a little crafty nest

a few special moments

In November, at winter's gate, the stars are brittle.  The sun is a sometime friend.

~ Cynthia Rylant

And yet, in November, when that first snowfall quietly and completely transforms the yard that we know so well, then there is a whole new world beckoning us outside, waiting to be discovered, explored, and even tasted!

We also have been reminded of November's darker side...the drearily short days where the brittle cold snaps at us to stay indoors.  With a little transformation of some of the play areas, old toys become new again.

The magic of fairy-tales sheds new light on everyday objects.  Rumpelstiltskin inspired Forrest, and then his brother and sister, to experience one of Mama's spinning wheels.  I do believe the rhythm of the wheel mesmerized each of them into a quiet stillness...round and round and round...whirr, whirr, whirr...learning to take turns has never been so effortless.

Along with the snow and the cold keeping us quiet, my sweet little girl came down with a very very high fever, lasting three or four days.  On the fourth, she broke out in the pinkish lace-like rash of roseola...so common in early childhood.  My dear Sunshine has been uncharacteristically quiet and still as the sickness overwhelmed her spirits and body.  Tonight is the best she has been in seven days, with the rash fading and her health resuming.  Gratefully, her BG's (blood glucose) have been mostly in range...very unusual for a sick child with Type 1 Diabetes.  Her big brother has been especially doting, helping monitor her BG's and "reading" to her to keep her company.  Oh, how I love them both!

And in November, there is no better month to learn how to fingerknit.  Using the wool he dyed in the summer, Forrest quickly began to fingerknit on and on and on.  I introduced him to it last spring, but it was really today that he soared with this new skill!  Oh, I do believe I'll be handworking in earnest with this boy very soon.

In November, I am reminded of the importance of our home-life.  Of how we treat each other, talk to each other, help each other, and love each other.  I am reminded of how much the atmosphere of the home resonates in each of our souls, shaping our days, holding our hearts. 

dyeing is grape!

While the weather is so very bonny and bright right now, I've wanted to do some outdoor handwork before we hunker down beside the cookstove for the darker days.  I thought that Forrest might dye his own wool that he will use for fingerknitting and weaving in the homeschool year ahead.

I immediately looked around our property at the bushes and trees that might provide some dye matter.  Long ago, in another time of my life, I used natural dyes for my own handmade clothing that I sold at music festivals.  And because oregon grape season is in full swing, a picking we went.  Now, for those of you who don't know about these bushes, the leaves are like holly with very sharp pricks at the leaftips...not very child-friendly. 

 
Much to my pleasant surprise, however, my two helpers never complained once!  They were so busy slipping the grapes off the stems which happens with a fluid and satisfying pull along the stem.  Pretty soon, our buckets were full and we were within just five minutes of our house.

After a long vinegar bath, we rinsed our yarn (I think this was a mistake!) and soaked the skein of wool for several hours in the oregon grape juice we had prepared.

 
The colour here looks so deliciously purple and rich!  Hmmm...once it was rinsed and dried, this little old skein was pretty, well, drab.  Live and learn!

After a visit to the store for some food colouring, our next dye bath experience, turned out exceptionally vibrant and colourful. 

 
Here is the wool all squishy wet with food colour dyes...I was so shocked at the colour!  Imagine, this stuff is meant to be ingested!!!  I had intended to do more dyebaths with marigolds, onion skins, and beet juice, but after the anti-climatic outcome of our first oregon grape dyebath, I decided that these two little people might enjoy some sunnier colours. 

 
(And oh! that trucker's hat my boy will not take off!  He was given another hat at another garage sale on the weekend and he thinks it is the best thing that ever happened!  Ahhhh, at least I can smile about it ~ so far!)

The simple method for dyeing (or painting) yarn came from a Fall 2009 Living Crafts article.  It was such fun and afterwards there was much dancing and prancing about with delight!

 
Once upon a time, natural dyes were the colour in my life.  I am a natural, earthy -coloured kind of girl...but as a mama, I'm relishing the rainbow hues that the food colouring created.  

 
 The oregon grape dyed skein is in the middle...a dusty, greyish purple.  Definately beautiful in its own right, but more for my colour palette than the children's.

Forrest wants to make fingerknitted chains with his skein and Sunshine has requested some rainbow mittens for winter.  I'm delighted with this whole experience. 

 
For now, I'll stick to the jelly I made from the oregon grapes we harvested a few weeks earlier.  And the food colouring ~ I'll only use on the yarn!

heart fever

Flexibility is a hallmark of many of our family's celebrations.  With Josh back in the mountains right now, Valentine's Day is Thursday for us.  But that hasn't slowed down the heart fever that is amping up...

 
A little drawing, a little snipping, a little sewing...good intentions indeed!

 
Oh, and little Huckley's getting a little heart fever, too!

 
Well, maybe he did get a little help creating that!  But this fella just exudes squishy, love-filled goodness!

So we have a few more days of red and pink crafting and baking.  Oh, yes,baking!  I am determined to make some heart-shaped treats for my little people...even if they have to be low-carb for little miss Sunshine.  I'm trying to make life as normal as possible despite the large white elephant that moved into our lives.  Mind you, sometimes this is accomplished with more grace than at other times.

In the meantime, Happy Day of Love to you all!  May you give and receive with open arms and peaceful hearts.

a little rhythm and routine

Three weeks in from Sunshine's diagnosis, we are really just beginning our lifelong journey with juvenile diabetes.  A long, long road lays ahead, but I am so blessed that we are all here together. 

And these are just some of the accessories we received to accompany our journey.

 
While there is so much unknown to us, (truly, so much more is unknown than known), it is a time when rhythm and routine provides a sanctuary of calm.  Being the Virgo I am, incorporating some sense of familiar into our new normal gives me the peace I crave.  Luckily, I have followed this rhythm loosely since Forrest was a wee one.  I have hardly adhered to a strict regime, but it provides a loose framework from which to launch our creativity.  It ensures that the children are trying new things and experimenting with various creative mediums.  Also, it seems the children have a better understanding of the rhythm of the week based on colours that they may identify, rather than names which provide no sense to their world.  Without further ado...

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oh yes, having a guideline right now helps this mama muddle through the heavier side of life.  I've sometimes wished in the past for a big manual of Life that would tell me how to make some difficult decisions.  Well, that may not exist, but this simple framework assures me that the children are carrying on with the business of having fun and being creative.  And in that creativity, perhaps some healing may happen. 

In small steps, holding each other's hands, we move forward.

handmade for the holiday (from my family)

I've shared a little bit of what I've made for my loved ones here, though I'm not the only one in my family to have been busy these last few weeks crafting and creating.  From the younger elves right up to St. Nick himself, it's been a busy household!

Josh is very creative indeed, and he made me a hairstick to replace my favourite arbutus hairstick that I've misplaced.  I was so sad about this as he carved it for me on a camping trip we did on the coast several years ago.  But this juniper replacement is a beauty, too.

 
This next photo doesn't do it much justice in my hair, but it is my daily way of tying my hair back.  I'm not very adventurous, and I've been wearing my long hair like this for years and years.

 
Another carved wooden gift from my man was a simple, wild maple spurtle.  Yes, a spurtle.  (Isn't that the most unelegant word for such a beautiful tool?)  Apparently it is a Scottish stirring stick, most useful for porridge.  Ohh, I love my spurtle!

 
And the really big gift that St. Nicholas has been working on for the past month was a dollhouse for our little girl.  It's more like a treefort, really.

 
He made it out of denim pine which is pine streaked with bluish highlights.  The vertical wood is cedar, both from our property.

 
He rubbed it with beeswax and it exudes such a lovely, warm scent.

 
Josh carved these table and chairs from birch and cedar, and I just love how rustic they feel.  This house could easily be for gnomes, fairies, or these storebought dolls.  (I wanted to make my own, but ran out of time).

 
He made the beds out of white pine and the tiny lampshades are also storebought from maplerose.  I love this little pink doll for she looks just like my little girl...in her favourite colour, of course!

 
Miss Sunshine was so very pleased to receive this special gift, though I am not sure who is more excited about it - her or me!  And we can just add to it as her play becomes more sophisticated.  I already am planning little wee braided rugs and quilts...stay tuned!

Finally, perhaps one of the most special handmade gifts I received was from my children who made me some cascara and maple buttons.  With the help of their papa, they sanded, drilled holes, and rubbed beeswax into several buttons.  I can hardly wait to make some more clothing for them with their beautiful creations.

 
It is so wonderful to see the true spirit of giving with my little ones.  The excitement of creating something with their own hands and seeing the joy that this brings is truly why this time of year is so very special.  May this season of giving and receiving continue on with your families into the New Year!

the warmth within

November is the month when the darkness outside lingers a little longer.  The sunshine feels diluted, the warmth a little further away.  It is also a time that I find it is so easy to stay home, cozy by the fire, feeling the quiet and stillness like a blanket of comfort.

At times like this, when we are noticing the light outside dwindling, it is inspiring to look within at our own brightness.  To reflect on the glow radiating from the faces of my loves, pure and true.

In honour of the light within, we made lanterns.  I so enjoy the wonderful book, "All Year Round", which has oodles of beautiful crafts to make with and for the little ones.  My children were really involved in these simple lanterns, a good project for even a two year old.

First, they painted wet on wet with our beautiful Stockmar watercolour paints.  The colours are so vivid and crisp.

 
Once the paintings were dry, we used cookie cutters to trace stars to be cut out. 

 

A little glue and tissue paper, and the lanterns were ready!

 
May this day bring you joy as you let your inner light shine forth for all to see!

pumpkin fever

All week long, we've been surrounded by pumpkins, of all shapes, sizes, and types.  It started with a gift of an enormous pumpkin from a friend's garden who knew that our pumpkin patch was not very well tended this summer (on account of a new arrival)!  We bucked up and baked the giant gourd, then froze it into portions for winter soups.

Well, this jump-started pumpkin fever in our home.  If we weren't creating our own crafted pumpkins, Forrest was bouncing around devising ways to make anything, and everything, into Jack o'lanterns.  First, we made tissue paper Jack o'lantern transparencies for the windows.  This is just one of  many decorated windows.

 
Forrest spent most of one afternoon with scissors and tape and mighty exclamations of glee.  We also painted little cedar rounds, which always goes over well with these two.  (Whoever posted this craft, thank you for such a great idea and I'm sorry I can't remember who you are:))

 
And if that wasn't messy enough, out came the paper mache goop and balloons.

 
And tonight, Papa helped the little ones carve our own real Jack o'lantern.  They did a good job cleaning out the insides, and directed Papa into the face they wanted Jack to wear.

 
And here we have our collection of Jack o'lanterns from our week of pumpkin fever.

 
Well, not entirely!  With all the artistic flurry, these little bellies needed filling.  I used an amazing recipe for pumpkin muffins from the Waldorf Kindergarten Snack Book.  Sooo delicious, (and without sugar or eggs).

 
We added a little chocoate to make them transform from pumpkin muffins into Jack o'lantern cupcakes!

 
Their excitement was contagious, I tell you...or perhaps that was the chocolate!  On his way to bed tonight, Forrest exclaimed that this was a good party.  (His version of a party was our family making a feast out of sushi and pumpkin soup, carving our pumpkin, and mama asking for a fitting for last minute costume adjustments). 

Well then, yes, tonight was indeed a good party!

a moment to savour

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savour, and remember.  (Amanda Soule inspired this Friday ritual).

Wishing you a colourful weekend of thankfulness!

 

courage

As Autumn re-introduces herself, the leaves turn from green to golden to scarlet, and then fall to the earth below.  A reminder of the cycle of life that permeates everything around us, enveloping all we know.  This Autumn has already proven a test of courage for my family and our community.  We have recently experienced a loss so senseless, so inexplicable, that it can leave a hollow agony in one's soul.  But with the courage we all possess, deep inside, we are able to continue in our daily rhythms to provide comfort and familiarity to our children, and each other.

Today is a day to defeat the dragon within.  To look towards this time of dwindling light and see the glimmer of hope off in the distance.  To focus on the strength inherent in one's very being, and to use that strength to continue.

My children and I have made a lot of dragons these past two weeks. 

 

 
 
 
 
Yes, my children and I have made a lot of dragons these past two weeks.  We have talked a lot about courage.  And Heaven.  Their resilience gives me strength.

May you be blessed with your own inner courage to face the challenges of life with grace and fortitude.

all my life's a circle

All my life's a circle, and I can't tell you why. 

The seasons, they go round again, and the years keep rollin' by.

Was that Harry Chapin who wrote that?  Well, he sure knows how I'm feeling.  The seasons are indeed moving forward so quickly, and here we are in Autumn again.  Oh, I do love Autumn...the gifts from the garden and the fruit trees, the crisp air in the morning as the mist rises slowly off the river, the brilliant colours of autumn leaves, smoke from the woodstove curling up into the sky, and warm hearty soups.

In celebration of all things in Autumn, I began to make a mandala while expecting my Forrest-boy, about five years ago.  Then, he arrived and I put this stitchwork aside...until last week.  Out it came and all I really needed to do was add the outer layer of leaves.  A little Autumn mandala of sorts for our nature table.

 

(Please excuse the poor quality of my little point and shoot...one day I hope for a better picture-taker!)

 
This is our nature table, just inside our entryway, welcoming all.

The children were so inspired by this hand-stitched mandala, they made a few of their own.

 
The Autumn inspiration from a walk through our little forest manifested as a mandala in the garden.  Both children were excited to make a circle of life.

 
And with a little help from Mama, we created a beautiful mandala in nature, of nature, celebrating nature.

 
Happy Autumnal Equinox.  May this season bring a round of balanced peace and happiness to all your homes.

gardening is delightful

The end of August draws near and the garden overflows with colourful prizes in all shapes and sizes.  It might seem that having three little people with me at all times may not allow me to accomplish much, however I decided early on to help foster their own green thumbs.

First, location, location, location.  They have their own bed smack dab in the heart of our kitchen garden, which is located a few steps from our front door.  This makes it easy for me to grab the phone, or the children to run out and harvest veggies for dinner.

Second, Forrest spent a lot of time looking through seed catalogues for intriguing vegetables.  Their garden is overflowing with all sorts of wonders, like dragon carrots, goblin's eggs, teddy bear sunflowers, pumpkin-on-a-sticks.  We also visited a local greenhouse in May and brought home flowers of every colour in the rainbow.

Third, they have their own tools, including various shovels, forks, spades, and even a wheelbarrow.  Forrest especially likes his gardening gloves.

Fourth, (and this was hardest of all!) I refrained from advising the children what they could and could not pick.  I wanted them to own their space, rather than be told how and what to do.  Trial and error, the old-fashioned way.  I answered any questions that arose, but I bit my tongue when I saw feet trampling delicate transplants, or when I saw misplaced weeding attempts.  On the contrary, I was quite impressed with the level of restraint practiced by both the four and the two year olds.

And here is a little window into the children's gardening adventure this year:

starting seeds in March

*     *     *     *     *

 

watering the flowers in May

*     *     *     *     * 

a break from work to play

*     *     *     *     *

preparing the tomato and basil bed in May

*     *     *     *     *

a tomato and basil jungle in August

*     *     *     *     * 

 

serious weeding in August

*     *     *     *     *  

 

time to admire the flowers

*     *     *     *     * 

 

the sweet pea tipi in mid-August

*     *     *     *     * 

 

a magical place to rest and dream, inside the sweet pea tipi

*     *     *     *     *

Yes, indeed, gardening with my children is delightful!

Felting Goodness

As I get further immersed in mamahood, I find a growing appreciation for simple handmade crafts.  To see the beauty in an acorn transformed into a fairy's hat, or a piece of wool that was twisted into a strawberry...that is where true imagination may be cultivated.

Shortly before River's birth, Leif wanted to make him a special gift.  He wanted to do something felted, so we decided to make a mobile to hang over the changetable, a place where we spend a lot of time!  I did a little prep work first to get the balls ready to felt. 

 
Two extra sets of hands made the project move along quickly, chatting about what life with a new baby might be like.

It was so simple to make this mobile, and the intention the children put into it made it so worthwhile.

 
 A simple, handmade mobile.  One day River will be able to focus on it and then his big brother can tell him how he made it himself.
 

Full Of Beans

Some of the toys that have gotten the most use in our home have been the simplest ones, just like all the child-raising books suggest.  Some have been storebought, like our collection of silks, and others have been handmade.

So when it came time to make a gift for a young friend's fourth birthday, Leif suggested making four beanbags like his own rainbow stash I made when he was just one.

(The purple beanbag is MIA or stashed for a surprise ambush!)

I asked Leif to choose the fabrics for his friend's beanbags, then I spent not even 5 minutes cutting and sewing 3 of the 4 sides.  Leif and Summer then filled them with...well, beans of course!

And on the card for his friend, Leif asked me to write a few simple "structions for using beanbags":

1.toss them into a basket

2.try and catch them with your mama

3.jiggle them

(mama's ed. "juggle" them)

4.stack them

5.throw them at your papa and RUN!

All three of us had a great time putting this gift together for our special friend...and then we had some playing of our own to do!

 

 

 
 

sharing the love

Valentine's Day is such a fun way to shower the people close to you with lovelies.  I like being creative with crafts and baking and sentimental cards.  For my two beautiful children, I made them each a felted Valentine crown and cherry tarts.  Heart shaped, of course!

For Josh, I made him six felted roses...one for each Valentine's Day that we have celebrated together.  They turned out pretty well, however I made the felt a wee bit thick. 

 
I suppose a thinner felt would have made a more delicate flower.  However, he was genuinely grateful for them.  What a fun craft...particularly felting the petal wool with the children.

And what is Valentine's Day without recieving a little love, too?  I've waited four years, perhaps my whole life, for the very special Valentine's card that I received this year.  And it wasn't from my husband (who spoiled me in his own special way), but from my four year old son, Forrest.  Last week, when I had asked him who he wanted to make cards of love for, I was not all that surprised that I had made "The List".  I gave him a few sentence starters and he filled in the blanks.  And this is what I got :

To clarify, it says :

"I love cooking with you and eating your beautiful food.

You make me feel like you are a fairy.

I like it when you kiss me all over.

Love, Forrest"

Honestly, there were no prompts for that little piece of beauty and wonder.  It absolutely melts my heart!  I do believe that shall be framed and placed on my bedside table.  What a wonderful way to wake up each day!  I am reminded every day how lucky I am to have such thoughtful, caring, and beautiful people in my life.

This has definately been a day to remember!

heartfelt happiness

As Valentine's Day approaches, I considered the

TEN THINGS THAT FILL MY HEART WITH HAPPINESS:

 

 1.  The peaceful rest of a sleeping child

 2.  February sunshine

 

 

   3.  Fresh flowers on the table in mid-winter 

  

4.  Valentine crafts from the past

5. Forrest's big belly laughs (they are contagious!)

   

6.  Making cards for those we love

  

 7.  Sweet Valentine treats

  

8.  My little babe within, nesteled beneath my heart

9.  Kisses and cuddles

    
 10.  My very own sweet Valentine

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!