Making things in Singapore

No matter where I go in the world I always seem to make things!!

In countries that are hot, I make mobiles out of left over orange peal and bits I find on the beach.

All over India orange peal mobiles now hang from peoples balconies and roof spaces.

In the Philippines I collected coral which I then made into necklaces. 

When I can't find coral I make necklaces out of orange peal! 

This is my third winter in Singapore and as I have a sort of permanent base with Lisa, I have acquired a few possessions that I do not need to take back to the UK with me.

A sewing machine now sits permanently ready for use, an entire sewing kit sits in the cupboard. 

Felting needles, paper and coloured pencils, wire and beads all wait for my return each year.

The first week we were in the new house I made curtains for my room, then cushions for the lounge but once the practical things had been done I began to look for other things to make

Now that Emelia is older she too can join in with the fun of creation!

During my time here we have not only built things out of bricks and toys but we have also baked cakes and made cookies.

We even introduced our young friends to the joys of makng and baking cookies!!!

Together we made hand printed Christmas paper.

While she has slept I made clothes from left over sari material so that she can look like Moana her favourite Disney character.

Although this week we have discovered 'Let it go!' from Frozen and so we now need to wear a cloak while we play!

Rocking horses are daily turned into boats or even dragons as our imagination soars.

During an evening of exploration I found a great shop that has just about everything a crafty person would ever need …

........ and a lot of things one doesn't need but wants …..

... with my felting needles I set to work to make made four felt dreads. 

Once made, they were plated into my hair to add to the three beaded hair dreads I already have.

They have given my hair at least three times its volume and thickened up my top knot superbly.

But best of all on this trip, are the things we have made with paper mache!!!

One of the ideas Lisa had to enhance Emelia's creative play was a land scape where she could role play her toy animals. With Christmas so close it was decided we would make it as a present for Emelia's third Birthday in January.

When the fridge had been delivered to the new apartment just before we moved in, the box had been left. Part of it had already been used to black out Emelia's window so she could sleep in darkness during her afternoon naps.

We had spent a fun afternoon making owls that matched the new bedding that adorned her new Big Girl bed!

Not knowing quite what to do with all the owls that now lay scattered all over the table, we then built a tree for them and stuck it all onto her bedroom fridge box window screen!!

Having spent hours building owls plus our amazing tree she then promptly announced she wanted to put coconuts in it!! 

Moana has a lot to answer for when it comes to this child's learning curve, so we had to build a second tree for said coconuts!

Note the Heart of Te Hiti necklace that got made from my big box of beads!!!

The base of the box plus all the packing still lay in the store cupboard. 

This was the bit that was to become the new landscape!!

Each afternoon for a week, while Emelia took her afternoon nap, flour and water was mixed into a paste. 

News papers were shredded, dipped and layered until mountains, flat lands and sea took shape. 

For a week it dried hidden in the back bathroom while tiny annoying fruit flies buzzed around the damp paper.

While it dried quietly in its hiding place, Grannie, in her infinite wisdom decided we should build a volcano …

..... this time with Emelia's help!!!

A base was built from left over fridge packing, more flour was mixed and with Emelia's help a mountain was created.

More fruit flies buzzed around the house driving us all mad until the last of the dampness faded away.

When the landscape paper mache was dry it was painted and then the fun began.

Each afternoon, while Emelia slept, a different colour of spray paint was used to colour the land, the hills, the sea. 

Plastic trees were found and various layouts were experimented with …............. purely to aid our research!!

Then one night when all the paint was dry, the trees and stones were glued into place.

Just to make sure it worked, animals were introduced while she slept and then quickly put away so the whole thing could be hidden before she awoke.

When the volcano dried, it too was painted. 

First we added the colours of fire and flames scattered over an ash covered base surrounded by the sea.

A boat was built from a sponge so Moana could sail around the Island.

Then just before I left, Te Hiti as the volcano had been named, 'found her heart' and cooled down to allow green things to grow around her base!

She was still a volcano as her heart is stolen at least four times a day if not more and then she would explode into a volcano once again.....

........ to anyone who has not watched the film Moana, please make the effort do so. It is not only an amazing film, it also has some of Disney's best animation to date. 

My pens and pencils were used to design a game where Moana and anyone else who was playing, set off to reach Te Hiti.

If we are lucky we can do the journey in three throws of a dice, but even in worse case scenarios it can be done in about six or seven throws which is still within a 2 year old's concentration period!

We even made a flower clip for her hair!!

As time goes on I am sure I will make many more things for and with my Grand daughter.

And as the second little one grows, she too will be introduced to the joys of making ........

.........until their nice new home is filled to bursting point with not only things .....

..... but with hopefully treasured experiences of learning to make those things!

We are never too old to play!!!