bits + pieces >>>>

we're still covered in snow here, it started to melt a little yesterday, but we woke up to fresh snow and it's snowed on and off all day. the kiddos are loving it. we've built snowmen and done lots of sledging. also played a lot of board games and drank lots of hot cocoa to warm us up!

i don't know if it's the full moon approaching or the weather or something else entirely... there's a funny energy around my house right now. we're all a little cranky, all a little short tempered. this mama is tired and all i really want to do is lay around and read or knit. i could use a few hours of solitude, it's been a couple months of papa having to work seven day weeks and i think they are starting to take there toll on us all.

i've been busy making a lot more custom mantra bracelets and also listed some mantra necklaces in my shop. - the 'awake your soul' one above is my favourite ♥ code 'snowydays' is still good for 20% off your order - i'm leaving it up until the end of the week, so now is the time to order!

pee.ess - have you entered the enchanted mail giveaway yet?

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snowy days >>>>

we finally got some snow!! the kiddos were so happy. they spent all day in and out... playing in the snow then coming in to warm up! we fitted in a little crafting too - these cute stacking russian dolls were a big hit {with mama too!} *you can find them here to print out!*

the chickens weren't too keen on the snow, they spent most of the day hiding in their house, only coming out to eat some warm porridge!

when papa came home from work, we wrapped up warm and went out sledging :D

pee.ess... don't forget - code 'snowydays' gets you 20% off all my shop right now! {apart from sale items - they're buy one get one free!}

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soul diving

i just this week start intuitive heart sanctuary with lauren luquin. so far i am loving it... it's been a long time since i've given myself the space and time to delve into my soul, to nourish it and to manifest my dreams into a reality.

this is the journal i made to use through the eight week journey, it's so pretty - i had such fun decorating it, it's been a long time since i've collaged. it reminded me how much i enjoy it - i think it's time to dust off my art journal.

i've spent my afternoons this week, after the kiddos have finsihed their work for the day, working on some new jewellry - some will find it's way to my online shop, some is destined for bricks and mortar shops. i've been creating some entirely new designs that i'm loving. a couple of examples are below, both of which are for sale in my shop {click the images to go to their listings}

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diy // flower loom

at one of our home school groups a few weeks ago, somebody had brought their flower loom in for the kids to use. kiki especially loved it and asked if we could buy one. the plastic ones looked pretty flimsy and easily broken, and i figured i could probably make my own fairly easily.

what you'll need:

a piece of wood - around an inch thick and 5inches square 

24 nails

hammer

circle templates to draw around

step one

find two circle shapes to use as templates, the largest should be almost as big as the square, and then the second needs to fit within the first. draw round the largest first, then the smaller circle, like so:

step two

mark lines across the outer circle to show you where to hammer in the nails. mark the inner circle in between each of the marks on the outer circle {see below!!!}

step three

hammer nails in on each of the marks you just made, i used nails that were around an inch long, and hammered about a third into the wood.

that's it! your loom is ready to use.

to weave a flower on your loom is fairly easy -

using your first colour yarn, leave a tail and wrap in a figure of eight the yarn around two oppostie nails on the outer ring, two or three times. work your way around the whole loom, always wrapping in a figure of eight between opposite nails until you've covered them all. leaving a tail again, cut the yarn

then, switch colours and repeat, this time on the inner circle of nails - figure of eight wrapping around oppostite nails.

when you've covered all the nails again, cut the yarn off leaving a tail.

then you need to take a lenght of the first yarn you used and a darning needle and sew through the middle of the flower. up through the centre and down between each 'petal' that you have created, it's very important to make sure you catch all of the loops so that your flower doesn't unravel!

once it is securely sewn you can remove it from the loom. carefully lift each loop over the nail. these flowers make great brooches, can be sewn on to headbands or bobbles or used to decorate clothing etc...

i hope you've found this tutorial helpful - if you have any questions feel free to ask!

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saturday sun

so happy to actually see some sunshine today! i was late up this morning, i must have slept through my alarm {I don't normally set one, but today we had to get kiki out for her rainbow trip and we are not morning people!} thankfully the kitten snuck upstairs and woke me up just in time! lola started a new drama/dance group today so it was just baya and i. it's not often i get a few hours with one kiddo, baya and i had a great time together. we got coffee and cakes {well, only coffee for mama!} and sat in the park soaking up the sunshine. we followed this with an hour in the playpark. it was one we haven't been to for ages and baya had a blast! oh, the joy of a new park :)

we fitted in a little gardening and some crafting this afternoon, now it's almost time to go pick kiki back up. i've made some necklaces and notebooks to go in the party bags for lola's party next week, and made my own flower loom {will be blogging that this week}

tonight i need to put the finishing touches to the dolls clothes i've made for lolas birthday blythe doll [man, those teeny poppers take so long to sew on} - i'm hoping to get some wrapping done tomorrow as the girls have friends round to play and will {hopefully} be distracted!

i hope you're all having a fantastic saturday too! what plans do you have for your weekend?

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diy: hanging birdies

i have a cute and easy diy for you today... i have a mild obsession with birds & owls... my husband just shakes his head each time i add to the collection! i picked up these cute birdies a while ago in a craft shop, and finally got around to actually doing something with them {they've been sitting on a lamp until now} 

i used the inside of an embroidery hoop - but anything circular would do {you could use wire or an old wire hanger to make your own}. you could switch the fabric strips for pretty ribbon if you wanted too. my birdies had little clips the bottom - if yours don't you can just hot glue them onto the hoop.

i'd love to see yours if you make one! leave me a link below.

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diy vintage fabric garland

 
i've been wanting something to hang on the wall above my bed for ages, but as we're on a zero shopping budget right now, it needed to be something i could create from things i already had in the house. then the other day i was looking in my fabric scrap box for something for kiki, when i pulled out a rectangular piece and the idea for a garland/bunting cross. i love vintage fabrics, i collect them like crazy and am loathe to throw away scraps. this seemed like a great way to use some of it up, and brighten up my room at the same time.

all you need

a rectangular length of fabric {mine was roughly 4 foot long and around 12" wide, you can make it as big/small as the space you like}

bias tape

cut your fabric to your required lenght, measure a strip of bias tape that's around one and a half times as long as the fabric. iron in half, pin the fabric into it {leaving equal lengths on each side} and then sew in place.

all that remains is to cut the garland, you could measure the strips out if you want it to be perfect, but i just free handed it. each of my strips is around an inch wide, and i stopped cutting about half an inch below the bias tape.

then hang in place and admire your handiwork ;)

 

 

 

 

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