Getting crafty and creative.

Both K and M have been quite creative lately, to the extent that I feel it deserves a post of its own.

As I mentioned previously over the summer (and indeed before) they have both been making videos and photo stories in various ways.  They have an on-going project with a couple of friends making either a film or a trailer for one, I'm not sure which but it seems to be taking some time, using the friends' family ipad.  They spent hours making a photo story about three friends (cuddly toys) who go on an adventure to save the earth.  M has done at least another one of these on her own and she and I made a video one together mostly while K was at gymnastics recently.  They have also started at least one more with another couple of friends too.

K & M were given this Shrink Craft Jewellery kit, which has been sitting on the shelf since at least last Christmas.  They have both had a go at making things, although K considerably more than M.  She has been experimenting with various ideas and made a bracelet for a friend's birthday.

Another thing we have been given, by the lovely Ma when she came to stay, was this card making kit in a tin which has everything you need to make a dozen or so cards using quilling to make the pictures.  I had a go and then K did.  I posted a couple of photos of the cards K had made on Facebook and when our friends Z & R came round on Friday, Z brought some more quilling paper along with some tools and a couple of books for us to borrow.  They have already been put to very good use by K.

My attempt.

K's first go, from the card making kit.

K's second card making kit effort.

K followed a pattern in a book for this beautiful one.

K & M went to a sewing workshop for the third time when we went to stay with my parents.  On the two previous occasions they made needle books and bunting.  This time it was really cute owls.  They each made a big one and a small one at the workshop.  Since then we've had my sewing machine out and M has made quite a few more and I've made one too.  K made something else, but I have no idea what as it was secret.  Sometimes I eventually find out these things, other times not.

My large owl (back left) and some of M's - she's made even more since this photo!

M and I both had a go at willow weaving at the National Forest Wood Fair on Monday.  I finished off a rattle that the man there had started and M did most of a basket with his help.

M's brilliant basket.

Finally, M has been very busy in the kitchen lately.  For example this morning, she came into my bedroom at 7.30am, asking if she could bake.  That was a bit tricky, as we didn't have any eggs, so she went out to the Co-op and bought eggs and a lemon and had already made the dough for her first lot of biscuits before I was up!

First she made some of these - chocolate with marzipan in the middle.

Later she and L made some multicoloured (pink and blue - not what I would have chosen, but ho hum!) lemon biscuits.  Both of these were to take with her to L's belated birthday sleepover today.  L lives opposite and is good friends with both K & M.