A New Year’s Eve Family Ritual

He we are again, on another threshold of a year. I am a reflective person by nature, always asking questions and trying to dig deep into my own heart and the world around me. New Year’s Eve is the perfect indulgence and we started a tradition a couple of years ago of sitting round the […] Read more...

Happiness and sadness…

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...

Hand-made precious birthdays

As each year goes by (fast, so fast) I am always searching for gifts to make and give to my children. Gifts that will have have a lasting legacy and  that will keep on giving long after the play-dough has dried out and the puzzle pieces discarded . This week our precious girl turned 6 […] Read more...

New year, new projects, new thoughts….

Hello 2012! I am finally getting a moment to stop by my blog home to send you all wishes of warmth, love and goodness however your new year may have started (I hope well). We have had a Christmas full to brimming with social gatherings – all so good (and very different) – including yours […] Read more...

Christmas eve traditions…

  This is us today… …inspired by… …we made stringed popcorn and seed-filled pine cones for the birds and animals …and made our way to our lovely allotment …and found the pine tree (which the children have now named Wisley!) to decorate for the birds and animals …because they too need to feast on this […] 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...

Advent (mis) adventures!

Every year, we prepare for Christmas…. We empty an alcove in our dining room and add some fairy lights… Ooooh, this is a good spot for sitting in… Very cosy, add a cushion… Oh yes, and a cat too… Use a staple gun to add some material in front of the lights. The ‘cave’ is […] 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...