Monday in the making

Over the weekend, I managed to finish 'Leah' (her body at least). Once again, I have given her modesty as she is clad in a clean (but scrunched??) hankie...

I am busy making her clothes. I am making a similar sundress to 'Nicky's'. I have found a bold purple and pink pattern on a white background material which I am going to use as the body of the dress. I will have a pink band down the bottom of the dress and her straps are also going to be pink. I am also making a 'clip' to have in her black, short hair.

 I can't wait to show the finished product...

Weekend Wonders - Sewing and sowing

Weekends seem to go very quickly...

 This one was much more quieter than last weekend. I have completed another doll (her body at least) and I will introduce 'Leah' to you tomorrow. Doll making is quickly becoming a favourite craft of mine and I have a special little dress and hair do in mind for Leah. I love how I can make each doll different.

A couple of our garden helpers

I also enjoyed spending time out in the garden. It was cloudy and cool, which made it perfect weather to get into the garden beds and dig! Cooler weather also means the end of Summer vegetables and the beginning of cool weather vegies. Today I sowed broccoli, spinach, kale, pak choy and carrot seeds. I love eating vegetables seasonally. It ensures that the vegies are fresh and full of flavour and vitamins. We have just gone through the tomato,corn and zucchini season and I am now looking forward to these green vegies (besides the carrots). We will also leave some space for peas in the garden.

 The last of our carrots out of the garden bed

Whatever you did this weekend, I hope that you had a lovely one!

Friday thoughts - Splish, splash

Swimming is not one of my favourite sports...sure I enjoy getting into water and having a bit of a splash, I am not a particularly strong swimmer. Plus, it needs to be really hot weather for me to get into water and although swimming is suggested as an ideal sport for asthmatics, I find swimming (in pools) seems to make me wheezy. However, despite my avoidance of water sports, I do see the benefits of teaching children to swim and I am very thankful that my parents took me to swimming lessons.

This week I have had my dose of chlorine as I have supervised children at their swimming lessons. It has been wonderful that all of the children have looked forward to their lesson everyday. However, once they are in the water, it has been interesting to see their reactions. Some children are very confident in the water, perfecting their strokes, ducking underneath the water and up again with ease and enjoyment. Others, are more tentative. They are confident when they can touch the bottom or if their heads are above the water, but as soon as they are out of their depth, they are apprehensive and want to cling to the instructor.

Living in Australia where water activities are common, I do see the importance in equipping children with skills to survive if they ever get into trouble in the water. Not only do children gain in confidence and enjoy time in the water with swimming lessons, they could be life saving at some stage in their lives. Check out lessons from your local pool or swimming association. Laurie Laurence developed a program called 'Kids Alive - Do the Five!' to try and prevent accidental drowning deaths of children. The link to this website is http://www.kidsalive.com.au/index.php

Whatever you do this weekend, have a happy and safe one!

Wonderful Wednesday - To say thanks

For two special people to say 'thanks'...

Monday in the making

I have finished...

It has been wonderful to design and make 'Nicky'.

Her body is made out of felt, all handstitched, including her facial features. She wears a stripey sun dress (that is stitched in place) that is embellished with blue ric-rac and white lace down the bottom edge and also a bright, green crocheted flower. Her dress is machine stitched, however, all embellishments are handsewn in place. Underneath her dress, is lacy underwear, all handsewn on. Her pigtail holders are ribbons that are handstitched in place.

I will definitely be making more dolls! Nicky was a lot of fun to make, although I will ensure that all dolls will be a different in some way. Mostly handsewn, but all with lots of love and care. I might even try my hand at a 'boy' doll.

Weekend Wonders - Country, cakes and craft

What a lovely weekend...

We visited a Field Day event in our area over the weekend. I am always fascinated how this little, country town, puts on this huge event and I must say, they do it very well. I love attending the Field Days as it is my little dose of country. I love looking at the farm machinery and watch the sheep dog trials. Then, there are heaps of stalls to look at varying from plants, crafts, stain removers to tools. Something for everyone.

It was also St Patrick's Day on Saturday and our Bible study group celebrated it by having an Irish inspired night, complete with green food, baked potatoes and Baileys and Guinness flavoured cupcakes. A very busy, but enjoyable Saturday.

Today, though, has been much slower in pace. I was very determined to finish 'Nicky' (the doll that I have been working on) this weekend and I managed to achieve that goal this afternoon. I have thoroughly enjoyed making her and I can't wait to make more. I think this is so because, for me, doll making involves a number of crafts in one. Firstly, designing and making the 'body' of the doll. Secondly designing and making a little dress to fit the doll and finally adding all the 'prettiness' - the embellishments (in my case ric-rac and a crocheted flower). I will post photos of finished 'Nicky' tomorrow, for 'Monday in the making'.

I hope that you had a lovely weekend!

Friday thoughts - A growing idea!

Growth is amazing! It is amazing how a seed, in the right conditions, can turn into a plant, which in turn provides flowers and fruit/vegetables. The family of Tupsy Turvy enjoy home grown fruits and vegetables. It is very rewarding when after time and effort spent in the garden, a crop of delicious, organic, healthy, freshly picked produce occurs. Of course, it doesn't happen overnight, but rather, plant growth is slow and purposeful, taking weeks or months.

The children that I have been working with this week have enjoyed how plant growth occurs. They looked at the difference between dried beans and soaked beans. They opened up these soaked bean seeds to find out what is inside. They thought about how a pea seed turns into a plant and then planted some seeds to find out what happens, in clear cups so that they can clearly see. They also placed seeds in different places, in different conditions to see which seeds grow the best. A helper came into the class to make 'seed heads', which the children thoroughly enjoyed. So much planting and growth!

Children are fascinated by seeds and how they turn into plants. Cress, alfalfa and mustard sprout seeds grow very quickly and can be placed on a plastic plate on cotton wool, sprayed with water, to germinate.

 'Seed heads' are also a fun, growing activity:
In a 'toe' of a stocking, sprinkle lawn seeds. Add some potting mix and tie a knot. Cut the stocking below the knot, leaving around 10cms of stocking. Stand the 'head' in a cup, knot side down. Eyes, nose and mouth can be glued on the 'head'. Spray regularly with water and after a few days, grassy 'hair' should appear.

Have a lovely weekend and happy sprouting!