I’m a huge fan of Elyse Major’s blog, Tinkered Treasures, so was very happy to be sent a copy of her new book to review. Adding charm to the everyday is the concept behind Elyse Major’s first book, Tinkered Treasures. It features more than 35 projects, each craft is designed for beginners and can easily be elaborated with, according to your own skill level. Tinkering is the name given by Elyse to the transformation of everyday items. Through you can pick up some great ideas for embellishing, repurposing and altering using items you’ll already have. The projects are split into…
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The toddler is very lucky for he was recently sent a lovely picture book and audiobook featuring Myro, the smallest plane in the world. Aimed at pre-schoolers, this is a series for children which follows the adventures of Myro as he settles into his new home in Australia. Myro is created and published by Nick Rose, who bought a Microlight in 2004 and flew it around Australia. He then began developing the series when he realised there was a gap in the market for a quality series of children’s story books and iPad story Apps about aeroplanes that encourage children…
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I spent yesterday afternoon baking my first apple cake. The recipe was suggested by Sian Hallewell, and was handpicked by Jean Christophe Novelli to appear in the new cookery book Let’s Get Cooking! by Flora Cuisine. Let’s Get Cooking! contains 30 everyday recipes, from simple suppers to great cakes, by mums and dads from across the UK. It was created after they ran a recipe competition on their Facebook page earlier in the year. Flora Cuisine is a healthy cooking oil which is great for frying, roasting and baking. It has 45% less saturated fat than olive oil which means…
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Over the past few evenings I’ve been busy making 12 festive decorations from Cath Kidston’s latest book – Make Your Own Christmas Decorations. Featuring 12 projects the book includes the patterns as well as the felt, thread, pompoms and cord so all you’ll need is a basic sewing kit and some toy stuffing! There are patterns for a Christmas Robin, Father Christmas, Striped Stocking, Gift-Wrapped Present, Christmas Tree, Frosty Snowman, Winter Reindeer, Holly & Berries, Christmas pudding, Snowy Cottage, Festive Stanley and Christmas Angel. Make your own Christmas decorations! Each project is well laid out and includes a large colour…
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Last month two new books were published by the Irish fashion designer, Orla Kiely, in her range of cloth bound board books. Just like numbers and colours, creatures and shapes are two beautiful books for babies and toddlers. Shapes focuses on some of the most common geometric shapes and then places them alongside a common object or animal featuring that shape. I love the hexagon and honeycomb page, but there are also a rectangle and house, an oval and a ladybird as well as a star and starfish. Creatures shows her strong geometric-style graphics and patterns to illustrate a variety of animals, from monkeys…
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This year is going incredibly quickly and over the last few weeks I’ve been busy buying gifts for the toddlers’ stocking. He was recently sent three books which would make the perfect stocking fillers (if we hadn’t already read them!). We always read a couple of books before bed and these are the perfect length for a seasonal bedtime story or two. Thomas & Friends: Snowy Tracks The island of Sodor is covered in a thick blanket of snow and the engines have been told to be careful and not to go over any big hills. Of course Gordon doesn’t…
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The toddler, being Justin Fletcher’s number 1 fan, was sent a copy of Justin’s Annual 2013 to review. The annual includes 61 pages of all your your child’s favourite characters from Justin’s live shows, including Engelbert the dog and Jollywobbles the car. The album is crammed with puzzles, games, activities, stories, jokes and over 50 stickers. I loved receiving an annual at Christmas and I’m really hoping to continue the tradition with my children. We’ve really enjoyed reading this Annual which is perfect for dipping in and out. The activities are suitable for a range of ages but the toddler…
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Did you know that this week is Children’s Book Week? We never need a reason to read books but it’s a great week to share with you a lovely new book we were sent to review – Mission:Explore Food, the latest in the series of Mission:Explore books. This book is unlike any other book we’ve read before. Unlike most cookbooks for kids (that only cover cooking and eating food), Mission:Explore Food includes chapters on growing, harvesting, waste and soil. Each chapter is full with quirky, creative and critical challenges that help children to learn and think differently about their relationships…
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Do you love reading with your children? It’s one of our favourite activities and we love nothing better than snuggling up on the sofa and sharing our favourite books. The children have been sent some wonderful new books which are perfect for reading on these autumnal days. Did you know that everyone’s favourite children’s TV presenter has brought out a new activity book which is set to become a must-have stocking filler for pre-schoolers. The hilarious Justin’s Funny Faces sticker activity book includes 15 pages of full-length faces which you customise using the four pages of full colour, reusable stickers.…