Pottery Week 2 - Coil Pots

Last night i had my second of 9 pottery classes and this week it was Coil Pots. It is a pretty simple concept - all you need is a slab base, then you make long coils and wind your way round, joining them as you go. You can go up, in and out - but I was not quite that adventurous. I think my final product is reminiscent of Pooh Bears Honey Pot. I wasn't quite feeling this way of working with clay but apparently it can be used to form the most amazing shapped pots both super small and super huge.

No idea what i am going to use it for as it is a wierd size. Too big for small objects and too small for big objects. Any suggestions? Next week is glazing - bring on the pretty colours.

On a side note, we were talking in the class about what other classes we would like to see offered. My suggestion was a sewing class for children's clothing. What classes would you like to see your local community centre offer?

The Ultimate Hostess Gift - Little of This, Little of That

I am thinking you could combine this

Image and details from Sinnen Rausch)

with this

Image via Laura Parke

to make the ultimate hostess gift. And if you added a little something in the inside bottom of the mug like this

Image and work by Mrs Petterson Pottery (found via Mon Carnet)

 it would be that extra special surprise when the herbs are all gone and they use the mug for tea!

My Little Quilting Helper

After the success of my first quilt I am now making a bunny rug quilt with some left over fabric I bought for the embroidery hoops on little ones wall (which reminds me I still need to write that post!). But I couldn't make it without my little "helper"!

Pinspiration - Bunny Onesie

For all those Pinterest addicts out there, here is a question for you: How many pictures have you pinned of things that you want to make or do and how many have you ACTUALLY made or done? My answers would be hundreds, and less than 5 respectively! So today I am starting what I hope to be a regular feature on my blog - "Pinspiration" - that is, things i have pinned to my DIY boards and Sewing Inspiration boards and ACTUALLY made or done.
First off the ranks is an easter appropriate onesie.

Inspired by this tutorial by Finley and Oliver

Image by Finley and Oliver

I made this:

Check out Finley and Oliver for the details on how to make a bunny onesie, and check out my Sewing Inspiration for Kids board on Pinterest to see more things I hope to make.
Have you ACTUALLY made anything that you have seen on Pinterest. I would love to see it - leave a link in your comments below to your blog post.

Toilet Paper Rolls Activities

Looking for some great rainy day activities - well I suggest you start collecting your toilet paper rolls now! They are super easy to make something special (and cheap!) with. Need some inspiration....

Super heros by Made by Joel

Robots by Life on the Gravelly Road

Owls by Simple as That

Rockets by Skip to My Lou

Animal Collection as seen on Pikaland

Hanging rockets via Factory Direct Craft

Changing Faces via Little Learning

 And some that i made for my little man - of course Toy Story Themed

 

These only took about 15 minutes to make - only change I would make next time is to paint the tubes first (doh!).  If you wanted to make some of these yourself - let me know and I will email you the Toy Story pics which have been scaled to size.

Any more great toilet paper roll ideas you have seen?

My Creative Space - Rocking the Headband

So apparently when you have a girl you are meant to go accessory crazy! I didn't think I would because I am not a girly girl by any means (I can't remember the last time i wore heals and I don't even own grown up lipstick!) but who can resist a baby in a cute little head band. There is just something so sweet about them. And being the crafty person that I am of course I thought i could make my own. And here is the result.

I bought all the materials on Craftumi (bands by Gemma Joy, Crochet  Flowers by DeDor Supplies and buttons from collection at home) and they were a great nap time craft (i.e. it didn't take too long and it didn't matter if i had to go to Little Miss' room every five minutes to stick the dummy back in!)

Emily rocking the headband

And while Little Miss has been rocking the headbands this week. my little man has been rocking the raincoat. Looking forward to some more rain so we can team the raincoat with his new Charlie & Me gumboots.

Be sure to head on over to Our Creative Space to check out some great other crafty ideas and beautiful projects

Chalk Play

With 15 minutes to kill the other day while we waited for our play date to arrive and finally some sunny weather - I whipped out the chalk, spray bottle and paint brush for some quick chalk play. I originally got the idea from Play Create Explore. Too easy and super easy to clean up as well.

Chalk + spray bottle + paint brush

Ollie was here

And then of course we had to spray the house. Why? Because he is a boy and that's what they do.

The Babies Room

I know I said I wasn't going to blog for a bit - but before I take my break, I thought I would quickly share the babies new room with you all. As we are not finding out whether we are having a boy or a girl I have had to go neutral for now, and then once bubs arrives, I have my eye on a whole bunch of prints for the main wall.

 First off is a cloud mobile made from some fabric I bought over a year ago with no particular project in mind, and a branch that i found washed up on the beach at Copa when I was away on a girls weekend last year. The plan is to hang it from a eye hook in the ceiling, but as that requires husbands assistance it is taking a little time!

My inspiration for this mobile came from Jolie Momes Factory blog.

Next up is the family photo wall above the cot

And lastly an ABC gardland to fill the main wall until I decide on some prints

(This garland will be available to buy in my etsy store as a DIY kit in the next month or so - keep an eye out).

So there you have it - if you want to see what the room looked like when it was my son's first room - you can check out my post on it here. I also have a pinterest board dedicated to my fav kids room ideas - I have so many ideas and things i want to try.

My Creative Space - Beanbags & Magnets

I have gone a little hand made crazy this Christmas and I must admit I am really looking forward to giving these presents to my little man come Christmas morning.

First of the rank are these bean bags which I first started in November (see my blog post here) and I finally finished them last week.

I used this tutorial by Chez Beeper Bebe but also ended up putting the rice in a plastic bag before i sewed them in - just in case they ended up in the bath (not sure how but you never know) or need a bit of a touch clean.

Next on the list was some Toy Story Magnets - my son is such a fan of Toy Story so I know he will enjoy these.

The inspiration also came from a Chez Beeper Bebe tutorial and were super easy to make. All I did was find some images on line (the disney site is great for this), resized them, printed them on my home computer, attached them to adhesive magnets i picked up from Riot Art Store and gave them a coat of modge podge. Too easy!

Next on the list is a game of magnetic fish - but I have still to make the fishing pole and hook - so will wait until I have finished before i post about these.

What handmade goodies have you whipped up this Christmas? I would love to hear about them.

Yes Please Thank You - Lanterns and Elastics

Couple of quick "yes please thank you"'s that caught my eye yesterday:

Jumping Elastics (oh the memories!) from Poppet in the Post - only $5.00 (great stocking stuffer)

Paper Lantern - Carnival Stripe Pack of 6 - 25cm dia lanterns from Sweet Style - $14.95
25cm dia

 

 

The lanterns have inspired me to give these DIY paper lanterns a go to add some interest to my sons new big boy room's ceiling - off to raid my paper stock.

Image and DIY via The Creative Place

My Creative Space - Summer PJ's

My creative endevours this week have branched into the children's clothing realm - PJ's to be more exact. It was time for the flannels to be retired (both because they are now too small and it was way too hot) so i whipped up some PJ's for my son. When i say whipped up - i mean i read a bunch of tutorials online, books, consulted with my mum, and eventally came up with my own pattern from another pair of his shorts - and here are the results:

 

I have to admit I am a little chuffed with myself! I am even considering making some summer shorts for him to wear outside the safety of our house.  For more Creative Spaces - head over here
(PS - self promotion - i am having a 48 hour facebook sale (end Friday) for some new gift tags i have been working on - you can check out my facebook sale here)

My Creative Space

This week my creative space has involved:

Counting Bean Bags - I have only made the one so far but i am hoping to make 6 with 1-6 on one side and my sons name on the other. For how to instructions head over to Chez Beeper Bebe

Finishing my sons big boy bed doona cover (well it is 98% finished)

Painting with my son. Check out yesterday's post for the action photos (PS - the truck tracks idea came from play school!)

For more Creative Spaces and inspiration - head over to Our Creative Space