Still Making

Even though I have lots of goodies made and ready to go I have been unable to get good pictures due to the complete lack of any sunshine :-) As soon as the sun comes out again my Folksy and Misi shops will be full to bursting!

Simon managed to find some very child friendly digital cameras for just £10!! They are simple and can take around 50 pictures before they need to be emptied onto the computer. Unfortunately there was only one design so the girls have the same camera. Not always good. But they are enjoying snapping anything that doesn't move;


I chopped up some felt pieces and made these little cases for them, easily identifiable for each girl and some protection should they get dropped (which am sure will happen)! Elizabeth being 'grown up' chose a very grown up, simple design for hers;


And of course the princess of all things girlie opted for a pink floral one;

Off to hide from the rian in the cinema now to watch Ice Age III.

Have fun and stay dry!!

Daisie xxx

Excitement

Here in the Davies' household. My amazingly talented and genius like daughter (I have two but this case referes to Elizabeth) had been entered by her teacher into a children's literature festival competition. Elizabeth recieved a letter today at school, from someone not from school. As if this wasn't exciting enough it told her that her poem had been chosen and will be published in this years' anthology. We have all been invited to attend a presentation event on July 9th where she will be presented with her own copy of the book!

Today was already going quite well; I finished some more felt animals;


This time smaller and less time consuming but still cute. Apologies for the bad bad picture, the flash was way too bright on the lighter colours and made them look awful so I took a last shot of them in the kitchen. Not bad but you can see all the crumbs on my chopping board!

I also recieved a lovely email from a lady who bought a bright flowery shoulder bag from me at the fair saying how it was still making her smile and she would like me to come to her school craft fair so my stuff can make other people smile. How nice is that!!! Am looking forward to going and think that Swirly will be joining me too!

I also had a little accident here, ooops, more about that when it arrives, eek!

Daisie xxx

It's Not An Elephant!

Firstly last night was ok, I missed the boy and went to check on him far more often than was entirely necessary and consequently am knackered! He slept well, waking only once and soon dropped back to sleep when I made an appearance and gently stroked his hand for just a few moments.

He has clung to me all day though and told anyone within earshot that; "is mine mama!"

He looked so very small;


And I finished the birthday project, another soft toy but this one is no elephant;

I have done it slightly differently than the pattern suggested so have ended up with something very unlike the picture in the book but I love him! The pics are not great and he looks a bit washed out because of the flash. He is made from grey felt with blue and purpley coloured felt spikes/fins/spines/whatever they're called.

The pattern suggests making the dinosaur in cotton inside out and then turning the right way in to stuff. I chose felt so I could do some work on him during the craft course that I help run. The project this week was one of mine (a felt covered folder type thingie) and having already made one didn't really want to do another! The plan was that this could be an ongoing project that we can add scrapbook type pages too and turn them into photo albums. So once I'd shown everyone what I had in mind and the materials we had to hand and some basic embroidery stitches I settled down to do my little beast. Oh, sorry the point to all that was that I can't use my sewing machine at the centre as it hasn't been tested by their fire crew and would therefore invalidate the insurance should anything happen, so he had to be made in felt.

I have blanket stitched all the seams bar the one along his back as I couldn't quite figure out how I could continue the blanket stitch around the spines, so I did the back inside out. I quite like the way it looks on his legs and feet, it looks like he has millions of toes! The legs are supposed to be jointed but I thought this might be a bit of a headache so have attached the back side of the leg with a circle of stitches and then sewn the rest of the leg on and stuffed them, It means that he can make walking type movements but the legs don't turn full circle, if you know what I mean?

Anyhoo, there is the dino and lots of waffle about how he was made, sorry.

I have been asked if I was going to make any to take to craft fairs with me. The materials were not expensive but he was very time consuming and if I made them as a commercial venture would be looking at charging between £12 and £15 for one. Do you think anyone would pay that for a felt dino? I could do pink ones too? Any thoughts would be nice, thanks!

Daisie xxx

Tired

I am so sorry to have neglected my blog so much this week but I feel like a dog chasing it's tail or like I said the other night running up a sand dune and not getting anywhere near the top!

I have started a first aid course on monday mornings, haven't done one since I was pregnant with Elizabeth but haven't been back to work so it has mattered little until now. I need it if I am going to be working with new mums in their homes and at various children's centres. Nathaniel went into the creche for two and a half hours and mostly cried. I felt awful :-( To be honest I didn't think he would mind so much as the building and staff are familair (we are there several times during the week for different things). He wasn't inconsoleable though and it is the first time he has been left, other than at home with Daddy. Can't wait to see what he's like next monday?!

Tuesday sees the regular playgroup I have been attending weekly since Elizabeth was baby. I am a very old hand!!

Wednesday sees Boobie Club and we were a little busier this week although not as busy as we would like! Followed by Tiny Trumpets (a local performer who comes and does song and dance and brings lots of yummy child sized instruments) for an hour.

Thursday I avoided playgroups as I went to see my poorly Dad and it was really nice to sit and chat and drink tea and not have to do anything at all. He was glad of the company and I was glad of the rest!!

Friday (today) we go to our local Tumble Tots group and Nathaniel has a wonderful time climbing on things and generally being a 'boy'.

I like to be busy with him as it won't be very long beofre he's at nursery and school :-( time goes by too quickly!

But in amongst the self improvement and childcare are also the laundry and cooking and cleaning and reading books and spelling tests and this week I am so tired and seem to have little time to myself. Shouldn't complain really but there you go!

Yesterday saw the first crafting for an age!! Nathaniel woke from his nap in the foulest of moods and I really wanted to try running some flet through my bighsot. So I sat him on the floor next to me expecting him to continue in his crankiness but he found some scrap paper, shoved it into the machine (no plates or anything) and cranked the handle and laughed. I showed him how to layer all the pieces and he found me bits of felt and helped for about an hour. He had great fun when I got the buttons out too.

We created some felt flower cards;

They have ribbon stems and button centres. I really like them. I have some more flowers cut but they need buttons finding to match. I am waiting for some time and some light so I can stick some in my folksy shop. Think they'd be great for valentine's, mother's day or a spring birthday!

And I really need to find some time to knit. I am knitting a scarf in a really easy 'waffle' pattern in a beautiful russet toned yarn and my plan was to finish it and then start a beret (I have found a pattern for one on two needles!) to match. I think I had this notion some time before christmas........

Daisie xxx