Montessori aprons

I love it when I get a commission order through my etsy shop, these Montessori style aprons are my best sellers. I don't make much money from them as I have to compete with other sellers making similar items...I can't see that they make much either. But they are quick and simple to make. 

On Sunday I had a request from a mum to make an apron for her little boy, she had bought one from etsy for her daughter but had to order from USA as she hadn't seen my shop here in the UK. She was specific about her colours and so ordered these beautiful fabrics and had them sent direct to me. They arrived today and now her little apron is packaged ready to post :)

                 

montessori apron

These little Montessori styled aprons appear to be the most popular items in my etsy shop at the moment. I have just sold this one that I upcycled from a vintage tablecloth. It had clearly never been used as a table cloth and the fabric is like new. The pattern is a lovely simple and quick to make design and as it is backed with fabric it is easier than having to turn in the edges and then stitch. 

I think I will make some bigger sizes too and also maybe have them reversible with a different patterned fabric on the reverse rather than plain white.

                                          

                                         

                                          

little bag of bean bags

  

                       

Carrying on with Montessori inspired play items for my etsy shop, I have made a little bag of 'bean' bags. With the thought of many uncooked beans being poisonous I decided to use popcorn maize to fill them and this has worked well.

 I found lovely brightly coloured tough cotton fabric, cut 6" squares, sewed around the edge leaving a small gap before filling with the maize. I used my preserving funnel to make sure all the maize went into the bag. I then top stitched around the bags to make the seams extra strong, using the same coloured thread as the bag. I then made a calico draw stringed bag to store the bags in.

 I love the feel of these bags and am sure little hands will love to play with them. The games are many, balancing on the head, building them up, throwing into buckets or to each other or just handling them and feeling the little 'beans' inside....I wonder if they will sell?

                           

                        

  

        

re brand

The etsy shop that I started last year hasn't been very successful, I have made sales but not as many as I would like. I don't think the problem has been down to the products or the prices. So I am taking my daughters' advice (her husband has a very successful on line shop)and re branding. She is helping me with a new name and logo idea and I have another friend who will help me with the design. I will still make clothes etc for babies and young children and as I have a background in teaching early years I will be focussing on Montessori inspired products too. 

Here is the first of these....

A reversible draw string bag made from original retro fabric and calico

inside are eight little crocheted balls, two of each colour. These will encourage different areas of development....physical and cognitive. The balls are made from fair trade organic cotton and are lovely and soft to touch. They can be used for colour naming, colour matching, sorting and counting as well as squeezing, rolling and throwing! 

Planters

My daughter showed me the following idea on a Montessori blog. I cant remember the blog name so made the planters from memory. I have saved milk cartons,washed them and removed the labels. 

I then cut away part of the carton

Found two pieces of wood which I painted white

Then slid the cartons onto the wood, I will need to make a few small holes in the bottom for drainage. 

I have made two rows of planters to take down to the twins this weekend. I will take compost and get some seeds for them to plant and then Daddy can hang them on the garden fence.

The School Route

When we were visiting our family in South Africa I did the 'school run' most days with my daughter to take and collect our grandsons. These photo's were taken along the route, the orange flowers in the bottom photo grew on trees in this Indian community, I cant remember the name of them so Vashti if you read this perhaps you could put the name in the comment box (she knows everything!)

South Africa

I have added a few holiday snaps.....Sprigs is a real hit, been there for coffee before picking the boys up from school and also for lunch.