EASTER GOODIES

I had a stall this week at a pamper evening to raise money for the kidlets school.

I always like to have a theme when I do stalls to stop myself from getting bored.  So this time I went for Easter, but I also have to have a colour scheme so I decided on spring green, yellow, blue and pink.

So I thought I would share with you what I have been making.

 This is a small portion of all the cookie pops I made!

I picked up these buckets for £1 each at Tesco. Brilliant bargin I love them!

 These are carrot cakes, very appropriate for Easter I thought

 Vanilla cupcakes, blueberry, banana and orange cupcakes and lemon cupcakes.

Finally a small mosaic of the actual stall, including a cheesey photo of myself. Thanks to Marie for her assistance in capturing the moment!

YOU CAN ONLY SEE HIM IF YOU'RE VERY YOUNG!

HELP!!!

My house has been invaded by Japanese forest trolls!

There are Soot Gremlins everywhere.

I am finding acorns randomly scattered.  

My tiny kidlet insists on being called Mai, and will only address her father as 'The Real Totoro'!

What on earth is going on?

Well here's the story.......A few weeks ago on a rainy day, desperate to entertain two kidlets going stir crazy after months of inclement weather we all settled down to watch a film 'My Neighbour Totoro' by Studio Ghibli.

Little tiny kidlet had such a lovely reaction, she literally squealed with pleasure all the way through the film then and the next 20 times we have watched it since.  Her delight has not diminished!

'My Neighbour Totoro' is one of the gentlest kindest films I have ever seen. It is about two little girls (the littlest one is Mai) who move to the country with their father while their mother is in hospital.  They meet a troll called Totoro who is big and fluffly and funny.

It is a slow film compared to Disney or other western animations, so I was amazed at the kidlets reaction and their ability to sit relatively quietly.

Of course Mr Lemon Drizzle (being a Japanophile) is delighted and immediately went to ebay to find Totoro related merchandise.  Unfortunately as it has to be imported it is very expensive, so not wanting to deny them a childhood pleasure I dusted down my sewing machine.

Now I know I worked in fashion, but I was a textile designer, and although I can easily run up a pair of curtains or a cushion I do not have much patience at a sewing machine.

Here is the real Totoro.

 
And here is version no.1.  Given the choice tiny kidlet choose a white fabric and pink eyes, probably not the best choice given her affinity to dirt.

And here is version no.1 after a day. You can't see but she has lost a tail.

After a few days.  He (sorry Mai, she) has lost a tail, an arm, most of her whiskers, is covered in chocolate and peanut butter and has been very loved.

So I was instructed to make more and big kidlet wanted in on the act.

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Then they needed acorns and bags and 'WE HAVE TO HAVE SOOT GREMLINS TOO!'

I do get frustrated with my sewing but the kidlets are easily pleased. They love their Totoros and are eager to have more, but I think I'm done....for now.

I shall take advantage of the lovely sunshine and pop outside to hang up my washing. Oh it's glorious to finally bask in the sun again.....what's that noise?  Something is moving in the bushes. I'm sure it is just a little bird making it's nest.

 Is it just birds?

EASTER INSPIRATION

Another holiday celebration, another reason to trawl beautiful sites looking for inspiration.  What hard work!

Anyway I'm not going to ramble on....this time... so sit back, relax and enjoy!

First up is one of my all time favourite designers Agnes from KnockKnocking.

 A mosaic of Flickr favourites. From left to right top to bottom.

1. Such a cute bunny from Bezzab

2. A gorgeous little crochet rabbit from Sabahnur.

3. I love this picture of eggs, so simple but beautiful, by anja louise verdugo.

4. Brilliant little pin toppers from Gigi

I have found so many gorgeous things I will have to do another post, but for now I'll leave you with a beautiful bunny from HeartfeltHandmade

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW....

My Parents have a DVD collection in their holiday house.  The one most in danger of wearing out is "The Wizard of Oz".  They use it as some kind of mood enhancing drug!
'Somewhere over The Rainbow' has always been a song close to my heart, even before I made my theatrical debut as a Munchkin I would sing this song to myself to get to sleep.

I now hear my own kidlets singing to theirselves.  Although a happy wakey up song sung with gusto at six in the morning it is not as adorable as an evening lullaby!

These are painted cookies I made for my tiny kidlet's nursery coffee morning.

One of the downsides of painting cookies is the colour comes off quite easily,especially in hot little hands and many of the kidlets went home sporting rainbow moustaches and beards!

I'm dreaming of the summer and building a cake empire! 

What are you dreaming about?

WORLD BOOK DAY

Yes it's that time of year again when we frantically search through the kidlet's books to find a character wearing something similar to clothes they already have!

Life is hard as a parent no sooner have we had Europe day ( wear a national costume) or come as a doctor or nurse day when World Book Day has come around again.  Sometimes I feel as if I am the one at school the amount of homework I have to do.

Fortunately Kidlet1 wanted to go as the character in her favourite book who wears pjamas throughout the story, easy!  

I was impressed by some of the costumes as we entered school, there had obviously been alot of sewing and glueing on of tin foil last night.

A few days ago while discussing todays events I remembered that last year I had made cookies for my child's class so thought I should do that again and win some Mummy points.

Here then are this years cookies. I used five different books. Do you know what they are?

Have a guess.  I would have got only four a few months ago!

 Don't peek now but the answers are at the bottom.

Some of the toys wanted to be involved in the photoshoot!  Don't they look erudite?

Here are some clues as to the books I used. See how many you know.

 This is a childrens classic and I much prefer the original illustrations to the Disney version.

This is my Kidlets favourite book and you may have some difficulty naming this one.

Another classic that is about to have a modern makeover!

A modern book that youngest kidlet insisted on because she likes to go "RAAAAH!"

Last but by no means least a contemperary classic that also has had a Hollywood makeover.

Did you guess right or did you have to ask a younger reader for help?

I hope you enjoyed my edition to book day.

What is your favourite book from your childhood and what do your children insist that you read every night?

Mine is either Masquerade or Mrs Tiggywinkle.

And if you are still curioser and curiouser here are the answers;

1. Winnie-thePooh by A.A. Milne

2. Tatty-Ratty by Helen Cooper.  Have a look here to read about the adventures of our own Tatty-Ratty.

3. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll 

4. Harry and his Bucket full of Dinosaurs by Ian Whybrow and Adrian Reynolds 

5. Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl with illustrations by the amazing Quentin Blake

Happy reading!