The Belle & Boo Book of Crafts Review and Campervan Bean Bag

One of my little treats at the Knitting and Stitching Show was a new craft book. I'd seen a review of this book previously so when I saw it at the show I had to have a flick through, and as soon as I'd seen inside I had to treat myself -

The Belle & Boo Book of Crafts 

25 enchanting projects to make for children

 The book contains a wonderful collection of projects, including a beanbag which was my prompt to buy the book....I wanted to make a campervan cushion for my son's bedroom to match the campervan blind. So I've road tested one of the projects and I'm still really impressed.

The instructions were really simple and clear to follow, also really pleased that it only took me a couple of hours to make 

(I've got a few projects on the go at the moment so to get something completely finished in one sitting was great) 

Here it is....I've made a cosy little book corner in my son's bedroom, he loves his big boy beanbag and it looks great matching the blind

The book is filled with cute illustrations and many more sewing, crochet and knitting projects from simple to amazing....would thoroughly recommend if you are looking for ideas for children that are just a little more enchanting than the norm

Maybe something to ask Santa for????

Vegetarian Step-by-step - Book Review

I've mentioned before that I'm trying to find crafts that I can involve my son in at the tender age of 2.5yrs. We have recently started growing our own veg, and planting seeds but on a drizzly day we do love to cook (and eat) so when Parragon Books offered to send me Vegetarian Step-by-Step recipe book to review I replied "yes, please".

In fact when I saw the book I said "yes, yes, yes, finally!"

This was no ordinary recipe book

It's the best child cook along recipe book I've ever seen (and no Parragon haven't asked me to say this!) and its actually not a children's recipe book.

So what's so special?

The layout of Vegetarian Step-by-step is heavily pictorial. Whilst the steps are written out like a normal recipe book there is a photo of each stage as well. This was pure genius for cooking with little ones as you can discuss the pictures together and follow them.

The recipes aren't particularly simple, but the pictures meant that me and my 2.5yr old helper made the asparagus and egg pastries with no trauma, and he was confident to get involved as we could just look at the picture together to complete the next step

• There was no need for me to practically memorise the recipe before we started so I knew exactly what was coming next - because I could quickly look at the pictures
• There was no concern as to whether we were doing the stage correctly - because we could look at the recipe in pictures
• There was no reading the same instructions 3 times because you've lost your place in the recipe - because we knew which picture we are working on

Checking against the picture we've got all the ingredients ready

Pricking the pastry

Snapping the asparagus - tough work

Ready for the oven

I was left thinking

why aren't all recipe books like this?

The food was really tasty too, all enjoyed the delicious homemade lunch

The target market for Vegetarian Step-by-step is most definitely adults, but if your child loves to cook with you this is a great option. A quick amazon search tells me there are more in the series including Tapas, Cocktails and Beginners might have put one of these on my list for Santa

I was sent Vegetarian Step-by-step by Parragon to review, no money exchanged hands. All the words in this post are my own

New on my bookshelf

I've just treated myself to this lovely sewing book - Simple Sewing for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter

I wanted to make a couple of bits for the nursery rather than buying everything and think this book has a good selection of bits'n'bobs and most importantly patterns which don't look too complex. In fact the front cover even claims -

24 Easy Projects for Newborns to Toddlers

I'll be testing to see if this is really true...

I've made a list of the fabric needed to make the bits I 'need' and I'm planning a trip to Ikea's fabric department in the next couple of days to stock up. I'll have to see if I manage to get out of the store without the obligatory tea candles, napkins and glasses which seem to be essential purchases on any trip to Ikea as well as spending over £100, does everyone suffer from this difficulty when passing through the Markethall or is it just me... wish me luck!

A stitch in time...

As I've mentioned I've been feeling a little under the weather of late and lacking the inspiration or motivation to pick up any type of needle or hook and create something which only a short time ago gave me so much pleasure. So to give me the little push I needed a dear friend treated me to this book of lovey embroidery patterns

There are such wonderful ideas in this book I've made a start on one of the patterns but, being me, I've already got plans to customise the design...

dont worry, it isnt finished yet.