Summer Nature Table

Just a quick shot of our Summer Nature Table (shelf, really).

I may have mentioned before, but we can't have anything wooly or felt on the nature table anymore.  While we are out of the house our neurotic weimaraner will eat anything made of wool, wool stuffing, or felt.  Bad dog!

The doll quilt

R's quilt is turning out to be a challenge.  While I have most of it pieced together, the actual logistics of putting together a full size quilt elude me.  So I decided a mini-version would be a good way to test the techniques.  Enter S's doll quilt.

She picked out the fabrics (and they match the bedding Grammy made for her doll bed) and I began to cut and sew them together.

Here's how the final project turned out (sorry for the dark photos, it's been rainy and overcast here):

Overall, not perfect, but not bad for my first try.  And please don't judge that poor baby doll.  She has something on her face and I can not for the life of me get it off.  I've tried everything I can think of.  So if you know how to clean Waldorf Doll skin, please let me know!!!

Solstice

Happy Solstice!  On this the shortest day of the year, we give thanks for the Sun!

Here is our Winter Nature Table which pays homage to all our Winter traditions.  Which ones can you spot?

 

And our newest idea (could be a tradition) was sparklers!  We had a small box left over from the 4th of July.  The kids loved getting bundled up after dark and playing with the sparklers.  It was a good opportunity to tell them that this is the shortest day of year and we want to celebrate and welcome back the Sun! 

 

 

Gnome

After all this swapping I had to make my own kids some fun little additions. 

Here is my first gnome:

Swaps

Here's my latest creations for a one-on-one swap...

He's called a Tomten and he's a sweet little Swedish gnome.  They were believed to take care of a farmer's home and children and protect them from misfortune, in particular at night, when the housefolk were asleep. We have a lovely storybook about him and I am making one for us to keep as well.

Michaelmas!!!

Happy Michaelmas!

Today is the first time we've celebrated this Waldorf holiday.  In it, we celebrate bravery, courage, and guidance from above...

I've already told the story of George and the Dragon many times.  I made a drawing up of St. Michael adding his help to slay the dragon.  And we've talked a lot about dragons.  When they are older we'll talk about how "dragons" are metaphors for any difficulty or hurdle in our lives.  Through self-reflection and perseverance, we can slay our own inner dragons. 

Tooth fairy Swap

Little bits of toothy goodness!  I made these hangers to hang on the child's door.  Of course, they could put the tooth inside the pocket, but why not a note to the Toothfairy instead?  Instructions?  Requests?  Poems???

I included the sweet little poem below and some tiny, blue-green shells recovered from Grandma Carr's endless craft supplies. 



Calling all Tooth Fairies

This night it is a special night
As fairies dance upon the roof.
All the fairies must alight,
For _____ just lost a tooth!

The Fairy Queen gives her commands-
Twelve bright fairies must join hands
Then together in a circle stands
To guard _____ while he sleeps.

The Tooth Fairy into the circle leaps
The hidden tooth she borrows
Ah, but has far to go
Before returning tomorrow.

Three times around the world she flies
Over valleys deep and mountains high;
Skirts the storm clouds thick with thunder,
Wings over waves all wild with wonder.

Deep within their earthly homes
Finally she finds the gnomes,
Who upon the tooth must work
Never once their magic shirk.

Some are hammering, hammering, hammering,
Some the bellows blow
Others sweat at the sweltering forge
And then cry out, “Heigh Ho!”

The tooth’s been turned to a shining stone,
A glimmering, glowing gem
The Tooth Fairy takes the gnomes’ good gift,
And bows to all of them.

She returns to ____ bed,
Before the sun’s first rays are shown,
Places the gift beneath his head.
And then - - - away she’s flown!

Summer Solstice

What a beautiful thing, the first day of Summer, the longest day of the year.  We celebrated with sun themed art projects, a batch of sun tea (made with herbs from the garden), lamb's quarters done up like kale chips (which were fantastic!), and ended the night with a bonfire and toasted marshmallows.  I was quite inspired by this blog. 

Next year I'd like to try making sun bread and to leave treats for the fairies...

Welcome Summer!

Play kitchen...

So the kids love the dollhouse.  (Missed that post?  Find it here.) 

And I almost didn't buy her play kitchen, and then I changed my mind.  The kids just don't play with the one they have, it's too tall for my petite loves.  This one is just right!

It needs a little cleaning up and some beeswax polish, but it's a hit with both...

New additions

I have a friend here who's daughter is all grown-up.  She's ready to get rid of her child things and her daughter doesn't want them.  Well, we want them!  They are fabulous wooden finds!

I'd been drooling over dollhouses all winter and couldn't afford the Waldorf ones.  This is better than any I perused online!  Mainly because she made it, but also because it's just cool...

 These pictures are from the entryway.  We didn't even make it upstairs with the dollhouse.  Now the little cradle below, that's fitting nicely into S's room...

The fire stacker...

R's mama-made gift in all it's finished glory!

Gifts for the children

I adore making gifts for my children.  It fufills both a desire to provide for my children and a creative need to work with my hands.

So, here are a few more goodies for the babes for Christmas...

Wooden tree for R and a Cell phone for S.

S's cell phone is made from an old sweater and various buttons from my stash. 
Nothing purchased for this project!

A Wee Tiny Elven

R is convinced that Santa's helpers are called "elven".  One is an "elven" and the plural is "elvens" (where does he get this stuff???)...  So I made them a wee tiny Elven...

This is one of the smallest peg dolls.  I haven't worked with this size before and my proportions came out a bit wonky.  Overall, I like it!

One-to-one Swap

For the first time, I decided to participate in a one-to-one swap.  In these swaps you craft for another mama and she crafts for you.  No theme, you just decide what to craft after getting to know her better.  So, my partner has two kids.  A six year old boy and a 3 year old girl.  I thought they would enjoy a stacker.  Lord knows my kids adore our rainbow stacker.  My partner mentioned that her kids might like a gnome home and that became my inspiration.  So here's the finished product...

It needed some greenery, so they are getting the 3 little shrubs too.  And one extra little surprise.  :)

Off to work on the fire stacker for R.  It was his "mama made" request for Christmas. 

Autumn Nature Table

I haven't attempted a nature table in a long time. Mostly because S has been into everything and has rough hands for such a sweet little girl. But now that she's nearing two and isn't putting anything in her mouth, I thought it might be time to try again. Up until now, the little wooden cabinet has held books and not much else. So, I kept the idea of displaying books, but also added all our fun fall finds and characters.

About the books: Hurry, Hurry, Mary Dear by N.M. Bodecker is my favorite fall book. Woody, Hazel and Little Pip is a hit with R. S is still only really interested in her Bright Baby books. Oh well, she'll come along eventually. The other book is called Deep in the Forest by Brinton Turkle (it's a wordless variation on Goldielocks). We've read so very many books from the library, I've lost count. I'll try to mention favorites from time to time.

Halloween Swap back!

I sent off the wooden black cat faces and ghosts, remember?

I received these (bad photo alert)...

One day of the dead felt face, three upcycled wool leaves, one needle felted bat (hard to see in this picture), one sewn pumpkin, and a rune set in a cute tin. 

I have to say, not nearly as "Halloweeny" as I expected.  But overall really cute and it has given me a fabulous idea of what to make S for Christmas. 

Now, off to work out birthday details.  My boy is rapidly approaching 4, don't cha know!

Autumn Sprites

Sent these off Saturday morn...

New state, new home, new viruses

We've gotten our first round of family head colds.  Saff had it the worst.  We're on the mend, but all still "off".

While on "lock down" I made some fabulous "turkey meatloaf balls".  I know, not very vegan.  I'm off the wagon. 

We tried some finger painting, but it was sad, at best.

We've found a homeschool curriculum that fit my criteria (Waldorfy, free or inexpensive, easy, etc).  It's the Harvest Time curriculum from Wee Folk Art and so far the kid loves it!

We've read several books from the list (most are at our library) and added a few suggested by our local librarian. 

Should I list our favorite books?

Most of our days are spent figuring out where things should go (still more boxes?), job hunting (N's current work), all the paperwork associated with moving to a different state and exploring local parks. 

Rainbow Stacker

One of my favorite projects to date!

I ordered the rough wood cut-outs from another MI seller on Etsy.  I sanded them all smooth.  Then I watercolored the pieces and sealed with beeswax. 

I'll give these to S as a gift for moving her into her "Big Girl Room"... and out of the family bed.

Better late than never...

St. Patty's Day wooden play things:

Wooden cut outs that I burned, painted with watercolors and then sealed with beeswax.  Safe for little hands!

Now to finish these Spring/Easter projects!