Monday Makery - Ye Pirate Cutlass

It's a rare thing to leave the park without a collection of treasures, be it sticks, acorns, leaves, or a pocketful of daisies. So, this time when we went to the park with a mission in mind; to find the perfect straight stick, the girls were in full eyes down hunting mode. This was a special pirates mission where before we could hunt any treasure we first had to get equipped for any eventuality. We were making swords. We were going to have a go with cardboard but I knew they'd end up crumpling after their first battle so only sticks would suffice.
So with a mission sounding more like a goldilocks tale, 'no, this one's too curvy', 'this one's too bumpy' and 'this one's too thick' we at last discovered a stick 'just right'. Happy with what they found I could 'as though by magic' with a quick snip of the scissors and some scraps of fabric turn them into pirate cutlass's.

Like all great inventions necessity is the mother, and when Oona grew tired of carrying her cutlass we turned a cardboard roll into a sheath to hold the sword in between battles. I'm sure this accessory will end up being decorated in some way but for now she's happy as it is and as these cardboard roll's are easy to come by, or at least easier than finding a straight stick she'll probably create a whole host of matching accessories for her outfits. A pirate takes great pride in his / her appearance apparently.

Here's what you'll need:

• a stick (preferably straight!)
• string or elastic bands
• a small piece of thick fabric; leather, felt, or cardboard from a cereal box.

Here's how:

1. remove any knobbly bits from your stick
2. cut a piece of fabric into a long thing oval and cut two holes on either end.
3. slide the stick through the hole and pull down, then poke the stick through the other end of the fabric creating a looped handle shape.
4. If your fabric slides around take it off and put it back on with an elastic band wrapped around the stick on either side of the fabric.

Dont be tempted to sharpen the ends of the sticks, yes it may make them look more authentic but that's not what you want. the blunter the better. There'll be enough injuries from the whacking about as it is. It may even be a good idea to instate a few rules as you hand over the cutlass, a pirate code so to speak.

So, next time you head to the park bring back a few sticks for some pirate fun,

Aarrrrgh! Look lively me powder monkeys I be going after those pieces o eight!

Monday Makery - Miniature Circus

Roll Up! roll Up! Watch the daring death defying mice jump through the ring of fire!

Celebrating all things circus the girls have asked me to create something for the Maileg mice whilst they await the arrival of their circus tent and circus troupe.
A little rummage around in our crafts cupboard found some wooden cotton reels, pipe cleaners and red felt to create a ring of fire for the most daring of mice.

Here's what you'll need:

• a pipe cleaner
• cotton reel
• red felt
• colouring pens or paints
• fabric glue
• scissors

Here's how:

1. Cut a strip of felt 3cm smaller than the length of your pipe cleaner and about 5cm wide
2. Using fabric glue, glue the pipe cleaner to the felt so that it sits in the centre and has 1.5cm free at either end, fold over the felt and press firmly
3. Now cut into the fabric to create very rough triangles of various sizes to give a flaming appearance.
4. Decorate your cotton reel.
5. Bend the flaming pipe cleaner into a hoop shape and push the two ends together inside the hole of the cotton reel.

you're now ready to perform your daring ring of fire act.

Happy Making!

x

Find the mice here

You can discover the Circus Here!

Monday Makery - Luminaires

I've begun to be a little obsessed with light, the way a little warm light can make you feel cosy and snug on dark rainy days and how we alter our light both depending on the time of day and the mood we're in or indeed one that we try to create. We use candles at the supper table quite often as there's something magical and intimate about the atmosphere created, both grand and charming.
In light of the darker skies draping our evenings and with Halloween slowly creepily crawling its way closer towards us we've been making our own coloured and sparkly luminaires to use at the table and around the home for those evenings when we want to snuggle up with its bewitching ambiance.

They are simple to make and there's something so hypnotic and magical about watching a little tea light flicker its dancing light through colours and glittering stars.

Here's what you'll need:

• clean jam jars
• acrylic paint
• paintbrush

Here's how:

1. paint your clean and dried glass jar with your chosen acrylic paint colour.
2. let it dry and add a second coat if required (those below have only one coat).
3. To add another motif or decoration on the top draw an outline and then fill in with a darker stronger colour.

To create starred or glittering luminaires spray the jar with a glue like 'spray mount' then sprinkle with glitter.

Happy Making!

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This is part of our weekly Monday Makery where we bring you a recipe to bake or a craft to create. Visit our Monday Makery when you're in need of inspiration for something to do on a rainy day or to use as interception of the words 'I'm bored', or just because being creative with your children is something you all love to do. Our other popular blogposts include 'The story behind our collections', 'Tell us its Tuesday' , An A-Z of Sisters Guild, The Art of Living posts bring you all the things we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas, and our 'Once upon a week' gives you a glimpse into life behind the scenes at Sisters Guild. 

www.sistersguild.co.uk

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