Signs of Spring

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Anatomy of a Doll

 In a moment of madness I decided it would be a fantastic idea to made Annie-Joy a doll! I'd never made a doll before & I do like a challenge! I found a simple pattern & searched the internet & my local haberdashery for supplies. With the aid of my lovely new fabric scissors (kindly purchased for me by my dear parents for Christmas) I cut out all the pieces required.

 It took quite a while to do but eventually the pieces were ready to have the interfacing ironed onto the back. Next I embroidered the doll's face onto the face piece! I was worried about sewing her together but it was surprisingly easy & very enjoyable! Sewing the head to the body was nerve wracking but I managed to end up with the face features lined up nicely with the front of the body. It was tough sewing through so many layers of fabric I can tell you! And the ears were SO tiny that they were a bit fiddly to hand sew onto the head once it was partially stuffed (I think they're a little lop sided but it adds to the charm I think!).

 Wool hair was added & the doll was complete (or born perhaps?!)! I made her a little fleecy nappy....

 .... and a little floral top....

 .... and a head band (which reminds me of what cleaning ladies used to wear back in the 60s I think!). More clothes will be made eventually (I hope).

 I was really pleased with my first (& possibly, only) attempt at making a doll! I think she is very cute!

 And Annie-Joy loves her very much!

Which makes the whole thing even more worth while & enjoyable, don't you think? :o)

The Church Mouse

 I have given up trying to catch up on a year's worth of un-blogged photos! However, piccies from the archives may make appearances every now & again. These photos are from February half term last year. Annie-Joy decided to make Valentine's cards for two of her friends. Jordan helped her write them a message each. We put them in some envelopes & walked around to their house to deliver the notes plus a little chocolate heart each. It was lovely to see the kids working together to do something kind for someone else. And it was totally unprompted by me or Lee which made it even more special!

 Every holiday the wonderful children's worker (see article about her here) at Liverpool Cathedral creates interactive prayer stations around the cathedral. (Here's what's on there this week). Our kids really enjoy doing them. This activity was all about water. There were children's bibles to read different stories about boats (Jesus & his disciples in the storm on Lake Galilee, Noah's Ark etc), prompts to think about how God is in every day life for each of us & a few creative things to do including making an origami boat & colouring fishes. The kids placed their origami boats on the fabric sea (which ran down from the steps of the raised font in the cathedral) asking God to help them when they're afraid & other prayers too. They spent quite a long time in stillness & quiet as they knelt before the water. It was lovely to watch.

 Then in the Whispering Arch we found Derby, the cathedral mouse. Sometimes he looked like Luke.....

 ....sometimes he looked like Timmy.......

 ....sometimes he looked like Jordan......

 .....and he even looked like Annie-Joy too! What fun!

 Last February the twins did their class assembly in front of the whole school plus all the parents. It was based on the Elmer books & was about embracing everybody despite, or because of, our differences. I can't believe how much the boys have grown since this picture was taken!

Today, I took them to the cinema to see Tintin. It reminded me how much they have grown too. The film was brilliant & we all thoroughly enjoyed it. The story line is quite complex in some ways, as well as being more grown up than what we usually see. I was delighted that they followed the more subtle parts & managed to work out some of the mystery (& so were they!). During one of the scenes where there is utter chaos everywhere & things being smashed, Timmy piped up at the top of his voice 'Well, that's a bit of a pickle isn't it?' It made me laugh! At the end we all went to use the toilet & I was really proud of the boys going in by themselves & then waiting outside of the men's loos for me to come back from the ladies at the other end of the cinema (I nearly got lost!! Haha!). It may be a small thing but it's a milestone for us! :o)

Happy Valentine's Day!

From our house to yours!

'This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us. We too, then, ought to give our lives for others!' 
1 John 3:16

 

And here are the Davies Tribe Valentine's cards all set out on the mantle piece. The kids are very taken with the 'slugs' on my card from Lee! LOL!

I saw this poster hanging on a wall last month & liked it so I took a photo! I love tea! :o)