Monday 30 April 2012

Monday Makery - Macrame Bangles - Supporting the Olympics




We've been thinking about what we could make for the Olympics prompted by a request from @RedTedArt (or who we call the master-of-crafts-Maggy - you must visit her website for a host of inspiring crafts). So, I printed off a picture of the iconic Olympic rings and explained to the girls the meaning behind the symbolism.

The Olympic games are held every four years and each time a different country will play host to all the athletes, their families and all the spectators who come to cheer them along. Each of the five interlaced rings on the Olympic logo represent a continent from which athletes come to compete in the games.

The five colours, blue, black, red, yellow and green represent a colour found in each of the countries taking part, united in Olympism. We talked about the hendiatris (the motto) Citius, Altius, Fortius, or for those non-Latin speaking Faster, Higher, Stronger' . Though I think we prefer the more informal but equally known version 'The most important thing is not to win but to take part'.

We wanted to make something that would show our support of the all the Olympic athletes taking part and also something that would be a lasting memory of the event. Something we could wear with pride as our home country hosts this years games.

As we looked at the rings Sophia suggested we make bracelets. One for each colour, matching the symbolism of the five rings.
So this is what we've been making; Olympic macrame bangles. We can wear them all summer long and always have something by which we can remember the year the games came to London. Summer 2012, a summer to celebrate together peacefully (though very excitedly) in the mutual enjoyment of worldwide sport. 


Macrame is a very simple form of textile making. Rather than weaving (like the rag rugs we made), or knitting which I've yet to learn myself, macrame is the craft of knotting and creating patterns with the knots. We use it here in its simplest form to turn un-loved bangles into much loved brighter ones.
It's as simple as over, under and through. which is what the girls kept saying as they knotted each one.



Here's what you'll need:
  • old / un-loved / unworn bangles - the thickness doesn't matter nor the colour or texture for that matter.
  • Wool/ string / embroidery thread
  • scissors


Here's how:
  1. Take one bangle and two lengths of wool. We cut 2 strands measuring 140cm each but this will depend on the thickness and size of your bangle as well as the thickness of your wool. 
  2. Fix the strands of wool to your bangle by tying a knot. 
  3. Now, this bit is harder to explain in words than it is to actually do. So, take one of the strands of wool, and move the other out of the way. You're simply going to make a loop up and over the top side bangle and then feed then end of the wool through and then repeat so you have a double loop and knot, and then pull.
  4. Now take the other strand of wool which will then lie across your first, This time you'll make a loop under the bangle over and through, repeating as before and then pull.
  5. Then for the 1st strand again, from the top, 'up, over and through, up over and through'. You'll notice that the first strand runs along the upper edge and the second runs along the bottom and if you've chosen two colours for your wool as with the first pictures above with our blue bangle, you'll see there is a a U shaped pattern beginning where the colours interlock and weave around eachother. You'll soon get in the flow of it. 'Up, over and through, up over and through' Switch. 'down over and through, down over and through', alternating between your two strands.
  6. When you've completed your circle. Tie a knot using both your strands together to the edge of teh bangle.. trying to make it sit on the inside of the ring. Then cut the ends and voila! Your first Olympic ring.
We experiemneted with different thickness's of wool and though the thinner wool and embroidery thread gave a smooth and more polished appearance to each of the bangle, the girls found it much easier to work with the thicker wool. Not only was it easier to feed through and make the knots it also gave a quicker result.





The girls love their bangles and the softness of the wool is beautiful. Now the girls are enjoying wearing them, their new found love of macrame and they're ready with their Olympic bangles to raise their arms and cheer for everyone!
Of course you don't need to make Olympic colours and you can mix and match as many different colours as you like, perhaps using more than two strands! Whatever your reason and colours you chose this a beautiful first macrame craft for children.


Happy Making






This is part of our weekly Monday Makery where we bring you a recipe to bake or a craft to create. Visit our Monday Makery when you're in need of inspiration for something to do on a rainy day or to use as interception of the words 'I'm bored', or just because being creative with your children is something you all love to do.
Our other popular blogposts include 'The story behind our collections', 'Tell us its Tuesday' , An A-Z of Sisters Guild, The Art of Living posts bring you all the things we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas, and our 'Once upon a week' gives you a glimpse into life behind the scenes at Sisters Guild. 

www.sistersguild.co.uk

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Thursday 26 April 2012

The Art of Living - Swamp juice, Tigers for Tea, Tiddler and much more!



The Tiger Who Came To Tea

Proving that theatre is at its best when its for the whole family the Lyric Theatre see's the return of the fantastic musical version of The Tiger Who Came to tea. We saw the production in its previous visit to the theatre and can tell you that Judith Kerr's childrens' classic is a wonderful performance full of songs to sing and moves to bop to in this clever stage adaptation.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea - suitable for children over the age of 3 is at the Lyric Theatre from 4th July 2012 to 2nd September 2012.





Swamp Juice

With a warning that some scenes may scare the under 7's the shadow puppet performance of Swamp Juice tells a turbulent tale of life in a swamp.
Highly acclaimed Canadian performer Jeff Achtem shines a new light on shadow puppetry using what seems like a pile of old rubbish to create characters such as singing mice, squabbling snails and wibbly wobbly creatures as he takes the audience on a journey in a canoe down a river!

With a sensational surprising 3D finale you'll be coming home tearing open the recycling bin grabbing cardboard boxes and pieces of string to create your very own homespun story. 

so come meet a man in a swamp like no other!

Swamp Juice is showing at the Soho Theatre from 26th April through to 5th May






PlayTime In The Zone


I know there is a certain amount of loathing for kids softplay places but there are lots of places that will regain your enthusiasm for them.The kids play at the National Army Museum is one of our favourite haunts on a rainy day - and there's been quite a few them recently!

With arctic and forest themed climbing frames, the childrens area explores aspects of army life from camping to clothing. With a dedicated soft play space for babies and arts and crafts, dressing up costumes, books and interactive panels the area is big enough for children to get lost in their play but not big enough that it sends softplay fears down your back!

And... 'at the heart of the new kids zone are six key principles of early years foundation stages, ensuring that children are learning whilst having fun.' So perhaps they'll come home with their minds stimulated too!

A perfect pit stop for children after some shopping on Kings Road and a chance for you to sit down with a warm cup of hot chocolate whilst the children burn off some excess energy - sounds like heaven!







Tiddler and other terrific tales 

Udderbelly is back! The E4 Udderbelly Festival London held at the southbank centre with its huge overturned purple cow is now running performances of 'Tiddler and other terrific tales'! Weaving together a magical collection of some of the most loved titles by Julia Donaldson with music, songs and puppets its guaranteed to be a a spectacular treat for the over 3's and their families.




Getting wet and staying dry

If all this rain is making you wish you were a mermaid pop along to the London Aquarium where you'll see some of the most beautiful strange and wonderful creatures, from seahorses to sharks and some clownfish inbetween there are 500 species from every part of the world. Though I've not yet seen a mermaid be sure to be near the sharks at 2.30pm to see the feeding!





100 ideas for play inside and out! 

If you're looking for some indoor home made fun take a look at 'Summer Fun with Sisters Guild' written with the British summer in mind there's plenty of ideas for wet and rainy days.






This is part of 'The Art of Living' collection. We also have other stories and features including our 'Monday Makery', 'I Spy' and our weekly 'Wedesday Woo'.
If you'd like to receive our weekly newsletter to receive offers and news and find out the about our new collections sign up below.


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Cosy Creations






I'm a little partial to a bit of cosiness. Be it under a soft blanket with a great book or a favourite film curled up in my favourite spot. There is nothing more pleasing than those simple comforts.
A love of the soft and sumptuous, rich fabrics and textures, and great quirky and whimsical designs shows in the collection of decor here at Sisters Guild.

Here are some of our favourite pieces to create you very own favourite cosy place.
For more details click on each link below.

1. Love cushion cover by Rice DK £21.50 a classic of their designs that we can't get enough of. 2Lambswool winking dolly cushion by Sally Nencini £48.00, 3. Bobby chair pillow is part of the latest collection from the fabulous Lucky Boy Sunday £49.00 , 4. Secret man pillow by Lucky Boy Sunday see's the return of the popular classic design in this seasons latest collection £49.00, 5. Animal caravan Cushion - elephant by the fabulous Zid Zid £26.00, 6. bringing some of the classics into their latest collection Lucky Boy sunday give us Secretman pillow in smoke £49.00, 7. Bobby Chair pillow - as part of the latest collection from the ticklishly fun Lucky Boy Sunday made with 100% Alpaca wool £49.00. 8. Lots of ladies is a beautiful bright printed cushion cover by the incredible designers at Rice DK £16.50, 9., Another favourite from the collection by Rice DK 'Kiss' cushion cover is a classic perfect for any cosy place £21.50.

See the collection at Sisters Guild



Wednesday 25 April 2012

Wednesday Woo - Bundles of Joy






Sisters Guild has a beautiful collection of clothing as well as some of the most wonderful pieces for play and the playroom. 
A careful and lovingly selected collection for baby, mother and child and family life.







This is part of our Wednesday Woo collection. We also have other stories and features including our 'Monday Makery', 'I Spy' and 'The art of living'.
If you'd like to receive our weekly newsletter to receive offers and news and find out the about our new collections sign up below.


www.sistersguild.co.uk

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Tuesday 24 April 2012

I Spy - Lambswool loveliness with Sally Nencini





One of the greatest joys of Sisters Guild is discovering. We endeavour to bring you a collection of the curious, the wonderful, the creative, and most beautiful pieces we can find. 
One of the hardest aspects of Sisters Guild is keeping quiet. Because when you fall in love you just want to shout it from the highest hills, you want to share the beauty of it with everyone as far as you can reach. But, wait we must until the time comes when yes we can shout out 'I'm in love'.

Now, with the much awaited arrival of our newest architect of creativity we can share our passion with you!

Nesting beautifully amongst our twenty five lovingly and carefully selected designers you'll find a rich tapestry of textiles with sumptuous cushions and vintage inspired toys reminiscent of the early Galt and Abbat puzzles and picture card games.
These are the marvelous makes and designs of Sally Nencini.





Sally Nencini is a mother of three and London based designer. Sally studied MA Fashion at the Royal Collage of Art and went on to design for, amongst others Levi's and M&S.

With the influence of motherhood her long-held love and interest in 'handworked craft, surface pattern and vintage textiles has come to the fore.' With her children now at school Sally has begun to let go of the creations in her mind and bring them to life with knitted toys and cushions using soft lambswool. 
Machine knitting using her own patterns Sally's creations are wholesome, fun and ticklishy bright with an heirloom quality that we love. 
It is easy to detect Sally's love of vintage toys in the colourways of the pieces and the use of geometric patterns, and yet the soft lambswool and contempory shape motions to a modern feel with an inclination for nostalgia. 




With pieces like the 'draw bag' inspired by days out with her own children and soft cuddly 'Monkey Long Legs', (already on our childrens' wish-lists) and the soft wide-eyed 'Owl' with embroidered beak we know these wonders will become the firm favourites of little hands. Whilst the cushions will be perfectly placed in both the childrens room and in all your favourite spots around the home. There is no doubt that Sally Nencini will become a name you'll want to invite into your home as you fall in love along with us.

We invite you to discover with us the wonders of the designs and creations of Sally Nencini and, with all her work hand made here in the UK we are proud to support more great British talent 
















This is part of our new 'I Spy' blog features where we bring you a view of something we've fallen in love with. We also have our Monday Makery with ideas for things to make, bake and create.
Our other popular blogposts include 'The story behind our collections', 'Tell us its Tuesday' , An A-Z of Sisters Guild, a collection of images that depict the words we feel celebrate all that is Sisters Guild. The Art of Living posts bring you all the things and places we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas, and our 'Once upon a week' gives you a glimpse into life behind the scenes at Sisters Guild. 
If you would like to contribute to our blog by guest blogging a makery or a place or event of interest please do contact us we'd love to share your voice too.

www.sistersguild.co.uk

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Monday 23 April 2012

Monday Makery - DrawString Bags




There is an abundance of drawstring bags all over our house. We use them to keep puzzles, ballet clothes, the odd socks that lose their matching partner in the washing machine and more to keep all the children's smaller toys in.
An old  pillowcase that you may find in a charity shop or one that you ordinarily may take there yourself are easy to turn into large laundry bags or pyjama cases. Smaller drawstring bags are great for party bags; personalised with fabric initials for the guests.
Call them 'magic bags' for some great games for younger children; fill them up with some big objects and some small objects, on a piece of card write the word 'big' and another with 'small' then the children take it in turns to pull an object from the bag and place it either next to the 'big' card or the 'small' card. Fill the bags with different textured objects and let each child take it in turns to try to feel and guess what the object is.

There are so many uses for them that you can see why I'm charmed by their versatility. The best thing about them is that they are very easy to make too. So, you can chose your own fabric, your own size and run a batch up in no time.

I'm no whizz at sewing but I can manage a straight- ish line and making them makes me feel like a pro because despite any actual skill, they look beautiful.

Here's what you'll need:

  • fabric - here we used cotton floral fabric measuring 24" x 12"
  • ribbon / shoe laces - we used 2 pieces measuring 34" each
  • scissors
  • needle and thread
  • tape measure
  • pencil/chopstick - for feeding through your ribbon



Here's how:

  1. Cut your fabric to the size you need.
  2. Face the fabric down on the table pattern side down (facing away from you) fold over about 1" from the edge along each of the longer sides to create seams. You can pin this down or for a quicker and easier fix I iron the edge to keep it from moving as I feed it through the sewing machine.
  3. Sew along the folded seam top to bottom.
  4. Now for the top and bottom. Fold over 1/4 " then fold over again 1" to create the seam for the top and bottom of the bag. Again you can pin this or iron it to hold your fold in place.
  5. Sew along your folded edges, this is where your drawstring will feed through.
  6. Now you can turn your rectangle into the bag. Fold your fabric in half pattern side facing (so the back of the fabric is facing you). Sew down each side starting from just below your top seam.
  7. Turn the bag the right side out and cut your length of ribbons.
  8. Using a pencil or a chopstick feed the ribbon through, clockwise through one sleeve and back round through the other. Tie the ends together in a knot. Then take another length of ribbon and feed through the same as before this time starting on the opposite side. Tie a knot in the ends and hey presto! Your bag is made.

If you'd like to add a pocket to the front or sew on initials for party bags or perhaps just to give each bag a name depending on its use, do it at the beginning before sewing the sides together i.e after step 5 once your edges are complete.




Whilst this might not have all the magic and creativity of some of our other Makeries I do hope its one you can return to again and again as you create drawstring bags for the home and of course your children. Like a  favourite recipe that is loved and enjoyed by all because of its ease and simplicity.


Happy Making




This is part of our weekly Monday Makery where we bring you a recipe to bake or a craft to create. Visit our Monday Makery when you're in need of inspiration for something to do on a rainy day or to use as interception of the words 'I'm bored', or just because being creative with your children is something you all love to do.
Our other popular blogposts include 'The story behind our collections', 'Tell us its Tuesday' , An A-Z of Sisters Guild, The Art of Living posts bring you all the things we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas, and our 'Once upon a week' gives you a glimpse into life behind the scenes at Sisters Guild. 

www.sistersguild.co.uk

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Wednesday 18 April 2012

Wednesday Woo - Home Away From Home




Long are the days of sleeping in small damp tents feeling claustrophobic and gloomy as we move into an era of 'glamping'. We're a little obsessed with it this week as we camp in our sitting room and regale stories from our youth of wet holidays in Dorset and our modern (and more luxurious versions) we venture on now. I've managed to convince the most camping-phobic person I know (my husband) into a holiday (booking pending) with the children where we'll be the modern day Swiss family Robinson with a few luxie and cozy items from home!




After you've put the kettle on get busy prettying your camp. We recommend bringing along some sumptuous and soft blankets, picnic rugs and cushions. Light, bright and easy to carry storage is always great for keeping storage be it clothes, toys or kitchen pieces you won't regret bringing along some great storage. Candles at night are a beautiful accompaniment to the starlit sky,whilst candleabras make wonderful centre pieces for dining outside. Hang some bunting too inside and out, which not only makes your camp look cheerful but also serves as a great way for kids to spot the camp from a distance or amongst the sea of tents at busy spots. Pick flowers and put them in empty tin cans or hang little pretty embelishments to soften your interior. Tablecloths are great for covering up ugly fold-up chairs and tables and bright melamine cups, plates and tiffin boxes will bring a little rainbow to all your feat.

With wonderful pieces to beautify your home and to take with you when you're home away from home - even if it is only to the back garden!











We're so flattered to be nominated in The Mads 2012 there are some incredible bloggers out there and to be on the list for Best small business blog is, well, we're overwhelmingly delighted!
If you'd like to vote for us or for any other blog you've come and across and think deserves a bit of recognition and celebration pop along to make your vote.




This is part of our Wednesday Woo collection. We also have other stories and features including our 'Monday Makery', 'I Spy' and 'The art of living'.
If you'd like to receive our weekly newsletter to receive offers and news and find out the about our new collections sign up below.


www.sistersguild.co.uk

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I Spy - Tree Hotels and Gypsy Caravans



Perhaps this week I'm getting a little obsessed with the adventures of sleeping in the great outdoors or perhaps because after making our own camps at home I'm looking to venture beyond our sitting room settlements with the children. Either way I'm so excited to have found some beautiful and bizarre places to stay. From tree houses to gypsy caravans from here in the UK to peaceful places in France Spain and Sweden. If you want to step away from busy resorts get closer to nature in beautiful surroundings but don't fancy the usual camping style why not try 'glamping'. Because being wild has never been so tame.

Here's my favourites


The Blue Cone (pictured above) is part of  the 'Tree Hotel' collection, a group of various brilliantly designed tree houses.


Above and below from a selection of incredible styles and places from canopyandstars.co.uk
This company has everything from tree houses, to yurts to gypsy caravans and so much more and well worth a browse.






So, grab your torches your wellies and a little of your soft and sumptuous home accessories and get a taste of modern day middle class Robinson Crusoe!








We're so flattered to be nominated in The Mads 2012 there are some incredible bloggers out there and to be on the list for Best small business blog is, well, we're overwhelmingly delighted!
If you'd like to vote for us or for any other blog you've come and across and think deserves a bit of recognition and celebration pop along to make your vote.




This is part of our new 'I Spy' blog features where we bring you a view of something we've fallen in love with. We also have our Monday Makery with ideas for things to make, bake and create.
Our other popular blogposts include 'The story behind our collections', 'Tell us its Tuesday' , An A-Z of Sisters Guild, a collection of images that depict the words we feel celebrate all that is Sisters Guild. The Art of Living posts bring you all the things and places we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas, and our 'Once upon a week' gives you a glimpse into life behind the scenes at Sisters Guild. 
If you would like to contribute to our blog by guest blogging a makery or a place or event of interest please do contact us we'd love to share your voice too.

www.sistersguild.co.uk

Sign up for future news and offers:

Monday 16 April 2012

Monday Makery - Sitting Room Settlements - A Frame Camping




The Romance of camping is one that all children love. The idea of sleeping outside offers abundant adventures,  whilst being cocooned in a miniature humble home and sleeping under the stars offers a chance to taste the life of the wild.
Growing up we were quite obsessed by camping. Days and nights spent wandering up, over and through the biggest playground that is the big open fields, woods and wilds. Collecting wood to build campfires and sitting under the stars wrapped up in a blanket listening sleepily to the grown up chatter, surrounded by the emptiness of the night that filled with the smell of smoke and damp grass. 


There seems to be countless summers that I recall as a child building camps in our garden. They offered all the promise of big adventures, all the while being safe in the sanctuary of our home ground. When the weather didn't allow for being outside we would cry out for big sheets and drying racks and get busy moving furniture to build camps inside. My sisters and I would then spend the afternoon prettying our dwelling with beautiful fabrics, lamps and rugs whilst our brother would fuss over the architecture and strength of the fort.



However camping isn't for everyone and the idea of being in a big field under a stretched canvas having to endure nature is not quite everyone's electrically boiled cup of tea. 
So, offering still the wild rumpus and romance of nomadic living, adventures into the great spread of imagination this is ........... camping for the faint-hearted, this is the romance of sitting room settlements; glamping with children, and, perhaps the beginning of their love of the art of camping!


And of course you can take your tent into the great outdoors be it the back garden or using as a place to play in the shade on the beach it is A frame for making journeys for making those memories of independent adventures sleeping away from their beds.


Here's what you'll need:
  • 4 lengths of wood measuring - 180 x 7 x 2 cm
  • 1 dowling rod measuring - 158 cm
  • large piece of fabric measuring - 306 x 100 cm
  • needle and thread
  • tape measure
  • 4 pieces of elastic or fabric for ties
  • drill and bit for cutting holes -  like this one - DIY stores are generally very helpful if you're a little lost! 
*these are the measurements we used - cutting the pole to the above size - however, change and adapt to your space as you wish. I didn't hem the fabric but if you wish to you will need to allow for this in the size of your fabric.


Here's how:

  1. Mark a drill point 43" from the bottom of each piece of wood and drill a hole in each plank.
  2. Push one end of the dowling pole through the holes of one pair of planks and the other end through the other pair.
  3. Splay the legs of each pair of planks creating a tall X. If it feels a little loose you can always put on an elastic band to use as a 'brake' to prevent the planks from sliding along the pole. It should fit snuggly but if your drilled holes don't match the width of the pole it will slide. 
  4. Now for the fabric. I cut the fabric to equal the 2 sides of the triangle adding on a couple of inches to lay across the floor to ensure it always sat flush.
  5. Cut 4 pieces of elastic to fit around the legs of the tent - this will depend on the width of the wood - sew each piece of elsatic 3" from the bottom of each corner of fabric. This will ensure that the elastic doesn't sit too low on the base of the tent. If you want a prettier look, replace the elastic with ribbon or bias tape to tie the fabric to the frame instead. I used elastic here as it meant the kids would be able to  be independent in putting up their tents.
  6. Throw your fabric over the frame and using your elastic or ties fix each corner of the fabric to the four legs.
Whilst I was busy finishing off the last sewing bits the girls cut out some moons and stars to hang from their porch, sticking thread to the back with sticky tape. We were out of silver glitter but plan to make them sparkly later. 



I later added doors at the back of Sessi's tent upon her request which I made by cutting two triangles of fabric to fit and then sewed ties to the top of each triangle to tie around the central pole and another set of ties to fix to the bottom of the legs. If you do add doors to the frame remember that this will alter the tent in that the width and height of your tent will not be so neatly able to adjust as the way in which you splay the legs will then need to match the length of your door.
You could also add a porch to your tent by cutting a long slim triangle and adding three ties; one at the each corner, then fixing it to the pole at the top front of the tent and then the 2 front legs at the bottom. Create and adapt as you wish.


Though the idea of this tent is that it can be put up and down easily and also easily stowed away for another day, another adventure, I must warn you the day it comes down may never come!


Happy Camping!

Sisters Guild Boutique




We're so flattered to be nominated in The Mads 2012 there are some incredible bloggers out there and to be on the list for Best small business blog is, well, we're overwhelmingly delighted!
If you'd like to vote for us or for any other blog you've come and across and think deserves a bit of recognition and celebration pop along to make your vote.



This is part of our weekly Monday Makery where we bring you a recipe to bake or a craft to create. Visit our Monday Makery when you're in need of inspiration for something to do on a rainy day or to use as interception of the words 'I'm bored', or just because being creative with your children is something you all love to do.
Our other popular blogposts include 'The story behind our collections', 'Tell us its Tuesday' , An A-Z of Sisters Guild, The Art of Living posts bring you all the things we are passionate about and the things we discover in our lives as mamas, and our 'Once upon a week' gives you a glimpse into life behind the scenes at Sisters Guild. 

www.sistersguild.co.uk

Sign up for future news and offers:

Friday 13 April 2012

Once Upon a Week - Mothers Rituals


There is a part of the day that perhaps I hold the most fondly above all. It is a part that goes unseen, unheard, and one that all mothers have a talent and tendency to do ritually.
When the day is over and after all their day of adventures, of wondering,of pursuing their desires the children are tucked into bed, we read them a story that may quieten their busy minds or perhaps invite wonderful dreams, and then, in the silence of their room I sit beside them as they sleep. Stroking their hair away from their face, absorbing their troubles. I watch them a while as their day echos through me. Yet we are actually doing something that every mother knows is really rather magical indeed.
Last night as the girls fell asleep against the meandering rhythms of their undulating thoughts I remembered a passage at the beginning of 'Peter Pan' in which J.M Barrie describes the ritual beautifully.

Mrs Darling first heard of Peter when she was tidying up her children's minds. It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight for the next morning, repacking into their proper places the many articles that have wandered during the day. If you could keep awake (but of course you can't) you would see your own mother doing this, and you would find it very interesting to watch her. It is quite like tidying up drawers. You would see her on her knees, I expect, lingering humorously over some of your contents, wondering where on earth you had picked this thing up, making discoveries sweet and not so sweet, pressing this to her cheek as if it were as nice as a kitten, and hurriedly stowing that out of sight. When you wake in the morning, the naughtiness and evil passions with which you went to bed have been folded up small and placed at the bottom of your mind; and on top, beautifully aired, are spread out your prettier thoughts, ready for you to put on.

Walking away from their room into the silence of our hushed home I discover the paused play, the what grown ups call 'mess' but is in actual fact the travelling of their minds. A map of their thoughts interpreted by their play; the pink dinsosaur paused in his position hanging from the plank of the pirate ship, the circle of dolls and doted upon characters still awating another slice of cake, a pile of pictures and beginnings of stories interupted by annother idea and abandoned at the concept of creating a huge castle/town using every piece of lego, building blocks and boxes they can find.

It is this smile I wear at this moment, the smile that forgets the most mundane of motherly chores, that smile that obliterates harder moments. It is a smile that if had words would say I am happy. I am floating above happy, and, this life we have together is an adventure I never want to stop. And so, then, as the children sleep and dream I tidy away the day ready for a new. Beacuse, the adventures of tomrrow never stop.

Whilst Neverland may be second to the right and straight on til morning mine is right here.





This is part of our 'once upon a week' collection. We also have other stories and features including our 'Monday Makery', 'I Spy' , 'The Art of Living', and our weekly 'Wedesday Woo'.
If you'd like to receive our weekly newsletter to receive offers and news and find out the about our new collections sign up below.


sistersguild.com

Easter Holiday Sale



We've already put some of our Easter pieces in the sale but because we sometimes (actually rather frequently) become a little sale silly we're giving our blog readers a chance to take 20% OFF everything in the 'Easter' category. The selection features wonderful items from Belle & Boo, Maileg, Rice Dk and Zid Zid including some of their new collections too! So grab some bargains whilst they last.



Use discount code 'HAPPY' to receive 20% OFF everything in our Easter category including sale items!
So, whether you've got a childrens birthday coming up or perhaps are as addicted to Maileg and Belle & Boo as we are there's lots of joy to be found so come on and lets get HAPPY.

Shop the Easter collection