Play dough!

I made this large lump for my three year old nephew. It brought back some lovely memories making this with my two, how the time flies! One minute you are making pounds of play dough the next they are boxing up their things and moving to their own flat! (yes, W is leaving home and moving into his little flat tomorrow!) I will miss him, but he isn't all that far away.

Well, this is part of my nephew's present, he has a little baking kit, a gorgeous apron I bought at the University craft fair together with these colourful lumps! I was quite surprised how expensive play dough is compared to how cheaply you can make it!

I expect you all know how to make it yourself, but in case you don't here is the recipe for you.

1 measuring jug full of flour, (strong bread flour is best if you have it, or plain is fine)
1 measuring jug full of water (add drops of food colouring to the water)
1/2 measuring jug of salt
1table spoon of oil

Place in a saucepan and mix ingredients together to form a goo, don't worry too much about lumps.
cook the mixture slowly under a gentle heat
Keep the mixture moving, stirring all the time, this will get harder as the mixture thickens.
Remove from the heat when it starts to thicken, even though there will still be some gloopy mixture left.
Knead on a board, the mixture will eventually even out and become a nice dough. If it is still too gloopy return to the heat. (you could do this in the microwave but I am a little old fashioned! My adivice is put it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, then stir.)

Store in a plastic tub to keep it from drying out, it will last for a month or two and the salt will discourage eating!
The good news is that if you do get it on the carpet, just allow it to dry out and you will be able to hoover up the crumbs.

Can't wait to have grandchildren, I miss playing with this stuff!

Saturday Sewing

I simply adore the crochet doilies you can get for pennies in charity shops, so I thought I might use them in my latest project for the sales table at the WI. They give a lovely vintage feel especially if you combine it with linens.

I love making wheat bags, they are so easy to make yet make great presents and are so comforting.

They are just simple rectangles you can make them to any size depending on what you would like to use them for. Long and thin for round your neck, or more square for your tummy.

I fill mine with pearl barley which costs 39p from tesco and I add my own lavender from the garden.

You simply put them in the microwave for one or two minutes depending on the size, the lavender really gives up a lovely relaxing scent as you let the warmth relax tired muscles or they are simply wonderful for period pains.

It is always a good idea to do a double seam, as it stops the wheat from escaping.





When I was a child I always wanted a rag doll, a proper home made doll but I never got one. So I started this rag doll for a competition and run out of time to finish it. She ended up naked in the shed until I found her while I was having a sort out. I decided to give her some clothes. I still have to make her shoes but I like the way she has turned out. I will keep her on a shelf in the shed. At last, after nearly thirty five years, I have my own rag doll!