It's as Easy as ABC (or not . . .)
Today I tackled a new project that in theory seemed difficult, but in practice was a whole lot trickier!
The brief:
To create the 26 letters of the alphabet in three dimensional structures using felt and dacron. They have to be about 60cm high and be freestanding - eeeeek!! The letters need to be portable, so little peoples can move them around and create words; and they need to be very sturdy little letters to withstand 5 weeks of rough play! Holy guacamole!
Well, here is my first attempt:

I decided to try a really tricky letter - P - and an easy one - I - and see how long it took to make both. The P, even though it looks as if it is freestanding, has actually been manipulated into standing position. Not sure many little kids will go to that much effort to try to make it stand - it would be much easier if it just did! The body of the letter was fairly straightfoward, but to get the balance of wheat (which weighs down the bottom half) and dacron was almost impossible. I may have to use clay or wood somewhere in the spine of the letter. Strangely, 'I' was just as tricky to get standing!

I am going to have another go using a few different materials and will keep you posted on my progress. Watch this space!

Happy Easter!

Remember making hand-painted eggs by blowing out the yolk, rinsing and dipping in dye? Here are some I prepared earlier - ice strong colours and a few adornments.
I did see some plastic eggs that you could paint in Bed Bath 'n' Table but somehow plastic doesn't seem so fantastic. Then again, I am a bit old-fashioned.
Anyhow, was very pleased with how these ones turned out. Would love to see some creations from anybody else - send them through!

Simple Pleasures

Just a few snapshots of life across the road. I love that somebody put a couch looking out to the oval. It's gone now. Would have been good for when we watch the soccer games on the weekend . . .

The Tree

Hooray! The tree is finally complete!
I have talked about it, thought about it, made a model, made a pattern and now the tree is standing tall and very handsome!
Thanks, Dan for all the help cutting and sanding; and particularly for helping me tweak the design when it was all looking a bit wrong (he does the maths, I do the creating).
So, here was the model:

And here's the real thing! It's about 6 foot:

Now for some beautiful paper birds, flowers and other lovely items to decorate it. xx

The Top

Lucie wanted to make a top for Max. I just gave her some thread and material and she went about creating a pattern, cutting it and sewing together. I think it's awesome! The best thing was seeing her sit down in a bookshop in Daylesford on Sunday to finish it off. It's like she just couldn't wait!! Max wore it all day, he was so pleased with it.

The 'Zine'-olution

I love this magazine my daughter Lucie has made called Waterfalls of Watermelons. What a crazy name for a magazine and what a fabulously adorned cover it has! I don't mind Taylor Swift, either (believe it or not). If anyone out there has ever made their own magazine, send me a pic of your cover - Lucie and I would love to see what other kids are creating in the way of 'Zines'. If you are not sure what a 'zine' is, it is a handmade publication (like a magazine), which has been put together using collage, cut-and-paste writing and other bits and pieces to decorate it; and then you have the option of photocopying it and distributing to people who might be interested in reading your stuff. There's a great place in Melbourne (in the subway at Flinders St), where you can create your own zine on the spot. Their website is:
www.stickyinstitute.com.au
Check it out. But of course there is nothing stopping you from making your own zine at home and then photocopying it at school. You could even start charging money for your zine if it becomes popular and people like your stuff!
Here's a pic of L's zine, which is made from pics of some of her favourite singers, pieces of fabric and  paper from other mags:

Life can be cruel . . . but at least there's coffee?

The washing machine blew up.
The hot water service blew up.
Childcare fees went up.
The rates are due.

Oh, and did I mention that we had to pay the tenth of about five hundred instalments for an operation on our cat - and he's dead?!!!  

But at least there's my morning coffee at the cafe across the road from work. Well . . . only if you have some SPARE CHANGE!!!
There are a few times during the year I actually contemplate an instant coffee. Today was one of those times. I consoled myself that at least there would be an Arrowroot biscuit in the tub to dunk into my cup of poison a la morning tiramisu style. NUP!! Not even a solitary bleedin' Arrowroot. Seriously . . .
I do have a secret indulgence, however, that saved me from the cruel fact that I am penniless. I did have one PROPER coffee this morning.
I always buy a bag of freshly ground Columbian blend from McIvers in the Queen Vic Market that usually lasts me a month (just enough from paycheck to paycheck). And my secret weapon - an ASCASO coffee machine from my dear neighbour. For some unknown reason he chooses to chug down the instant goo in favour of the real stuff and passed this little silver beauty on to me. Thank you, Gary!
So . . . bottoms up to neighbourly charity and Columbian blend.
(And thank God it's fruit day at school tomorrow - my cupboards are bare!)