Fairy Log House Playscape

 This one might just be my favorite Playscape to date.

 I was dreaming up a new castle play mat when I saw this brown felt rolled like a log. An idea sparked.

This wool felt playscape is a landscape of play possibilities. 12 inches around, the hollow log house is all hand-stitched. Ivy is climbing up the side with shades of purple trumpet flowers blossoming. A stone path leads to the front entry. Mushrooms sprout up in the grass. A small vegetable garden is tucked away behind the hollow log house. It's whimsical.

See it at www.mybigworld2015.etsy.com

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Parties!

 So Facebook sends me this photo and says: Look what you posted 3 years ago today.  Ahhh.  I totally forgot about this.  Three years ago I was setting up parties for a play cafe. 

The above one is Ocean Theme for a cutie pie of a 3 year old.  The play cafe owner wanted the parties to be kiddo friendly but simple.  Okay!  Brown butcher paper covered the tables.  All the flowers were fresh, in white but different varieties.  The flower vases are actually soup cans covered in scrapbook paper.  I used Safari Ltd ocean animals to bring the theme together.

 Here's an Elmo party that I got all the stuff for but, because of strep throat, we never had the party.  The One year old loved Elmo and music.  So we were going to make Elmo harps.

 Below is a Fairy Land party that we hosted at the local community center. 50 kiddos dressed in fairy attire joined us for fairy house making, wand creating, and dancing with the Fairy Queen.

I do love putting together kid's birthday parties.  I like adding all the tiny details, seeing the kids's smiles, remembering childhood.  I always incorporate fresh flowers.  I think that adds a special touch. I also do a simple craft at all the parties that I put together.

How do you party?

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Once Upon A Time in a Rainbow Forest

"Once upon a time, there was a Rainbow Forest.  It was a cozy play, where lots of animals live.  I wish I could live there too.  It's sooo cozy..."

"...lot's of animals live in the Rainbow Forest and make it their home.  There's deers and hedgehogs and skunks and a whooole lotta birds..."

"...sometimes a baby dragon is in the Rainbow Forest and needs someone to take care of him.  He is a tiny baby dragon..."

"...the fairies take care of baby dragons and alllll the animals.  They are good at taking care of animals.  If I was lost there, they would take care of me.  No bad people are in the Rainbow Forest.  If bad people did come, the fairies would hide everyone..."

"...foxes are in the Rainbow Forest too.  They are onry sometimes and play tricks on the other animals.  Look, there are owls, too!"

"...we can take care of hedgehogs and deers just like the fairies, but first we have to catch them.  Where is there a forest here?  I do want to find a Rainbow Forest big enough for me to stay in.  I think they eat and drink and sleep and play alllll day in the Rainbow Forest.  It's a happy place and cozy, too..."

"...lots of birds live in the trees but one lives on the ground.  The red bird is flying.  I can fly too.  Watch me..." (running about with arms flapping)

"...the fairies take care of alllll the animals then they go to sleep.  The End." - G, age 4

I do love the imagination of this child.

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Tinkerbell is a Tinker Fairy

Okay, yes, I know have adult children, but I still love Tinkerbell.  She may be my favorite Disney character - well, I have several.  BUT  the new Tinkerbell movie is out today.  I got a Tinkerbell and the Never Beast playset at the Disney Store this weekend for $15.  I will set up a tea party after nap, but for now...Tinkerbell is tinkering about.

I had some miniatures from a dollhouse and used them to set up Tinkerbell's workshop - spare clock parts, teeny tiny nuts and bolts, paperclips, spools, jars of fairy dust, and buttons were also added.

G is going to have a ball tinkering around with Tinkerbell today!

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Tinkerbell and the Never Beast

Are you a Tinkerbell fan?  We are in this household!  We are sooo excited for the new movie - Tinkerbell and the Never Beast to come out tomorrow.  I went to the Disney Store to get this new playset ($15) - it comes with 5 fairies and a never beast.  I walked into the Disney Store and the employee asked, "How can I make your wishes come true today?" A little corny maybe, but I smiled like a kid.  I do love the Disney Store.  I feel like I am part of something special there.

So the playset is for G and Roo, but I played around with it for a bit this weekend.  The set looks good on my playscape (found in my etsy store), but I am going to take it with me tomorrow for a Never Beast Tea Party I think!

The weather is supposed to be crummy tomorrow.  Well, I guess we will make some popcorn and snuggle in to watch Tinkerbell's new adventure!

Fairy House

 I was experimenting with my fairy houses and this is what I came up with.

www.etsy.com/melanieshanks

New Fairy House Making Kits

New Fairy House Making Kits craft kits are now in my Etsy store

www.etsy.com/melanieshanks

They make great birthday party favors or gifts.  The special thing about these is...it's a craft kit, so kids can make whatever they want.  It's an artist expression.  They can make their fairy house look any way they want.  I'd love to see what your child creates with these kits.