Autumn Hedgehogs

This is a great project to do after a Autumn walk collecting leaves and twigs.

You can also you some autumnal coloured material and paper scraps.

Please feel free to cut and paste the template to make your own 'Autumn Hedgehogs'.

The Big Draw!

Lot's of fun was had yesterday drawing on the Arc shed!


I wrapped very thick lining paper around the shed and the children used pens, pencils, crayons, charcoal, pastels and glitter gel.



We even did a bit of chalking on the concrete.

Big Draw Info.

Crafty Gifts

I know it might seem a bit early for Christmas present ideas but I am taking part in an 'Idea Swap for Holiday Gifts' over on Swap-bot so I have been searching t'internet for crafty ideas. I will do a post on my findings soon, but just to get you in the mood......................

Look what Euan's classmates Mum makes!

These are beautiful, I knew Marie made jewelery and today she gave me a card with her website address on, so of course I had to look as soon as I got home.

Her collection is called Ka-Ima B.Joux and you can have a look at all her beautiful things here.

Another crafty item that would make a great present, a felting kit! You know I love needle felting and I first discovered it from a kit. I have not used the Elle brand before, but it looks like good value as it includes 3 needles and 6 lots of wool roving. I saw this kit in the Diana's Knitting Yarns newsletter.

Fridays

V.glad it's Friday. Earlier on this week I was sitting trying to think about all the things I needed to do and I thought to myself 'what day is it?' and I realized it was only Monday!!!!!

This doesn't usually happen to me until at least Wednesday. So it's felt like a looooooong week.

It's been crazy, mostly because I am taking part in the Big Draw next Thursday, so I needed to get a mailout done to let everyone know about it. I am going to wrap lining paper round the Arc Shed for the kids to come a draw on, then the drawing will be displayed at our Family Learning Funday the following Saturday.

Also, local superwomen Leena was having a crafty coffee morning and I was taking arts & craft stuff to sell for Arc, which meant I wasn't going to be in the office until next Tuesday which meant tidying the Arc shed and tying up loose ends.

Also, Peter is working during the evenings, in Milton Keynes this week, so I see him roll over in the morning and then for 5 minutes between me getting home and him leaving for work and there seems to be a school uniform shortage in this house so I have to wash them every evening, but the nice thing is the boys getting dressed in the morning while the clothes are still warm from the dryer!

So, v.glad it's Friday, I should be cleaning, tidying, cooking, typing minutes, going to post office etc but it's cold and raining so I think I'm going to get some lunch, watch a film and knit, the dust's not going anywhere and it is my day off!

I'm the winner!

Horray, I'm the winner!!!!!
Not sure how much competition there was though, when I left the tent there was only my shawl and a little Aran jumper and I didn't get back until it was all over.
But as someone said at least it wasn't a scarf I was up against!?!!

This my rosette.

Nutmeg is impressed too and wants it for his new bed.

Leaf brooches are ready for posting, hope they bring a smile.

Harvest Baskets

Here are some Harvest Baskets that were made by under 5's at The Downham Toy Library group at Forster Park School today.


Vegetable printing is always a popular activity but I thought seeing as it's harvest time we could print them onto basket shapes.


The basket was cut from a sheet of A4 paper. First I cut a strip from the long side for the handle, then cut a semi-circle for the basket. The handle was then stapled to the basket after the printing was dry.



While the children printed we talked about colours and which fruits and vegetables they were going to put into their baskets.

What a crafty week!

First things first, Friday poll! I know that's why you're here!

Last week was a surprising result for me, the winner was......... SHOWER!

I'm a bath girl you see.

This weeks poll is a topical one in the UK, (it was even discussed on the Today programme on Radio 4)

Marmite or Marmalade?

Next, 102nd Post Competition. I've decided to have 3 winners; Ali, Karyn and Alla all win a lovely hand felted brooch.

Please message me ladies and we'll sort out getting them to you. (Also, wouldn't mind a little coaster or two Karyn ;-) xx)

On Monday I started my Craft Workshop Course, what fun it's going to be.

We mostly talked about things we would like to have a go at. Next week we are going to do beading on a loom, and the week after felting (that was my idea) both wet and needle.

my first bit of embroidery

Everyone on the course seems nice and open to trying new stuff. There are two ladies who have been doing the course for a few years, they come along, have a go and if they don't fancy what everyone else is doing they carry on with their own stuff, which seems to be how it works, it's very open and relaxed.


Finished two new activity packs at work, a halloween mobile pack and a spider paper weight pack.

(I will do a post about what I do at work as a few people have been asking recently and I find it hard to explain it in words, I'll do a photo montage!)

Spider Plaster of Paris Paperweight Pack

I might enter the spider in the DIY: Halloween competition over on CRAFT.

This is a 'hug' I started about 2 years ago.

I had knitted over 2/3 of it, but while I was knitting the first sleeve I started to knit the wrong way and it had two big stripes of purl on it. At first I didn't realise and then I tried to ignore it, by then I had started the second sleeve. In the end it was causing me such distress that I had to unravel it to the purl rows and pick it up again. Very boring.

So now I have nearly finished the back and then I can re-join it and start the second sleeve, which is the fun bit, knitting round and round and round............and round and round, great on the bus.

Lovely scarf sent to me from Norway, thank you! and a cat with no tonsils.

And lastly, I am going to enter this wrap into the Lewisham Country Fair on Sunday.
I love Country Fairs, I love looking round the entries at the biggest vegetables and handmade stuff and I've always secretly longed to live in the country so I could join the Women's Guild and make jam and enter it into competitions.
I never dreamed that we would have such a fair in Lewisham!! (FYI Lewisham is an Inner city London Borough, not very rural at all)

So, I might see you there on Sunday, with my wrap and Family, if not, I'll let you know how me and my wrap got on.