Valentine's Decorations

I enjoyed the Christmas decorations so much this year that I was starting to feel sad about taking them down way back in December. So even before Christmas I was planning some nice Valentine's decorations and even ordering supplies. And I love them.

This banner I made with some paper hearts that I ordered off Etsy. It was inspired by a million similar ones I've seen around the internet. I especially love this as I think it's quite classy. And the little hearts are so small and delicate that they move ever so slightly when the heating is going. I just sewed through the hearts on the sewing machine - the trickiest part was holding two hearts together while I sewed, next time I try something like this it will be with something double sided.

I also ordered these vintage valentines off Etsy just for fun. I picked animal ones - Kevin enjoys the puns and Henry enjoys pointing at the animals.

To hang from the chandelier I sewed up these hearts from some pink and red fabric that I love but is too nasty and synthetic feeling to use for anything else. I like the think this one was all my idea.

And I have dreams of doing valentines crafts with Henry one day. I don't know if these count as he didn't know what he was doing. But I cut these hearts out of some cardstock that Henry painted and coloured on and then just taped them to some strings. To get the heart shaped I used the cutting machine at the Early Years Centre where I take Henry to play and it is really fun - lots of possibilities!

I love my decorated living and dining room and I love making new traditions and rituals. Especially colourful ones in this particularly dreary winter we are having.

Linked at Sew Woodsy

Pottery

The pottery class that Kevin and I took as part of our 'ten years together' celebration is now over. It was a lot of fun to get out of the house once a week and do something new and interesting together. The course taught us hand building and how to use the wheel. It lasted 6 weeks and then last Thursday we picked up all our finished pieces. Now all that's left is finding places in our home to display and use all our new pottery.

Here are some pictures for my records.

a little pitcher

some bowls

some plates
dinosaur plates

Kevin's cabbage inspired nesting bowls, they are actually a light green

name plates, wish the glaze had turned out better on these

2 hand built vases, not sure what we'll do with these

a little box by Amy
a little box by Kevin
some tiny cups and bowls

Trying out Embroidery

Kevin and I have been trying embroidery. We got a book from the library but Kevin especially is already trying his own thing.

Kevin embroidered this tea towel for me for my first Mother's Day.

And I made this one for my mum.

And then Kevin made this one which I will turn into a simple toy for Henry.

Foot stool

I've wanted a foot stool to keep near the front door for putting shoes on for ages, even before I got pregnant. But I was never sure that my idea of how to make it would look good. So when I came across much simpler instructions in this book Handmade Modern, I definitely wanted to make it. I was able to find foam and upholstery fabric that I liked at Len's Mill Store and bought the legs at Home Hardware. It was a quick simple project that was fun to do with Kevin. And it is perfect for sitting down while I put my shoes on.

Birdhouse #1

I made a birdhouse. I started it on the weekend and finished it today. I followed instructions from a book from the library. It is supposed to be a "folk art tit house". I couldn't find what the book said to use for the top hinge type thing so I cut up a Guinness can, hope it holds up alright. Can't wait for some nice weather so I can find a place for it in the backyard.

Amy and Kevin's Homemade Lamp

Look at our lamp!! My bedside lamp has been mostly broken for months and completely broken for weeks. So I bought a new wire and lightbulb holder thing to fix it but the standard lamp wires with switch attached weren't long enough for that lamp. So finally we decided to make our own. The base is a plate I bought last year but couldn't use because I couldn't get the sticky-ness off from the sticker. The neck is some plumbing thing I bought just for the lamp. And the chade is a tin can from chick peas. It was fun to make together and we both think it's quite lovely.

Upside down Tomato Planters

Well I've been reading and planning for my 2009 vegetable garden all week and today it felt good to actually do something for it. I made these upside down tomato planters that I bookmarked from instructables months ago.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Matts_Original_Inverted_Planter_aka_IPlanter/

I made 4 and will hang them on the railing on my front porch. The tomato plant comes out the hole in the bottom and then I will plant a herb on the top.

Edited to add: These didn't work at all, don't know why. Just had a tiny tomato seedling hanging from the bottom all summer.