It would appear that all my big talk about the fun we get up to for Valentine’s Day was misspoken. Or at least lofty ideals because everyone got a touch of a cold which was joined for the wee babe with the business of growing teeth.

We’re feeling better and getting back on track, and while our plans changed I did have time for what has become a bit of an obsession for me lately.

Before Christmas I filled my cart at Mountain Rose Herbs, adding a list of handmade body care products to my giving wish-list. Well that wish-list went the way of the dodos but my box of goodies awaited patiently for me to dive in.

I checked this book out of the library once more, ogled the recipes here, and decided to try this recipe. I picked up this heart-shaped silicon mould from my favourite Swedish superstore hoping it might be perfect for a few Valentine’s Day goodies.

I had this hesitation that it was going to be a big messy disaster but it was so very simple. And lots of fun.

Rosy Lotion Bars

I infused my almond oil with 50 grams of dried rose petals to add the floral scent but almond oil works whether it is infused or not.

3 oz. sweet almond oil (or other carrier oil)

3 oz. beeswax, pastilles or grated

3 oz. shea butter

50 – 75 grams of dried rose petals (optional)

15-20 drops of essential oils: lavender, orange or others, as desired (optional)

silicon mould or other

For infused oil: In a double-boiler, or as I used a heat proof bowl over a pot with one or two inches of simmering water, combine the oil and flowers over low heat. Stir occasionally while allowing to steep for two hours. Let the oil cool then strain through a very fine strainer or better yet through cheese cloth so you can squeeze out as much oil as possible. 

Over a double boiler or as described above, combine the oil and beeswax. Stir while the beeswax melts, once melted, add in the shea butter. Stir until combined and remove from heat. Allow to cool for a short 2 0r 3 minutes then stir in any essential oils you may like to add. I added some orange and lavender oils. Pour into a silicon mould and cool fully before removing from moulds. I popped mine into the freezer to harden. Keep them in a cool place.

Choco Lotion Bars

After trying the rosy variety, I thought a chocolate version was required. These are almost delicious enough to eat. 

3 oz. sweet almond oil, or other carrier oil

3 oz. beeswax

3 oz. cocoa butter

1 tsp. cocoa (unsweetened)

As for the above recipe, melt oil and beeswax together over a double boiler set over medium-low heat. Add in cocoa butter until melted completely. Remove from heat, whisk in cocoa and pour into moulds. Allow to cool fully before removing. Keep cool until you’re ready to use.

I’m planning on gifting some of these along with some more edible selections for the upcoming holiday. And of course, a few will stay here in the soap dish to rub over freshly cleaned hands to soften the dry skin of winter, washing, and wear.

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Have you cooked up any special goodies for Valentine’s day giving? Have you tried lotion bars before? Any tips I could use for the next time? 

I love handmade items (you’ve probably guessed that already). I love making them, I love receiving them, I love buying them. I get really nervous about gifting them, though. Styles are so personal, not to mention the issue of finding the right fit if it’s something to be worn.

I’ve seen a few “pay it forward” posts on different blogs and have always hesitated for that fear of giving something that no one will like. When my sister led me to a blog she’s been following and I saw this post I decided to get over myself and take the plunge. And I must admit I’m pretty excited.

So here’s the deal:

I will send something handmade (by me) to the first three bloggers (sorry, non-bloggers) who say they would like to participate. It will arrive sometime in the next year (I’m giving myself lots of time for this one). The caveat is that you must also pay it forward on your blog to keep the love going.

Fun, right?! I think it’s all rather thrilling!

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Now it’s back to halloween costumes…I have a cupcake and nearly a superhero ready for trick-or-treating action. Wish me luck!

There are little shoots coming up in the garden but it will be a little while before we see any blooms. In the meantime we’ve brought spring inside with a bunch of origami flowers.

I love origami and even though I’m not so talented at it, I’m always drawn to it. This past week we pulled out our handy origami book again and picked out some flowers to try.

We made lilies, tulips and a simple four petaled flower but the lilies are our favourite.*

After making four or five I decided to photograph the process in case anyone else was feeling the need for some blooms.

*I did most of the making with lots of input from the observers but I’m going to see if any of the little fingers want to give it a try. They already have plans to make a bird mobile for little brother’s birthday later this week so we’ll see how patient we all are with that.

1.Start with a square of paper. We have some origami paper which is nice and thin but we’ve also used papers that the kids and coloured on and sent to the recycling bin. Start with the main colour on facing up.

2. Fold the far corners together making a triangle. Unfold this triangle and fold the opposite two corners together.

3. Unfold again and this is what you will have.

4. With the main colour on the outside fold two corners to the two opposing corners. Unfold this and repeat with the other two corners.

So far so good?

5. Leave this last fold together. Bring the top two corners together allowing the middle to open along the reference folds from the previous steps. You will have a four triangles. Fold the triangle coming towards you to the left and the triangle pointing away from you to the right. Fold flat.

You will have a diamond shape that looks like this.

And like this from above with two folded triangles on each side. This is called a Preliminary Base.

6. Lay it with the open points facing down. Lift the top right triangle so it is perpendicular to the diamond.

7. Press this down from the centre to create a smaller diamond. Use your previous fold lines as a guide to know where the centre is.

8. Take the right side of this new diamond over to the left.

Like so.

9. Repeat these previous two steps on the three other points.

This is what you should have. See how it is split at the bottom with four points at the bottom, two on each side.

10. Take one of the raw edges and fold in to the middle.

11. Repeat with the other raw edge.

12. Continue these two folds (step 10-11) until you have made 8 folds – only fold where you can see the contrasting colour and are bringing to folds together as shown above.

13. Unfold the last steps – these creases will be reference folds for the next steps.

14. Lift up the raw edge that cuts across the paper to make a hollow cone shape in the middle.

15. So here is the tricky part*. This is called a petal fold. The previous folds will help guide you. Fold in the single layers at the bottom following the crease made in step 10. I’m showing it on one side but do it on both sides together. Press these folds in gently, following the reference folds and create reverse folds with a new point in the middle pointing to the top of the shape.

*When I had Dan test out my instructions it was here that he exclaimed, “HERE is the tricky part? You’re kidding me right?”

It will look like this. Repeat the petal fold three times around the piece. This is a completed Frog Base.

Are you with me?

Anyone?

We’re almost done, I promise.

16. Those four new points you created need to be folded down.

17. Swivel your layers around so you have a smooth side facing out and equal points on each side. Lay it down with the closed tip pointing towards you.

18. Fold the outermost tips in to the centre as shown.

19. Repeat the previous step on the three remaining smooth faces.

20. Using a pencil roll each of the four petals down to open the lily.

Comme ça.

There you have it!

If you’ve made it this far you’ve earned a pat on the back and a high five.

Make one…make two…

…or make a bouquet.

So what do you think? If you have any troubles or think this is just absolutely ridiculous (as I think Dan may be starting to wonder) let me know. I’d have fun showing a few more origami projects in the future but don’t know how well my directions are coming out. I’d love your feedback if you give it a go!

Weekends aren’t really too much different than weekdays around here.

We are usually all here – weekday or weekend, breakfast is the same chaotic and lengthy process, laundry needs doing, at least one child is overtired (or one parent…) and messes need cleaning. Apart from the break from school (which I must admit has been especially welcome these last couple of weeks), not much changes. But the feeling is completely different.

I’m sure it is my programming from earlier years where weekends and weekdays held completely different schedules but I love my weekends. I let myself off the hook a little, I feel less guilty about lingering over a book or my knitting, I sneak to my crafty space in the basement for a few extra stolen moments. Even getting caught up on folding clothes and vacuuming feels better. And the joy of seeing friends we don’t often see during the week is a lovely bonus.

This weekend we lingered over:

new music

a gift for a little monkey

laundry

reading and mending

catch up

good food

colours

and springtime dreaming

All while we waited for…

…this…

…and this…

…and this to stop falling and start melting.

Welcome to a new week! Hope your weekend was full of wonderful.

Hair brushing is  a continual battle in this house with three girls who love their long hair but who rather loathe the maintenance involved. My oldest daughter will have nothing to do with any sort of hair accessory. In fact, it is a good day when she will have anything to do with a hair brush. My second daughter is the accessory queen and will happily cover every inch of her hair with colourful clips if it strikes her fancy.

Enter my youngest daughter.

This one.

Precious. Affectionate. Loving. With a mean sweet-tooth…

…and a touch of the dramatic.

Our golden haired girl whose hair is always falling into her face.

See this? Her signature move – the hair sweep. Also known as the I’m-trying-to-eat-chocolate-mousse-but-my-hair-is-in-the-way.

We’ve tried clips, elastics, and hair bands but they usually fall out pretty quickly. So I tried taking it up a notch with these sweet clips.

She thinks they’re very special because they were made just for her, in her favourite colours, with her requested designs.

There are tutorials galore for these type of clips. It’s possible that everyone and their dog have made some by now but I was enamoured when I saw them and couldn’t wait to try them for myself.

Plus it gave me the chance to buy this wool felt. Isn’t it dreamy? I got mine here.

I started with these clips which we already had.

For each clip I cut two pieces of matching felt. Then on the bottom piece of felt I marked it as above.

I made a tiny slit between the two marks.

Then opened up the clip and slid the back through the slit.

Close the clip up again and the back felt piece is in place.

Then I cut out hearts, petals and butterfly wings out of different colured felt to create the different designs we’d decided on.

Using embroidery floss I stitched the designs onto the top felt. I added a couple dabs from my hot glue gun between the top and bottom pieces to keep the clip secure then stitched the top piece to the bottom piece.

(Aren’t those baby clips so cute?!)

A sweet and simple little girl accessory. I’m looking forward to making more and trying out some older girl ideas – middle sister is looking for some of her own now!

And this girl can now snack with both hands.

Do you have any favourite hair accessories for girls?