Now we are Six!!! Matilda Mermaid's Birthday:)

I had a lovely and relaxing couple of hours on Saturday afternoon making these little felt fish to go in take home party tins. I also included a little marble bag with 5 marbles a balloon and a piece of cake in the tins.



I love working with felt, it is soft to touch, easy to sew and can be used to make almost anything.



Here is my mermaid, who has wished for a real mermaid's tail for as long as I can remember!

Seraphina threaded these buttons to make a shiny necklace to go with her sister's costume.

I loved the way she was so specific about each and every button she chose, taking great care to choose "just the right one" and put it in "just the right place"



Emmy and Boo painted this under water scene on a sheet to hang in our living room for Matilda's party.



It was still snowing on her birthday.

I went outside in the morning and found some first signs of spring.





Beautiful handmade birthday cards!!!



Piles of left over cake!!!



Bujana enjoying one of the fruit kebabs she made for the party.



"Starfish sandwiches"



New playsilks to play with!



Early morning unwrapping of presents.
Daddy balancing a Nola and a strong cup of coffee.





Look at these beautiful hand crocheted dollies Matilda received as a gift from a kind friend.

They have been named Nell and Splish :)

Matilda also received an Ostheimer mermaid figurine, a silk streamer, some hand made ( by Boo, Emmy and I) dolls house dollies, some books, a dolphin mosaic, and a lovely little keepsake tin.

I like to keep gifts to a minimum ideally on birthdays.

I also like to buy thrifted, fair-trade and ethically sourced gifts.

I like to include handmade gifts too as I hope to pass along to the girls the value of handmade and the intention and love behind giving rather than just the end product.

I think that the birth-DAY in itself can be made special, not simply through unwrapping things but through having a unique experience.

The celebration being the celebration of the unique character of the child and his/her
being a cherished part of their family!



Pirate pepper boats filled with cous cous.





Turquoise shell pasta and parmesan.... although they look a little green in this pic don't they :)



Sparklers on the birthday cake.



Nola Jo in her party dress.



With a beautiful handmade knot dolly from the same talented friend who made Tilda's dollies.

Isn't she soft looking.

Perfect for little hands.