crooked house

Winged Key

I think I'll make one of these winged keys and then leave it in the backyard for the kids to discover on the first spring-like day.

Seahorse Dollar

See more origami dollars here. Isn't the eye perfection?

Glitter Pumpkins

We went away for a few days over this Thanksgiving weekend to a cottage in the woods. We took along these small white pumpkins, some glue, and golden glitter to make this little glitter pumpkin project. (I was trying to think of things to keep the kids busy since there was no television or internet where we were going.)

All you do is paint the tops of the pumpkins with ordinary school glue and then sprinkle glitter all over them. It's very easy, even for someone Sylvie's age. Luke enjoyed it, too.

 

It kept them busy for all of five minutes! (The glitter is very glamping, don't you think?)

Buy Pretty Jewelry, Support the IWK

I bought this pretty hairclip for Sylvie from Susan of DeChamp Designs at a recent craft show. Every October, Susan donates 20% of her sales to the IWK Foundation. Here is why.

Susan makes gorgeous, very intricate chainmaille and crochet jewelry, which she sells at amazing prices. Now's a great time to start your Christmas shopping with her, since you'll also be helping out kids at the IWK Children's Hospital. She's also joining our Mother Christmas Fair on November 24th at the Mahone Bay Centre.

Enchant

From hutch studio.

Our Paper Moon Photos

A very kind artistic friend made this paper moon backdrop for us last year and we've only just gotten around to using it. (It's actually not paper -- it's made out of a sheet of sparkly felt and some kind of synthetic silver cloth I found in the remnants bin at the fabric store.)

I can't exactly remember when Will and Kate were married, but we put this together at that time and  this hat is the one Princess Beatrice wore to their wedding.

Do you recognize the Dowager Countess's hat?

Now that we've used it, I'm selling off all these old hats and costumes and this backdrop to make room for more Halloween stuff! Cheap! (My piles of past projects are ridiculous.) Let me know if you're interested.

Upcycled Coffee Cup Notebooks

I really like these upcycled coffee cup notebooks by Christin Ripley for Design Squish. (Watch for them in your nearest fancy eco-friendly boutique at $5 each. Just kidding. But the wheels are turning...)

Chair Project

Finished fixing up one of our ancient chairs yesterday. First I gave it a couple of coats of blue spray paint and then used canvas webbing to make a new seat, following these instructions. You can see the red one I'm still working on behind it. What colour should we do the one Vivi's leaning on?

Painting

While I worked on this -- I am painting our lower kitchen cabinets in chalkboard paint -- Vivi sat quietly at the dining room table with her watercolours. I heard nothing but the clinky-clanky-swish-swish-swish of her paintbrush being dipped in the mug of water, presumably to clean it between colours, just as I had spent a great deal of time demonstrating to her. And then I got up to check supper in the kitchen.

Oh well, at least it wasn't as bad as this.

Brain Hemisphere Hat

Ellen McHenry designed the pattern for this brain hemisphere hat, to be labeled, coloured, and constructed by your child. We need to do this activity -- I know I could use a little review. Via Jessica Van Dyne-Evans on pinterest.