A few weeks ago during the school holidays the Little People and I started making pom poms. It was entirely their idea, and I was entirely happy to oblige. I mean, how could I not? Little People asking to get crafty and some great old fashioned nostalgic yarn play, it's all good! I was was about to go to the recycling bag and dig out some cardboard to fashion some pom pom making kit, when I remembered a friend telling me how to do it The Easy Way. This particular friend is a primary school teacher and knows a lot about easy crafting with young children, so we gave her method a whirl. In a nutshell, instead of using any form of cardboard you simply use your fingers, like this. The simplicity of it meant that even Little B (who is not quite three years old) could have a go, with some help at the tying and cutting stage.
The Little People churned out a surprising number of pom poms using up odds and ends of aran weight yarn from my stash. Some of the pom poms turned out a little raggedy, but the fun that was had on that cold, damp Monday morning more than made up for the unkempt results.
I have to admit that although I loved the scruffy pom poms made by Little Hands, I began to hanker after some perfectly round super-neat ones. Proper Pom Poms. Fluffy and cute as opposed to raggedy and unkempt. I managed to dig up some long forgotten information from the tangle inside my Creative Memory, and went in search of magical Clover pom pom makers . I found them in various sizes, from Teeny Tiny up to Rather Large, so I opted for Small.
They come in packs of two, the small ones measuring 35mm and 45mm, you can find them here .
They are a complete doddle to use. You simply open out the semi-circular plastic bits and get winding.
Wind one side evenly with yarn until it looks all woolly and chubby, then fold it back in. Do the same on the other side so that you have two yarny semi circles sitting opposite each other.
The next bit is ace...you just snip around the circle with sharp scissors, snip-snip-snip. Just like that. Nothing falls apart. Nothing goes wrong. There is no cussing. WoW!
This Pom-Pom maker is absolute genius, if a bit addictive. The small pom poms are very quick and easy to make as it doesn't take an awful lot of winding to produce really wonderful, fluffy little balls.
............................it's a page from Prima Magazine (December issue).
Oh! Isn't that image just so perfectly beautiful? It made me gasp out loud with pleasure when I first saw it over on the Selena Lake blog. Selena often does the styling for Prima magazine, and I am such a huge fan of her work. It seems to me as if she has somehow had a sneaky peak into my heart and soul and created these images just for me.
The feature is about creating hand made decorations and displays, and the style is very "Selina"....if you've seen her incredible book Homespun Style (which I love love love) then you will know what I mean.
There are bright and cheerful displays and gorgeous homemade wrapping ideas.
Beautiful iced biscuits and handmade stockings. And there are giant paper balls. Oh gosh. I would really, really, really love some of those in the Attic.....a tad expensive at a fiver a pop, but I guess they would last for years if I treated them nicely and only strung them up at Christmas? I have been looking at them online almost every day, wondering if I can possibly, in any way-shape-or-form justify the expense of them. I am still undecided.
.............wow. So, so beautiful, isn't it? I was so charmed by this wreath, and very grateful to Selina for giving details of it's creator on her blog. It's the work of someone new to me, a very lovely Dutch lady called Maartje who makes all sorts of scrumptious things under the name of Silly Old Suitcase. Her work is so unique :: a wonderful, quirky mix of vintage treasures, crochet, patchwork, stitching and beading. I fell in love with her style, it made my heart flutter to see so much colour, creativity and unique personality.
This is another of Maartje's amazing wreaths, slightly different to the one in the magazine.
And I love this one even more than the first one, it's such a glorious, colourful festive mix! Pom poms, crochet, baubles, ribbons, lace, berries and flowers. YES! It has Pom poms!!!!!!!!!!
So you can see where this is going can't you? You can now picture me leaping about, getting all giddy at the idea of creating my very own Festive Wreath full of woolly goodness. A truly good justification for my pom pom making addiction if ever there was one. I shall show you very soon where I'm at with it, but first I need to tell you a little bit more about Silly Old Suitcase.
As well as wreaths and bunting and other cutesome decorations, Maartje makes the most wonderful jewellery. I spied the above necklace in her Etsy shop and thought my heart was going to burst at the sight of all those beautiful, joyful colours. But sadly for me, this necklace is quite long and I have trouble with long necklaces. I just can't wear them without feeling irritated by them. They dingle and dangle and get snagged on things, and they are an absolute magnet for Little B who loves to fiddle and meddle with any lengthy dingly dangly things about my person. Long necklaces, scarves and apron strings are just so tempting for his Little Fingers and imagination.
The necklace tumbled out of the wrapping into my hand and I wanted to cry with happiness.
The beads are so vibrant, they remind me of childhood sweets and sunny days. They shout Happy Things to me when I look at them!
It's a happy necklace for sure, and I adore wearing it. Thank you Maartje, thank you so much for the happiness you sent my way.
And if you don't already know, there is a super-sweet blog waiting out there for you to go visit....do bob by and say hello to Maartje won't you?
Oh, I almost forgot, there is something else about Selina Lake I wanted to say.....yes, it's a calendar! Joy of joys, the 2013 Mollie Makes calendar has been designed by Selina, yippeeeee!!
There are twelve stunning pages to take us through 2013, it really is absolutely beautiful. You can get it free with the December issue of Mollie Makes magazine which is in the shops now.
Right then my lovelies, it's been a pleasure chatting and sharing with you as always. But really, I do need to get back to my pom poms now if you don't mind. My fingers are twitching.
I'm going to use the pompoms on my little winter twig tree. It's got festive bells, little china santas and birds, and a tiny wooden bird box on it at the mo, but I want to keep it up all year and the pompoms would make a lovely addition. I just ordered the maker - thank you!
How sweet of Maartje to make a necklace especially for you! I have followed her blog for a while now, and I love it too!
Wonderful post. I could get lost in your blog. PomPoms - my childhood's favorite craft stuff ! Thanks!
Reminds me of my childhood. My Mom taught me how to make pom poms and I loved making them. I made a whole bunch of them, planning on sewing them to a piece of burlap to make a rug of sorts. Never did finish that project. Just like the granny squares I wanted to make into curtains. I wonder if she still has them somewhere. Thanks for sharing your pom pom adventure.
All your post are great ... your life that much color, Lucy! You make me happy my days and thanks to you the color came into my life. I'm infinitely grateful to you and I invite you always in my world of wool. Thanks for everything!
Lucy, you make me smile.....love your blog.
I love love love the pom pom makers. I don't have the two little ones yet (but I will soon). I made a garland for St.Valentines last February. But Oh my yummy goodness that wreath is fabulous and I must make one.
Pom poms are so much fun Lucy, just like you! Am planning to make some with my lovely little people this weekend, a whole two days of looking after my gorgeous grandchildren whilst Mum and Dad have a little break at the Winter Food Show at the NEC. Am taking lots of yarn, paper, glue, felt, you name it I am taking it, hoping we can make an Advent Calendar......here's hoping. Have fun Lucy I love your blog, it makes me smile.
Thanks for another glorious colored post. Your blog cheers me up.
I make these with my kids every winter, to brighten up our grey days. Perhaps it could be an advent activity to make your own?
Lucy - Wilkinson's have got paper balls in a range of colours, shapes and sizes for much less than a fiver. I'm sure they're a Northern company so you'll have one up in Yorkshire.
Saw this on facebook this morning and thought of you.
pom pom and holly decoration.
Hi Lucy, thank you for another inspiring post. I see several people have mentioned that Wilkinsons sell paper balls. They also have pom pom garlands and a gorgeous "jingle bell wreath". I think that page in their catalogue was put together with you in mind!
Yesterday, I visited a friend of mine, whose daughter is in the hospital at the moment, due to diabetes.
It's just routine, nothing serious, and it is a real task to keep the little patients entertained. So I brought some yarn, your great tip on making pompoms, and had the whole room full of eager kids all wanting to make pompoms. I had only brought one pair of scissors, so that was a bit tight, but the all enjoyed themselves very much. We even had some ideas for variations, like multicolored pompoms, and a figurine (bind not in the middle, leave the smaller loops untouched, but cut open the longer ones - voilà: a little ghost!).
Thank you so much for posting this cute crafting tip!
Hi Lucy! I have been following your blog for a long time. I love it! I am trying to start my own blog called "coffee with tams" Could you please check it out and maybe give me some pointers? I would so appreciate it. Thank you.