sock it to me baby!

I know its my Friday b-r-e-a-t-h-e moment, however that was this morning.  

and now is now (8.45pm Friday evening).  It's a long time since my 'take a moment', and besides I am so excited I just HAVE to share.  

Fingers cold and stiff, current gloves too cumbersome and slows down my typing big time, so frustrating I ended up just not bothering to try and keep my fingers warm whilst typing my assignment today.

Study break from the cold depths of the cold part of the house, 

to the warm end of the house to thaw out and fold washing, 

*sniff* a fave pair of my socks, almost on their 'last leg' - will be sad to say goodbye to these. . . . . . . 

as I turned them in the right way, possibly for the last time, I stopped. . . . . . 

I grabbed my scissors. . . . . . . . 

I opened up my machine and set the stitch to zig zag and I stitched around where I had cut. . . . . . . . .

within about 2 minuties - *pffffft* cold hands - Not I says Joyce!  

 

 oh my wrists just loves these, they are so so soft and so so warm.  I can type faster than the leaves scuttling up the street in the howling wind, I can roll them back when I hang the next lot of washing, I can look at the flowers that now adorn my wrist and I can smile.

Hello sock hands, how are you today?

Bingo - make your own

As part of my studies, I am to put together a portfolio of activities suitable for the classroom.  I can do that!  Here is one that instead of just writing up the instructions, I escaped the computer desk and got hands on making.  Much more fun than typing a whole bunch of words *yawn*.  

Did you know that Bingo used to be called Beano?  There you go, so now you know, oh and also did you know it is believed to have originated from Italy in the 14th Century, and they still play the same 'Lo Guiocu del Lotto D'Italia' every week?  Now you know that too, just like me.

Then some dude by the name of Edwin Lowe saw Beano being played at a local county carnival in Georgia around 1930, he was astounded by the excitement of the players and so went home, made a few changes invited some friends over and watched the excitement of his guests as they got hooked on Beano.  

Around this time some chic was playing Beano, so the story goes, and in her excitement of completing her full line on the card in front of her, she called 'Bingo'.  Edwin must have really liked her, cause he then called the game Bingo.  The game become so popular that Edwin needed help and so called a mate, Carl Leffler, a University Math Professor and so pretty ok with numbers and stuff, and offered to pay him a lot of money to make up original Bingo card combos.  Poor Carl did it, but sheesh, he must have had a rotten headache by the time he finished around 6,000 original bingo cards.  

So there you go, now you can impress your friends with some bingo history.

So, ok, here is how I made mine.

Cereal boxes.

Print out your number cards.  If you don't want to print your own, in the comment box below this post, let me know with your email address and I can send you my 8 cards, however, you will have to print them out yourself, then adhere them to your own cereal boxes and you will have to trim them yourself, then laminate or contact cover yourself, but it's ok, cause that is the easy part.  You can also print them on coloured cardstock of which I am going to do another set.  

Then because I felt like it, I drew up 50 x 3cm squares and in black marker wrote the numbers from 1 to 50 on each of them with a black dot in the top left corner (to show orientation).  You can type your numbers out or if you ask nicely, I can type them out and send them with the bingo sheets for you to print, cut and paste.

Once you have printed, pasted, and snipped, you will have 8 x bingo cards.  Again if you ask nicely and need more, I am more than happy to supply a few more for you, or you could even make more of your own using mine as a template.  I am nice like that you know.  I like to share, cause I know so many others share with me.  

Go find yourself some lego blocks, buttons, dried macaroni, bottle tops, counters, lollies, whiteboard markers (if laminated or contact covered) or whatever is on hand to start your game, invite your friends over, get cosy and bingo away.

Some little notes:

The game I have set up does not have 'BINGO' at the top of the card.  I have made it for little ones, it needs to be easy, it needs to be fun, it needs to be quick-ish, it needs to not feel like learning stuff.

It's a 5 x 5 grid, made up of 

1 − 10 in row 1, 

11 − 20 in row 2, 

21 − 30 in row 3, 

31 − 40 in row 4, and 

41 − 50 in row 5.  

Nice and simple, all the numbers in order along each row.  

We start the game by putting a block on the 'free' square.  You can have a single person be the 'caller' or you can each take turns dipping into the container to pull a number and calling it.  

You can call the rules of the game at the beginning of each game, for example the winner is the person that can cover all their corners, 5 in a row, or 'x' marks the spot across the middle.  It's your game, it's your way.  

You can pull out the monopoly money, collect your 5cent coins, or use fantales to purchase your bingo cards.  You can wrap up little prizes for the winners, you can do a nudie bolt down the street if you so wish.  Just let me know if you are coming down my street so I can give you a cheer and spotlight you as you go past with my torch.  No point doing a nudie run if no one is there to see it now - you gotta share the love you know!

*ahem*

In a classroom situation, (nudie runs are not allowed) in a similar age/ability class group the teacher can be the 'caller' and when a number is pulled instead of saying '9', they can say '5 plus 4 equals. . . .' then let the students find their answer and cover it if they have it.  It can be just the number, it can be subtraction, addition, multiplication it can be a combination of any or all.

The number can be written on the board for students that need to 'see' the number to match it.

Thanks so much for stopping by my place today.  

Have a wonderful weekend at your place, and Happy Birthday to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.  We have a long weekend here in Australia.  Shame about that really.  

Take care of you.

B is for Bingo!

The One About A Beanie for Minnie and Yarn Art.

 Not sure if you remember the above almost finished jumper from here, but finally it is now unwound, because Minnie wants a beanie in this colour.  I think the grey vest that I got at the same time would make a lovely beanie and scarf combo for this old Mumma's head and neck too.  Must unravel that one soon too.

 Minnie wants a beanie, so Minnie unravelled the unfinished project.  Little hands busy at work.  I love that this yarn swift is in its fourth generation of hands working it.  The stories it must have heard, over chatting and winding yarn, the items it will have unravelled.  

. . . .  and here it is, the finished requested beanie for minnie.  

It was finished last night, and this morning he found it and wore it to breakfast.  He loves it thank goodness, despite all the lovely little nobbles in it from being knitted and unwound.  It gives such a lovely texture and I don't have the heart to tell him that over time, this will flatten out.
Eye spy the little vest he is wearing?  This was made by Minnie's Nanna for her little boy (Minnie's Dad - my biggest boy of them all).  It is just so cute and Minnie loves it, although he is going to get warm in it today, but for now, he tells me 'I like when my tummy is extra warm.'  I like that it makes his tummy extra warm too.  He wants to pack this one for our little holiday, and I love that he likes to wear something that his Daddy wore.  It won't fit him much past this winter, so I am going to get lots of photos of him in it.  I wonder who will wear this little vest next?  

Yarn art.   

And just because I can, more yarn art.  

I think this would actually look really nice on our wall. . . . . Yes, I know, just a little strange is Joyce, but you know you love it.  


I am off here to get sorting, packing and cooking, we are getting ready for a little holiday, and there is much to be done.  I have closed the study books for the time being, they are not even coming with me.  I managed to get much more done that I had set myself up for, so now it's time for a break.  Oh the excitement of a little holiday with my family.  I am so looking forward to spending time with the man that I married, I am so looking forward to my boys hanging out with their Daddy, I am so looking forward to no agenda, no set destination, no worries.  


Thank you so much for stopping by my place today.
Have a wonderful day at your place.

Sweet Dreamin'

We love stars.

Especially on pyjama shirts.

I used these to do the stars.

The boys have some lovely boxer shorts they use as pj's, however, instead of plain shirts, which are very boring, even in the dark of night, I coloured up some sweet dreams for them.  They love them and although my imagination just didn't extend far enough to give them different shirts, it doesn't bother them at all.  Since colouring these though, I have thought of a few more patterns to do for them.  

I think I want a little sweet dreams singlet for me too now.  

This single bed sheeting was op-shopped many months ago, 

with the intent of new jammie pants for moi!

Finally, here they are, and gosh they are lovely and soft and mega comfy.  


Do you like making something from something else?
Do you get excited when you have a plain white t-shirt, to transform?
What have you been making lately?


Thanks so much for stopping by my place today,
have a most wonderful weekend at your place.  


(Again our planet has been struck, please spare a thought to those in Japan right now.)

What's On Your Table - Tuesday.

It's back, it's Tuesday, and it's what is on my table this Tuesday.  

It's riveting, it's astounding, it's zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. . . . . . 

It's section three of my studies for Teachers Aide, contributing to workgroup activities.  This is fine, however, then it turns into talking about me.  I have to talk about the best product in the world.  Apparently that is me - Joyce.  

!!

Can I just talk about the awesome staff that I work with and how passionate they are about giving these little minds the hunger for learning?  Can I talk about the long hours they all put in, the meetings they have with parents, other staff and support staff to fuel up these little minds and find ways that makes those eyes sparkle and little hands raised to ask and answer questions and want more information?

Can I just talk about the stuff I do with the children and why I love it so much?  Can I just tell them that it's such an honour to sit down with a little one at the beginning of the year, introduce ourselves to each other, have a little chat about their favourite books or hobbies and find books that match their passion?  Can I just talk about how shy most of them usually are that first week, then we see this little personality begin to shine through and their confidence just bloom when they realise THEY CAN DO IT!!  Can I talk about how I feel on the last day of school when I see how grown up they all are, and how much they have achieved since day 1, term 1 - and how proud I am of them and at the same time a little bit of sad, that my little journey with them for the year has come to an end and that they are growing up right before my eyes?

Can I, p-l-e-a-s-eeeeeeeeeee, can I, can I, extra cheesssssseeee pleassssseeeeeeeee?

 hmmmmmmmm. . . .

So, . . . . pumpkin scones, jam and a cuppa for me.  I made 104 pumpkin scones last week and froze little batches of them - yummmmmm delish!

Also, those lp's are not for putting on the player - they are our placemats.  Yup, they are mega easy to wipe over, they are mega cheap, the kids love reading them, and they do the job.  Plus I like stuff that is 'multi-purpose'.  

Thanks so much for stopping by my place today.

Have a wonderful day at your place and tell me, what is on YOUR table this Tuesday?

I would love to know.  

Multi-saving, savings.

Time saving,

Tree saving,

Money saving,

Space saving,

Landfill saving,

and the occasional little smile while attending to jobs.

We have gone through all the school books and craft that have come home for the year. Oh my gosh, my two have a rather large collection of books, journals, and artwork. It's difficult for me to part with it, but I just cannot keep it all. I have resume binders that I keep special pieces of artwork, we use some for wrapping paper, we use some to post away. I have decided to keep their kindy books, but from then on we just keep their journals and story books. I so love to read back over their writing and see where their imagination takes them or how they retell a book studied in class in their own words/pictures. Each year I do try to cull a bit from the previous year, and this seems to work - sort of - just a little bit. (not really Joyce!)

Anyways, some of their books that we have decided to part with still had some unused pages in the back and so I have made notepads, phone message pads, to do lists, and shopping lists.

They are a little crude looking, but they will still provide rather useful. Some of the fronts are covered with some artwork, others with writing, and through each of them there are bits of handwriting from pages not quite filled up, so that while I am checking my shopping list at the markets, I can savour a little of my boys writing or a cute little maths equation written in their little hand. (I am not a fan of doing groceries and being out and about doing 'chores' so this will totally brighten my jobs list.) Can you see the cover to the bottom right? This was done by my youngest in a little exercise book I gave him when his big brother started school. He used to so seriously hold his little pencil and 'write' letters to people. When I found this book I just had to use one of these pages as a cover. I don't mind using these pages, because they are all well over a year old, and now I have room to store 2010's 'great works'.

Those poor trees worked very hard to become paper for school books, there was a lot of energy involved in making them school books. We did pay for the books through the school fees after all, and my wastepaper shopping lists from last year are running very low of stock.

What do you do with your childrens school books/artworks and journals? Can you bring yourself to part with them? Do you recycle unused pages, do you make coasters or laminate pretty artworks for placemats? I would love to know how you do end of year school bits.

Have a lovely day at your place.

Upcycled or Recycled?

After reading the meanings of recycled and upcycled, I am quite sure this next item is upcycled. We have certainly improved on the crappy junk mail brochure that was with the hundred thousand other junk mail brochures that have come through our letterbox these last few weeks. I tell you our letter box looks a bit like Santa's jolly belly some afternoons. It costs nothing at all to make these other than your children's time.

Would like to say a huge thanks to Ana from i made it so, who sparked the inspiration for this lovely idea. Hers is much, much prettier and Christmassy than ours, and she has added lovely little diary notes of things they are doing along the way. Thank you Ana for sharing this lovely idea.

In regards to craft at our house, it has to be a little bit messy, it has to be cutting and pasting, it has to be lots of colour and minimal fuss, and most of all, it has to be quick. Much to my own disappointment, as I love me a bit of craft, actually I love me a lifetime of makin' stuff.

So not wanting to pull out a heap of craft items for a only a few minutes and then me having to pack it all away again, we just pulled out all the christmas brochures, and some wrapping paper from my youngest' recent birthday gifts, and put this little countdown together.

It really did only take a few minutes to put together. They love it, because they made it, and because they know how many sleeps there are to go. It's hanging at their level on a kitchen cupboard door, right where they walk past throughout the day, and already they are in the habit of swinging it as they pass and counting the numbers.

I am visiting other blogs the next few days to find lovely recycling and upcycling ideas. I will share them with you, because I want you to see these lovely blogs and lovely talented people for yourself as well.

What have you been upcycling or recycling at your place lately? Let me know, so I can share your blog with everyone too.

Have a lovely day at your place.

My Creative Space

I should not have bought them, I should have walked right past them and not even bothered to stop, but I didn't. They fit, they were the perfect length, and the perfect price. I needed a pair of jeans that weren't going through at the knees, I needed a pair of jeans that were comfy. I needed a pair of jeans for work - I needed a pair of jeans.

So I bought them.

We come home and I washed them.

Then I wore them.

At first they were fine.

It began partway through the day.

They got baggy.

I pulled them up.

They got baggy again.

I pulled them up.

I bent over to pick up the paint pots,

they sagged down again.

I pulled them up - again - and again - and then again.

I got home and washed them.

Gave them a second chance.

It was a total repeat.

No - more - chances!!

What a waste - so cranky - need to do something about this situation.

So I made two bags. I needed some value for my $30.00 jeans and here it is.

I must tell you, I got my revenge, or so I thought, however, I don't like the first bag at all. I have packed it away, thinking I will donate it, because I can't stand looking at it just yet.

Bag front.

Bag back.

This bag made from the legs of the jeans, I love it, I love the size of it, and I love the colour of it. I was going to put a few doilies on it for decoration, but now leaving it plain, because sometimes I like plain, this way I can dress it up with a brooch or scarf to match my outfit. I like options, I like to be free.

The bow is tied using the seams from the legs of the jeans, this is how I use my bag right now. I like this bag, this bag is good.

Oh and I did get me a 'new' pair of jeans.

I went to the op-shop, paid $5.00 for a pair of jeans still with the tags on them.

They fit.

They stay up.

They stay up all day.

They stay up all day even when I bend down to pick up the paint pots.

They stay up - again - and again - and again - and again.

it's Karma baby - that's all there is to it - Karma!

Pop on over to kootoyoo to see what everyone else is creating today.

My Creative Space

I love these glass coffee jars for storage, they are a great size and perfect for any kind of dry ingredient, bath salts, lollies etc. I wanted to do 'something' to them to fill and donate to the school fete. . . . .

. . . . so they got some frangapani's painted onto them. They now match my wine glasses I made last year. Yeah ok, I am no Pablo Picasso at all, but I am now searching for more jars to paint. *giggle* I did these yesterday and they need to stop and air-dry for 24hours before 'baking' which I did this morning for 40 mins on moderate oven. 'Well then!' Says me to myself, 'No point wasting the oven heat now is there!!' We need ourselves more biscuits, slice and cake at our place. Oh and I can't find any more jars, so will be keep two of these for our place, cause I think that is fair.

Biscuits perfect for lunchboxes, currently setting in the fridge is a caramel slice and currently in the oven is a sour cream lemon cake.

Here is not so sexy me with one of my aprons. I love my aprons and always wear one in the kitchen. I would like an apron with little mushrooms on it. I think little mushrooms would be cute on an apron.

Pop on over to kootoyoo and check out what everyone else is creating and have a lovely weekend at your place.

Ending This Sock War Right Here and Right Now!!

It's over I tell you, I have had enough, no more, this is the end of the road. The sock war is OVER!! *phew* glad I got that off my chest. Ok so is this the sign of a domestic chic, or have I just gone totally crazy - you be the judge.

Here is the maths- 2 boys at school x 4 days of the week in navy socks = 16 navy socks, 8 in size small and 8 in size medium x (times by) a little boy who at odd times only puts 1 sock in the wash and the other (!!!!!) behind his pillow *?* Sock matching nightmare be gone says this crazy Mumma! Enough is Enough!!

They needed new socks, so I bought new socks. Six pair for both of them.

The solution - Little socks = red cotton. Big socks = blue cotton.

Until the big socks become the little socks, then we swap colours and carry on. Oh and still training my little one that BOTH socks go in the laundry basket please! Too much time on my hands you say? A-haaaa, I disagree, quite the opposite, this is a case of good time management and forward thinking. (Basically just over wasting time stuffing around with navy socks really.)

As for this ratbag bunch, it's puppets for you lot.

Aaaaahhhhhh it's sock valium - at last!

What boils you and how did you solve it?

P.S. Have a wonderful weekend at your place. In Australia, NSW its a long weekend and daylight savings begins early hours of Sunday morning. We still also have another week of school holidays and so I will be scarce here again over the next few days. Take care of you, huggle your family, laugh and love with your friends. Bless.

My Creative Space and a little 'how to. . . . '

✂ Kids finished with their old magazines?

✂ You see them cutting out pictures to stick on their school books, then discarding perfectly good pictures/pages?

✂ You see $5.50 going to landfill?

✂ You see red?

✂ You need to have a spring clean and have piles of 'upcycling' in your studio ready to be converted and moved on, cause you are now covering the floor of your studio with 'jobs'?

✂ School fete is breathing down your neck, and comments have already been asked what you are making this year?

Did you answer 'yes' to any of the above?

So make bookmarks!

I wanted to do a ribbon tail for the bookmarks, but apparently according to my big boy (7.5) this is not cool, and they should be left as is. They both loved them, and decided they needed five each. *ahem* I was going to make them for the school fete, so I have claimed them back. They can choose two each when I am finished them all.

This has been a wonderful task as I can't knit or crochet at the moment, despite my backlog of scarves and squares I would love to get done, however, I cannot do 'nothing' either, so I am clearing a space in my studio, getting a few tasks 'done', starting on my fete corner (yes, I have a corner in my studio that is fete dedicated this time of year) and despite feeling totally useless, am making myself a little useful.

Pop on over to kootoyoo to see what everyone else has been making and add your creative space to the list. I would love to see what you are doing too.

The following set of photos were taken when I put the elastic through my round mandala for my boys stools. It is pretty easy to see from the photos how I have done it. You will just have to excuse my terrible dry skin. After nursing a household of sick these last three weeks, I have been constantly washing my hands, (in the hopes that 1. I would not get it (!) and 2. It's just plain yick to wipe your kids, lime green snotty nose without washing hands).

When you have finished your circle, do a row of chain around the whole thing to create the base point to which you add the elastic.

Cut your elastic to size and join with a knot.

Do your row of chain around the circle, but this time incorporate your elastic as you can see from the following photos.

Ta-Da there you have it, a set of covered kids seats ready for play.

Have a lovely day at your place. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pretty Upcycling

Here are the finished gifted writing sets for our three little friends. They are now in the post on their way to a new home. I do hope they like them. See what I did with the lonely puzzle pieces. I think they look rather cute with each child's initial on the front. It was super quick and easy to do, just cut out the paper you want to use, glue it to the front of the piece and when dry, lightly sand around the edges to give it a lovely finish. The letters are just alphabet stickers, of which I have a huge collection of in all shapes, sizes and colours. The little parcels are bound in pretty ribbon or you can use a length of cardstock. With double sided tape put it all together.

Thank you for stopping by my place today, I so love your comments and ideas and to see what you have been up to as well.

Have a lovely evening and keep warm. I plan on more crochet tonight at my place, another scarf is on the hook and more squares for Mrs Twins.

Upcycle

Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value. (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - click here)

this is the upcycling symbol.

Last year I finished my term on the board at my children's preschool. I loved being on the committee, I loved fundraising, I loved learning about how a preschool works, and I so love the staff that worked so hard to make the preschool the wonderful little community body it is. When I finished up, myself and some of the other parents on the committee that were also leaving, were gifted some beautiful thank you presents from the staff. They were so totally wrapped with love and the above card is made from some of the wrapping and ribbon that adorned my beautiful present. I actually made 7 greeting cards from this beautiful floral shimmer paper. It was only a band around the gift, as the gift was wrapped in pure white glossy wrap and this band of floral went all the way around, as well as the lovely satin ribbon. (I would so love a wrap skirt in this pattern that I could wear with a lime green top.)

I just could NOT paper box this paper for the recycling bin, what a horrid thing to do to such pretty paper. So it went into my stash box, as I just knew it would be perfect for a card to send my love through the mail.

What have you upcycled lately, I would love to see.