Homeschool time at the park

A friend of mine created a new playgroup this past Friday for us homeschoolers. It was a surprise, really. I'd been invited out to a local park for what I thought was a playdate. But no, it was the beginning of something really wonderful. A large group of homeschoolers (twelve or so children, all friends) had gathered with us for stories, crafts, and a good time!

Here are some pics from Friday morning. Thank you so much, Dulseigh--you are wonderful!

On the left are the birdfeeders that the kids made. They were made without peanut butter (Emma's allergic).

Emma spreading margarine on a pinecone scavenged from the park.

Rowan dipping his pinecone in bird seed.

Hanging up the finished feeder.

Storytime!

Making a flying bird.

 Everyone had a wonderful time. And it is to become a regular (biweekly) homeschool event! We are very excited. This is exactly what I wanted homeschooling to be.

 On a sad note, today was not so fun. We travelled to my grandparents' nursing home to say goodbye to my grandad. He is dying, and it was very hard to see him so weak and having such trouble breathing. I am really going to miss him. It was his birthday today, and there was cake and balloons, but it was a very un-cheerful day.

Crafts with the kids

We got out the glitter and glue today. Part of the incentive was a notice from "our friendly local library" that one of the books we have out--Usborne's Things for Girls to Make and Do--is due back soon. Here are the results of our crafty endeavors.

First we made a princess in a tower. After that, I made a crown for Rowan, inspired by the crowns in the book, but not following the instructions particularly. Emma was jealous, even though I'd helped her a great deal with making the princess tower. She stuck some feathers in her dress-up headband and refused all offers for me to make her a similar silver crown with sparkles, glitter, etc. I took a lovely picture of her angrily sticking her tongue out at Rowan, but I decided to leave that off the blog!

Finished arm-warmers

I finished knitting Emma's arm-warmers last Friday night. I worked on them during the car ride to my parents house and darned in the ends before bed. In the end, they only took one ball of Patons Kroy. I think I'll use my second ball to make either kids socks or knit a pair of 'babylegs.'

A late Candlemas

We meet almost every Wednesday afternoon with friends for a Homeschool Waldorf Playgroup. It's nice to be able to talk to other moms who have similar parenting/schooling philosophies to myself. But best of all, the kids get to play with their friends and immerse themselves in imaginative play.

Today, playgroup was in my home. Since Candlemas was only yesterday (a sunny day, but where we live a long winter is always expected), we had decided to have a mini-celebration today on our regular playgroup day. I supplied the Stockmar decorating beeswax and everyone came with their own candles. Our guests had all brought beautiful and sweet-smelling beeswax candles. My old beeswax pillar was, unfortunately, burnt very low and previously decorated. I gave my own children regular emergency candles to decorate and they worked just as well. And the next time there is a power failure, we'll be able to remember how much fun we had today! Here is Rowan decorating his candle.

And here is the candle being decorated by some of our friends.

Next year, I think we might try making our own candles, either by dipping or pouring the candles in a mould. This year I was worried that most of the children were still too young, and we mothers with babies had our hands full! Give it another year and it will be a more manageable craft.

Waiting to needle felt again

I've put an order through to one of my favourite Canadian Waldorf suppliers, Bear Dance Crafts. I've asked for a few posters by artist Eva-Maria Ott-Heidmann and I managed to buy their last copy of Elsa Beskow's Pelle's New Suit for Ben's birthday. But, mostly, I bought a lot of crafting supplies. In particular, I'm stocking up on their very reasonably priced wool roving.

One wonderful way to use wool roving is to give small amounts to children to play with. It is the perfect natural toy. They can fashion into small treasures of their own, or use as is for pretend food or animals on a playscape. My children have used small tufts of white, for example, on a green playsilk to make sheep. Mostly, the wool gets stuffed into a pot and 'cooked' for supper!

The wool in the basket above is nearly the last of my fairy-wool that I bought years ago. This time, though, I bought regular corriedale in specific shades, as well as a pound of white roving for the base work and toy stuffing.

Here are some items I've crafted in the past few years. First, my 'mother and baby.' This red and blue doll represents me holding Ben. When I made it, he was about this small (in relation to the mother doll). It's hard to imagine, now...

The doll in green is what I've made in anticipation of Spring. It is Candlemas today, but the sun is shining so it looks like my doll won't be visiting the nature table for quite some time.

In the meantime, my snowman will have to stay out. He was easy to make from three balls of wool felted on top of each other. The eyes and buttons are teensy tufts of dark brown wool; the nose is carefully made with a whisp of orange. I think I need to scavenge some tiny twigs for arms.


I've been scouring the internet for ideas on how to use my new roving. Here is a site I found today that is full of wonderful ideas. I would love to make a playscape for my children's wee fairy folk (I'll have to do a post on these sometime soon). Here's another website that gives a tutorial on how to make a playscape. 

Woodland Elf Hat

I found a cute pattern in a book I have out from the library: Bend-the-Rules Sewing. It's a woodland elf cap! For the material I used a green wool sweater I bought at my local thrift shop. I felted it in the washer/dryer, and then followed the relatively easy cutting and sewing instructions.

And finally, here is the finished project, modelled on Rowan's head. The hat was meant for Ben, but he's very particular about which hats he wears, so he just kept pulling it off.

Wet felting

It's cold and drizzly outside, almost cold enough to snow. I prefer snow over rain in winter, because then you have the chance to brush it off before it melts and gets you wet. But raining it is, and we came back from our playgroup somewhat chilled. So we plunged our hands into dishes of very warm water and tried wet felting. We got warm and made something pretty!This is a very easy project. I followed the instructions in Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children by Sharifa Oppenheimer. I wish I had thought to take photos at the beginning of the project, but rest assured that it was very easy!

The children simply laid clean, carded white wool in one direction of my pan, then laid coloured wool the other way. Add some hot and sudsy water, then begin the felting! Start gently to prevent the wool from wadding all up. As the wool felts into a pad, you can play with it a little more vigorously. It takes a while for it to be durable enough for play. Here's what we ended up with.

Sewing bug

The sewing bug hit about the same time as my cold bug. I've been working on a summer dress for Emma. Here's the skirt pieces, ready to be pieced together, along with the finished bodice.

I finished it this morning. The problem with sewing, for me, is getting the correct size. Emma is tall but very, very thin. According to the pattern back, Emma is a size 3 chest size, and size 8 length. So, I cut out a size 7 and lengthened, as a compromise. It still ended up way too large through the chest. I had to tuck in 2 1/4 " in either side of the zipper, and it's still loose! For my next go, I think I'll try to make size 4 width, but size 8 length all-round (including the bodice).My sewing has inspired the kids. Emma made dresses for her paper dolls out of fabric scraps while I was sewing, and I gave Rowan a piece of material with a threaded needle secured to it. Here he is busy at work.And here is the finished project. Rowan wasn't sure what it was, but I think it's a ball.

Knitting arm-warmers

We went to our library for a homeschoolers group today. Some of my friends, who had also brought their children, had their knitting with them. I had considered bringing my own knitting along, but I knew my toddler wouldn't give me much chance to sit and work on it. Also, I'm working with four needles right now, which isn't all that easy to transport (at least not when I'm also bringing home several backpacks full of books).

So, I thought I would post a photo of what I'm working on here. It is the first of two arm-warmers for Emma.


I 'm using a self-striping sock yarn (Patons Kroy; 75% wool, 25% nylon) and 2.75 mm needles. I cast on 44 stitches over three needles and k1p1 for 1 1/2 inches. Then I work in stocking stitch (straight knitting) until I reach the length I need, making sure to leave enough yarn for the end ribbing, which will again be 1 1/2 inches of k1p1. Cast off (weave in ends, etc.). Then I'll make another one. Easy! It would probably go faster if I'd used slightly larger needles with fewer stitches, but these are what I had on hand. I'll post another photograph when they're finished. Happy knitting!

A fire in the gnomes' cave

This is a part of our nature table. It is a gnomes' cave, now covered with snow, but a fire burns and brings warmth. Deeper within the cave is a sack of gems. I wonder what treasures these might be transformed into in the cold weeks ahead.

In our home, too, we are using this icy time to bring forth inner warmth and forge new promises and begin to bring them about. Before we know it, this seemingly neverending winter will be past and this quiet time will come to an end and bring forth the a busy spring. It is so easy to wish the snow and slush away, as it can damper even my children's desire to play in nature. I have to remind myself that this time is important, too, and can help us grow and mature (yes, me too!!) in unimaginable ways.