Enjoy the fun at Halloween!

End of October so it must be Halloween! 

This is something, that here in UK, has taken a bit of time to catch on - long popular in the USA!

We are now catching up and each year we see more Halloween stuff on offer in the shops and more Halloween Parties being held...

So have fun and get dressed up...!

My photo is of two little Munchkin Pumpkins (only about 4 inches wide and 3 inches high!) that are now being grown here in England in Cambridgeshire. We had one of them last night for supper (with salt beef, mashed potatoes and green beans and lots of lovely gravy) and it was delicious - sweet and creamy yellow pumpkin!

Here is your printable November 2011 - Calendar!

 Here is your November 2011 Calendar...Download it here and print out the template.

Get out your paints or felt tips and colour in Hansel and Gretel...





Maybe the folk in your group (old or young!) would like to hear the age-old story while they are colouring in the picture.

Here it is! (The ultimate wicked stepmother story...!)

Click here for Hansel and Gretel - the Story! 

Have a Happy November!

Two New Bookmarks to Download and Print!

Two printable bookmarks which can be coloured in - I have also included a "Blank" so you can design your own bookmark or just decorate it with stickers and write your own messages!

Best if these bookmarks are printed on thin card - most printers will accept this. If not then print on paper and stick onto card.

Punch a hole in the centre top and decorate with a loop of cord or ribbon.

Makes a lovely personal gift - time to start looking for Christmas stocking fillers!

Enjoy...!

Birthday Placemats - Three to Print!

One of the Birthday Placemat designs...print and colour-in

and another "Ready to Go" in colour...

I have designed 3 Birthday Placemats for you to download and print - Click Here  

One is in full colour - ready to print and go...

The other two are ready to print, but can then be coloured-in, if you wish.

Just a simple little way, to make a Birthday a bit more Special!

A Song Quiz - Fill in the Girl's Names!

A Song Quiz!

I have put together another Quiz - in this one all the answers are girl's names!

There are twenty Song Titles - just fill in the girl's names...All well known songs and so an opportunity to have a sing-along with your group...Enjoy!

A Song Quiz 

Just in case, I have listed the missing girl's names on a separate sheet!

Here is your October 2011 Calendar to download and print!

Summer seems to have slipped by and so Autumn is upon us - the leaves are changing colour, ready to fall, so get out your paints and be creative with all the glorious golds and yellows of the season...(if you live in the Southern hemisphere, you, of course, are going into Spring - no problem - just paint your leaves in different shades of green!)

Click here to print your October 2011 Calendar 

Have a good October, wherever you are - and thanks for visiting my Blog!

Felt Fish Wall-Hanging Tutorial - Fun and Easy to Do...!



Fish Wall-Hanging

A simple felt wall-hanging - fun and easy to make!

You will need...

Sheet of felt for background  - mine is A4 size, but any size will do.

Scraps of coloured felt

Buttons - for eyes and other decoration

Embroidery thread - various colours to match / contrast with your felt

Sewing needle

Narrow Ribbon or cord to hang with - 60cms

Thin Wooden Dowel - 40cms

Print out the fish templates  - or use your own fish patterns if you have some.

Using the patterns, cut out the fish, from the scraps of felt.

Fold under and pin a hem of about 3cms along the top of the background (check that the wooden dowel will slip through here)

Lay the fish on the background felt - when you are happy with your design, then pin the fish in place.

I have given you different fish to work with - choose your own design and layout - or copy mine if you would rather.

Take each fish and sew on the button in the eye position - just a couple of stitches to attach it and then lay the fish on the background and continue to stitch on the button, but now attaching the fish to the background.

Attach all the fish in the same way and using simple running stitches, fix the fish bodies to the background - see in picture below.  

Just a few stitches are needed, to keep them in place.

 Add extra buttons if you wish.

Finish by sewing down the hem with a running stitch, 

insert the wooden dowel and attach the ribbon.



When doing this with your group of elderly folk - 

try putting them into pairs or small groups. 

The whole wall-hanging might be too much for one person to complete, but even just sewing on an "eye" button will make each person feel a part of the project.

 Then those who are more able, can then carry on and complete the wall-hanging!

Hope you have fun! Please leave me your comments below, 

to tell me how you get on...!





Photos to show you - Aquarium, Louis and Namaqualand Daisies

Rob's Aquarium

This aquarium definitely has the "Wow factor"...!

My son, in Denver, Colorado, replaced his smaller-version fish tank, with this one recently. Getting it home in one piece was the major factor, but now all set up in his lounge.

Who needs TV??



Louis (aka Mr Coils - don't ask!) is an avid viewer of the new Aquarium!



Namaqualand Daisies

This lovely South African, Spring photo of Namaqualand Daisies (aka African Daisies) was taken by family living in Pietermaritzburg.

Summer in UK is officially over as from today - actually think September promises to be warmer. Let's hope so...!