I used the following book and felt to teach the girls how to make a needle book. The girls came with me to chose their felt, thread and needle threaders which increased their enthusiasm to get started: Using the patterns in the book I cut out two patterns for the needle book and cut four…
Category: Homemade Handicrafts
Seasons of Joy: A Patchwork of Memories
Twelve years ago, I began to hand sew a patch work. I thought it might one day become a blanket or maybe a wall hanging. Every single piece of fabric used is from clothing my three eldest wore in the first year of their life. Each piece brings back memories. Each piece is beautiful because…
Making Raggy the Rag Doll
If there is one thing I have learnt about myself this summer is that I seem never to throw things away. I am a hoarder. This has been exceedingly useful during a summer learning about pioneer living. It has meant that we have spent almost no money on a really, really exciting and learning rich summer. This…
Little House on the Prairie: Week 4
We have just finished week four of our ten week Little House on the Prairie unit study. I was a bit concerned we would have nothing to post about as three of my five children are fairly ill with a nasty throat infection and very high temperatures. But it seems we are more immersed in…
Little House on the Prairie: Button String
Whilst the older ones were away this weekend and B2 was in bed, A4 and I made a button string. A button string is made by threading buttons of different shapes and sizes onto some strong twine and fastening it. It was used by Carrie as a toy and very possibly a teething ring. We gathered all…
Ancient China: Zhou Dynasty and Chinese Religions
We have been slowly moving our way through the Chinese dynasties at one per week, learning about the unique features of each and any of their well-known inventions. This week we looked at the Zhou (pronounced Joe) dynasty. The older children weren't well with the same infection the younger ones had earlier in the week,…
Homemade Handicrafts
Make time for some homemade handicrafts in your homeschool! It doesn't need to be complicated or technically difficult. Opt for something simple, like these two Mr Men dolls. You don't even really need to be that gifted in arts and crafts. It is the spending time together, whilst keeping hands busy. This encourages great conversations…