Marigolds

Our garden is full of marigolds and we've been having fun creating pockets of color around the house....

Papier Mache Penguin family

This family of penguins are just the cutest. Loosely inspired by the Russian Matryoshka dolls, they are entirely made from paper, glue and decorated with paint.

 Step 1 - Make a shape:

Shape a ball of play dough into your desired form, then cover it in glad wrap.

Step 2 - Papier Mache:

Rip up small pieces of magazine or newspaper and glue (you can use simple craft glue) them onto your molded shape, leaving the base free of paper. Continue with several layers of paper and glue, then allow it to dry for 24 hours.

Step 3 - Painting your design:

When the outside is completely dry, pull the play dough out of the mold and you should be left with a free standing dome shape. You can now paint your shell any design you like (we made penguins because they were very easy) and start all over again to make a family. Just make sure each one can fit inside the next before you start gluing. Have fun.

How to Sprout Quinoa

Home grown sprouts are so nutritious and quinoa sprouts are especially packed with protein. All you need is a clean glass jar and some fine mesh to cover the jar with. First, take 2 tablespoons of raw quinoa seeds and soak them in filtered water for 8 hours.

Rinse the seeds well and place the jar upside down on an angle to drain. Rinse the seeds three times a day for three days - when tails should begin to form. Turn your freshly sprouted seeds into a raw salad with fresh rocket, fresh tomato and your favorite salad dressing.

Hemp Dollies

I enjoyed creating these sustainable hemp dollies by wrapping some hemp twine around a piece of cardboard, tying and chopping the ends into legs, hair and arms. They are so cute and easy to make and a fun way to spend the afternoon.

Blackwood Street Yarn Bombs

It always brings a smile to my face and heart to see the latest guerrilla knitting additions to Blackwood Street, Mitchelton. Shop owners and the local community members contribute to these colorful creations on both sides of the street. Thank you clever anonymous knitters for brightening up our urban spaces.

Felt Flowers

These simple little felt flowers accompanied my family's Easter presents. I just took a bit of loose alpaca wool, needle felted it into a circle and added the yellow center. Hmmm, I like them so much, I might add some of these onto my skirt.

Pine Cone Chicks

 
Here are our cute little Easter Pine Cone Chicks - I just love encouraging the kids to create simple craft from nature.

We painted the pine cones yellow, stuffed each hole with fluff and stuck on some eyes and a beak. They really make a sweet Easter table decoration and were fun to create too.

Felt Easter Eggs

With Easter around the corner, I just had to make something with my leftover wisps of colored felt. The girls made a clay nest, while I needle felted some pieces of rainbow wool. It always amazes me how fast the process is and how effective the end result. 

Happy Easter Season.

Sea Glass Designs

A local beachcombing adventure has inspired me to create my own sea glass jewelry. Look at all these amazing pieces of tumbled sea glass (mermaid's tears) that we found.

I love the way the light passes through the colored glass and reminds me of the wild ocean whenever I wear them. I wove some wire around a few matching pieces to make ear rings and am on the look out for a larger piece of sea glass suitable for a necklace.

Spinners and Weavers

All fingers in my search to source clothing grown and made locally are pointing back towards me. I (naively) thought some local designers/company out there would be into this idea, but Queensland Spinners and Weavers seem like the only passionate bunch around these parts. Fibrefest on the weekend was full of folk raving about local wool, so there is a ray of hope. Here is one lovely lady spinning her own wool and it looks like I'll have to join her very soon, or I'll be wandering around wearing very little over the approaching winter months. So, I'm signing up to learn to spin my own alpaca wool, Nuno felt a winter skirt and cobble a pair of shoes because no one else is interested in doing it for me (unless it's a factory in China).

Action Pack - Water Edition

Today marks the launch of Action Pack's Water Edition. The magazine is packed full of interesting activities for children to do, around the theme of water and without any advertising. Be sure to look out for our article about how to create your very own Plastic Recycled Bottle Rainbow. Here is a sneak peak (see photo above) of some of our bottles ready to be turned into a masterpiece. I highly recommend Action Pack to anyone with curious children, and urge you to purchase one today - it is fun and educational and you won't be disappointed.

Hemp Heart

This was a fun Valentine's Day activity using locally grown hemp all plaited together and soaked in cornflour paste (then thoroughly dried) to help it keep its shape. I tied it with a red ribbon and hung it on the wall - such a wholesome declaration of love.

DIY Hanging Baskets

I had a lot of fun this week using my hemp twine to make hanging baskets and discovered it is surprisingly easy. Take 8 long pieces of twine and knot them together, then create 4 pairs and knot these together in a neat row.....

Next, pair up alternate strands of twine, knotting them together in a neat row, which begins to form a "basket" shape. Knot each alternate pair along the length of twine, according to the shape of the pot/dish/bowl it will soon carry. Place your pot/dish/bowl inside its new cradle and hang it up for all to see.

Bag Free February

I am most inspired by  Queensland Conservation's Campaign - Plastic Bag Free February. Queenslanders are invited to make a pledge not to use single use plastic bags for the month of February and to ask retailers to provide alternatives such as recyclable boxes, recyclable cloth bags or compostable plastic bags. It's not so difficult and just takes a little planning, so come and join me and help raise awareness across our state about the detrimental effect of light weight plastic bag usage on the environment - let's make Queensland a plastic bag free community. Anyone interested, can sign the pledge here.

Coconut Dolly

This is a gorgeous natural present to make for children. Take one coconut (preferably home grown, but you can use one from any supermarket) - carve out the flesh and juice (set aside  for baking a yummy cake later), then cut a little lid with a hand saw, and decorate with lace.

Next, make a tiny dolly (with optional mattress, pillow and blankets) to fit snugly inside your coconut cradle. Now isn't that the cutest?

Weaving with Hemp

Part of my attempt to be adorned with clothes/accessories grown close to home (within 200 kms) has been teaching myself to weave with hemp twine (sourced from the local Byron Bay Hinterland). 

I am quite proud of my double helix macrame and shells found washed up on the beach. I just love my new mermaid jewellery - only a minimal carbon footprint and I've learnt a new skill to boot. 

Vegetable Toy Cars

If you're having trouble getting children to eat raw vegetables, then it's time to try these vegetable toy cars out. We had a great time making these beauties and they actually got eaten too (with the help of a generous bowl of our favorite hommous). They are so easy - you just need some carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatos, maybe a capsicum, a few toothpicks (to hold the wheels in place) and away they zoom. Happy eating and have fun!

Homespun Organic Cotton

Back on World Bamboo Day (September 2012), I announced my slightly mad idea to attempt to wear only sustainable clothing in 2013. Since then, I have done a lot of research into local South East Queensland suppliers of natural fibers and found the market wanting. My project will prove somewhat challenging because most fabric available is grown and manufactured overseas and I am in search of fabric grown and manufactured within 200 kilometers of Brisbane. 

In light of this, I have been growing my own organic cotton on our suburban block. Like I said - a bit of a mad project. The plants flowered and produced a little bit of organic cotton, which I de-seeded and am now spinning by hand - a very time consuming activity, but good wholesome fun I have to say. (Think Gandhi and his home spun movement). I'm not sure what to make this into, but promise to keep you posted. 

At this stage at least I'll have an organic cotton handkerchief!

Summer Wildflowers

I just love these fields of summer wildflowers stretching away into the distance like snow.

Recycled Snow Globes

This is a great (super cost effective) Christmas activity using humble take away containers, plastic animals and glitter. It is very simple and potentially effective.

Select some plastic animals and arrange them on the take away container lid. Apply super glue and wait until it dries.

Put about a tablespoon of glitter into the base of the container, put the lid (with animals glued to it) on top and shake your scene to make it "snow." Great fun even for little kids.

Beach Nativity

Why not embrace the spirit of Christmas with an Aussie beach/bush nativity? We had so much fun collecting all these berries, twigs, coconuts and shells to create this magical scene in between swimming. This is a great way to occupy children at the beach over the Christmas period and helps to hold the space sacred while they play.