Acorn doll tutorial

All of a sudden it is autumn again (again!). My daughter is collecting chestnuts everyday. From the first batch we made chestnut-jam. But they keep coming. Perfect for a seasonal scenery on our table. Last year we made these acorn-dolls. And now I made this acorn-doll-tutorial. For felt toadstools you could look here or here or here.

Another mini-tutorial

Do you want the kids to hand out a healthy snack, but do not want to give the standard box of raisins? Try these handmade boxes. Tear some pages out of a magazine or an old comic book. Cut out pieces of 12x18cm. Glue the outer ends to make a kind of 'toilet-paper roll'. Let dry for a moment. Push one end of the roll together and sew along the edges. Put in raisins and maybe a small present and push the other end together in an angle of 90 degrees of the other end. Sew.

I just got a remark about the fact that printing ink can be poisonous. So you probably should print your own (personal) pictures on the outside, because then theres no ink on the inside. Thank you Sonja for your suggestion.

Do try this at home

I had to stay at home to wait for my new (i)phone(4) to be delivered (yes!). So my father picked up the girls from school. When they came home we ate these freshly baked oatmeal-coconut cookies. They're really, really good. I used this recipe in dutch, but I googled and found a recipe in english that's almost the same.

Looking forward

Just one week to go for the 'textielweekend'. I've been there twice as a visitor, but this time I will be experiencing the other side. On sunday-afternoon I will be blogging from the library of the museum. I would love to see you there!

Getting some air

We had a very busy weekend planned. But we were all a bit tired, sick or grumpy last week. We decided to cancel some appointments and the last one cancelled itself. A whole free weekend was lying in front of us. So when the weather was better than expected we took a walk in the woods. Just what we needed. Can you believe the size of this toadstool?

Easiest

This tutorial made me think of this button. It's diameter is about 3cm and I don't know how it came in my collection. Added a thin cord and a new necklace was born.

A lust to the eye

Last friday I was in need of a very quick cookie recipe, that could be made before the kids came out of school. I remembered this one for coconut macaroons. It is on the site They Draw and Cook, where every recipe comes in the shape of an illustration.

Love at first sight

Sometimes you see tutorials you have to use right away. I found the one for these rings on Whipup. A guest-tutorial made by Katrin from Annekata. Scrolling though her blog I discovered more fantastic tutorials.

Quick solution

This scarf had a unremovable stain. So I patched it up with felt circles.

Patience

Two birthcards in one day. Two small boys. Two stamps went in the mail for them today. Welcome in this world, little ones, and enjoy!

And to answer the many questions: my stamp-shop won't be re-opening until the beginning of next year.

I lof you, mom

Our six-year-old started in third class this year. The class in which children learn to read and write. A new window of opportunities opened to her. A few days ago I found this love-letter on my bed. It moved me to tears. The picture of her on the right is modified following this fantastic photoshop-tutorial by Suzette. I'll have to practice a bit more, but I see some opportunities for me too.

Variation

I'm very attached to our dotted duvet-covers. We have two of them. One week we use the first, the next week the other. For many years now. They need to be replaced before they fall apart completely. I have been looking around but couldn't find new covers to my taste. Then I saw this tutorial for pillowcases. And this idea came up. I'll buy a white duvet-cover and sew 12 different (I just made the first 5) pillowcases. Also a good way to clean out stock.

Fallen apples

21 portions of apple sauce. The girls love to eat it with potatoes or french fries. Made from apples out of my parents garden. Guaranteed biological and nothing added. Just peel the apples and cut in pieces. Cook for 20 minutes with a little bit of water and some lemon juice.

Gala

I can't promiss you that there won't be any Barbie-clothes on this blog in the near future. It is addictive for someone like me who likes to see quick results. So the wardrobe is growing. These dresses are again made out of a curtain sample, roughly following the same tutorial as before.

And there was light

I had some beeswax left from an earlier project. And some english teacups which we used for a birthday-party. So when I saw this tutorial on Design Sponge I made my own candles right away. Ready in 15 minutes.

Going to a party

One more barbie-dress (this pattern), made from a curtain-sample. Brigitte mentioned another wonderful site full of Barbie-clothes. Unfortunately my knitting-skills are very limited. I guess I'll have to find someone who can add some knitted items to my daughters Barbie-wardrobe.

Projection

Our girls love to play with Barbies. So did I when I was a child. I used to dream of a full wardrobe for my dolls. I'm going to fulfill this longing by making a large set of Barbie-clothes for my daughters. This plan came up when I saw these wonderful tutorials of skirts, tops, dresses and shirts on Craftiness is not optional. Via One Pretty Thing.

Last holiday-days

When we visited my aunt to show the dress in the last post she gave us these sweet prunes. They were very ripe so we had eat or use them right away. I googled and found a simple recipe (look-a-like in english, just use fresh prunes) for delicious prune-cake. What to do with a unplanned cake? Invite friends and celebrate the moment!

Mustard

This used to be a skirt of my aunt. I took a existing dress, made a pattern out of it and cut the pieces out of the skirt. The big pocket was on the skirt already. I just added the little blue button.

An eye for beauty

A little present from my mother. Found on a french flea-market. A very old tin, with ditto buttons. Most of them are made of glass or bone. Some with irregular handmade holes. A little treasure.

Models

It is almost over. Our very long holiday. On the last day we all had vacation we went to Nemo, museum about science for kids, in Amsterdam. We were very lucky to have a bit of sunshine when we were checking out the fabulous roof terrace. And since we were in the city we payed a visit to the KNSM-island to visit Pols Potten, Sissy Boy Homeland and Keet in Huis. Very inspiring shops.