Pirates......Pretend Play...Dress ups

Pirates have always been a fascination as a child to read & dramatize ........

Have you ever made your pirate stories or dressed up as pirates with  a patch on your eye.....I think most boys did and girls joined in the fun somehow....

I have uploaded some images for you that you can use save them and print them in Black and white and let the kids color them as an activity  or cut them and put a paddle stick at the back and pretend they are paper puppets...

In store I have a selection of finger puppets and string puppets to help you dramatize and create the atmosphere...

Create the atmosphere...find a plastic tub or box ...cover it with a piece of black material and let the fun and imagination begin........some kids imagination is very vibrant others you need to help them by perhaps starting the story for them by reading a book....

This is great to to set it up on a table and play with the finger puppets behind the theater ...

Other Pirate themes are the string puppets..... 

What a great Pretend Play corner this would make for a Kinder,Playgroup or Center  situation..........

One can also have a Pirate Theme Birthday Party.......Love to have your thoughts...?http://www.romanticflairoriginal.com/shopexd.asp?id=192

Crafts Markets Australia

I have been exhibiting at these lovely Craft Venues since 1998....one might say that I am due for Long Service leave.....but here I am  still going....Love them with a passion....You might say what do you love about them..

• the atmosphere
• great venues
• an array of top quality craft on display at each event
• proud to be part of it....
• great people to work with..

I exhibit at  the  famous   Red Hill Market one of my favorites.... this is on this Saturday
Arthur's Seat Rd, Red Hill. (Melway map: 190 J3)
1st Saturday of each month, Sept-May, 8am to 1pm.
Click here to view Google location map




I also exhibit at the lovely Healesville Market  another of my favorites .. I will be Exhibiting this Sunday

Healesville Racecourse Harvest and Craft Market - Sunday 9am to 2pm. Entry free/ Parking $3*

*(of which $1 will be donated to a community grant scheme to benefit local community groups)

Healesville-Kinglake Rd, Healesville Vic 3777 (opposite RACV Club)
Click here to view Google location map

You will also find me at the Mornington, Lardner Park  and FLemington Venues ...I will keep you updated...as to where I will be exhibiting...

I have been exhibiting my craft for all this time, at these events... I somehow moved along the times and also what people liked most and somehow found my niches...

I started with a line of Country designs which did really well for awhile, then I started to introduce a Christmas Range..which took like fire...I love Christmas and you can see it in my work..I started off by offering a variety of Xmas Figurines and Music Boxes,  later I introduced Personalized Baubles ~~ you can find all my designs on the Website and also a Large Range of Tableware Designs....which as yet ...are not available on my site, but you can see them displayed at these events!

A lot of people know me as the Christmas Lady at these Markets.. I offer unique pieces and also make to order....Some of my customers date from back then and I tend to catch up with them each year like a reunion..It is nice to see repetitive customers, not only that, they also spread the word to relatives and friends...so I end up getting to meet  their relatives and friends.

I also ventured into creating Personalized Keepsakes both on Plates and Baubles ...which are high in demand as Christening, Wedding, Memorial, Birthday Gifts etc.....

I also offer a range of Australiana Theme both in the Baubles, Pomander and Tableware....they are great for for Australiana Theme Lovers and also to take as Souvenirs and Keepsakes for Overseas...

Love to see you there...and also love to hear your comments if you have been to these events before...

The Winners for Mother's Day Competition are......

First Prize goes to   Lee Briggs with 42 votes
Ceramic plate personalised with Mum’s Image of your choice worth $45.00 (22cm. Diameter )http://romanticflairoriginal.com/shopexd.asp?id=623 (P.S. Postage is not included in the prize will be quoted to the winners)



Second Prize goes to Sarah Nicole  with 39 votes
nd Prize Ceramic Bauble Keepsake with Mum’s Image of your choice worth $27.00 http://romanticflairoriginal.com/shopexd.asp?id=372
(P.S. Postage is not included in the prize will be quoted to the winners)



These are the results for the other Participants...


Maryan Bourke 20 votes
Vanessa McPhee 18 votes
Marlene Heffernan 16 votes
Shari McLaws 14 votes
Toni Hill 10 votes
Brooke Shannon Albon-Dallas 8 votes
Iluvtiana Dalla 5 votes
Tina Sampson 5 votes
Cathy Sies 4 votes
Allie Van Ramselaar 3 votes
Melissa Ronke 1 vote


Thank you for all those who have participated ... I enjoyed it thoroughly.....


I have decided to the rest of the participants that have not won a price ...but were nice enough to take part...you all won a Voucher of $5.00 to spend with with your next order of $50.00 & over .....this is to be used by the end of the month... the 30th April...(not to be used with any other vouchers or giveaways)


Will all participants that won and the others who want to take the opportunity that I offered email me your address to...romanticflairoriginal@hotmail.com


Thank you Once again


Marthese


Thank you once again....

Great Pretend Play in store...

Just some of my favorites to extend your kid's Imaginary play.....

These PlayCenters can be a one to one play or in a shared group...They can be taken with them on a trip or if perhaps you are visiting someone's house who do not have any toys to keep them amused..they come in a box in the shape of a building from the lovely Cronwick Toys Collection

They are made of wood, the dolls have flexible arms and legs...and are available in these 2 themes

The Cafe Busy Box ~~~~  comes with 2 dolls an all accessories as how below, cups teapot,toaster,trays,etc.....A great way to introduce them to ~~ eating out, setting up a table, manners, language development.....

The Hospital Busy Box ~~ again this comes with 3 dolls and hospital accessories...again great pretend extension play...great language skills...also motor skills.....Fantastic idea if child is going to have an surgery in hospital  or just for fun...we all like playing Doctor's

For more other great PlayCentres  have a look here

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About Marthese
Marthese is the face behind:

• Romantic Flair Original ( My on line Gift Shop, where I create and source out unique and special products)
• Founder and editor of Blogs, Romantic Flair Original and Christmas by Romantic Flair Original
• Learn more about her here
• You can sign up for her newsletter
• You can now connect with her as well by pressing the below buttons

Good Bye My Friend....

My friend has just left us......she is being carried away by angels...........we shall miss you dearly ...you will always be in our hearth and in our thoughts.

I just thought I share at the moment my feelings about a friend in my circle of friends that turned 50 on Saturday.....

A day to celebrate 50 years Old.....A milestone.... one would gather with friends and celebrate ...pop open a bottle of champagne...and be merry!

She grew from a little child into a Mature woman ....In her twenties she married a wonderful man who ...both adore each other...2 siblings followed...and they are her greatest Treasures...She is a good looking ....had a great job ...a beautiful house and a loving family...A couple of years ago her son got married to this gorgeous girl..Her parents and siblings are still alive but they all live overseas! By now you are all saying what a wonderful story....we should hear more of this more often...We need to hear this....I think you all agree!

Well just over a year ago on Valentine's Day to be exact last year......after a period of test which took over six weeks to diagnose as at first the doctor's thought it was some sort of allergy....(as she was itchy a lot)... she was diagnosed with Liver Cancer (apparently when the liver is not functioning properly the body automatically try and release any toxin through the skin)...To cut  it short...as you can imagine it was a shock to all of them ...she was operated ....and had chemo.

Once stage she was on the mend....but in the last 6 months she was getting worse and worse. From a beautiful lady she was on the outside (as she still is on the inside)...she started transforming into a different image....Easter weekend she ended back in Hospital and her family was told the terrible news...that the cancer has spread badly and that she has not long to live...days or weeks perhaps...

Her Son and wife are expecting their first child in September.... great news especially becoming a grandparent for the first time..........

On Sunday we went to see her for a short while, after which we were invited for a get together with friends...

When we go to see her...we have to find inner strength to be supportive to her and her family...

As one can imagine what a roller coaster their life is at the moment...Obviously she had to stop working and apart from that her husband and daughter who is the same age as my daughter...both had to shorten their hours of work to be with her ....lately they had to sell their house so they can move into something smaller as funds are getting harder....

How one life’s change in an instant...

When we went to see our other friends for our gathering...some said...oh I cannot handle to go and see her...

I feel I am judging people....perhaps I have to respect their feelings as well!

I cannot bear to see her like that neither...but cannot one forget for a moment what he is feeling ...how bad it makes him or her feel and think of the poor person who is struggling from day to day probably not even capable to look at themselves in the mirror (as they will not recognise themselves)....cannot even feed themselves ....or do simple everyday things that we take for granted...like washing ourselves etc..

If you look at this person’s eyes you see the same person that you knew healthy and outgoing not very long ago...a person who  is struggling to keep living  and perhaps even hope for a recovery, or to even have the opportunity to see her first Grandchild...

I felt like writing this to share and open other people’s eyes ...Forget about what you are feeling! Be there for a friend or family when they are going through rough times ....we can all be in a similar situation and I am sure we would need all the support that we can find...

On a positive note...I am thrilled to see this family so united and caring for each other! In one of the conversations we had ...she was going on ...how she wished she had the strength to go and buy things for her new grandchild...I suggested without making it obvious...how about when you go home you organise a small box with special  mementos that you would like your Grandchild to treasure !

                                                            

I started this on Sunday.......today we just received the news that she might leave us tonight.....God Bless my friend......................................


Continues here....

Mother's Day Gift Ideas.......the lovely French Vintage Design Range..Ascot tableware by Somerton Green

Vintage...is back and loving it....You will find some timeless pieces in store....I f you are after a particular piece or perhaps in another color please feel free to inquiry as I might be able to help you...

This lovely cake stand sure to make a statement on your buffet and dining table....

what about these  stunning Oil & Vinegar set........................................

Love this one an old country favorite....

Ad what about this Time Less Piece....

Check out more treasured pieces in store......

Pretend Play.......................

What does it mean........

Take some time and pretend that you have become a child again! You are 3 or 4 years old you might be an only sibling or you might have brothers or sisters....

Personally I was brought up without a TV not by choice but circumstances lack of funds...was not a priority in our family at the time.....Thinking about it now it was the best thing that happened to us kids...!

Toys were not abundant ..but somehow we were never bored...our imagination was in full drive...I remember we did not have a Monopoly game..my brother created one from Cornflakes Boxes and whatever we could find...We were very creative...Personally I tried any sort of craft...next door we had a seamstress who was kind enough to have me in the school holidays and showed me her tricks of trade, I had a gorgeous Aunt who thought me the craft of knitting and crocheting which I tremendously enjoyed..Otherwise we spend great times together us kids talking and creating stuff together...

Have you ever stopped and looked at your kids while they are playing and watched how they played...? Do you have to be part of their play or are they capable of creating their own play --PRETEND PLAY--!

From my experience working with different kids...there were some who can play with a couple of toys and are happy and contented for a long period of time...they go into an imaginative place...and you see them use those couple of toys as mediums in their fantasy at the time..

• they might be in a fairy garden with their favorite doll  and a couple of cups and saucers  are having a great time in a park having a picnic..
  
• or a boy with a pirate figurine in his hand and a toy boat ...in another fantasy land playing pirates...
  
• group of kids playing in a corner pretending they are at a doctors surgery, each one of them taking it in turn to ...who is the doctor, or the patient..

• some might be more assertive and will take the role of the leader and some will be the followers...
  
• you catch another child drawing something on a piece of paper...and yo will probably hear them talk as he or she is drawing expressing their thoughts both verbally and artistically...

Then you might find other kids...who you can give them the world and they do not know what to do with it or with themselves...I found this type of kids a challenge.. Experience thought me that these type of kids are quite happy to run around outside kicking a ball,  riding a bike etc etc...Try and bring them inside and offer them pretend play and you will find that they will be changing toys and going from one activity to another within a span of every 5mins...they cannot stay and play with an activity for a long period of time...I  found in this case I had to work with them even more..challenge their imagination and their creativity...We all have some sort of creativity inside us it is just a matter of someone noticing it, encouraging it and helping an individual developing..it

I am going to stop here today...and will continue on this subject in another post...In the meantime would love you your input and comments...perhaps share some experiences you have with your own kids or otherwise!

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About Marthese
Marthese is the face behind:

• Romantic Flair Original ( My on line Gift Shop, where I create and source out unique and special products)
• Founder and editor of Blogs,  Romantic Flair Original and Christmas by Romantic Flair Original
• Learn more about her here
• You can sign up for her newsletter
• You can now connect with her as well by pressing the below buttons

Check out our latest  Giveaway & Specials

Mother's Day...........

A treasured special day for me and and I think for the majority of us out there........

I never forget the day my mum arrived at the airport and hugged her Grandson for the first time....What a Special moment.... I cannot even describe in words..but this photo on your left says it all.....

What was your feeling and emotion when you gave birth to your child...personally my first child I was out completely as I had a cesarean ...I saw my child the next day when I came out of anesthetic and he was handed over in my hands...I wish someone captured that moment of both of us connecting together as Mother & Son....sometimes I try and recollect that moment of what I felt....unexplainable....my second one I had an epidural so I heard her cry and saw her; but I could not hold her or feel her straightaway as my body was almost all numb with anesthetic ...all I could move was my head....but it is there in my mind ... again that moment was not captured by an image......

Keepsakes...........
To me they are precious, memorable, treasured for many years to come...There is nothing like giving a personal gift....especially if you have the chance to choose colours, images and express yourself in words: that are personal and Special to that person you are giving it to.....
Keepsakes can also be a special Memory of someone in this Case your Mum, Mother-in law or Grandma....who unfortunately have left us...

• you can have an image of Mum and Child
• Mum and children
• Grandma & grandchildren
• 3 or 4 generations...Great grandma,Grandma,Children & Grandchildren
• you can also have a special image like flowers or something that the particular person likes and add special words or quotes of your own...

I can help you with either creating your keepsake on a plate a mug or on a Bauble.. You can personalize it with a colour background, image & also words of your choice..

 

 

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About Marthese
Marthese is the face behind:

• Romantic Flair Original ( My on line Gift Shop, where I create and source out unique and special products)
• Founder and editor of Blogs,  Romantic Flair Original and Christmas by Romantic Flair Original
• Learn more about her here
• You can sign up for her newsletter
• You can now connect with her as well by pressing the below buttons

Check out our latest  Giveaway & Specials