rainy days

We've had quite a few now in a row. I think we are all starting to get a little antsy as we run out of indoor activities. There is sun on the horizon, though, so that is good.

I did get a little package in the mail today from this shop that helped brighten my day. Even with the lack of focus I think you will see that this pretty little floral pillow adds a lovely touch to my daughter's room.

Wouldn't you agree?

a little magic

oleander

Love this tune (and Sarah Harmer).

hawkweed

Such a common little wildflower. I love that cheerful little splash of orange. Brings back childhood summer memories.

"It's like Alice in Wonderland"

That is what Sarah, our neighbor's 9 year old daughter, remarked one day upon noticing the heart-shaped patch of flowers growing wild in our back yard and the two hugging witch hazel trees nearby that become one.

It does feel a little enchanted. Leave it to the imagination of a child.

washing toys filled with wool

Wool is a wonderful natural product used by many soft toy makers. Wool has a lovely warm and springy quality to it, it is naturally fire resistant, anti-bacterial and dust-mite resistant. Since mould and mildew do not grow on wool, spot cleaning is generally considered sufficient. I also love using wool as it is a product that I can source sustainably and locally from a small-scale producer.

For those who wish to encourage the use of a lovey or transitional toy, wool also is unique in that it retains comforting and familiar scents. Sometimes Mamas will place a lovey next to her body while nursing, then pass the toy along to the child for nap time.

After making Little Lamb (above) I started to think about how children continue to care for and love their transitional toys well into toddlerhood and beyond. What to do in the event of a major spill at that afternoon tea party or that puddle splash during that stroll in the park? Sometimes spot-cleaning simply will not do.

I decided to give Little Lamb a bath to see how she would fare as she, too is stuffed with wool.

First I immersed her in a dish filled with lukewarm water mixed with some mild laundry detergent.

After giving her a couple of rinses under running water, I wrapped her up in a towel and sponged her gently by pressing down with my hands. Then I placed her in a well-ventilated spot. This is a key since putting toys filled with wool in the dryer is generally not advisable.

On this particular day, it was quite rainy and cool, so instead of putting her in a sunny spot I placed her about a foot away from a heating vent.

Once her ears had dried, I checked the insides via a small side slit. They were still a little damp.

I closed her up with a safety pin and checked again a little later. Within 24 hours of her bath she was completely dry.
With some of my denser toys such as the fabric balls and blocks, I imagine drying time would take longer so I would still recommend spot cleaning with these. Since those toys are what I would consider play toys rather than loveys , keeping these items clean should be less of a challenge.

*

Oh, and on a final note, I've added a new Little Lamb to my shop today, as my daughter quickly claimed the original.

taking time

Today I realised that it is time to slow things down a little as life is getting a little hectic once again. It was nice to take a few moments in our back yard this morning to notice all of the activity out there.

Little Lamb

Well, here is our sweet new Organic friend - Little Lamb.
Sewn with Organic cotton sherpa, flannel, french terry fleece and a little floral sateen. She has been stuffed with local Newfoundland Heritage sheep wool and her face has been embroidered with vintage embroidery wool.

She will be very limited as I am making her from my organic cotton fabric remnants. My three year-old daughter quickly claimed this one and my 6 year old son has put in a request for something a little more manly!

She is oh-so-soft and squishable! I haven't any made up for my shop quite yet, but soon!

Children's Art

Isn't refrigerator art the best?

Their work never ceases to brighten my day.

Please excuse the water marks as this is after all what you call, er . . . living art.

A design in progress and a recipe (revised)

I was going through some fabric odds and ends today and came across a little soft toy design that I had started working on a few months ago, tucked away in one of my drawers. I have my materials assembled and the templates drawn out and ready to try. Hopefully in a week or two I will be able to show you my little creation!

Since I am unable to show you my new project, I thought I'd share one of my tried and true cookie recipes with you that my daughter and I baked up today!



This is actually a variation on this recipe, but I have fine-tuned it to our family's tastes. It is one that we make often.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1/2 cup of butter 1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar 1 tablespoon water
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 1 egg

1 cup of all-purpose flour 3/4 whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rolled oats 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup of
chocolate chips 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, water, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Combine the flours, baking soda and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Blend in the oats and chocolate chips. A handful of nuts would be quite tasty mixed in as well. If you want to be really good you could substitute the chocolate chips for cranberries. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.

3. Bake for 13 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges begin to brown. Remove from baking sheet to cool on wire racks for about 10 minutes. This recipe yields about 3 dozen cookies.






These would make a yummy addition to the lunch box, don't you think?

A New Name!

I am very pleased to let you know that my Etsy shop, now known as Handmade Naturals, will soon be closing and I will be re-opening shop with a new name - Meadowsweet Organics.

When I opened my shop a little over two years ago it was at the beginning of a a very new creative journey. I knew that I would be sewing and I knew I would be sewing with organic cotton (and possibly other sustainable fabrics), but I wasn't set on what I would be sewing. In the end I chose a fairly open name which would allow me to move in any direction I desired.

Reflecting on my work over the past two years I feel that my design style has evolved into what one could consider whimsical, modern, colourful, yet practical and always eco-friendly.

In my new shop I will continue to use organic cotton. I may also introduce some organic cotton / hemp blends over time, and have been collecting some beautiful eco-friendly vintage trims and eco-friendly vintage cottons that may work their way into another shop.

As always, my two kids will no doubt continue to be an endless source of inspiration to me.

I am quite proud of the designs I have offered up over the past couple of years and will continue to offer up most of those in my new shop. I also expect to add more children's clothing designs as time allows.

New for summer: sunhats!

A design I came up with last Spring, and reworked several times over until I got just the right cut. Simple, yes, but all the better to show off the beautiful fabrics, and frame your little beauty's sweet face!