Time to Repair, Make, Reflect

In this time of social distancing, which can make a messy cocktail of loneliness and boredom, it makes all the difference having activities to keep your mind busy and engaged in a healthy way. Here I've put together a bunch of new projects that can help you in this slightly new found hermit existence.

My Poppet Makes: Darning Socks

Have you got a pile of holey socks which, apart from the unravelling blackholes, could be perfectly fine. Rather than throwing out those holey socks, head over to My Poppet and try a simple darning tutorial. A few things I love about this activity – it's easy, basic sewing; it'll add colour to your otherwise humdrum socks; it doesn't take long to repair the holes, and will extend the life of said socks.

Kidspot: Worry Doll

A loss of routine and uncertainty can produce distress. The act of working with your hands can help calm the mind, whether it be through sewing, drawing, baking, or really any form of creation. If you or your family members are feeling lost and out of sorts during social distancing, try making a worry doll. I have produced my own version of a worry doll for Kidspot, in a very easy to follow video tutorial.

Did you know worry dolls originate from a Guatemalan legend? It is a Mayan tradition to present children with a worry doll to free them of their nightmares. Before going to bed a child can whisper their worries to the doll. The doll is placed under the pillow, and the next day the child wakes worry free. Exploring deeper into the origin of the worry doll the tradition is connected to the legend of  Princess Lxmucane, who received the gift of problem solving from the sun god.

Kidspot: Stationery Caddy

Another recent Kidspot craft tutorial I recommend checking out is a DIY Stationery Caddy. You'll laugh when you see what I used to make this. While home based learning is in progress, having an easy to carry stationery container can be the perfect item, and craft activity, for the kids' temporary school space.

My Poppet Makes: DIY Paper Cherry Blossom Mobile

One last item in my activity round up, if you have a love of paper craft, mobiles, cherry blossom, and Japanese culture, then I have something for you. It is a DIY Paper Cherry Blossom Mobile. That's a mouthful! You can decorate your home with one of these mobiles. Or make a handful of them for a garden party. 

An amazing plus to this project – if you own a Cricut cutting machine, there is an SVG file version of the flower template. Having a Cricut will save you so much time and energy in cutting out these intricate flower designs.

Cardcaptor Sakura Bunny Slippers + Other Wee Wonders

Yesterday afternoon the Autumn sun shone through the canopy with her golden highlights. This time of year it feels like golden hour all day.

Taking advantage of the sunshine window, the little one and I set up our craft gear outside. And we had a... crafternoon!

The little one made bunny faces, a fish, and a flower.

While I made a miniature bear slipper. I was inspired by Sakura's bedroom slippers, from Cardcaptor Sakura.

Cardcaptor Sakura

I had recently had an extended break from 'making' as my back muscles were not coping. I was experiencing chronic shoulder and neck issues. I'm recovering, and doing exercises to develop the back muscles. And yesterday marked the first time I had sewn something since my issues became chronic. It was physically difficult, but good for the soul.

This morning I made a second slipper so the Sakura bear slippers are now a pair. I also made a pattern, so that I can make more of these in future. The slippers would make cute charms, and they'd be perfect for dolls feet.

Flowery Felt Craft Project

My Poppet tutorial
© Melissa Gaggiano

How exciting is this! My Poppet Makes presents a freshly minted tutorial by moi. If you're into felt craft and flowers then this lil' treasure of a project is the perfect activity for you. Add this to your list of wee wonderful to make this year.

© Melissa Gaggiano

© Melissa Gaggiano

My Poppet Makes

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Kiss

    A drawing a day...

Illustration by Melissa Gaggiano.

My Creative Space

    I have a couple of projects on the go - crochet, writing and the occasional sketch doodle. And today I finished making this here decorative hair clip. I think my eldest likes it. Half an hour later and it is still in her hair.

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano.

 


Photography by Melissa Gaggiano.



Click here to visit other creative spaces.

My Ring

Photography by Melissa Gaggiano.

    I am currently working through an online photography course, via The Photography Institute. This photo was taken as part of my second module assignment. I need to choose an object in the home and model it in a creative way. This here is my wedding ring, which I chose as my feature.

DIY Paper Flower

    Today my eldest put in a request for a paper flower. After all I did promise to make her one when I wouldn't let her take a flower from a stranger's yard this morning. She then made sure I was good on my word earlier this evening.

    So without a plan of how this was to be done I began to improvise with some paper and tape. Before I knew it a paper flower had been made, much to my eldests utter delight.
    And here is how it was accomplished...

What materials do I need?

• paper [it can be any type be it newspaper, colour, decorative scrapbook paper, et cetera]
• sticky tape
• scissors
• pipe cleaner

Instructions:

1. This will be the flower petal template.

2. Cut out four flower petals on your pretty paper of choice,
using the petal template above.
Ensure you cut along the middle line creating a slit in each petal.

3. Take a small section of the piper cleaner, and fold it into an 'M' shape.

4. Press the 'M' fold close together and twisting a little to look like a 'V'.
This will be the stamen of the flower.

5. Slide your first petal on to the piper cleaner just below the stamen, via the slit.

6.  Turn the ends of the petal and folding it closed, you will create a square corner.
Use a little sticky tape to close this corner.

7. Repeat steps five and six for the second petal,
but position it away from the first petal.

8. Add your third petal following the previous steps.

9. Add the fourth petal in the same fashion.

10. The finishing touch fold into the lower piper cleaner
a little leaft shape and spray some perfume into the flower.

Leaf, Potato, Flower

    Leaf-Potato-Flower!? It sounds like a new version of Rock-Paper-Scissors, doesn't it. In actual fact, these are the objects I chose for my daughter's painting session today. I thought it would be an interesting experiment for her to paint with something other than brushes.

Just a Lil' Something

I am blog tired, but I thought I would share just a little photographic something...