Creating and Crafting - simple toys

In my efforts to declutter the house and rid ourselves of all the excess 'things',  it was inevitable that I would end up in the children's rooms.  I worked and sorted my way through their toy baskets, the shelves and wardrobes, gathering up toys they had outgrown,  that had parts broken or missing, thinning out the excess;  a multitude of mass produced toys slowly being replaced by a few toys that encourage imagination, creativity, and gentle play.  Slowly, but surely there is more paper, pencils and paints, fabric, thread and simple toys inspired by the natural world.

 Recently we made these little Autumn Acorn gnomes, Walnut Boats filled with beeswax and fabric sails, and tiny sleeping babies wrapped in soft felt blankets. 

tina x

Fabric and Doily Covered Hoops

I love it when I can do something crafty with my hands......

... to play with colours and textures.....

...... and produce something pretty ......

....... Embroidery hoops, old fabric, scissors, a bit of playing around with colours and fabric  ....
that's it....
  The inspiration for these covered hoops came from here
 (lots of other practical and pretty ways to use old embroidery hoops too.) 

 They will eventually end up in the wee one's room but at the moment they are sitting on the mantel.  I say eventually because ... well ....  those of you with young children know that jobs involving nails and hammers,  don't happen quickly 😊  Or maybe that's just in our house.....

Tina xo

Upcycled Golden Book Greeting Cards

Today was a day of creating and crafting....

....using a pile of old Golden Books and upcycling them into greeting cards and gift tags......

Tina xo