Friday 28 May 2010
"I can do it myself"
To stop and give thanks, a time to feel blessed.
Inspired by SouleMama http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/
Wednesday 26 May 2010
Monday 24 May 2010
Book Sharing Monday - Thomas and the Prize Pig
Yesterday, as we headed to a local Country Fair, O knew exactly what to expect and happily told us all the animals he'd see there.His list came from his little book, right down to Dora the runaway pig !
Friday 21 May 2010
Concentration
This moment, a Friday tradition, a time to cherish, to remember, to honour its importance.To stop and give thanks, a time to feel blessed.
Inspired by SouleMama http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/
Wednesday 19 May 2010
Rainbow Sewing
Themes are posted and when one takes your fancy, you sign up to make 5 items ( all the same ) plus an extra as a Thank You to the person organising the swap.In return you receive 5 different items, all hand made with love.
The theme that inspired me was "Rainbows"
I made 6 tissue/cloth holders, using this wonderful, easy pattern
Monday 17 May 2010
In the Dye-Pot
but my real goal was natural dying, arming myself with tons of wise words from blogs and forums, I finally gave it a try.
I soaked my wool, then added it to a pot of water with alum & cream of tartar, this is your mordant, helping the dye fix to the wool, gently heating.
The dye was made using Brazilnut wood chips, heated and soaked for a day.
When the wool was ready, I added it into the dye pot and cooked again gently.
Left to cool and then hung out to dry.
Great info on natural dying here -
http://simmy.typepad.com/echoesofadream/ sadly Simmy, no longer blogs but has left some great advice and gorgeous pictures of her projects.
http://www.sewanee.edu/Chem/Chem&Art/Detail_Pages/Projects_2003/Lawrence/html/Lawrence.html
http://naturalsuburbia.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-to-dye-yarn-with-sun-dye.html this looks like great fun and excellent for involving children.
This was so much easier than I thought and there is really so much help and advice available.
And now, I am knitting it up, into a Pebble Vest for my boy.
Having knitted so many of these for friends new babes, I was delighted to find a sized up pattern on Ravelry.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/railyuh/pebble-henrys-manly-cobblestone-inspired-baby-vest
I am nocton4 there, please feel free to "friend" me, I'd love to see your projects.
Saturday 15 May 2010
Trying to make Yoghurt
Friday 14 May 2010
" I like driving in my car "
To stop and give thanks, a time to feel blessed.
Inspired by SouleMama http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/
Wednesday 12 May 2010
Along the Riverbank
I could have watched this little beauty and his siblings for hours, dashing up and down the river.
Oh, to be in England
Now that April's there,
And whoever wakes in England
Sees, some morning, unaware,
That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf
Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,
While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough
In England - now!
And the whitethroat builds, and all the swallows
Hark! where my blossomed pear-tree in the hedge
Leans to the field and scatters on the clover
Blossoms and dewdrops - at the bent spray's edge
That's the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over,
Lest you should think he never could recapture
And though the fields look rough with hoary dew,
All will be gay when noontide wakes anew
The buttercups, the little children's dower, -
Far brighter than this gaudy melon-flower!
Monday 10 May 2010
Colouring our Days
One of my favourite blogs, is this sweet Mamas http://childhoodmagic.blogspot.com/ the wonderful colours can't fail to lift the spirits, even on a cold, wet UK day.
So today, as the drizzle keeps us inside, we have been looking for our own colours,
Friday 7 May 2010
Play Trays
A lovely treat on a rainy afternoon, to find the tray set up and covered over with a cloth ... what fun is hiding underneath.
Tuesday 4 May 2010
May Plans
I'm taking stock, pinning this month down, rather than clinging onto its coat-tails, as it rushes by with the rest of the year.
This is a big year for us as a family, in so many different ways, not least of all for L, exams are looming with college or sixth form in September, trips to Leeds Festival, a possible holiday in Morocco with a friend ( lucky thing ) concerts and a family trip to America in the Autumn.
With his wings beginning to take flight, I feel the need to slow down, to make home a safe and special place, full of good things, a place to come back to when the World is feeling just a bit too big, a comfort for him ( and me )
So, this month I feel the need for afew plans.
1. Make yoghurt.
2. Butter making.
3. Some more sewing.
4. A raw meal each day.
5. A trip to the sea-side on the train.
Fancy joining me ? Leave a link to your plans for the month.
Sunday 2 May 2010
Blessings at Beltane to All
Fresh blossoms,