the glue I chose holds though - nothing worse than crappy adhesive.


These may very well become presents or party-craft for next year. They will definitely make the booklet though as they are very effective.


The packing is going slowly as well, but with 10 days to go until we move, I should be further ahead....

Crafting is keeping me sane in the meantime though!

xx

Handmade birthday presents for kids

I am putting together a booklet for my craft group on handmade birthday presents for children. These are generally projects adults will make for kids, but may include some ideas for kids to make for their friends and siblings.

In the past, I have made various presents, and have decided to collate some simple projects that anyone can do. I am not claiming any of these as my original ideas, and credits will be attributed. What are your craft ideas for kids' presents? I have a couple more in my head, not yet made, which I hope will make it into this booklet. I may have bitten off more than I can chew....

apron

pinny

pillowcase dress

knitted back pack

pram quilt

Air guitar by redmag!

Poncho

Dress-ups stand

Crayon melts

Apron

bibs

bunting

hair accessories

craft rolls

library bags

skirts

cushions

tops

booties

knitted food

Felt food

Mugs painted by kids


And examples of beautiful gifts by this amazing crafter, who's permission is not yet sought - E we need to talk!

Journals
Skirts
Car tidy
Puppets
Fabric Boxes
Lacing cards
Texta rolls
Car neck cushions
Doll's clothes
Board games
Books we have written and illustrated

What else have I forgotten??!

Are we there yet?

Winter that is. We have scraped ice off the car, had semi-frozen washing, had dragon breath in the house, turned on the heater, used the electric blanket. Yes, I know it's still May! We have had some respite over recent days though, with mild nights and days, allowing me time to complete some urgent Winter warmers.

My first pair of socks are now complete!


Mittens (or knittens as she puts it) for Miss 3 (yes, we have had a birthday!)


Scarf for Miss 3 made from double thickness polar fleece, buttons and felt. An easy sewing project that littlies can help with.


I am now over the sock hump, and have grand plans for a matching pair for Master 7, and socks for friends and for Mum. They are so cosy and imperfect. Long live wonky craft! Mr BB kindly noticed that they were slightly different lengths... this is all part of my impatience with wanting things NOW... I'm working on it.

The other thing about the socks, is that one is narrower in the foot than the other. After making the first and realising how roomy it was, I made additional decreases and the second fits more snugly, but us a little short in the toe. Despite this, I wear them as often as I can. Bring on the hand-knitted socks! I get it now Bells!!

The other little project that has been on the go is a desk for a dear little Miss-almost-5. A $5 desk from Aussie Junk, plus some cut-outs and paint, and voila. I'm really happy with this, and hope she is too!


Finally, also for Miss-almost-5, a hanging rack for her dress-ups. Not at all like me to get out the hammer and drill, but I had so much fun with this. It needs paint etc but you get the idea. Phew! A busy weekend!


In family news, Mr BB has had 2 weeks of gentle, part-time-hours back at work. Dr has just prescribed another 3 weeks part-time. He is getting there, slowly.

Take care,

Jess
x

Life could be a dream (sha boom, shibori...)

Shibori is a Japanese method of essentially tie-dyeing. Stitching then dying creates a beautiful effect for the patient craftster. I am more an immediate gratification/results please craftster. I did some the other day with friends, using the old techniques of pegs, string and rubber bands.



We then tried a Japanese technique using clamping with triangular blocks. In this method the fabric (in this case silk), was folded between and around the blocks, and then held together tightly with rubber bands. The end product shows the sections of the fabric which were exposed to the most and least dye.


Now I will learn how to do a rolled hem (perhaps best by hand) and complete this as a scarf for Mum for Mothers' day.

Nothing like trying something new - particlarly when you can recover previously stained old shirts and items to create a new life for them.

What are you learning at the moment?

j

Upcycling a 45

My friend Eilleen and I very much enjoyed the Handmade market a few weekends ago here in Canberra. One clever possum was selling scrapbooks, journals, notebooks and photo albums made from old books. We were rather taken with these.

Eilleen bought several old records at the YMCA garage sale, and has done a great upcycle of these. One is blogged over here. I love the one she generously made for me -

It fits perfectly into my current handbag, with a pen snugly in the spine. I have my list of things to do on the page and my shopping lists, receipts, etc in the pockets. Thanks E - I have a pile of books ready to try my own!



The original EP is still in the back, which is a bonus if I can get hold of a record player! Master 6 wonders how to put it into the CD player.......


Our books ready for modifying! Where's that Stanley knife??

xx

Craft as Therapy

It's not a new idea. craft as therapy. As part of my break, I had some anxiety that needed dealing with, as well as insomnia. As a result, plenty of time and plenty of nervous energy! Nothing like crocheting in cotton to keep the brain occupied and the fingers moving. I have one stitch that I can do, no idea what it is, but it's therapeautic. A perfect car craft, and with a bamboo hook, a perfect (discreet) plane craft too.




Churned out a few washcloths, little bags and baskets for kids' games, and an amusing (to me anyway) little interpretation of a favourite Baldesin statue at the National Gallery here...




Still, it keeps me busy and repairs the tired areas of the brain.

x

Going, going, gone!

The moved happened, the phone is yet to go on, the computer is still in a box (maybe befriending the as yet unseen mobile phone charger...?!). We are hoping that the internet gets connected this week, and I am missing my technology!

At least the knitting made it in one piece though!

This weekend is the Craft and Quilt expo in Canberra. I am VERY excited. Very.

Will you be there?

The competition is still going for the giveaway, so keep going! It's been so entertaining! Have a read and a chuckle. Lots of INXS fans, lots of Julia fans, lots of confessions! Loving it.

Hopefully some photos soon - it's been a while! I will show you the giveaway goodies too!

J

Mr 5 has also been busy crafting away!

I have been instructed by Mr 5 to put some pics of HIS creations onto the computer. He is fascinated with this process!!

He made me the necklace for my Christmas present. It has a bell on it, so he knows when I am coming...! (Moo??) He has Asperger's Syndrome, so gets easily startled when crept up on.

The life-sized cut-out of him was done a while ago, but is permanently on the wall in the lounge. It was done on a roll of paper from the local paper. A great friend told me that you can get rolls from The Canberra Times for quite cheap. They are the left-overs from printing the paper that they can't use, and can have 10+m left on them. They are brilliant. He did this at school, but we have another on the go as he has grown so much!

The mug was hand-painted by him after I had a go doing one. He loved the thought that his art would be permanent, and I use it Every Day. It is my Favourite Mug.

Those kids' craft recipes I mentioned...

OK, slack me has forgotten the recipes (thanks for the reminder email!!!)

The salt dough one comes from another site and then from Eilleen so you can find it and pictures of the great presents she made, here.

Mr 5 loves making Cornflour Slime, which is super easy to make, and super easy to clean up after (a HUGE bonus for me).

Water colour paints require:

A quantity of cornflour
An equal volume of cold water
Food colouring of required colours.

Mix the cornflour and water, stirring until the cornflour is in complete suspension.
Slowly add food colouring until desired colour is achieved.
Leave in a jar or tray to completely air dry.
When completely dry, crush to a fine powder, and store until required.

I use baby-food jars to store this in.

To use the paint, add water until desired consistency is reached.

Easy.

Cooked Play Dough is another easy one, if you do not have weak wrists, as the stirring can be tough. I use the recipe from the Play School site which you can find here. I halve the recipe which is plenty for 2 or 3 kids to play with. I only make the full amount if I am making lots of different colours, or when I made it for the school fair.

The Play School/ABC Kids site also has recipes for:

Bubble mix
Paper
and Soap Slime

and heaps of other recipes for the things they make on the show. Good resource for do-able kids' craft as well.

Pasting Glue is a goo made up from cornflour, blended with a little cold water to form a paste, then whisk/stir in boiling water until thick. Let it cool before giving to the kids!!



I picked up a chalk board/painting easel at Salvos the other day for $4 (great value!) so I need all these recipes to get into the outdoor messy crafts the kids love.

I hope you enjoy them.