Creating a Fishy Dress

This Sunday I took some super bright and super cute cotton fabric.

I paired it with some purple cotton fabric and some pink ric rack.

Then I got a little creative.

There are no little girls at my place to enjoy this piece of brightness so it will find its was via post down to my 2yr old niece.

Hopefully she enjoys it with all its brightness and with all those fish.

I also have no idea on the sizing so am hoping it isn't too big.

I visited The Mother Huddle for a how to on making this cute pillow case dress. I used the elastic version for the neckline but have still used ties because I couldn't measure up my niece for strap length.

I think it made a really cute dress for her to wear and play in.

After making one I was inspired (I had also had to nip to a certain shop for some matching cotton and ric rac) so I kept on going. It gave me something to do. The next ones were made using the original drawstring idea from The Mother Huddle.

So now a little girl will have three cute little dresses coming her way in the mail and I will get to see what style works better for her.

I have the stuff for sewing but rarely do. I have the stuff for scrapbooking and other crafts but I make it to them even less. It isn't that I don't have time but maybe more that I don't have a space to do it so really need to clean it all up every time I use it. The need to clean it all up kind of overrides the urge to do it. People often think I am crafty and creative but it rarely actually happens. I need to make it happen more often.

Have you been getting creative?
Can you sew but don't because like me you don't want to contain the mess?

Something about Minties

  Minties, when googled (ha who knew it would become a verb in our vocabulary) Minties come up as being an 'iconic Australian lolly'. They were first made in 1922 by James Stedman and were produced in the former Sweetacres Factory in Sydney. Taken straight from the Allen's Minties part of the Nestle web site ... The mint lolly survived The Great Depression and World War II and is one of the oldest confectionery products still available, along with Allen’s Jaffas, Freckles and Fantales, selling over 3.5 million packs a year. It is also the subject of one of the oldest advertising slogans: “It’s moments like these you need Minties.” The interesting things you find out.

This all came about because I was looking for something else "Iconically Australian" for my students to try and walking down the aisle in the grocery shop I thought 'ah Minties' as they are something of an iconic part of my childhood and travelling routine.

As kids we were given Minties as a treat in the car on the LONG journey to visit our Grandparents. A 10hr trip south by car and some of it very hilly and windy, Minties were good for relieving the built up pressure in our ears, helping them to pop.

We also used to have competitions to see who could tear their Minties wrapper into the longest strip. The same idea as pealing the apple all in one spiral.

It kept us occupied and was a bit of fun. We concentrated hard on tearing that Minties wrapper around and around, as skinny as possible and trying not to break it.

Have you ever done this?

 Do you love Minties?

I'm off to eat another and see how long I can get the wrapper.
What do you think is an iconic Australian food?

The Cake

It has been a while since the kids and I have been in the kitchen, well not that long really, just a while since I have written a post about it. The kids here love cooking and I try to organise to do it around once a week with them. Mostly we cook sweet things like food for smoko or dessert for everyone. Today Miss Yr4, Mr Yr1, Mr T and I cooked a marble cake.

The kids love having goes at putting things into the mixtures, cracking eggs is a favourite. It is funny how when we pull out the ingredients each of the kids straight away claims one to measure. Today Miss Yr4 got in first with "I'll do the eggs," next Mr Yr1 chimed in with "I'll do the milk" then Mr T enthusiastically piped up "I do flour!" We have done this so many times that they even offer to let each other beat the mixture first which I think is rather polite and nice of them. They know that they will all get a go.

I think following a recipe and cooking are important skills for children to learn (even if all they will ever be able to feed themselves is cake) as it means they can always feed themselves. Not only that but cooking is fun especially when we get a little creative and who doesn't like licking the bowl. Oh and don't tell the kids but it is also learning about measuring and fractions ... especially when you only pull out the 1cup and make them use that to measure half and three-quarters of a cup.

 YUM!

Taking away

On Monday Mr E and Miss S helped their dads take away weaners. So bright and early eager children headed to the horse yards to get ready to go so that they would be able to walk the weaners to the Bore Paddock bore by lunch. They would then be able to continue on to the weaners new new home after their extended stay in the holding paddock down at the yards by mid afternoon. This all went well and Boss Lady R and Boss Lady H drove the old red truck out to meet them so the horses didn't have to walk the whole way back.

Waiting ... come on Dad

What joy ... Mr E having a belly laugh
after Buffit decided to shake herself down with him on her back brrr.



Like father like son ...

 Poor Mr E's pony bolted (well as fast as she can) leaving him in the dust but luckily all that he hurt was his pride. This meant he came back early as Buffit (the pony) was no where to be found.

Father and daughter

Looking forward to the day ahead

Miss S heading off for a days work.



Miss S however stayed out the whole day arriving back exhausted but with the biggest smile on her face, so proud of her days work.

There go the weaners

Boss R bringing up the rear

And just because I can't help myself here are some more photos taken while they were getting ready to leave from the horse yards.

Peek-a-boo

Just hanging around

Little cowboy boot

The Old Red Truck

Creative Classroom

I am so lucky with the creative kids I have in my classroom.

They will often think of something they want to make during the day and the rules are as long as you clean up after it ... go for it, and they do.

On Tuesday this week we had some very interesting creations.

From the two girls we had some birds in their nests.

The two girls used part of an egg carton, buttons, card, feathers, paper, pipe cleaners, pompoms and some pre cut stars that we got from somewhere.

Earlier in the day Mr Preppy and Mr T created things with boxes.

Mr Preppy made a robot that sucks up the smoke and has a hose to put out the fire.

Mr Preppy used a tissue box, some egg carton, some pieces of drinking straw and a pipe cleaner.

After spending some time sticking things Mr T had fun making himself a robot.

They do say that imitation is the finest form of flattery.

Mr T used an oats box, some cut up patty papers, pieces of drinking straw, coloured paper, cellophane and a pompom. For him I put the bits and pieces on a plate for him to choose from. Nearly three year olds rummaging through the cupboard is not a good idea unless you want to clean it out.

Mr T has just discovered gluing and loves it "I make, I stick, I make" is a constant phrase when he is in the schoolroom.

Actually Mr T has just discovered the schoolroom and how much fun he can have doing things instead of being home with Mum. So now I regularly five bodies joining me in the schoolroom every day.

• Our little bits and pieces for craft are all stored in a box together and the kids love rummaging through it to get ideas. The box holds anything from glitter and feathers to paddle pop sticks and pipe cleaners. A great place to pick bits and pieces up is a cheap shop like Crazy Clarks.
• Our paper and cardboard is stored in a box and on a shelf in the cupboard. We collect all kinds of papers including wrapping paper, cellophane (even off flowers), tissue paper. Sometimes when I see some cool wrapping paper or and interesting textured paper I will get some to add to the box. 
• I also collect boxes of various sizes, magazines and egg cartons for the the kids to cut up.
• Glue ... we have glue sticks, PVA or wood glue and for the tricky to stick stuff craft glue which is always used under supervision with the littlies.
• I use to put down newspaper to work on but now we use a piece of plastic on the floor (that wonderful table cloth stuff). When painting I will usually put out newspaper as well so there is somewhere to wipe wet brushes.