How to Make Pinwheels (Xmas Decorations Part 1)

My daughter and I began the first of our yearly Christmas Craft yesterday. It went well so I decided to share what we did and how we did it. Our results are currently tacked to my notice board until we put the tree up, and decorate the house later this week.


Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of double sided paper into a square of the desired size (our large pinwheels are 16cm square and the small ones are 7cm square but you could make them any size you like).

2. Fold the square in half along the diagonal line (corner to corner), one way, then unfold and fold along the other diagonal line, then open out flat (alternatively you can lightly draw the diagonal lines using a pencil and ruler if desired).

3. From each corner, to the centre, measure and mark the point which is 3/4 of the way in from the corner. I have drawn dotted lines to make it easier to see (as seen in picture below)


4. Cut along each of these 4 lines, ensuring you stop 3/4 of the way to the centre of the square (as shown by the cut lines in the picture below).

5. Poke a hole through every second corner (shown by the *asterisks in the picture above) and through the centre of the pinwheel. Be careful not to make the holes too close to the edges, or they may rip when the pinwheel is assembled.

6. Fold the corners into the centre in order (as shown in the diagrams above). Take a split pin (brad), and gently push it through the points, then through the centre hole then open the pin at the back to secure it.

7. Put a hole in one of the unfolded points, thread with string or ribbon and tie off, so pinwheel can be hung on the tree or somewhere around the house.

I am hoping that I can coax the boys into joining us in our next Xmas craft project. The little one was sick yesterday so he should be on board today, but I am not sure I will be able to talk the teenager into it (although it won't stop me trying!)

I am also exicted because the organza ribbon I ordered has arrived, so last night I began working on the fairy skirts I have been planning to make to team up with the fairy wands and ribbons headbands. Yeah! A new project!

Until next time...

P.S. If you give these a go, let me know!

Rhubarb

I am an avid reader. I am always reading something. Lately I have been working through a stack of 2nd hand books I had accumulated. Some had been passed along to me; many I had picked up around the place- fetes, markets, garage sales and the like, but never gotten around to reading (although that didn't stop me adding to the pile if a book caught my eye!).

Finally I had read everything else I currently own so decided to make my way through the 2nd hand pile. There was no rhyme or reason to it. I just started at the top and worked my way down. I can honestly say that except for one (which I found mind numbingly boring to the point that it is the first book ever that I did not finish- I decided life is way to short to waste any more time on it!), all the other books in the collection were enjoyable to varying degrees. I considered the time reading each, as time well spent.

Then as I was nearing the bottom of the pile, I encountered Rhubard by Craig Silvey. Have you ever read a book that has drawn you in completely and totally overwhelmed you? A book you feel the need to tell EVERYONE about? A book you consider buying for everyone you know, just to make sure they read it? Maybe its just me, but this is how I feel about Rhubard, and I haven't felt like that about a book for a long time, despite how much I read.

The story is poignant, the characters are so real. I loved the unusual style in which it is written. This book touched my heart and I really cared about the main characters. I especially loved guide dog Warren and receiving occasional insights into his point of view, and that of other creatures such as the hermit crab, in his desperate bid for freedom. I was also drawn in by my desire to discover what made these unusual, flawed characters tick, what past events had shaped them and brought them to where they were- I truly wanted to understand them all. I experienced real moments of sadness and even shock, while reading this book, but I also experienced many moments of excitement and joy.


I later discovered that Craig Silvey is a young writer from Western Australia and Rhubard is his first published book. He has since had a second book published, called Jasper Jones (which I plan to read as soon as I get a hold of a copy!) and is currently working on a third. He also collaborated on a children's book called "The World According to Warren" (featuring the guide dog from Rhubarb). I was blown away by Rhubard already, but even more so when I discovered how young the author was and that it was his first published novel. Wow- his talent is remarkable. Anyway I don't usually gush about ANYTHING like this, but this book really affected me and I wanted to share!

Do you have a book you have felt this way about? One that you wanted to recommend to anyone and everyone? If you do, please share as I am always on the look out for a great book.

Until next time...

Ribbon Headbands

I have been working on some ribbon headbands to match the fairy wands I make. They are made by covering tubing in ribbon, which is then joined and decorated with a selection of ribbons and finished off with a little butterfly.

To begin with I have made them to match the pink and purple wands, but I will be adding some more colours soon.

The headbands and wands can be purchased separately or as a set.

Until next time...

Measuring Head Circumference

I have had a few people ask me how to go about measuring their child's head circumference, to determine which hat size is needed, so I thought I would write a post explaining the best way to get an accurate measurement.

Method:

1. The measurement should be taken with a non-stretch flexible tape measure.
2. Wrap the tape snugly around the widest possible circumference - from the most prominent part of the forehead (often 1-2 fingers above the eyebrow), above the ears and around to the widest part of the back of the head.
3. Read the measurement.

Note: The measurements of my crocheted sun hats are taken with the hats completely unstretched, but being crochet, they have quite a bit of stretch in them, so the hats will fit onto a head that is up to a few cms larger than the stated measurement. This also means that they will fit comfortably for longer than a firm (non-stretch) hat.

[Example: 2 of my children wear the 52cm sized hats yet one is 6yrs old and has a head circumference of 53.5cm, and the other is 10yrs old and has a 54cm head circumference. The hats sit comfortably and do not look overstretched at all.]

For the best fit of my crocheted sun hats (and most use from the hat) I recommend ordering a hat thats measurement is the same or just a little bit larger than your child's head, so it will sit well yet have room for growth.

If you are still unsure about what size to order, feel free to contact me and I will help as best I can.

I hope this helps- if not (if it is unclear or confusing) please let me know. Sometimes you know in your head what you are trying to say, but can figure out how to explain it properly.

Until next time...