The Miraculous Journey Of Edward Tulane

I began making dolls inspired by the book in 2010. A teacher was looking for someone in the Etsy Plush Team to recreate the china doll completely in fabric so the children could put on a play. And recently I was approached by someone looking for a miracle, with a deadline and no dolls. 

And as the person making them some dolls had become unable to make them, I said yes I would give it a go. 

Despite being shattered, because they all left my hands today, I also feel really accomplished and a little sad. There’s something about Edward and this was the first time I made some of the outfits shown here. 

My daughter Mary really wanted to see him as Suzanna and I couldn’t wait to make Malone, using a felted woolly jumper so that it won’t fray on stage. 

I wonder if I will get to see any pictures of these guys performing? Well in any case, it’s lovely to still be making Edwards after 11 years. 

Have you got one of my dolls?  

Post code lottery ...

There's a place on line where you can check to see if your postcode has won, everyday ...

Find out more with this link, and enjoy ... just sharing the love!

I love Sundays!

We love to see our friends, and play!

We like bath night ...

We love to play with out pet rats - Matty and Smudge!

Daisy and Pepsi!

With wings!

I asked the girls to let me take a picture of them on Christmas day, and they promptly cuddled up together!



Then I asked them to turn round and show us the winged-bags that I made for them, and they did this!


Then they quickly flew off!

Nativity time - feeling christmassy?

Well it was a lovely evening when my little girls stepped out for all to see in their mummy-made costumes, so of course I took the camera along as one does at such special times!

Mary did very well despite me not giving her lessons in stairs-and-long-dresses! My favourite grown-up costume was the chicken, what did you like best?

Book Review - Children in the Wild garden!

I was asked to take a look at this book for Popular Crafts magazine and i was pleased because it looks right up our street, or should i say, garden! We do have a 'relaxed' attitude to gardening anyway, and as some one who educates her children at home, I was looking for a few fun, wildlife friendly ideas! The book is shown in more detail in this months issue, but more about that in a later post!



My wild children and I put on our wellies and headed outdoors with the book, on what was rather a gorgeous day for the middle of October! We already have a hotel for bees to stay in, so i felt really pleased, and this ivy at the back will make the perfect place for one of the books suggestions, hiding an old tea pot for mice and birds to nest in!



The book had strong, lively diagramic illustrations and really good photos graphs showing some of the things you might find, experiments to try and children busy in their wild gardens. One of my 5 year olds kept saying, 'oh wow, oh wow!' as she turned the pages, delighted!



We decided to go on a hunt for mini-beasts, the book explained that not all little creatures are BUGS, so I have learned something straight away!



This hollow in our apple tree actually contained what looked like soil and a few happy woodlice! Plenty to try the woodlice experiment then!



We have plenty of old rotting wood, and under one log, those woodlice had chewed themselves some rather lovely bedrooms - very impressive!



Under a second log was this rather impressive earth worm!



And LOTS of his friends, too!



and under a plank by the shed door we found a rather lively lava, who would hardly keep still for his picture to be taken!



This is a book that will keep us busy all year round, as we think about new life and new growth in spring, and caring for our little wild birds in the cold wintertime!

Home educating - each other!

Don't be fooled by this studious looking picture, Matty and Daisy are just colouring in the margins ... Just what I did at school, I think!



'School' is a popular game at the moment, I found Mary sitting in Daisy's chair and Daisy 'teaching' her the alphabet from her own knowledge (and not bad either)


Daisy's favourite thing to do at the moment is read 'Peter And Jane' Ladybird books!

Owl My Love ... My children!

Ready for take off?



Daisy made owl wings, very successfully and without any grown-ups helping. She has also worn them several times too! The girls often sit on their wendy house roof, hooting, or climb



I know this is really blurred, but it's so funny and I can hear the giggling when I look at it!

Swing-seat Repair...

One morning at a friend's house, I sat and tore up a duvet and three pillow-cases, scored in a free-cycle win! Then set about making a new seat for this children's garden toy, a favourite of some good friends of ours!



When it is done, children quickly jump on - our little friend here is Boots, and he sat on the seat all afternoon, when we had gone home!



His sister Eleanor is looking forward to eating ice lollies and swinging again!

My garden ...

Looks like a building site again ...



These two tiny girls hefted all that stuff about!



i bought some 10mm bungee cord off eBay and fixed the ten year old trampoline - hooray! More bouncing!



one day we went out for about an hour and a half, and came back to find these poor birds in the garden, lying quite close together. Any ideas what happened? All three children looked at them, and after them for the afternoon, before their burials!

Everyone wants to play!

Should we go shopping? says a fun-loving raggy rat!



Raggy rats and a seemingly abandoned shopping trolly ... i told those chickenpants to park it properly, but did they? no!



My turn, give us a push!

Meanwhile... on the other side of the pond....

Remember my Edward Tulane?



well he has been busy acting his socks off, with a bunch of talented children in the USA...



Don't they all look great?



time for bed, Edward ... i wonder what he is going to do next?



My children want me to make one to keep at home...