A Moment in Nature…

We have been soaking in the incredible beauty of fall that is all around us…absolutely soaking it in! 

But is has occurred to me that as I send a bit of our life, experiences, makings, and seasonal joys out to all of you…that many of you are not in the same season as we are!  (Metaphorically and literally!!)

So…I thought I would share with you a few of the beauties of a New England Fall!!!

 

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Children are ready to love and marvel over the beauties and curiosities of nature.  All they need is for that natural inclination to be fostered and nurtured.  The fairy castle that has been discovered in our parts has been a wonderful way to nurture an already deep love of nature for our own little woodland elves.  As she looks for bits of beauty to decorate her castle with, (and as he looks for bits of nature that look like they need to be munched on!!) they are living, loving, feeling, breathing, touching, etc the ultimate source of beauty.  Is there anything better for their little souls?!?!

Rapunzels Tower

Folk tales and Fairy tales are firmly believed around here…without question…and with joy!  It really is the only way to live!  So…we visited “Rapunzels Tower” tucked in among majestic and ancient trees. 

She climbed all the way up…with Daddy! (Momma and the littlest monkey stayed firmly on the ground!  Somehow that tower has changed for me since becoming a momma!!!

And looked out on her kingdom…(her reign is also a fact that is undisputed!!! …she does after all wear the crown)…and decided this must be the highest spot in the whole world!!! 

It’s refreshing to look at things from a new perspective once in a while. 

*** Button Swap ***

    

The movement towards repurposing, reusing, thrifting, etc. has brought the crafting world a whole new avenue of supplies.  Vintage lovelies are popping up all over in beautifully handcrafted items.  Repurposed items offer a uniqueness and charm that no big box can touch.  Fabric, ribbon, trims…so many favorite supplies.  But the cherry on top of it all…buttons.  There is no end to the delight of sifting, sorting, organizing, and using these little jewels…for little and big hands alike! 

So….A Handmade Childhood is proud to announce…a

Button Swap!!!

It’s a pretty basic swap…nothing like the amazing Vintage Swap!! 

Basically you’ll be partnered with another crafter and you’ll swap a handful of fabulously, funky buttons!!! 

So head on over to the Button Swap and join in the fun!

Vintage Swap

The vintage swap is in full swapping mode…and our little bundle is on it’s way!!!  Little bits of vintage fabric goodness are on their way to a new adventure in Pittsburgh, PA!!  I wonder what they will become.  No doubt something utterly delightful like some of Kristen’s other work!!!

On another note…I’m up to my elbows in projects in so many work spaces right now…the sewing room, the woodshop, the computer…!  I’ve got big plans!!! 

I have found though, that if I make set plans for what I want to accomplish for myself in the day that life undoubtedly makes that impossible.  After all…I am totally at the mercy of two little monkeys for project time!!!  So…I’ve taken to making several lists of plans (or dreams!) for the day…and which ever area is working best for me that day I dive in!!!

My fingers are crossed for the workshop today…because I’m itching to keep working on this!  Yup…that is a Montessori Pink Tower (that will never be pink!!!).

(Which yes…has been used even though it still needs finishing…like sanding those curvy edges flat!  A bansaw is only as accurate as it’s user after all!)

How to Make Happy Fall Cards

I have been overcome with the incredible colors falling all around us here and can’t stop taking pictures and sharing them!!!  For those of you in the middle of different seasons right now…just wait…fall will come to you sometime too!!

I’m thinking of hosting a “leaf jumping”party soon.  More details of the splendor to come! 

Recently we made “Happy Fall”cards to send to dear family.  I cut drawing paper 3 1/2” x 10 1/2” which, when folded in half fits wonderfully into a standard envelope!  I drew a line lightly with pencil and each little (and big) thumb made a print.  We used basic acrylic stencil paint, which washes off easily and is non-toxic, etc!  When they were dry we erased the pencil line and we had four little pumpkins!  I drew a stem on one pumpkin and then gave the job to little hands while I went to tend to something.  When I came back we had very long pumpkin stems!!  Which was delightful!

Momma: “Wow…you did a great job with drawing all those lines.  Our pumpkins have tall stems now!!

Little Miss:  “Well…I like to do things differently than you sometimes Mom.”

…and that was that!!!

I was a little worried that they looked a bit more like upside down balloons than pumpkins so I drew very simply over them with black ink.  Somehow it was just what was needed and I really like the look of our little pumpkin family! 

We wrote a little “happy fall”message and sent them on their way!  It was a marvelous project!!!

Fall Fairies and Black Walnuts

 

We spent some one-on-one, mamma-and-little-girl time with the fairy castle recently.  It was wonderful…fulfilling and rejuvenating to be in a quiet woodland fairy world with my own little fairy and her large imagination. 

 

In the yard next to the maple tree that is producing a bounty of truly spectacular fall foliage is a Black Walnut Tree that is producing a bounty of its own.  Black Walnuts by the hundreds are laying all over the ground.  They look innocent enough in the photo…but multiply by a thousand and put them right between the house and the garden and they are a broken ankle waiting to happen!!  I hold my breath every time I watch my little ones go tearing across the lawn.  They have a distinct smell even when green that likes to linger on hands…and once they start to ripen they turn into nasty little balls of black impossible stains!!  So picking them all up has to happen in a very important window…after they are all off the tree so you don’t get pummeled while working…and before they turn black…!!!  But this is all from a momma’s point of view. 

From the little ones eyes they are a magnificent source of food for all her little squirrel friends!!  The huge job of picking them up (which is not nearly done…!) was preceded by a long talk about squirrels…all about squirrels…and that they indeed would not starve!  We dump every bucket of nuts into the hedgerow so they are definitely still accessible for all our bushy tail friends!!!

Ahh…the blessings and lessons of nature!!!

What has nature been teaching you lately?!?!?!

work*learn*play*think

There has been a big focus on education around here lately.  What to do, how to do it, where, when and why…!  Mostly in my head, and hands, and heart….and certainly plenty has entered my husbands ears!!  There is just so much to learn…so many philosophies, so many methods, so many options, so many supplies.  It’s a bit overwhelming at times.  I just have to remind myself that everything does not have to happen or be understood right away…that this (like many other things) might be an elephant….and just has to be eaten one bit at a time. 

Yesterday, however, I had a stroke of brilliance!  They are very few and far between so I was grateful!  As I watched my two little ones working and playing (and consequently learning and thinking) outside and in the garden I realized…that’s it!  It’s as simple as that….if you can teach a child to work, learn, play, and think…and love doing it, than the decision of what educational philosophy to follow, where to school, how to school, etc are secondary.  Somehow realizing that has simplified things for me so much…which is wonderful.  I love to simplify!!!

As for educational philosophies I have been feeling very at home with Montessori and Waldorf principles, and feel like they are the best fit for our family.  The workshop has been buzzing with the making of Montessori materials lately!!!  I will try to share what I’m working on as I go.

In the spirit of work I must share with you what I watched with delight yesterday in the garden.  We were harvesting all the squash…ready or not…from the garden.

First he watched as she worked…

Then…with much effort (especially considering his mittens have no thumbs!!) and working very hard…he did it…!!!

Lining his squash up with the rest like it was totally normal for a 14 month old little boy to do such big work!!! 

He was quite pleased with himself…and sat down to enjoy a little post harvest snack!!! 

What a boy!!!