top of page

The whole unfiltered blog






Time to hang the Easter eggs...


Yesterday we spent the morning making natural dye baths and the afternoon decorating and dyeing eggs. We used bees wax to add patterns then submerged them in dyes. I first saw this tradition in a book on Polish Crafts years ago - and although I have never mastered it as an art form it’s so mindful and lovely to do. You are supposed to melt the wax off the eggs, but I love to leave it on as it reminds me of enamel work somehow and I love the texture!


I saw a wonderful idea from the lovely Sophie @goldnuss how to make shapes other than dots using feathers 🪶 so I cut a small triangle and a diamond shape which turned out beautiful on a couple almost like petals (her stories show how to do it so simple)


They are ready to hang now next to our watercolour eggs from last year, this was a great step up for the little one (although she was supervised near the candle and wax)


I’m going to have a go at mixing some natural dye and watercolour with these eggs next week I think as we approach Easter and see what wonders we can create





The dyes we used were


Avocado skins and stone - very pale blush pink - I could have left it overnight for a stronger colour and will try that this week (I was too impatient yesterday)

Blueberry - made the almost black colour on a dark egg and the lighter blue here.

Red cabbage - made the teal colour on a dark egg and royal blue on a white one when left an hour

White onion skin made the lovely yellow orange, and red onion skin made a really pale khaki green when left just half an hour.


Can’t wait to hang them...


This morning the little one and I enjoyed a good couple of hours in the park till lunch.


The days recently with her have been hard, her usual placid nature has been replaced with a strong will to assert herself and her wishes in the most shouty way she can, whilst also clinging onto me for dear life most of the time, making even doing a little work difficult for me...it has lead to frustration for the both of us...as this cannot happen all of the time all day and she so takes everything deeply into herself.


I have come to think this is not just her personality and a developmental milestone but the effect of her brother and sister now being back at school...she just needs that contact and reassurance I’m not going anywhere too. All day and all night.


The only time she does not want to be held in my arms 24/7 is in Nature.....


No, in nature she is as free as a bird, and wants to be - to the point I have to chase after her when we need to come home to eat for example. No games, distractions or anything I have ever used in my years of looking after children (others and my own) works, and I don’t blame her...because Nature is pretty awesome! Today her solution to stay out instead of going home for lunch was ‘a sandwich from that lady there’ A lady who might I add was sat quite happily enjoying her packed lunch on a bench 😂.


I think it’s a picnic lunch for us tomorrow then! 😊 we saw a couple of lovely horses today as well some blossom too the first I’ve seen yet!


We will be slowly and gently working on her feelings and supporting them over the next couple of weeks! Nature is such a balm though and just as it helps us as adults regulate our feelings and take our mind off things it also helps children too! I’ll let you know how we go. How is everyone else doing?






Our Haft-Sin for Nowruz is slowly coming together, today we added the mirror and a lovely jar lantern we made from tissue paper (swipe to see it glow)


In addition to the seven traditional items Mirrors ‎(آینه) are placed on the table to symbolise self reflection and creation, and a fish bowl with goldfish (ماهی قرمز): symbolising progress, the turning of the new year. We have not got any fish so we decided to make this lovely glowing lantern with an old Gherkin Jar. For our mirror we cut an A6 piece of mirrored Perspex and placed it in our postcard holder from @myriadnaturaltoys other items we will be gathering together are;


Sabzeh (سبزه): Sprouting /Grass: the symbol of rebirth and growth.


Samanu (سمنو): Samanu: the symbol of power and strength.


Senjed (سنجد): Elaeagnus angustifolia: the symbol of love.


Somāq (سماق): Sumac: the symbol of sunrise.


Serkeh (سرکه): Vinegar: the symbol of patience.


Seeb (سیب): Apple: the symbol of beauty.


Seer (سیر): Garlic: the symbol of health and medicine.


Sonbol (سنبل): Hyacinth: the symbol of spring's arrival.


Sekkeh (سکه): Coin: the symbol of wealth and prosperity.


Saat (ساعت): Clock: the symbol of time


eggs (تخم‌مرغ رنگی): Eggs: the symbol of fertility.


candle (شمع): Candle: the symbol of enlightenment.


book (کتاب): Book: the symbol of wisdom


We can’t wait to celebrate Nowruz, our proper celebration with food and feasting will be Sunday when my two older children are home from their fathers house. I can’t wait to share our lovely Haft-Sin and wish you all a wonderful Vernal Equinox welcoming in the spring!

Join the mailing list. Never miss an update

Thanks for submitting!

© 2022 Kelly Ellis-Radahd @thefruitsofyou All rights reserved

bottom of page