Salt dough adventures

When I first tried making salt dough with Boo several weeks ago, I was quite excited.  Here was a medium that appeared to offer something for both of us: the pleasure of making something lasting (as opposed to play dough) for me; and the joy of manipulating a soft, easily workable material for Boo.  I had been wanting to make some large scale beads with big holes for Boo to use as first threading beads, and this appeared to be a great medium for this purpose.  I mixed up the dough in a matter of minutes and all was going swimmingly...

     There was lots of exploring with pressing walnuts and pasta into the dough, just a spot of tasting (can't see the attraction myself!) and some big beads made.  However, when I removed the beads from the oven after they had cooled, they seemed rather soft and the next day I concluded that they would not stand up to toddler handling so discarded them.

Take two, and I try salt dough again.  Again, Boo loves it and is learning to roll out.

 This time, I try some flat cut-out shapes using cookie cutters in the hope that they will cook to a greater hardness.  I make holes in them with a skewer so that I can thread them up to be used in a hanging decoration in Boo's room once it has been decorated.

This time, the results are much better and my faith in salt dough is restored.  Now I can sand and paint the shapes for the hanging.  Hurrah for salt dough!

To make salt dough you need:

10oz (300g) plain flour

10oz (300g) salt

1/3pt lukewarm water

1 tbsp veg oil

Dissolve the salt into the water first, then add the flour and oil.

When you are ready, cook your salt dough in the oven at 210F/100C for 1.5 hours.

A spot of curating

A few of my paintings (from BB (Before Beth!))  have found their way onto the walls of our beautiful new home.  These just felt so right for these locations and we think they look better than they have ever looked in their previous homes.

 These two paintings, featuring images from Epping Forest, England, sit well either side of the fireplace in our light-flooded lounge, which is awaiting the arrival of a sofa and chair.  The embroidered text beneath the painted image can be glimpsed as the light changes through the day.

This pair of paintings seemed an obvious choice for this spot behind our dining table.  The raised underpainting on these depicts a William Morris design, which can again be glimpsed as the light falls on the surface.

Much of my work, particularly the 'industrial East London landscape' period I had just prior to Beth just doesn't seem to fit our house in a mountain rainforest location.  This one, however, has sneaked onto a windowsill in the dark area of our basement at the back of the house and seems to be quite comfortable just as it is.

Then there are some mini paintings of decomposing fruit which have found a home in a little corner of our kitchen area.

Beth also now has her own little 'gallery' for her pictures/photos/things above her nature table/drawing space.  She is so proud of putting her drawings up on the string and talks about all the items on display.

Water

The book I am reading at the moment: You Are Your Child's First Teacher, by Rahima Baldwin Dancy, recommends that young children come to know the ancient elements of earth, air, fire and water, through their play in the natural world.  This summer I have been observing Beth's enthusiasm for both earth (dirt/sand in the garden, the beach) and water in the paddling pool and on rainy days.  What joy to splash and stamp in a dirty puddle!