Last night I dyed some felt.....

Some lovely thick felt from my friend Maria and some left over beetroot juice.....

I used some salt & vinegar to fix the colour, which seems to have worked so far. Doesn't it make such a lovely autumn colour. I am going to use it to make some beautiful autumn leaves... pop over to visit Wabi-Sabi Wanderings for some inspiration. 

Our Summer Nature table....

Sharing a glimpse of our summer nature table today.....the lovely little sprite was given to us by Helena, our swap partner from the Southern Hemisphere Summertime Exchange. Isn't she so sweet. Thanks Helena!

If you too keep a nature table, post a picture and place a link to your blog in the comments. Look forward to visiting you all......

Golden Light 
Sun so bright
All through the summer
We feel your might

Tiny Peg-Folk Exchange

Picture courtesy of M Bloom of We Bloom Here...aren't they just gorgeous!

Have you heard about the Tiny peg-folk swap over at We Bloom Here??  

What a wonderful idea, a swap where each participants will each create and receive 4 or 5 little peg-folk. What I love is that each little peg person will come with a poem or story.....what a lovely addition to evening story time or your nature table and a great way to be connected to new people!

I have signed up and made my first wee peg people while my little one was sleeping. Oh how I love day sleeps :) As M. Bloom warns, it is very addictive making these little people!!

If you haven't already, then pop over and visit M. Bloom and see her inspiring tutorials on little peg folk and sign up for the exchange. 

The Little Mermaid and her missing hair...

At the end of last year I participated in the Southern Hemisphere Seasonal Exchange. 

I made the below little mermaid and felted a little playscape for my swap partner. I was very excited to post my little treasure all the way off to New Zealand to my swap partner, hoping she would be loved and happy in her new home. 

A week or so later I found out that New Zealand customs had confiscated my parcel and advised my swap partner that it would be destroyed as it contained 'seeds' which were not permitted into NZ. (Hmmm..... must have been the English Leicester hair) 

My swap partner kindly spend some time communicating with customs who eventually conceded that the mermaid may be allowed into NZ, only without her hair!

My swap partner sweetly promised me that she would restore my dear little mermaid to her former self. And she certainly did that! Thank you Helena, you have done such a wonderful job!

Here are some pictures and words from Helena.......

I bet you're rather curious to know what has been happening over here....

Well....It turns out I couldn't find any Leicester other than rainbow dyed, which I thought had far too much blue, red and purple in it for pretty hair, so I had to look for alternatives. The best I could find was some raw mohair on the  auction sites.

So finally bought some of that, then waited over xmas for arrival - during which time your little mermaid's hair problem was forgotten by A, and she was fully embraced into the fold of little dollies to be taken around in her pram! 

Anyway, first the rather smelly mohair needed a wash - that was a whole new learning process to prevent it from felting etc...Then I needed to dye it blonde. I thought I would use some food colour with vinegar to set it. It came out really nice, then it needed another wash...Finally I could wait for it to dry. Then I did nothing for well over a week (!) then I sorted out the fleece and sewed it on as best I could to make it look as good as your picture. Wow that took some time! Very fiddly. 

She has been in the car on a few trips, and in the pram, and when she is not on an outing I like to return her to her little ocean you so beautifully crafted on our nature table at night ready for another day... So who would have thought there would be so much involved in sending or receiving gifts?

So there you go. The little mermaid looking as lovely as ever in her new home. What an ordeal! 

Ideas for a first birthday party???

A picture from my step daughters recent 6th birthday..... hmmm.... don't look at the toadstool to closely, my first attempt at birthday cake making! I think for Abbie's I will stick with something simple. 

Abbie's first birthday is fast approaching.....where has a year gone!

I am hoping that you will all have some wonderful ideas for a first birthday party. I was thinking something small with only family and a few of her friends. However would love any suggestions for themes or games/ activities (if any)......

On a recent visit to Rhythm & Rhyme I was inspired to make this gorgeous little rainbow fabric book (designed by homegrown happy) for Abbie's first birthday. It is well underway, I can't wait to share some photos! I also had planned to make her another doll, however just trying to find a pale pink cotton velour......

I want to make each of the children attending her birthday party something special, instead of a lolly/party bag. I am thinking a small soft waldorf doll (hand size)....hmmm not sure...perhaps some felted balls would be better....any other suggestions would be most welcome.

Looking forward to hearing from you :)