Simple Waldorf Toys

I made some simple toys for Li'l C to enjoy, both featured here are adapted from some Waldorf sources. They are fun to make, and very simple and earthy. I especially liked how quick they were to make. The leaves are hand sewn so they provided a further gentle meditation for me as i sewed them.
As we are vegetarian, i adapted a fishing game into "Felt Leaves and Rake." To make, use some green felt (i used left over felted sweater material), and cut into leaf shapes. Stitch 2 pieces together, and add detail vein down middle if you like. At the end, leave a long piece of thread and knot a washer there. I first tried inserting it inside the leaf, but that proved too thick for the magnet. Make as many as you like, between 3 -5 is best. I had a left over piece of magnetic washer available but they may be hard to find. Try to get one so that you can tie the magnet around some string. Then attach to a stick (bamboo is nice and sturdy). Now we just have to get used to being gentle with the stick as it can be dangerous to swing it around!
The other toy is a wind ring that we lovingly call "Shoo Fly" here as we have picked up singing that song while we play with it. C especially loves how the ribbons tickle him when we chase each other with it. I picked blue as 1) i have a lot of blue ribbons and 2) i thought it looked like either waves of the ocean or sky. It was an instant hit!

Happy Summer Solstice

I think i officially love Summer the best. Especially June - The flowers that are in bloom (like this sunflower, our first successful bloom in 3 summers!), the fresh berries available locally, the great summer dresses i can wear - ah, summer!
In honour of our first summer as a family of 3, i decided to start displaying Nature Tables, a la Waldorf Education. I`m still learning about it all, but i really am attracted to it`s philosophy - love of nature, imagination, creativity, and not forcing children to learn a certain way. I won`t get into it all here, but for now i think it`s a style of parenting i will follow, more so than schooling. For our first table, i put some things that represent Summer for both J and myself (shells, knit strawberry, lavender, twigs, rocks). And, i was able to add some pinecombs that C and i played with at the park too! He was quite fascinated with them. The all sit on an old plate that my mother gave me, a Serbian one with painted Poppies on them (also kin to Summer). And, instead of playsilks, i've used a vintage table cloth with a blue butterfly appliqued on.

I picked up this lovely book too recently at our local library. It is an older book that was re-published recently. The text is a lyrical poem that goes through each of the months. A perfect way to start our journey celebrating the everyday and natural world we live in.
Today, on our walk today to our LLL meeting, i took some photos. I just love seeing the surprise in everyday life, the colour and art hidden in the concrete of the city. We are lucky to live near a pedestrian railpath and use it a lot to get around. I was so tempted to glean some of these Black-Eyed Susans as mine haven`t taken this year, for some reason, but i didn`t. This way i can enjoy them each time i walk by.