Teaching children about emotions is such a big part of being a parent. So easy to get it wrong – to send messages that cause a denial or surpression of feelings (‘don’t cry, cheer up, don’t be silly’…) or to be shy in setting boundaries of what behaviour is OK/ not OK in response to [...] Read more...
Camping with children – the pros and cons explored…
For those of you new to Glittering Shards, this site explores mosaics, art and soulful, creative living. My blog posts are categorized in this way (see column on the right) and I write them from the heart because these are things that motivate me. Its true to say that ‘Mosaic Loving’ has featured the most [...] Read more...
Make a magical mosaic decoration with a secret heart…
Shhh! Don’t tell Granny & Grandad! Isabella and Toby have been making a very special mosaic decoration as a gift for them. Not just any mosaic decoration, but one with something special on the inside… Have a sneek peek, then maybe you can have a go too? There’s a long version (involving paper mache’!) and [...] Read more...
Our Father’s Day gift tradition (& our new venture!)
It was a whim of an idea three years ago that is now a solid tradition. Just before Father’s Day, the kids draw a picture of daddy then I transfer them to a t-shirt. Daddy t-shirt 2011 (kids aged 5 and 4) Yesterday we unveiled Daddy t-shirt Number 3 and he just loves it – [...] Read more...
Make your own champagne in 5 easy steps!
Now, I wasn’t planning on making champagne this weekend – I didn’t even know the possibility was available to me. Yet, I kid you not, I now have a huge vat of champagne brewing in my kitchen, thanks to a serendipitous chat with a good friend at the school.gates on Friday afternoon. “Come to the [...] Read more...
A little loving ritual for mama’s (& papa’s!)
Every year, on the eve of my sweeet babes’ birthdays (after the cake has been made and the birthday table laid out) I plod upstairs with a sheet of paper and an envelope. I sit up in bed and I start to write… I think of the birthday boy or girl…what I remember of them [...] Read more...






