A Soothing Day... Playing Quietly and Making Candles

This little tea light holder was inspired by the ever wonderful CHILDHOOD MAGICS beeswax lanterns. We didn't have any water balloons handy so undeterred, we tried to create the same effect with some simple supplies we found around the house :)


First we lined a small pudding bowl with clingfilm.
Then we carefully rolled the bowl as the wax cooled and hardened around the sides and bottom. Waiting for the wax to completely harden before adding another layer. We added around about 6 layers in the end to create a strong sturdy finish.
After the first layer of wax, we placed a few dried leaves to the side of the bowl to create a pretty effect.
As a final touch before placing to cool we sprinkled in a few petals from the sweet little wild flower posy Emmy brought home from her walk to the shops this morning.

Once completely set we peeled the clingfilm away from the candle holder, very carefully easing it out of the bowl.
The we placed a tea light in the centre. The light is so soothing and gentle, perfect for a quiet Summer evening.

Simple beauty.

We used the leftover wax to make these little mini jam jar candles:)
After washing out the jars with warm soapy water and drying thoroughly, we filled them with the melted wax using a metal funnel. (Be very careful when doing this as the wax gets super hot!) When the wax was semi cooled we placed the wick into the centre. Once the candles were completely cool we decorated the jars with tissue paper and dried flower petals.

And here are some more picture thoughts (and a few words;) from our day.
Sometimes the best days are the quiet ones. I remember playing with these antique ivory tiddly winks as a child. They have made it down three generations of children on my mother's side from the days when Victoria was queen! That's quite a long time ago!

They are so simple like most old fashioned toys, yet so captivating for children.
They play leap frog with them, try to jump them one by one into the saucer. They design little mosaics of butterflies and flowers and trees with them. They count them, play shops with them, using them as pretend money.... Oh the many ways to find enjoyment from small simple things...
I'm learning too, here in the quiet of watching my girls.

Sitting with a cup of tea, letting the dishes pile a little as dishes are accustomed to doing, though not worrying to much about that as to little girls clamber up on the sofa with a story and then roll back down onto the floor again.
And when Seraphina takes a couple of round, green disks from Matilda's Caterpillar and Matilda cries and runs out of the room. Seraphina stares at me, tears welling. "Go on" I venture tentatively.
She runs out to behind the door where Matilda is curled. "Come on Tilda, I sorry, I weealy sorry I breaked your capillar Tilda. Come pay wiv me now 'gain."

And Tilda follows the lead of the little feisty one. The one who plays and loves and breaks and falls and bounces right back up again louder than the rest put together!

And in the colour and the chaos beauty breaks through.

Hoping your day will be full of gentle moments, *happy* chaos, beauty and love dear ones.

xx