Horses

Spent some time with neighbours today making these...obviously I also made some.


We enjoyed making up the names...

My top tips:
1) Print the template directly onto card rather than getting kids to draw around the template.
2) Use thin card as kids can not always get a neat edge when cutting thick card.
3) Use colourful, glossy magazines. 
4) Have a work board/ plate to keep all the parts of the horse on the table and avoid the pieces getting scooped up in the scrap paper.Otherwise you'll have some wonky horses!

Stampede - DIY horse project!

If it rains this bank holiday - maybe you could make a family of these equestrian beauties!

http://tenderfooting.blogspot.com/2011/08/tenderfoots-half-birthday.html

http://annwood.net/blog/category/horses/


Hop over to the blog of Tenderfoot to get further ideas! They also have a fab website, Tenderfoot.


Happy hols...


Alli
:-)

Make a Pennant for 2012!

Did you know that we are hosting the Olympic Games in London in 2012?! Excited? I am....


I spoke with an aunt today who told me about this project, making pennants to give to each competitor in the London Olympics 2012. Quilts 4 London Olympics 2012.


I got together my daughter and 2 neighbours and here's what we made.

At the website you will find guidance and a range of template shapes to download. We designed our flags and then used felt to make them. I did the machine sewing!

Rachel loves horses...neeeigh.

Lauren made a lucky clover...

A fruity image..

A Bristolian phrase...

Check out the gallery here: Pennant contributions


Now all we need to do is upload them onto the website and send them off!


You gonna have a go?

Crochet ambitions!

Ever since I've seen these crochet flowers in Mollie Makes I've wanted to make them.


Here's the spread in the mag:

Unfortunately I can't crochet.


Fortunately my mother can - and when she came to visit this week she taught me 'how to' crochet! She's the sort of person who has crochet hooks in her hand bag and always has a knitted or crochet project on the go.(You can see where I get it from!)


I didn't find it easy at first and I joked with my mum & kept asking her if I was ready to 'go for' the flowers yet...she laughed (in a kind way, of course).


She taught me basic stitches and I'm very proud of what I've produced.

I can crochet....squares.....I made these!

Mum quickly twirled and whirled...

Whilst I was 'learning' mum whizzed up some flowers.


I now have my own crochet hooks. I need to set myself the challenge now to make some flowers - I'll post my efforts as and when!


Wish me luck! 'Chain...single...treble..'

Carrot Chutney...addictive M&S sarnies!

It's got a fridge life of one week...it'll be eaten by then!

A few weeks ago, whilst on our holiday, my son broke his arm (boo) and he spent 3 nights in hospital (they were all very lovely). He's recovered well, but I've been left with an addiction to carrot chutney with Wensleydale Cheese! Why? 


The hospital was near a Marks & Spencer store and they make a delicious sandwich - Wensleydale Cheese and Caramelised Carrot Chutney. To have a break,(no pun intended), I'd pop over to the store to get my lunch and a microwave dinner!


There's even a Facebook page for this sarnie!

Today I found a recipe for a carrot chutney and made some. It's delicious....now where's the cheese?

A recipe I found :

This will make one 8oz jar of chutney!

3 medium sized carrots (grated)

2tbsp olive oil

1 pinch salt

6 dessert spoons caster sugar

100 mls white wine vinegar

50 mls water

1. Heat the olive oil in a heavy bottomed pan over a low heat.

2. Add grated carrot to the pan and cook slowly until soft. Add pinch salt

3. Add sugar mix until disolved

4. Pour in vinegar and water

5. Bring mixture to the boil and cook quickly until all liquid has been absorbed

6. Pour into a sterilised jar and leave to cool (to sterilise an 8oz jar, pre heat oven to 150 degrees celcius, wash jar in soapy water and rinse, place jar and lid in heated oven for 15mins)

Once opened will keep in the fridge for up to one week.

Hope you like it!

Yoltan comment 17 http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=218360,

Enjoy....

Home library - book plates

It's a rainy day in Bristol today and I've got a great activity to use with your kids. These Book plates http://www.myhomelibrary.org/bookplates.html have been created by illustrators & artists to print and use at home, school etc. These plates may be freely copied for all except commercial purposes.


There are lots of other book related activities & tips on this site. Explore! 


Here are some of my favourites:

Always need an opportunity to speak
in my highlands accent!
By Mairi Hedderwick

By Quentin Blake

A very passionate reader!
By Raymond Briggs

Lots in colour too..twit-twoooo! 
By Valerie Greeley

Enjoy! x

Chic on a Shoestring - a silk-scarf top

Mary Jane is an inspirational 'writer, style expert and craft addict' who shared one of her projects from her book Chic Shoestring: Simple-vintage-style-accessories in the issue 4 of Mollie Makes.

Here's the project:

Scarf 1

Amaryllis?

Scarf 2

Abstract blocks

My finished top - will look great with linen shorts or on a slimmer me!

Inspired my Musicians Fabric - Ornithology A Tana Lawn by Edwyn Collins

Edwyn Collins (from Orange Juice) designed this fabric for Liberty. 

"In 2005 Edwyn suffered a severe cerebral haemorrhage that he took six months to recover from. As part of his rehabilitation he drew a bird a day, each of which has been used by the Liberty Fabrics Team in this remarkable print. The design created pays homage to Collins’ dedication, like a sketchbook on fabric complete with names of birds and dates when they were drawn."

There is something very humbling about this print.

Personalised bunting...busy, busy, busy...

Everyone loves a bit of bunting - these ones have been made personal by adding names...