On Vacation

Hello, dear friends.
We have taken a little vacation and will be back with wonderful new things to share soon.
In the meantime, please browse through the shops of my sponsors (links in the right hand column of this page) and check out some of my favorite blogs in my blog-roll (also in the right hand column).
Special blessings and magic to all of you,
Donni

The Story of a Treasure

Being on the vintage trail and constantly seeking out vintage treasures for my DovieMoon Etsy Shop I am often totally intrigued by the history of something I find. Everything has a story... somebody once loved it enough to make it, buy it, gift it, keep it. I find such charming things... trinkets that I can't believe someone doesn't love enough to keep. I find such funny things... things that I can't but wonder who gave it to whom, and why? I find beautiful things that must have been cherished heirlooms and sweet things that only a few of us think are cute. Kitty loves many of the things I love and then she loves many things that I don't really like so much either. A Good Man loves many of the things I love too but I'm not that into the old tools and 'man' things that tend to draw his attention. Teddy only loves swords and things that belonged to Dragons and I kind of love those things too. We all love some of the same things and we all love different things also. It's so interesting to me to find out why we love something... why it finds a place in our hearts, why it becomes cherished and loved and passed down from generation to generation.

These sentiments are the inspiration behind 'The Story of a Treasure' meme... each week (for a while, anyway) I'm going to show you something I have that I love and tell you the story behind why I love it. In thinking of the things I have that are deeply special to me, I realize that I love each one for a very different reason. I think it's going to be fun to explore the history of my treasures and I know it's going to be wonderful one day for Kitty and Teddy to know why I loved the little thing that they new own. I hope you will play along too. I invite you to explore your own treasures and post the histories behind your things on your own blogs. Each week, I'll add a link-up for you to share your special treasures on The Magic Onions. You can play along each week or just once in a while or, you can just enjoy reading about why we love the things we have.
Enjoy!

Huge Giveaway!

Hi Friends,
The Natural Kids Etsy Team is holding a super giveaway. 16 beautiful goodies from different shops will be given to the lucky winner. You can see every thing you can win here... just leave a comment on the treasury and you'll be entered to win (don't leave your comment on this post)
Good luck... (but I'm hoping I win this one :-)
Blessings and magic,
Donni

Friday's Nature Table Link-up.

You are most welcome to share this great resource on your own blogs... (save the above Friday's Nature Table button to your desktop and then add it to your blog as a picture gadget linking to this code...

http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/search?q=Friday%27s+Nature+Table)

Happy Earth Day, Friends.

Friday's Nature table is where we share our inspiration with each other. I can't tell you how many wonderfully fantastic ideas we have found from your links... your blogs, your creativity, your families, your loving... has touched my heart and enriched my life.

Blessings and magic,
Donni

Discovering Waldorf - 'Spinning a Tale'

(Please feel free to add the above Discovering Waldorf button to your blog. You can do this by saving the above image to your desktop and then adding it to your blog as a Picture Gadget that links to this code:

http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/search/label/Discovering%20Waldorf )

Discovering Waldorf is a weekly series of articles written by 'everyday' Waldorf families. The contributors to this series share their 'real-life' insights and inspirations on all kinds of Waldorf topics. This series is not meant to be Waldorf philosophy in its purest form, but rather a snapshot of how we can all incorporate Waldorf ideas into our lives to help nurture and encourage the magic that is in our children. If you have a topic you wish to learn more about (or want to share) on Discovering Waldorf, send me an email at vined(at)ymail(dot)com.

Today's Discovering Waldorf is brought to us by the wonderful Julia of Ithaca Waldorf Handwork and more. I am one who deeply values simplifying something to is base, especially when working with my children... the activity of gathering the supplies from nature and, together, working out the root of how something works. I have found that my children learn so much from using what they can find on hand for a project, yes, they learn how to make the project, but the deeper learning comes from realizing that everything they need is all around them. Julia presents a wonderful example of such a project.

* * *

Spinning a Tale

When you think of spinning what do you think of? An activity done long ago? Your Grandmother? That beautiful friend that lives down the road? Children?

You should think children, the benefits of spinning with children are very rewarding. When I teach handwork I try to bring the children something artistic but also that which serves a purpose, not something that is pretty for pretty sake. Spinning is one of those activities that brings them a step closer to examining cloth and how clothing can be made. The age of 8 is a great time to introduce one to spinning with a tool ( yarn twisties are a wonderful thing to start them off with in the preschool and earlier year). I like to work with teachers/parents and correspond a house building block with spinning. Working with wool can enhance the practical and functional art form as well as appreciation for colors and beauty.

Win - Win!

Letting the children take loose wool and twist it in their fingers, seeing how thread can form, is a real eye opener for some. Spinning wool with a rock is one of the oldest tool used by nomadic tribes thousands of years ago and can be practiced today by you.

Spinning, (yes the act of swinging and spinning as not to be too dizzy to be dangerous) in general is wonderful for children. The action of spinning, calms the nerves, quiets the mind, settles the child, so that they are able to concentrate better. We are made of spirals (DNA) you can witness the golden spiral in math (the Fibonacci spiral) in nature (sunflowers to nautilus shells) to the cosmos, we experience spiral/spinning all the time. Its natural, its beautiful, its healing. You can check out more by clicking here.

Try spinning with your children - it's a great outdoor activity as well as indoors and it doesn't require batteries.

Choose a palm sized rock with nice weight. Purchase some wool roving.

Using your fingers, pull the roving till its thin (don't hold your fingers too close together - let the wool slide between your fingers ) and then twist it in your fingers till you produce a yarn. Make enough yarn to wrap around your rock twice both ways. Knot it. Slip in a smooth stick a inch larger than the rock on both sides. Twist a bit more in your fingers to wrap a bit under the stick but above the rock.

Create a half hitch loop and slide it over the stick. You now can start holding the roving an inch or two above the stick and spin the rock clockwise. Pull the roving a bit at a time making sure to not let the twist of the yarn extend beyond your right hand fingers.

The weight of your rock will determine the thickness of yarn you can spin. A heavy rock will produce thick yarn and a lighter rock will gift you with thinner yarn. With everything, practice makes perfect. Choose a roving that is not "merino wool top" to begin with - this particular roving is very smooth and might prove too slippery for the beginner. Cooperworth or Blue Faced Leicester (BFL) roving is delightful to start with. Check out Etsy for wonderful selections.

(I've had a little trouble uploading the video. If clicking the 'play' doesn't work for you, please follow this link to the same video on YouTube.)

* * *

Thank you for sharing such a gorgeously textured and layered activity with us Julia. I can't wait to work on this with Kitty. I know that even Teddy will give it a try... the rock will draw him in magnificently. Kitty is so pleased with herself for recently learning how to knit and she'll delight in knitting with yarn she has spun with her own hands.

Dear friends, if you are at all crafty (which I know you are) please give yourself the treat of popping over to Julia's blog, Ithaca Waldorf Handwork & More. It is a treasure trove of Waldorf crafting. Oh, the things you make, Julia!

And, if it's wool you love, you must have a browse through Julia's shop, Will Ewe Play. She has a gorgeous selection of hand dyed roving and hand spun yarn.

Thank you, Julia.

Here are the other inspiring posts in the Discovering Waldorf series.

Blessings and magic to you!

Donni

The Story of a Treasure

Being on the vintage trail and constantly seeking out vintage treasures for my DovieMoon Etsy Shop I am often totally intrigued by the history of something I find. Everything has a story... somebody once loved it enough to make it, buy it, gift it, keep it. I find such charming things... trinkets that I can't believe someone doesn't love enough to keep. I find such funny things... things that I can't but wonder who gave it to whom, and why? I find beautiful things that must have been cherished heirlooms and sweet things that only a few of us think are cute. Kitty loves many of the things I love and then she loves many things that I don't really like so much either. A Good Man loves many of the things I love too but I'm not that into the old tools and 'man' things that tend to draw his attention. Teddy only loves swords and things that belonged to Dragons and I kind of love those things too. We all love some of the same things and we all love different things also. It's so interesting to me to find out why we love something... why it finds a place in our hearts, why it becomes cherished and loved and passed down from generation to generation.

These sentiments are the inspiration behind 'The Story of a Treasure' meme... each week (for a while, anyway) I'm going to show you something I have that I love and tell you the story behind why I love it. In thinking of the things I have that are deeply special to me, I realize that I love each one for a very different reason. I think it's going to be fun to explore the history of my treasures and I know it's going to be wonderful one day for Kitty and Teddy to know why I loved the little thing that they new own. I hope you will play along too. I invite you to explore your own treasures and post the histories behind your things on your own blogs. Each week, I'll add a link-up for you to share your special treasures on The Magic Onions. You can play along each week or just once in a while or, you can just enjoy reading about why we love the things we have.
Enjoy!

Today, I want to share something I haven't had for very long... it's a set of tiny, little clay houses. I seldom buy things for myself (far too stingy) but these I could NOT resist. I ADORE them. They are each a little different, a little unique. They sit on a wood slice on my bookcase. I smile at them every time they catch my eye... a little gnome village right here in my house.


They were made by a local artist, Out Ta My Head (the link is to her new Etsy shop but she hasn't listed anything there yet... If you just have to have a set for yourself, I'm sure she'll be happy to receive a message from you in her shop).


I have to tell you that the little green house in the front right, is Kitty's. She begged and begged for me to give her one and, when I finally gave in and let her choose her favorite, guess which one she chose... yes, the tiniest of all.

Have a look at this sweet treasure, The Mom Fish, from April who posted it in the link-up last week.

Don't forget to come back and link up your own treasures... we are having so much fun seeing your precious things :-)

Blessings and magic,
Donni

Silent Saturday

Believe.

Blessings and magic for a wonderful weekend,
Donni

Friday's Nature Table Link-up.

You are most welcome to share this great resource on your own blogs... (save the above Friday's Nature Table button to your desktop and then add it to your blog as a picture gadget linking to this code...

http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/search?q=Friday%27s+Nature+Table)

Welcome, Friends. I want to thank you all for the wonderfully inspiring links you share here on Friday's Nature Table. Kitty and I go through them each week and are often amazed at the super cool things you all do. You all rock!

Friday's Nature table is where we share our inspiration with each other. I can't tell you how many wonderfully fantastic ideas we have found from your links... your blogs, your creativity, your families, your loving... has touched my heart and enriched my life.

Blessings and magic,
Donni

Discovering Waldorf - 'Earth Day in the Waldorf Home'

(Please feel free to add the above Discovering Waldorf button to your blog. You can do this by saving the above image to your desktop and then adding it to your blog as a Picture Gadget that links to this code:

http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/search/label/Discovering%20Waldorf )

Discovering Waldorf is a weekly series of articles written by 'everyday' Waldorf families. The contributors to this series share their 'real-life' insights and inspirations on all kinds of Waldorf topics. This series is not meant to be Waldorf philosophy in its purest form, but rather a snapshot of how we can all incorporate Waldorf ideas into our lives to help nurture and encourage the magic that is in our children. If you have a topic you wish to learn more about (or want to share) on Discovering Waldorf, send me an email at vined(at)ymail(dot)com.

* * *

With Earth Day just around the corner (22 April), I wanted to share Carries Earth Day article from last year with you... it's full of super ways for you and your children connect with the earth and celebrate her bounty.
Thank you, Carrie.

* * *

Earth Day in the Waldorf Home by Carrie.

The first Earth Day in the United States was held on April 22, 1970. It was organized by Senator Gaylord Nelsen, a United States Senator from Wisconsin, and was designed to be a day of environmental teaching. The participation in celebrating this holiday has since grown and Earth Day has become a day to mark an appreciation of the Earth, our environment, and of our role of environmental stewards. According to Wikipedia, Earth Day is now observed on April 22 each year by more than 500 million people and several national governments in 175 countries.

Within the framework of Waldorf parenting and education, we have a special opportunity because every day is truly Earth Day. The small child under the age of nine feels at one with that rock, that tree, that bird, that wind racing through their hair. Therefore, it is important to mark Earth Day in a way that takes into account the developmental stage of the under-nine child who still feels at one with all the elements.

Hopefully, you are building up to the celebration of Earth Day by spending time outside with your child every day in all kinds of weather. Help your child to really sense nature with all the twelve senses, from feeling rain on their skin to hearing the scuffling of the crunchy autumn leaves under their feet to wondering together at the beauty of the spider web in the garden.

For an older child, this experience into weather forms the beginnings of appreciation for our gardeners and farmers, cycles of life, the cycle of compost and much, much more. But this appreciation and groundwork is laid in the youngest years by just being outside and taking it all in.

The other important way to build up to Earth Day is what you model yourself in terms of taking care of the environment for your small child. If you model recycling, reducing spending and reusing things, your child will follow you. This affords the small child a positive way to help keep Mother Earth clean.

If you partake in a community celebration on Earth Day, please keep the tone upbeat and positive. A matter-of-fact tone of “We are helping to keep Mother Earth neat and clean” whilst you are helping to clean up a trail, a park or a river is wonderful, and empowers a small child more than hearing about all the things that are wrong with the environment. Perhaps you will mark that day in your family by planting a tree or giving some other gift to Mother Nature. Perhaps you will hike or canoe as a family and enjoy with wonder and awe the majesty of Mother Earth.

Our celebrations in Waldorf for small children are about the doing, not so much the words. For your small child, have a wonderful time doing, creating, and being in order to mark this day!

* * *

Thank you, Carrie. I LOVE your quote 'Every day is Earth Day!' I agree that we must let our own actions show our love for the Earth. It is true that our children learn so much from watching us and what we do... be the change you want to see.

Carrie's blog, The Parenting Passageway, has pages and pages of wonderful Waldorf discussions. Her articles are thought provoking and so very informative.Her blog is a wonderful resource to those of us who are trying to follow the Waldorf way at home. She has helped me with many a struggle.

Thank you, Carrie.

Here are the other inspiring posts in the Discovering Waldorf series.

Blessings and magic to you!

Donni

The Story of a Treasure

Being on the vintage trail and constantly seeking out vintage treasures for my DovieMoon Etsy Shop I am often totally intrigued by the history of something I find. Everything has a story... somebody once loved it enough to make it, buy it, gift it, keep it. I find such charming things... trinkets that I can't believe someone doesn't love enough to keep. I find such funny things... things that I can't but wonder who gave it to whom, and why? I find beautiful things that must have been cherished heirlooms and sweet things that only a few of us think are cute. Kitty loves many of the things I love and then she loves many things that I don't really like so much either. A Good Man loves many of the things I love too but I'm not that into the old tools and 'man' things that tend to draw his attention. Teddy only loves swords and things that belonged to Dragons and I kind of love those things too. We all love some of the same things and we all love different things also. It's so interesting to me to find out why we love something... why it finds a place in our hearts, why it becomes cherished and loved and passed down from generation to generation.

These sentiments are the inspiration behind 'The Story of a Treasure' meme... each week (for a while, anyway) I'm going to show you something I have that I love and tell you the story behind why I love it. In thinking of the things I have that are deeply special to me, I realize that I love each one for a very different reason. I think it's going to be fun to explore the history of my treasures and I know it's going to be wonderful one day for Kitty and Teddy to know why I loved the little thing that they new own. I hope you will play along too. I invite you to explore your own treasures and post the histories behind your things on your own blogs. Each week, I'll add a link-up for you to share your special treasures on The Magic Onions. You can play along each week or just once in a while or, you can just enjoy reading about why we love the things we have.
Enjoy!

Pine Cone Bunny.

With Easter fast approaching, we are deep into bunnies in our house. Teddy wants his peanut butter sandwich shaped like a bunny, Kitty hugs her beloved calico bunny to sleep every night and the bunnies who live in the garden (lol, their names are Mine and Yours) are being fed copious amounts of carrots and cabbage. In our house, bunnies rule at the moment.

So, it's hardly surprising that whenever I ask... OK, Kiddies, what shall we do today? Their reply is often 'MAKE A BUNNY!'

Here is our latest little guy...


He really is too sweet. He's made from things we collected on a recent walk around the neighborhood. A pine cone, a couple of pods and of course, a bit of wool fluff (from my wool basket... oh, if only we had sheep in our neighborhood :-)


I used my hot glue gun to stick the pods onto the pine cone and he immediately started to look like a cute little bunny.


All that was needed to complete this cutie was to stick the white bunny tail onto his bottom.


Here is our pine cone bunny. He really is too sweet... it looks like he's just asked a question and is waiting for an answer. I find myself telling him all sorts of things, he is such a good listener.


Happy Easter crafting :-)
Blessings and magic,
Donni

Silent Saturday

The Joy of finding BIG TEETH.

Blessings and magic for a wonderful weekend,
Donni

Friday's Nature Table Link-up.

You are most welcome to share this great resource on your own blogs... (save the above Friday's Nature Table button to your desktop and then add it to your blog as a picture gadget linking to this code...

http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/search?q=Friday%27s+Nature+Table)

Welcome, Friends. I want to thank you all for the wonderfully inspiring links you share here on Friday's Nature Table. Kitty and I go through them each week and are often amazed at the super cool things you all do. You all rock!

Friday's Nature table is where we share our inspiration with each other. I can't tell you how many wonderfully fantastic ideas we have found from your links... your blogs, your creativity, your families, your loving... has touched my heart and enriched my life.

Blessings and magic,
Donni

The Story of a Treasure

Being on the vintage trail and constantly seeking out vintage treasures for my DovieMoon Etsy Shop I am often totally intrigued by the history of something I find. Everything has a story... somebody once loved it enough to make it, buy it, gift it, keep it. I find such charming things... trinkets that I can't believe someone doesn't love enough to keep. I find such funny things... things that I can't but wonder who gave it to whom, and why? I find beautiful things that must have been cherished heirlooms and sweet things that only a few of us think are cute. Kitty loves many of the things I love and then she loves many things that I don't really like so much either. A Good Man loves many of the things I love too but I'm not that into the old tools and 'man' things that tend to draw his attention. Teddy only loves swords and things that belonged to Dragons and I kind of love those things too. We all love some of the same things and we all love different things also. It's so interesting to me to find out why we love something... why it finds a place in our hearts, why it becomes cherished and loved and passed down from generation to generation.

These sentiments are the inspiration behind 'The Story of a Treasure' meme... each week (for a while, anyway) I'm going to show you something I have that I love and tell you the story behind why I love it. In thinking of the things I have that are deeply special to me, I realize that I love each one for a very different reason. I think it's going to be fun to explore the history of my treasures and I know it's going to be wonderful one day for Kitty and Teddy to know why I loved the little thing that they new own. I hope you will play along too. I invite you to explore your own treasures and post the histories behind your things on your own blogs. Each week, I'll add a link-up for you to share your special treasures on The Magic Onions. You can play along each week or just once in a while or, you can just enjoy reading about why we love the things we have.
Enjoy!

This week, I'd like to share a family heirloom. It is a little glass pill bottle (I think) with a sterling silver and blue enamel top. It is so delicate and dainty. It is filled with miniature glass marbles.


It belonged to my Grandmother. I hope my darling dad misses this post as he disputes my claim to the family silver... he was working abroad when we packed up our family home of 25 years, assigning every single piece of family history to a cardboard box. My mom packed up her treasures and I was only too happy to take what was left and start building my own set of family heirlooms. My dad claims that my mom left out most of his treasures and I vultured them. I do love them, Dad, my treasures, I love them :-) I sit and stare at this beautiful little bottle. Nowadays, we get our pills in a plastic orange container.


Thank you to all who played along and shared their own treasures last week. So lovely to see what touches your hearts.

April shared such a cute story of her mysterious unicorn treasure. Do yourself a favor and read her great discovery.

Happy treasure hunting, Peeps...
Blessings and magic,
Donni

Let's make a Beeswax Suncatcher.

This weekend was supposed to be a spring cleaning weekend for Kitty. Her wardrobe has become cluttered with favorite clothes that have, alas, either become too small or too holey! Sadly, she is very averse to patches... apparently, they itch! So, it was with a heavy heart that we set about cleaning out her draws with the goal of leaving them neatly filled with her clothes that still fit and don't make her look like Oliver Twist.

It was after tidying the very first drawer that she discovered her flower press, well-hidden in her sweater drawer. She immediately remembered putting it there a many months ago. We had pressed Autumn leaves and she was having a very hard time waiting for them to dry. I suggested she put her press in a safe place that was out of sight. I suggested that if she couldn't see the press, perhaps she'd have an easier wait. As it turns out, her sweater drawer was the 'out-of-sight' place.

So, yesterday, with utter delight, she uncovered our beautifully pressed Autumn leaves.


"Oh, MOM!" she exclaimed happily... "Let's make something exquisite with them!"

Her excitement at discovering a long forgotten treasure was so palpable that I just couldn't bring myself to be the "NO, clean your room!" Ogre.

I put the beeswax on the bain-marie and we set out all we needed to make an autumn leaf sun catcher.

All we needed to make our suncatcher was our pressed leaves, melted beeswax and a tuperware lid that has a nice level base and enough of a lip.


When the beeswax has melted (here is a tutorial on how to melt wax safely), pour a thin layer into the tupperware lid. When the top layer has started to cool, let your child carefully (the wax under the cooled top layer will probably still be hot) arrange the leaves upon the beeswax.


Pour a second layer of melted beeswax over the leaves.



When it has cooled a little (after about 5 minutes) use a sharp object (we used a wooden skewer) to make a hole in the warm wax. This will be how you hang your suncatcher.


When the wax has cooled properly, carefully extract it from the plastic lid (it should pop right out). Hang it in the window with a piece of string or ribbon and enjoy the pure beauty.


It is soooooooo beautiful, especially on a rainy day just when the sun comes out again... it glows golden and little hands just can't keep themselves from touching it :-)


Needless to say, Kitty's room remains un-Spring cleaned :-)

Blessings and magic,
Donni

WIP - Fairyfolk

Here are a few of the Easter goodies I've been working on for the shop. Easter is one of my favorite times... I love the soft colors and the cute little guys in their eggs. Inspiration always comes flooding in and I needle felt madly... I cannot stop!

Needle Felted Bunny in his Woolly Easter Egg

Big Eared Mouse in his Blue Felted Easter Egg

Organic Easter Egg

Woolly Bluebird

Woolly Bluebird Playset

Easter Chick in his Woolly Easter Egg

Easter Nest


Pink Craspedia Blooms

Easter Acorns

You can see some more of my Easter goodies in my shop - Fairyfolk

Anything special you want to make for Easter?
Blessings and magic,
Donni

Silent Saturday

Kitty's newest love.

Blessings and magic for a lovely weekend.
Donni

Friday's Nature Table Link-up.

You are most welcome to share this great resource on your own blogs... (save the above Friday's Nature Table button to your desktop and then add it to your blog as a picture gadget linking to this code...

http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/search?q=Friday%27s+Nature+Table)

Welcome, Friends. I want to thank you all for the wonderfully inspiring links you share here on Friday's Nature Table. Kitty and I go through them each week and are often amazed at the super cool things you all do. You all rock!

Friday's Nature table is where we share our inspiration with each other. I can't tell you how many wonderfully fantastic ideas we have found from your links... your blogs, your creativity, your families, your loving... has touched my heart and enriched my life.

Blessings and magic,
Donni