My Crochet Vegetables are growing...:)

It is back to December 2010, when Norparrin :  Early Intervention Centre in MerndaVillage, needed some vegie for the home corner, I made these: 

That the pattern that I found in internet unless for the pumpkin. I made some to for my daughter, she was 3 YO at that time, she liked pretend playing to be chef. She still loves cooking till right now.

Last week, I was in charge for Vegetable Corner for my placement in Kindergarten. I helped setting up the table. I need props for this experience. I brought my bean sprouter tray. Children are curious about the sprout and touched it, asked me question.

Then in the end season I remember I have crochet vegetable that must be good for giving prop for children.
I still kept crochet vegies, but I it was not complete anymore, so that I made pumpkin, beetroot and carrot. It is growing...horray I made the pattern by myself for pumpkin, carrot and beetroot so that they are in proportion size with the other vegies. Huhuy...my vegetable collection are growing.

But one more homework for myself. The challenging thing is to make cabbage. Still cannot brake the code...:P. I found this picture : http://www.flickr.com/photos/olinohobby/6897116315/

 Hmmmm...I am still curious to crack how to make the cabbage.Later when I have more time to explore I will brake the pattern for sure. Meanwhile Luckily I found paper mache cabbage.

While preparing it, It brought me to memory in August 2011, when I sold my creation for Early Years Conference in City of Whittlesea with the support from teacher from Norparrin. So that's why I owe teachers in Norparrin soooo much. Without them, my creation will only stayed in my home.

I also provided a set of vegetables, then teacher from kindergarten was about to buy my vegie set. They came for several time and then decided not to choose my creation, they chose felt. I was heart-broken. But come on...It is experience, I should learn more...:).  Through my course I also learn what toy that are appropriate for creating experiences for children playing and development. I am delighted that it DOES make a tango with my hobby to create.

The real treasure for my project

It has been a while I am doing my course in Children's services. I wanted to share some.  I got assignment for making baby treasure basket. My teacher encouraged us to find natural material, everyday things, hand made, and open ended toys. Sounds intimidating at first. But she showed me sometime we just ignore the simple things that we have can actually sparked baby to play with them. Even she took us to the op-shop to find some materials that has to be valued.

Then I come with this basket.

These are the things inside:

1. Rag dolls, this one has made by my son and me when he was 5 YO on summer holiday when I did a lot of sewing together with him and his sister. It is very memorable. 

2. My first snake that will remind me of my first doll that being ordered by teacher in Norparrin in Dec 2010, that encouraging me to do craft during my spare time. I found this photo (  My daughter was 3 YO, My son was 5 YO). 

3. Treasure from car boot sale in Lower Plenty School : the wooden car toys. You can pull out the people inside. Tassel that I chained together. 

4. My kitchen treasure : measuring spoon becomes instant rattle, wooden bowl, spoon and rolling pin and spatula with silicone that I thought baby will like to chew.

5. My girl's lil mirror. 

6. My hand made lavender sachet for exploring sense 

7. Pine cone...Actually I asked it from my daughter collection.

8. Rattle, the fail mushroom project..:P  

Then I went to another garage sale for finding another prop for my other assigntment ( that I will tell you in other post). I found another treasure: Rain stick. I though I will include it because it is about music and cultural experiences. I got it only 2 dollar!

When I presented my baby treasure basket, she asked me to include my other creation. She loves the turtles that I made. Then last thing I put my coaster, that long time a go I brought from my country. When I smell it, the wood ( curly) is cinnamon. Wow.. it will be good instead of stacking coaster, baby also get sensory experience.  It should be 6 pcs in one box, It is too tight space in the boix, then I decided to put 5 pcs in box, so that giving more room for placing coasters in the box.

This is the last appearance of my baby treasure basket. I am curious about how baby will interact with my basket. I have to wait until I present it to playgroup couple weeks later.

When I talked with my friend, I said I mentioned that I did not spend a lot of money  ( less than 10 AUD) to build my basket, because I found and made most of them at home. Then she said, " I have to buy everything, I cannot make handmade. How much did you sell your snake? Please count what you made " Oh God...in fact sometime I forgot to appreciate what I have done. Thanks E for reminding me to appreciate myself...:)

Pirate has a pet..

Do you know that pirate has a pet?

Custom order from L. Pirate boy and Whale...:)
Thanks, L. Hope the baby will love them...and play with them..:)