Encouraging children to make!!!

As you may well know, I feel it is really important to encourage children to make and create, and so have been working on various kits to support this.  

'These kits have been designed to provide children with the opportunity to experience new activities, develop skills, and build self-confidence that will last a lifetime.  They also offer the perfect opportunity to spend time with your child, doing something together and creating lasting memories for you both.'

Because my main passions are sewing and cooking I used this as a starting point.  

Soooo, now available to buy are...

... The Budding Chef's Cooking Set...

This kit is available for boys and girls... 

... you can even have it customized.

We tested the kits when I took a set each for my niece and nephew last time we visited.  They loved them, and kept getting their utensils out to look at, and then putting them away again.  My niece was really sweet, carrying hers around with her... she even came down for breakfast the following morning with it clutched to her!!

They enjoyed making the gingerbread people even more.  First they explored the dough...

 

... and then it was down to business!!!

This cooking set compliments the Little Beau Utility Pinny Set and the Little Belle Utility Pinny Set.

 

Also available in the new make and do range are some little brooch kits, containing everything you need to make yourself a brooch. Fabulous little gifts that fit perfectly into a Christmas stocking!

You can make a Christmas pudding...

... or if you are not too keen on Christmas pudding, you could make a Fairy cake.

So if you are looking for a pressie to encourage a little on you know to have a go and do something creative, head over to my shop for a closer look!

Sewing Kits for Children

I think that it is really important for us to teach children simple skills that will help them in their adult life (find out more about Loula Belle At Home in this interview), that is why I am creating Make and Do Kits for children.

The first of these are these simple felt brooch kits.  These kits have been designed to provide children with the opportunity to experience new activities, develop their skills, and build self-confidence that will last a lifetime. They also offer the perfect opportunity to spend time with your child, doing something together and creating lasting memories for you both.

How about making a tasty fairy cake...

... or maybe a Christmas Pudding?

These kits are perfect for children learning how to sew (we made the fairy cake brooches at the Fairy's birthday tea party), and they come complete with everything (felt, stuffing, embroidery thread, brooch pin, needle and colour instructions) you need to make one straight away!

You can find these and lots of other lovely gift ideas at my shop.

Keep your eyes peeled (what a strange expression that is!!?!) for Loula Belle At Home's baking kits for children.

The Fairy has been learning to use a sewing machine!

I was very excited when the Fairy received this as one of her birthday presents.  I loved Clothkits as a child, especially these lovely dolls, and some of the first garments I ever made using a sewing machine were Clothkits.  It was sad when the company became dormant during the 1980's after they were bought out.  However, the relaunched in 2008 has provided us once again with some lovely products.  They are even offering to make some of their products for you if you really don't want to do it yourself.

I had been planning for a while to show the Fairy how to use a sewing machine, and this gave me the perfect opportunity to do so, so over the summer we got to work.

I prepped it for her, ironing it and cutting it out.  Although she is extremely competent when it comes to using scissors, we both would have been very upset if a mistake was made.  Incidentally, I added 5mm to the seam allowance as there was only 5mm given!  Apparently on their newer designs this has been taken into account and a 1cm seam allowance given.

She then put the pieces together and pinned them in place...

... before getting to work.

It was actually quite a tricky project for a first project.  There were quite a few curves to navigate, which resulted in me bending over her, helping her to guide the fabric, whilst she worked the machine.  The straight bits she could manage by herself whilst I stretched my back!!!

She was very disappointed when she had finished because she had enjoyed using my machine.  I assured her that this was only the beginning and that she can do some more, starting with the little top that was also bought for her doll.

Welcome to the family Kiki.

Kiki camping in Nidderdale!