Bumbling Craft- Mother's Day DIY

 

 

Microwaveable Scented Neck Cushion

 

Materials:

 

A fat quarter of printed 100% cotton fabric

 

Around 500 grams of oats

 

One pair of large (size 7+) clean socks, with no holes.

 

One small bottle of oil scent such as lavender or lemongrass.

 

Sewing kit.

 

Method:

 

Take a container like a plastic tub or shoe box and empty oats into it.

 

Sprinkle oats sparingly with some of the scented oil.

 

Using hands or a scoop and funnel, stuff socks with roughly equal amount of oats. (Make sure to hold over box to avoid spills.)

 

Tuck the top of one sock into the other and make sure both feet are pointing downwards, sew flat across this join.

 

Push desired amount of oats into ankle sections of socks, which will cover the back of the neck, and sew diagonally across heel to front of foot on both socks so that oats do not drift from this section.

 

Distribute rest of oats evenly inside feet and sew across at several points to ensure there are oats in all sections.

 

Lay the fabric out wrong-side up and place socks along one edge, it should be an ideal size to fit along edge with a couple of cms either side.

 

Using a ruler and a pencil mark 3 or 4 cm on the inside edge of the end of the feet and beginning of the feet.

 

Using these marks and the ruler you should be able to draw a rectangle with the centre of the fat quarter marking one edge.

 

Fold fabric down this centre line and cut along lines. This should leave you with a large rectangle of fabric with a smaller rectangle cut from the centre.

 

Take the large piece of fabric folded wrong-side out and sew up short edges.

 

Turn right side out and place the sock cushion inside. Sew up long edge using hidden stitch.

 

The result should be something like this:

 

 

 

When microwaving this cushion make sure to heat in short bursts of around 30 seconds for a couple of minutes and keep an eye on it at all times just in case.

 

If giving as a gift include the oil bottle so they can top up the scent when it fades.

 

 





Look Mum, all fingers and thumbs. (Bumbling Poetry No.7)

Expressing love for one’s mother is not the most earth-shattering revelation is it? Well sometimes, even if something is obvious, the way in which it is said can hold as much worth as the sentiment.

This, for example, shows you some of the ways my mum cares for me:

Left to right- a note, the book that came with it, my kindle, and the cosy my mum knitted for it.

I wrote this poem a while ago, after we cleared the jungle that came with the house. I have no idea how many of these memories are based on reality, studying developmental psychology, I learnt how misplaced the clarity and resonance of childhood memories can be, however it’s all true for me. 

 

I fell backwards today, calloused fingers

Pushed into damp earth, anchoring stringy

Mint to terracotta, texture recalled

A hot day but a brother, too small to

Rough and tumble. I liked the garden centre

Because it had fish and garish figures

Of cherubs and lions. In my mind’s eye

It was always pansies, bags of cement

And compost. At home, we knelt at elbows

In boys’ jeans, there were no make-up lessons,

You showed instead how to create and tend.

Fidgeting beside calm competence, Free

Vibrant gems from polystyrene cells, Surround

The snap dragons with cheeky fans, yellow

Tongues protruding from every velvet face.

I stayed out for the magic tricks: there was

A nervous plant that fled from touch, I whispered

The same lullabies you sang to sooth me,

Reassured at finding a fear at least

As bad as mine. There were horrors out there

Too, Squealing at a caterpillar set

Upon by ants, you gravely supplied me

An emergency twig. Together, saving

A tiny life from the swarm. You patiently

Tended all wounds; Winded, doing gymnastics

On the trampette, Angry allergies to

Most things bright and beautiful, I loved the

Poor, put-upon rabbit so hard, that she

Furrowed my chest. Facing a new and empty

World behind my house, still with the fear and

Allergies, At least I know to get dirt underneath

My fingernails. Bedding and tucking-in

Precious threads to you. A spell to stop the ebb.

 

Happy mother’s day everyone, just when you thought this blog couldn’t get any more twee.