WHILE I pin plenty of things I’d like to make for myself one day, I also pin a fair amount of inspiration for Girl Guide activities. In fact, aside from my personally-imposed limit of four public Pinterest Boards (seemed like a good idea at the time, OK) I have a private pin board of Girl Guide project and program inspiration. Much of it would make no sense at all to anyone who is not a Girl Guide, so I don’t bore you with it.

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I PINNED this picture of macramé-wrapped glass jars some time ago hoping to refashion the project into something simple to make at a Girl Guide camp, but also coveting them to hang in my own garden. We have a large outdoor table and in summer it's the setting for family gatherings. It's big enough to seat about 10 to 12 people comfortably, 16 at a squeeze, and even with more people it's the central point for putting out a spread of food.

EQUIPMENT

Six lengths of garden or craft twine, cut to about 1.6m in length.

A glass jar.

 

WHAT TO DO

The jars I used were saved chutney and condiment jars. My advice is to ensure they're a cylindrical barrel for the first hangers you attempt. It's easier to create the form around the jar's even shape, or even the shape of a tin, and add a more novel jar later.

 

Start by grouping your six lengths of twine and, holding them together, tie in the middle using a simple overhand knot.

 

Take two pieces of string from either side of the knot, hold them together like they were once piece of twine and tie another overhand knot.

 

Do the same on the opposite side of your middle knot. Pick up two pieces of twine from either side of these knots and repeat the overhand knot, making sure each knot is equal distance from the middle knot. Continue to pick up two pieces of twine that are lying next to each other until there are no more knots to tie. You should have six knots, all equal distance from that centre knot. My first jar had a series of eight knots, but six knots is easier to achieve and the look is no different.

 

Next, from two adjacent knots take one piece of twine and double them up into a new pairing. Tie a new double overhand. Keep these tight; you should have a diamond shape. Continue around the pattern. I add my glass jar about here and start working the pattern up the jar. This can feel awkward for the second round, but by the third round the pattern will start to hug the jar and you'll see your hanger taking shape.

 

Once you've repeated the pattern of knots, taking one piece of twine and making new knotting pairs all the way up the jar, group all of your twine together again and finish off with a final overhand knot.

 

 

Drop your citronella tea light into the jar, light it and hang. Enjoy.

 

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http://www.pinterest.com/pin/44262008807784286/I HAVE been scouring the op shops for a vintage single bed cover that's 'just so'. I have a vision and nothing will sway me from it. It's for a room filling up with sugar and spice and all things nice for the little visitors to our house. I haven't found the cover just yet, or the other linens of my imagining, but I know they're out there. In the meantime, I am collecting a rather lovely stash of vintage pillow slips.

 

EQUIPMENT

An eagle eye

An op shop, or a few

A fist full of coin

 

WHAT TO DO

Make some time to scour your local op shops. You might want to take an op shopping buddy and make a morning of it. Head to the linens section and rummage.

You'll often find single pillow slips so decide whether you're fussy about not having a matching pair.

Pop your finds into your basket and head to the counter knowing you've got a lovely new pillow slip and you're helping a worthy cause (most op shops fund social services).

Take your slips or linen home, fill a bucket with warm water, add a lid of Napisan and a splash of household bleach and leave to soak overnight.

Rinse and wash on a normal cycle.

Hang to dry, admire on the line, bring in and pull onto your pillow ready for a pretty night's sleep.

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 I HAVE four Pinterest boards, two of which are inspiration for things I'd like to make and do and things I'd like to cook and eat.

I figured pinning was one thing, but actually 'making and doing' and 'cooking and eating' were another thing entirely so I am pulling out some of these pins and having a crack at them myself.

 

Pin My Way, or #pinmyway for those who like the idea and might want to play along, is my real life making of the things I've pinned.

 

This happy sun was modified for a Girl Guide project, teaching Junior Guides - members aged between seven and 10 - about the organisation's values. Girl Guides promise to live by a code, including the idea that they "be friendly to others". The sun's rays detach and at the start of each day, or week, as the sun comes up - a lovely golden orb in the sky - the girls add a peg for each time they added a little ray of sunshine to another person's day. For those who used to be a Girl Guide or Scout it's similar to the idea of a Good Turn. Lots of rays, and that's a lot of kindness and happiness lighting up the world.

EQUIPMENT

Paper plates

Yellow paint

Crepe paper cut into streamers and cut again into 30-40cm lengths, or streamers cut into similar lengths

Wooden pegs

Felt tip pens

Paintbrushes

Scissors

Glue

 

WHAT TO DO

Cut the paper plates into halves, and give one half to each person making a sun.

Paint one side of the paper plate half yellow and allow to dry.

Paint wooden pegs yellow and allow to dry.

Cut lengths of the streamers and glue to the back of the paper plate so they hang down from the cut half. Allow to dry.

Draw a happy face onto the right side of the paper plate.

Attach your pegs, or rays, for each act of kindness you do for someone else.

#pinmyway image source // A Little Delightful



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