A new use for matchsticks

I found this small bag of coloured matchsticks a few years back in a cheap store.

I've had them in my cupboard and have never known what to do with them, other than maybe collage...

When I found a clear lidded box from an old puzzle, I thought of a use.

Perhaps, the matchsticks could be like rainy day 'blocks' and be used for building, or drawing, or creating pictures of sorts.  

Only half the packet fit in the box, so there is still half a packet left.

What else could I do with them????

How to make a Wedding Ring Pillow

My friend Jemma married her lovely man Leon just the other weekend.

Jemma was an education student a few years back, 

completing her teaching degree in my classroom 

but she has been my teacher as much as I have been hers, 

and I was honoured to be invited to her wedding. 

As a crafty soul, I pondered what I might be able to contribute and offered Jemma a handmade ring pillow.

She in turn, sent me a photo of the material that the groomsmen would be wearing- a burgundy hibiscus-filled tropical fiesta inspired by the surrounds of Fiji!  Inspiration!

The flower was designed to close, so the rings stayed safe during their journey up the aisle but also for that added surprise when the flower blooms! 

If you'd like to make one yourself, this is what you do!

Cut 5 hibiscus shaped petals (double sided)

Cut five 15cm lengths of wire. 

(The hardware store sells wire in coils, for about $5)

Blanket stitch around each petal, incorporating one piece of wire into the fold as you go.

So that the wire is not visible at the end, I tend to wrap one blanket stitch around the wire, then on the next one, leave the wire out.  (Eg under wire, over wire- as above)

This keeps the wire close to the border edge without shiny silver poking through. 

When all five pieces are done, it's almost time to put it together but first, we need the accessories.

Cut four green leaves.

Cut one white centre of the flower.  Make a 1/2 cm cut in the middle.

Make the stamen. Wrap a small bit of yellow fleece or yellow embroidery thread around the end of a green pipe cleaner.  Start about 1cm to the left of the tip, then work towards the end and back. 

Fold the tip over to prevent the fibre/thread falling off.

Poke the stamen through the white centre and fold over the excess behind the white.

Begin with one petal.

Use small white stitches to sew the white part onto the petal. 

When you reach the end, add the next petal and continue until all five petals are attached.

Overlap the petals where necessary to ensure they fit.

Turn the flower over and join all the protruding wires by twisting them together as closely as possible.

Attach a circle of matching felt to hide the wires and rogue stitches. 

Attach the four petals as shown.

On the front side, next to the stamen, sew in two 10cm lengths of ivory coloured ribbon.

These will hold the rings as shown. 

Try out your petal folds! 

The last step is to embellish the leaves with vein stitches, and add a brooch pin to the back so it can be attached to the lapel of the Ring Bearer. 

When you are done, it might look lovely in a tree!

Or in a vase!

I couldn't resist sharing this with you too.

As Jemma and Leon live as expats in Oman, they provided us with a way to gift them should we so wish.  Something like a wishing well, but I like this much better!

A "Congratulations Coop"

Isn't it lovely?

Perfect for catching those flyaway birds and monetary envelopes too.

Weddings are such crafty opportunities, aren't they.

I'm betting you had a few crafty ideas or creations on show too. Or perhaps you helped a friend too. 

What is your favourite wedding craft or experience???

Sourdough culture

This is my new sourdough culture from my friend, Moondew mama Jo. 

Doesn't it look juicy?

It should look, in Jo's words, like the surface of the moon!!

I love that analogy. 

Now, to be brave enough to make bread with it.....

Mmmm....... what do you think???

Are you a sourdough queen???

Hot tips????

How to make a Winter Tree

My amazing friend Felicity created this tree.

Isn't it just perfect?

She simply wrapped long fallen branches in a silvery, sequin covered wool 

and propped them in a big pot.

Here is a close up of the shimmery look!

I love the coiled basket she made too.

She took long strips of fabric and wrapped them with cotton to make long ropes, then wound them all into the basket shape, stitching as she went to hold it together.

You could make all kinds of containers with this idea.  

The birds around here are starting to return- cockatoos, kookaburras galore, minor birds and of course, our friends, the magpie family.  

Here is Felicity, and Saskia, at our Winter Walk.

Everyone should have a friend like Fliss. 

She is compassionate, super keen on learning, warm hearted, wise, friendly, insightful, hilarious

 and she dresses herself and her daughter in pretty funky clothes!  

A Day of Spontaneous Fun and Adventure

I spotted this bit of graffiti in the toilet when we visited the Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne a few weeks back.

I hope Odette and Laurie had a wonderful day.  

Obviously they ended up at the convent, but I wonder what else they did??

(By the way, yes, it was a bit strange to pull out the Nikon and take a pic in the toilet, let me tell you but it was too cute not to!!)

I think we all need more of these kinds of days, don't you.

All we need is a good friend, a car with $20 petrol in it or a all day train ticket,

 a little picnic and we're off. 

 Who knows what kind of magical spontaneous things might happen?

I make it a point to always talk to people in queues and on trains now.

I might seem like the mad lady, and some people look away, but most people are happy to chat and sometimes you learn the most amazing things and hear about the most amazing places.  I'm waiting on a dinner invitation.  Wouldn't that be something?

I also love the idea of couch surfing. If it had been around in my backpacking days, I probably would have done it.  I just love the fact you meet locals, and hear about local haunts and cool spots and are led on wild goose chases to meet their friends and family.   95% of the world is made up of good or great people, and I believe we're much more likely to run into these lot. Most people are just like you and me.  

A good good thing!

Abbotsford Convent is one of those kind of places.

Not far from the CBD, yet a totally different world.

There is the most gorgeous bakery here, and we ate red sauce drippy lasagne here with fresh salad.  Divine.  

Around the corner, there is one of three Lentil As Anything  restaurants.

I like their philosophy.

Lentil as Anything is a unique not for profit community organisation. At our core are the pay as you feel restaurants where customers give what they feel the food is worth and have the opportunity to donate towards the philosophy.

We would love to welcome you as part of our community. We extend our hospitality offering you vegetarian cuisine cooked with love and gratitude. Our unique financial model functions independent of any government funding and we rely on your generosity in order to pay our rent, utilities, wages and stock.

Make an agreement with your conscience on what is reasonable, how much you enjoyed your food, our philosophy and our community. Be part of a unique financial model that is centred on the values of trust, generosity and respect that gives people the opportunity to eat out and be social regardless of their financial situation.

When you pay MAKE A WISH because you will be surprised with a little lentil love what happens!

I wonder if Odette and Laurie ate here?

But they definitely found this. 

The Convent Toilet Door Project, where two artists donated their time to beautify the space. 

Happy, happy, joy, joy. 

Makes a nice change from boring old white.

Just around the corner is a little art gallery, and also the Collingwood children's farm.

More groovy surprises and hidden treasure.  

What a place!

So, here is the question: Can you find a free day in your schedule, and an available friend?

Are you ready for a day of spontaneous fun and adventure??

Let me know what you do!!

More woodwork with John Elliot

Check out this great idea!

It is a spinning game and 5 year old children can make it with a little help from mum or dad. 

It is simply a ring of timber cut from a branch.

Two holes need to be drilled with a hand drill (children can turn the handle whilst the adult supervises the safe grip of the timber in a vice), just like a button. 

Children can then sand the timber with sandpaper to smooth it.

Then, it is just a matter of threading a nice thick piece of wool or string about 1metre in length through one hole and back through the other, then tying a knot in the end.  

The child then holds both ends of the wool and begins to twist it around by spinning the ring in the air in a forward rolling motion.

When you finish twisting, pull the two ends tight and the bead begins to spin on the thread. 

John showed people how to make spinning tops using the same timber ring.  

You can make it more colourful and appealing by asking children to draw a lovely pattern or design on a piece of cardboard the same size as the disk. Use a hole punch to cut a hole in the card, then slip it over the top of the handle.  

The children can experiment with all kinds of mandalas and patterns to their fancy!

This big ball fit snug into my hand but gee, it was pretty substantial in weight!

It is simply John playing- whittling a large piece of hardwood a bit at a time until it becomes rounded, and smooth.  When it has been sanded, the ball can be used for ball games where you need something to roll along the floor.

Probably not for throwing!

One of the participants made his own mallet.

Perfect for knocking in "stick cubby" posts or herb markers or cracking macadamias. 

Imagine when children see us making these kinds of regular tools from scratch in the most simple of ways.

It is not something most children will see today so what a treat to make it with them!

Here is a selection of John's tools.

This is John with a hand drill.

I see these all the time at car boot markets but never knew what they were for.

You can pick them up pretty cheaply too. 

This is a close up of one of the drill bits used for making holes in the disks. 

Wouldn't you just love one for your home?

John makes a lot of handcarved animals and toys for children and is happy to work to requests. 

He may also be available to teach simple woodworking to your little ones, or to a group of parents or teachers...

He is a fabulous, happy-go-lucky fellow whom I can imagine that young children (and all creative adults) would just love! 

Contact John by calling (03) 9737 0760

He is based in Mt Evelyn, Victoria.