Pomander

To make a pomander like the one Lucy is holding you will need,

One orange

A red ribbon

Some dress making pins

A jar of cloves

A bay leaf

Scissors

Fix the ribbon to the top of the orange using a pin. Measure a length of ribbon around the circumference of the orange and cut the required length. Lift the pin to secure the loose end of ribbon. Repeat this process so that there are two lengths of ribbon around the orange.

The ribbon has created four 'windows' to fill with cloves. Simply spear the orange skin with the sharp end of the clove. Lucy created a pattern by arranging the cloves in groups of three.

To complete your pomander fix a bay leaf to the top using a dress maker's pin.

Ragamuffins

The boys have helped with the meal this evening. Stuffed mushrooms and blueberry muffins.

I'm not a slave to recipes, all that measuring and weighing takes the pleasure out of baking for me especially when children are helping.

Muffins are so forgiving. The basic principle is about 200g/8oz of dry ingredients to 200 mls/8fl oz of liquid ingredients. the dry ingredients should include some baking powder and the wet ingredients should include something to lighten the muffin (cream, buttermilk, yogurt, egg). Don't stir them too much, you're aiming for a lumpy batter. Lovely at tea time and nice the following day sliced in half and spread with butter.

I am currently enjoying blueberry muffins made with frozen fruit from the supermarket, on special offer. One 350g tub is enough for four batches of muffins and because they are frozen they don't stain the batter.

Making Collages

This morning, before the breakfast things had been cleared away the children were making collages.

col·lage (k-läzh, k-)

n.

1.

a. An artistic composition of materials and objects pasted over a surface, often with unifying lines and color.

Young children start cutting and sticking at an early age and have great fun making compositions of greetings cards, glitter and shiny paper. This kind of work requires very little skill and the only materials needed are paper, scissors and glue. With Christmas just past you should be able to find a good supply of gift wrap, greetings cards and chocolate wrappers to start them off.

With the right support, the right materials and a little imagination you can continue developing collage skills well into the secondary school years.

Getting started

• Keep a box of old magazines, greetings cards, textured paper and gift wrap.
• Make sure you have enough scissors for everyone.
• Glue sticks and PVA glue are easy and convenient for beginners.
• Card cut from cereal boxes is ideal to collage onto.

Developing more ideas for collage

• Seek out different materials, for example a scrap of fabric, a photo, a feather, a treasured postcard, a ticket saved from a special event
• Explore craft shops for materials to use in collage.
• Visit art galleries and seek out the work of artists who use collage techniques.
• Many children's illustrators employ collage technique, e.g. Lauren Childs, Charlie and Lola books
• Mobilize your printer and photocopier.

What is the crafty parent?

This blog is about making things with children.

I've always loved making things; I sew knit, bake, garden and make things from paper with a quiet obsession. Though I am not particularly talented at any one of these skills I have found that I am am exceptionally good at getting children making and I would like to share some of the things that my children and I have learnt.

In this blog I will be sharing creative activities that I have enjoyed alongside my four lovely children and showing you lots of great things you can do with your kids to make their lives a little more interesting and a lot more fun!

Today the children have been making collages, more to follow ...