The Village Fair Virtual Stall - This is Wiss Tutorial for Felt Streamers

This weekend the South Bank Centre in London is hosting a quintessential Village Fair, with an urban twist! There will be stalls to browse, traditional games to play, local brass bands, and loads of crafting. For more details of the events on Saturday and Sunday then check out the South Bank Centre's website.

The key theme of the event is Community and bringing people together to share their passions. I am really excited to be part of the Virtual Tutorial Stall, where rather than selling items 12 craft bloggers are sharing ideas and giving tutorials, so that you can make rather than buy. Interesting idea, huh?

 

 

Here is my tutorial for quick and easy felt streamers. Perfect for celebrations, decorations or maybe to go on a stall of your own...



*NOW ENDED!* Win a Personal Planner...

My name is Angela and I am an addict.

I am a stationary addict! There is nothing I love more than a new notebook or sketchbook and the joy of writing (in my best hand) on the first page. Yes, I have my iPhone with it's notes, calendar and other fancy apps but I still prefer to have things written down on paper. I have so many things happening at the same time, deadlines to work to, and now Wiss has social engagements of his own to keep up with I find it useful to be able to see it all in front of me on the page. This usually involves post-it notes and many scraps of paper. But not now!

I was given a Personal Planner notebook at Brit Mums Live! and was instantly attracted to what they do - you are able to create your own planner or notebook exactly as you would like it. You can choose from 4 sizes, upload images for the front and back covers, choose the layout of the diary, add To Do boxes (love this option!), print your contact details at the front and even add all the birthdays and other important dates you have to remember so they will be printed on the relevant day.

I was given a free voucher to create a year planner for myself and it arrived this week! I chose an A5 diary, with equal spaces for the days of the week plus one for notes on each page spread. On the front cover is a picture of Wiss, and my husband and I on the back. Each planner or notebook comes with a rigid clear cover, an elastic closure, a ruler/page marker and a plastic sleeve for all those receipts and random bits of paper you always collect.

I love the 'To Do This Week' section at the bottom of each page as it has a box to tick for 'Started' as well as when you've 'Done'! There's nothing like ticking boxes to make you feel productive, in my opinion.

 

Another wonderful feature is you are able to customise the back pages by choosing from a range of options - I went for some squared paper and the 'colouring book' pages (great for keeping little ones entertained in an emergency!)

 

You are able to start the diary from any month you wish, which means it could make a perfect gift at any time of the year. The only problem I have is I made mine to begin in September so I've still got a couple of weeks to go before I can start using it!

 

It is clear that I love this product, and I think you will too so why not enter this competition to win a Personal Planner of your very own?

 

COMPETITION! It's really simple to enter: just leave me a comment below making sure that I can get in contact with you (so no anonymous entries please) and that's it!

 

Good luck!

 

The small print: The competition will end on Tuesday 20 August at 8pm (GMT) and the winner will be chosen at random from all the entries received. I will contact the winner within two days of the competion ending and I will also announce the winner on Twitter. The winner will receive a digital gift voucher for any size planner/notebook to use on the Personal Planner website. Prize could be worth up to £24.98

I have not been paid for this post and the prize has kindly been given by Personal Planner.

Dining Room Art Gallery

When we moved into our new house, our dining room was a large white box with nothing in it at all. It looked like a new art gallery, but obviously it couldn't stay that way for ever! Furniture was moved in, shelves were built, stuff got deposited in various places like it always does, but I kept one wall blank. One large white wall that I hoped would become our art gallery throughout the year.

I've mentioned many times how much I like the MADE website. It is a huge inspiration for many things but I particularly like the ever-changing house decorations she makes (halloween and snowflakes for example) I thought that Wiss and I could make something every month to go on the Art Gallery Wall - it would be a nice activity to do together and we would be able to make something topical or seasonal as the year went on. (As you will see, we've not quite done it monthly but you know how time goes so quickly!)

I've tried to use a variety of crafts so that Wiss gets to experiment with different materials and mediums. I really enjoy the time we spend together talking as we make, and it's been a really good way for him to begin to understand the passing year, and how things change, as well as making some great art. He is really proud to have his work on display and because it's in the dining room it's a great focal point.

So here's our Art Gallery catalogue so far...



January - Paper Plate Fishes for our Octonauts Party









February - Folded Paper Painted Hearts



Wiss admiring his work whilst creating the next exhibit









March - Easter Eggs, Chick & Bunny using stickers, tissue paper and glitter pens



Using glitter pens for the Easter Eggs

May - Spring Flowers using cupcake cases, egg boxes and tissue paper (with 100 drawn ants!)



Sticking on foam cubes for the 'sun'



Sewing packing foam chips onto wool for the 'rain'



June - Our British Summer!



 

We're due a new exhibition very soon - while it's sunny it may be a good time to do some really BIG art... What do you think?

 

And if you've not got space for a large wall gallery how about this Kids Art Display idea from Davina at The Making Home? The curtain wire could be fitted into any available space and you could hang new pictures up as often as you like.

 

As always, I'd love to see what you have been making and creating so please leave a comment or link below and show us all!

 

 

 

 







#SilentSunday

#SilentSunday

We're all going on a Summer Holiday!

Hooray! Today is the last day of work and nursery for us before we go off on holiday for a week. We're off to Cornwall and I can't wait....but there are so many things to prepare first. Eek! I've been thinking a lot about ways to keep us all happy on the long drive down and while we are there - and I've even started a Pinterest board for ideas and inspiration. I'll be adding to this throughout the summer.

But I have to admit it's the journey that is concerning me most. Obviously we will be taking lots of snacks, sandwiches and gallons of water, pillows and sunshades too. But this is what I've come up with for entertainment...

Games in the Car: Wiss unfortunately suffers from travel sickness if he watches a screen or looks at a magazine for too long so we are getting inventive with ways to occupy him in the car. There are some great Car Bingo downloads on Pinterest which I have printed out, and these will be used in the car on a clipboard with stickers to mark off the things as they are spotted. (I thought that stickers would be less messy than a pen!)

But as Wiss is only 3 (and a half!) I'm not sure if he will completely grasp the idea of Bingo, so I have also made a simpler 'Spot the Logo' game. These can be marked off with Papa rather than them having a board each. Wiss and his Papa LOVE spotting car logos and he amazes me with his memory for each car company.

If I was more technically minded I would be able to offer this a free download - but I'm not! But I am more than happy for you to print it or pin it as you wish. Or I could even email it to you when we get back if you leave me your email address.

On the stereo: We have got a few story CDs - including Peter and the Wolf (my favourite as a child), Paddington Bear and Cars, as well as a nursery rhyme one. But after spending the entire journey to Ireland last year singing 'The Wheels on the Bus' I am very keen to have some other music!

I've created a Playlist on Spotify and have been adding songs that remind me of summer, songs that I know Wiss likes, songs that I think Wiss will like and then songs that I think are important for Wiss's musical heritage! That sounds very grand but I just mean songs that will expose him to different genres and hopefully will trigger memories when he's older. My mum used to listen to lots of Motown and John Denver when I was growing up and those songs will always have a special place in my heart.

Songs I've included: 'Summer Holiday' by Cliff Richard, 'Holiday' by Madonna, 'Summertime' DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, 'Mr Blue Sky' ELO... Beach Boys, Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Elton John, Simon & Garfunkle, The Stone Roses. But also Cee Lo Green, Rizzle Kicks, Olly Murs, MC Hammer, the Lumineers and 'You've Got a Friend in Me' from Toy Story!

I'd love to hear any other recommendations you have for songs that please both children AND adults. Do your kids have an original taste in music or have you learnt to love the nursery rhymes on repeat?!

We have no Wi-Fi were we're going so I am going to be on a holiday from my blog and twitter too. I hope you all enjoy the first week of the school summer holidays whatever you're up to and I'll be back soon. Bye for now!

Kids Clothes Week - Summer 2013

So, it's Day 4 of Kids Clothes Week (over halfway through) and I am impressed, as always, by the photos of all the beautiful clothes being made out there. Check out the galleries on the blog and on Pinterest, and if you're making clothes this week then don't forget to upload your pictures to show us all what you've been up to.

As I said earlier, I've not got any time this week to sew - boo :( but by happy coincidence I was busy sewing clothes for Wiss last week - yay! :)

In the past I have made shorts and trousers for Wiss using Dana's Basic Kid Pants tutorial, but as he got bigger and older I wanted a pattern that was a bit more detailed and perhaps tailored. Boys clothing is often less interesting than girls to sew so I was looking for some cool little twists.

(NB since then Dana has actually updated her patterns and has run a whole series of blog posts all about shorts.)

After lots of searching I discovered Blank Slate Patterns - very modern clothes for kids. I bought the Clean Slate Pants as a digital download so was able to get sewing straight away. There are loads of variations within this pattern - shorts, capris or trousers; elasticated waist or zip fly; no pockets, side pockets, patch pockets or even welt back pockets.

I am often disappointed that I am not able to use some of the gorgeous printed cottons that I have in my fabric stash for boys clothes; they are usually too thin, or too patterned. But I have been able to be a little creative on the pockets of these shorts, as you can see!

The denim shorts are actually made from an old pair of my husband's jeans. I love upcycling and repurposing clothes that would otherwise go in the bin and using 'preloved' jeans means that the denim is wonderfully soft.

The Clean Slate shorts do take a little longer to sew than the Basic Pants but I think the extra details are worth it. I've been able to make a pair of shorts in about 2 and a half hours which fits nicely into an evening - and they are very addictive to make! I've already got some more shorts and trousers cut out from striped seersucker cotton, ready to sew when I have some time.

And to go with all the new shorts, I needed to make some t-shirts. I've had Sewing for Boys for some time but hadn't got round to making anything from it - until now. The Raw-Edged Raglan T-shirt is a wonderful, simple pattern and it lends itself perfectly to upcycling old t-shirts. I've made a few of these shirts, both long and short sleeved, and although the design is to have the raw seam on the outside (perfect for very little people as there are no rough inside seams) I have made a couple with the seam inside with no complaints from Wiss.

We're off on holiday at the weekend so all of these garments will get a lot of wear I'm sure! Someone is ready for the sun... 

And when I get home I've earmarked this cute shirt, also from Sewing for Boys, to be made using this fab Michael Miller 'On The Go' fabric.

My 'To Do' list is forever growing, but it will all have to wait at least a week while we take a well-needed break.

 

Good luck for the last few days of Kids Clothes Week!