#SilentSunday

Home corner, sweet home corner!

Yesterday was a very special day... it was Wiss's 2nd Birthday! I heard some 'scientists' claiming that it was actually the most depressing day of the year but how could we possibly be unhappy when we had one very excited little man?!

Wiss loves the 'home corner' at nursery and when we stayed in hospital, the play kitchen was the one thing he returned to again and again. We also thought it would be a good idea to have some toys in our kitchen to keep him occupied whilst we were cooking. Play kitchens are very expensive though, seem to be all made out of plastic...and usually come in pink!

(I can't believe that this kind of role play is still aimed more towards girls than boys, hello? It is 2012, you know! I also had many conversations with colleagues who questioned why a BOY would want a kitchen to play with? ...grrrrrr! We didn't think we were being ground-breaking or even controversial: we just don't want Wiss to be limited in any way. He can play with whatever he wants to.)

I searched on Pinterest and saw lots of fantastic home made and customised kitchens, so decided to make Wiss a kitchen of his own for his birthday. I will put my hands up now and admit I did enjoy getting carried away with all the little details, but hey, I am a modelmaker so how could I not?

I used some spare wood from our worktop for the upstands, and the rest was laminated mdf or a plastic material called Foamex. The base for the whole kitchen was a slim wooden bench with cupboards and shelves underneath and a back piece. I took a photograph of the wallpaper in our actual kitchen and printed it out on the big printer at work. Here are some work in progress shots as it came together...

I even branded the oven - showing off, I know! Wiss's kitchen is a mini version of our own, complete with walnut worktop and feature wallpaper! A vintage Fisher Price hob (eBay!), and  more birthday gifts of wooden fruit and veg, kettle, toaster and a dinner service were the finishing touches. (Thank you Nana Daisy, Auntie Hannah and Auntie Chicken!)

As you can see, it fits in pretty well and we couldn't wait for Wiss to see it. It's one thing for me to be pleased with it but would the Little Chef like it?

I think that's a yes!!! Move over Jamie, Heston and Hugh, there's a new kid in town!

Knights & Hosses

Seeing as I'm busy sewing away making as much stock as possible for the next Dulwich Farmer's Markets in December, and I don't have much to show you at the moment, I thought I'd post a little project I finished last month. It was a special little boy's birthday coming up, and as he is mad about Knights and everything to do with them I'd had an idea for a present.

I'm sure you are familiar with Noughts & Crosses, but what about Knights & Hosses??! I wanted to make my version of the game more 3D and interactive for little hands, so rather than using pen and paper I decided to make figures that slotted into a game board. I am lucky enough to work in a fully-stocked workshop so I have access to machines that most people don't but this idea could be adapted and made at home. I started by using wooden dolly pegs for the Knights and Hosses figures.

I cut out the figures' heads on the laser cutter from wood veneer and perspex.

Using a jig and the table saw, I cut a slot in the pegs in which the heads could be glued.

I made the game board/box from clear perspex. The lid slides off so that the Knights & Hosses can be stored inside the box when not in use. I painted the Knights and Hosses with 'team' colours to further differentiate the two sides, and finally, I personalised the box using the laser cutter because who doesn't love having their name on something?

The game made it safely in the post to the birthday boy, and so I was told, it was played with immediately. Happy days!

Another weekend, yet another handmade birthday present!

I told you it was birthday season for us! The scary thing is the birthdays carry on coming until the middle of November...and then it's Christmas of course! (Sssh! Just pretend I didn't write that word, we've got ages until then.)

The birthday in question this week is a little girl's second, and seeing as summer really is over and I couldn't get away with another Warhol dress, I decided to make a Simple Skirt (from my favourite blog, MADE) I figured it could be worn on it's own if we have a late Indian summer, or with tights more than likely! It really couldn't have been any simpler to make and I am very pleased with the results.

I wanted to make it girly but avoid the cliched pink, and I had some great buttons that I've been wanting to use for ages. I love grey alongside a bright colour, and on kids clothes I think it looks sophisticated without being too 'old'. (I realise there is just the tiniest hint of grey on this project but I mean in general.)

The skirt is double layered using a red and white striped polycotton to contrast with the buttons, and a fab red cotton. I used grey cotton for the double stitching on the hems and waistband to add some more detail. I wanted to make some reference to it being her second birthday but thought an appliqued number would be too obvious and spoil the look so instead I went uber-subtle and sewed on a button for each of her years!

Fingers crossed it is dry on Saturday for her party! Now what I really need to do it start making more stock for This Is Wiss. The next Sell It Mama is in less than 5 weeks time.....! Eek