Doodling cutey card packs

I'm starting to do a few card packs for my Esty shop and trying to get a variety of cutey things together to do a market stall somewhere local soon.

Hope you like them, more to come soon and these little bunnies will be on Etsy tomorrow.

Set of 4 bunny cards, prints of my doodling then I've sewn them on with hot pink thread using Phyllis the sewing machine

Enjoy

Jennie

Custom Pet Portraits

I've been wanting to load onto my Etsy store some examples of the pet portraits I do and it's finally happened. Check out some of the pictures below and browse in my Etsy shop.

Hope you like them, please tell a friend.

They make an excellent gift.

Enjoy

Jennie

Collage calender

I organised craft at playgroup last week.  I had been collaging with Rosie on her easel using cut outs from magazines.  She enjoyed me gluing and her just sticking them on.

So I thought a collage month calender would be fun to do at playgroup. 

Take a look at the results and then I'll tell you what you need.

You will need:

coloured card (I used square scrapbooking size, larger than A4)

magazine cuttings

a copy of calender months (I just drew onto white paper a grid with the month of March on and photocopied it, you could do this or print one from the internet)

glue stick

hole pinch

ribbon

Then the fun begins...............

hole punch the card, top centre. 

glue the calender on

add their name if you like

then just let them pick the magazine cuttings

glue and stick

Tie ribbon through hole punch to hang the masterpiece

It's lots of fun

Enjoy

Jen

How to be an explorer of the world

I came across this book when I was looking for a secret Santa gift for my friend Emma.  She is soon to start a design course in Melbourne and I thought it would open the mind and get her exploring.

How to be an explorer of the world by Keri Smith



It's packed full of fun things to do and will appeal to any age.  Theres lots of things like I can do with Rosie (she's not even two) to make and play.

I like the the 'found paper' page.  It tells you to collect paper you find and then arrange it together. Singly they aren't that interesting but together they look good and what child doesn't like paper!

Found paper

I like the whole book but heres some of the pages...

World of colour, collect colour paint sample card you like and write what the colours remind you of

Miniature Ecosystem - collecting water from three different places in one jar
placing in a sunny window and watch / document the results

Grocery shopping - making list or collecting items that maybe are the same shape, colour, things you've never eaten before, all the types of cheeses etc.  It would be a fun one to keep the kids occupied whilst doing the grocery shopping.  It could be a competition for them.

Library exploration - picking an item and then going to the library so research  all about it, it maybe to collect pictures, make notes, sketch.  See what you can collect and present it as an installation.

It's full of thinking and observing projects that everyone can enjoy.  Check out Keri's website for this and her other very cool books.  I got mine from kinokuniya book store in Sydney city priced $19.95. www.kerismith.com
Thanks to Keri for letting me tell you about her book.

Enjoy

Jennie

Tree Child

If you are a grown up and love the Tree of Life store then you must visit their new Tree Child.  It's opened in Westfield Bondi Junction, in Sydneys Eastern Suburbs. Check out some of the beautiful things.

The beautiful shop front

Go in and colour a picture for their 'Touch of Love' project sponsoring children in India.

 http://www.treeoflife.com.au/Global-Love/a-touch-of-love

I'm sure you'll see more stores in the future.

http://www.treeoflife.com.au/

enjoy, Jennie

Bindi-eye bop

Margaret brings her grandson to my playgroup and is a talented singer and songwriter.  She's just self published a children's book filled with sixteen fun songs.  It also comes with a CD and is beautifully illustrated by her friend and artist Janet Selby.

Example page - Easter Bilby song

From jumping on trampolines, dodging bindi-eyes, caring from the environment and saving water.  It features echidnas, bilbies, dinosaurs, blowflies and cockatoos.

It's $25 including postage within Australia.  Check out http://www.margaretbradford.com/ or call Margaret on 0403 936 785 or Janet on 0421 369 707 to order your copy.

Enjoy, Jennie

Caravan play house



Rosie's caravan

This is something I've been wanting to make Rosie for a long time. Now that Mysan or Mysie as Rosie calls her is here to help it was made in a couple of days.

We had a table already so took the measurements and cut the pieces with an extra 2cm for the seams and hem. The front side was cut as a full piece plus an extra section for the door.

I drew out the caravan shape with a fabric marker and then mysie did the wibbly wobbly stitching that I wanted.  Pick a dark thread so it shows up well from a distance.

Windows were marked out, cut to allow a seam. The door was sewn on and then a section in the main piece cut away and hemmed so that she can get in and out.

The blind at the door window and a ceramic button heart above the door

Just a few birdies

Ribbon flowers

Curtains were crocheted doilies and gathered fabric.  Flowers were ribbon and embroidery wool thread.  Birdies were fabric scraps and embroidery. I added a lot of little things that were given to me by friends, such as, butterflies and hearts. I've still to add on crocheted flowers.  You could go on forever.  We even added a number plate, old vintage UK reg...ROS 13G, for Rosie G.

She loves it, as you can see,  Hope you all do too.

Jennie