Monday, December 1, 2008

Summer Nature Table

Summertime is here.
It sure felt like it today. It was a bit weird over a week ago - the upper mountains had a little snow - it's been weird weather.
First day of summer and I have a cold! I went to the doctors this arvo and I have to get a blood test tomorrow to see if I have whooping cough. WTF! It just feels like a chest infection. I took my boys to the local pool for a swim last Thursday and the next day I woke up feeling a bit crook with a sore throat. So I did a steam inhalation with some red thyme essential oil, thymus vulgaris (brilliant stuff). I find this stuff nips a sore throat in the bud. Hopefully, it is just a chest cold. This time last year I had shingles and that took me a few months to get over. I'm usually a healthy person. (LOL)

Anyway.... the Summer nature table. I had a great idea for the summer nature table. I thought, sand castle that was permanent so little fingers can touch it with out it falling apart. So I googled summer nature table sand sand castle to get ideas and came across Seasons Natural Toys .
There, I found a recipe for sand clay to make a permanent sand castle. So I got some sand from Mum when they went down the south coast, cornflower (the recipe said corn starch - I'm assuming it's the same thing), cream of tartar and a sand castle bucket for a mould. I was set.
I mixed it all together and left it in the garage to set for week. Anyway, a week later I checked on it. It had a crust on the top. I couldn't wait to see what it looked like so I cleared the kitchen table, got a board out to put it on, flipped it over and took the bucket off.......

Oh, my..... the smell. It stunk like a bucket of dead fish (LOL). This was a flop - it had only set an inch and the rest was like a smelly, fishy, sandy jelly. There had been a bit of rain here for the last week or so, and humid too. Maybe that's why it didn't set properly. I had to open all the windows in the house to get the smell out. Luckily, I was right next to the back door and out it went. So.... that didn't work. Maybe next time I'll use washed sand for sand pits instead.

So, plan B........
- a nice needle felted mermaid sitting on some beach rocks with some shells and driftwood ;)

17 comments:

hippymummy said...

Yeah, mermaid and shells sounds a big improvement over smelly dead fish sand! Blech! Good luck on phase 2 xXx

Anonymous said...

Beautiful mermaid! I had the same trouble in the past, now we either use washed sand mixed with diluted PVA glue (but only on a small scale so it dries through), or make sand candles.

Leanne said...

Hmm yukko....I think plan B is just lovely and maybe even better than plan A anyway....I agree Rainbow Mermaids and shells are perfect.

Alicia said...

Gorgeous mermaid, what a talent. I'm tempted to try needle felting, but sometimes I think I have too many crafty hobbies, and should leave it to the experts :)

Amber said...

Oh I love that mermaid. Oh I love this post. I so wish I could make these little people. Where did you learn? I would love to have more little felt people around our house. Any hints how I can do it without it costing a fortune?
Do you sell them?

TheSingingBird said...

your wee mermaid is lovely, and so much more appealing than the smelly sand... better luck next time! :)

Crescent Moon said...

Corn starch is a thickening agent for making gravies and sauces. I didn't think it worked without boiling, though (it's heat activated). I don't think it's the same thing as cornflour. It's a very fine, smooth white powder.
Your mermaid is very pretty!

Toria said...

Your mermaid is gorgeous, and definitely sounds better than a pile of sand stinking of fish.

World Wide Alternative said...

BEAUTIFUL!
We are so out of wack at the moment, you've inspired me to get our lives back on the peaceful track.
THANKS! XXxx

Teaching Handwork said...

the planet is so funny.....summer in winter time.....

love the mermaid

Jodi said...

hope you're feeling better. Love the summer table

Blossom said...

oh.....I just love your mermaid!!!!!!

Mette (Mettuska) said...

Hope your castle will be better next time =) The mermaid is Lovely!

RunninL8 said...

I'll have to book mark this for next summer to remind me that the idea of a permanent sand castle is great-just don't want to experience the STINKY!!!!
Love that wonderful mermaid!!

Cadi said...

awwww. so cute. i love mermaids!

Lynne said...

Gorgeous mermaid.

clairedulalune said...

I love your mermaids and love the blog! Beautiful pictures! Best of luck!