Play, Explore and Create

Using different materials, and learning different approaches from collage to construction the collection of pieces in our create area are creative experiences explored with children's own imaginations.
Many artists have collaborated together using their knowledge and experience and style to give us art to play with and explore. You'll find Nathalie Lete, Charles and Ray Eames, Virginie Jamin, Mini Labo and many more amongst the designers here.

Create a universe, explore your imagination, create colourful days and get inspired.

See the collections here and here



sisters guild on Pinterest

Monday Makery - Feathered headbands

It's been 2 weeks since school began and already we're itching to break the routine, to bring back the wild feeling of the summer. So with some feathers, decorative ribbon and a little imagination we took to the wilds of the outdoors, even if only for a day, it's a day in a world where our fairytale's become our adventures and these adventures our lives. We became the first explorers, discovering a new world, finding camping ground, hunting wild animals, discovering caves, and collecting sticks for a fire. Hills became mountains, flowers and berries food and medicine and footprints were tracked in silence imagining a whole new world of our making.

It's wonderful how one small piece from a dressing up box can inspire such imaginings and play.
It's been a while since we've played dress up and I'd almost forgotten how a dressing up box gives endless possibilities of adventure, invitations to chase the wildest of dreams and the courage to break the boundaries of the everyday. Dressing up instills what we say to our children, that, you can be anything you want to be. Allowing the imagination to soar freely we were wild, we were brave and we were free.

To create the feathered headbands you will need:

• at least 20 soft feathers in varying lengths
• wide decorative ribbon
• bias ribbon
• scissors
• needle and thread , though preferably a sewing machine.

Here's how:

1. Prepare the length of ribbon. The ribbon needs to fit around the head with enough remaining to tie into a bow or knot as well as having a little more to drop down the neck.
2. The bias ribbon will act as a lining to stop the feathers from rubbing against the skin, so, this needs to double the measurement of the decorative ribbon. 
3. Find the middle of the bias ribbon and working from the centre outwards line up your feathers and pin in place, leaving the over half free.
4. Fold over the over half of the ribbon and sew along the edges to hold the feathers in place.
5. Pin the strip of feathered bias ribbon to the back of the decorative ribbon and sew together to finish it off. 

Wrap round the head and tie securely at the back and you're ready to go....

Oh, and then there's the name. Try adding your favourite animal or colour to your favourite flower or other natural element or characteristic.......WhiteFawn, SnowBird, WinterRose, TigerLily, EagleSky, LionWind, DancingLeaves etc....

Happy Making & happy adventuring!

xx

The House of Fairy Tales

The House of Fairy Tales Kickstarter Campaign

Some of you will have heard of The House of Fairy Tales - the UK based educational arts charity and travelling art circus. Founders and artists Deborah Curtis and Gavin Turk have been bringing their unique events to children since 2006. They bring an interactive, absorbing and educational experience that children will never forget - grown-ups are left wide-eyed with wonder too!

The House of Fairy Tales is about education and play and exploring all those important art forms that need preserving for our children and for future generations. The House of Fairy Tales is about learning through physical connection, space, movement, play, engaging all the senses and using natural materials. It's about endless exploration where anything is possible as long as the imagination is nourished. The House of Fairy Tales truly feeds the imagination.


So what now?

The House of Fairy Tales is setting up a permanent Art School in East London. This will be a school like no other - a huge educational, artistic and phantasmagorical experience that will inspire creativity with puppet theatres, a film studio, a photographic studio, printmaking, ceramics and wardrobe and prop-making spaces. There will be a cinema to show films made by children and a theatre with seating for multi-disciplinary performances and concerts, including lectures and seminars for adults. Not forgetting the tents, structures and vehicles of the Travelling Art Circus and its spectrum of magical activities.

Help make the first term possible...

If you make a PLEDGE HERE you will join an amazing force of artists who are behind the campaign such as Sir Peter Blake, Adam Dant & Rob Ryan and even have a chance to own a piece of their artwork!

Find out about the campaign here....and quickly! There's only until Tuesday 17th September to help make this creative dream for thousands of children possible. 

This is an Arts Charity with an incredible team behind it that are utterly giving and dedicated, so I know every penny donated will be used to turn into something astounding. Just as every scrap of paper, screw, bolt, box, feather and gust of wind is used by The House of Fairy Tales in the most clever and resourceful way to inspire young minds. Be part of it here

Our Favourite Back to School Free Printables

For book lovers and children who love to read late into the night, we love these wise owls which look as though they've been drawn onto feather. Print out onto card stock.

print your free bookmarks here 

Imagine discovering a little pillow box hidden in a pocket or school bag on your first day back at school. I adore the idea of placing a little special something waiting to be found. Though kids would be delighted in finding sweets I'd much rather pick a new scented rubber or pencil topper, hair tie, bracelet, stickers, a classic bouncy ball.

print it free here

If like me the last week of the summer holidays gets busy with organising, sewing labels onto clothes and hunting for new school shoes then you may be on the lookout for things to keep the kids busy.

I love these vibrant fun bingo cards from misstiina for keeping the kids a little busy. Why not print to take out with you as you  drag  take the kids shoe shopping and they can spot numbers as they go 'bingo' everyone's a winner.

print it free here 

It's never too late to journal the holidays and these note cards are perfect for doing just that. Remembering all the things we've done over the summer, the things that made us happy, new places we've seen, new friends we've made and days we'd like to never forget.

They make beautiful note cards to send to friends too.

print yours for free here

With so many wonderful things on this site here's a little something for us big kids too. With its simple words and gird paper these make great inspiring notecards. They'd make great little cards to post to friends and family too, especially those we've enjoyed our summer days with, with a little memory jotted down.... remember the day when we laughed so hard we..... 

I don't think we write as often as we should to friends and family and I know this will inspire me to do it and hopefully you too.

find your's free to print here

Monday Makery - Classic Play Magic Wand

With the Summer holidays almost over we felt we needed a little touch of magic for the final weeks. So, we made our very own personal magic wands. With a snippety snip and a quick little stitch they're ready for casting magic upon the days..... wishing we could make the summer last forever.

Here's what you'll need:

• fabric, scissors, pencil, star shaped cookie cutters, a doweling stick (we used garden sticks) and glue. If you like you can add ribbons, beads and sequins too.

Here's how:

1. Draw around your star shaped cookie cutter onto the chosen fabric. Repeat.
2. Cut out your 2 stars.
3. With one star on top of the other sew around the edges leaving a small space at the bottom to enable you to stuff it full of magic.
4. Stuff the star with stuffing - (whisper some magic words as you go) 
5. Put some glue around the end of your doweling stick and insert into the bottom of the star.
6. Using clothes pegs, peg the fabric together either side of the doweling stick to hold in place and leave to dry.
7. Once dry, remove the pegs and sew along the final base to seal the magic inside.

Happy Magical Making

xx