Tagged: crafts

November 25, 2019

Christmas x

I’ve learnt the hard way – set a time and set it early for Christmas crafts, otherwise days will fly past and time will be eaten by nothing. My time is Saturday afternoons: A week to plan and gather bits, an open fire, a family film = perfection.

This Saturday we started with interpreting and making these, found on Pinterest, and as ever, it was a learning curve. We used Inkjet printable Iron on T-shirt Fabric paper for light fabrics bought from Amazon for £11.99. Whilst it does work, the material you use is critical – we had to change from a coarser cotton to a smoother version. Also a simple thing, but important – you need to cut out all the background and leave a white margin – it does something important to the eye.

This, for me, is the spirit of Christmas. Pour me a large one.

Laters, Kate x

April 11, 2017

Midgley Green x

Midgley Green is the sort of shop you want to collect in a jam jar, taking it out regularly to smell and gently spread on life.

It was set up by husband and wife team Katherine Midgley and Seamus Green in Clevedon, North Somerset to celebrate crafts and creators. With an eye for detail and quality it pulls together the stuff you need, want and will last..

Take this brass hair clip: Simple, effective and fulfils the ultimate design brief: both beautiful and functional.

And breathe.

Laters, Kate x

April 4, 2017

First Craft x

Monday madness, first day of the hols and the sun was shining…we spent it in the garden with lovely friends marbling everything we could find.

We used these marbling inks from Brian Clegg for £9.50, ordered from Ebay..

(Plus the metallic set of 10 for the same price…they added a certain sparkle)

They couldn’t have been easier to use – drop on to water, mix with a skewer if you fancy, lay paper on top then peel off and dry..

The results were impressive.

This could be the wallpaper for the downstairs toilet..

So easy, so joyful!

Laters, Kate x

March 30, 2017

Easters Hols..

This is the last full day of term. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Time for books to be put aside and real life to start. These are a few of the projects on the list…

(All details Pinterest)

Now we play!

Laters, Kate x

June 16, 2016

Shibori..

Yesterday was spent teaching a group of friends (I’m a rep for Charlie’s class) how to shibori tie-dye. It’s something I love to do with its heady mixture of deep indigo, spontaneity, freedom and promise.

I’ve posted about it before (here) but this year was a little bit different/lessons learnt – the scarfs are longer (2m – possibly the perfect length) and the dye is a new one: If you’re making a large dye bath with the more commonly used Dylon, it’s hard to keep the solution warm so I went for a procion dye that works with cold water (it’s the dye they use for batik dying) and it produced excellent results. If you want more info on dyes and techniques, check out this website (makes me wish I lived in Bognor)..this is a brilliant craft for kids in the summer..and imagine on duvet covers, sheets..or even larger pieces of furniture! Bella spent her evening after school dying..socks!

Gloves are always useful..

This may be old school..but it’s still the best.

Laters, Kate x

May 23, 2015

Nailed it!

We were at my sister’s being fed like royalty last week and these were being passed around: pics of the crafts that you’re inspired to do via sites like Pinterest..that don’t always turn out as intended. I can relate – it happened to me yesterday..four excited children and all the ingredients (even the glycerin) to make giant bubbles – you know, the bigger than a person ones? – we measured, we mixed, we made…it squelched. Not so much as a single sphere…