Waterproof Swim Bag

Here's what I did with the rest of the oil cloth I bought.

Its a tote or a bag with holes punched out at the base to carry towels and wet swimmers without them making everything soggy.

Friday Love

Today I am grateful for...

Friends and family who enrich our lives so much, most of whom celebrated our children's birthdays on the weekend with us and made the day amazing.
Friends who are far away, who are still close to my heart, Stacey, Josie and Katherine. I miss you guys! x
Happy, healthy children.
Down time to stop and appreciate it.
Neighbours who don't complain about the kids screaming (or the mum screaming)
A homeschooling community who encourage me and inspire me and who make this decision to homeschool a little easier.
Beautiful weather
A great babysitter
A good book
A pantomime
Angus' constant exclamations of "OH WOW!" (so cute it makes me cry)
My girls who are truly blossoming and getting cheekier everyday.

Oilcloth Apron for Ruby

For my birthday girl, Ruby. A pink strawberry oilcloth apron for getting messy over and over again!

Make a Poof

Here's another quick craft project you could knock over in under half an hour. Cut out 2 equal circles (I traced around a large bowl and added 1cm hem allowance). Cut out a length of material in matching or contrasting pattern, approximately 30cm in width and the length is to worked out according to the size of your circle. Measure the diameter of your circle (from one side to the other through the centre) and multiply by 3.14 to get the approximate circumference of your circle and this will be the length that you cut your meterial plus at least 2cm for seem allowance. Sew the circle on each length of the rectangle ensureing outer sides are facing in. Turn inside out, stuff with plenty of filling and hand stitch the opening. Sit a kid on top like this one.

...oh and happy birthday beautiful Ruby! xxx

Friday Love

Today I am grateful for...

*A return to the blogosphere after my many preoccupations including the Breaking Bad Tv Series on DVD, a bout of some seriously addictive book reading (The Hunger Games Trilogy and various Jane Austen books) followed by the movies of the afformentioned books, glandular fever, a lack of motivation, early nights to bed and the obvious tending to kids and housework.
*A great Daddy to take all the kids out so I could sleep in peace, oh yeah!
*Some beautiful sunny weather amongst some very cold days
*A lovely day at the library and the local park
*Our art sessions at the park and in the front yard
*A house that was clean for at least 10 minutes at one point today
*Playschool
*A slowcooker

Oilcloth Apron

The aprons I created for my girls, Poppy and Ruby, were bleached beyond repair when I tried to get some stains out and ended up in the bin. So I've sewn some more indestructable aprons out of oil cloth and am hoping these will last a bit longer. This is another easy sewing project for beginners. Cut the apron shape from oil cloth (for an even shape fold lengthways and then open out). Get at least 2 meteres of bias binding. Sew a length on the short collar edge of the oil cloth and the bottom length of the oil cloth leaving two arm spaces without binding. Next sew a length of binding encasing both of the arm areas whilst leaving a loop wide enough for a little head to get through and at least 30cms on each side for ties at the back. Each end can then just be knotted.