God given gift

I believe that God have me the gift of creativity. I believe that He is opening doors for me an my little whimsical Etsy shop. I believe that He is presenting me with ideas and opportunities. I have been presented with an opportunity to feature my shop, reaching thousands of people. I am totally going to use that extra hour this weekend to be creative! What will you do with your extra hour?

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Polar Playscape restocked

I just added a new Polar Playscape to my Etsy shop. The last one sold out in less than a day.

Have a fun and playful day

Mel

FREE shipping until Oct. 31 on Imagination

I am offering Free shipping on everything in my Etsy shop until Oct. 31

That's on all hand-stitched Playscape Play Mats, Imagination Kits, Craft Kits, and jewelry.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

New in the shop

Looking for something unique to give to your special kiddo? Check out my shop full of Imagination Kits and Playscape Play Mats.

www.mybigworld2015.etsy.com

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Developing language and vocabulary skills through play

I love to take a handful of random toys and say, tell me a story.

Today, it was 4 monkeys, a moon play mat, and a McDonald's happy meal toy How To Train Your Dragon toy.

G, age 5, made up an elaborate story about space monkeys living and playing on the moon then a space monster came and are them but spit them out because space monkeys don't taste good and they became friends.

Little sister, Roo, age 2, then parroted the story, adding some of her own details.

This 10 minute activity develops language and builds vocabulary. AND it's just plain fun!

"Tell me a story..." is an invitation to play. If your child can't think of something, then you should model or tell your own story. Keep it simple. Have a beginning, middle, and end. Make it fun. Then say, now you tell me a story.

Have a fun and playful day

MyBigworld2015 update

A few updates on my Etsy shop...

*FREE shipping ends Oct. 31st

*I will be adding items until Dec. 1st

*my Ship will be closed after Dec. 10th

*I will not ship after Dec. 12th

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Not the cheap stuff

All of my playscapes are hand-stitched and I use quality materials. This Polar Playscape, for example, is made of wool felt - not the cheap stuff. Wool Felt can run $15 per yard, compared to the cheapo stuff that costs $2.99 a yard.

I believe in quality products. I believe in handmade. I believe in imaginative play.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Polar Playscape

If you know me at all or have read my blog much, you know that I do.not.like winter at all. Winter and I are not friends. Snow is a four letter word to me. Partly, because I have a 19 mile commute.

But G, who is 5, loves loves loves Winter and snow and cold. That got me to thinking. So...

This weekend, I made a Polar Playscape. Wool Felt, all hand-stitched, snowflakes, a frozen lake, an extra large ice cave. This play mat measures approximately twelve inches by eighteen inches.

I had so much fun playing and staging the play mat. I mean, come on. Penguins, polar bears, snow hares, snow foxes, snowy owls, snowmen...the play possibilities are endless with this one!

Check it out and others at...
www.mybigworld2015.etsy.com

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

The tale of the flightless bird

Once upon a time, there was a penguin who wanted to fly. He had dreams of meeting new birds, of making friends all over the world.

But how was he Going to get to parts unknown?

He wanted to fly. In his heart, he wanted to fly more than anything else in the world.

He was a kind penguin, well liked by the other penguins. He would share his food and watch nests for other penguins. So, the penguin community came together and built him this...

A hot air balloon.

Now, the penguin could fly!

What helps a flightless bird fly? Friendship and Imagination. Where will your imagination take you?

Hot air balloon Playscape is available in my Etsy shop.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Stocking the shop

I am stocking my Etsy shop for the holidays. Well, I am trying. It seems like pieces are going out the door as fast as I can get them listed.

I have been sewing non stop for a few weeks straight. Everyday. Hand-stitching. I decided yesterday to take a short break from sewing and make a few Imagination Kits. (My wrist is starting to hurt.)

The set of twelve hand painted wood mushrooms are among the NEW items that I listed yesterday.

The rainbow mushrooms would be perfect for fairy play or forest or fairytales. The play possibilities are endless. Use them alone or add to a Playscape.

You can find them in my Etsy shop at www.mybigworld2015.etsy.com

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Handmade is Better

Yesterday, my Blackberry Patch Hollow Log Playscape was featured on Handmade is Better. I received a lot of kind words and views on my playscapes.

Etsy Collaboration

Teenyweenyboutique 's pegdolls and my Playscapes are like peanut butter and jelly, cookies and milk, bears and honey.

We have teamed up for a collaboration of our pieces. I have been photographing her hand painted pegdolls on my playscapes. It seems like a perfect match.

The play possibilities are endless.

You can find both of our shops on Etsy.com

Have a fun and playful day

What is an Imagination Kit?

I am the first on Etsy to make Imagination Kits. I thought I would educate you a little on my thought process.

I am a nanny and a former preschool teacher. So, I am all about play! Imaginative play is so important for child development. It allows children to logically work through situations. It is a creative outlet. It develops language and builds vocabulary. It teaches sharing and cooperative play. And so much more.

My Imagination Kits can be a stand alone item, meaning you can give one as a gift and the whole small world play can develop from just the one kit. Or the kit can Be added to your kiddos favorite toys.

Simplistic in concept, the play possibilities are endless. Children can take a few simple items and create elaborate stories and play scenarios.

See all my playscapes and Imagination Kits in my etsy shop at
www.mybigworld2015.etsy.com

Have a fun and playful day
Mel